Saturday, March 25, 2023 Weekend Edition

By Vivian Okejeme

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal high court, Abuja, on Friday, will April 20, deliver a verdict on a suit filed by Siminlalayi Fubara, Rivers Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Governor-elect and his deputy, Dr. Ngozi Odu, over alleged plan by the party to suspend them.

The court fixed the date after Fubara’s counsel, Dr Joshua Musa, SAN, and Mr. Johnson Usman, SAN, who represented the PDP and its executives, adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the suit.

Also, Cross Rivers PDP governorship candidate, Sen. Sandy Onor, and his running mate, Ambrose Emana, against the party and its executives over allegations bordering on planned suspension.

In a related development, the judge fixed the same date for a ruling on a motion moved by Musa, seeking an order to amend their originating summons in another suit filed by the Rivers PDP Chairman, Amb. Desmond Akawo against the party which was opposed by Usman.

Akawo had sued the PDP, its National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Upon resumed hearing on Friday, Usman informed the court that the PDP wrote a letter to the Chief Judge (CJ) of FHC, Justice John Tsoho, asking that the case be reassigned to another judge.

The senior lawyer said Justice Ekwo was copied in the letter.

He said the letter, dated March 14, was received by the CJ on March 15.

Court rules on Fubara’s suit against PDP over Alleged planned suspension

The PDP letter prayed Justice Tsoho for the transfer of all the three cases currently before Justice Ekwo and its other cases to other judges.

The party cited loss of confidence and bias as grounds for the application.

But Musa opposed the application, saying he was unaware of such a letter.

He argued that such an administrative letter cannot serve as a stay of proceeding since no response had been received from the CJ regarding the letter.

The judge, who said he had not seen the letter, said he got to know about the development through social media.

Ekwo, however, directed the parties to proceed in the matter having not received any communication in that regard, and

after the Counsel adopted their processes, the judge adjourned the first two cases for judgment and fixed Akawo’s suit for ruling.

Fubara, Onor, Akawo and others had filed three separate suits against the PDP and others.

In a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/123/2023, which was filed by Fubara, Odu, and 48 others, the plaintiffs listed PDP, its National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) as 1st to 3rd respondents respectively.

Also joined in the suit are the PDP National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu; National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 4th to 6th respondents respectively.

The 50 plaintiffs sought an order of injunction restraining

Ramadan: Uba Sani harps

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Kaduna State GovernorElect Senator Uba Sani has urged Nigerians especially Muslims to use the Ramadan period for self-reflection, spiritual rejuvenation, and an opportunity to draw closer to Allah.

Making this point in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday, Sani noted that

WEEKEND PHOTO

on

the 1st to 5th defendants from suspending, expelling or in any manner doing any act that would tamper with their fundamental rights.

They said these rights were guaranteed under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Articles 10 and 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, CAP. AQ, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

They also sought an order of injunction restraining INEC from according any recognition to any suspension or expulsion or any other act(s) of the 1st to 5th respondents designed to violate their fundamental rights.

They prayed the court to declare that the threat to suspend, expel or tamper with their rights as members of PDP and its candidates

at the general elections on account of the disagreement between the party’s national executives and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers where they hail from amounted to a denial of their rights.

Also in their originating motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/215/2023, Sen. Onor and Emana, sued the PDP and the five respondents.

They equally sought the same prayers as Fubara and his deputyelect.

They urged the court to declare that the threat to suspend, expel or tamper with their rights as members of the party and its candidates in the March 18 general elections on account of the disagreement between the party’s executives and Governor Wike who was perceived to have a relationship with them amounted to a denial of their rights.

self-reflection, spiritual rejuvenation

the holy month is a time for people to strengthen faith and seek Allah’s blessings for themselves, families, and beloved state.

He, therefore, urged Kaduna residents to reflect on the values of unity, love, and tolerance that are essential for the progress and development of our state.

“In light of recent events, I want to call on all citizens of Kaduna State to embrace peace and unity,

irrespective of political affiliation or religious beliefs.

“We are one people, and our strength lies in our diversity. Let us work together to build a peaceful and prosperous Kaduna State where all citizens can thrive.

“To our Muslim brothers and sisters, I implore you to use this holy month to pray for our state, our leaders, and our country.

“Let us ask Allah to guide

us in our quest to build a more prosperous and equitable society, where justice, fairness, and equality reign.

“As we observe this year’s Ramadan, I pray that Allah grants us the strength and fortitude to overcome the challenges facing our state and country.

“May our collective efforts be rewarded with peace, progress, and prosperity”, he said.

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

Photo: Mahmud Isa

10th Assembly: Push for Senate President, Speaker slots intensifies

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi and Christiana Ekpa

Barely twelve weeks to the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, all things being equal, the jostling over who emerges the President of Senate and Speaker, House of Representatives is already unfolding some interesting dimensions.

In both chambers, there is intense lobbying and horse trading currently ongoing, as lawmakers try to outwit one another ahead of the June 13 inauguration date. The National Assembly, in the past week, without allowing the dust raised by the 2023 general election to settle, became a centre of high-wire politics.

Our correspondents gathered that, just like when Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara emerged Senate President and Speaker of House of Representatives respectively, lawmakers of both red and green chambers are clandestinely organising themselves into groups of like minds, though with no defining nomenclature yet.

•It’s my turn to be Senate President - Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu

On Tuesday, basking in the euphoria that the All Progressive Congress (APC) may likely zone the Senate President slot to the South East, as a measure for accommodation and healing, the current Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, who fielded questions from journàlists, said “It is my turn to be Senate President of Nigeria”, reminiscent of President elect, Ahmed Tinubu’s claim that ‘it is my turn to be President of Nigeria’.

Speaking further, the former Abia Governor said he was in support of the Muslim-Muslim Presidential ticket of the APC which has produced Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Kasim Shettima as President-Elect and Vice-Presidentelect respectively.

However, he denounced the possibility of having another Muslim as Senate President because he said it will not augur well for the country.

“In a secular state, you will need to accommodate interests and spread to be able to maintain the secularity of the country.

“I believed in a muslim-muslim presidency, but I do not believe in a Muslim Senate President because it will not go fine for our country”, he said.

Kalu said, “I will not be comfortable with a Muslim Senate President because this is a secular state.”

Kalu said he was ready to run for

Senate President if the party zones the position to his South East geopolitical zone because the party’s decision was supreme.

He said: “And So I will like the party to zone it to my zone, to my village in Igbere because President Tinubu needs people of high character to turn around the economy and work for the masses, make laws that will enable him to turn around the economy, because, I am an economic person, an entrepreneur.”

The former Abia state governor said he is the most qualified senator for the position based on Senate rules and his pedigree.

He said “The Senate has rules, let me be honest with you, if we practice true democracy, I should not be in contest with anybody, because apart from the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, and the Senate Leader, I am the next ranking member in the Senate going by the position I occupy today in the 9th Senate.

“It is virtually impossible that the Senate will elect or zone for a new member to the Senate. The Senate is an established institution that needs somebody with experience, someone with the skills that will be able to relate.”

He said President-elect Bola Tinubu, when sworn in would stand firm in giving good governance, and would also stand firm with the 10th assembly to amend the constitution to make for an electronic voting process and do away with paper works in elections.

•Senate Presidency is by competence, I’m most experienced - Sen. Barau Jibril

Swiftly following Orji Uzor Kalu’s briefing on Wednesday, Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Barau Jibril, apparently rejecting the claims of turn by turn made by Kalu, said the choice of who emerges Senate President is usually guided by competence and experience, rather than turn by turn.

According to the Kano North Senator, the choice of 10th Assembly Senate President should not be based on sentiments or zoning, adding that all the principal officers should also be selected based on competence and capacity.

Pointing out that he is the most qualified among the returning Senators and first timers, Barau urged his colleague to consider his competence rather than where he came from, asking “Do you now relegate competence for other sentiments?

“It does not work on sentiments; it works on your ability to do the job. It is the tradition all over the world. It is there in our rules and this rule is a product of our constitution.

“It is clearly in our Standing Rules too that aspiration or election for the Office of the Senate President shall be in accordance with ranking.

“And among those who are seeking to occupy that office as we speak, I am the highest ranking Senator. I’m the

most experienced,” he said.

Barau explained that the person to be elected Senate President must be grounded in the parliamentary rules and procedures so as not to cause chaos during complex debates.

He promised to ensure that the interest of the nation is protected as Senate President.

•First time Senator-elect, Gov Dave Umahi, declares interest Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi yesterday also declared interest in contesting for the Senate President of the 10th National Assembly when he addressed newsmen at the new Government House, Centenary City, Abakaliki.

He said: “Let me also plead and request the leadership of APC and the President and Vice President-elect to please, for the sake of equity, justice, and fairness, zone the Senate Presidency to South East and the Speaker for the House of Representatives to the North West.

“This is for inclusiveness, and this will assure Nigerians that we are on the path for a total reunion. I am asking the Senate, National Assembly to set aside the rules so that we can get the best for the leadership of the Assembly.”

Urging the APC family to zone the Senate Presidency to the Southeast, Umahi said “I’m indicating interest.”

•Ahmed Lawan seeks to contest

Barau Jibril Orji Kalu Gov Umahi

•Barau Jibril counters Orji Kalu as Gov Umahi, Sani Musa join race

•Gagdi, Wase, Batera others eye Speakership seat

10th Assembly: Push for Senate President, Speaker slots intensifies

Cont. from page 4

Senate President again

Ahmed Lawan, the current Senate President, was reported to have told some key power brokers in the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he is interested in retaining his position as Senate President in the 10th Senate, though there is fear over if Tinubu will wish to work with Ahmed Lawan, having contested against the Presidentelect during the APC presidential primaries.

If Lawan gets the buy-in of the APC power brokers, including the National chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, and the famous cabal in the Villa, he may clinch the position once again.

•Sani Musa declares through support group

Ahead of inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in June this year, Campaign For Democracy (CD), has advocated the zoning of the Senate Presidency to the North Central geopolitical zone.

The pro-democrcy group maintained that the North Central deserved the nation’s number three position in the interest of fairness, equity and Justice.

CD, in a statement by its General Secretary, Ifeanyi Odili, in Abuja Thursday, explained that the North Central zone had been seriously marginalized in Nigeria since 1999.

Odili said, “The North-Central has been the most marginalised in the country since 1999.

“The Zone has not produced the president nor vice president of the country, and it was only proper that the zone should be allowed to produce the next Senate President in the 10th National Assembly.

“Some people are arguing that the South-East should be favoured in the interest of fairness, equity and justice, forgetting that the North Central has suffered the worst fate since Nigeria’s independence in 1960.

“The North Central being the largest zone in the country in terms of landmass, has suffered the worst form of insecurity, partly because it lacked adequate representation in the nation’s highest political hierarchy.

“The zone especially Niger State, it’s people are known for partisan loyalty and since 1999 accounts for the highest voting pattern for winning presidential tickets. For instance in 2015 and 2019, Niger State accounted for the highest votes in the Presidential election in North Central Geo-political zone.

“Notwithstanding the unacceptable reoccurring decimal of not receiving commensurate compensation and attention, the North Central did determined to further contribute significantly than ever before by voting more for the APC given the promises

and heightened expectations from the President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the political icon of our time, in the presidential election with the 3rd highest vote tally amongst the zones in the country.

“There is therefore the need for a ranking senator from the zone to emerge as the next Senate President so as to effectively tackle the worsening insecurity in the North Central.

“Apart from this, the nation’s economy could be revived and transformed with appropriate legislation and the North Central has abundant natural resources that could be harnessed for economic development”.

He specifically mentioned the only returning Senator from Niger State, Sani Musa (APC Niger East), as the best choice for the job.

“When you look at the North Central zone, Senator Musa is the most ranking senator that should be supported by all for the position of the Senate President.

“What the All Progressives Congress (APC) should do is to zone the office of the president of the Senate to the North Central, so as to compensate the people for their massive support and vote in the recent Presidential and National Assembly elections “, he stressed .

•Sen. Bamidele explains determinant of 10th Assembly Senate President

Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), has said that the criteria for the emergence of the presiding and principal officers must be based on competence and experience.

He specifically insisted that ethnoreligious sentiments must not be allowed to influence the election and selection of the presiding and principal officers of the Red Chamber.

Senator Bamidele, who is also the Chairman, Southern Senators’ Forum, spoke to journalists on Thursday in Abuja on the need to look beyond parochial interests already being canvassed by some Nigerians and those who had shown interest in contesting for leadership positions in the forthcoming 10th National Assembly.

He said: “Competence and experience are the issues that should be more important as we try to see those who could lead the 10th National Assembly rather than these issues being presented more as tribal, religion or religious rights of individuals or communities in the country.

“As lawmakers begin to tell the world of their individual ambitions or aspirations to be a part of the leadership of the Senate in the 10th Assembly, you also have a role to play in trying

to stabilise and reposition discussions so that the real issues are not lost in pursuit of primordial interests.”

•House of Representatives witnessing fierce fight over Speakership position

Therace for the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives is getting interesting as indications have emerged that the Chairman of the 9th House of Representatives Committee on Navy, Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi from Plateau state is making serious moves aimed at getting the Speakership seat of the 10th House of Representatives if zoned to North Central.

Gagdi, the 42 years old vibrant Plateau State federal legislature, second-timer in the House of Representatives seems to be the most talked about to become the next Speaker in the green chamber in the 10th Assembly.

His chance to lead the 10th House can also be brightened if the stakeholders within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as well as the House can succeed in convincing party leaders to listen to his arguments about zoning and the need to consider the North Central for the seat of Speaker.

According to a source at the APC National Secretariat, Abuja, the former Deputy Speaker of Plateau State, House of Assembly, Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi is doing a lot to appeal to the party stakeholders and members of the NWC to consider his point on the need to rally support for the North Central for the next Speaker of the House.

Weekend Peoples Daily gathered that the party’s national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, being a leader from the zone, is expected to help convince other party leaders, as well as get the endorsement of the Presidentelect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to support the zone to produce the next Speaker.”

With this development, it is believed that one of the leading contenders for the seat from the North Central zone, Chairman of the 9th House of Representatives Committee on Navy, Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi should be the favoured candidate if zoned to his region.

Sources within the House of Representatives are of the opinion that Gagdi, a young federal parliamentarian of many academic degrees may cause an upset in the race as a favorite amongst the aspirants from the zone, which included a female contender and daughter of two-time President of the Senate, David Mark, Hon. Blessing Onuh who is also warming up and carrying out consultations on her new ambition.

So far, it’s being suggested that apart from Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, other returning lawmakers across the country including the incumbent Deputy

Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase are gearing up for the House of Representatives top job come June this year when the 10th Assembly will be inaugurated.

While both Gagdi and Wase are from Plateau State in the North Central, others such as Muktar Betara Aliyu and Aminu Sani Jaji are from Bornu in the Northeast and Zamfara in the Northwest respectively.

The contenders also include Hon. Tajudeen Abass and Hon. Sada Soli from Kaduna and Katsina States respectively, and the Spokesperson of the House, Hon Benjamin Okezie Kalu who is from the South East and stands a better chance if the Speakership is zoned to his area.

Also, Hon. Babajime Benson (Lagos APC) and Hon. (Prince) Olaide Akinremi from Oyo State and others are eyeing the position of deputy speaker if zoned to their regions by the party leadership.

Sani Musa Gagdi

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Some experts in the agricultural field have dismissed the negative reservations about foods from Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) over perceived dire health implications for the society, unlike foods with no genetically modified ingredients.

They maintained that GMO products that are currently on the international market have all passed safety assessments conducted by national authorities, as different assessments follow the same basic principles, including an assessment of environmental and human health risk.

According to Director, Agricultural Department, National Biotechnology Agency, Abuja, Dr. Rose Gidado, genetically modified foods are safe for human consumption.

Gidado while speaking at a town hall meeting on Tela Maize Technology with farmers and other stakeholders held in Kaduna, also refuted fears that genetically modified seedlings are unsafe, adding that such

GMO foods pose no health risk to Nigerians - Experts

seedlings have undergone all the necessary safety checks before being handed out to farmers.

She explained that the Tela Maize which is produced from a genetically modified seedling is resistant to drought, adding that when planted and rain doesn’t fall as expected, the seedling would still thrive.

She noted that Tela Maize gives higher yields than the conventional maize while the ordinary maize gives about 1.4 tonnes, the Tela gives about 5.6 tonnes.

“Since, it yields more tonnes, it means more money for Nigerians farmers; and those that have access to the Tela Maize would smile because they only need to do chemical spray two times, instead of the normal four times, thereby cutting down costs,” she added.

She also revealed that Nigerian farmers have accepted the two varieties of Tela Maize

that were introduced to them. Another agricultural expert, Prof Rabiu Adamu, who is Principal Investigator, Tela Maize, Institute of Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, added that if the Tela Maize is fully adopted by Nigerians farmers, it would go a long way in solving the maize shortage that the nation currently suffers.

Adamu, while also reiterating what Dr. Gidado said earlier about the safety of the Tela Maize, assures “Tela Maize has gone through the necessary regulatory requirements to ensure the. Safety of the product. The product was cleared by the agencies of the Federal Government before it was sold out to the farmers. We have the certification from the necessary regulatory agencies”. Similarly, a Director with African Agricultural Technological Foundation

(AATF), Kenya, Dr. Sylvester Oikeh noted that Tela Maize would go a long way in addressing the shortfall in maize production in the country.

“Currently, Nigeria cultivates 5 to 6 million hectares of land, but only gets one tonne of maize per hectare, but in South Africa, the yield per hectare is 5.6 tonnes. This is made possible with the use of Tela Maize Technology.

“If you are growing maize on a hectare of land with the normal maize, you will have about a hundred tonnes of maize, while a farmer growing maize on a hectare of land with the technology, would harvest about 140 tonnes of maize.

“With the current issues with climate change, the threat of pests and diseases, the trials all over Africa, the Tela Technology has proven to be resistant to drought and diseases,” he stressed.

He further said that the

technology is not new in Africa, but was recently introduced to Nigeria.

“The Tela Technology has been around in African countries such as South Africa, Mozambique and Ghana, but it only came to Nigeria a few years ago.

“If adopted, the Nigerians farmers would harvest about seven tonnes of maize per hectare, instead of the two to three tonnes, which would go a long way in addressing the food insecurity in maize production in the country”, he added.

Most of the stakeholders at the event were drawn from research institutions such as the Institute of Agriculture Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, National Biotechnological Agency Abuja, African Agricultural Technological Foundation (AATF) amongst others.

Why Ayu should face disciplinary Committee for anti-party - Ortom

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has accused the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) of acting in contempt of a subsisting Court Order, by referring him to the disciplinary committee of the party for alleged anti party activities.

This, Ortom maintained that the National Chairman of the Party Dr. Iyorchia should also, face the disciplinary committee, alleging that he was involved in anti-party activities.

In a statement signed by his Press Secretary Nathaniel Ikyur yesterday, the Governor averred that it is contemptuous of the leadership of the PDP to disregard

Kaduna

the Court Order which barred the party or any organ of the party from issuing any disciplinary measure against him.

According to him: “the case is pending in court and there is an order of injunction restraining any organ of the party from carrying out any disciplinary action against the governor. This Case is adjourned to 18th April 2023 and so it is baffling to see such a statement coming from the national leadership of the party.

“I think the national leadership of our great party is losing its sense of direction. Instead of the leadership to sit back and think of ways on how to rebuild the party from the ruins of the defeat from the just concluded elections, they are going about chasing imaginary shadows.

“In any case, the first person the party should refer to the disciplinary committee should be the national chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu. The national chairman lost his polling unit, lost his ward, local government, and even the state.

“As if that is not enough, there are strong indications that the national chairman was involved in anti-party activities in Benue State by working for the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, just to get at me because of my principled stand against certain aspects of the decisions of the national leadership of the party.”

The Governor also admonished the party not to be allowed to be ridiculed by some individuals who are bent on destroying the party for their selfish gains.

Ayu Ortom

Governor-elect to challenge PDP’s ‘unimaginable’ margins in court

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Kaduna State Governor-elect, Senator Uba Sani, has said he will challenge some election results where the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won with what he described as unimaginable margins.

In an interview with the Hausa Service of BBC monitored by our correspondent in Kaduna, the Governorelect expressed surprise that PDP won some local government areas with bogus figures.

Sani said he will go to the Election Petition Tribunal to contest PDP’s

victory in those areas, adding that after the verdict, the margin of victory between him and Alhaji Isa Ashiru, the PDP candidate, will widen.

Recall that Senator Sani was declared the winner of the March 18 governorship election by the Returning Officer for Kaduna State and Vice-Chancellor of the Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Professor Lawal Bilbis on Monday.

According to the election result, Senator Sani polled a total of 730,002 votes to defeat his closest rival, Hon. Isa Ashiru of the PDP polled 719,196 votes, a difference of 10,806 votes.

The Governor-elect who said that

the election results were marred by irregularities in areas where PDP won, gave the example of Chikun local government area where the opposition got over 89,000 votes, describing the figures as unimaginable.

He however, promised the people of Kaduna state ‘’to be fair and even handed it to all, including those who didn’t vote for me. I’m glad with the outcome of the election. People came out and voted for me. ‘’

On the allegation that his election was rigged, the Governor-elect said that such allegation is in the character of the Nigerian politician, adding that ‘’God

gives power to whomsoever He wants and when He wants.’’

He recalled that in 2011, he lost the Kaduna central senatorial election and his supporters urged him to go to court, but he refused, believing that that was not his time, adding that ‘’as God willed it, I became a senator in 2019.’’

The Governor-elect expressed confidence that he will be victorious at the Election Petition Tribunal where the opposition promised to challenge his victory, adding that he will also go to court to challenge PDP’s bogus victory in some local governments.

Osun Guber: Appeal court returns Adeleke’s mandate

By Vivian Okejeme

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has declared Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) authentic winner of the Osun State governorship poll held on July 16, 2022.

Adeleke was in court challenging the decision of the January 27 Governorship tribunal that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw certificate of return from him and issue the same to Adegboyega Oyetola.

The 3-man panel of the Appeal court led by Justice Mohammed Shuaibu held that the appeal is meritorious and thereby allowed.

Ruling in the appeal, marked: CA/AK/EPT/GOV/01/2023, the appellate court held that Oyetola and his party, APC failed to prove their allegation of over voting before the election tribunal.

The court held that one cannot rely on the backend server alone to determine over voting without corresponding it with the data on the BVAS and voter register.

By the Judgment, the decision of the Osun State Governorship election tribunal

of January 27, which held that Adegboyega Oyetola could prove that there was indeed overvoting in some of the polling units was thereby set aside.

Consequently, the Appellant court awarded N500,000 each against the INEC and All Progressive Congress (APC), 1st and 2nd respondents.

Recall that the Osun State governorship tribunal, in a majority judgement of two out of the three-member panel declared that the INEC should withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Adeleke and issued same to former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola

The majority judgement which was read by the

Chairman, Justice Tertse Kume said Oyetola scored the majority lawful votes of 314,931 against Adeleke’s 290,266.

Miffed by the decision of the Tribunal, Adeleke headed to the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division seeking for redress.

The Appellant, through his counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, prayed the court to set aside the decision of the tribunal for lacking in merit.

He insisted that the tribunal in its judgment erred in law in returning Oyetola as the duly elected candidate without due regard to the enormity of the voters in the units where the results were cancelled for over voting.

Arguing his brief, Ikpeazu maintained that the tribunal exhibited bias against the appellant with its reference to his dance at his inauguration as governor of Osun state.

According to the senior lawyer, his client’s dancing prowess was never an issue before the lower tribunal.

“By referring to the appellant’s personal eccentricity for dancing, the lower tribunal derided and mocked him in a manner suggesting that it was biased against him.

“The appearance of bias manifested in the reference to the Appellant’s proclivity for dancing and particularly the Buga song, has rendered the decision of the lower Tribunal a nullity.

Benue journalists task Gov-Elect Fr. Alia on good governance

The Conference of Benue Journalists (CBJ) has challenged the Benue State governor-elect Reverend Hyacinth Iormem Allia of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to work assiduously towards providing good governance capable of improving the lives of the people.

CBJ, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its President Dr. Anule Emmanuel, congratulated

Frather Alia and his deputy governor-elect Dr. Sam Ode on their victory in the last Saturday’s general election.

The group said Father Alia was coming at a trying time when the state is in dire need of purposeful, sincere, and committed leadership.

According to Dr. Anule, “Your well-deserved victory bestows a degree of trust in your capacity to lead Benue State in a most

sincere, genuine, purposeful, and committed manner while striving to engender speedy economic growth and the wellbeing of our people.

“We expect you to swing into action immediately after your inauguration on May 29 in tackling the lingering issues of non payment of salaries/pensions, decaying infrastructure, insecurity, and other frontline challenges that

have conspired to slow down the wheel of progress in our dear state,” the statement added.

The group said, now that the elections are over, Fr. Alia and his deputy after their inauguration should strive sincerely towards uniting the people of Benue, irrespective of their political affiliations in order to create a peaceful atmosphere that will galvanize the expected good governance during their tenure.

Supreme Court reaffirms Edozie Njoku as APGA chair

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

The Supreme Court on Friday reaffirmed that Chief Edozie Njoku, is the substantive National Chairman of the AllProgressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

This is following an application by Chief Njoku, seeking the regularization of the amended judgment of Justice Mary Peter Odili delivered on May 9, 2022.

The motion is in respect of a letter of the Supreme Court to Chief Njoku on January 19, 2023, wherein the Supreme Court had addressed him as the National Chairman of APGA and advised him to approach the Court by way of a motion to correct the slip.

The accidental slip which was corrected by the Supreme Court, has restored Njoku as the actual National Chairman of APGA, that was wrongfully removed by a Jigawa High Court in Suit No: JDU/022/2021 between Alhaji Garba Aliyu and Chief Jude Okeke & 2 Ors.

In a lead Judgment, Justice Garba Lawal held that it was Chief Edozie Njoku that was wrongly removed at Jigawa without being joined as a party.

Subsequently, Justice Lawal stated that Njoku’s application was meritorious and consequently granted it as prayed.

Njoku has through his lawyer, Chike Onyemenam, SAN approached the court pursuant to Order 8 Rule 16

of the Supreme Court Rules and the inherent powers of the Court, to correct a typographical error and slip in the lead judgment of the Court in the appeal presided over by and delivered by Justice Mary Odili (Rtd).

The applicant in the suit had urged the apex court to correct an accidental slipon Page 13, Paragraph 1 of its judgment, where instead of stating the name of “Edozie Njoku” who was alleged to have been removed by the parties and whom the trial judge held to have been lawfully removed from his position as the validly elected National Chairman of APGA at the party convention held at Owerri in 2019, mistakenly inserted the name of Victor Oye whose name was never mentioned at the trial court.

Njoku in an affidavit he deposed to stated that “on 14/10/2021, with Hon Justice Mary Ukaego Peter Odili presiding, all the parties were heard in argument on the merit of the two substantive appeals with my counsel, Chike Onyemenam SAN fully canvassing arguments in respect of my preliminary objection and cross appeal nos SC/ CV/686/2021 and SC/CV/687/2021 respectively.

“This Honourable Court on the same 14/10/2021 presided over by Hon Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili decided that Judgment would be delivered in respect

of Appeal No. SC/CV/687/2021 only and same would be binding on Appeal No SC/CV/686/2021; but in delivering the said Judgment, the Appeal Number was wrongly stated in the Lead Judgment to be Appeal No SC/CV/686/2021, instead of SC/CV/687/2021; while the name of “Chief Victor Oye” was wrongly stated instead of my name, “Chief Edozie Njoku” at Page 13 as stated above.

“Thereafter, I applied by my letter to the Presiding Justice who read the above Lead Judgment for the above accidental slip or error to be corrected and His Lordship examined the Records and corrected the said error by removing the name of Chief Victor Oye and replacing same with my name, Chief Edoze Nioku at Page 13 of the Judgment.

“My said Application Letter and the corrected Lead Judgment are hereby exhibited and marked Exhibits”G “ and”G “” respectively. “Chief Victor Oye (the 2nd Respondent) whose name was erroneously inserted and who had nothing to do with the case at the Trial Court reacted by getting the InspectorGeneral of Police to arrest me and charge me to Court without any investigation before a Bwari High Court for “Forgery of a Supreme Court Judgment” and in spite of the Letter from the Presiding Justice who corrected the said error, Hon. Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili (JSC), clearly

exculpating me, the victim of the above accidental sip, I was remanded in Prison Custody by the Court pending Ruling on my Bail Application.

“The said Letter from the Presiding Justice is hereby exhibited and marked Exhibit “H”.

“Thereafter, the social media, at the behest of Chief Victor Oye and his sponsors, published that Chief Edozie Njoku had been sent to prison for forgery of a Supreme Court Judgment in collusion with Officers of the Supreme Court.

“The above false publication and the Criminal Charge which I am now made to face simply because I applied for the correction of an accidental slip which was approved and the error or slip corrected by the Presiding Justice of the Supreme Court, are hereby respectively exhibited and marked Exhibit’s J.

“The above events which all occurred as a result of an accidental slip or error in the Judgment of this Honourable Court and my efforts to have same corrected has led to a great political upheaval within my political party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and resulted in a heavy dent on my character and reputation, Njoku stated.

Recall that the Supreme Court had ruled that it did not have jurisdiction to entertain leadership squabbles of any political party in Nigeria.

Adeleke

ICPC stalls ex-JAMB Boss, Ojerinde, 3 sons, daughter’s arraignment

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) on Friday, stalled the arraignment of a former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, (JAMB) Professor Lawrence Adedibu Ojerinde on fresh corruption charges.

This is following the anticorruption agency’s failure to serve the criminal charges on exJamb boss’s children as required by law.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami is prosecuting Ojerinde, alongside his three sons and a daughter-in-law on 17

counts of criminal charges.

Apart from Ojerinde’s children, other defendants in charge are Doyin Ogbohi Petroleum Ltd, Cheng Marbles Ltd, Sapati International Schools Ltd, Trillium Learning Centre Ltd, Standout Institutes Ltd and Esli Perfect Security Printers Ltd.

When the matter was called up, Friday, only Ojerinde was in court while his three sons, Olumide Abiodun Ojerinde, Adedayo Ojerinde and Oluwaseun Adeniyi Ojerinde and daughter- in- law, Mary Funmilola Ojerinde were absent.

The counsel to the ICPC, Mr Henry Emore, informed Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo that he had

not served the children of the former JAMB Registrar with the charges as required by law.

He subsequently applied for an adjournment to enable him put his house in order.

In the bid to rescue him out, Justice Ekwo ordered that the criminal charges be served on Ojerinde’s children in open court through their counsel, Mr Ajibola Bello which was promptly carried out.

The court however, warned that if the defendants failed to appear before it on the next adjourned date to take their plea, there shall be consequences.

Subsequently, the court adjourned to reconvene April 19, for arraignment.

2023 Polls: ACF laments deployment of ethnic, religious sentiments

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Arewa Consultative Forum

(ACF) has lamented the deployment of ethnic and religious sentiments during the just concluded elections, which has revealed that Nigeria politics is driven by these sentiments.

The Secretary General of the Forum Murtala Aliyu, who stated this in a statement titled: “Dealing with the aftermath of the 2023 elections”, and made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday, however expressed that the election was largely peaceful.

The statement reads: “History will report that the 2023 general elections that were held on the 28th of February and 18th of March, 2023, was the biggest and certainly the most keenly contested election ever to be held in Nigeria.

“The figures are tremendous: 87 million voters, 18 presidential candidates, 28 state Governors, 469 members of the National Assembly and 993 members of the State Houses of Assembly. Voting took place in 176,000 polling stations in 8,809 wards.

“Some 1.5 million political party agents were accredited to bear witness to every event. Additionally, thousands of foreign and local observers were on hand to monitor and assess the credibility of the exercise.

“True, there were difficulties and mishaps: polling stations opened late, BVAS failed to upload results real time, there was scattered violence, there was vote buying, voter intimidation,

etc. And yet, while these problems are a serious source of concern and must be investigated and addressed, they have to be viewed in their right perspectives. Where in the world do they organize perfect elections?

“The size of our operations in any event are so vast and complex that isolated incidents of this nature are impossible to prevent”.

It continues: “We are pleased to note that candidates that felt dissatisfied with the outcome of the elections, including presidential candidates of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, have resolved to go to court, not the streets, to seek redress.

“That’s the right and honourable thing to do. Unfortunately, there is one

Ramadan:

particular problem thrown up by these elections that cannot possibly be addressed by the courts.

“It is the deployment of ethnic and religious sentiments as a driver of politics in Nigeria. As we have seen in Lagos and elsewhere, ethnic and religious zealots have a way of turning political and election campaigns into life and death struggles.

“They issue threats of violence and at times actually attack supporters of rival candidates with a view to intimidating and stopping them from casting their votes. It ought not come as any surprise that voter apathy and absenteeism were unusually high in many areas – as well as why voter turnout was very low across the country”.

Furthermore, it adds “In

Lagos, where the problem created by ethnic and religious politics has continued to fester, acrimony and bad blood between Yorubas and Igbos have become a matter of concern to the security agencies. In the wake of the ethnic crisis, Yoruba and Igbo partisans freely profile one another and accuse themselves of criminal conduct, including as cheats, bandits, kidnappers, land-grabbers, etc.”

“Ironically, ethnic profiling and accusations of criminality without evidence have always been levied against hapless Northerners especially, the so-called herders or economic migrants by the South and mostly supported by the press. They stigmatized Northerners, convicting them for offences they know nothing about. Northerners

were forced to live under the shadow of guilt and criminality without trial. Perpetrators of these injustices couldn’t have known that a day such as this would come when they will inflict injustice, not on Northerners but against one another.”

“All of which underscores the very serious consequences of politics rooted in religion and tribalism. It is a political virus. Nigerians must do everything within their power to eliminate this virus and go on to inoculate ourselves against reinfection in the years to come.

“This time, it is truly a matter of life and death. Let us as Nigerians love and care for one another. Let us focus on what unites us and not our differences”.

Cleric urges CBN to improve electronic banking services

AMuslim cleric, Sheikh Yahya Al-Yolawi, on Friday in Abuja urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to improve electronic banking services to ease the lives of citizens.

Al-Yolawi, who is the Chief Imam, Jumma’at Mosque, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, made the call while delivering his Jumma’ah Sermon, entitled: “Etiquettes of Ramadan Fast’’.

He said the Muslim faithful were expected to support the needy in the society most especially during the holy month of Ramadan to ease their lives.

Al-Yolawi regretted that the

cash crunch was making life more miserable in the country.

The cleric, however, commended the CBN and the Federal Government for the recent enhanced circulation of the Naira notes in the country.

“This is to appreciate the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the recent increase in the circulation of Naira notes in the country.

“But still cash remains an expensive commodity and the issue of the network on money transfer is still something that the Federal Government needs to look into,” Al-Yolawi advised.

He called on Muslims to increase their chances of getting rewards and achieving maximum benefits of the precious month of Ramadan which comes once annually.

According to him, fasting is among the greatest things that help in controlling desires, suppressing lusts, purifying souls and restricting Muslims to what pleases Allah.

“The fasting person prevents his tongue from engaging in idle speech, abuse, defaming people, and spreading harmful backbiting and tail bearing.

“Fasting prevents the fasting person from cheating, deceit,

giving less than due, guilt, committing immorality, usury, bribery and unjustly consuming the money of people through any means or kind of fraud,’’ he said.

Al-Yolawi also emphasised the need for every Muslim to strive to feed a Muslim at the time of the breaking of fast.

“Anybody who offers meals for the breaking of the fast of another person earns the same rewards as the one who was observing the fast without taking in any way the reward of the fasting person,’’ the chief imam admonished.

(NAN)

Ojerinde

Benue guber: How Rev Fr Alia cruised to victory

By Uche Nnorom

The Benue Governorship election which result was declared on Monday March 20 by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was one of the most interesting in the country. For the first time since the inception of democracy, a winner emerged in the State even without election taking place in one local government area- Kwande. It could be recalled that election in the council was rescheduled for Tuesday March 21st, 2023 because of inadvertent mistake by the electoral umpire in deployment and distribution of electoral materials. INEC explained that it erroneously distributed materials meant for Kwande East Constituency to Kwande West and vice versa. Though, electoral materials for the Governorship election was not affected, the two had to hold simultaneously.

In declaring the results, the Commission stated explicitly that if the margin of lead by any of the candidate is above the total number of votes(172,000) expected from Kwande, they would go ahead and declare a winner.

This was the scenerio as the State Returning Officer Prof. Faruk Kuta relied on section 24 sub section 1 of the Electoral Act and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC guidelines and act in declaring Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as winner of the 2023 Governorship poll and returned him as Governor-elect for scoring majority of votes cast during the election.

It should be noted that Fr. Alia polled 473,933 votes in 17 local governemnt areas of the State to defeat his closest rival and Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP candidate, Titus Uba, who scored 223,913 while the Labor Party, LP candidate candidate Herman Hembe scored 41,881.

The local governments won by Fr. Alia included, Ado, Apa, Obi, Oju, Otukpo, Okpokwu, Ogbadibo, Ohimini, Gwest East, Ukum, Katsina-Ala, Vandeikya, Ushongo, Makurdi, Gboko, Tarka and Buruku while Uba managed to clinch 4 including GwerWest, Logo, Agatu and Guma as Hembe won only his local government area of Konshisha. Politics watchers say the just concluded elections have a semblance of the same scenerio that played out in 2015 in Benue. Recall that the then Governor, Gabriel Suswam, failed in his bid to win a senatorial seat and plant his preferred candiadte as successor. Governor Samuel Ortom was a beneficiary of the 2015 election owing to the rejection of the ruling party by the electorates in the state. The outgoing governor was earlier rejected by the PDP at the party primary even though he had served as National Auditor and later Minister for Trade and Investment in the Good luck Jonathan administration. He, however, found solace in the arms of former governor George Akume who adopted him as the opposition APC candidate against all odds, and ensured he emerged Governor of the State. The rest is now history as Ortom later dumped the party, alleging that he was given a red card by the powers that be. In spite of his switching from the APC to PDP, he was lucky to clinch a second term mandate.

For Fr. Alia, it was learnt that he had approached the PDP to fly their flag but was turned down. And yet again, Akume who is

the incumbent Minister for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs picked and offered him the APC platform to actualize his ambition. Like Ortom, Alia also, enjoyed wide acceptability in the State. But the latter had to battled stiff resistance and opposition to his choice within the APC having to weather through litigations resulting from the party’s primary that had to be conducted three times on the orders of the courts.

The election witnessed a lot of intrigues both within and outside the party and the State. There were lots of cynicism and pessimism over its possible outcome, as tantrums were freely thrown around.

The ruling PDP in the state saw the nottoo-impressive performance of the APC government at the centre as part of the baggage their Governorship candidate had to carry, and used it as a weapon of warfare against the party. Then, the issue of insecurity especially the unwanton, unprovoked killings and destruction of property as well as an alleged planned occupation of the State by herdsmen under the APC federal government was an albatross against the APC.

Abnitio, in indicating interest to contest and after resigning from the Catholic Church as a priest, Fr. Alia received a lot of fireworks and backlashes from the PDP camp. They hauled all manner of invectives on him, taunting him that he should face his pastoral calling and not delve into politics, even as they questioned his acclaimed healing powers. Alia was, however, underrated, though a political neophyte, throwing his hat into the ring for the first time.

At his emergence on the political scene , big wigs in the APC including the former Attorney-General.and Minister for Justice, Mike Aondoakaa, SAN; Chief (Sen.) Barnabas Gemade, a former Minister for Works and National Chairman of PDP and Terhemba Shija, a one time member of the House of Representatives and Commissioner for Information in the State were embittered and approached the court to have him disqualified. Their bitterness stemmed from the fact that, they had invested huge sums of money in the party only for a new entrant to be picked as the party’s flag bearer in addition to their rejection of the conduct of the primaries through direct method. These top personalities were even regarded as moles working for the PDP to scuttle and hurt the chances of the APC in winning the election. All pleas and interventions from several quarters both within and outside the State to make them rescind their decisions fell on deaf ears as they went the whole horde but eventually lost the bid to stop the priest.

Politics watchers also believed that the ruling PDP also had its share of misfortunes which arose from the conduct of its primary. Many members of the party believed that their candidate was literally imposed on them, and that It did not reflect the will and expectations of the party faithful. In fact, it took a lot of efforts in convincing those who also aspired to be candidate of the party in accepting Uba after their primary.

Aside from the hurdles arosing from the party primary, the division in party at the national level had its toll on the PDP abymal performace at the just concluded election in Benue. Governor Samuel Ortom was a pivotal and strategic member of the G-5 also known as the “Integriry Group” that insisted that the National Chairman of the Party Dr. Iyorchia

Ayu whom had worked so hard to install, should resigned following Atiku Abubakar’s emergence as PDP Presidential candidate from the North. According to them, Ayu no longer had authority to remain as the PDP chairman sin e he’s also of northern stalk as Atiku especially for the purpose of regional balancing.

Govermor Ortom’s stand and firm support for the Labor Party, LP Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, caused a sharp division in the state chapter of the party as all the three senators Suswam, Abba Moro sand Orker Jev as well as several other top-notch members of the party disagreed with his new choice and clung to Atiku. As it is said, a divided house cannot stand and this may, no doubt, have contributed to PDP’s woefully performance in the Presidential election. All efforts the party made to amend their errors before the March 18th rescheduled Governorship polls, proved abortive.

Also, certain factors like non payment of salary arrears, pension and gratuities as well as the perceived infrastructural deficit in the state contributed significantly to PDP’s loss in the Governorshipelection.

For the Governor-elect, expectations are high and he seemed to have this burden. In his victory speech, Fr. Alia pledged to reset governance in the State.

He regretted that governance in the State has hit a historic low, stressing that his election is a mandate to reform and recalibrate governance in Benue.

While dedicating the victory to all Benue people especially those who had thirst for the dividends of democracy, Fr.Alia assured that by the victory, the liberation the people have all yearned for is at hand.

The clergy man promised that his administration will clear the backlog of arrears of salaries, and pensions and gratuities, resettle IDPs to their ancestral homes, address persistent insecurity challenges and set the stage for a prosperous Benue.

“We need to set the foundations for a strong economy. And on top of that, we need to start building an economy of the future based on skills and talents, education and the application of technology; knowing that the

forces of global competition and technology mean that we can only compete based on skills and talents. Let us unlock our wealth.

“Let us begin by embracing a new way of thinking and action – by cultivating a new ethos that expresses the best of us, that brings forth our better angels and not our best demons.

“The smallness of unending political recriminations and willful economic sabotage must give way to accommodation and the pursuit of loftier ideals.

“There is a lot we can achieve through consensus and synergy. Our points of difference cannot be greater than the things that unite us.

“Let us resolve, walk and work together as one people united by a common destiny. We, the people of Benue through this victory, have taken a new step in a new direction.

“We have voted to realize the vision of their founding fathers

– the vision of a peaceful and buoyant society where both indigene and settler, the rich and the not-so-rich will engage in the pursuit of happiness unhindered.

“We have voted to defeat the politics of backwardness, hate and division, in preference for a social contract that enhances our common brotherhood and adds value to lives.

“I recognize what an enormous privilege and honor it is to be trusted with the government of the State especially at this time and am deeply conscious of it. I would like to say that God does not call the qualified! He qualifies the called.

“Never in my life have I seen a people express their desires and wishes so passionately as I saw from you in this election.

“The volunteers who came together under various support groups; those who travelled to all nooks and crannies of our State to knock on doors; the poll watchers who stayed vigilant to ensure that our votes were counted; every one of you! You all are the true heroes of this victory, and your names will be written in gold in the annals of our State.

“It has been a remarkable and historic victory for our Party,the All Progressives Congress (APC). I am in no doubt at all about the enormity of the challenges that lie ahead and what this victory means in the face of these challenges.

“I take this opportunity to appreciate the Leader of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue state, Senator Dr.George Akume, who has remained strong like the Rock of Gibraltar and guided us along the path to this happy moment.

“I would like to congratulate my opponents from the other parties for making it an interesting contest. BUT the anxious period of politicking is over. Now is the time to unite and face the challenges of development.

“We need all hands, all good and ready hands, to be on deck. We need men and women whom the spoils of office cannot buy. We need all who believe that a new Benue is possible.

“And let the word go out to all the ends of the earth, that a people, through this election, have risen from the ashes of deprivation and depression and are marching in lockstep towards their rightful place in the hall of greatness”, Alia stated confidently.

Rev Fr Alia

INEC’s declaration of Adamawa state governorship election as inconclusive has heightened anxiety among citizens as they may have to wait longer than expected for the conclusion of the exercise, Our Adamawa Correspondent, Umar Dankano reports

The declaration of the March 18 Governorship election as “inconclusive”by the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC in Adamawa state has thrown the incumbent Governor and Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, and Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani of the All Progressives Congress, APC, with their teeming supporters into confusion as either of them was optimistic of winning the gubernatorial race.

Before the one week shift of the Governorship and State Assembly elections originally scheduled for March 11, all the governorship candidates appeared fully prepared for the polls until the court order obtained by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi seeking to inspect the materials used for the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections came, shattering the anxiety of the guber candidates. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was eventually forced to change the earlier date fixed for the election.

The postponement was viewed by some political pundits as an advantage to candidates who would then have the ample chance to cover areas yet to be touched with their campaigns. Yet, others saw the development as disadvantageous due to unforeseen financial burdens that may be involved after much financial commitments had been made, despite the cash crunch in the country imposed by the Federal Government cashless policy that has made life increasingly difficult.

But the anxiety created by the one week shift in the polls is nothing compared to the current seeming endless wait for the people of Adamawa state following the declaration of the electoral exercise as inconclusive by the INEC. As at the time of filing this report which is about one week after the election, no date has been fixed for the conclusion of voting in Adamawa.

Announcing the results of the governorship election from the 21 local government areas in the state, Professor Mohammed Lamin Mele had explained that the number of cancelled votes exceeded the difference between the two leading candidates of PDP and APC in the contest.

Professor Mele advanced that cancellation of ballots was recorded in 47 Registration Areas with 41,796 registered voters which is higher than the margin of 31,249 between the people’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri who polled 421,524 and that of the All Progressives Congress(APC) who scored 390,275 votes thereby declaring the election inconclusive.

Mele further announced that,the total number of registered voters stood at 2,196,566 while accredited voters were 859,964 noting that the number of total valid votes was 837,820 as rejected votes recorded was 14,888, with total votes cast put at 852,748.

The context was seen as a battle of supremacy between the power of

Guber polls: Waiting game in Adamawa amid heightening anxiety

outcome ‘inconclusive’ which changed the joyous atmosphere in the government house to that of uncertainty and deep seated melancholy.

Another contentious issue that heightened tension during the exercise was a leaked audio where voices purported to be those of the Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of Adamawa State, Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari and the Returning Officer, Fufore Local Government Area, Dr.Bashir Danejo allegedly discussing on how to favour one of the contenders in the governorship election.

Campaign council of the People’s Democratic Party had at a press conference on penultimate Thursday in Yola called on the national headquarters of the INEC to quickly remove the embattled REC accusing him of compromising the electoral process.

incumbency and the popularity and appeal of a female senator as the two camps braced up for an epic battle. There was high optimism by supporters of the two major gladiators that their candidate would emerge victorious in the gubernatorial race.

Senator Binani camp’s optimism is said to be buoyed by the well known presidential backing and a huge financial war chest allegedly made possible by the support of some Federal Government agencies as alluded to by the Chief Collation/Returning agent of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Alhaji Abdulwahab AbdulRahaman while addressing a press conference at the INEC collation centre recently. He claimed that some federal government agencies including NBC,Central Bank and security agencies among others had deployed huge human and material resources to aid the actualization of Binani’s governorship ambition.

“While NBC ensures that she had free access to media broadcasting houses,her opponents were for the most part denied such free access.While the CBN ensures she’s supplied of cash of new Naira notes,the security agencies guard and protect her votes-buying scheme,INEC undertakes her bids through out the electioneering process,including recruiting and posting of Ad-hoc and official staff throughout the state.

“What we have seen in the last Saturday’s elections is that ‘might is right’ and ‘the end justifies the means’, as the process was characterized by massive and widespread rigging,voter suppression,votes-buying,

thuggery,ballot-box snatching,us of security personnel to perpetrate evil,INEC officials stuffing ballot boxes with ballot papers pre-thump-printed by them .

“Hence,the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Adamawa state were not free fair and credible and fall terribly below minimum standards of democratic election”.Abdulwahab had alleged.

On the other hand, it was believed that Governor Fintiri went into the context with the power of incumbency at his disposal, a well oiled political machinery and a huge financial war chest which he deployed effectively to his advantage.

The Governor (Fintiri) was so much optimism of victory to the extent he prepared his acceptance speech which he intended to deliver after presumed announcement of his victory.His media aides who also believed that their boss was coasting to victory as INEC announced results of 20 out of 21 local government areas went on jubilation spree as they awaited the announcement of their Boss by INEC as the winner .

One of the Governor’s aides who pleaded for anonymity said the Fintiri’s camp went into jubilations after the INEC accepted the contentious Fufore LGA results that had became a subject of controversy between the two camps.

It was also learned that Fintiri who was seemingly on edge and and palpable anxiety had to shed tears of joy when the Fufore LGA results were eventually accepted and counted by the INEC. But a sudden twist occurred. Instead of him to be announced as the winner of the gubernatorial contest, INEC declared the

Deputy Director General (South) of the council, Hon.Felix Tangwami said the council had it on a reliable source that the Adamawa state REC submitted to INEC headquarters 77 polling units that were said to be cancelled instead of the declared 69 poling units by the collation officer, Professor Mohammed Lamin Mele at the collation centre on Sunday 19th March when the process was rendered inconclusive.

“We want to categorically state that this will not be accepted and it will be resisted and we shall ask our lawyers to make sure Adamawa state is not taken for granted.It is a fact that we have been provoked ,blackmailed,some attacked and injured which should have let to a serious conflict.

“We also call on all Election observers and monitors,the press,NBA and the public to pressure INEC to investigate what we now term “HUDU YUNUSA’S Election Manipulation theory “ and quickly remove him from Adamawa state as we have lost confidence in him as an empire because he is no longer independent but dependent”.The council demanded.

Contacted on the allegation of additional polling units not declared at the collation centre, Information officer of INEC in the state,Dahiru Jauro said the commission had not communicated any circular regarding the conduct of the supplementary election not to talk of any additional polling units.

Adding his voice to the lingering matter, Former Vice President and PDP president candidate,Atiku Abubakar while addressing the media in Yola Monday cautioned INEC on the implications of delaying the outcome of the election which according to him may be dangerous to the growth of democracy in the country.

Abubakar counselled the election umpire to do the needful without further delay so that the winner can be given his mandate with a view to facing governance to forge ahead democratically.

But for now, the waiting game continues amid anxiety as INEC is not forthcoming on the date the exercise will be concluded.

“ One of the Governor’s aides who pleaded for anonymity said the Fintiri’s camp went into jubilations after the INEC accepted the contentious Fufore LGA results that had became a subject of controversy between the two camps

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri

Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani

Politics over, support Peter Mbah – Exlawmaker, Ogbuabor begs opposition

By Christiana Ekpa

Aformer member of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Emeka Ogbuabor has urged opposition political parties in Enugu State to sheath their sword and support Barr. Peter Mbah, the winner of the Enugu State governorship election.

The independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had announced Mbah winner after polling 160, 895 votes against the Labour Party candidate, Chijioke Edeoga who garnered 157, 552 votes.

Already, the LP candidate, Edeoga, the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, candidate, Mr. Frank Nweke jnr, as well as the Action Alliance, AA, have all rejected the outcome of the polls.

However, while addressing journalists on Friday, Ogbuabor, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, congratulated Mbah, urging aggrieved politicians to support him in order to move the state forward.

Ogbuabor is also the National Convener, Eha-Amufu Leaders of Thought.

He said, “We want to use this opportunity also to congratulate other candidates who participated in the governorship election, especially our son and brother, Hon Barr Chijioke Edeoga, Okaome, for a truly gallant and stellar outing.

“No candidate lost in the true sense of democracy. Everyone won. Enugu won. It is human to aspire, but it is divine to be returned elected.

“We call on other contestants and their supporters to see the emergence of Dr Peter Mbah as divine, sheath their swords, and embrace Dr Mbah’s hands of fellowship. Politics is over. The time for governance is now. Peace is a fundamental prerequisite for good governance.

“No State can attain development without peace. We must acknowledge that no individual’s interest is bigger than the collective interest of the State.

“We must also remember that Nigerians are now better aware and politicians who are entrusted with leadership must live up to the expectations or be voted out after four years.

“Therefore, we concur with

the Governor-elect when he urged his colleagues at the poll, to ‘come together and give our people a tomorrow that befits their hard work, industry and ancestry of greatness.’”

Ogbuabor, who is EhaAmufu, in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, expressed optimism that Mbah would take the state to another level.

He said during Mbah’s campaign, “he canvassed issues that touch the root of our people’s lives including health,

education, water, infrastructure, energy costs, digital innovation, employment opportunities, economic development and good governance.

“It is now time for ‘Peter to go work’. It is now the time to translate your manifesto into a State Strategic Development Plan with clear targets, roles and responsibilities, timelines, and key performance indicators with which the people can hold you accountable in the following four years.

“The expectations are great! Given your miraculous performance in your private enterprise, we have no doubt, whatsoever, that you will exceed the standards of the people’s expectations.

“Thankfully, in your acceptance speech as is the case in your manifesto, you committed to be our Governor; and not to serve any sectional interest. You committed to rise above the emotions, politics, and other mundane divides to

serve our people with utmost dedication and diligence. We urge you to do so, especially in Isi-Uzo.

“Because you commit to be our governor, we shall also be your people. We shall follow you. We shall support you. We shall cooperate with you. We shall collaborate with you.

“Together, Enugu will be great again. And the people, shall once again, have a toothy smile irrespective of their geopolitical diversity,” he added.

Don’t disappoint Abia – Azubuike Eberechi Dick to Abia Governor-elect, Alex Otti

By Musa Baba Adamu

AChieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Azubuike Eberechi-Dick has tasked the governor-elect of Abia State, Alex Otti to ensure he keeps the promises made to his people.

While congratulating the governor-elect over his victory at the polls, Azubuike in a statement released on Friday, March 24, said Otti’s victory is a reflection of the will of the people and the strength of the nation’s democratic process.

Azubuike urged Otti to

ensure that the hopes of Abians and their desire for economic, infrastructural and social development is actualised.

He said, despite the challenges witnessed during the polls, Otti must begin a reconciliation process and champion a muchneeded inclusive government that will benefit all residents of Abia state.

He congratulated the governor-elect on his resilience to pursue his mandate to the end – victory – and urged him to seek everything rightly belonging to the Abia people at the federal

level.

The statement said, “I want to congratulate our governor-elect, Alex Otti for his victory at the 2023 governorship polls conducted in Abia state on Saturday, March 18.

“I salute his resilience and interest in the welfare of Abia people but he must understand that Ndi Abia are looking for an unprecedented change that would bring a better standard of living to their doorsteps.

“I also enjoin the governorelect to ensure the bring everybody to the table in order to facilitate an economic boom in the state.

Kaduna AA guber candidate, Timothy Adamu congratulates governor-elect Sani

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in the just concluded governorship election in Kaduna State, Timothy Adamu, has congratulated Senator Uba Sani, the governorelect.

Adamu, in a statement he personally issued, said, “I call on

other candidates to come together and support Senator Uba Sani. Remember God gives power to whomsoever He wishes and whenever He wishes. Let’s eschew all forms of bitterness and unite for the progress of our dear state.”

He stated that all hands must be on deck for the peaceful coexistence and development of the state to greater heights in all

spheres of life.

He thanked the good people of Kaduna for ensuring peace before, during and after the elections, saying that the governor-elect needs the support of all to achieve the desired result.

He also called on other political parties in the state to rally round the incoming government to ensure rapid development

in Kaduna and ensure peace is sustained for people to go about their normal lives.

According to him, “I earnestly want to thank the members of Action Alliance for the support shown to me and my running mate throughout the period of the electioneering campaign up to the election itself.”

Adeleke/Oyetola: Security tighten in Osogbo as A/Court delivers judgment

By Christiana Ekpa

Security has been heightened in Osogbo, the Osun State capital as the Appellate court delivered judgment on the appeal filed by the Osun Governor, Ademola Adeleke against the tribunal judgment which favoured former governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.

On Friday in Osogbo, there was a heavy presence of security personnel in strategic locations across the town.

Armed Policemen were stationed at the Secretariats of the All Progressives Congress (APC)

along the Gbongan-Ibadan road, Osogbo and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) around Biket area, Ikirun-Osogno road.

Also, there was a heavy security presence at the Imole House campaign headquarters of the state governor, Ademola Adeleke and the Tinubu-Shettima campaign office all in Osogbo.

The presence of armed security personnel was to prevent any breakdown of law Roadblocks were also mounted at the Olaiya flyover, Oke-Fia, Ayetoro and Stadium roundabout.

Recall that in July 2022, Ademola Adeleke of the PDP

defeated Adegboyega Oyetola of the APC and the incumbent governor.

Displeased with the outcome of the election, Oyetola filed an Appeal at the justice Tertsea Kume-led Osun gubernatorial election petition tribunal.

The Tribunal after months of seating in a split judgement of 2 to 1 on January 27, 2023, ruled in favour of Oyetola.

The Tribunal sacked Adeleke based on irregularities in 744 polling units across ten local government areas of the state.

In cancelling the alleged illegal votes and declaring Oyetola the

winner on legally valid votes, it ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Adeleke and re-issue it to Oyetola.

Displeased with the verdict, Adeleke and INEC approached the Appeal court to set aside the judgement and affirmed his victory.

But in a ruling delivered by a three-man Appeal Court panel on Friday, Governor Ademola Adeleke was declared the winner of the election based on information generated by the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BIVAS.

Alex Otti

POLITICS

Why Peter Obi defeated Tinubu in FCT – Senator-elect Kingibe

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator-elect, Ireti Kingibe has claimed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, won in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) because it is difficult to rig in the city.

Obi floored Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Bola Tinubu of All Progressives Congress, APC, to win the FCT during the February 25 presidential election.

Speaking on Friday, Kingibe noted that the LP worked hard

to make sure Obi polled over 25 percent of the votes in the FCT.

“FCT is unique in that 75 percent of the electorate are you and I. Even [in] the days of big card readers and paper voter cards, FCT has always been a very difficult place to rig at the polling units.

“I think my votes would have been a lot more. But at the end of the day you can only do those things at the collation centre,” Kingibe said.

Obi secured 281, 717 votes in the FCT, while Tinubu got 90, 902 votes and Atiku scored 74, 194 votes.

Our people-given mandate stands – PDP

replies Edeoga, Nweke

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Enugu State Campaign Council has dismissed the statements by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate, Mr. Frank Nweke, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga,

deprecating the outcome of the 2023 governorship election in the state, insisting that the people of Enugu State rose above clan, religious denomination, and party divides to elect the PDP candidate, Dr. Peter Mbah, as the best-prepared for the job.

The Campaign Council said if any party should complain bitterly, it was indeed the PDP,

which was manifestly rigged out in several local government areas where the election was militarised against their supporters, despite being the ruling party.

The PDP said it was instructive that neither Nweke nor Edeoga uttered a word of condemnation when LP’s senator-elect for Enugu North senatorial district,

Taraba PDP appoints Bawa as chairman

By Musa Baba

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State has appointed Abubakar Bawa, as the new chairman of the Party.

Before his appointment, Bawa was the Special Adviser on political matters to the State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku.

Bawa took over the party’s mantle of leaders on Friday from the Acting Chairman, Inuwa Bakari.

Chief Okey Ezea, openly declared the governorship election a “door-die” affair in a viral video and also urged the youths to prepare themselves for the planned onslaught against the PDP.

The party spoke in Enugu through the Director of Communications/Spokesperson of the Campaign Council, Nana Ogbodo, on Friday.

Enugu guber: We won’t allow illegitimate victory, APGA’s Nweke vows

By Christiana Ekpa

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in last Saturday’s governorship election in Enugu State, Mr. Frank Nweke has rejected the declaration of Barr. Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the winner of the polls.

Nweke, who came third in the election, behind Barr. Chijioke Edeoga of the Labour Party, said the exercise was fraught with irregularities.

While describing the election as an assault on democracy, the APGA candidate said he would explore all legal means to ensure that a legitimate government is put in place in the state.

He said the election witnessed a multitude of infringements on the people’s democratic process democratic and an assault on their desires and hope for a great state.

Nweke accused both the PDP and LP of engaging in vote-

buying the elections, alleging that votes were bought for as low as N2,000 and a plate of rice.

He ruled out any form of congratulatory message to the winner of the election.

“I often said during my campaign that I would offer my congratulations and best wishes to whoever emerged in a fair and transparent manner. This election was far from fair and certainly, not transparent.

“The violence, thuggery, intimidation, use of divisive sentiments, and the weaponization of poverty against our people, which the Peoples Democratic Party deployed in the course of the campaign and the elections reflect the desperation of the Party to hold on to power against the will of the people. It was never about service or the good of ndi Enugu; and the impunity with which these wicked acts were carried out is sickening.

“Very early in the morning of Saturday, March 18, town

criers travelled through several communities in Enugu state ordering anyone who would not vote in favour of the People’s Democratic Party to stay home.

“The House of Assembly candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance for Udenu Constituency was attacked and almost killed on the morning of the election, while five polling units within his jurisdiction were cordoned off by police and military officers,” he said.

He further alleged that “at various polling units across the State, PDP thugs, party members, hired criminals and some compromised members of the police and military threatened voters at polling units and chased those who could not be bought over or intimidated into voting for the PDP.

“In Nsukka, voters recorded and reported gunshots at polling units allegedly instigated by the Labour Party.

“The most vulnerable and impoverished became prey to

vote buying by the People’s Democratic Party and the Labour Party with as little as N500 or packets of noodles in some places.

“At Udenu, both parties competed for the votes of our people with N2,000, a plate of Jollof rice, Okpa, and a bottle of soda.

“I feel ashamed that this is what our people are worth to some who seek to lead them.”

He claimed further that the PDP also secured the assistance of the INEC agents to rig the election, offering cash or issuing threats as the situation demanded.

“Only a few polling unit agents uploaded their results directly on IREV as provided by INEC, and fake result sheets were used to rewrite and manipulate the results of vote counts at the polling units before the falsified results of the elections were uploaded to the IREV. Some of these result sheets are also completely blurred on the portal.

Speaking shortly after his announcement as the party chairman, Bawa called on the party’s faithful to unite and give the much needed helping hand to the incoming governor, Agbu Kefas.

The new chairman who vowed to operate an open door policy, reiterated his commitment to carrying all the party’s members along and affirmed his readiness to work closely with the party’s executive at both the state and the national levels.

He said, “I have been a member of PDP since 1999 when the return of democracy in Nigeria, I never for once defected to any political party, I am PDP and PDP is me”.

Bawa said, “I know all the members of the party in the state, for me as the state chairman, I promise to do my best for the progress of our party and Taraba state in particular.”

Citing the just concluded general election where the Party emerged victorious in the state, PDP in Tarab, he said “have been winning the governor seat and senate” stressing that “we must remain together in order for us to bring the desired dividends of democracy to our people.”

Tinubu Obi

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EDITORIAL

Leading by example from Downing Street

The United Kingdom Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, recently was fined by the British police for not wearing a seatbelt in the back of a moving car while on a trip to northern England. Sunak was seen turning in his seat without a seatbelt on. The PM’s office at Downing Street said the incident was a “brief error of judgment”, but Lancashire constabulary announced they were fining Sunak for the infraction.

The force said: “You will be aware that a video has been circulating on social media showing an individual failing to wear a seatbelt while a passenger in a moving car in Lancashire. After looking into this matter, we issued a 42-year-old man from London with a conditional offer of fixed penalty.”

Reacting, a spokesperson for Sunak said: “The prime minister fully accepts this was a mistake and has apologised. He will, of course, comply with the fixed penalty.” A fixed penalty means Sunak can pay a fine to avoid a court hearing. The police did not disclose how much they had fined the prime minister, but according to the government’s safety campaign, any driver or passenger not wearing a seatbelt is breaking the law and is liable to be fined up to £500 if the case goes to court, according to The Guardian UK.

Sunak’s transportation habits were already a talking point in the United Kingdom before the incident, a report by AFP says. His political rivals have taken aim at his use of a private jet to make multiple short flights in recent days. This is not the first time Sunak has been slapped with a police fine. He was fined while serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer for attending a Downing Street party in June 2020 that violated the government’s rules on social distancing, according to an AFP report.

The latest fine makes Sunak the second Conservative prime minister to receive a police fine in less than 12 months. The Metropolitan police, in 2020, issued a fixed-penalty notice to Boris Johnson for attending a party during lockdown. Sunak was fined for attending the same event as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The prime minister of a powerful country fined for not wearing a seatbelt! Points to note. Firstly, the police didn’t identify him by his position. They only said “an individual”, “a 42-year-old man from London”. They were simply reminding everyone that the law is no respecter of position and all are equal before the law. Secondly, the prime minister readily accepted he was at fault and would pay the “fixed penalty” the police had slapped on him. “The prime minister fully accepts this was a mistake and has apologised”, his office said.

Fast track to Nigeria or another Third World nation. It is unheard of that the police have found a prime minister/ President guilty of offence and penalized them. The police, by their training, are taught certain stereotypes, including the law is not meant for the powerful but the weak. This confers on the latter a certain degree of impunity to break the law and damn the consequence. Indeed,there will be no consequence because no crime has been committed as far as the police are concerned.

This is why the British case has fascinated millions of Nigerians. Yes, Muhammadu Buhari refused to drive through the “stop” red light after he was elected president in 2015. He would not begin his presidency with a blatant breach of a traffic law. But he only was/is one in a million that would respect the law. Will the British example ever happen in Nigeria any time sooner. Your guess!

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OPINION

Good Governance in Nigeria: How sure with our democratic practice?

By Clement Uwayah

The inability to manage election processes have constantly given room for the emergence of persons that are not only undeserving but also undesired by the people. We have been drifting at a fast rate and not quite far from actually being in kakistocracy, because the processes of emergence have always been nothing short of criminal. No criminal process could be expected to produce our desired quality leaders.

Every society needs proper coordination to harness its resources for purposeful living of the people. An uncoordinated society is both unsafe and unfit for human habitation. The collective effort of such coordination is what is referred to as governance. So, governance is actually as old as humanity. It started getting complex with passing times, as the world expanded. And, given the human nature, it was certain that governance would naturally be tough. This owes to the fact that life is highly dynamic, and the actors themselves (the leaders and the followers) cannot be exonerated from tendencies that are at cross-purposes to expectations. Thus, governance may not fulfil expectations until it becomes good, and it would fail to become good until there are deliberate measures put in place. Achievement of good governance in any nation or society is both worked out and worked for; it is one that requires paying the price to get the prize.

It is a common knowledge that democracy has become the most popular form of government throughout the world. Its uniqueness takes root from the fact that the people are ‘supposedly’ involved in the processes of the leadership emergence through the polls, amongst other procedures. However, and unfortunately too, the outcomes of polls have very often and painfully been restricted to the ones from the pool that have been pre-determined by the political class. The ease at continually achieving this had stemmed from the visible collective amnesia and complacency of the people. The political class who have turned politrickstars and `polienterpreneurs’ out of their self-serving tendencies and inclinations, created scenarios that continues to erode the credibility and confidence of elections at the polls. Given the perennial inability of the polls to avail us the much-needed quality leadership we seek, it is indeed very difficult to believe that democracy really holds the ace to our desired good governance. Definitely, our “democratic” governance has failed in all good governance parameters and measurements. It has continuously failed in getting Nigeria out of the sundry negative situations of economic quagmire, societal milieu, insecurities, and all others. In essence, the absence of guaranteed good governance results from our democratic government failures, which no doubt results from criminalized electoral processes. Without doubts, what we are having now is not far from kleptocracy or kakistocracy. This is where it should be a major concern to all, even those benefiting and defending the ugly situations at hand. Nigeria’s democratic experience is definitely at parallel lines with good governance, hence an undesirable form of government for us as a people.

In desiring good governance, it is absolutely necessary to state categorically, that government is just one of the actors of governance. There are several other actors in governance. These include the Media, Military, Multi-national donors, Multinational Corporations, Cooperatives, NGO’s, Research Institutes, Political parties, Finance Institutions, Religious leaders, Lobbyists, Associations etc. Besides the government itself and the military, all other actors are grouped as part of ‘civil society’. So, governance must be seen as a collective and aggregate effort of every citizen and not the government alone. The glory or blames of the outcomes of governance in every society must be shared among the various actors, though the government takes the bulk, being more of the anchor and in position to institute changes than other actors. To ascertain whether or not a society is having good governance, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in its Governance for Sustainable Human Development agenda of 1997, adopted 8 factors: Participation, Rule of Law, Transparency, Responsiveness, Consensus Oriented, Equity and Inclusiveness, Effectiveness and Efficiency, and Accountability. A critical analysis of these factors or parameters indicates that Nigeria is far from having good governance.

How well have we faired in our democratic practices, especially with regard to its most common feature of electing leaders through the polls? It has been a case of going from bad to worse. The impunity that trails elections is both terrible and horrible. No doubts, the 2023 general elections have revealed that nothing works in Nigeria. In describing the various situation reports, Reuben Abati of the Arise TV Station tweeted on 19th March, thus, “What just happened in Nigeria? An election or a burlesque? Even Masquerades voted. Touts and thugs replaced Electoral Commission and took charge. Shame on INEC and our security agencies for turning our country into a comedy station of the world”. He was absolutely right. We are witnessing a variant of democracy where political power is acquired by brute force through dubious electoral processes supervised by INEC, to govern a largely pauperized and conquered people at the detriment of national growth and development, in what is unarguably a Dem-all-crazy show. Very definitely, what we are now having is a “Demo-crazy Nigeriana”, as rightly captured by Dr Tony Agbons of the Institute of Leadership and Good Governance, in his own assessment of the ugly situation that meets the elections. Very definitely, our democratic practices is such that one can only describe it as being at parallel lines to the realization of good governance. And unfortunately, our penchant at trivializing very critical issues makes our country a sure theatre of absurdities. We turn every situation around to become a comedy. A land of comedy we are in, and why not, it has opened doors for skit makers and musical artistes. Even among the leaders, some have long become clowns, either by their brazen lies, defenses of the undefendable, or by their unashamed conducts. And, na pipo papa dem bi o. But shall we continue like this? Certainly, no.

Clement Uwayah, a public affairs commentator, writes from Edo state.

Threat of thuggery to Nigerian democracy

By Abdulkadir Salaudeen

What about the Adamawa political thugs?

They belong to Aishatu Binani’s APC and Ahmadu Fintiri’s PDP. They are ruthless too in their political thuggery. What I really don’t understand in Adamawa’s inconclusive election is who is actually rigging the election. And if the election is not being rigged as alleged by the two leading parties, why is winner not declared. Obviously PDP is leading.

The presidential election was said to be relatively peaceful. Though the outcome of the election is challenged and may be fiercely challenged in a long legal battle, the fact remains that it is not characterized by the degree of violence that Nigerians are accustomed to. I consider this a plus to Nigerian adult but crawling democracy. However, the gubernatorial election last Saturday sent us a caveat: “not yet uhuru.” So, we have be very careful. Contextually, democracy is still a dangerous system and a sad experience in Nigeria.

Thuggery almost played official roles in the recently semi-concluded gubernatorial election in Nigeria. Semi-concluded since Adamawa and few other states were declared inconclusive. Thugs are not just thugs in our thuggish democracy; they are political actors that must be reckoned with. This is not to say their roles should be appreciated, it is just to acknowledge the existential threat thuggery poses to Nigerian democracy which could be best described as a thuggish democracy.

Thugs, in most case, are mobilized to disrupt or rig election in favour of their benefactors. They are also mobilized to foment trouble and create political instability by some desperate political office seekers when they are defeated in election. This is not the case in Kano State. Thugs in Kano State are pitiably different. The Kwankwasiyyah’s NNPP won the gubernatorial election in Kano though the incumbent APC government has challenged the victory. It is surprising to observe that despite the NNPP’s victory, Kwankwasiyyah thugs settled for violence. The best they could do to celebrate their party’s victory is to unleash violence on innocent citizens.

It is not that all Kano thugs are supporters of NNPP. The ruling APC party in Kano State does have its thugs. But it is unfathomable and unexplainable that the only way to celebrate victory is to be trigger-happy by demonstrating competency and extraordinariness in inflicting violence. Car classes were smashed in celebration. It does not matter, to these thugs, whether these cars belong to NNPP supporters or not. Worst of it, the house of a famous musician, Dauda Kahutu Rarara, was burnt. His crime? He composed a song in support of APC. These thugs, in their rabid madness, think it is a crime to support APC against NNPP in Kano.

I don’t know which is worse between the thugs in Kano and those in Lagos State. Though, they exhibited their madness differently. While those in Kano became more active after winning election, those in Lagos were more active before and during the election. There is this debate about gubernatorial election in Lagos. Was the election conducted by INEC officials or by Lagos thugs (also known as agberos)?It is difficult to tell actually. What is very glaring was voters’ intimidation and suppression. This intimidation was glaringly against the Igbos and all other nonYoruba ethnic groups who were thought to be sympathetic to the Labour Party.

If anyone thinks Labour Party is an ethnic party, that doesn’t make it undemocratic. Political parties, right from historical Nigeria, were formed along ethnic line. The post independence Chief Awolowo’s Action Group in Nigeria is a Yoruba party. If that was not a misnomer, the Labour

Party, even if it is an Igbo party as alleged cannot be a misnomer. For the fear of a repeated defeat and shame witnessed during the presidential election where the Lagos god was defeated, Lagos thugs committed all sorts of atrocities against the Igbos. The major crime of the Igbos was that they disobediently committed deicide (the killing of god) by defeating Tinubu in Lagos.

Not only that, idolaters in Lagos resorted to fetishism. Fetishistic rites (like Oro) was observed in some parts of Lagos on the eve of election. During the ritual of Oro, it is mandatory for females and non-natives to stay indoor. This was allegedly aimed at the Igbos. Did you see any videos of the Oro? You will observe that those behind it were probably comedians and thugs. In his column titled “The Cults of Lagos”, Suyi Ayodele of the Tribune Newspaper said he laughed heartily when he watched some of the videos. Reading that article, one who knows Oro in Yoruba tradition will easily conclude that the Oro is as charade as the gubernatorial election in Lagos state is.

What about the threat of MC Oluomo—the chief of agbero—in Lagos that no Igbo should come out to vote? The Police discarded it as a joke, not a threat. One point here: the thugs (agbero) in Lagos have leaders and they are stupendously rich and officially empowered. One of such is the so-called MC Oluomo. I am not aware if thugs in Kano have official toga or stupendously rich. Lagos gubernatorial election is a charade. All hands were on deck to ensure that “outsiders” and “invaders” did not, as they put it, “hijack Lagos.” This is cowardice. The clerical class (the alfas) which I consider innocent were drawn into it. They were used to deceive Lagosian Mulsims that voting Sanwo-olu (a Christian) is consolidating Muslim-Muslim ticket. Thugs too were used to consolidate Muslim-Muslim ticket. Idolaters too, through their Oro festival, were employed to consolidate Muslim-Muslim ticket.

These clerics (alfas), known for integrity, will definitely cringe at the rate of voters’ intimidation during the election except if their integrity is fake and questionable. I also believe if some of these Muslim clerics had known that fetishistic festival like Oro and thugs will be employed to consolidate the so-called Muslim-Muslim ticket, they would have probably distanced themselves from being partisan. The question is: how do partisan clerics speak truth to power? Don’t forget that some of these clerics are the source of spiritual powers to some of these Lagos thugs. Political thuggery in Lagos, and else where in Nigeria, indeed paints Nigeria as a democratic basket case.

What about the Adamawa political thugs? They belong to Aishatu Binani’s APC and Ahmadu Fintiri’s PDP. They are ruthless too in their political thuggery. What I really don’t understand in Adamawa’s inconclusive election is who is actually rigging the election. And if the election is not being rigged as alleged by the two leading parties, why is winner not declared. Obviously PDP is leading. It is either Aishatu Binani lost the election, and there is plan to make her the winner by all means to break the ceiling glass. In that case, she will be the first elected female governor in Nigeria. Or she actually won the election but there are plans to rig it against her not to emerge as female governor by some cultural and religious forces. INEC is advised not to take side. It should be transparent and declare the true winner as winner. Let’s see how things pan out.

At any rate, something decisively must be done to put a stop to political thuggery and all other thuggeries in Nigeria. Our democracy must not be thuggish.

Abdulkadir Salaudeen can be reached at salahuddeenabdulkadir@gmail.com

Sim Card Registration: NCC to arrest, prosecute defaulters

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said it will arrest and prosecute any individual or group involved in the sales and use of pre-registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards in Nigeria.

Reuben Muoka, the director of public affairs, NCC, in a statement on Wednesday said the resolution is in line with the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 and the Nigerian Communications Commission (Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations)

2011.

“In line with the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 and the Nigerian Communications Commission (Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations) 2011, any individual or group involved in the sales and use of pre-registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards, will be arrested, and prosecuted, and if found culpable, will be made to face the full weight of the law,” Mr Muoka said.

He said in keeping with its powers under the act, the commission regularly undertakes monitoring and enforcement activities to ensure that all stakeholders comply with extant laws, regulations and directives as they apply to telecom governance in Nigeria.

“In a recent monitoring and enforcement exercise by the commission, some suspects were arrested, handed over to law enforcement agencies, prosecuted and have been convicted.

“The Nigerian Communications Commission wishes to reiterate that both the sale and use of fraudulently registered SIM cards are illegal,” he said.

He added that the commission has also taken note of reports indicating that illegal acts are perpetrated to commit or aid the commission of other criminal acts such as armed robbery, kidnapping, financial fraud, terrorism, and sundry offences.

“It is, therefore, important that members of the public take note that the laws, subsidiary legislations, and guidelines guiding SIM card registration in Nigeria are still in force and forbid anyone from indulging in any activity relating to the sale and use of pre-registered SIM cards in Nigeria,” he said.

CBN directs banks to open on Saturdays, Sundays for currency disbursement

By Abubakar Y. Ojimaojo

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has confirmed the evacuation of banknotes from its vaults to commercial banks across the country as part of a coordinated effort to ease the circulation of banknotes of various denominations.

The CBN has also directed

all commercial banks to open for operations on Saturdays and Sundays.

Acting director, corporate communications department of the CBN, Dr. Isa AbdulMumin, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

Dr AbdulMumin stated that a substantial amount of money, in various denominations,

had been received by the commercial banks for onward circulation to their respective customers.

According to him, the CBN had directed all banks to load their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) as well as conduct physical operations in the banking halls through the weekends.

“Branches of commercial banks will operate on Saturdays and Sundays to attend to customers’ cash needs,” he noted, adding that the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, would personally lead teams to monitor the level of compliance by the banks in various locations across the country.

Rivers IPMAN says FG not committed to fixing state refinery

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

The Rivers chapter of the Independent Petrol Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has accused Timipre Sylva, the minister of state for petroleum, of paying lip service to the completion of the rehabilitation work on the Port Harcourt refinery. In 2021, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited commenced the rehabilitation of the

refinery after FEC approved the sum of $1.5 billion for the project.

Recently, Sylva said the plant would commence refining activities before the end of the second quarter of 2023.

Commenting on the matter, Joseph Obele, IPMAN chairman in Rivers state, in a statement issued on Thursday, said it was not the first time the minister was making such a promise.

He said the minister’s

assurances had been given too many times without results.

“Secondly, he said by first quarter of 2023, he failed. Now, he is saying second quarter of 2023, he will definitely fail,” he said.

“They are not committed to seeing the refinery functional. They are comfortable importing from the international market because they have shares in those foreign refineries.

“It will take a corruptfree government to make our

refineries functional, then and only the persistent fuel scarcity will be a thing of the past and Nigerians will buy fuel less than N100 per litre.

“We don’t trust them anymore, so they should stop making promises and continue importing from those foreign refineries owned by their business partners.

“Nigeria is the only critical member of OPEC without a functional refinery, we should be ashamed as a nation.”

Nigeria Air to begin operation before May 29 — Minister

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, has hinted that the controversial national carrier, Nigeria Air, will commence operation before the swearing-in of a new administration on 29 May.

The minister disclosed this at the ongoing National Aviation Stakeholders Forum 2023 in Abuja.

“Operation of local and international flights will commence soon. Before the end of this administration, before May 29, we will fly,” Mr Sirika said.

“Negotiation meetings with the Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium and the Federal Government of Nigeria is ongoing. Next step: Federal Executive Council approval of the Full Business Case.”

The minister emphasised that the benefits Nigeria stands to derive from the establishment of the national carrier include reduced capital flight from Nigeria, maximisation of the benefit of Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) and Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and development of an aviation hub.

Also, Mr Sirika said the National carrier will contribute to the country’s GDP, facilitate hospitality and tourism, facilitate growth and

development of the Nigerian agricultural sector, and create jobs around the AgroCargo Terminals.

Many Nigerians have criticised the Muhammadu Buhari administration for seeking to start a new national carrier after the former national carrier, Nigeria Airways, collapsed largely due to corruption.

The government, which has less than two months in office, has, however, said the new carrier would only be partly government-owned and would be managed by a private partner.

However, some local airlines in Nigeria have sued the federal government, asking the court to stop the new national carrier as it would get unfair advantages over other airlines in the country.

In November last year, a Federal High Court in Lagos issued an order of interim injunction restraining the Nigerian government from proceeding with the establishment of the national carrier.

In February, Mr Sirika said he was not aware of any court injunction barring the commencement of Nigeria Air and that it would commence operations soon.

Meanwhile, in recent months, Nigeria’s foreign exchange crisis has worsened amidst depletion of its foreign reserves.

This has significantly impacted the aviation sector. While foreign airlines are experiencing difficulty repatriating their trapped funds, domestic and international airlines are also faced with skyrocketing aviation fuel prices.

Two weeks ago, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the top global trade association of airlines, appealed to the Nigerian government to allow international airlines to repatriate their funds trapped in the country.

It said the amount airlines have been unable to repatriate from the country rose to $743.7 million in January from $662 million it stood last December.

.The project was suspended two months after it was announced as critics raised concerns over its relevance and sustainability.

The proposed airline was expected to gulp $8.8 million in preliminary cost and $300 million as take-off cost.

The national carrier idea was raised many years after Nigeria’s defunct carrier, Nigeria Airways, collapsed due to corruption and poor management.

Last July, the Federal Executive Council approved the leasing of three aircraft to enable the airline to commence operations.

In September last year, Mr Sirika said at a press briefing in Abuja that Ethiopian Airlines emerged as a core investor in Nigeria Air with a 49 per cent shareholding. This led to the suit filed by local airline operators in the country, who are saying that they can manage Nigerian air better than a foreign airline.

What the Federal Government is trying to achieve through this policy is a good, strong domestic industry which forms the bases to build a good strong global brand. With this motion in play, the successes we’ve recorded so far will be just a fraction of what we are expecting

Weekend MagazineEntertainment

AMVCA set to return for 9th edition in May

Multichoice, in partnership with Africa Magic, have announced the return of the ninth edition of the prestigious Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA).

Set to hold between May 18 and 20, 2023, the three-day event will be a celebration of film production talents, culture, fashion, music and other elements of African entertainment.

Dr. Busola Tejumola, Head of Content and West Africa Channels at MultiChoice revealed the schedule for this year’s AMVCA at a press conference held earlier, March 23, 2023.

According to her, “The AMVCA has in

the last 8 years become the unit by which excellence is measured and recognized and this 9th edition of the AMVCAs stands in a unique position being hosted in the 20th year of Africa Magic operations in Nigeria and at a point when cinematic output across Africa is entering a phase of global recognition and appreciation.

Tejumola disclosed that the three-day celebration will start with the Opening Night and Cultural Day event, followed by the Digital Content Creators, Young Filmmakers Day and then the Runway Show/Nominee Gala the next day. The celebrations will end with the Award Night.

Veteran film director, producer and writer, Femi Odugbemi was announced as

the Head Judge for the ninth AMVCA.

He said, “From its very beginnings, the AMVCA has been a celebration of Africa, a celebration of our cultures, our heritage, our stories, our stars and the excellence of their talent. The work of our jury will be difficult as many of the shortlisted entries show technical excellence, great storytelling and enthralling performances. As usual

there are categories of nominees as well where we invite you to vote for your favourite shows. Please support your choices with your vote.”

The nominees for this year will be revealed by 7pm on April 9, 2023 across all Africa Magic channels.

Once this is done, the voting portal will open ahead of the highly awaited award ceremony

Ajebo Hustlers spread positivity with new single ‘You Go Know’

The single is their first release of 2023 coming off the back of their ‘Bad Boy Etiquette 101’ EP released in November 2022.

The lyrics highlight the struggle of George Dandeson and Precious Isiah, the members of Ajebo Hustlers, to make a living through hard work and dedication. The chorus emphasizes the importance of self-belief, with the lyrics “I believe in myself, all your doubt Opari Opari o”, encouraging listeners to chase their dreams and embrace their true selves.

Ajebo Hustlers have quickly become one of Nigeria’s favorite talents with their unique sound and captivating performances. Their latest single ‘You Go Know’ is another testament to their talent and consistency, and is sure to make its mark in the Nigerian music scene and beyond.

Weekend Magazine

Mawuli Gavor and partner expecting first child

Ghanaian actor and TV personality Mawuli Gavor and his Indian-Austrian partner, Remya Gavor, are expecting their first child.

The good news was announced by the actor to his fans and followers on Instagram March 22, which also happens to be his birthday.

He announced that this is his best birthday yet as he released pictures of himself and his expectant partner.

He wrote, “A year older, the best is yet to come.” Fans and colleagues of the actor have since flooded his social media accounts with congratulatory messages,

movies such as ‘The Delivery Boy,’and ‘Sugar Rush.’ The actor has also worked as a presenter on several TV shows, including ‘53 Extra’ and ‘The Spot.’

Tiwa Savage & Joeboy featured on Major Lazer & Major League Djz’s new album

Nigerian superstars Tiwa Savage and Joeboy are two of the several artists that appear on Major Lazer & Major League DJz’s new album ‘Piano Republik’.

‘Piano Republik’ is a collection of songs that combines Amapiano and other genres for a transcontinental sound whose identity is firmly rooted in South Africa’s famous export.

‘Piano Republik’ is a thrilling and unprecedented international showcase for Amapiano, the dance music genre that has exploded out of South Africa’s townships and onto the world stage recently.

Award-winning sensation

Tiwa Savage is featured on ‘Koo Koo Fun’ alongside South Africa’s Maphorisa with production credits from Major Lazer, Major League DJz, and Don Jazzy. Joeboy features on ‘Designer’ which has been released alongside ‘Koo Koo Fun’ as some of the leadup singles to the album release.

Both Joeboy and Tiwa Savage delivered the Afrobeats cadence over a blend of Amapiano and intercontinental sounds in a project that promises to add even more excitement to Amapiano.

‘Piano Republik’ will be released on March 24, 2023 and it will be available on streaming platforms.

BBTitans’ Nana says she’s straight, not bisexual

In the first week at Biggie’s house, Nana told everyone about her sexuality and the things she had to do to make money.

Remember that Nana said she is bisexual and doesn’t like sex?

In her words, “Because I want money, I’ve met a lot of men in different sizes. So even if you are what, I have met your size. Just do the whatever and stand up. I don’t enjoy sex, I don’t feel it. It got f*cked up when I had to start doing women. You Know when I said I’m bisexual?”

She was also seen sharing a kiss with Nelisa, another female housemate.

Nevertheless, in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday, March 22, Nana—who was evicted from the show on Sunday with Blue Aiva and Miracle Op—said: “My sexuality is straight, I am not bisexual, I am straight.”

It took the 22-year-old native of Kaduna State two weeks for her to be able to come out of her shell and interact with other housemates, but she described her time there as being great.

She claimed that the fifth week in the house was when she experienced her most cherished moments, while falling ill marked her lowest point.

Wande Coal pushes back album release date following Davido’s album announcement

Award-winning Nigerian music sensation Wande Coal has decided to delay the release of his upcoming album ‘Legend or No Legend’ by one week. Wande Coal made this revelation via the updated release date which now reflects on music streaming platforms.

The decision by Wande Coal to move back his album release is most likely motivated by Davido’s announcement of his upcoming fourth album ‘Timeless’ which is scheduled for release on March 31, 2023.

Davido’s album release is coinciding with the release of Wande Coal’s album hence the likely reason for the postponement by Wande Coal.

The new date for the release of Wande Coal’s upcoming album is now April 7th, 2023.

The album will be Wande Coal’s 4th project and 3rd album. ‘Legend or No Legend’ is coming three years after the release of the EP ‘Realms’.

Wande Coal has already released a single in 2023 ‘Kpe Paso’ which features Olamide and the song is one of the lead singles to the upcoming album

Kaduna: How guber poll was won and lost

By Femi Oyelola

The Kaduna State 2023 gubernatorial election will go down in history as the most intense and keenly contested. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite winning 13 LGAs, lost to the All Progressives Congress (APC), which won only 10 LGAs, according to the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Generally, the exercise witnessed record low voter turnout, as out of the 4,335,208 registered voters only 1,581,662 were accredited to vote, which is a paltry 36.5 per cent. This is lower than the voter turnout of 46 per cent in 2019 and 50.9 per cent in 2015. However, it is still higher than the voter turnout of 1,341,181, that is 31 per cent, for the Presidential election.

An election observer, Mr Yusuf Goje, said that despite the fact that the APC has been in power since 2015 there is an evident trend of rapid decline in popularity with every election. The party won with a margin of 231,259 in 2019 and 631,802 in 2015. Also, the APC lost in some LGAs it won in 2019 and 2015 such as Makarfi, Soba, Lere etc.

“In the Senatorial Districts, the APC got 311,793 votes in Zone One, a reduction from the 457,502 it got in 2019; 289,597 in Zone Two, shortfall from the 420,128 in 2019; and 128,612 in Zone Three, also short of the 157, 797 in 2019.

“While on the other hand, the PDP got 262,520 votes in Zone One, higher than the 215,480 it got in 2019; 278,299 in Zone Two, an increase from the 258,686 in 2019; and 178,814 in Zone Three, far

lower than the 343,992 gotten in 2019. Evidently, in the 2023 gubernatorial election, the APC defeated PDP in Zone One and Two, while PDP only won in Zone Three.

“Surprisingly, the LP despite its low votes had spread across the State and contrary to popular sentiments that the candidate did not have reach beyond Zone Three, the party picked votes in each of the 23 LGAs. It polled 8,883 votes in Zone One; 11,313 votes in Zone Two; and 38,067 in Zone Three. With more push, consistency and early preparation the LP may be the emerging third force in the State.

“From all indications, the opposition parties are preparing to head for the courts with claims of irregularities and non-substantial compliance to the Electoral Act, among others. Interestingly, the IReV portal that should

provide the needed evidence, so far has about 94% results uploaded, that is 7563 out of the 8,012 polling units in the State.

“Interestingly, despite the influence of the Muslim, Muslim Ticket and deployment of huge financial war-chestother factors that gave the APC advantage was the real time deployment of data science in strategy execution (with a technology driven situation room) and better structural coordination.

“The opposition parties must learn that elections have gone beyond a popularity contest to a game of realtime data-driven strategy. Without data it is difficult to accurately plan and effectively carry out targeted and timely execution,” he said.

Similarly, a Journalist that covered and monitored the election in Kaduna state, Bureau Chief of Leadership newspaper, Mr Isaiah Benjamin, agreed that the election in the state was peaceful except for low turnout of voters, which characterized it when compared with the presidential and national Assembly elections where there was large voter turnout.

Mr Benjamin has a piece of advice for the governor-elect of the state, Senator Uba Sani, saying the governor elect should concentrate on governance devoid of party or religious sentiments, he should be governor for all and in terms of appointments and dividends of democracy, it should be evenly distributed without fear or favour.

“There should be no religious bias and above all he should cement relationship between Christians and Muslims because the state has been divided sharply on religious grounds

which shouldn’t be,” he urged.

To the opposition party or parties; “If not satisfied with the election results, I will urge them not to take laws into their hands, but to seek redress incompetent court of jurisdiction and for the governor elect, to whom much is given, much is expected.”

In his acceptance speech, the governor-elect, Uba Sani, promised to govern the state with focus and unrelenting dedication.

Uba Sani, who expressed utmost gratitude to Almighty Allah for His many blessings and for making this day possible, said he is overwhelmed by the affection of the people of Kaduna State who have made their democratic choice loud and clear.

He added that people of Kaduna State have given him their mandate to lead in serving them for the next four years and accept this privilege as a heavy responsibility.

“We shall carry out the people’s democratic directives with focus and unrelenting dedication. We shall govern for all, no matter how they voted, no matter how they worship or which of our many tongues they speak. Our gaze will be firmly in the direction of continued progress, peace and prosperity of the state.

“We shall get straight to work on sustaining and strengthening the path to development that our beloved leader Malam Nasir El-Rufai has so brilliantly opened for Kaduna State. I thank Malam Nasir El-Rufai and his executive team for their collective efforts since 2015 to build the foundations for a new Kaduna State.”

From all indications, the opposition parties are preparing to head for the courts with claims of irregularities and nonsubstantial compliance to the Electoral Act, among others. Interestingly, the IReV portal that should provide the needed evidence

IWD: Cogs in the wheel of Nigerian women’s rise

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

As Nigeria joined the rest of the in celebrating women, several challenges belouding women in the country were revealed.

Interestingly, the challenges were raised by prominent international nongovernmental organizations.

Specifically, UNICEF, said the number of adolescent girls and women aged 15-49 years who are undernourished has soared from 5.6million since 2018 to 7.3 million in 2021 in Nigeria, which is among the 12 hardest hit countries by the global food and nutrition crisis, a new global report revealed.

It said, 12 countries – including Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Yemen – represent the epicentre of a global nutrition crisis that has been increased by recent impacts of COVID-19 and exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and ongoing drought, conflict, and instability in some countries.

The report, a Global Nutrition Crisis in Adolescent Girls and Women – issued ahead of International Women’s Day – warned that the ongoing crises, aggravated by unending gender inequality, are deepening a nutrition crisis among adolescent girls and women that had already shown little improvement in the last two decades.

“This nutrition crisis is pushing millions of mothers and their children into hunger and severe malnutrition,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Without urgent action from the international community, the consequences could last for generations to come.”

According to the report – an unprecedented and comprehensive look at the state of adolescent girls’ and women’s nutrition globally – more than one billion adolescent girls and women suffer from undernutrition (including underweight and short height), deficiencies in essential micronutrients, and anaemia, with devastating consequences for their lives and wellbeing.

In Nigeria, 55 per cent of adolescent girls and women suffer from anaemia while nearly half of Nigerian women of reproductive age do not consume the recommended diet of at least 5 out of 10 food groups (grains and tubers, pulses, nuts and seeds, dairy, meat, poultry and fish, eggs, dark green leafy vegetables, other vitamin A rich fruits and vegetables, other vegetables and other fruits) according to the 2022 National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey.

Inadequate nutrition during girls’ and women’s lives can lead to weakened immunity, poor cognitive development, and an increased risk of life-threatening complications –including during pregnancy and childbirth –risking mother’s lives, also, with dangerous and irreversible consequences for their children’s survival, growth, learning, and future earning capacity.

For example, in Nigeria, 12 million children under 5 are stunted, meaning they are too short for their age due to malnutrition. Of those, about half become stunted during pregnancy and the first six months of life, the 500-day period when a child is fully dependent on maternal nutrition, according to a new analysis in the report.

“To prevent undernutrition in children, we must also address malnutrition in adolescent girls and women,” Russell added.

According to the report, South Asia and sub-Saharan African remain the epicentre of the nutrition crisis among adolescent girls and women, home to 2 in 3 adolescent girls and women suffering from underweight globally, and 3 in 5 adolescent girls and women with

anaemia. Meanwhile, adolescent girls and women from the poorest households are twice as likely to suffer from underweight as those from the wealthiest households.

Global crises continue to disproportionately disrupt women’s access to nutritious food. In 2021, there were 126 million more food insecure women than men, compared to 49 million more in 2019, more than doubling the gender gap of food insecurity.

In Nigeria, the 2022 Cadre Harmonise analysis published by the government shows that 17 million Nigerians are suffering from acute food insecurity, and this is likely to increase to 25 million in lean season this year (FMARD, 2022)

Since last year, UNICEF has scaled up its efforts in the countries hardest hit by the global nutrition crisis, including in Nigeria. with an acceleration plan to prevent, detect, and treat wasting in women and children.

The report calls for governments, development and humanitarian partners and donors, civil society organizations and development actors to transform food, health and social protection systems for adolescent girls and women by:

• Prioritising adolescent girls’ and women’s access to nutritious, safe and affordable diets, and protecting adolescent girls and women from ultra-processed foods through marketing restrictions, compulsory front-of-pack labelling and taxation.

• Implementing policies and mandatory legal measures to expand large-scale food fortification of routinely consumed foods such as flour, cooking oil and salt to help reduce micronutrient deficiencies and anaemia in girls and women.

• Ensuring adolescent girls and women in low- and middle-income countries have free access to essential nutrition services, both before and during pregnancy, and while breastfeeding, including ante-natal multiple micronutrient supplements.

• Expanding access to social protection programmes for the most vulnerable adolescent girls and women, including cash transfers and vouchers to improve girls’ and women’s access to nutritious and diverse diets.

Accelerating the elimination of discriminatory gender and social norms such as child marriage and the inequitable sharing of food, household resources, income and domestic work.

“To ensure a better future for our children, we must prioritize the access of adolescent girls and women to nutritious food and essential nutrition services. The nutrition crisis is deepening among them, and urgent action is needed from all partners including the government of Nigeria and the international community. We cannot afford to overlook this crisis, and we must work together to transform food, health and social protection systems for adolescent girls and women”, said Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative.

Also, Save the Children International (SCI) Nigeria has called on all stakeholders to draw attention and interest towards the celebration of women across all spheres of life, especially the girl-child who have surmounted hurdles and societal stereotypes to reach their full potential.

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) is, “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”.

Save the Children in a statement issued on Wednesday said the theme is peculiar to the wave of women in technology as seen in the digital space today.

According to the UN Women, 22 per cent of women are workers in the artificial intelligence world globally. “This posits a huge gap between

genders and affects gender equality in terms of access to digital technology.”

Save the Children International strongly supports the need for equity for men and women, boys and girls in schools, homes, offices, businesses, innovations and political space.

It said the opportunities available for women, particularly the girl child must be backed up with policies, strategies and structures that will ensure she excels.

Khadija Bappa Badamasi, SCI Nigeria Girl Champion from Yobe State said, “I want to live in a world where education is an instrument that is capable of correcting inequality in any society. I want to live in a world where early and forced marriage is eradicated. I want to live in a world where there is no discrimination against women and children. I want to live in a world where no child is left behind. Hence, I would like to call upon policy makers to enhance efforts to ensure that gender equality is a reality on the digital space as well.”

Etukudo, Utibe-Abasi Dominic, Girl Champion from Cross River State said, “A girl has the same rights as a boy, including for information technology, education, social treatment, and basic necessities. We will continue to advocate for our rights as human beings, not as girls! We deserve to live to our full potential and have fair and equal treatments and opportunities in life and we will make sure of this through orientation and reorientation with the safe access and proper use of information and communication technologies.”

Ramatu Umar-Bako, Senior Gender Equality, and Inclusion Adviser at Save the Children International Nigeria said, “we can only make progress in the conversation about equality when we embrace equitable concepts, take concrete steps to address diversity and ensure inclusive policies.”

Save the Children International (SCI) Nigeria called upon the government and all stakeholders to advance opportunities and ensure the needed resources to attain women’s access and safety on the digital platforms. “With this, girls will not only have equality but also enjoy equity to be outstanding. All hands must be on deck to champion innovations and excellence through digitalized education. This means advanced software for curriculums, digitalized classrooms, training and workshops, and transformative and accessible networks that compete with world standards. Women need more freedom of expression digitally without fear of trolls, cyber violence, abuse or bullying, the women should be empowered to exercise their skills in technology and digitalization with well-thought-out policies and laws that favor them, void of discrimination, biases and gender stereotype.”

Amanuel Mamo, Director of Advocacy, Campaigns, Communications and Media, Save the Children International Nigeria said “for us at Save the Children, equality means ensuring that all human beings – women, men, girls, and boys – are considered equal and are treated equally. We shall continue to pursue our dream of a world where all girls and boys are equally heard and valued. Women and girls must be able to engage, create, learn and work, safely and productively either online or offline, making the most of all the opportunities in every sphere of life and at every stage of it, in education, in the economy, in society and in politics.”

Therefore, SCI called upon governments, donors, partners, the international community, and key stakeholders to support the efforts of turning digital platforms to safe and accessible space for women, girls, and translate commitments into reality in prioritizing the empowerment of women and girls, including

on the online platforms.

On his part, President Muhammadu Buhari has recognized the invaluable role women have played in advancing the progress of the country since independence.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, stated this in a statement Tuesday to mark the 2023 edition of IDA.

The President, Adesina said, saluted the hardwork and dedication of Nigerian women working tirelessly and achieving results in different fields of endeavor, from those sacrificing daily in the markets and farms to train the next generation of leaders, to those breaking limits in education, sports, medical field, arts, entertainment and even in politics, where they are still largely under-represented.

The President is proud to have worked and associated with some of Nigeria’s brightest women in his cabinet, government and the international community, the statement noted.

“He thanks the amazons who have served meritoriously as partners in the progress witnessed on the political, economic and social fronts.

“He notes that, against all obstacles, these women in leadership positions have delivered in a society still largely dominated by men.

‘President Buhari welcomes the contributions of role models and women who have demonstrated that through hardwork, dedication and honesty, greatness can be achieved.

“He pledges the commitment of government to promoting gender equality, respect for the rights of women and working conscientiously to remove all barriers that prevent Nigerian women from realising their universal rights.

“On the theme of IWD 2023, “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”, President Buhari believes that his administration has leveraged on the creation of a ministry dedicated to digital economy to promote the importance of digital skills, innovation and entrepreneurship for the girlchild.

“As Nigeria builds on the successes of the digital economy sector, which is the most successful in the diversification of the nation’s economy, and the Start-up Act, which creates endless opportunities to Nigerians in the technology space, the President trusts that women and girls in the country will have access to equal opportunities, live their dreams and contribute immensely to the development of the country,” the said.

Pauline Tallen

Trends transforming IT industry in 2023 ICT/INNOVATION

The Information Technology (IT) industry is experiencing a boom like never before, and more and more brands are looking to expand in this area because of the immense amount of potential. Information technology has various applications, which is also why it has proven to be a beneficial key component in the entire structure that industries now have. With this growing importance, it becomes essential to understand the critical aspects of this industry and the key features that make it the revolutionary tool it is.

Information Technology Trends

New trends arise within this industry every year, and it becomes essential for professionals to be familiar with these different trends and all that they entail. No matter what profession one is working in, being familiar with these can improve your professional standing and help you understand the potential upgrades for the industry you are already working in.

One of the biggest trends that have emerged during the past year is cloud computing. More and more industries realize that it is essential for a company to have a designated place for all of its digital information and resources. Having a well-protected place that can take care of everything and keep the information safe has almost become a necessity. Cloud computing is the go-to solution for brands who want to improve their work and make it more efficient digitally.

Mobile applications have only grown in popularity over the past few years, and this year, they are surfacing in bigger and better ways. Brands and industries worldwide are trying to improve their work by using mobile apps and implementing new resources that can make working on the go more efficient.

3.

Big data analytics is a trend that has grown over the past few years. This is implemented in almost every industry using large-scale production processes, manufacturing, and supply. Big data analytics allows brands to process their information better and reach a much better understanding of the areas they need to develop.

4. Automation

Automation is one trend that has primarily hit the manufacturing and production units and is estimated to only grow more in the coming years. Automation has also enabled processes to work faster and would allow companies to reach their goals much more efficiently.

5. Artificial Intelligence

While automation is growing, artificial intelligence is now seeing the light of day. The past year saw the introduction of several new mediums of artificial intelligence. This year, industries are looking at ways in which they can grow these resources and implement the work they do. Artificial intelligence is now starting to see implementation on a larger scale which is only set to grow more over the coming years.

6. Smart Technology

Intelligent machines that use artificial

intelligence or automation are on the rise, even in small-scale units and smaller implementations. Homes are becoming more innovative due to intelligent technology being used and opted for in homes. Simple tools such as Alexa have become an essential part of homes and are only estimated to increase over the next year.

7. Virtual Reality

The gaming industry has always been one that has experienced growth alongside the field of information technology, and virtual reality has taken this one step further, giving customers the epitome of digital experience. Virtual reality gaming has already started to become popular due to new technology, which improves how the industry can grow.

8. Augmented Reality

Augmented reality is another approach to ‘artificial experiences’ that individuals are now being given access to. This has improved how the field has been able to develop. Augmented reality is seeing a lot more applicability outside the gaming industry as well and is something that is seeing more implementation as compared to virtual reality.

9. Blockchain Data

Cryptocurrency might have been at an all-time high in 2017 and 2018, but the fact remains that this is yet to see significant development. Blockchain technology is only starting to grow in popularity and is being implemented by industries worldwide for all it offers.

10. Cyber Security With the growth of digital mediums and technology, the potential threats that people can face are only rising. Because of this, cybersecurity has had to grow extensively over the past few years to stay in touch with the growth experienced. Industries all over the world also realize the importance of investing in cybersecurity, which is why the field is experiencing growth at such a rapid pace.

11. Growth of IoT Networks

The Internet of Things is a concept that all digital devices are connected by a single medium through which one can control everything within their home. More and more brands realize that this is indeed the way of the future and is within technological reach. More brands are beginning to incorporate this concept, and the statistics showcasing this are prevalent enough to attest to positive growth.

which is why it is seeing massive growth.

16. Smart Technology

Homes are now becoming more intelligent thanks to the numerous integrated devices that work to make our lives easier. Things like Alexa and other supplementary resources have proven incredibly beneficial and make homes significantly more efficient and safer.

17. Open source solutions

12.

Predictive Analytics Implementations

Predictive Analytics is analyzing large volumes of data to conclude the possible outcomes that a situation might have. Market analysts see this as a special tool for brands to note whether they should move in a particular direction. This has proven to be a very efficient analysis method and saves the industry an incredible amount of money.

13. Cloud Migration

Cloud migration has proven incredibly beneficial for businesses that want to move in a digital direction and maintain better digital data records. Cloud migration has grown over the past few years, and these statistics show positive results. More than 74% of CFOs state that cloud migration was one of the most beneficial things for the growth of their businesses.

14.

Rise of Data Officers

With the growing importance of information technology and data analytics, data officers have become even more critical in institutions and industries worldwide. The number of positions opens within this is plenty and is growing as more and more businesses require someone proficient in this.

15. Quantum Computing Applications

Quantum Computing is a process of conducting complex equations and functions to perform several complex tasks or process large volumes of information with absolute ease. This has proven incredibly beneficial for various industries,

Open source programs give users access to some of the main files and frameworks in a particular program, enabling them to modify it easily. As more and more users become technologically proficient, allowing them to work with applications themselves is incredibly beneficial.

18. Edge Computing

Edge computing is one phenomenon that has grown over the past few years and is currently seeing a wide scale of implementation. In edge computing, large volumes of data are processed near the network’s edge rather than where the data is mainly generated. This is meant to make this processing more efficient and optimized. More development mediums are choosing to go in for this form of computing over traditional types because of its efficiency. This also attests to the rising number of computing and program generation methods.

19. Rise of Chatbots

While most tech advancements help us move toward the greater good, some aren’t as beneficial as we might think. Chatbots aren’t always bad because, in some situations, they have improved the customer service that we have access to. Chatbots are a program to respond to specific queries in specific ways and are designed to help customers with some of the more basic functions they would need. These are, of course, still not in a position wherein they are a complete substitute for absolute live customer service, which has helped them stay in development.

Source: linchpinseo.com

1. Cloud Computing

2. Mobile Apps

Big Data Analytics

PUBLIC NOTICE

AMBASSADOR’S CLUB, OKUN-OWA

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. ODUBANJO OLUWOLE EMMA --CHAIRMAN

2. SOYEMI HAMEED OLUFEMI

3. OGUNSEMOWO DELE ABIODUN

4. ADEBAYO FELIX OLUFEMI

5. IGBOKOYI ADESANYA -- SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO PROVIDE, CARE AND CATER FOR THE WELFARE OF THE MEMBERS.

2. TO BE THEIR BROTHERS KEEPER IN TIME OF NEED AND WANT.

3. TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE COURSE OF THE MEMBERS.

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UMAR

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CLUB 99

Biography

Ernest Shonekan, a true Nigerian patriot!

Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde

Shonekan GCFR (9 May 1936 –11 January 2022) was a Nigerian lawyer and statesman who served as the interim Head of State of Nigeria from 26 August 1993 to 17 November 1993. He was titled Abese of Egbaland from 1981 (in addition to a variety of other chieftaincy titles).

Prior to his political career, Shonekan was the chairman and chief executive of the United African Company of Nigeria (successor of The Niger Company), a vast Nigerian conglomerate, which at the time was the largest African-controlled company in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Early life

Shonekan was born in Lagos on 9 May 1936. The son of an Abeokuta-born civil servant, he was one of six children born into the family.

Shonekan was educated at CMS Grammar School and Igbobi College. He received a law degree from the University of London, and was called to the bar. He later attended Harvard Business School.

Early business career

Shonekan joined the United Africa Company of Nigeria in 1964, at the time a subsidiary of the United Africa Company which played a prominent role in British colonisation. He rose through the ranks in the company and was promoted to assistant legal adviser. He later became a deputy adviser and joined the board of directors at the age of 40. He was made chairman and managing director in 1980, and went on to cultivate a wide array of international business and political connections.

Crisis of the Third Republic

On 2 January 1993, Shonekan assumed office simultaneously as head of transitional council and head of government under Ibrahim Babangida. At the time, the transitional council was designed to be the final phase leading to a scheduled hand over to an elected democratic leader of the Third Nigerian Republic.

Shonekan learned of the dire condition of government finances, which he was unable to correct. The government was hard pressed on international debt obligations and had to hold constant talks for debt rescheduling.

In August 1993, Babangida resigned from office, following the annulment of the 12 June elections. He signed a decree establishing the Interim National Government led by Shonekan who was subsequently sworn-in as head of state.

Interim government

Shonekan was unable to control the political crisis which ensued following the election annulment. During his few months in power, he tried to schedule

another presidential election and a return to democratic rule, while his government was hampered by a national workers’ strike. Opposition leader Moshood Abiola, viewed Shonekan’s interim government as illegitimate. Shonekan released political prisoners detained by Babangida. Shonekan’s administration introduced a bill to repeal three major draconian decrees of the military government. Babangida made the interim

government weak by placing it under the control of the military.

Shonekan had lobbied for debt cancellation but, after the election annulment, most of the Western powers had imposed economic sanctions on Nigeria. Inflation was uncontrollable and most non-oil foreign investment disappeared. The government also initiated an audit of the accounts of NNPC, the oil giant, an organisation

that had many operational inefficiencies. Shonekan served as an executive of Royal Dutch Shell while acting as the interim president of Nigeria.

Shonekan tried to set a timetable for troop withdrawal from ECOMOG’s peacekeeping mission in Liberia. General Sani Abacha, was the minister of defence and chief of defence staff who had full control over the military.

Out of office

In November 1993, three months into his administration, Shonekan was overthrown in a palace coup by Abacha.

In 1993, he along with other prominent Nigerians and expatriates, founded the Nigerian Economic Summit Group an advocacy group and think-tank for private sector-led development of the Nigerian economy. Since then, Shonekan went on to feature prominently as an elder statesman.

Personal life and death

Shonekan was married to Margaret Shonekan. He died on 11 January 2022, at the age of 85 at Evercare Hospital in Lagos. At the time of his death, he was the third oldest surviving Nigerian head of state by age after Elizabeth II and Yakubu Gowon.

“

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Ernest Shonekan

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International King Charles’s France visit postponed after pension protests

King Charles III’s state visit to France has been postponed, after a request by President Emmanuel Macron, Downing Street says.

France’s Elysée Palace said the decision was taken because of a 10th day of action planned on Tuesday.

The trip to Paris and Bordeaux had been due to begin on Sunday, but France saw some of the worst violence on Thursday since demonstrations began in January. Buckingham Palace said the delay was due to the “situation in France”.

In a statement, it said: “Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.”

The UK government added the decision had been “taken with the consent of all parties, after

the President of France asked the British Government to postpone the visit”.

President Emmanuel Macron spoke to the King on Friday morning, the Elysée Palace said, adding the state visit would be rescheduled as soon as possible, “so that his majesty will be welcomed in conditions which correspond our friendly relationship”.

Several French cities saw violence on the sidelines of Thursday’s largely peaceful protests that attracted more than a million people.

The entrance to the town hall in Bordeaux was set alight. In the capital, tear gas was fired and Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said 903 fires were lit, in a city where refuse has been left uncollected since 6 March.

Netanyahu meets Sunak at Downing Street amid protests

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has met Benjamin Netanyahu at Downing Street, as the Israeli leader faces domestic turmoil over judicial reforms.

Mr Sunak greeted Mr Netanyahu outside Number 10 ahead of talks over security and the threat from Iran.

He is also due to meet Home Secretary Suella Braverman on his one-day visit.

Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters gathered at the gates of Downing Street to demonstrate against Mr Netanyahu’s policies.

A cacophony of noise could be heard, including shouts of “shame” and “traitor”, as the Israeli PM made the short walk from his convoy to the steps of Number 10.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

End of twitter post by Itamar

Eichner

A planned photo opportunity for the gathered media was

cancelled, the Jerusalem Post newspaper reported.

Although previous visits to

the UK by Mr Netanyahu have been met with demonstrations by pro-Palestinian groups, Friday’s

protests were led by British and Israeli Jews, with many waving Israeli flags.

There is anger among some sections of British Jewry - and turmoil in Israel - over the government’s bills which critics say severely undermine democracy there.

Israel has witnessed months of some of the biggest protests in its history, deepening splits in Israeli society which is already polarised over Benjamin Netanyahu.

Opponents say Mr Netanyahu is using the reforms, which will weaken the power of the Supreme Court amongst other things, to bolster himself and policies of his government - the most right-wing in Israel’s history.

Mr Netanyahu has accused critics of disrespecting voters who gave his coalition and its reform platform a commanding win in November’s elections.

Ofsted boss rejects calls to pause school inspections

Stopping or preventing school inspections in England would be against “children’s best interests”, the chief inspector of Ofsted has said.

Amanda Spielman said they played an important role for schools and parents.

Unions have called for them to be paused, after head teacher Ruth Perry took her own life while waiting for a report that downgraded her school.

The government said Ofsted has a crucial role to play in upholding education standards.

Ms Spielman said the debate about reforming inspections to remove grades is a “legitimate one”, but added that “any changes to the current system would have to meet the needs both of parents and of government”.

Under the current system,

schools are rated outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate after an inspection in England.

The gradings “give parents a simple and accessible summary of a school’s strengths and weaknesses” and are used to guide government decisions about when to intervene, Ms Spielman said.

But president of the National Association of Head Teachers Paul Gosling called for the “cliff-edge” grades to be scrapped, suggesting they are replaced with a list of what a school does well and what needs improving.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the one-word assessments do not give parents much information because schools are so complex.

He stopped short of calling on Ofsted to pause inspections but asked for an immediate review of its

“one-size-fits-all” strategy. He also pointed to recruitment struggles, funding pressures and pandemic legacy issues as factors putting school leaders under extra strain.

Lisa Telling, a head teacher in Reading who knew Ms Perry well, said she had been under “enormous stress” before her death as Ofsted’s rules restricted her from sharing the school’s new “inadequate” rating with colleagues.

She told BBC Breakfast that Ms Perry had to bear the “worlddestroying” verdict by herself for 54 days, saying head teachers live in fear of inspections as they can be “personally damaging”.

She added: “I know that when I had an inspection two-and-a-half weeks ago, I said to my daughter ‘if this inspection doesn’t go well, our lives might change, I might lose my job’”.

Ms Spielman said it would be wrong to say too much ahead of the coroner’s inquest but added that Ms Perry’s suicide “was met with great sadness at Ofsted”.

“Our school inspectors are all former or serving school leaders,” Ms Spielman said. “They understand the vital work head teachers do and the pressures they are under.”

Ms Spielman acknowledged inspections “can be challenging” but said inspectors always aimed to conduct them “with sensitivity as well as professionalism”.

But school improvement adviser Julie Price-Grimshaw said that was “definitely not the case”.

Speaking to 5Live Breakfast, she said many head teachers are getting “very ill, stressed and having breakdowns” as a result of inspections and “that’s not acceptable under any framework”.

Ms Price-Grimshaw, who used to be an Ofsted inspector herself, said it was “impossible for teachers and head teachers to raise standards if they’re feeling broken, demoralised, stressed and anxious”.

“I’m sure people don’t want their children taught by stressed and demoralised teachers,” she added.

Ms Spielman said Ofsted aimed “to make inspections as collaborative and constructive as we can” and would remain focused on improving how it worked with schools and “how inspections feel for school staff”.

She admitted it was a difficult time to be a head teacher, particularly since the pandemic, as absence was high, mental-health problems had increased, and “external support services are unable to meet increased demand”.

Source: BBC

Protests against pension reform have turned violent in Paris and other cities

The two greeted each other warmly before heading inside Number 10

Police officers missing as boat sinks in Lake Victoria

Three people including two police officers are missing after a boat capsized in Lake Victoria in Kenya.

The two and a revenue authority officer are said to have been part of a team of eight officers conducting a joint operation in the lake.

Their boat capsized at around midnight about 200m (660ft) from Mugabo beach in western Kenya, police are quoted as saying by local media.

Five were rescued and a search is under way for the missing officers.

Three firearms and ammunition that the missing officers had in possession are yet to be recovered, police said.

Rwanda warns of imminent ‘genocide’ in east DR Congo

Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vincent Biruta has said that the country is concerned about an imminent “genocide” against Kinyarwandaspeaking civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Addressing the National Consultative Forum of Political Organisations on Thursday, Mr Biruta blamed the international community for failing to act on escalating violence in eastern DR Congo, despite several reports and “evidence highlighting facts of possible genocide”.

“Recognising genocide goes hand in hand with the responsibility to prevent it from happening. The reason some international actors are hesitant about recognising a genocide being planned in DR Congo is because it comes with a responsibility to intervene and stop it,” Mr Biruta said.

“They are dodging that responsibility but we keep reminding them,” he added.

This comes as DR Congo continues to accuse Rwanda of supporting M23 rebels - in the decade-long conflict in the east DR Congo. Rwanda has repeatedly denied the claim.

Kigali also accuses DR Congo of backing the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, which includes alleged perpetrators of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.

In December last year, Rwanda’s pro-government New Times website said that alleged hate speech and targeted killings of Tutsi and Kinyarwanda-speaking civilians in DR Congo could be the first pointer of likely genocide

.Quoting UN Special Adviser on Genocide Prevention Alice

NEWS FROM AFRICA Report blames pilot error for Tanzania plane crash

Areport of an investigation into the November plane crash in Tanzania says pilots failed to heed warnings from an automatic alarm system.

Nineteen people were killed in the 6 November crash into Lake Victoria, as the plane attempted to land in the lakeside town of Bukoba.

An initial report from the transport ministry painted a damning picture of the emergency services’ preparedness to deal with the disaster prompting anger over the response.

On Thursday, a second preliminary report said a warning system that gave three alerts about “the excessively high descent rate” was “not followed by corrective action by the flight crew”.

The report also noted that the weather condition was bad amid poor visibility, which “may have contributed to the failure to react to terrain warnings during the final approach”.

Court dismisses appeal by Kenya terror attack convicts

AKenyan court has dismissed an appeal by two men who are serving long sentences for their role in the 2015 Garissa University College attack, which left 148 people dead.

Judge Cecilia Githua said Hassan Edin Hassan and Mohammed Abdi Abikar would spend 41 years in jail as their appeal had not shown that the magistrates’ court had erred in giving out the long sentences

The two Kenyans were convicted in 2019, while Rashid Mberesero, a Tanzanian national, received a life sentence before taking his own life in 2020.

They were all found guilty of conspiracy to commit a terrorist attack and of belonging to the alQaeda linked group, al-Shabab, but they appealed against the magistrates’ court ruling.

But in her ruling, the high court judge said the punishment was lenient considering the “heinous, premeditated acts that caused much suffering to families of the victims”

The two can appeal against the judgement in the Court of Appeal within two weeks.

The attack at the university

which killed mainly students, was the second-deadliest attack by the group in Kenya.

The al-Qaeda bombing of the US embassy in 1998 killed more than 200 people.

This case has been long-running

and beset by many adjournments since the convicts were arrested soon after the April 2015 attack at the university.

And today was no different, the court was briefly disrupted as the judge delivered her judgement via

video link, after her connection was lost.

The convicts, who were listening silently to the ruling from prison, briefly chatted to each other as the court waited for the judge to get back online.

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi has ordered a probe into reports of abuses by the police units deployed to disperse peaceful protests in the capital Maputo on Saturday.

He ordered the interior ministry

South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), on Thursday voted against a motion for an inquiry into alleged widespread corruption at the state power firm Eskom.

The state utility firm has been

to “investigate the reasons that led the police to engage in physical confrontations with the youths”, stateowned Radio Mozambique reported.

Local media reported that authorities used tear gas, rubber bullets and dog units to repress

at the centre of rampant corruption accusations allegedly involving top ANC officials - amid a energy crisis in the country.

A tolal of 201 ANC members of parliament voted against the motion - againt 115 opposition members

marches in tribute to the late rapper Azagaia, in Nampula, Beira, Xai-Xai and Maputo cities on Saturday.

Civil society organisations, which denounced the brutal repression by the police, said dozens of protesters sustained severe injuries, and more

who voted for it.

The ruling party legislators argued the parliament’s oversight mechanism and the appointment of an electricity minister were enough to address all the issues.

The motion had been tabled by

than 100 people were arrested countrywide.

On Thursday, Mr Nyusi urged the police to resort to dialogue to find common ground that will allow the citizens to exercise their rights and the police to perform its duties.

Mozambique orders probe into crackdown on protesters SA MPs oppose inquiry into Eskom corruption

the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party.

South Africa has been grappling with a power crisis, enduring up to 12 hours of scheduled power cuts in recent weeks.

Source; BBC

Fishermen were first at the site of the crash, and spearheaded rescue efforts. There had been 43 people on board and 24 survived. The two pilots were among the dead.

Nineteen people died in the plane crash

Hassan Aden Hassan (2nd L), Mohamed Ali Abdikar (C) were convicted in 2019

Feature

Australia has a ‘pokies’ gambling problem, but is change coming?

At the lowest point of her addiction, Kate Seselja sat in front of an electronic gambling machine for hours, crying as she stared at the glowing nil balance.

Her phone buzzed on an intermittent loop - her worried husband calling “a hundred times”, and increasingly desperate to find her.

Overcome with feelings of dread and shame, she thought about ending her life - but didn’t because she was pregnant with her sixth child.

“I was so mentally, physically, [and] emotionally done with this existence, this addiction” she tells the BBC.

“But I couldn’t figure out how to take my life and not hers.”

After 12 years of destructive gambling, she had lost about A$500,000 (£273,000; $336,000).

Ms Seselja’s story, while shocking, is familiar to many Australians - about one in 100 has a gambling problem.

If gambling losses were averaged over Australia’s entire adult population, each person would lose about A$1,200 a year, according to H2 Gambling Capital. This is significantly more than for other nations.

Driving this are electronic poker machines, or slot machines - known colloquially here as the pokies. Critics liken them to “electronic heroin”.

But Australia could be on the cusp of the biggest reform to the industry since the machines were first legalised in 1956.

World’s pokies hotspot Australia has just 0.33% of the world’s population, but a fifth of its pokies.

Rows of machines fill not just casinos but thousands of pubs, clubs and hotels too. Each year they rake in about $13bn - more than casinos, lotteries and sports betting combined.

Recent inquiries have found the machines are being used to launder money in Australia. But this is nothing compared to their personal cost, opponents say.

Often concentrated in areas of socio-economic disadvantage, the machines contribute to suicides, financial offences, domestic violence, family breakdowns and poverty, research has shown.

“You’re taught about smoking

and drinking alcohol, but nobody warned me about pokies,” Ms Seselja says.

And so, at the age of 18, she slipped a $20 note into a machine one night at her boyfriend’s urging. She instantly won hundreds.

As the lights flashed and the machine sung out, Ms Seselja remembers her heart pounding in reply. “It made me feel like I was lucky or clever.”

“Every time you’d go out with friends, there was pokies available,” she says. “It wasn’t like I left the house thinking yes, I’m going to go gamble tonight.”

But before long, Ms Seselja was feeding all her earnings into the machines. She began lying to loved ones, taking money from her family business, and maxing out credit card after credit card.

“I quickly became somebody I didn’t recognise,” she says, crying. “But I now hold compassion for her, because the reality is I was so unprotected, as a consumer, against addiction by design.”

Researchers like Charles Livingstone say electronic gaming machines (EGMs) are designed to deliver the brain’s happy chemicaldopamine - “in spades”, even when players are losing money, which makes them highly addictive.

“If you wanted to look at the worst example of exploitation of a vulnerable community by a legal product that is poorly regulated, it will be hard to find a better example than the [pokies] industry in Australia,” Dr Livingstone, from Monash University, tells the BBC.

The man who pioneered the use of pokies in Australia - Len Ainsworth - has previously rejected the notion they’re addictive, calling it “nonsense”.

“I mean, if you like something you’ll continue to do it… it’s like kissing girls,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 2017.

Australia’s Gaming Technologies Association also defends the machines, saying they are made according to regulations which prioritise “fairness, probity, and harm minimisation” as “paramount objectives”.

It also points to a failed lawsuit against a pokies manufacturer in 2018. A Federal Court judge found the applicant had not provided enough evidence that features of the machines were addictive and deceptive.

“Playing EGMs is a legitimate

recreational activity that millions of Australians enjoy safely,” a spokeswoman said.

Ms Seselja finds that argument ridiculous. “If it’s able to take $10 from you every three seconds, that does not equal harmless entertainment,” she says. Hurdles to reform

There has been growing appetite for change in Australia - and an election on Saturday in New South Wales (NSW) could bring it.

Advocates say NSW, with half of Australia’s pokies, is “the beating heart” of gambling in the nation.

The state government and opposition have committed to policies which target problem gamblers. Premier Dominic Perrottet’s government has also promised - if re-elected - to require all players to set spending limits and to make all machines cashfree within five years. BBC

“ “Playing EGMs is a legitimate recreational activity that millions of Australians enjoy safely,” a spokeswoman said. Ms Seselja finds that argument ridiculous. “If it’s able to take $10 from you every three seconds, that does not equal harmless entertainment,”

Kate Seselja spent more than a decade battling a gambling addiction

Australia has about 200,000 electronic gambling machines

Len Ainsworth pictured in the 1990s

Heathy Living What is the Marburg virus and how dangerous is it?

The Marburg virus has killed five people in north-west Tanzania.

The highly-infectious disease is similar to Ebola, with symptoms including fever, muscle pains, diarrhoea, vomiting and, in some cases, death through extreme blood loss.

Hundreds of people have died from the virus in recent years, almost all in Africa.

What is the Marburg virus and how dangerous is it?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), on average, the Marburg virus kills half of the people it infects, with previous outbreaks killing between 24% and 88% of patients.

The virus was first identified in 1967 after 31 people were infected and seven died in simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany, and Belgrade in Serbia.

The outbreak was traced to African green monkeys imported from Uganda.

But the virus has since been linked to other animals.

Among humans, it is spread mostly by people who have spent long periods in caves and mines populated by bats.

In recent years, there have also been outbreaks of the Marburg virus in:

Equatorial Guinea

Ghana

the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kenya

South Africa

Uganda

Zimbabwe

A 2005 outbreak in Angola killed more than 300 people.

However, in the rest of the world, only two people have died from the Marburg virus in the past 40 years - one person in Europe and one in the US.

Both had been on expeditions to caves in Uganda.

Where have most cases been recorded?

Five people have died in Tanzania’s north-western Kagera region. Three other people are being treated in hospital and authorities are tracing 161 contacts.

This follows an outbreak in Equatorial Guinea in February, which is known to have infected nine people and killed seven.

The WHO is investigating 20 more probable cases there.

Other major outbreaks include:

cases, 128 deaths

1967, Germany/Serbia: 31 cases, seven deaths

What are the symptoms of the Marburg virus?

The virus begins abruptly with:

a fever

severe headache

muscle pains

This is often followed, three days later, by:

watery diarrhoea

stomach pain

nausea

vomiting

According to the WHO, “the appearance of patients at this phase has been described as showing ‘ghost-like’ drawn features, deepset eyes, expressionless faces and extreme lethargy.”

Many people go on to bleed from various parts of the body, and some die eight to nine days after first falling ill, because of extreme loss of blood and shock.

The Egyptian rousette fruit bat is one of the main carriers of the virus

How is the Marburg virus spread?

African green monkeys and pigs can carry it.

The Egyptian rousette fruit bat often also harbours the virus.

Among humans, it spreads through bodily fluids and contact with contaminated bedding.

Even after people have recovered, their blood or semen can remain infectious for many months afterwards.

How can it be treated?

There are no specific treatments or a vaccine for the virus.

But a range of blood products, drug and immune therapies are being developed, the WHO says.

Doctors may be able to alleviate the symptoms by giving hospital patients plenty of fluids and using transfusions to replace lost blood.

How can it be contained?

People in Africa should avoid eating or handling bushmeat, according to Gavi, an international health organisation.

People should also avoid contact with pigs in areas with an outbreak, says the WHO.

Men who have had the virus should use condoms for a year after the onset of symptoms or until their semen tests negative for the virus twice.

Those who bury people who have died from the virus should also avoid touching the body.

Source: bbc.com

The Marburg virus was first traced to the African green monkey

The Egyptian rousette fruit bat is one of the main carriers of the virus

Afcon qualifier: Guinea-Bissau’s Wild Dogs roast Nigeria’s Super Eagles in Abuja

Despite the presence of Napoli ace Victor Osimhen, the Super Eagles failed to soar as Guinea-Bissau claimed a hardfought 1-0 win at the MKO Abiola Stadium, in Abuja, the Nigeria’s capital city on gameweek four of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.

Group A leaders Nigeria were the clear favourites ahead of kickoff, and head coach Jose Peseiro’s starting lineup showed the full attacking strength of the Super Eagles.

Victor Osimhen started upfront alongside Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho, flanked on either side by Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman.

All four have accounted for over fifty club goals in Europe during the 2022/2023 season and they were all involved as Nigeria looked to make their dominance count in the early exchanges.

But, Guinea-Bissau made the crucial breakthrough through Mama Balde just before

the half-hour mark to throw a spanner in the works of the home side and stun the fans inside the stadium into silence.

Jose Peseiro swung into action at halftime as he sent in Nantes’ Moses Simon and Southampton’s Paul Onuachu at halftime as the Super Eagles looked to claw their way back into the encounter.

Admittedly, Nigeria created the better chances after the break. But strangely, the ball just would not find its way into the net.

Simon miscued from the penalty spot after Chukwueze set him up. Moments later, Ndidi found himself in the box, only for the midfielder to pick a pass past the keeper when a low shot could have done the trick.

Osimhen fought to free himself shortly after, and the striker stung the goalkeeper’s palms from a tight angle.

The finishing kept getting more terrible and it was Chukwueze’s turn to blast wide after doing well to get past two markers. That

Villarreal winger’s effort came in between a couple of wayward Onuachu headers. The chances did not halt. But none of Osimhen or Onuachu could redirect the ball into the net after Osayi-Samuel’s cross caught the goalie in no man’s land. Moments later, another fierce Chukuweze drive just whistled past the goalpost.

Ten minutes to full-time, Simon got to the baseline and sent a decent cross to Onuachu but the Southampton man managed to get his final effort off target when it seemed easier to score.

And despite having a few more half-chances, Guinea-Bissau held on bravely to secure one of the biggest wins in the nation’s history. With the victory, the Wild Dogs move on to seven points to overtake Nigeria at the top of Group A.

The two teams will face off again on Monday in the return leg in Bissau.

Source: soccernet.ng

Lobi poised to clinch continental ticket - Lorfa

Vice

Lobi

Iorfa told Sportwriters during an interaction to mark his one year anniversary as administrator of the club that the team will consolidate on its performance in the first stanza to give the fans a deserving continental ticket.

He lauded the technical crew and the

players for their sterling performance that has seen three players invited to the national team.

Iorfa said his one year has been eventful as the team escaped relegation last season, he ensured renovation of the old Mc Carthy stadium which is now the team’s camp as well as the regrassing and overhaul of the Aper Aku Stadium.

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO0, Lobi Stars Football club

Dominic Lorfa has said the team is poised to clinch a continental ticket.

sit top on group B table of the abridged Nigeria Professional Football League with 19

points.

Osimhen transfer blow to Manchester United & Benni McCarthy linkup? Super Eagles star hints he may stay at Napoli

Napoli forward Victor Osimhen has insisted he is happy at the club, hinting he might not make a move to Manchester United in the summer.

Osimhen has been a hit at Napoli

Man United want his services Super Eagles hints he might stay in Italy WHAT HAPPENED: The Nigeria international was commenting on the environment at Naples and how it has helped him improve as a player The forward insists the fans have shown him immense love, and it explains why some players spend many years at Napoli.

The 24-year-old hinted he may stay at the club beyond this season thanks to the support he is receiving from the fans.

WHAT HE SAID: “Napoli should be like a country, it is a whole different type of feeling when you go there as a player,” Osimhen told Elegbete TV.

“I have seen a reason why players go there and spend many years there. It is because the love the fans show to their players is really massive and they play football there, they love football a lot.

“They love their club a lot; you go to the city and you see how they idolize Maradona, it is unbelievable for me, I have never seen such a thing in my life before... When you do so much for these

people, for this club, you make them happy, they make sure they give you the support and love that you need.

“When I play, I miss a goal or I get injured but when I stand up, they chant my name, I don’t take this for granted. I appreciate the love they have shown me; the only way I can repay them is by making sure I make them happy on the pitch. The dream they had for many years is becoming a reality and I will do my best to ensure I give them what they desire.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE: This season, Osimhen has scored 21 goals in 23 Serie A matches to help Napoli reach 71 points, 19 more than second-placed Lazio after 27 matches.

Napoli are also in the quarter-final of the Uefa Champions League for the first time in their history.

It explains why Manchester United want the Nigerian to bolster their attack as they plan to push for the Premier League title next season.

Even Odion Ighalo has urged Osimhen to join the Red Devils and form a deadly partnership with Marcus Rashford, who has become a lethal finisher under the tutelage of Benni McCarthy.

WHAT NEXT: Currently, Osimhen is with Nigeria for international duty. They will play Guinea-Bissau on Friday in Group A of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

PEOPLES

Reflections on governorship and SHA elections

It was Claire Adelabu Abdulrazak, the elegant NIgeria Television Authority(NTA) anchor, who captured the ambience of the Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections aptly. As she took over the anchoring of NTA’s Verdict 2023 Studio on Sunday, 19th March 2023, she announced, with gravitas, that the elections were taking a turn for the better.

Quoting Bob Dylan(formerly Robert Allen Zimmerman), the poet laureate, uber singer-song writer and the first musician to win a Noble prize in Literature, she enthused:”The Times Are-a Changin”!

The times were, on that eventful Sunday, changing indeed. They were changing, like the quicksand, for the Election Management Body(EMB) and other stakeholders involved in the conduct of the 2023 General Elections. For threes weeks previously, Nigerians were outraged by the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections of Saturday, 25th February 2023. This outrage is said to inform the low turn out of voters in some jurisdictions across the country in the Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections of Saturday, 18th March 2023. In spite of the many upsets they (Presidential and National Assembly Elections) wrought, the series of demystifications they engendered and the many myths, orchestrated over the years by certain actors, which they exploded, Nigerians were indignant. Nigerians were angry that the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) could not deliver on the smooth deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System(BVAS) and the upload of Polling Unit outcomes on the INEC Result Viewing Portal(IReV) which it had solemnly pledged.

The Commission had predicated the conduct and delivery of the 2023 General Elections on these two major pillars. Sadly, even though the BVAS worked, there were many embarrassing glitches. The Registration Area Technical Support Staff(RATECHS), whose remit it was to trouble shoot these glitches, seemed either to have gone Missing In Action(MIA) or disappeared into thin air. The upload of the PU results on the IReV, which hitherto conferred further transparency and credibility to off-cycle governorship elections and spurred many voters to participate in the process, simply collapsed.

These failings, expectedly, aroused anger across the country. Millions of

Saturday Column

By Nick Dazang

Nigerians were disappointed with INEC. Media and Civil Society, two critical stakeholders, which had staunchly vouched for the Commission, had helped campaigned for the enactment of the Electoral Act 2022 and had marketed the two innovations introduced by INEC, felt embarrassed and used. Members of Civil Society, particularly, could not conceal their angst. They used all the public platforms available to them to disclaim the Commission and to express their bitterness. Some refused to be consoled.

But the conduct of the Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections were such a massive shift and such a sea change as to assuage the anger of stakeholders. It was a remarkable improvement and a huge departure from the bungling of Saturday, 25th February 2023. The decrepit logistics which dogged the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections were spruced up and they worked exceptionally well. Most Polling Units across the country opened at 7.30am. And at 8.30am, as enunciated in INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines, accreditation and voting had commenced in not less than eighty five percent of the PUs across the country. Thanks to the refresher trainings carried out during the one week of postponement, the BVAS worked seamlessly. Of all the over fifty high profile accreditations across the country, which this writer was privileged to watch

on television, only that of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, failed. Similar reports of excellent performances by the BVAS came from our rural backwaters. By 9.00pm of Election Day, not less than eighty percent of PU results across the country had been uploaded on the IReV to the delight of stakeholders. By 5.30am the next day, most States had crossed the one hundred percent threshold in terms of the upload of PU results on the IReV.

By Sunday afternoon(coinciding with Abdulrazak’s upbeat effusion), INEC seemed not only to have atoned for its sins in the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections of three weeks previously, it appeared on its way to an ineluctable redemption. The process, as spearheaded and driven by INEC, had worked superlatively well for all to behold. The two major pillars –BVAS and IReV – on which the elections were premised held. And this time the pillars held firmly and sturdily.

If the process was superlative and worked with clockwork precision, the outcomes were a grotesque antithesis. They failed, thereby rendering INEC’s victory short lived and phyrric. For while the elections panned out excellently at the level of the Polling Unit, spanners began to be thrown in the works at various levels of Collation by desperate and unscrupulous politicians. Not a few Collation Centres were attacked, at the behest of politicians, by hoodlums and arms-wielding thugs. Election officials were either killed outright or abducted. In many jurisdictions, citizens were either intimidated into voting or prevented from voting. In a number of States, including Lagos, there were lurid reports of voter suppression. This phenomenon was informed by ethnic profiling, a rare and novel development, that is beginning to rear its ugly head in the electoral process.

These dastardly acts, apart from diminishing our elections, teach us a number of poignant lessons. First, they instruct us, crystal clearly, that the best planned and conducted elections can be messed up and torpedoed at the point of the outcomes(where results are collated

and returned). Second, the outcome of elections can trump or make none sense of an excellent process conducted by the Election Management Body as have happened in the aftermath of the Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections which commenced on an excellent note. Third, it shows, lucidly, that whereas the EMB has demonstrated a capacity to reform itself and to be responsive to the yearnings of Nigerians and members of the international community for credible, transparent and inclusive elections, the political class(political parties and candidates) are not always on the same wavelength or page as the EMB and other critical stakeholders such as the Voters, Media and Civil Society. The political class pays scant regard to the delivery of good governance. It pays little or no deference to due process, hence the legion of preElection cases. Instead, it excels in the disruption of the process and it lays premium on coarse and crude pursuit of power.

Thus, even as we demand that INEC should deliver superlative elections and perfect its processes, we must insist that the political class reform itself; that it be of good behavior; and that it sets its sights firmly on improving the weal of the people. It is only when good governance is delivered that Nigerians can have a stake in the democracy project. It is only then that they can assiduously seek its sustenance. Otherwise, ours will be a Sisyphean task: an effort that is intractable and impossible to complete on account of its being pointless and endless.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2023

“

If the process was superlative and worked with clockwork precision, the outcomes were a grotesque antithesis. They failed, thereby rendering INEC’s victory short lived and phyrric