The Nation Newspaper

Category: Election 2019

  • Emefiele: Re-appointment of CBN Gov excites Nigerians in Europe as group lauds Buhari

    The Re-appointment of Godwin Emefiele has continued to draw positive reactions in and out of the country, just as the Association of Nigerians in Europe have hailed the President’s decision as the final victory over ethnic and religious bigotry.

    This commendation is coming barely one week after a United Kingdom-based group, Arise-Nigeria, lauded President Muhammadu Buhari over his reappointment the CBN Governor for another term.

    Association of Nigerians in Europe in a communiqué issued at the end of the 5th Annual General, which held in Belgium to deliberate on recent happenings in Nigeria expressed excitement over the reappointment of Godwin Emefiele as Governor of the apex bank.

    The Association also commended the numerous sacrifices made by the Nigerian troops fighting terrorism in North East Nigeria and also praised the leadership of the various Armed Forces in providing sound guidance and direction for the services.

    The communiqué was jointly signed by Dr. Agwu Onyeke President, Arc. Adesugun Lawal (Ukraine), Chief Adekoya (Italy), Engr. Bright Anyanwu (Spain), Mr. Godspower Smith (Germany), Chief Chuba Chime (UK) Mr. Charles Ayoola (UK), Prof. Afik Babarinde (Cyprus), Mrs. Anita Ibeh (Malta, Dr. John Umeh (Republic of Ireland) and Tobias Idoko esq (Netherlands).

    It reads below.

    The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe the umbrella organization for Nigerian Professionals in Europe having critically studied the state of affairs in Nigeria, held its 5th annual general meeting in Belgium to deliberate on the state of affairs in Nigeria, and consequently came up with the following resolutions:

    The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe commends President Muhammadu Buhari for reappointing of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefeile. This action is a deviation from the past, where hard work and dedication to duty are always sacrificed on the altar of politics.

    The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe foresees a great future for Nigeria with the disposition of President Muhammadu Buhari to issues in the critical sectors of the country despite the instigation of violence and criminality by politicians especially those that have refused to accept electoral defeat in good faith.

    It is a known fact that the state of insecurity in Nigeria, are politically motivated in an attempt to discredit the efforts of the current administration and by extension the efforts of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    On the state of the Economy, the Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe commends President Muhammadu Buhari for restoring confidence on the suitability of Nigeria for businesses that have seen to a significant increase in the number of Nigerians relocating back to Nigeria to contribute their quota to the development of Nigeria.

    The Association of Nigerian Professionals notes the laudable initiatives in the critical economic sectors that were implemented by the current administration in proactive ways that have caused a turnaround in the economy of Nigeria.

    The Association, therefore, calls on all well-meaning Nigerians all over the world to extend their support to President Muhammadu Buhari in the quest to take Nigeria to the next level as there is nowhere else to call home, and as such we must lend a helping hand in the arduous task.

    The Association of Nigerian Professionals commends the Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces for repositioning the Nigerian Military and protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria from the threats of Boko Haram terrorists and other militants’ organizations that at one point in time took the laws into their hands.

    The Association of Nigerian Professionals also commends President Muhammadu Buhari for placing a high premium on the security of lives and properties in Nigeria and the tremendous support he has given to the Armed Forces in their bid to curtail the activities of terrorists, bandits and other vices in the country.

    The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe, after a careful assessment of the various policies of the current administration in the critical areas of the economy and security, it consequently, resolved to:

    Support President Muhammadu Buhari throughout his second term in office.

    Continue to drum support for the Nigerian Military in its fight against terrorism and other militant groups.

    Encourage Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora to join hands with the present administration to take the country forward and to the next level.

  • APC’s Odebiyi wins Ogun West

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer for the Ogun West Senatorial district, Prof. Taofeek Shittu, has declared the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Tolu Odebiyi, winner of the Saturday Senatorial election in the district.

    Shittu, who announced Odebiyi winner on Tuesday at the collation centre in Oronna hall, Ilaro, added the APC candidate polled the highest votes of 58,452.

    Odebiyi’s closest rival was Engr. Olusegun Gbeleyi of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), who scored 48,611 votes while Hon. Leye Odunjo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came third with 43,454 votes.

    INEC had on Sunday declared Governor Ibikunle Amosun who contested on the platform of the APC winner of the Ogun Central Senatorial polls while the senatorial election in Ogun East has been declared inconclusive.

    Odebiyi, who is the former Chief of Staff to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, has dedicated his victory to “all those who have endured indignities but remained principled on behalf of the people of Ogun – West.”

    Odebiyi expressed gratitude to the people of the area for the opportunity extended to him to serve.

    He said: “It is with a humble heart and gratitude to God Almighty that I accept the result of my election to represent the good people of Ogun West Senatorial District in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “First, I wish to express my undying gratitude to the people of Ogun West for their practical demonstration of love as we campaigned for this election and for their indubitable and preferential choice for me being validated here today. I am very grateful.

    “May I also thank all the officials who conducted this election on behalf of the INEC and commend you all for your dedication and patriotism in the face of unprecedented inducements and temptations challenging a free and fair outcome.

    “This victory is dedicated to all those who have endured indignities but remained principled on behalf of the people of Ogun West.

    “Please be assured that I will continue to stand with you shoulder to shoulder in raising higher the flag of progress and prosperity for the people of Ogun West.“

  • PDP’s Albert re-elected in Akwa-Ibom

    Senator Bassey Albert of the People Democratic party has won the Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) senatorial district

    He polled a total of 174,731 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bassey Etim, who scored a total of 60,930 votes

    Bassey Albert, who is the Senate Committee chairman on Gas, is going for a second term.

  • APC’s Shettima, Ndume, Kyari win Borno Senate seats

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has been declared winner of Borno Central Senatorial District.

    Shettima defeated his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opponent Sen. Mohammed Abba Aji, who was the former Adviser on Assembly Matters to former Presidents Umar Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan.

    He also represented Borno Central in the Senate between 2003-2007 under the platform of defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP).

    Declaring the results at the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) Maiduguri Metropolitan Council office in Maiduguri on Tuesday, the returning Officer, Professor Yusuf M. Yusuf of the University of Maiduguri said Kashim Shettima scored 340,898 votes while his closest opponent Sen. Mohammed Abba-Aji of the PDP polled 75, 509 votes.

    In Borno North, the incumbent Senator Abubakar Kyari of the APC was also re-elected.

    He was declared winner after scoring 75,565 votes to defeat his closest opponent Hon. Isa Lawan Kangar of the PDP with 35, 123 votes.

    In Borno South, Sen. Ali Ndume was re-elected on the platform of the APC having scored 300,637 as against the candidate of the PDP Hon. Kudla Satumari, who scored 84,804.

    He was declared winner by the returning officer, Prof Isah Hassan.

    Ndume will be heading to the National Assembly for the fifth term and the Senate for the third time in a row.

    Meanwhile the All Progressives Congress has won all the ten House of Representatives seats in Borno state and they have been officially declared.

  • Umeh blasts INEC for alleged manipulations

    The Senator representing Anambra central and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Victor Umeh has lashed out at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for leaving its flanks open for manipulations during last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in Anambra State.

    He called for cancellation of the exercise in all the troubled areas identified during the polls.

    Umeh, while briefing reporters on Tuesday at his Aguluzigbo country home, said INEC lost control of the exercise in the area.

    The Senator argued tis was why the outcome of the election could not be declared three days after it ended.

    Umeh contested the Anambra Central senatorial election with Mrs. Uche Ekwunife of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and Chief Sylvester Okonkwo of the All Progressive Congress APC as his main opponents.

    The commission has not declared the result for the contest despite releasing the presidential results owing to alleged anomalies observed in some polling units at Obosi and Abatete, both in Idemili North local government area in the zone.

    He  said the fact that election results for Anambra Central had not been declared was an indication that all was  not well, adding that all of them should hold their celebrations at least for now.

    Read Also: Card Reader: INEC cancels 54,668 votes in Ebonyi

    According to him: “INEC said that accreditation must be done with card readers but in majority of the places, card reader did not work and the electoral umpire resorted to the use of manual voting, which made it to lose control of the exercise.

    “The results being turned out by INEC in the zone showed that card reader did not work. In my place where it worked, the proper thing was done.

    “In Obosi and Abatete, for instance, where violence marred the exercise, INEC was still trying to generate results several days after the election.

    “The election was highly manipulated in Anambra Central and that is why INEC is finding it difficult to release the result.

    “In many places where the card reader was not used, hoodlums were brought in buses and they voted without proper accreditation.”

    He went on: “Because it lost control, INEC resorted to asking agents of political parties to bring their duplicate copies to enable it compute the results, which is not proper.

    “If the commission does not have original result, then there is nothing to compute.

    “INEC left some flanks open for manipulation, which was why even unregistered people were allowed to vote in some polling units.

    “The INEC guideline specifically said that in the event of card reader not working, the election should be shifted.

    “Since INEC cannot arrive at anything after three days of the election, the only way to remove the impasse is for the election to be cancelled in the affected places so that the card reader can be used.”

  • Why I slept in INEC office for two days, by Ize-Iyamu

    Edo State Director General of the Atiku Campaign Organisation, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has explained why he slept at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during announcement of results.

    Ize-Iyamu said he wanted to ensure that the results were not tampered with.

    Speaking to newsmen in Bénin City after official declaration of the presidential results, he alleged that All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders made serious efforts to tamper with the results.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu said the people resisted attempts by some APC leaders disrupt collation of results.

    Ize-Iyamu said PDP leaders in the state worked very hard to secure victory despite set back occasioned by the postponement of the general elections.

    Read Also: Tinubu hails INEC, security agencies for peaceful poll

    His words: “I am personally here to make the results are not changed. I could have sent one of my boys but they would easily intimidate them.

    “There were serious efforts to change the results. There were pressure INEC to cancel results in areas where we won but the people’s will prevail.”

  • Why Wike is chasing shadows

    Anyone seeking to understand the concept of a tortured soul only needs to pay close attention to Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, whose every action in recent days seems to provoke his demons instead of pacifying them.  Yet, Wike knows the solution to his problems, he has to stop chasing shadows and focus on the reality, the reality that he is fighting a lost war of attrition. He sowed the wind and he is now reaping the whirlwind, physically and politically.
    That he is today the equivalent of a political orphan is of his own making, after all he actively partook in the destruction of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when he attempted to become the supremo of the dying behemoth once touted as Africas largest party. Had he been wise enough to not kill his own political party, perhaps he would have been ble to go into the election with more confidence such that he woul not hve needed to rig the election, kill and main the same people he is desperate to govern. The fanatical zeal with which he pursued that agenda is today directed at making Nigeria fail.
    With a dead PDP, Wike was left with no other option than to unleash violence of industrial proportion to steal the election. But knowing that the law does not approve of violent behaviours, even from certified touts, he thought himself clever by dressing his thugs in military uniform. The idea appeared smart the time since it allowed Wike’s thugs to go about unmolested while soiling the image of the military, which was the only impediment to the criminality he was bent on imposing on Rivers state. But like every other crime, Wike has since realize that there are consequences.
    Poor Wike has become a tormented soul since controversially winnning that election. He now presents with clinical manifestations of hallucination. He sees detractors even in the midst of his own family. If he is not talking about Amaechi he is talking about Buhari or attacking Federal Government institutions.
    His troubled state of mind has not allowed him lock down on one strategy in pursuit of whatever it is he is so desperate to acheive. He has oscilated between attempting to advise President Buhair, when he clearly lacks the capacity to do so, and being belligerent towards the President once he realized that his poisoned chalice got not positive reaction.
    The maniac tendencies of the Rivers State Governor makes no distinctions that would have intelligently recognize that Federal Government agencies are not meant to be his private property. Like a disoriented avian attacking its reflection in a glass panel, Wike has been hurling himself like a projectile against these organizations. If he is not fighting himself he is fighting the military. If his outburst is not directed at the Police then it is directed at the Army.
    This brings us to how bad things have become for Wike in the last few days to the point of launching demented allegations against the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Jamil Sarhem. In the space of a few days, Sarhem, has in Wike’s troubled mind attempted an assassination bid on him, run an illegal oil bunkering squad with the objective of financing his drive to be made the Chief of Army Staff and possibly Sarhem even attempted to become the next Rivers state governor in Wike’s hallucination.
    But the source of Wike’s disturbance is well known. He is is possibly the only one still in denial as to what truly ails him. Truth be told; Wike is afraid of the possible consequences of having rigged himelf in as the governor of his state for  a second time. He knows that organizations like the Army, Police and other federal agencies that were present during the polls have information that can sink him in the course of  judicial challenge to his win. He election that he has rigged himself into office. For instance, he decided the GoC is an enemy after his offer of bribe was turned down.
    The Rivers state governor is in need of help and urgently so. Those close to him have to do something to manage his delusional tantrums. They can start by reassuring him that a loss at the Election Tribunal would not be the end of the world, They should also remind him that those whose elections have been nullified by the courts are fortunate enough not to be criminally tried for stealing the election in the first place. He should be told that the most of his phobias are unfounded since the Army and Police have more pressing issues than wasting scarce national resources on lowlife politicians, so they will barely have time to care about what happens to him after being sacked by the tribunal.
    Instead of chasing shadows, Wike should productively engage himself, both as a matter of responsibility being the Rivers state governor and as an act of contrition, remorse and remediation. He should give law enforcement agencies the comprehensive list of the people he mobilized to unleash violence during the election for the purpose of their being demobilized and rehabilitated. He should also work with these security agencies to retrieve the firearms he provided to these people. The entire country may be facing one security challenge or the other but the one in Rivers will prove peculiar in the future because it is being inspired by one man’s unsettled mind.
    Ainoko is a civil rights activist based in Abuja.

     

     

  • Nigerian Armed Forces not sentimental about retirement policy —group

    The Young Christians Forum of Nigeria (YCFN) has described as unfounded allegations of lopsided recruitment, postings, appointments and retirements of military personnel by the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).
    Nigerians were taken aback last week when malicious reports spread across the media about the military’s alleged favouritism for a particular religion and region.
    A statement on Tuesday by Onyeama Nwachukwu, Acting Director Defence Information, had rubbished claims that over 200 officers from a particular geo-political zone and religion, in the first quarter 2019, were retired prematurely.
    After thorough fact-finding through its members in the Federal Character Commission, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Airforce and other related authorities, the YCFN backed the Armed Forces’ stands.
    This was made public in an extensive report signed by its President Rev. Nathaniel Ochimana but represented at the press conference by Vice President, Bro. Bright Sunday.
    According to the Christian group, the  assertion of premature retirement of Christian officers and lopsided recruitment of northern Muslims, postings, and appointments are utterly misleading.
    “ We wish to state that the Young Christians Forum of Nigeria, an organization consisting of Christians from all works of life in Nigeria was taken aback by the claims that some Christian officers were silently retired from the Armed Forces and replaced by Muslims by the leadership of the Armed Forces led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonishakin,” the group began.
    “ So as not to leave any stone unturned, the Young Christians Forum investigated the claims with a view to ascertaining the correctness of the news making the rounds in the public domain.”
    Upon completion of investigations, however, the group discovered that there was never a time in the history of the Armed Forces that promotions and retirements were based on ethnic or religious factors.

    Read Also: APC thanks Kwarans for support

     

    “ Findings gathered from the Federal Character Commission indicates that no such infraction was recorded in the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonishakin

    “ Findings from personnel from the Army, Navy, and Airforce debunked the claims of mass retirement of Christians officers and the recruitment and lopsided posting of Muslim officers to replace them.
    “ Findings from the National Human Rights Commission also indicates that the commission is not in receipt of any petition on religious and ethnic discrimination in the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
    The Christian group, therefore concluded that the allegations were concocted, and a deliberate falsehood aimed at sowing the seed of bitterness in the Nigerian Armed Forces.
    They added that “the Young Christians Forum of Nigeria believes that the news is highly misleading and capable of puncturing the harmonious working relationship between Christians and Muslims in the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
    “ We also wish to state that from the interactions we had with some select officers and men of the Armed Forces, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonishakin upon resumption of office has instituted a number of reforms that ensures a strict adherence to the rules of engagement as it concerns discipline, promotion, postings and retirement from the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
    “ The Young Christians Forum of Nigeria consequently wishes to sound a note of warning to the political detractors to stay away from the activities of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria so they can concentrate on the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.
     “ The Young Christians Forum of Nigeria also wishes to state that the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not an ethnic or religious organization and hence it should not be associated with the promotion of ethnic or religious agenda.
    “The Young Christians Forum of Nigeria also wishes to remind the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that they are indeed patriots and never give in to the cheap blackmail been bandied around by detractors.”

     

  • Buhari wins Kebbi with 581,552

    President Muhammad Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged winner in the last Saturday’s presidential election in Kebbi state.

    Buhari won with a total of 581, 552 votes to defeat his closest rival Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who got 154,282.

  • Polls: We did well, says Obaseki

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the All Progressives Congress did well in the state when compared to results of the 2015 general elections.

    In last Saturday’s general elections, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party won two seats in the Senate and four House of Representatives seats while the APC won a seat in the Senate and five seats in the House of Representatives.

    Governor Obaseki who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr.

    said he appreciated Edo people for the growing acceptance of the APC in Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Obaseki however assured that the APC  would record better results in the March 9 gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections.

    According to him, “With the results out, it is obvious that there is a growing acceptance of the APC in the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state. The margins show that we have considerably closed the gap here. The outcome of the polls turned out to be better than the previous one held in the state in 2015.

    Read Also: Obaseki votes, hails peaceful polls

    “A comparison of the results shows that in 2019, PDP polled 275,691, and the APC got 267,842; while in 2015, the PDP scored 286,869 against APC’s 208,469 in the presidential election.

    “In 2015, the margin of defeat was 78400 votes, but in 2019, it dropped by 90 per cent to 7849 votes. This is a considerable improvement on the party’s performance.

    “We appreciate the people of Edo for coming out en masse to cast their votes and for aligning with the vision of returning President Muhammadu Buhari, and we wish to congratulate them for the party’s strong showing.”