Author: The Nation

National Youth Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Dayo Israel has expressed confidence that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will win the 2023 presidential election.

He stated this weekend in Keffi after a meeting with youths in Keffi, Nasarawa State, urging them to queue behind Tinubu by voting massively for him.

He said he was in Keffi to interact with them and share the plans of the party for youths when Tinubu is elected President.

Read Also: ‘Fake news against Tinubu won’t help opposition’

“We are in Keffi to meet with youths and stakeholders to preach the gospel of Asiwaju, we are here to share with youths of the state the good work of Asiwaju, mobilise them to support his presidential ambition.

“We believe by the grace of God, it is going to be a free and fair election and Asiwaju will emerge as the president of Nigeria.

“We are going to activate the structures of our party from the national level to the polling unit level, we have over 179,000 polling units, all of them are going to be actively canvassing, mobilising and showcasing the work of our party and also the plan of our presidential candidate to Nigerians and they will know that Asiwaju is the best person for Nigeria,” he said.

He called on youths to shun violence, but get their voters and vote for a renewed hope in the person of Tinubu.

Fear has gripped the Bayelsa Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) over the sudden disappearance of the Deputy Commandant of the Corps, Mr. Raymond Terwase Gaadi.

Gaadi, who was posted from Enugu Command to Bayelsa to take over as the second in command in April allegedly had issues with the person who was supposed to hand over to him.

There is palpable fear at the Bayelsa Command and the family on whether the senior officer is still alive as his phones had reportedly been switched off since he got missing in October.

His elder brother, Mr. Terkura Gaadi, said after missing his brother (Raymond’s) calls on October 22, he could not reach him again as his phones usually rang out until October 30 when all the lines were switched off.

Read Also: NSCDC arrests three cybercafé operators for exploiting JAMB UTME candidates in Bayelsa

It has yet ascertained if the NSCDC officer was kidnapped, involved in an auto crash or a victim of the ravaging floods in Bayelsa that were at the peak during the time of his disappearance.

Terkura said: “Raymond was transferred from Enugu State and he started work at Bayelsa State Command in April. He was in the state until he got missing in October. He visited me in May and informed me that he had assumed duty at his new posting.
“Actually, he called me on October 22, around 6pm, but I missed his calls. When I called back, I did not get any response from him. It was around October 30 that his phones were totally switched off up till today. That was when we started sensing that something must have happened to him.

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“I have personally spoken with NSCDC Commandant in Bayelsa State and she told me that they were making efforts to find his whereabouts.

“When he visited me in May, he told me that he had a problem, that when he resumed in Bayelsa State Command, somebody was refusing to hand over to him. He told me that in confidence. We have already written to the Inspector General of Police and Commandant General of NSCDC to help us find the whereabouts of our brother who came to serve the nation in Bayelsa. We want to see him alive.”

Authorities of NSCDC in Bayelsa State said they were investigating the circumstances leading to the disappearance of thier Deputy Commandant.

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Raymond was said to be given a pass to travel to his former command in Enugu to pack his belongings.

The NSCDC spokesman in Bayelsa State, Mr Solomon Ogbere, said the Command was working with other sister security agencies to unravel the circumstances behind the sudden disappearance of the Deputy Commandant.

He also dispelled insinuation that somebody was refusing to hand over the Deputy Commandant’s portfolio to Mr Raymond Gaadi, saying he was in crisis management section when he was appointed as Second in Command in Bayelsa State.

Ogbere said: “He told the State Commandant that he was traveling to Enugu to carry his loads to Benue State and he was given a pass. He left and up till now, we have not heard anything from him.

“We have called the Sector Commander of FRSC to contact his Enugu colleague, because we learnt that there was an accident along that axis for them to help us check the persons that were involved and whether our personnel was among so we can know what to do. His numbers are not going through; we are also very worried.

“He did not travel with any details attached to him. He was not even supposed to travel to Enugu without his car. We have already communicated to the national headquarters and we are doing everything possible to find him because he is a friend of all. He is a very humble and nice person.”

The Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the sponsoring of fake news against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) as antics of a sinking opposition.

The council maintained1 the development was an admittance of the eminent electoral defeat awaiting them at the polls by February next year.

Director of Media and Publicity of the council, Bayo Onanuga in a statement in Abuja on Sunday noted the campaign of calumny, disinformation and misinformation on Saturday by sponsoring fake news against Tinubu was a desperation carried too far.

The Campaign Council argued that the opposition resolved to sponsor fake news against Tinubu having realized they have no sure path to victory in the February 2023 presidential election.

Condemning the forged letterhead of the Independent National Electoral Commission and the signature of its national commissioner, Festus Okoye, the APC Campaign Council called on the Police to investigate the brains behind the letter and to punish such sponsors of fake news.

Decrying the action in the statement, APC-PCC said: “The forged statement purportedly issued by INEC was disseminated to deceive the gullible public that INEC was investigating allegations against Asiwaju Tinubu that, they desperately hoped, will ultimately lead to the disqualification of the frontline APC Presidential candidate.

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“We are not in any way surprised by the antics of the sinking opposition parties. What we found shocking was how quickly some compromised media organisations gulped the falsehood, hook, line and sinker, without attempting to verify.

“We understand why they did so: the forgery and its narrative fit their mindset of throwing overboard every known virtue of ethical journalism and professionalism, as they work in cahoot with the opposition to defame Asiwaju Tinubu.

“This inglorious path has been taken before since 2003 and in the run-up to the primaries of the ruling APC that produced Asiwaju Tinubu as the presidential torch bearer. Those who took this damned path of infamy lost their bet because Asiwaju Tinubu stands rock solid and indestructible.”

The campaign council reiterated Tinubu’s resolve to make his campaign about issues that affect the lives of Nigerians and how to proffer workable and enduring solutions that will improve the quality of life of our people who are looking for leaders at all levels to improve their lives and sow seeds of prosperity in our country.

Read Also: Tinubu donates N40m to flood victims in Edo

This, the council noted, was demonstrated in the 80-page manifesto tagged “Action plan for a better Nigeria,” which he has been selling to strategic sectoral groups in the country.

“We had hoped anyone aspiring to lead our country at this time will be a natural subscriber to this noble and higher goal.

“It is clear the opposition parties and purveyors of fake news have other negative ideas: they want to make this election cycle more about muckraking and mudslinging.

“While we want to stay above the fray and stand by our commitment to inspire our people and restore their faith and confidence in the immense goodness and greatness of our country, we want to serve notice to all the agents of disinformation and their collaborating media platforms, that our campaign organisation stands ready to confront and fight all libellous and defamatory publications against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We shall no longer allow the prevailing recklessness and utter disregard for professional judgment to continue unchallenged.

“We also call on the police to investigate the circulation of the forged INEC statement and serve justice to those responsible,” the council demanded.

Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel has announced two new additional A320 planes will be procured within the week to boost the Ibom Air fleet.

This addition will bring to nine, the number of aircraft in operation by the the State-owned Airline.

The Governor announced this at United Evangelical Church, founded as Qua Iboe Church , Asuna Suprintendency, in Etinan local government area.

Accompanied by his wife, Dr Martha Emmanuel and other government functionaries, the Governor had attended a thanksgiving service to mark the 70th birthday of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ibom Air, Captain Mfon Udom.

Emmanuel thanked God for Captain Udom’s health at 70 describing him as a source of inspiration, exemplary leadership , great support and a pillar of encouragement to many, adding that he has never been found wanting in his engagements.

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These qualities, the Governor said, has been demonstrated severally in his mobilisation of friends and kins to raise a befitting building for the Qua Iboe Church in Surulere, Lagos and facilitating the birth of Ibom Air for the State.

“I want to thank our close partner and brother who has also been so passionate towards the success of this airline, and this week we would be receiving two A320 aircrafts so that we can prepare for Christmas and expect others that will be arriving from next year,” he stated.

Udom, said in his twenties, he thought life was all about the youthful exuberance of those years, then getting to 40 was a new beginning that looked like all, but reaching seventy has afforded him privilege of enjoying the real essence of life.

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has invited President Muhammadu Buhari and the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, to inaugurate some projects in the State.

Also invited for project inauguration is a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Edo Governor, Adams Oshiomhole.

The Governor, who was recently conferred with a Distinguished Award in Infrastructure by President Buhari is set to inaugurate over 16 completed projects, including world-class multi-billion health and educational projects from November 14 to December 2nd.

A list of project inauguration sighted by the Nation showed that Buhari represented by one of his aides would inaugurate the tastefully finished and furnished world-class Nabo Graham Douglas Campus of the Nigerian Law School, Port Harcourt, in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, on November 18.

Obi, who is also a former Anambra Governor, has been scheduled to inaugurate the Nkpolu-Oroworokwo Flyover in Port Harcourt on November 16th.

Oshomhole, a frontline campaigner of the APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was invited to inaugurate the Rumepirikon Flyover on November 15.

It was observed that Oshiomole’s invitation had sent tongues wagging following his estranged relationship with Wike especially at the build-up to the second term election of the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

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Wike had publicly apologised to Oshiomole for all the tantrums he threw at him while working to secure a second term for Obaseki, whom he later described as a serial betrayer.

Wike also invited the Emir of Kano, HRH Ado Bayero, to kickstart the series of events by inaugurating a mega health project, Dr. Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases Diagnostic and Treatment Centre.

The Chief Justice of the Federation is billed to open the newly completed Federal Judicial Commission Liaison Office and Justice Mary Odili Judicial Institute while the Inspector-General of Police is scheduled to inaugurate the Police Intelligence Centre.

Other projects in the list had yet to be assigned persons to inaugurate them by the governor.

Such projects are Mgbutanwo Internal roads, Rukpoku-Rumuapu-Igwuruta Link Road, Akpabu-Itu-Umudiagha Road, Rukpakwulusi-Eliogbolo community new layout road, Basic Clinical Science Building, Renal and Dialysis Centre at RSUTH, Rumuodogho 1 and 2 and Mgbuoaimini Road.

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