News / politics

APC primaries: I have reserved hotels with food for over 7,000 delegates — Osinbajo

The Prof. Yemi Osinbajo Campaign Organisation on Wednesday said that it would provide hotel accommodation for more than 7,000 All Progressives Congress delegates across the country during the party’s presidential primary election.

Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, Office of the Vice-President, disclosed this.

Ojudu announced this to delegates in Minna, while wooing them to vote for Osinbajo during the party’s primaries.

He said: “Before you leave Minna to the national delegates conference, your hotel accommodations and other things will be provided for you to enable you to feel at home through out the delegates conference. “We have provided hotel accommodations for the more than 7,000 APC delegates to the presidential primary election.

“We don’t want a situation where more than one person will stay in a room.

“We want all of you to feel comfortable during the primary election.”

Ojudu said that there would be vehicles to convey the delegates to and fro the venue from their hotels and also a desk officer in each hotel to attend to the needs of the delegates.

“At the hotel, food will be provided and there will be a desk officer to attend to all your needs,” he said.

Ojudu said that the campaign organization would do everything possible to reward the delegates if Osinbajo is elected as the party’s candidate and by the grace of God emerges the president in the 2023 general election.

He said: “In the past our delegates have not been rewarded.

“Rather other people who did not contribute were rewarded with appointments and jobs.

“If Osinbajo is elected as promised, we are going to reward all of you with jobs and appointments.”

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that while Ojudu was briefing the delegates and newsmen, Osinbajo was having a closed door meeting with the state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello.

NAN also reports that after the meeting with Bello, Osinbajo met the delegates in a closed door before leaving Minna.…

Law / News / politics

Just In: Osun poll: Court affirms Adeleke as PDP candidate

A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State has affirmed Ademola Adeleke as Peoples Democratic Party candidate for the July 16th governorship election in Osun State.

The suit was filed by Prince Dotun Babayemi.

The court consequently affirmed Senator Ademola Adeleke as the validly elected PDP candidate for the poll.

In his judgement which took over one hour, 30 minutes, Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel held that the primary election conducted at the WOCDIF Centre, Osogbo, on March 8, 2022, which produced Babayemi was null and void. Details later……

Education / News / politics

Lagos First Lady holds parenting seminar on boy child

The Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has renewed the call on the United Nations to fully recognize May 16 as the International Day of the Boy Child in order to deepen initiatives and interventions targeted at promoting the interest, welfare and wellbeing of the Boy Child globally.

The First Lady spoke at the inaugural Parenting Seminar as part of the Boy Child Initiative of her office held on Monday.

The seminar took place at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, with the theme: “Parenting The 21st Century Boy Child: A Pathway To Transformation.”

The seminar for parents is the third leg of the Boy Child Initiative to commemorate the international celebration and it was well attended by stakeholders drawn from various groups including wives of government officials, government functionaries, traditional and community leaders, market associations, religious and professional bodies, security agencies, youth voluntary groups, orphanages, correctional facilities and people living with disabilities, among others. According to the First Lady, the seminar was aimed at ensuring that parents have an in-depth understanding of the nitty-gritty of effective approaches to the upbringing of the boy child in order to address the social vices such as rape, drug abuse, cultism, bullying and others.

Sanwo-Olu said having earlier organised an advocacy walk, formal launch and a three-day residential workshop for boys selected from across the state to extensively address topics of interest to boys, her office decided to follow up the interventions with a seminar on how effective parenting can lay the foundation for promoting family values and civic responsibility.

She said: “Our Boy Child Interventions are aimed at making a positive difference.

“It is gratifying that it is already catching the fancy of the International Community, and I must say we are open to partnerships to scale up our programs to support the boy child and secure their future.

“Parents have a lot to do to address the plight of the boy child.

“The issue of the boy child is a burning one that parents must pay special attention to because if …

News / politics

Breaking: 2023: Buhari meets with the aspiring Ministers

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with some of his Ministers vying for various elective offices in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

The roll call of the Ministers in attendance includes: Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation); Chris Ngige (Labour and Employment); Goodwill Akpabio (Niger Delta Affairs); Abubakar Malami (Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation).

Other Ministers in attendance are that of the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, Ogbonnaya Onu; Women Affairs, Paullen Tallen; Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva and Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs Tayo Alasoadura.

Recall that President Buhari, had in a circular, signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, officially written Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefelie, and heads of agencies like the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, among others seeking to contest the 2023 general elections to resign on or before Monday, May 16, 2022. Similarly, Buhari had after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) through the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed directed all his aspiring Ministers to in line with the amended Electoral Act resign their appointment on or before Monday, May 16, 2022. As of Wednesday, only Akpabio, Nwajinuba and Onu had tendered their resignation letters.…

News / politics

Nnamdi Kanu’s release now rests with Ohanaeze Ndigbo — Umahi

The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has said the release of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, now rests with the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

The Governor said this on Tuesday when he spoke with newsmen after a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

Umahi, who spoke with State House Correspondents after presenting a thank you letter to the President for visiting the state on May 5 and 6, 2022, dismissed the insinuation that the people of the South East were no longer interested in the “Nigeria Project”.

According to him, the people of the South East are not in support of any form of agitation or plans to secede from Nigeria. He said: “I had many months back met with the President, where we had very detailed and frank discussion on that particular matter.

“South East people are tired and I have always said that we are not totally in support of agitation to secede from the Nigerian nation.

“We want to belong to the Nigerian nation and as the Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, I have publicly said it, I have defended it, I don’t care about the attacks and those who have taken to the politics of that matter in our place.

“So, the President graciously granted my request for political solution, but you see, when the President repeatedly said the matter is in court, we must appreciate his pedigree and integrity.

“He cannot just as a President say he is going to destroy the matter in court.

“But there is always room for dialogue and out of court settlement and that is what we are looking for.

“He has said: ‘Your cultural leadership should be able to initiate that with Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer.’

“But this is over six months and we have been begging the President of Ohanaeze to take up that responsibility.

“So, that is the position and we are waiting for the President of Ohanaeze to kick-start this political dialogue.

“I met with the Attorney-General …

News / politics

APC rakes in N2.63b from presidential forms

The All Progressives Congress, APC, on Tuesday, ended its sale of nomination and expression of interest forms, with no fewer than 25 aspirants jostling for its presidential ticket.

Although, the directorate of organization was still computing the figures of aspirants including those who picked forms in their states as of press time, Vanguard gathered that there are no fewer than 105 governorship aspirants, nearly a thousand National Assembly aspirants and more than 1,500 aspirants for states Houses of Assembly.

A revised timetable issued the National Organizing Secretary, Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu, fixed the last day for submission of completed forms and accompanying documents is now set for today, May 11, 2022.

“Also, Congresses to elect Local Government Area (LGA), State and National Delegates will now be held from Thursday,  May 12 to Saturday, May 14, 2022”.  27 presidential aspirants

  1. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
  2. Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello
  3. Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi
  4. Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba
  5. Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi
  6. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio
  7. Madam Uju Kennedy – N30m
  8. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo
  9. Former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole
  10. Former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun
  11. Former National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole
  12. Former Governor of Zamfara State, Ahmed Sani
  13. Jigawa State Governor, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar
  14. Labour and Employment Minister, Senator Chris Ngige
  15. Senator Rochas Okorocha
  16. Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade
  17. Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi
  18. Mr Tein Jack-Rich
  19. CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele
  20. Science and Technology Minister, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu
  21. Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva
  22. Former President Goodluck Jonathan
  23. Dr Akinwumi Adesina
  24. Senator Robert Ajayi Borroffice
  25. Pastor Tunde Bakare
  26. Pastor Nicholas Felix Nwagbo
  27. Senator Ken Nnamani
    • Total = N2.630 billion

    Why APC should cede presidency to South-West, says Sanwo-Olu

    Submitting his forms on Tuesday at the International Conference Centre, ICC, Abuja, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urged stakeholders to cede the APC presidential ticket to the South-West.

    On why the recent meeting of some South-West APC

…
Education / News / politics

ASUU Executive Committee announces extension of strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has extended its ongoing strike by 12 weeks.

The decision, announced on in the early hours of Monday, was taken at an emergency National Executive Council meeting held at ASUU Secretariat in Abuja.

The President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, confirmed the development on Monday.

Osodeke said the Federal Government was not sincere with the union and its officials were yet to meet with it. The emergency meeting, which had in attendance principal officers and branch chairmen, started on Sunday and ended early Monday morning.

The initial warning strike was declared on March 14, 2022.

ASUU’s demands include the non-implementation of the Memorandum of Action signed with the Federal Government in December 2020 on funding for revitalisation of public universities (both federal and states) and renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement.

Others are earned academic allowances, state universities, promotion arrears, withheld salaries, non-remittance of third-party deductions and rejection of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution that ASUU technical team developed to replace the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System.…

News / politics

Southern Presidency inevitable, North has more to gain – Ndume

The Senator representing Borno South in the red chamber, Ali Ndume, has said that the Northern region of Nigeria has more to gain from a Southern Presidency, which he described as “inevitable”.

Ndume, who is a former leader of the Northern Caucus of the All Progressives Congress, insisted that the ruling matter must zone its 2023 Presidency to the Southern region comprising the South-West, South-East and South-South geopolitical zones.

The Senator spoke on Tuesday when he featured as a guest on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programs. Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Tuesday, said the APC would ignite self-inflicted crises if it refused to unequivocally zone the 2023 Presidency to the South. Speaking on Tuesday, Ndume said, “I am a Nigerian, I am from the north and I believe in justice, equity and fairness. What Akeredolu said is my advice to the party. Even if they delayed it a bit, it doesn’t change the position; it is an inevitable one because the national chairman, in principle, not in writing was agreed from the north after the south has been the chairman. And as you can see, nobody contested the chairmanship of the APC from the south. “In 2015, when it was also agreed in principle that the presidency should come from the north, nobody from the South-West, South-South went into the contest. It’s not because there were no capable hands here but (it was) based on this principle. So, this time around, I don’t think that should change.

“The principle of federal character is a constitutional matter. In fact, federal character is more encompassing than zoning; you zone based on federal character.

“If APC zones it and it should zone it to the south, then other parties can zone it to wherever they want and it is Nigerians that would choose whoever they want.

“Personally, I feel we will be better of with a President coming from the South. The current President comes from the North and if you look at it analytically, …

News / politics

Lagos 2023: Ambode may pick APC governorship nomination form — Source

Baring any last-minute changes, former governor of Lagos State,  Akinwunmi Ambode, may pick the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms, on Friday, to contest the 2023 governorship race on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Ambode was governor of Lagos state for one term. He lost the APC ticket in the build-up to the 2019 elections to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, current governor of the state.

But a close ally of Ambode told Vanguard that the former governor has concluded plans to pick the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms to contest on the APC platform, this week.

The source, who spoke in confidence, said: “I am talking to you as a friend that he (Ambode) may likely come out this week on the platform of the APC. From what I know, he may likely contest against Sanwo-Olu at the governorship primary.

“Before the close of the sale of forms, oga (Ambode) will pick the Nomination and Expression of Interest Form. There is a likelihood that he will buy the forms on Friday.”

Similarly, a former Commissioner of Energy and Mineral Resources and Chairman of the Akinwunmi Ambode Campaign Group, Olawale Oluwo, said the former governor’s intentions will be revealed soon.

Oluwo, who spoke to ARISE News about Ambode’s intentions for the upcoming election, noted that structures are in place to challenge Governor Sanwo-Olu for the APC governorship ticket.

The Chairman of the Akinwunmi Ambode Campaign Group said that Ambode will “announce his political ambitions by Friday”.

He also dismissed reports that the Ambode campaign group has been banned.

“Governor Ambode will announce his plans within the week. I think the closing for the sale of forms is Friday.

“Even the president of Nigeria, can he ban an association? When the constitution of Nigeria says that there is freedom of association, we are all members of the party (APC).

“To be able to ban an association, there is a process and there must be probable cause that the association is engaging in criminality or treason or bad things that threaten …

News / Oil & Gas / politics

IPMAN urges government to clamp down on illegal refineries operators

IPMAN’s President, Chinedu Okoronkwo, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Friday in Lagos.

Okoronkwo said the recent explosion at one of the illegal refineries at Abaezi forest in Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State had again brought to the forefront the dangers of engaging in such nefarious activities.

He said: “IPMAN as a body commiserates with the government and people of Imo over the deaths and injuries recorded in the incident.

“We are, therefore, calling on the local, state and federal governments to intensify efforts to check the operations of these illegal refineries within their domains.”

Okoronkwo said Nigeria was losing billions of naira to crude oil thieves, a conduct he lamented was affecting the nation’s economy negatively.

He added that the environmental degradation being caused by their activities could not be overemphasized, especially in the Niger Delta region.

Okoronkwo urged other state governors to emulate Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Woke, who had taken the campaign against oil bunkering in the state very seriously.

He said on its part, IPMAN would continue to work with the government, security agencies and other stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the challenges confronting the oil and gas industry.

“We believe that part of the ways we can reduce their activities is for governments to begin the establishment of modular refineries in some of these areas.

“If these people are positively engaged, the pro…

News / politics

Insecurity threatens Nigeria’s foundations of nationhood – Gbajabiamila

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the current security challenges in Nigeria are a threat to the foundations of the country’s nationhood.

The Speaker, however, noted that the Nigerian Government has responded to the challenges by taking certain measures such as increasing funding for the police and the military, recruiting personnel for security agencies, among others.

Gbajabiamila spoke when he delivered a paper titled ‘Democracy in Challenging Times: The Role of African Parliaments in Safeguarding and Delivering on the Dividends of Democracy’ at the School of Oriental Studies, London on Wednesday as part of his ongoing official visit to the UK.

Speaking on the challenges facing Nigeria, Gbajabiamila said: “The most pressing of these challenges today is the national security crisis that threatens the foundations of our nationhood and portends great danger for Africa and the world if it persists. The Speaker, however, said: “First, to address present challenges and then to build resilient institutions that can withstand uncertainty in troubled times, more than anything else, our focus must remain on the young and vibrant youth of Nigeria and Africa who have so much to offer the world and who have proven that they can thrive under challenging circumstances given half a chance.

“However we cannot do this for as long as our present national security challenges persist.

“The government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has responded to the reality of our present challenges by increasing funding provisions for the police and armed forces, accelerating recruitment and training to put more boots on the ground and also acquiring weapons systems designed to give the security agencies an advantage.”

The Speaker said upon the resumption of the 9th House, “the scope of our challenges was evident, matched only by our confidence that we would do what was required to overcome those difficulties and deliver the dividends of democracy for our people.

“Now the topic of this paper speaks to ‘dividends of democracy,’ a term that has been loosely and broadly interpreted to mean different …

News / politics

How Tambuwal’s senatorial ambition forced only Sokoto PDP senator to defect to APC

Facts have emerged that the secret ambition of the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, to come to the Senate if he eventually loses the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party forced the Deputy Minority Whip of the Senate, Ibrahim Danbaba, to defect to the All Progressives Congress.

Governor Tambuwal and Senator Danbaba are from same Senator District: Sokoto South Senatorial District.

There are indications that Tambuwal has bought both presidential and senatorial Expression of Interest and Nomination forms of the PDP.

In order to avoid facing Tambuwal in a senatorial race, Danbaba was said to have taken the easy way out, with assurances from the APC that he would be given the ticket. The lawmaker’s decision to join to the APC was conveyed in a letter read at the start of plenary by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Wednesday.

Danbaba was nominated by the PDP on July 15, 2021 for the position of Deputy Minority Whip following the defection of the former Deputy Whip, Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u, representing Zamfara North Senatorial District, from the PDP to the APC.

Danbaba’s defection brings the total number of APC Senators in the upper chamber to 71, and PDP 37.

The lawmaker, in his letter, explained that his decision to leave the PDP was informed by the lingering and multifaceted crisis at the zonal level.

Senator Danbaba’s letter reads: “I write to formally inform you and distinguished colleagues of my decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

“My decision is anchored on the continuing multifaceted crisis that have bedeviled the PDP, especially at the zonal level which has created not only credibility problems, but has undermined party discipline, cohesion and focus.

“The situation at the state level has not helped matters either as depicted by lack of political sanity, focus and credible leadership.

“I have in APC, the political ideology in consonance with my personal political philosophy. This Ideology also seems the best suited to meet the expectations and aspirations of my constituents.…

Education / News / politics

ASUU strike: Varsity lecturers making negotiation difficult – Ngige

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has blamed the Academic Staff Union of Universities for prolonging the industrial strike in the country.

The minister said the union had made negotiation difficult for both parties.

Ngige disclosed this in a statement by Patience Onuobia, Acting Head of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The minister was reacting to the insinuations that he was responsible for the ongoing action by the union.  Ngige, however, said he had done what many could not do to forestall strikes by ASUU.

According to him, negotiation now is being made impossible by ASUU.

He said: “For example, ASUU insists that National Information and Technology Development Agency should take the payment platform, University Transparency Accountability Solution that it developed.

“That they should deploy it for payment in the university whether it is good or bad, whether it failed integrity and vulnerability test or not.

“ASUU members know that fraud committed on payment platforms can run into billions.

“If a hacker adds zeros to hundreds, it becomes billions.”

Ngige noted that NITDA brought out the report of its test on UTAS, noting that it passed the user acceptability but failed vulnerability and integrity tests that were the two critical tests that prevented fraud.

He said: “As a conciliator, I spoke to ASUU and NITDA to continue the test and see whether they could make up the lapses and arrive at 100 per cent because that is what NITDA insists on.

“NITDA said they cannot even take the platform at 99.9 per cent of vulnerability and integrity.

“That they can’t take that risk on a payment system, that it can be hacked into.

“These are the issues.

“So if you hear someone saying Ngige is responsible, it is wrong.

“I’m not the one that implements.

“I’m the conciliator.

“I conciliate, so that there will be no more warfare and even in conciliation, once I apprehend, the parties go back to status quo ante, which means, you call off the strike.

“ASUU …

News / politics

2023: I’ll never drop presidential ambition – Kalu

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor-Kalu, has said that he did not drop his 2023 presidential ambition, as reported by some sections of the media.

He said he would contest the presidential ticket of the All Progressive Congress if the party zoned it to the South-East.

Kalu, who cleared the air over a statement he released on Tuesday, maintained that equity demanded that the South East should be supported to get the presidential ticket of the APC.

He said, “My stand is very clear, I didn’t drop my presidential ambition and I will never drop it. “I only urged our brothers from the South-South and South-West geo-political zones who came out en masse to contest for the office of the president to drop their ambition and support us because of equity.…

News / politics

Just In: Supreme Court voids Andy Uba’s participation in Anambra governorship poll

The Supreme Court has voided the participation of Andy Uba in the last governorship election in Anambra State as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A five-member panel of the court, held in a judgment on Tuesday, that the APC breached its guidelines for the conduct of primaries and thus, failed to conduct valid primary from which Uba emerged as the party’s candidate in the Anambra governorship election.

The Supreme Court affirmed the February 23, 2022 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the December 20, 2021 judgment by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The apex court proceeded to dismiss the appeals filed by Andy Uba and the APC – marked: SC/CV/240/2022 and SC/CV/241/2022. In the December 20, 2021 judgment, Justice Ekwo held among others that Uba was never a candidate in the election held on November 6, 2021 having emerged from an illegally conducted primary election held by the APC.

Justice Ekwo held that the plaintiff, in the case marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/648/201, George Moghalu (an APC aspirant for the election) succeeded in proving that the APC did not conduct a valid primary election from which Uba claimed to have emerged as the party’s candidate.

Details Shortly……

Fraud / Law / News / politics

Probe: Court orders CCT Chairman to appear before Senate

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, to appear before the Senate.

In his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Inyang Ekwo said the order was to allow Umar to face his probe over alleged public misconduct.

The judge held that Umar is answerable to the Senate on moral standards and conduct as a public officer administering the law.

Justice Ekwo stated that Umar’s suit seeking to stop his probe by the Senate lacked merit and was consequently dismissed.

The Senate asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit filed by Umar seeking to stop his probe for alleged misconduct.

Umar had initially gone to court to challenge the powers of the Senate to investigate him over an alleged assault he perpetrated against a security guard at the Banex Plaza.

He was alleged to have publicly assaulted one Sargwak, a security guard at the Banex Plaza in Wuse 2, Abuja, following a disagreement between them over a parking space on the premises.

Details later……

News / politics

Pro-Buhari organisation distributes rice to vulnerable people in Kebbi

The Buhari For All Organization (BUFAO), has begun the distribution of rice, loaded in five trucks, to less-privileged people in Kebbi.

While briefing newsmen at the distribution point, the Former Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Bello Dantani, who is the State Coordinator of the organization, said that the gesture is to assist the less-privileged people in the society.

“The exercise is just the beginning of the distribution of five trucks of 25-kg rice off-loaded by the organization in the state.

“Today, orphans, persons living with disabilities, widows and the less-privileged people within the society are going home with bags of rice as assistance to them from the organization,” he said. Dantani urged the beneficiaries to continue to pray for the unity of the country and administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to surmount its challenges before the end of its tenure.

The coordinator also urged the beneficiaries to use the items received judiciously in order to cushion the effect of some hardships they faced during the Ramadan period.

In his remarks while flagging off the distribution of the rice, Gov. Atiku Bagudu commended the organization for its benevolence in reaching out to orphans, widows and the less-privileged in the spirit of social service to the citizenry.

Bagudu, represented by the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Mineral Resources, Alhaji Maigari Dakingari, said his administration attached premium to enhancing the welfare of the less privileged and the indigent in the state with emphasis on orphans and similar groups.

He further stated that the distribution of the rice by the organization is in line with the policy of the incumbent administration to uplift the social and economic well-being of the people.

The governor also said that the government has already distributed food items throughout the 21 local government areas as Ramadan palliative.

Also speaking, the National Co-ordinator of the organization, Alhaji Aminu Sani-Tagi, represented by Alhaji Muhammad Umar, the Zamfara State Commissioner for Arts and Culture, described the method adopted by the state chapter of the organization as the best in the country. …

News / politics

LG poll: APC wins in 31 of 34 LGAs in Katsina — KTSIEC

The Katsina State Independent Electoral Commission has declared the ruling All Progressives Congress as winner in 31 out of the 34 local government areas of the state in Monday’s local government poll.

The Secretary of the commission, Alhaji Lawal Faskari, made the announcement in the early hours of Tuesday in Katsina.

Faskari said the election was not completed in Daura and Funtua local government areas.

He also said that election was cancelled in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area due to some challenges, adding that the exercise was peaceful in all other areas. He added: “The exercise was peaceful, and no fewer than 12 registered political parties participated, except in Dutsin-Ma, where challenges forced the commission to use Section 60 of the Katsina State Local Government Elections Law, 2002 to stop the process.

“The commission has so far received complete results from 31 local government areas, 328 wards, awaiting that of Funtua and Daura, while elections in Dutsin-Ma has been cancelled.

“The commission, therefore, wishes to announce that APC has won all the 31 chairmanship and 328 councilorship seats so far collated.”

He congratulated the winners of the election and appreciated the political parties’ high level of maturity and sportsmanship exhibited during and after the exercise.

Faskari added: “KTSIEC also wishes to express its gratitude to the electorate and other stakeholders, and the entire people of the state for the overwhelming support and cooperation extended to it.”…

News / politics / Security

Ex-NHIS boss urges youths to unite against insecurity, bad governance

A former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf, has called on Nigerian youths to unite against insecurity and bad governance.

Yusuf gave the charge, Saturday night, during a virtual youths summit organized by the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Americas (NIDO) and Nigeria Diaspora Network (NDN).

The event, which was monitored by newsmen in Abuja, was titled: “Youth and National Development in Nigeria.”

Yusuf said the recent Abuja-Kaduna bound train attack was a mortal existential threat to the country, saying that it was disheartening that the elders are disconnected from the youths. The ex-NHIS boss, who recalled the bond of love and understanding that existed among Muslim and Christian students while growing up, charged the youths to unite together irrespective of religious, ethnic, language or political barrier.

“This country, Nigeria, has given my generation so much that we can never give back.

“I am an optimist and wherever I go, I tell the youths my history.

“I attended a Catholic school and I was the only Muslim in my class.

“We went into the world and competed favourably. The so-called village school we went were better than the best school presently.

“This was the Nigeria of my time. We had bond of relationship between Christians, Muslins and different tribes,” Yusuf said.

The former NHIS boss who decried the rate of insecurity in the country, called on the youths to unite against it, recalling the time he went with Sheik Ahmad Gumi into the forests to persuade the bandits to change from their bad ways.

He expressed concern at the rate the youths in Nigeria now get involved in criminalities like the Boko Haram, ISWAP, IPOB and the destruction that followed the #ENDSARS protest, among others.

“Nigeria has changed,” he said.

According to him, public service is seeing as a way to enrich our pocket and not for the interest of the country.

Yusuf, who emphasized the importance of youths’ involvement in nation building, urged them to be ready to actively participate in the political process.…

News / politics

Breaking: Finally, Osinbajo declares for 2023 presidential race + Video

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has finally declared his intention to stand for the 2023 presidential election.

The declaration, in the early hours of Monday, comes after several months of waiting by Nigerians for Osinbajo.

He made the declaration via his Twitter handle at about 7am on Monday.

This came a few hours after he met Governors elected on the platform of the APC at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Sunday. He broke the Ramadan fast with the Governors.

Among those in attendance were the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Others included Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), Hope Uzodimma (Imo) and Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna).

In a tweet accompanied by a video of four minutes 40 seconds, Osinbajo said: “I am today, with utmost humility formally declaring my intention to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of APC.

“At the direction of Mr. President, I have represented our country in several international engagements.

“I have been in markets, factories, schools, and farms.

“I have visited our gallant troops in the North-East and our brothers and sisters in the IDP camps.”

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