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Category: Lead

  • Intrigues as Adamawa denies Buhari, APC use of campaign venue

    Intrigues as Adamawa denies Buhari, APC use of campaign venue

    •Says site is currently undergoing renovation •President leads Tinubu-Shettima rallies in Katsina, Yobe, eight others

    The Adamawa State Government has turned down a request by President Muhammadu Buhari for the use of the state owned Ribadu Square in Yola,the state capital for the All Progressives Congress (APC)  presidential campaign on  Monday.

    Governor Ahmadu Fintiri said   the square is currently undergoing renovation.

    Buhari is scheduled to lead his party’s campaign in the state,according to the updated  timetable released  by the  Chief Spokesperson and Director of Public Affairs, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo (SAN).

    Adamawa is one of the “at least 10 states” where Buhari is expected to join the APC presidential campaign train.

    Buhari’s Chief of Staff,Professor Ibrahim Gambari, had earlier notified the state government of the planned visit of the President on that day to participate  in the APC  rally at Ribadu Square.

    But in a reply to the Presidency letter,the  Secretary to the State Government,Alhaji Bashiru Ahmad,  said the facility which is owned by the state  would be unavailable on Monday.

    He cited renovation of the centre as reason for its unavailability.

    Ahmad in the reply to the Presidency letter said: “I write to acknowledge your letter ref. SH/COS/28/16/A/793 dated 3” January, 2023 addressed to His Excellency, the Governor, in respect of the above subject matter.

    “It is with utmost joy that we always welcome the news of a visit by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Adamawa State and always prepare to accord him a rousing welcome with the highest level of respect notwithstanding political party differences.

    “Please note that, on this proposed visit that is scheduled for 9 January, 2023 and considering the purpose of the visit which is rally, the only befitting place (Ribadu Square) that is secured enough to host Mr. President, on occasions like this, and the surrounding infrastructural facilities are under extensive renovation. We, therefore, write to inform you that, much as we would want to provide a place befitting to receive Mr. President, we are constrained because we cannot guarantee the readiness of Ribadu Square before the due date of the flag-off. However, we are working round the clock and racing against time, along with the contractors, to get the place fairly ready to receive the President on the 18 January, 2023 when the presidential campaign train of the APC berths in our state.

    “Sir, while hoping that you will take seriously the foregoing in your planning, accept, as always my highest respect for your esteemed office.”

    We’re going ahead with our rally,local APC vows

    But the  Organising Secretary of the APC  in the  state, Mustapha Ribadu,  declared yesterday that nothing would stop the party from proceeding with the Monday rally.

    He said an alternative venue had been found and was being readied for the event.

    Speaking in a telephone interview last night,Ribadu said: “Originally the party wrote a letter seeking  the Ribadu Square for our presidential rally on the 18th January and it was approved by the state government.

    “The government went further to commence renovation of the square  to enable us use it for the reception of President Muhammadu Buhari and our presidential candidate on the 18th January.

    “But with the sudden change in date, we wrote the government that the President would  be coming on Monday the 9th. This afternoon (Friday) they granted the request and formal approval was given. The contractor was asked to stop work if the venue will be conducive for us to host the President. We have a formal approval for the new date.”

    He, however, said that the campaign organisation of the APC governorship candidate, Senator Aishatu Binani, said it would  prefer a new site it has been working on to host the presidential rally.

    The state organising secretary said security agencies have been keeping surveillance on the new venue.

    He refused to blame the state government for the change of venue.

    He said:”We are set to host President Buhari and our presidential candidate on Monday in Adamawa State at the new venue being prepared by the gubernatorial candidate team.”

    Adamawa is ruled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is also the home state of the PDP Presidential candidate,Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    Buhari to lead Tinubu/Shettima  campaign in 10 States – Keyamo

    Keyamo,in the updated campaign timetable of the APC said Buhari ,in fulfillment of his promise ,would join the  campaign train in a minimum of 10 states.

    Keyamo who is also the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity said the President’s move was to  ensure the victory  of the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola  Tinubu in next month’s election.

    He said: “Recall that the President, out of his very busy schedule, had earlier attended the flag-off of the presidential campaign in Jos on the 15th of November, 2022. This was also after graciously accepting to be the Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council of the ruling party.

    “In the latest campaign timetable released yesterday (5th January 2023) the President is billed to join the Campaign Train in at least ten States.

    “The states are Adamawa State on the 9th of January; Yobe State on the 10th of January; Sokoto State on the 16th of January; Kwara State on the 17th of January; Ogun State on the 25th of January; Cross Rivers State on the 30th of January; Nassarawa State on the 4th of February; Katsina State on the 6th of February; Imo State on the 14th of February and the Grand Finale in Lagos State on the 18th of February.

     “The PCC expresses its profound gratitude to President Buhari, the leader of our great party for his sterling and inspirational leadership at this time and for galvanising our teeming members and supporters across the country.

     “We urge our party and supporters to turn out en masse, as usual, in the forthcoming campaign rallies. The zero hours is nigh; our spirits must be high; we must not relent in this collective march to our victory that is divinely ordained.”

    Read Also: Why APC is party to beat in Southeast, by Uzodimma

      Tinubu, Shettima, other APC bigwigs storm Akure today

    The Ondo State government has pledged  adequate security at today’s  campaign of the APC presidential  candidate in Akure,the state capital, ahead of next month’s general election.

    The rally is scheduled for the Moshood Kasimawo Abiola Democracy Park .

    Chairman, Media and Publicity, Sub- committee, of the presidential campaign council in the state, Kunle Adebayo, urged members of the public, supporters, admirers of our party to troop out  to “endorse competence, vision, character, hope and track record as epitomised by Tinubu.”

    He added:”As the state witnesses an unprecedented surge of crowd tomorrow (today), we wish to assure the people of Ondo State and our visitors that adequate security measures have been put in place across the state to ensure smooth, peaceful and eventful rally.”

    It’s Uyo’s turn on Thursday

    On Thursday,January 12,Tinubu and  Shettima  will take their campaign to  Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

    Expected on the campaign train are  the APC national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu ;Niger Delta Affairs Minister Umana Okon Umana; former governor of Akwa Ibom State and  PCC Vice Chairman South, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Director General of the PCC and Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong; Silas Agara;Chairman Progressive Governors Forum and Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu; APC National Vice Chairman South-South, Chief Victor Giadom: other  Party Leaders and APC Stakeholders.

    Chairman of the Central Planning Committee of  the APC Presidential Campaign rally, Senator Nelson Efiong  and secretary, Hon. Uwem Udoma said in a joint statement in Uyo that the rally would take place at the Unity Park, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo starting from 10am.

    They urged ” all APC candidates, their Campaign Council, supporters and party members across the 31 local government areas in the state to come out en masse to support and show solidarity to the party’s presidential candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his running-mate, Senator Kashim Shettima who are coming with a message of ‘renewed hope’ to Akwa Ibom State.

  • Production of new naira notes followed best practices — Mint

    Production of new naira notes followed best practices — Mint

    The Nigerian Security Printing and Minting (NSPM) Plc- The Nigerian MINT- on Friday defended the quality of new naira banknotes in circulation, saying they were printed in line with global best practices.

    In a statement signed by NSPM Managing Director/CEO Ahmed Halilu, the agency explained that the new naira notes- N1,000, N500, and N200 denominations are of the same substrates and passed through the same printing processes and finishing procedures, with other notes in circulation.

    He said the attention of the NSPM Plc has been drawn to various clips, skits, concerns, and comments on various platforms regarding the quality of the redesigned banknotes that were recently unveiled and issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    “As the nation’s foremost security printing and minting company saddled with the responsibility of producing the country’s currency (Naira), we find it expedient to address the salient issues and further enlighten Nigerians on the features of the Naira and, most importantly, the misconception about the quality of the new Naira notes,” he said.

    He said the new banknotes are generally light when issued, then become heavier in circulation on getting in contact with dirt and moisture.

    “We want to inform all Nigerians that the new Naira notes are of the same substrates and passed through the same printing processes and finishing procedures, it is, therefore, basically the same as the other notes in circulation. It also leaves traces of intaglio inks when rubbed on plain white surfaces,” he said.

    Read Also: Naira in steep depreciation despite CBN policies

    Halilu added that the second stage of currency printing (Intaglio) requires a heavy deposit of special inks with fairly large particles to give a tactile feeling of the portraits as well as other raised prints by way of design. 

    “One of the properties of intaglio inks is non-solubility in water and ease of transfer (light stain on plain white materials owing to the size of the particles. This is generally a security feature of all banknotes that easily differentiates them from forged or counterfeited notes,” he said.

    “The NSPM Plc has been meeting the currency needs of Nigeria with the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria since 2014. Indeed, Nigeria has achieved zero importation of currency, developed local capacity, and, to an extent, conserved foreign exchange within this period. The Naira is our legal tender and national symbol. We, therefore, urge Nigerians and other users of the Noire banknotes not to subject our banknotes to experiments in order to prove a point.

    “We assure all Nigerians that best international practices have been deployed in the production of our national symbol the (Naira), and we shall continue to ensure that it meets international standards,” he said.

  • PVC: INEC creates additional centres to fast-track collection

    PVC: INEC creates additional centres to fast-track collection

    As the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) gathers pace across the country, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday announced the creation of more centres in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ease the exercise.

    Chairman of the commission, Professor  Mahmood Yakubu,said at a separate event that INEC would place premium on the security of lives of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on electoral duties in February and March,while the Department of State Services (DSS) said it was not in court with Yakubu as being insinuated in some quarters.

    Collection of PVC in designated centres in the FCT commenced yesterday and will end on January 15 after which it will revert to the  Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

    The centres include   Government Secondary School Garki, Area 10, Garki Model Primary School, Lagos Street, Garki Village, LEA Primary School Asokoro, Kpaduma I, II and III, Guzape, Kobin Madaki and Kobin Sarki.

    Other centres are LEA Primary School, Apo Resettlement Zone C, Apo Resettlement, Apo Mechanic Village, Wumba Village, Chachuyi Village,Dutse-Baba (Garki Area), Dakno Village, Durumi III and IV, Yayale Ahmed and Damagaza Area.

    Also on the list are LEA Primary School Kabusa, LEA Primary School Lugbe, Chika, Sauka, Pyakasa, Galadimawa LEA School, Efab, Lokogoma, Sunny Vale and Sun City, Michido Estate, Kabusa Garden, Nzube Estate, Lokogoma -Dogon Gada, Penthouse, Peace Court, Amasco and Golden Spring Estates.

    Under Wuse are Senior Secondary School Wuse Zone III, Maitama Model Primary School, Maitama and Wuse II,while those in Gwarinpa can collect theirs from   Government Secondary School Gwarinpa, Life Camp, LEA Primary School 3rd Avenue, Gwarinpa , Gwarinpa Estate, Gishiri, Jahi, Katampe, Mab Global among others.

    Election duty: INEC assures corps members of security

    Receiving the Acting Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs Christy Uba, in his office yesterday in Abuja,Professor Yakubu said the commission would  place premium on the security of corps members on election duties.

    He described the role of corps members as the most critical in the election process.

    According to the chairman, the corps members operate at the most important level of election, which is the polling unit, the only level where citizens actually vote.

    “So, for that reason, we will also extend insurance cover in case of injury or other emergencies to all corps members involved in election duty,” he said.

    “Working with the security agencies, we will also extend protection and security to the youth corps members’ lodges when they are deployed to the field on election days.

    “This is because we have had some unhappy experiences before, when some hoodlums raided the corps members’ lodges in some places, while they were on election duty.

    “So, we will continue to take whatever step that is necessary to protect and guarantee the security and welfare of the corps members.”

    The chairman said the commission would continually operate within the framework of the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the commission and the NYSC.

    He also pledged that there would be training and retraining of the ad hoc staff, majority of who were youth corps members in the handling of election technology.

    “They will be responsible for the management of the polling units, management of elections resources including sensitive materials, accreditation of voters, using the Bimodal Voter Registration System (BVRS) on election days.’’

    Read Also: INEC gets committees for national situation room, collation centre

    According to Yakubu, the corps members are more involved immediately the voting processes are over.

    “They record the results on the result sheets.

    “When all the party agents have signed, then, they will be responsible for snapping the result at that level, using the BVRS, and transmitting same in real time.’’

    Yakubu said the commission was fully ready for the forthcoming general elections.

    Responding, Uba expressed the NYSC’s continued readiness to partner with the commission, adding that a lot had been achieved over time.

    According to her, regarding the forthcoming election, the corps members are eager, as the youths are very interested in it, and will make sure that they work hard to make things right.

    She, however, said that the scheme and the commission were expected to play their roles.

    We did not take INEC chairman to court, says DSS

     Also yesterday,the DSS said it never went to court against the INEC Chairman.

    Spokesman of the Service, Dr. Peter Afunanya, said in a statement that contrary to a newspaper report that gave the impression that the DSS was in court with the INEC boss as “it skewed what transpired at the court and reported it out of context.”

     The report, Afunanya said, “ falsely left an impression that the Service went to court against the INEC Chairman.  

     ”Nonetheless, the Service is aware of the antics of some mischievous elements who are desirous of fomenting crisis in the country, including creating unnecessary controversies around the forthcoming general elections. 

    “One of their strategies is to subvert the efforts of the Service in ensuring peaceful coexistence and harmony. 

    “Another is a determination to overheat the polity and subtly exploit the judiciary to distract or even undermine not only the Service but other security and law enforcement agencies from undertaking their constitutional roles. 

     ”The DSS, therefore, warns these individuals and groups to desist from their devious plans. It also advises all critical stakeholders to be vigilant and resist attempts to use them to thwart the law.” 

    Ondo APC urges residents to collect PVCs

    The Ondo State chapter of  the All Progressives  Congress (APC) appealed to residents of the state to collect their PVCs  before the deadline.

    It reminded the people that it is only possession of PVCs that would guarantee Senator Bola Tinubu emerges as the next president of the country.

    State Chairman of the party, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, who spoke in a chat with journalists, said the party was well structured across the 18 local government areas of the state.

    “We have 15 executives in each of the 3,933 polling units and no party in this state can boast of this. Besides, party meetings are going on regularly from top to the unit levels,” he said.

    He added:”APC is a party of the people; we are a  grassroots party that cuts across all the 18 local government councils in Ondo State and we are mobilising seriously for Saturday’s rally in Akure.

    “We don’t rent crowds, we give what we have and everybody will see it. We have good people behind us; we have what it takes to govern this country. 80 per cent of the political gladiators in Ondo State are in APC and what we have under the leadership of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu is that we are not divided. We don’t have any issues at all.”

  • Why new Naira notes produce ink marks on surfaces, by minting firm

    Why new Naira notes produce ink marks on surfaces, by minting firm

    Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting (NSPM) Plc, Ahmed Halilu, has said the new naira notes “leave traces of intaglio inks when rubbed on plain white surfaces”.

    He said the new notes are of the same substrates and passed through the same printing processes and finishing procedures as the old notes they are about to replace.

    According to him, the new notes are “therefore, basically the same as the other notes in circulation”.

    Halilu said the new banknotes are generally light when issued, but over time become heavier as they stay in circulation and on getting in contact with dirt and moisture.

    “The second stage of currency printing (Intaglio) requires a heavy deposit of special inks with fairly large particles to give a tactile feeling of the portraits as well as other raised prints by way of design,” he said.

    One of the properties of intaglio inks, he said, is its “non-solubility in water and ease of transfer (light stain) on plain white materials owing to the size of the particles”.

    Read Also: Naira in steep depreciation despite CBN policies

    This ink, he said, is “a security feature of all banknotes that easily differentiates them from forged or counterfeited notes”.

    Halilu noted that the legal tender is a national symbol and urged “Nigerians and other users of the Naira banknotes not to subject our banknotes to experiments in order to prove a point”.

    “The best international practices have been deployed in the production of our national symbol, the (Naira), and we shall continue to ensure that it meets international standards,” he said.

    The NSPM Plc, he said, has been meeting the currency needs of Nigeria “with the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria since 2014”.

    Halilu added: “Nigeria has achieved zero importation of currency, developed local capacity and, to an extent, conserved foreign exchange within this period.”

  • NYSC seeks allowance increase for corps members

    NYSC seeks allowance increase for corps members

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has called for a review of the allowance paid to corps members.

    Acting Director-General, Mrs Christy Uba, made the request during a courtesy visit by the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu.

    Uba said corps members were eager to participate in the 2023 general election.

    She described the meeting as timely, stressing that the NYSC was committed to the partnership.

    She said: “A lot has been achieved. The corps members are ready.

    Read Also: NYSC urges Corps Members to be security conscious

    “The youths are very interested and it is expected that every one that is part of the committee will go back and cross the t’s and dot the i’s.

    “NYSC is committed to the partnership with INEC. We have come a long way and we cannot go back, a lot has been achieved.”

    On the need for an increase of the allowance, Uba said it was in view of “the prevailing economic realities”.

  • Wike to NDDC: stop using political contractors for projects

    Wike to NDDC: stop using political contractors for projects

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has urged Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to stop awarding projects to political and portfolio contractors.

    He said jobs should be given to competent contractors to deliver quality projects, adding that the agency should embark on construction of highways and bridges to link states in the region.

    Wike, who appealed to the new board to do things differently, said such big ticket projects would serve as economic corridors to ease interstate movement and promote socioeconomic integration in the region.

    The governor urged the board to adopt a regional development approach that would holistically develop the region.

    The governor spoke when the new Chairman of NDDC board, Mrs. Lauretta Ifeanyi Onochie led other members on a courtesy visit to him at Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday.

    Read Also: Wike confident of victory for his preferred presidential candidate

    The governor said: “I read what you said that things will be done differently. I want to believe that you’re sincere.

    “Sometimes, I feel ashamed where I come from. We talk about underdevelopment, but look at the amount of money that has passed through NDDC, then look at the projects on ground.

    “There is what we call regional development projects that can link up two states, those are the kind of things NDDC should go for and give it to competent contractors.

    “Leave these political contractors. Leave all these portfolio contractors. Leave them alone. You have come to my state and you have seen what I have done.

    “If we had used these political contractors, you won’t have seen anything here. Of course, you know how expensive my contractor is. From 2019 till now, we have done 12 flyovers.

    “You know how much we are talking about and you can replicate that. Even though they are expensive, but you’ll see the value.”

    Wike envisaged a situation where NDDC could devote huge sums annually to executing projects in each state of the region without distorting existing developmental master plan.

    The governor said it was shameful to see the unproductive model NDDC had operated, serving as mere cash cow to politicians and spending about N10billion in futile attempt to rig the 2019 elections in Rivers State.

    He said: “NDDC has become a cash cow for politicians. Look at the money NDDC lost in this state just to win election here. N10bn wasted, which could have been used to construct a mega project in the State.”

  • Buhari to join APC campaign train in 10 states as party releases revised timetable

    Buhari to join APC campaign train in 10 states as party releases revised timetable

    President Muhammadu Buhari is set to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign train in 10 states.

    It is a further affirmation of his commitment to the cause of his party and its presidential flag-bearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    The APC Presidential Campaign Council released a revised campaign timetable in which the President indicated his readiness to be physically present at some of the forthcoming presidential campaign rallies.

    A statement by Director of Public Affairs and chief spokesperson of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo (SAN), reads: “Recall that Mr. President, out of his very busy schedule, had earlier attended the flag-off of the Presidential Campaign in Jos on the 15th of November, 2022.

    “This was also after graciously accepting to be the Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council of the ruling party.

    “In the latest Campaign Time Table released Thursday, the President is billed to join the Campaign Train in at least ten states.

    Read Also: Why APC is party to beat in Southeast, by Uzodimma

    “The states are Adamawa on the 9th of January; Yobe on the 10th of January; Sokoto on the 16th of January; Kwara on the 17th of January; Ogun on the 25th of January; Cross Rivers on the 30th of January; Nassarawa on the 4th of February; Katsina on the 6th of February; Imo on the 14th of February and the Grand Finale in Lagos State on the 18th of February.

    “The PCC expresses its profound gratitude to President Buhari, the leader of our great party, for his sterling and inspirational leadership at this time and for galvanising our teeming members and supporters across the country.

    “We urge our party faithful and supporters to turn out en masse, as usual, in the forthcoming campaign rallies.

    “The zero hour is nigh; our spirits must be high; we must not relent in this our collective march to our victory that is divinely ordained.”

  • Why APC is party to beat in Southeast, by Uzodimma

    Why APC is party to beat in Southeast, by Uzodimma

    A majority in the Southeast will vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, according to Imo State governor Hope Uzodimma.

    He believes there are indications that the APC will win at all levels in the general elections.

    He said the Buhari administration has in the last seven and half years delivered landmark projects across the region.

    The governor, who was featured on Channels, said: “Democracy is not about where you come from or who your relation is.

    “Democracy, particularly as it is practised in Nigeria, is partisan.

    “If you see what my government has done in the last three years and what President Muhammadu Buhari has been able to do since he assumed office, the only thing for the people to do is to keep encouraging the APC to continue with the leadership of the country.”

    Uzodimma, who said Nigerian politicians should rise above tribal sentiment, added that the ruling party had done so much and, therefore, is the party to beat.

    Read Also: We’ll defeat PDP in Ondo, says APC chieftain

    “It is not about whether Bola Tinubu is from the same place with me or not, it is about the programmes to the extent that the manifesto of our great party has convinced and endeared the people to us. 

    “So, I am very confident that the party to beat in Nigeria is APC.”

    Justifying why he was sure that the Igbos will vote for the APC, Uzodimma said: “From 1970 when the civil war ended, the Igbos asked for the 2nd Niger Bridge. 

    “Government after government came and made promises. But, this promise was not fulfilled.

    “With the commitment of the Buhari administration, the last Christmas was greeted with jubilation as Igbos coming from outside Southeast plied the 2nd Niger Bridge.

    “That is enough reason for the Igbos to vote for the continuation of Buhari’s legacy.

    “There was a time that the road from Port-Harcourt to Enugu was impassable. But go there now, the road has been completed. 

    “Most of the federal roads in Southeast have received enough attention and budgetary commission to the extent that what we suffered for in the past years has now been attended to.”

    He said the quick intervention of Buhari kept his state intact.

    “In Imo State, if not for the intervention of Mr. President, by now, there will not be Imo State. 

    “Imo State witnessed a high level of violence and banditry within the period we are talking about, but it took the grace of God and the commitment and support of the Federal Government that rescued the state.

    “APC is the party to beat in the Southeast, quote me anywhere.”

  • Tinubu: I’ll convert Yahoo boys to tech experts

    Tinubu: I’ll convert Yahoo boys to tech experts

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday promised to transform advance fee fraudsters, otherwise known as “Yahoo boys,” by creating technological hubs for them, if elected in next month’s poll.

    He stated this during his campaign rally in Benin, the Edo State capital, yesterday.

    Tinubu, who flew into the ancient city from Kano where his campaign train berthed on Wednesday, urged a huge crowd of supporters at the University of Benin Sports Complex, Ugbowo, to vote for him, if they wanted to be rich.

    The former Lagos State governor also canvassed reparation by some  European nations for returned Benin artefacts.

    Besides, he criticised former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar, accusing them of focusing on personal comfort instead of developing the country when they were in power between 1999 and 2007.

    He faulted Obasanjo’s endorsement of the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, saying he (Obi) “could not tackle erosion menace in the Southeast state of Anambra” where served as governor for eight years.

     Describing himself as a knowledgeable man, the APC candidate, said industrial and technology hubs would be created to make the youths become instruments for development.   

    His words:  ”I will convert Yahoo boys and make them useful by converting their talents and intellects to produce chips for industries. We can defeat poverty, ignorance and homelessness. We have the knowledge, we have the brain to do it. Trust me. I am an expert in finding the way where there is no way. I found a way to tame the Atlantic in Lagos and turn it to money- making machine.

    “Sociologically, we can make mountains, we can climb Kilimanjaro, we can defeat poverty. We will break the shackle of poverty, ignorance and homelessness.”

     Tinubu accused    Obasanjo and the past  PDP government of failing to provide electricity for Nigerians “to make even popcorn “ after spending  $16 billion on the power sector. 

    He said: “I brought Enron to solve electricity problem and help Lagos economy, but Obasanjo and PDP frustrated it. They punished me and Lagos people and even began deducting our money.

    “I created local governments in Lagos to accelerate development and create employment for our people, but Obasanjo seized our allocation and punished us for that. That was wickedness and such a man said he endorsed a man for you to vote as President.

    “Can you follow such a man? Can Obasanjo recommend a leader to anyone in Nigeria? A man who does not know the way cannot show the way.”

    The APC standard bearer, who also said that Atiku was unfit to be president,  accused Edo State  Governor Godwin Obaseki and his allies of ordering the removal of his billboards.

    He said: “Show me a better job that Atiku did before. You cannot find it. He is not the smartest customs officer. A customs officer, who cannot define the ethics of the civil service. A civil servant, who said selling cars is where he made his money, but does not know that the only thing that civil servants can do is agriculture, not dealing in or smuggling cars. That is a disqualification. He (Atiku) is not fit to be president.”

    On the returned artefacts, Tinubu said: “Edo people, prosperity has come, happiness has come, hope is back in your homes, knowledge is back in your community. I am happy about the returned artefacts. They are bringing our artefacts. I support the Oba of Benin who said our heritage must come back, but I disagree with the Europeans.

    “They have used our artefacts for exhibitions and tourism for decades in their museums to make money. They should not just send them back without money. When I become President, I will ask them to pay us restitution. I will contribute to the building of the museum in Benin.”

     Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje hailed the crowd at the Sports Centre  assured that the 19 Northern states would massively vote for Tinubu.

    A former National Chairman of the APC,  Adams Oshiomhole, described Tinubu as a president in waiting, who believes in the unity of Nigeria.

  • Presidential poll: G-5 keeps PDP supporters in suspense

    Presidential poll: G-5 keeps PDP supporters in suspense

    • Makinde to announce preferred candidate

    • Group protests exclusion of Atiku’s name on list

    Supporters of the Group of Five (G-5) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors are to wait a little longer to know who to vote as president on February 25.

    They were kept guessing yesterday at Governor Seyi Makinde’s re-election campaign kicked off In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    G-5 leader and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, who urged PDP members to vote Makinde at the governorship and others candidates at the National and State Assembly polls, said the Oyo governor will announce who they should vote for at the presidential election.

    Wike and the G-5 governors – Makinde (Oyo); Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuayi, have vowed not to support PDP presidential flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar, because of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the party’s National Chairman.

    The campaign, which held at the historic Mapo Hall, attracted huge crowds of PDP members and supporters from across the state.

    There were heightened expectations from those sympathetic to the G-5 governors’ cause that a candidate of choice for the presidential poll would be unveiled at the Ibadan rally.

    Appealing to the members and supporters to vote for all the candidates of the party for the National and State Assembly elections, Wike excluded the party’s presidential candidate.

    The Rivers helmsman assured that Makinde, whom he described as the G-5 Youth Leader, would announce their preferred presidential candidate to them later.

    Some pro-Atiku supporters, led by one-time Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, chanted ‘Atiku, Atiku’ to protest the exclusion of the presidential standard bearer in the list of candidates reeled out by the governors, who took turns to address the crowd.

    Wike, who also vigorously explained why Makinde should be allowed a second term in the state, advised all other parties’ candidates for the election to step down for Makinde.

    He said: “There is no other party in Oyo State. People of Oyo State, let me thank you for making your son valuable; a young man who is dependable; a young man who you can trust; a young man who can make you go home and sleep with your two eyes closed; a young man whose yes is yes, and whose no is no. And that is why he follows those who believe in fairness, in equity and in justice.

    “Seyi Makinde is a good product and has done well since he was given mandate in 2019 and therefore, the only way we can appreciate more is for him to go back and complete the good work he has started because that is the only way you will get the best out of him.

    “Let me use this opportunity and tell everyone, if there’s anyone from another party planning to vote now, withdraw now for Seyi Makinde. There is no need to worry yourselves; the people of Oyo have spoken that they are voting for Makinde.

    “Vote for Seyi; vote for the senators; vote for the House of Representatives; vote for the House of Assembly. The other one, Seyi will talk to you. The other one, Seyi will talk to you. The other one, Seyi will talk to you. When it is time, Seyi will talk to you.”

    Ortom said: “We are here today to seek Oyo people’s mandate for Makinde to go back to government house. We believe in fairness, equity and justice. We are committed to PDP in our various states. We are united; we are working for all our candidates in our various states.”

    Ugwuanyi said Makinde has performed well and deserve to be re-elected.

    Ikpeazu lauded members of the party for reposing confidence in its candidates in Oyo, describing Makinde as the youth leader among the G-5 governors.

    He said: “Makinde represented their vision for better Nigeria where everybody is important. What people of the state would see in the first year of the second term of the governor would be better than what they have seen in the last four years of his administration in the state.”

    Thanking the Oyo electorate, Makinde noted that he had delivered on his promises to the state in the last four years of his administration.

    He said: “Under Omituntun 1.0 (Fresh Water), I promised you education sector, we collected LAUTECH back. Now, we have Emmanuel Alayande University of Education.

    “Under Omituntun 1.0, I promised Oyo State economic prosperity. I said we will take our people from poverty to prosperity under accelerated development. We took our IGR from N1.8 billion in a month to N3.8 billion as at November 2021 under our administration.

    “I assured the people that our infrastructure will integrate all the zones in our state – Ogbomoso to Iseyin; Akobo, Airport Road. I said our education levy will be scraped, has it been scraped or not?

    “I promised to pay salary of workers and pensioners every month. I promised the people a safe and secured environment. I invented Amotekun Corps. Didn’t I do well.

    “Under Omituntun 1.0, I promised a government that will put the people of Oyo state first and I have always made that decision. Now it is time to upgrade; it is time for Omituntun 2.0.”

    Some of the dignitaries at the event include: former Governors Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti); Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo); Oyo Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal; Makinde’s wife Tamunominini Makinde; PDP National Vice Chairman (South) Taofek Arapaja; Chief of Staff to Oyo Governor, Segun Ogunwuyi; Oyo PDP Chairman Dayo Ogungbenro; Oyo PDP Secetrary Wasiu Adeleke; Senator Hosea Agboola and members of the PDP State Working Committee as well as the PDP Women and Youth leaders in the Pacesetter State.