Igbos should stop playing bad politics – Chris Ngige

Minister for Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has said that Igbos in the country should stop playing bad politics by putting their eggs in one basket at every political dispensation.

Speaking on Tuesday, May 23, at the commissioning of the Second Niger Bridge and the construction of capital projects by the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari, Ngige said the commissioned projects has vindicated some of them for their choice of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said;

“The first Niger Bridge was constructed in 1965 under the regime of Tafawa Belewa and that was when our brother, the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was president and that is the product of that political alliance.

“During the war, some portions of the bridge were blown up with mines in order to stop the federal troops from crossing over and after the war a second bridge became imperative.

“When I was here as governor, the then president sent some contractors and said that the bridge would be built and that was in 2005. But this man (Buhari) we brought him here for campaign and I told the people of the South East that this man would construct the second Niger Bridge and rebuild Enugu Airport. We did not believe it but he did it.

“We played bad politics in 2015 and in 2019 yet the APC government brought infrastructure to the South East like the Enugu-Port Harcourt Road, Enugu-Abakaliki Road and the Federal Secretariat.

“All of us should not be in one political party, some would be here and some would be there and if some people are not in the same party with you, don’t call them saboteurs because Late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and even Dr Micheal Okpara did the same thing and we must come back to that old political culture that we left for long.”

Imo Assembly Labour Party candidate is dead

Chukwunonye Irouno, a Labour Party candidate for Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State House of Assembly is dead.

The popular master of ceremony in Owerri and a former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs and Entertainment to a former governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, died on Monday night December 5, in his house in Owerri.

Irouno who was called up to be the official MC for Peter Obi’s rally in Owerri on Tuesday, December 6, died after he and other Labour chieftains finished inspecting Kanu Nwankwo sports stadium in Owerri, the venue for Obi’s campaign rally.

His death was confirmed by chairman of the local Organizing committee for the rally, Kingsley Onunuju.

After Onunuju announced Irouno’s death and called for a minute silence in his honour, the crowd erupted in shouts.

APC women leader st@bbed by her ‘neighbor’ in Osun

The woman leader of the All Progressives Congress in ward 3, Ilesha West local government area of Osun State, Morufat Balogun, has been scarred after she was allegedly stabbed by one Sope Fadiora on Thursday evening, October 21.

According to reports, the duo ran their businesses in their shops that are not too far from each other.

On Thursday night, they got into an argument and in the process, Sope allegedly stabbed Balogun in the face with a broken bottle, leaving her with a deep cut on her face that was gushing out a lot of blood.

Balogun was immediately rushed to the hospital where she was placed on admission. C

onfirming the incident to LIB, the spokesperson of the state police command, SP Yemisi Opalola said

”It was a case of two-fighting. Their shops are close to each other. They were fighting over God knows what.

The other woman attacked her by stabbing her with something while the APC woman leader also bit the other woman in two places with her teeth”

SP Opalola dismissed claims it had any political undertone. She said both women will be charged to court on Monday, October 24.

Imo Assembly removes speaker

The Imo State House of Assembly has removed its speaker Kennedy Ibe and replaced him with Emeka Nduka.

Emeka Nduka was elected today, September, 19. Nduka, who represents the Ehime Mbano State Constituency, was immediately sworn-in by the Clerk of the Assembly, Chinelo Emeghara.

Ibe, who represents the Obowo State constituency was elected as speaker in November 2021, after Paul Emezim was impeached as the speaker.

Ibe was on suspension when he was elected as the number one man of the legislature.

The Imo State House of Assembly has now had four speakers in three years following Nduka’s election.

I look forward to working with Liz Truss – Atiku

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has congratulated Liz Truss on her election as the leader of the Conservative Party of the United Kingdom.

We reported earlier that Truss, who was elected Monday, will formally take office on Tuesday, and become the new UK Prime Minister after Johnson tenders his resignation to Queen Elizabeth II.

“The UK has proven, yet again, the resilient power of democracy. The election of MP Liz Truss as leader of the Conservative Party was a hard-fought process, but the ultimate winners are the people of the United Kingdom,” Atiku.

The PDP standard bearer also said he looked forward to working with Truss in the areas of human capital development, trade, and democracy.

“I join all other friends of the UK to celebrate this moment. I equally look forward to an enhanced partnership of the new leadership of the Conservative Party with Nigeria and African countries in the areas of human capital development, trade and strengthening democracy and the integrity of elections. -AA,” Atiku posted on his Facebook page, Monday afternoon.

There’s consequence for using religion to manipulate politics – Bishop Kukah warns

Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto State has warned that using religion to manipulate politics will have a devastating effect on the development of the country.

Bishop Kukah highlighted what happened in Germany during the reign of Adolf Hitler and added that using religion to manipulate polictics would come with a grave consequence.

He made the observation on Tuesday, August 30, in Abuja during the presentation of his new book, “Broken Truth,” as part of activities lined up for his birthday. Kukah, who turns 70 today, August 31, said that the problem is that the Nigerian political elites lacked the mental capacity to understand the consequences of the fire they were stoking.

He said:

“If you look at history, there’s a consequence for using religion to manipulate politics. We just need to look at Germany, the consequences are there to see in Hitler.

The problem is that the Nigerian political elites lack the mental capacity to understand the consequences of the fire they are stoking because there is nothing to suggest, the average person who is living in the north, who is Fulani, who is a Muslim, who is Hausa, can say that they are proud of the Nigerian political system, beyond a very tiny percentage.

“And I have said that Buhari’s recruitment process has the tendency to cause a threat because we have lost the moral right to quarrel with Boko Haram who say except you accept our way, you will die.

“If you decide that you want to give privilege to a religion or an ethnic group, what will happen is that others automatically become outsiders.”

Atiku and Wike meet in London

PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Governor Nyesom Wike met in London last night, Thursday August 25.

Both men have been at loggerheads after Gov Wike lost out in the May 28/29 Presidential primary of the party and also lost out in becoming the Vice Presidential candidate of the party. Efforts to resolve their issues had failed until recently.

PDP social media handles shared the photos of their meeting with some other PDP governors and stakeholders with the caption “A United Family, Stronger Together”

The meeting was held a few hours after former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, met Gov Wike and some other PDP governors and stakeholders.

People want to serve Nigeria but they also have to eat – Sanusi speaks on brain drain in different sectors in the country

Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, former Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, has asked presidential candidates to prioritize health and education sectors to enhance productivity.

Speaking at an event organised by the board and management of Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi Foundation (MAMF) in Lagos, on Wednesday August 24, Sanusi said Nigerian politicians, especially presidential candidates, must have a clear plan and utmost respect for the two sectors as they had failed abysmally.

The former Governor of Central Bank also noted that doctors and teachers have not been treated well, hence, the brain drain experienced in the sectors.

He said;

“Education and health are the foundation of the economy, if we don’t prioritize these sectors, then we are finished. The rate of brain drain is high because prepared budgets in the health and education sectors have been embezzled and mismanaged.

“You can’t treat your teachers and doctors as if they are nothing. That is the reason they are leaving the country in droves. We must reverse brain drain by respecting the demands of teachers and health practitioners.

“As a people and most especially as governments, we have lost our respect for the professions that should be respected. Teachers and doctors are not looking for money but the amount of money we invest in training our children in becoming doctors and teachers can never be earned in salaries in this country but people deserve a decent life and also respect.

“People want to serve but they also want to eat. They are humans who have basic responsibility, they want to educate their children. We have created an economy where everybody on a narrow salary is being impoverished.”

He also pointed out that while there is high inflation in the country where the average doubles every hour, salaries of doctors and teachers are not increased to accommodate the inflation leading to lack of motivation to serve the nations.

Peter Obi is fighting for the oppressed and we believe in same cause – Afenifere leader, Ayo Adebanjo

Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation has explained why he would be supporting Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

In an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday August 24, Adebanjo said he and Obi share same cause and he believes the former Governor of Anambra state is fighting for oppressed Nigerians. The Afenifere leader also stated that he won’t back any candidate that does not support restructuring

Adebanjo said;

“He (Obi) came to meet Southern and Middlebelt leaders in my house. It was an exchange of views; we believe in the same cause.“We are all partners in progress. The fight he is fighting is a fight for the oppressed.

“Restructuring was at the front burner; we should have a country first before we have any development plan. That is the pillar on which the Southern and Middlebelt leaders stand.

“Constitutional review, community policing, devolution of power and others are all embedded in restructuring. Where we have a constitution where everybody is dissatisfied, you won’t have peace and without peace, there will be no stability. These are fundamental.

“There is nothing new about restructuring; we are only saying let us go back to where we started before the military came. Where did we start? The constitution was made in 1964, endorsed by Awolowo, Azikwe and Sardauna, and was what we had until the military came in 1966 and imposed this constitution.

“This constitution is a fraudulent one and the government has never refuted it. They set aside the constitution before 1966, imposed this one and included all the things that were excluded that are causing confusion till today. We must go back to that constitution.”

Sanwo-Olu restates commitment to affordable housing

The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has restated his commitment to providing affordable housing for different strata of citizens in the state.Sanwo-Olu said this on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Channel Point Apartments project executed by the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation and Brook Assets and Resources Limited on Victoria Island.

He said,

“In the housing industry, this is the 16th housing project that we have handed over to our citizens and I want to assure you that there are still a whole lot more. For instance, before the end of the year, I am sure the Ministry of Housing has about four major projects to hand over hundreds of flats to citizens.

We are not just building; we are ensuring that we build affordable housing for different strata of our citizens – from the low budget to the middle budget to beautiful apartments like this in the heart of Victoria Island and we are also building in Ikorodu, Badagry, Epe, Ilupeju, Surulere, and Ikota.

As we pursue this housing agenda, we are also rigorously pursuing a comprehensive urban renewal.”The Managing Director of LSDPC, Ayodeji Joseph, disclosed that its partnership with the private sector will lead to more projects in the next 18 months.

“We are glad that through this joint venture with Brooks Assets and resources Limited, we have been able to deliver 38 family residential units of commensurable value and quality, and the flats have modern facilities,” he stated.

May God Grant You Success In Kidnapping President Buhari, El-Rufai, Garba Shehu; Flog Them Well In The Bush –Islamic Preacher Prays For Terrorists.

Apopular Islamic preacher based in Sokoto State, Bello Yabo, has prayed that terrorists who threatened to kidnap President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, should be successful in their mission. Yabo, who said the prayer while reacting to Shehu’s comment on the terrorists’ threat, however, appealed to the kidnappers to release the innocent victims in their custody. He insisted the terrorists are free to kidnap Nigerian top leaders. SaharaReporters earlier reported how terrorists who abducted passengers of a Kaduna-bound train on March 28, 2022, in a viral video, threatened to kidnap President Buhari, El-Rufai and some lawmakers if they did not comply with their demands. But Shehu while reacting to the threat had said that the “terrorist activity using propaganda and the use of violence to force governments to accept or submit to political demands is not new all over world.”

In response to Shehu’s statement, the Islamic cleric berated him (Shehu) for simply describing the threat as prograpanda. The cleric accused Shehu of being insensitive to the unfortunate plight of kidnapped victims. According to a report by Daily Nigerian, Yabo prayed for Shehu to fall into the hands of the kidnappers, “I pray they kidnap you, Garba Shehu, and demonstrate as propaganda.” “We are praying for you kidnappers. May God grant you success in carrying out your threats to kidnap those people. But please release the innocent people in captivity. “If these were the kind of people you have been abducting all this while, we wouldn’t have bothered ourselves. We would instead pray and bless you because they have become a disaster [to us]. “These are people who promised heaven and earth, and now they have the opportunity but became incompetent. Take them to the bush and flog them, instead of humiliating innocent citizens who are striving to make ends meet.

“And please make good your threats, and we will support you with prayers.”

Oyo govt charges youths to be active in politics

The Oyo State Government has called on youths in the state to be active participants in politics, especially as the 2023 General Elections draw nearer.

Governor Seyi Makinde, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, made the submission, on Saturday, at the Oyo State Youths Summit held at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, stating that youths have a big role to play in shaping the leadership of the country.

He said: “For the present administration in Oyo State, led by Governor Seyi Makinde, we are committed to building youths with good character. We indeed call on you to be part of the politics in the State.

“Get your PVC and act.”

Speaking at the event, the State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Hon. Seun Fakorede, emphasized that youths should perform in any leadership position they find themselves in.

He said: “Our country is drifting today due to poor leadership, therefore, we as youths must equip ourselves with the needed knowledge, so that when we get to these positions, we will perform differently.

“The only reason you can come on stage is because you have been equipped to lead. Be ready to use your voting strength to make the necessary change in the nation, you must not only engage in complaining but be fully involved”.

Why good people shun politics – Masari

The Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, said on Friday that political violence prevents good people from aspiring for leadership positions in the country.

Masari stated this during a visit to his Gombe State counterpart, Inuwa Yahaya, over the recent political clash in the state.

He was accompanied on the trip by the Jigawa State Governor, Badaru Abubakar.

At least 15 persons were killed about three weeks ago when supporters of rival politicians clashed in the state.

A few days later hoodlums also attacked the former governor of the state, Danjuma Goje, in the state capital.

Goje in a statement issued by his media aide claimed that the thugs were loyalists of Governor Yahaya.

The duo are fighting for control of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state.

The Katsina governor said politics was about leadership and service to the people and must be played without violence to attract the right leaders.

He stressed that good people would always shun violence.

Masari said: “Politicians have the responsibility of promoting democracy and we cannot promote democracy through violence; if we do, it will scare the good people away.

Leaders have a responsibility to protect lives and property. As leaders, we should not, under any circumstances, be seen to be promoting or supporting violence.

“Violence will ultimately lead to death, cause injuries, loss of property, and create charged atmosphere among the populace.

“We believe we are peacemakers and politics can be played without violence. Violence does not help anybody and it does not promote peace.”

He urged politicians to conduct politics in a harmonious manner in the interest of peace and development.

The governor added: “We appeal to all political leaders and all political parties to conduct themselves and the affairs of politicking in a calmer, mature, and responsible manner.”

‘Get into politics to make desired changes,’ Osinbajo charges Nigerian youths

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday urged young Nigerians to get involved in politics in order to make the desired changes in government.

Osinbajo, according to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, made the call during a virtual interaction with Nigerian Fellows of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

The Vice President said he would not have made changes in government, if he did not occupy a public office.

He noted that nations cannot afford to have their best brains and committed social activists remain in the civil space without being involved in politics.

Osinbajo said: “You need to go the extra length if you are not already involved, get involved in politics—while a lot can be achieved in civil society, the government still holds the ace in terms of capacity and resources to bring social goods to the largest numbers.

“Besides, being deciders instead of pressure group at the table in policy formulation are hugely different positions. The consummation of our great ideas to transform our societies ultimately will depend on ‘those politicians’ as we sometimes derisively describe them.

African nations and especially our country, cannot afford to have its best minds and most committed social activists remain only in the civil space. No, we simply can’t afford it, you have to get involved in politics. You have to be in the position to make the difference on the scale that is required.

“Of course, there are many who will not be involved in politics but those that are inclined should, and there will be many challenges even in the winning or getting heard in politics. But I want to say to you that it should be an objective that you should set for yourselves, to get involved at whatever level of politics so that you can make the difference on the scale that is required.

“It took public office for me to be able to get the scale of change that is required to make a difference.

Without a public office, I would have remained a pressure group activist, I would have done some nice things, but I wouldn’t have been able to make the changes that my country required.”

Eschew ‘do-or-die’ politics, MURIC implores politicians

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) on Tuesday urged Nigerian politicians to ‘eschew do-or-die politics’ for the stability of the country.

This was contained in the Maolud message signed by the MURIC Director, Ishaq Akintola, who noted that a Nigerian political space devoid of acrimony and bad blood was needed to encourage better participation that would foster growth.

Akintola also berated the violence entrenched within the political landscape due to the attitude of the politicians,

“We seize the opportunity of this august occasion to appeal to Nigerian politicians to eschew ‘do-or-die’ politics.

“The body language of our politicians in recent time is not encouraging, particularly after the recent party congresses held all over the country.

“Desperation, greed, and avarice are still boldly written on the foreheads of our politicians.

“They cut across the political parties. Parallel congresses are held in almost all of the states and in almost all the parties. The exercise so far manifests gross desertification of the spirit of sportsmanship, statesmanship, patriotism and sacrifice.

“Why are ex-governors breathing down the necks of sitting governors? Where is the spirit of living and letting live? What did the ex-governors forget in the State Houses? Whatever achievement or failure registered during the tenure of a former governor is his own story and scorecard.

“Worse still, gunmen are hired to disrupt political gatherings. The fact that our politicians still believe in hooliganism as a means of settling scores and achieving their political ambitions indicates that we are still playing Stone Age politics.

“Nigerian politicians should learn from Prophet Muhammad the arts of persuasion and dialogue. Though he lived as a fugitive in Makkah for several years, he returned to liberate the city from the clutches of his oppressors without a single sword leaving the scabbard.

“Though a complete alien in Madinah, its inhabitants welcomed him with pomp and pageantry. Nigerian politicians will disarm their opponents without firing a single shot if only they will emulate this great man, Muhammad,” MURIC said.

Falana charges youths to get involved in politics

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana (SAN), on Monday charged Nigerian youths to get more involved in politics.

Falana, who made the call during the 2021 Felabration Symposium held in Lagos, declared that youths have the capacity to contribute more to the progress of the country.

Felabration is an annual music festival initiated by Yeni Kuti in memory of her late father, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, in 1998.

He said: “Nigerian youths need to get engaged politically. They have roles to play in the struggle for a new Nigeria.”

Politics aside, we have no leadership in Nigeria –Ex-Jigawa gov, Lamido

The former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido has stressed the need for effective leadership in the country to solve its challenges, saying Nigeria has no leadership.

He maintained that the problem of good leadership was the main challenge facing the country at the moment, evident in the security challenges witnessed across the country.

Lamido who spoke while appearing on Sunday Politics, a Channels Television programme, on Sunday, said the government must be accountable to the people.

“Government must be held accountable and I don’t want to sound too political but it is a fact of life. When you want to attain political power the process must be credible,” he said.

Let us put politics aside. What do we do as leaders? We have no leadership in Nigeria, that is the problem and the world is looking at us.

Above everything else, it is about leadership. Leadership is very important. On the issue of Zamfara, why is the state becoming the hub of terrorism in Nigeria? Why?”

Furthermore, the ex-governor slammed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for not having concrete plans to steer the wheels of the country before getting into power in 2015.

“They knew they were telling lies. But for them, it was about getting the power. If they get the power, then they begin to ask, ‘what do we do?’ So, the process and the platform must be very honest; it must be very credible. It is this character of telling lies to the young generation.

“When you raise their hopes in trying to get government help, and you are in government, by the time you fail to fulfil their needs, of course, there will be problems,” he added.

Catholic Church bans Father Mbaka from commenting on partisan politics

The Catholic church has banned Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministries Enugu, Rev. Fr Ejike Mbaka, from commenting on partisan politics.

In a letter to Mbaka dated June 3, Bishop of Enugu diocese, Callistus Onaga, also converted the adoration ministry to chaplaincy.

Unlike in the past where Mbaka solely oversees the activities of the ministry as its spiritual director, making it chaplaincy brings it under the control of the Enugu diocese and gives the bishop the power to appoint a chaplain to oversee its operations.

Although the bishop said Mbaka still leads the chaplaincy, he added that he (bishop) can appoint any ministerial officer “to assist the chaplains to oversee the pastoral activities of the ministry.”

There shall be no partisan politics either by way of active engagement or by prophetic naming of candidates for position of power,” he said.

Amid Republican discord, Trump insists he’s going to stay in politics

Former President of the United States of America, Donald Trump has insisted that he is going to remain in politics as Republicans begin charting a turbulent future without a clear head of the party.

Trump has declared that he can propel his party to victory in next year’s congressional midterm elections adding that he has agreed to work with Leader McCarthy on helping the Republican Party to become a majority in the House.

“President Trump’s popularity has never been stronger than it is today, and his endorsement means more than perhaps any endorsement at any time,” read a statement sent out by Trump’s Save America political action committee following a meeting Thursday with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy

“President Trump has agreed to work with Leader McCarthy on helping the Republican Party to become a majority in the House,” the statement continued.

Trump’s comments came days after an article of impeachment against him was presented to the Senate for his (Trump’s) trial on accusations of inciting the deadly January 6 attack on Capitol Hill.

The article of impeachment was delivered on Monday by members of the House of Representatives thus setting the tone for Senate trial against the former United States president, which is expected to start next month.

WE NEED A REVOLUTION.

We are Africans, our forefathers suffered greatly under the authority of the colonial masters. They fought for our independence and got it by sacrificing their existence. As Africans, we have one thing in common which is the history of our struggle throughout the years of slavery.

We are Africans but some choose to be outcast. Africans attacking one another and segregating against nationalities is not the best option. Over the years, we have learnt about the struggles of the nation, South Africa. We grew up to respect Nelson Mandela and loved him for the good values he preached. Late Nelson Mandela must be very dissapointed to see the same people whose freedom he suffered for, now attacking Nigerians and other Africans, forgetting the support rendered to them during their years of apartheid. We ought to say no to xenophobia and see one another as a race, the African race!

People ran for their lives from the northern parts of Nigeria because of the insurgency. Even in South Africa , Nigerians who are there to seek greener pastures also got attacked . When will this end? Is our government still sleeping? When will Nigeria get better? We need to fix Nigeria!

War outside, war inside…when exactly are we going to enjoy steady peace in Nigeria? We need a reliable structure , a system which will enable Nigerians to thrive. We can’t always take our ideas abroad and get punished for it just like the recent killings of Nigerians in South Africa. We definitely need a revolution, this is the solution. Nigeria has to be better, this is the greatest assurance we can have as citizens.

It can be recalled from history that Nigerians had been of great help to South Africans during their years of apartheid. As written and cited by ANA-CAJ , apartheid is one dark era in the history of South Africa. Nigeria was the first country to provide direct financial aid to the now ruling African National Congress ( ANC) from the 1960s while in the 1970s, Nigeria supported the ANC and Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) with an annual contribution of $5 million to help them in the struggle.

Nigeria set up a program to cater specifically for the South Africans’ educational needs and general welfare through the Southern African Relief Fund (SAFR) under the administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo , who contributed $3.7 million. Nigerian’s civil servants were also made to give 2 percent of their income to the fund, then known as “Mandela tax”. According to SAFR , 86 South African students were educated in Nigeria for free. How then could South Africans forget all these and settle for violence?

Nigerians attacking Nigerians, South African attacking Nigerians, Africans attacking one another…when will there be an end to this violence? Our leaders are sitting in their offices while the citizens are busy killing one another. How long will it take before we snap out of this mental slavery? When will we become wise and realise that violence is never the solution? The solution we ought to seek is a revolution . Remember that quote stated by Mahatama Ghandi, “An eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind”.