The Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom, has met with the Rivers and Benue states governors, Nyesom Wike and Samuel Ortom.
Udom met the duo, who are part of the G-5 popularly called the Integrity Group, at the Rumueprikon country home of Wike in Obio-Akpor, on Saturday.
Though details of the meeting were not disclosed, the three governors were seen posing for a photograph after the parley.
Udom was said to have rushed down to see the leaders of the G-5 as part of last minute efforts to pacify them to drop their grievances and work for the Presidential Candidate of their party, Atiku Abubakar.
The campaign council was said to be bothered about Wike’s continuous outbursts, which were daily weakening the PDP’s presidential campaigns and reducing the personality of Atiku in the eyes of members of the public.
The G-5’s insistence that they would not work for Atiku was reinforced on Friday shorty after the aggrieved governors returned from their London trip.
Wike had earlier set aside January 2023 to declare his preferred Presidential Candidate and to mobilise support for him ahead of the 2023 poll.
The Rivers governor, who spoke on Friday after their overseas trip maintained that their demand that the PDP national chairmanship position must be ceded to the South as a minimum requirement for peace was not negotiable.
Udom was visiting Wike for the first time since the crisis in the PDP, which Wike said was a prelude to the major problem, started.
But the three governors, who spoke after the Saturday meeting, said their discussions were convivial and devoid of politics.
Wike disclosed that his relationship with governor Udom had not diminished irrespective of their political difference.
He stressed that ideally politics should never be allowed to create unwarranted friction between brothers.
He said: “Politics is not what will divide brothers and divide friends. Everybody knows my relationship with Udom, and we will continue to maintain that relationship.
“We may different political affiliation or thinking, that should not divide the brotherly love or create a gap among us.”
Udom explained that his visit was not political, but a demonstration of brotherly love in the spirit of the yuletide season.
He said: “Actually, this is the season of love. Within this period if we don’t demonstrate that love, love not shown is love wasted.
“I think that is what we are trying to demonstrate, brotherly love, friendship. And then in the spirit of the season, we must visit one another.”
Ortom said part of their discussion also centered on how they could best add value to governance in Nigeria.
He said: “We are going into 2022 and we shared among ourselves how can we best add value to our government, how can we best add value to our people, how can we do things that will help add value to our country Nigeria.
“And that if there are any issues in the past which we have done wrong, we looked at it and said look let’s forgive one another and move forward. They are private issues.”
Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Saturday said the ninth National Assembly has remained unwavering in the implementation of its legislative lgenda and kept faith with Nigerians.
Lawan, according to his New Year message by his Special Adviser (Media), Ola Awoniyi, in Abuja, appreciated the people for having faith in their country and for always supporting efforts at building a virile nation.
The Senate President also urged citizens to seize the opportunities provided to take active part in the ongoing electoral process.
According to him, the Electoral Act 2022 had ignited hope in the system and heightened expectations about the forthcoming general elections.
Lawan said: “I join fellow Nigerians in the joyful celebrations of this season with the great hope of a happy and prosperous 2023.
“As the year 2022 recedes into history, like any other year, we should thank Almighty God for the blessings and challenges of today, and for the hope of a better tomorrow.
“We also appreciate and commend our citizens for having faith in our nation and for always supporting efforts at building a virile nation.
“The ninth National Assembly has been a very active participant in this process of nation building.
“At our inception in 2019, we set out a robust Legislative Agenda to advance our collective aspirations as a nation and make positive impacts in the lives of our people: a Senate that works for Nigerians.
“We have remained unwavering in our commitment to the Agenda.
“It is less than six months to the end of this Assembly. I am proud to say that all of us have kept faith with the Nigerian people as their representatives.
“The ninth Assembly has been the breaker of many legislative jinxes in this Fourth Republic, having recorded breakthroughs in many areas of our national legislative environment that had defied the interventions of previous Assemblies.
“First and foremost, we have enhanced stability in governance through productive cross-party collaboration with the other arms of government, particularly the Executive.
“This has yielded fruits in the unprecedented number of quality Bills passed by the National Assembly and duly signed into law by the President.
“Some of the most critical of such Bills that have been signed into law include the Deep Offshore and inland Basin Production Sharing Contract (amendment) Act, 2019, Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, Nigeria Police Reform Act, 2020, Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, and Electoral Act, 2022, just to mention a few.
“These are critical legislative interventions relevant to the promotion of good governance in our dear nation.
“For instance, the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill 2022 has rekindled interest in political participation in our country and raised confidence in our electoral process.
“We passed this Bill early enough and with some innovations to guarantee better conduct of our elections especially beginning from the 2023 elections.
“We were also able to reset our financial years to make our budget cycle stable and predictable.
“This change has helped immensely in the implementation of projects and programmes, as well as in general performance of the national budgets.
“This is one legacy of the ninth National Assembly that we have sustained since 2019, as reflected again, in the passage of the 2023 Appropriation Bill on Wednesday, 28th December, 2022.
“I am immensely proud that the new Electoral Act has ignited fresh hope in the system and heightened expectations about the forthcoming general elections.
“In addition, we have provided every possible support to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to successfully conduct credible polls and we will continue to do so until that goal is accomplished.
“The ninth National Assembly will keep providing the necessary legislative interventions for good governance till the end of its tenure in June, 2023.
“I urge all of us Nigerians to take active part in the electoral process, towards achieving our collective goal of good governance for national prosperity and unity. I wish you all a happy and prosperous 2023.”
Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said though he is Igbo, he was contesting as a Nigerian, not a Southeast candidate.
He said Southeast politicians were behind him, adding that some only had different political viewpoints.
According to him, there would be danger if everybody in the region supported his presidential ambition.
The LP presidential candidate spoke in Enugu shortly after signing condolence register for late President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof George Obiozor, at the National Secretariat of Ohanaeze.
He noted that those whon brought Nigerian to the current economic and socio-political problems were the ones that were not supporting him.
“What is happening is that some people have different opinion. Everybody should not support me and everybody will not support me.
“In factz if everybody supports me there is danger. Some will disagree.
“Don’t forget that I am trying to change a system where people who brought us here are living off.
“You think those who left us in this confusion will support me? No. Some people are living off Nigeria as it is today.
“Some people have a structure that have brought us to this juncture where we produce 133 million people that are poor, where our primary health care have collapsed, where we have 20 million out of school children, where we have almost 40 per cent unemployment, with 60 per cent youth unemployment, where we have highest youth job prevent in the world.
“So they will not support me but I urge all of us to remember that we need to build a new Nigeria.
“Nobody is against me what people have is different opinion which is allowed in a democratic dispensation,” he said.
Paying a glowing tributes, the former Anambra State governor who was the first to sign Obiozor’s condolence register at the Secretariat, said his demise had created a sense of loss to every Igbo man owing to his contributions to the progress of the Igbo nation.
He said: “I feel very sad that he died this very trying time for our nation.
“If you know Prof Obiozor and his contributions over the years to our country Nigeria and to the Southeast, you will know that every Igbo person feel a sense of loss but we cannot question God.
“So, that is why this morning I decided to personally come to this Secretariat which is a Secretariat of what holds Igbos together, to sign this condolence.
“For me I feel sad but we cannot question God.
“All I can say is may God Almighty that called him, grant his soul eternal rest in his kingdom, and continue to grant all of us especially his family the fortitude to bear his irreplaceable loss, continue to bless Igboland and continue to bless Nigeria.”
On whether his demise will in anyway jeopardise his chances of becoming the Nigerian president of Igbo extraction, Obi said no, adding: “As far as I am concerned not at all.”
He maintained that though he is an Igbo man by tribe, he does not want to be an Igbo president.
“I have said it, I am proud of my Nigerianess as I am proud of my Igboness.
“It’s true I hold both of them but I am contesting as a Nigerian and I believe that in this exercise as it is today I am committed that a new Nigeria is possible.
“I have all it takes in terms of character, competence and everything to start building that new Nigeria.”
The Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Baba Alkali has begged Nigerians to join hands in tackling insecurity across the nation.
He said the upsurge in crimes rate nationwide would come to an end with concerted efforts of police and residents of various communities.
He described community policing as panacea to the upsurge in crimes rate, soliciting the assistance of traditional rulers, youths and other stakeholders in providing necessary information that would aid the police in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities of ensuring a crime free society.
Speaking at the commissioning of the ultra modern police station and barrack for ranks and files at Ado Awaye in Iseyin local government, the IGP, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, said combating crimes should be seen as the responsibility of all.
He said there was need for active participation of residents of various communities nationwide which community policing is all about.
“Police will need the support of residents especially in the area of information dissemination to carry out their constitutional assignment of protection of lives and property of the citizenry, there is need for an improvement in this area which is the declaration of the present administration of zero tolerance for crimes and criminalities,” he said.
He maintained that Police were ready to collaborate with traditional rulers, the youths and other interested individuals and groups at ensuring a crime free society.
On the welfare of the police, he lauded efforts of the Federal government at improving the welfare of the police.
He added that President Muhammadu Buhari led administration is not toying with the welfare of the police hencing the introduction of various welfare packages
“We are here today to commission a police station and a block of 6 flats of 2-bedroom each. This is part of the concerted efforts of the authority at ensuring that its officers work and live in a conducive environment.”
“Aside this, there is an insurance scheme that is of benefit to the officers and ranks and files of the police while in service and after disengagement from service.”
He however called on the officers to reciprocate the gesture of the government by putting in their best.
Oyo Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams stated that the newly commissioned project at the ancient town of Ado Awaye would serve as morale booster for the police as well improve service delivery.
He thanked the IGP for his various programmes that are of benefits to the police.
Following the announcement of the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Saturday at the age of 95, Vatican News looks back at his long life and its main highlights with the following official biography.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, was born at Marktl am Inn, Diocese of Passau (Germany) on 16 April 1927 (Holy Saturday) and was baptised on the same day.
His father, a Police Commissioner, belonged to an old family of farmers from Lower Bavaria of modest economic resources.
His mother was the daughter of artisans from Rimsting on the shore of Lake Chiem. Before marrying, she worked as a cook in a number of hotels.
Joseph spent his childhood and adolescence in Traunstein, a small village near the Austrian border, thirty kilometres from Salzburg. In this environment, which he himself has defined as “Mozartian”, he received his Christian, cultural and human formation.
His youthful years were not easy. His faith and the education received at home prepared him for the harsh experience of those years during which the Nazi regime pursued a hostile attitude towards the Catholic Church. The young Joseph saw how some Nazis beat the Parish Priest before the celebration of Mass.
It was precisely during that complex situation that he discovered the beauty and truth of faith in Christ; fundamental for this was his family’s attitude, who always gave a clear witness of goodness and hope, rooted in a convinced attachment to the Church.
He was enrolled in an auxiliary anti-aircraft corps until September 1944.
Priest
From 1946 to 1951, he studied philosophy and theology in the Higher School of Philosophy and Theology of Freising and at the University of Munich.
He received his priestly ordination on 29 June 1951. A year later he began teaching at the Higher School of Freising.
In 1953, he obtained his doctorate in theology with a thesis entitled “People and House of God in St Augustine’s Doctrine of the Church”.
Four years later, under the direction of the renowned professor of fundamental theology Gottlieb Söhngen, he qualified for University teaching with a dissertation on: “The Theology of History in St Bonaventure”.
After teaching dogmatic and fundamental theology at the Higher School of Philosophy and Theology in Friezing, he went on to teach at Bonn, from 1959 to1963; at Münster from 1963 to 1966; and at Tübingen from 1966 to 1969. During this last year, he held the Chair of dogmatics and history of dogma at the University of Regensburg, where he was also Vice-President of the University.
From 1962 to 1965, he made a notable contribution to Vatican II as an “expert”, being present at the Council as theological consultant of Cardinal Joseph Frings, Archbishop of Cologne.
His intense scientific activity led him to important positions at the service of the German Bishops’ Conference and the International Theological Commission.
In 1972, together with Hans Urs von Balthasar, Henri de Lubac and other important theologians, he initiated the theological journal Communio.
Bishop and Cardinal
On 25 March 1977, Pope Paul VI named him Archbishop of Munich and Freising. On 28 May of the same year, he received episcopal ordination. He was the first diocesan priest in 80 years to take on the pastoral governance of the great Bavarian Archdiocese.
He chose as his episcopal motto: “Cooperators of the truth”. He himself explained why:
“On the one hand I saw it as the relation between my previous task as professor and my new mission. In spite of different approaches, what was involved, and continued to be so, was following the truth and being at its service.
“On the other hand I chose that motto because in today’s world the theme of truth is omitted almost entirely, as something too great for man, and yet everything collapses if truth is missing.”
Paul VI made him a Cardinal with the priestly title of “Santa Maria Consolatrice al Tiburtino”, during the Consistory of 27 June 1977.
In 1978, he took part in the Conclave of 25 and 26 August which elected John Paul I, who named him his Special Envoy to the III International Mariological Congress, celebrated in Guayaquil (Ecuador) from 16 to 24 September. In the month of October of the same year, he took part in the Conclave that elected Pope John Paul II.
He was Relator of the V Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops which took place in 1980 on the theme: “The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World”, and was Delegate President of the VI Ordinary General Assembly of 1983 on “Reconciliation and Penance in the Mission of the Church Today”.
Prefect
John Paul II named him Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission and of the International Theological Commission on 25 November 1981. On 15 February 1982, he resigned the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising.
The Holy Father elevated him to the Order of Bishops assigning to him the Suburbicarian See of Velletri-Segni on 5 April 1993.
He was President of the Preparatory Commission for the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which after six years of work (1986-1992), presented the new Catechism to the Holy Father.
On 6 November 1998, the Holy Father approved the election of Cardinal Ratzinger as Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals, submitted by the Cardinals of the Order of Bishops. On 30 November 2002, Pope John Paul II approved his election as Dean; together with this office he was entrusted with the Suburbicarian See of Ostia.
In 1999, he was Special Papal Envoy for the Celebration of the XII Centenary of the foundation of the Diocese of Paderborn, Germany, which took place on 3 January.
In the Roman Curia he was a member of: the Council of the Secretariat of State for Relations with States; the Congregations for the Oriental Churches, Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Bishops, the Evangelization of Peoples, Catholic Education, Clergy and the Causes of the Saints; the Pontifical Councils for Promoting Christian Unity and Culture; the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, and of the Pontifical Commissions for Latin America, “Ecclesia Dei”, the Authentic Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law, and the Revision of the Code of Canons of Oriental Churches.
Since 13 November 2000, he was an Honorary Academic of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
Academic
Among his many publications, special mention should be made of his Introduction to Christianity, a compilation of University lectures on the Apostolic Creed, published in 1968; and Dogma and Preaching (1973), an anthology of essays, sermons and reflections dedicated to pastoral arguments.
His address to the Catholic Academy of Bavaria on “Why I am still in the Church” had a wide resonance; in it he stated with his usual clarity: “one can only be a Christian in the Church, not beside the Church”.
His many publications are spread out over a number of years and constitute a point of reference for many people, especially for those interested in entering deeper into the study of theology. In 1985, he published his interview-book on the situation of the faith (The Ratzinger Report) and in 1996 Salt of the Earth. On the occasion of his 70th birthday the volume At the School of Truth was published, containing articles by several authors on different aspects of his personality and production.
He received numerous honorary doctorates: in 1984 from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, (Minnesota, USA); in 1986 from the Catholic University of Lima (Peru); in 1987 from the Catholic University of Eichstätt (Germany); in 1988 from the Catholic University of Lublin (Poland); in 1998 from the University of Navarre (Pamplona, Spain); in 1999 from the LUMSA (Libera Università Maria Santissima Assunta) of Rome and in 2000 from the Faculty of Theology of the University of Wrocław in Poland.
Pope
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger was elected on 19 April 2005 as the 265th Pope.
He was the oldest person to be elected Pope since 1730, and had been a Cardinal for a longer period of time than any Pope since 1724.
On 11 February 2013, during the Ordinary Public Consistory for the Vote on several Causes for Canonization, Benedict announced his decision to resign from the Petrine ministry with these words:
“After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.
“I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering.
“However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the barque of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.
“For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter.”
His pontificate came to an end on 28 February 2013.
After his resignation took effect, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI lived within the Vatican in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery until his death
Summing up the achievements of his administration in the last seven and a half years, President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday said he welcomed accolades and criticisms of his performance.
He said he was convinced he did his best for the country.
President Buhari, in his New Year message, rolled out plans set to be executed by the administration in the remaining five months.
They are on security, economy and the anti-corruption war.
He said: “As we welcome the New Year, let us look with hope to 2023, a year to move forward as a Nation, towards unity, progress and prosperity.
“I offer my own personal felicitations, mindful of the various opinions and interpretations of our executive legacies.
“I welcome and accept both the accolades and criticisms in equal measure, secure in the conviction that I did my best to serve our dear country Nigeria.
“I pray that the next President will also pick up the baton and continue the race to make Nigeria one of the leading countries of the world by the end of this century.”
He promised a free and fair election, adding that one of the most critical achievements of his administration was the amended Electoral Act.
The President believes the law will help the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deliver a transparent, free and credible elections next year.
“In the next five months we would have gone to the polls and elected a new president along with new governors and a plethora of other elected officials at both the national and state levels.
“All these electoral and democratic principles are working in concert because of the transcendent beliefs, beyond partisan politics, of you the great citizen of Nigeria.
“In addition is my personal commitment and executive promise to see to the letter that the 2023 elections being diligently conducted by INEC will be free and fair.
“The collective electoral will and votes of Nigerians will be fulfilled, even in the twilight moments of my watch.
“In year 2023, Nigerians go to the polls to exercise our right to vote and elect a new administration, it is an important year for our country to ensure that we have another smooth transition of government, to whoever the people have decided upon.
“This administration’s landmark Amended Electoral Act will ensure that we have free and fair elections across the nation.
“We as Nigerians must also take responsibility to ensure we participate in ensuring that the 2023 elections are free and fair by not engaging in anti-state activities and other nefarious acts that may affect the run of the polls.
“We must also resist every attempt to be used by politicians to create unrest in any form to disrupt the elections. We, as government will ensure such activities are met with the full force of the law,” he said.
Detailing achievements of the administration, he spoke to strides made in various areas, including the gains in the fight against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping; how despite the economic hardship imposed on, not just Nigeria, but the entire world in the outgoing year by the impact of the recent COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia/Ukraine war, the administration has managed to stabilise the local economy and planning on growing the GDP in the new year.
“Reflecting on year 2022 allows us as a government to examine our legacies of successes and challenges.
“As we celebrate our wins and review obstacles, we all must understand that governance is a continuum, which still places a transitional responsibility on this administration to provide for the incoming government a non-partisan and objective roadmap for 2023.
“We as Nigeria; one country, united under the will of God and actively growing as an indivisible entity, have been enabled year after year, decade after decade, to weather all stormy waters and emerge stronger and better where others have fallen and disintegrated. This has made us a unique nation across the globe and our continent.
“Despite the ongoing global economic crisis, we have been able to weather the storms. Inflation across the globe is at its highest, the Federal Government has been resolute, through its economic interventions, to remain above water during this period. 2022 brought a combined impact from ongoing wars and aftereffects of COVID-19.
“Though creating its own fiscal challenges, we have continued to subsidize our energy costs to buffer households from inflationary pressure of high energy costs. In 2023, we are focused on building on our GDP and sustain the huge surge in the non-oil GDP growth,” he said.
On the fight against insecurity, he said: “As our security agencies continue to make the country proud, we must continue to assist our patriotic forces by providing much needed community intelligence. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that Nigeria remains safe and peaceful for us all.
“Therefore, we have a duty and obligation to support our troops and intelligence agencies by being alert and reporting anything suspicious.
“The fight against insurgency in the North East region has continually recorded very clear wins in the past year.
“The Federal Government, and the Borno State government, have started the journey of returning internally displaced persons to their ancestral homes earlier taken by the insurgents.
“Also, over 82,000 insurgents with their families have surrendered to the Nigerian military.
“A number of surrendered insurgents are currently being processed by the rehabilitation (Operation Safe Corridor) programme.
“The fight against banditry, kidnapping and other crimes in the North West and other regions is gaining momentum and showing very clear results. One of which is the resumption of Train Service along the Kaduna to Abuja corridor.”
On restructuring the Police system in the country and the recent reform efforts, he said: “In the aftermath of the EndSars, our administration took heed and instituted the ongoing Police Reform program, based on a new Presidential Vision for Policing in Nigeria.
“This new vision is framed in a clear road map that transcends the tenure of this administration and it is predicated on six principles: a) Building Trust and Legitimacy b) Leadership, Accountability and Oversight c)Technology and digital media d) Community Policing and Crime Reduction e) Officers Training and Education f) Funding, Officers’ Welfare, Wellness and Safety.
“This reform programme is very much in its foundational phase, but has recorded noteworthy successes in improving police welfare and their emoluments.
“Other gains have been the ongoing training of 500 police cadet trainers to enable a better training regimen for the 2022 first batch of the 10,000 new cadets with an additional 10,000 set for 2023.
“In support of these reforms has been the provisioning of new material for the Nigeria Police to steadily improve on its constitutional responsibility to enforce law and order, protect lives and property as well as street level peace and security,” he said.
On programmes that will have direct impacts on the nation’s youth population, the President highlighted the Nigerian Startup Act.
“The Nigerian Startup Bill has been passed as an Act. This is considered a huge step in lowering our unemployment figures by boosting job creation and supporting the entrepreneurial drive of our youths.
“If you recall in my 2021 New Year speech, I had mentioned the need to secure the future of our youth recognizing that our young people are our most valuable natural resource, at home and abroad.
“In this regard, we worked with the legislature to develop an enabling law to turn their passions into ideas that can be supported, groomed and scaled across regions. 2023 will see the implementation of the Nigerian Start Up Act nationwide,” he said.
On what the priority of the remaining days of his administration would be, he said the three focus of government since he assumed office in 2015; Security, Economy and Anti-Corruption, also known as the ‘SEA’ Agenda, would receive more attention to cement gains of the past years.
“The year 2023 would, indeed, be a time when we would work to solidify on delivering key strategic priorities under our “SEA” – (Security, Economy and Anti-Corruption) Agenda. Some of the key priority areas we would direct our attention and strengths to include:
“Focus on SECURITY; we will continue to engage, push back and dismantle the operations of both internal and external extremist and criminal groups waging war against our communities across the Nation. We will also focus on ensuring that free and fair elections would be held come February 2023. Our security forces are working in partnership to ensure the wins we have got in war against insurgency, banditry, secession and other crimes are sustained and more wins acquired.
“For the ECONOMY; our focus would be on maintaining and building economic growth through the national economic diversification agenda that supports the goal of national food self-sufficiency and growth in non-oil sources. The ongoing infrastructure revolution by our administration will see us deliver the key projects across the nation in power, rail, roads, ports and technology.
“ANTI-CORRUPTION: On the anti-corruption drive of our administration, we have created new records in this fight, growing from 117 convictions in 2017 to 3,615 convictions as at December 2022. We as a government are committed to ridding our nation of all forms of corruption, through the collaboration with all the arms of Government to effectively prosecute this fight.”
The Southern Senators Forum, on Saturday, urged Nigerians to make the right choices in the 2023 general election.
It said that would be their contribution to the building of a progressive nation.
The Forum said Nigeria can only witness progress and prosperity if all citizens value unity and patriotism.
The Senators believe there is need to forge a united nation, fortify the country’s bonds and make it strong to overcome the cankerworms of corruption, insecurity and economic deprivation in the new year.
The forum’s Chairman and Senator representing Ekiti Central, Opeyemi Bamidele, stated these in a statement to mark the new year festivities in Abuja.
Bamidele appealed to religious and political leaders not to make inflammatory comments that can further widen the existing cleavages and stoke the fire of disunity, that has been the main challenge ripping the country apart.
He said the country was brought together through God’s design without the input of any mortal and urged Nigerians to guard the country’s unity jealously.
The Senator wished Nigerians a prosperous new year.
Bamidele said: “We thank God for giving us the opportunity to see the new year as it is neither by might nor by our own strength, but by the help of Almighty God because nobody can receive anything except it has been given by God.
“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to our community and religious leaders to continue to preach the message of peace among all Nigerians, because a nation can’t progress or prosper unless there is unity among tribes and religious organizations.
“We must know that a peaceful and united nation is a bedrock and fertile ground for progress and prosperity to be attained and sustained.
“With that spirit of unity and patriotism, we believe citizens can get it right by voting their conscience in any election without external influence and inducement.
“We charge Nigerians to get it right in the new year by supporting government to build strong institutions that can stand the test of time and put the nation on a faster pace of peace, unity, political emancipation and economic prosperity.”
Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has sacked his Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Muhammad Tahar Adam, for alleged disloyalty.
Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba, in a statement on Saturday, said aside from being disloyal to the governor, the government was not comfortable with Adam’s “unguarded utterances.”
His sack is with immediate effect.
Dr. Nazifi Bichi has been nominated by the governor to replace him.
Garba noted that the sack of Adam, popularly known as (Baba Impossible) followed “his unbecoming attitude as a public servant holding sensitive office, as well as unguarded utterances.”
“He (Muhammad Tahar Adam) was also found to be running the affairs of his office as a personal business and even unilaterally reducing working days for the staff of the ministry, exempting Wednesdays and Fridays.
“Apart from operating without due consultation, Baba Impossible has not been loyal to the government.
“Already, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has sent to the state House of Assembly the name of a nominee in person of Dr. Nazifi Ishaq Bichi of Bayero University, Kano, for screening and appointment as new commissioner for religious affairs,” Garba said.
Ganduje, the statement added, wished the sacked commissioner the best of luck in his future endeavours.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has granted pardon to 104 inmates in the five custodial centres.
He signed the release order on December 28 based on the recommendation of the Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy.
Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), said in a statement on Saturday that the gesture was also in compliance with Section 212 (1) (2) of the 1999 Constitution (amended) which empowers the governor to exercise the prerogative of mercy.
The Advisory Council relied on information provided by the correctional authorities, the nature of the offence, period of incarceration, age, health and behavioural conduct of the inmates.
“The approval for the release of the inmates is in line with the commitment of the Lagos State Government to decongest correctional facilities in Lagos State as part of the Justice Sector Reforms,” the statement added.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State on Saturday warned unscrupulous elements to desist from spreading unfounded rumours about imaginary crisis in the chapter.
The party also passed a vote of confidence in its chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, saying that those sponsoring fictitious reports in the media against him labour in vain.
Its Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, said in a statement that the chapter will not yield to blackmail and distraction at the peak of electioneering campaign.
He said anybody who has grievances to ventilate can approach the leadership of the party rather than resort to unnecessary media onslaught at this crucial period.
Oladejo said Ojelabi has remained undaunted, unfazed and undistracted from the onerous assignment at hand.
Thanking the party faithful for their support, he urged them to work diligently towards coasting to victory at the various levels in next year's elections.
Reiterating the party's trust in the chairman, Oladejo recalled that Ojelabi came on board with an enviable track record of experience across the party and the three tiers of government.
Oladejo added: "He has a reputation as a team player, humble, selfless and considerate. He consults far and wide before taking decisions on party affairs.
"There’s no doubt that his style of leadership compliments the landmark achievements of the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu to ensure a seamless campaign that will guarantee our victory.
"Since his assumption of office, he has assiduously ensured that the party is not factionalised by promoting fair-play and justice at all times.
"Despite the short notice, the Lagos Presidential rally at the Teslim Balogun stadium Surulere, has been widely acknowledged as one of the best in terms of organisation, mobilisation, media coverage and security arrangements.
"Likewise for the Governirship election flag-off at Mobolaji, Johnson Arena, Onikan.
"The State Campaign Committee has been deliberately decentralised to be more participatory in order to reach the grassroots.
The committee is made of Governance Advisory Committee members, State Party Executive members, members of the cabinet , National Assembly members, Lagos State House of Assembly members, Council Chairmen and other stakeholders with remarkable wealth of experience.
"The state chairman’s greatest strength is his approachable nature through which he has been able to mobilize market men and women, artisans, ethnic groups, youths and other stakeholders towards the coming elections."
