Politics

2023: Fayemi claims to have solution to terrorism, banditry in Nigeria

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The Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, claimed on Friday that he has a template to end the country’s insecurity.

Insecurity has been a major challenge in Nigeria since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in 2015 with the Boko Haram insurgents, bandits and other criminals pillaging communities across the country.

Fayemi is one of All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants eyeing the party’s presidential ticket at this month’s primary slated for Abuja.

The governor, according to a statement issued by the Head of Campaign Organisation, Femi Ige, stated this during his visit to Borno, Yobe and Gombe States as part of consultations ahead of the party’s presidential primary.

He said: “Security will top my agenda as a security expert. I have a Ph.D. in War Studies and I consulted for Nigeria under President Olusegun Obasanjo, I was deeply involved in the resolution of the wars in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Rwanda, and Sri Lanka.

We have a template that we’ll use in bringing peace to our people so that we can farm in peace, school in peace, and live in peace. If I can do it outside, why not for the country that has given me everything?

“My focus would be on bringing peace to my fatherland and ensuring that the Ibadan man finds home in Sokoto and the Sokoto man finds home in Akure, Abakaliki, Onisha or Owerri. The Oweri man must find a home in Damaturu. This is the Nigeria I want to fight for and I’m confident it’s achievable.

“Any government who can successfully tackle this would have succeeded in bringing happiness to our country, discourage the urge to secede, and address our perennial problem of youth restiveness.

“I believe I have the education, the energy, the capacity, and the knowledge to tackle this problem.

“Nigeria is a diverse country and there is diverse competency. There are competent people across the country but in a multi-cultural, multi-dimensional, and multi-religious society, you also need zoning to build trust and confidence.”

Politics

2023: INEC rules out extension of deadline

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday ruled out the extension of the deadline for the conclusion of primaries by political parties in the country.

The commission had asked the 18 political parties in the country to complete the primaries by June 3.

However, the parties had asked INEC to extend the timeline for the exercises by two months.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this at a consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja.

He also asked the parties to ensure their primaries make room for women, youths and persons with disability.

He said: “Let me reiterate the position of the Commission that there will be no review of the timelines. There are so many inter-related activities that are associated with the timelines which must be carried out.

“Any review to extend the timeline for one activity will affect other activities and put unnecessary pressure on political parties and the Commission. This will ultimately result in more complications than what the extension seeks to achieve.

“Therefore, the Commission will not review the timelines. Working together, we should ensure fidelity to the timelines in conducting transparent and democratic primaries for the purpose of electing candidates for the 1,491 constituencies for which elections will be held on 25th February and 11th March 2023.”

Politics

2023: Tinubu endorses Sanwo-Olu for 2nd term in Lagos

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Bola Tinubu, on Friday endorsed the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, for a second term in office.

At an APC stakeholders’ meeting in Ikeja, Tinubu endorsed Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat for another term of four years in office by raising the duo’s hands to the admiration of those present at the forum.

He said the governor and his deputy had established an unbreakable team to raise the bar of excellence in governance and service delivery in the state with tangible results and progress to show for it.

According to him, the duo’s accomplishments won them the chance to run for a second term, rather than a blanket endorsement that many politicians seek.

Tinubu, a presidential candidate on the APC platform, said Lagos had remained a source of pride for residents and other Nigerians who desired responsive administration and progress under Sanwo-Olu’s leadership.

He said: “We have a brilliant governor at the helm of affairs, who is supported by his deputy to build an unbreakable team that has raised the bar of excellence in governance in Lagos. I specially thank Dr. Hamzat, who has been a very good assistant and a pillar of support to the governor.

”Sanwo-Olu with Hamzat has raised an impenetrable team. I commend both of you and all members of the cabinet. You have all done wonderfully well and I must say that I am very proud of you.”

In what appeared like a thinly veiled jibe at the former state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who is reportedly eyeing a return to the seat he vacated in 2019, the APC leader said the party would not prevent any aspirant from vying for any position or testing their strength at the primaries in the state.

He said that all candidates that would be fielded by the party across must go through a delegate electoral system.

Tinubu added: “Aspirants who are showing interest in positions from House of Assembly to the governorship, go and get your forms; you are going to contest primaries. There will not be any favouritism in the primaries.

“We want you to contest and test your popularity. Nobody will ask you to step down for another aspirant. Let all aspirants mobilise their supporters; if you win, you win. If you lose, there will not be a refund of the nomination form.”

Politics

‘Support me to do Nigeria a favour in 2023,’ Tinubu begs APC state lawmakers

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The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday met with speakers and deputy speakers of state Houses of Assembly controlled by the party on his 2023 presidential bid.

Tinubu, who addressed the lawmakers at the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa, Ikeja, declared that Nigeria needs a courageous leader like him to pull through the current challenges.

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, had earlier hosted the delegation at the Assembly complex.

He said: “I am pushing and requesting your support to be elected president of Nigeria in 2023. I am begging you to do me a favour so I can do Nigeria a favour.

Nigeria needs me even as I need Nigeria. Nigeria needs drastic courageous changes that will bring revenue and I am that courageous one it needs.

“I was raised to be courageous and this has been working for me.

“I want to bring the same to bear as President of Nigeria.

Accelerated development of our nation is about thinking and doing, and I am ready to do that again because I am a thinker and doer.

“I want to become President legitimately through the ballot but I reserve the right to brag.

“I started my teething age of politics in the Senate; I was the youngest and I did well.

“I am well educated, sound, brilliant, vibrant, and one of the best alumni of the Chicago State University.

“I was a student-tutor and one of the most sought-after graduates after school as I had five job offers even before graduation.

“In the face of tyranny and all odds, I have survived, stood and fought for democracy, survived the exile, lived without family, while financing other pro-democracy groups.

“I have contributed to sustaining Nigeria’s democracy more than any other person. I am a very passionate being.

I have contributed immensely more than any other person contesting today. I equally have it better when it comes to legislative experience, I am married to a senator, and have allowed her to practice her religion well.

Politics

2023: PDP extends sales of forms by one week

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has extended the sales of nomination and expression of interest forms for 2023 general elections by one week.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, said the deadline had been shifted from April 1 to April 8.

He said the party had also rescheduled the screening of aspirants for States of House of Assembly to April 12 while the exercise for National Assembly aspirants would take place two days later.

The statement read: “In the same vein, the last day for the return of already completed forms as well as the screening for both the State House of Assembly and National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) has been rescheduled as follows:

“Last date for submission of already completed forms for States House of Assembly: -Sunday, April 10 by 6:00 p.m.

“National Assembly: -Sunday, April 10 by 6:00 p.m.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the last day for the purchase of all forms is now fixed for Friday, April 8.”

The party had earlier this month pegged the nomination and expression of interest forms for aspirants vying for its presidential ticket at N40 million and N20 million for governorship aspirants.

Politics

‘PDP is never an alternative in 2023,’ Fashola tells Nigerians

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The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Friday warned Nigerians against returning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to power in 2023.

Fashola, who made the call in a Channels Television programme, Politics Today, stressed that despite all the problems in Nigeria at the moment, PDP would never be an option for Nigerians.

He urged the citizens to make the right choices in next year’s elections.

The minister said: “Whatever problems the country has, the umbrella parish is never the solution because most of these problems were created by them.

“I think it is perhaps not helpful to publish that spreadsheet in isolation. What you should do is to compare it with the rest of the world. Tell me anywhere in the world where the cost of living is not rising, whether it is in the United Kingdom or the United States.

Just three days ago, CNN was showing footage of Americans stealing fuel and they would not be stealing it if it was cheap; these are very challenging times globally for the entire world. So this is not an isolated occurrence that affects Nigeria only.”

Fashola stressed that the Second Niger Bridge and other infrastructural projects undertaken by the Federal Government are for the benefit of Nigerians.

He added: “The Second Niger Bridge connects Nigerians from different angles. In terms of performance and execution, the completion will be done in April of this year.

“I need to say this. Opponents will embarrass themselves by saying infrastructure is nothing serious that the country needs.”

Politics

2023: PDP will not abandon zoning tradition – Ayu

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The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, said on Thursday the party would not abandon its tradition of zoning political offices in the 2023 general elections.

Ayu stated this when he inaugurated a 37-man zoning committee at the party national secretariat in Abuja.

The PDP constituted the zoning committee during its 95th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on March 16 to make recommendations for the zoning of various elective positions before the elections.

The committee was given is expected to submit its report to the party leadership on March 30.

The chairman said: “PDP has a history of rotating our offices. Anybody who doesn’t get it this time should wait after the tenure of whoever will be our next president.

“We believe PDP is going to produce the next President once we start this journey. This time, we will ensure it goes round. And it will go round with justice, fairness and the interests of Nigeria.

“You will recall that in the NEC meeting discussions, we had no rancour whatsoever. I implore all of you to continue in the same spirit. PDP has a reputation for discussing whatever issues that we have. We talk, we don’t fight, we resolve issues.”

Politics

‘Put your house in order or lose power to opposition in 2023,’ Buhari charges APC

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to settle its disputes or risk defeat in the 2023 general elections.

The President, who made the call in an interview on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), insisted that the ruling party must resolve its disagreements before the national convention.

The party has tentatively fixed its national convention for February.

Buhari insisted that APC would not be a safe haven for corrupt politicians.

He also reiterated his desire to bequeath a secure and economically vibrant country to his successor next year.

The ruling has been rocked by several crises in the last two years.

One of the crises led to the sack of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) led by Adams Oshiomhole, in 2020.

Several members of APC had also been demanding the dissolution of the party’s National Caretaker and Extra-Ordinary Committee headed by the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala-Buni.

The President said: “My own position is simple. I think I succeeded in trying to get my position understood in the sense that I said we start from bottom upward, from the polling units to wards, to local government, to state, and then to Abuja. So it is the party because I am only concerned about my party. The party members in all constituencies will know that their convention is coming up and therefore when they come to Abuja, they are likely to act together.

There is no kingmaker from Abuja that will say take this or take that, no constituency is to be dictated to, all the constituencies are supposed to produce their leadership in our party, what other parties do is their own business.

“But we want to make sure that our party members understand that they are respected from polling units to wards,  to local government,  to state, and up to Abuja. So those who want to be elected at any level let them work for it, nobody is going to appoint anybody.

“We have a time frame for the national convention, we have to work because the four-year circle is constitutional. It cannot be interfered with by anybody. So if the party couldn’t agree, then the opposition can take over.

“What did the PDP do? They saw that they can’t come together but when ACN, ANPP, CPC, APGA came together before PDP realized it they were off, they are still off, so they can see it.”

“I have always said that joining the APC is no guarantee to  escape prosecution if you are corrupt.”     

Entertainment

2023: Davido, Wizkid and Burna Boy need to work together and unite the youths – BBNaija’s Leo

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Reality TV star and Real Estate Consultant, Leo Babarinde DaSilva has urged Nigerian music superstars, Davido, Wizkid and Burna Boy to collaborate for the sake of the youths and their country.

Leo advocated for the leading industry acts to work together on a musical project that will unite the youths ahead of 2023 general elections when a new president is expected to be elected.

In a post on his verified Twitter page, the Big Brother Naija ex-housemate, said that even if they work on just three tracks, that it will suffice.

He wrote;

”We need a Wizkid, Davido and Burnaboy joint project to unite all the youths in 2023.

Even if it is 3 tracks.”

See his post:

Politics

The type of leader Nigeria needs in 2023 – Tambuwal

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The Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, on Monday urged Nigerians to vote for politicians with genuine interest of the people in the 2023 general elections.

Tambuwal, who made the call in his keynote address at the 4th Annual Criminal Law Review Conference of the Rule of Law Development Foundation, encouraged Nigerians to work with the governments at all levels to tackle insecurity and poor economy in the country.

The governor stressed that Nigerians should avoid a “parochial and provincial politician,” and go for an incorruptible leader who understands that the best way to fight corruption is by personal examples.

He blamed the heightened insecurity in the country on poor leadership.

Tambuwal said: “Nigeria needs a leader that is versatile, one that has friends and associates across the length and breadth of this country and a leader with a broad world view and not a parochial and provincial politician.

“We need an incorruptible leader who understands that the best way to fight corruption is by personal examples and also by the building of strong institutions that can withstand shocks and manipulations.

Nigeria needs a leader in tune with the times, who is reasonably aware of the modern demands of technology in solving societal problems.

“Yes, Nigeria needs a bridge builder. A compassionate leader, sensitive to the needs and aspirations of the poor and needy; a leader whose words count and can be counted on, indeed, a leader with courage, an accountable leader who can be trusted to face the challenges of nationhood squarely without sentiments or pandering to interests that are inconsistent with national goals.

“For leadership that galvanises, mobilises, and directs Nigerians on the path to sustainable peace, progress, and development, such a leader will not regard any part of the country as conquered people.

“We must find and support such a leader in 2023 so that Nigeria can begin the long walk back to peace, security, and prosperity for all her citizens.”

Politics

APC will take over Benue in 2023 – Akume

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The Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, George Akume, said on Sunday the All Progressives Congress (APC) will take over in Benue State in 2023.

Akume, who stated this at the end of the APC state congress held in Makurdi, said the successful conduct of the exercise was an indication that the party would legitimately take over power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in two years’ time.

At the congress, Austin Agada was elected the APC chairman in Benue.

The Chairman of the party’s Electoral Committee in the state, Abubakar Mohammed, who declared the result of the exercise in Makurdi, said Agada polled 1,385 votes to defeat his opponent, Mr. Omale Omale, who boycotted the election.

He said 1,500 delegates voted in the election, adding that other newly elected officials emerged unopposed.

Mohammed commended the APC leaders in Benue for the maturity they exhibited during the congress.

Politics

Nobody ought to dictate where president should come from in 2023, NEF speaks on zoning

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The Northern Elders Forum on Tuesday rejected the supposed imposition by the Southern Governors Forum over the issue of rotational presidency amongst the zones.

This issue has polarised opinions among stakeholders which snowballed into a war of words between the southern and northern governors.

However, in his statement during an interview on AriseTV monitored by Ripples Nigeria on Tuesday, the NEF Deputy Chairman, Yahaya Kwande slammed the stance of the Southern Governors, tagging it an imposition at variance with the constitution.

“They didn’t demand that it should come to the North; they are charging stakeholders to follow the constitution. Nobody ought to dictate where the President should come from. The statement of the SGF is tantamount to sowing division within the country,” Kwande declared in response to the communique issued by the Northern Governors Forum.

The NGF had described as unconstitutional the power shift canvassed by their Southern counterparts and groups in the region during a meeting on Monday, also attended by Kwande and Northern monarchs.

Kwande also detailed how the zoning arrangement started by delving into history.

The question of differences between the regions has been on for a long time regarding zoning and other issues with the past arrangement in the National Party of Nigeria that brought Shagari. This led to a payback regarding the emergence of Obasanjo in 1999 with the North unanimously supporting the South, coupled with the death of MKO Abiola.

“The arrangement is not a constitutional arrangement but a plan within the parties due to sympathies over MKO Abiola’s death. I emphasize that it was a PDP arrangement that was a gimmick to win the election.

“This arrangement was scuttled by former President Goodluck Jonathan who refused to leave office after the death of his principal, Yar’adua.

“Buhari succeeded on the APC which has no arrangement of such but the PDP is still waiting for its four years used by Goodluck.

No region can win the election without the other which is why the statements of coercion by the governors are uncalled for. There must be massive lobbying in order for stakeholders to understand the benefits of voting for your region.”

Politics

2023: Court adjourns suit on Atiku’s eligibility for presidency till December 6

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Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday adjourned a suit challenging former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s eligibility to vie for the country’s presidency till December 6.

The judge adjourned the matter following the inability of the parties in the suit to regularise their amended processes to accommodate the Adamawa State Attorney-General, who had been joined in the case.

The Adamawa State government had on July 27 sought the court’s order to be joined in the suit.

A group simply known as the Incorporated Trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA) had in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/177/2019 asked the court to stop Atiku who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 election from vying for the nation’s highest political office in 2023.

EMA insisted that the ex-Vice President was not eligible to contest for presidency because he was not a Nigerian by birth.

The group asked the court to hold among others, that considering the provisions of sections 25(1) &(2) and 131(a) of the 1999 Constitution and the circumstances surrounding the politician’s birth he cannot contest for the presidency.

Atiku, PDP, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) were listed as respondents in the suit.

At Monday’s proceedings, the EMA’s counsel, Raphael Oyewole, said though the matter was slated for hearing, the motion for the extension of time has not been filed because he was yet to serve some of the parties in the suit.

The judge, who was unhappy over the handling the case by the plaintiff’s counsel, said: “This is a matter you filed since 2019, and you are just filing your processed this morning after the last adjournment.”

He adjourned the matter till December 6 for mention.

World News

‘APC will not rule Nigeria beyond 2023,’ PDP tells Sheriff

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday knocked the former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, for claiming that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would rule Nigeria for the next 40 years.

Sheriff had said on Sunday the APC needed a rugged chairman to manage its affairs ahead of the 2023 election.

The former governor, who addressed journalists in Abuja, added that the party would rule the country for the next 30 to 40 years.

However, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said Nigerians are determined in their resolve not to allow the APC to rule Nigeria beyond May 29, 2023.

The statement read: “Ali Modu Sheriff must know that Nigerians are aware of the desperate plots by the APC and its members that are behind acts of terrorism, banditry, treasury looting, violation of rights and electoral manipulations in our country, to continue to enjoy official cover using the APC as a platform for their reprehensible activities.

“Nigerians have decided to kick out the APC in the 2023 general election and no amount of manipulations or evil machination can sway that resolve to ensure that the APC does not stay a day beyond May 29, 2023.

“The PDP, therefore, has nothing but pity for Ali Modu Sheriff and his co-travelers as the conspiracies against our dear nation will surely come to naught.”

Politics

‘PDP will produce Buhari’s successor in 2023,’ says Edo deputy gov, Shaibu

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The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, on Saturday, expressed optimism that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would produce President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor in 2023.

Shaibu, who stated this during his speech at the ongoing ward congress in Oyo State, added that all the PDP required to win the 2023 election was to put its house in order and step up operations ahead of the exercise.

He said: “We will be able to take over the Federal Government. All PDP states’ policies currently yielding positive results will add up to making Nigeria great again.

“We are fulfilling that obligation to make sure that the congress in the 351 wards across the state is peaceful and credible.

“I had discussions with some other members of the party and they have accepted to put their grievances aside and work for the common good.

“Majority of the people are in support of the peaceful reconciliation process and the discussions that are still ongoing.”

Lifestyle

‘Third force coalition not a threat to APC in 2023,’ Senate spokesman mocks Jega, Utomi

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The Chairman of the Senate Committee of Media and Public Affairs, Ajibola Basiru, on Wednesday, mocked the third force coalition formed by politicians as an alternative platform to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 general election.

Basiru, who featured in a Channels Television programme, Politics Today, said the coalition was incapable of upsetting the APC and PDP in two years’ time.

The former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega; the renowned Political Economist, Pat Utomi, and other like minds launched the Rescue Nigeria Project on Tuesday in Abuja.

The Senate spokesman said: “The so-called Special Rescue Project is a special purpose vehicle which is bound to fail and it would fail definitely.

“As far as I am concerned, you can mark today’s date, nothing serious would come out of the so-called effort that is put in place.

“In this country, setting up political parties had become a business and for some people, they set up political parties to have opportunities of speaking on national television, some opportunities to also relate with other politicians and get something or the other but they are not really serious politicians.

“As far as I am concerned today, if the electoral contest is anything to go about today, you can only mention political parties like APC, PDP, and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) –may be in a particular state, and some splinter parties.

“The truth is that the 2023 election is going to be about a choice between the APC, my political party and the party of President Muhammadu Buhari, and the PDP. The other people, the third force, there was a time some people even named their own political party, Mega Political Party and at the end of the day, Mega Political Party never had a councillor not to talk of a chairman.”

Politics

Amendment of 1999 Constitution to be completed before 2023 elections – Reps

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The House of Representatives on Thursday declared its readiness to complete the amendment of the 1999 Constitution before the 2023 general elections.

The House spokesman, Benjamin Kalu, who disclosed this to journalists in Abuja, said the constitutional amendment had reached an advanced stage.

He said the House was determined to complete the amendment process in the next two years.

The spokesman also revealed that the lower legislative chamber would beam light on revenue generation agencies in order to block revenue leakages in the country.

Kalu said: “We started in 2020 to reshape the Constitution of Nigeria which is almost becoming obsolete because the society is dynamic and as society progresses, different needs are defined and ways of solving those needs should be found in the grand norm.

“In the wisdom of the leadership of the House and the Senate, we decided to go for a review of the constitution. Last year, we scored a major milestone in making sure various steps needed to amend the constitution were taken.

“So many people want us to immediately review the constitution but we cannot. We cannot sacrifice quality on the altar of speed; so we urge Nigerians to be patient so that we go thoroughly.”

Politics

Nigeria needs a kind-hearted leader like Buhari in 2023 – Umahi

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The Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, Monday expressed hope that God would give Nigeria a kind-hearted leader like President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

The governor, who spoke with State House correspondents at the end of a meeting with President Buhari in Abuja, said people of South-East are grateful to the President over his great works in the region.

He commended Buhari over some landmark projects including the Second Niger Bridge and the eastern corridor of the railway line among others in the South-East.

He stressed that the country needs a leader with a good heart like Buhari.

Umahi said: “I came to see Mr. President. One is to thank him very highly for a number of mega projects that he is doing in the South-East. The Second Niger Bridge is fast becoming a reality. Each time we visit that bridge location it is always like a dream.

“So we the people of the South-East are very grateful to Mr. President for this. We also thank him for the award of the Eastern corridor of the railway line. This is a project that is going to fast-track the commercial activities of our people.

“I recall that when I was in school, I used to join train from my state, Ebonyi, and then get up to Maiduguri where my brothers were staying for my holidays.

Mr. President is about restoring that hope. We are deeply very grateful. But I also reminded Mr. President that one of his cardinal objectives is to integrate the South-East or the state capitals, but in putting together the project through South-East that the capital of Ebonyi State, which is Abakaliki and capital of Anambra State, which is Awka, were omitted.

“And I reminded Mr. President that the South-East governors had requested that I write which I did, but not yet approved by the Honourable Minister of Transport, which Mr. President said he will find out why they were omitted in the first place.

“I am very, very hopeful that Mr. President is going to give approval to those two locations. Let me also mention the fertiliser presidential initiative which has helped the country Nigeria so much in food sufficiency.

Let me point out that without the effort of Mr. President, through this fertiliser initiative and other programmes in the agricultural sector, it would have been a very difficult time for this country.

That project is supposed to produce a large set of granules to enable us to produce fertilisers to serve the South-South, South-East, and part of North- Central.

“Mr. President has already approved the funds and released to Solid Mineral Development Fund. But part of the requirement is that there must be SPV integration or private sector initiative. They have applied to Mr. President for approval through the Chief of Staff. So we had to remind Mr. President.

Lastly, four years back, Mr. President was in Ebonyi State about November to commission a number of projects and lay the foundation stone for others. I reminded Mr. President that we are expecting him four years later, which would be November for him to come to Ebonyi State. The last time he spent one night but this time we are asking him to spend three nights.

“We have over 20 different projects that we consider good enough for Mr. President to commission. We have completed the Muhammadu Buhari light tunnel bridge complex, the first of its kind in Africa for Mr. President to commission.

We have gotten to the stage of completing the best medical center, King David University of Medical Sciences, the best in Africa. We have completed the largest mall, the most beautiful mall you can see anywhere in West Africa.

We have completed additional six twin flyover bridges, well decorated and beautiful. We want Mr. President to commission it. We want Mr. President to commission the St. Margeret International Market, the largest market in West Africa.

“We have over 200-kilometre concrete roads in Ebonyi state, some of them federal roads and some concrete roads. We have over 1000 kilometres of road completed, since my first tenure. Of course, the list can be unexhaustive here. Even the three agric Industrial clusters are ready for Mr. President to commission.

We also have a number of ongoing projects. Most of them will terminate at the end of 2021. Like the International Airport which Mr. President approved two years ago. Now we are the first in the whole of Nigeria to build an international airport runway with concrete that is going to be ready for Mr. President to lay the foundation stone. I will invite him to commission it next year.

“We have the first flight about May 29, 2022. We also have a number of road projects, especially the 199 kilometres of Abakaliki ring road, of which the state government has completed with 53 kilometres of it.

“And of course, the limestone granules is Mr. President’s project and he has to lay the foundation stone.

“But I think after Lagos and Abuja, Ebonyi remains, another state with the highest numbers of flyover and Ebonyi Airport remains the largest after Lagos and Abuja.

So this is why we came and I’m happy that Mr. President is quite disposed towards visiting us again.

“I will continue to say that power rests in the hands of God. And God will also give us the next President who has a good heart like President Buhari for the good of this country.

World News

There’ll be no election in 2023 without new Constitution —Afenifere

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Apex pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has insisted that there will be no election in 2023 without a new Constitution for the country.

The Afenifere who declared this stance through its leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, at the its monthly meeting held at his residence in Sanya-Ogbo, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, on Tuesday, said leaders of the group have resolved to preach a ‘no new Constitution, no 2023 election’ to all Yoruba people in the country.

Adebanjo who presided over the meeting, said it will be a waste of time for Yoruba people to participate in the coming election with the 1999 Constitution still in operation.

On the resolution of the group on the coming election, Adebanjo said he and other leaders of Afenifere have resolved that the Constitution must be reviewed before the election could hold.

“I don’t believe in the election as the leader of Afenifere and some of my members here don’t believe; I don’t believe in that election and I have told my members if they can refuse it, okay, what do we need elections for?” Chief Adebanjo reiterated.

“Our stand is that the Constitution is not our own, the election is going on under that fraudulent Constitution, they said they will go to the assembly to amend, assembly is the product of the fraud. You want the beneficiary of the fraud to amend the fraud, who are you talking to? Here is a man that has come out openly, declared that, ‘say what you like,” he added.

Politics

2023: Like PDP, APC zones governorship ticket to Niger South

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State has zoned the party’s 2023 governorship ticket to the southern part of the state.

The Special Adviser on Politics and Strategy to the Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Kolo, disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Minna.

Kolo said that the deputy governorship ticket was zoned to Niger East.

He dismissed claims that Governor Sani Bello had anointed a candidate to succeed him in 2023.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had also zoned its governorship ticket to Niger South.

The governor’s aide said: “On the zoning arrangement, the APC caucus on July 3, unanimously agreed to allow Zone A (Niger South), to produce the next gubernatorial candidate of our party.”

Kolo also revealed that all positions in the APC executive council in the state would be reshuffled during the state’s party congress in a bid to achieve the objective of the zoning arrangement.

He added: “All the party positions currently held by Niger East will go to Niger North and those occupied by Niger North will be reversed to Niger-South.”

Kolo said the state government had mapped out strategies for smooth and robust transition programme in two years’ time.

“This will afford all the members of the party a level playing field as the countdown to 2023 begins.

“This administration wants to ensure that everybody is given a level playing field without victimising any party faithful.

We want to give power back to the people, let them decide who they want to preside over their affairs. This is what we have decided to do as true democrats,” he concluded.

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