The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Reports

  • APC appointees working against APC in Nasarawa, group alleges

    APC appointees working against APC in Nasarawa, group alleges

    • Says they are forming alliance with others

    A group of concerned APC stakeholders in Nasarawa State under the auspices of Concerned APC Stakeholders have alleged that some appointees of the state government worked against the interest of the party in the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The APC lost the state to the Labour Party in the presidential election while also losing most of the National Assembly seats to the Social Democratic Party and the People’s Democratic Party.

    Spokesperson of the group, Dominic Alancha, said at a news conference in Abuja that the same group of government appointees are already perfecting plans to work against the party in the State Assembly elections, while voting only for the APC governorship candidate and current governor of the state, Abdullahi Sule.

    Alancha alleged that the government appointees were working to undermine the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and were already holding meetings with the SDP in Keffi to perfect their plans.

    He said, “Nasarawa State is a cosmopolitan state politically. Many different political parties had won elections in the state. The State has been governed by PDP, CPC and now APC.

    “The last Presidential and NASS elections have alluded to this, as the Presidency and NASS were won by different political parties different from the state governing party.

    “However, we will like to state that the defeat of the APC in Nasarawa State was orchestrated by internal wrangling, especially from aggrieved State Government functionaries. Most of them are APC government appointees who work against the party and are planning to work against the party in the Governorship and State House of Assembly election.

    “They are already converging and hobnobbing with the candidates and senator-elect of the SDP in Keffi to perfect their gang-up against the party, with a view to ridiculing the National Chairman of our party and other leaders of thought.

    “We therefore say that the Governorship and House of Assembly elections slated for March 11 should be different. We are calling on all concerns to come out and address the issues that could hamper the victory of the APC in the March 11 election in Nasarawa State.

    “We believe that Gov. Abdullahi Sule is one of the governors considered to have done well and given the dividends of democracy. We expect the people of Nasarawa State to be circumspect in the March 11 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

    “However, it is evidently clear that Governor A A Sule’s appointees from Nasarawa West and Nasarawa North are determined and are mobilising to only vote for Engr. A A Sule in the governorship election and vote against all the APC State House of Assembly candidates in the March 11 election under a special arrangement entered with the SDP.

  • Papyrus lunches 6th edition of CEO award

    Papyrus lunches 6th edition of CEO award

    The Papyrus Magazine is set to hold the 6th edition of its Distinguished CEO’s Awards, as nominations are currently ongoing with people being allowed to vote for their preferred nominees in all the selected industries.

    The publisher, Doofan Abu Amali in a statement said the event will hold on 23/3/2023 in Abuja as the idea is to select a special group of young African achievers, whose exploits are exemplary, through sheer hard work and intelligence; and who, despite limited resources, have succeeded in creating their own businesses, thus, bringing the African continent to a standard comparable to developed countries.

    According to Amali, “After the collection of the votes, the winners will eventually be announced before the event’s date.  The magazine is an initiative of Damsas Mega Business Limited, with over thirty thousand subscribers of its hardcopy edition across the grassroots and the diaspora.

    “The magazine with mastery in developmental journalism, focuses on politics, entertainment and lifestyle of individuals. The Magazine prides herself with fair, accurate and unbiased reportage. Its vision is to reduce unemployment among youths, thus contributing to the society and growth of the economy”.

  • Presidential poll: CSO warns parties not to heat up polity

    Presidential poll: CSO warns parties not to heat up polity

    The Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) has warned political parties not to heat up the polity, following the announcement of last Saturday’s presidential election results.

    The civil society organisation urged politicians who are aggrieved to seek legal means for redress.

    Executive Director, CTA, Faith Nwadishi, who said this during a press conference to present the report of the organisation on Friday in Abuja, added that the organisation mobilised and deployed 2,000 field observers across Nigeria.

    The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, polled 8.8 million votes to defeat his closest rivals – Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Obi of LP and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).

    However, both Obi and Abubakar have said they would challenge the outcome of the result in court.

    Speaking with reporters, Nwadishi said: “We call on aggrieved political parties to seek redress in courts and should not heat up the polity by using inciting words that may lead to breach of the peace. Violence of any mode should not be encouraged. We can only have one country that belongs to all of us.”

    The CTA called on INEC to follow through its guidelines on elections in order not to create the impression of being compromised or partial.”

  • 5,000 clerics congratulate Tinubu, Shettima

    5,000 clerics congratulate Tinubu, Shettima

    Over 5,000 Christian clerics on Friday congratulated the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the vice-president-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, over their victory in last Saturday’s poll.

    The clerics under the auspices of Christian Leaders Conference of Nigeria (CLCN) and the Christian Clerics Council of Nigeria  (CCCN) gave the commendation at a press conference in Abuja.

    The clerics had, prior to the Presidential and National Assembly election last Saturday, endorsed Tinubu and Shettima as their preferred presidential and vice-presidential candidates respectively.

    Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the clerics led by Archbishop Ali John Ali and Bishop Timothy Cheren, urged Tinubu to prioritise the selection of a competent and capable team that would help him translate his vision of a Renewed Hope for Nigerians into reality.

    They also enjoined him to confront the nation’s economic challenges and insecurity frontally, as well as embrace his opponents during the election in order to ensure unity and peace in the country.

    They also called on all clerics including those of the Muslim faith to continue to pray for Tinubu and Shettima as they prepare to take over the administration of the country on May 29, 2023.

  • Sokoto guber election: Defend your votes, APC group tasks voters

    Sokoto guber election: Defend your votes, APC group tasks voters

    APC supporters in Sokoto State have been called upon to come out in their large numbers to vote for the gubernatorial candidate of the party, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto in the March 11 elections.

    The call was made by the Movement for the Actualization of All APC Candidates in Sokoto State in a statement signed by its chairman, Alhaji Salisu Abdullahi Makama and secretary, Comrade Kasimu Ahmed.

    According to Makama: “Our Movement believes Sokoto is an APC State while the PDP is just administratively ruling on the 2019 stolen mandate; and now  the party has already been conniving with electoral officials to rig the 2023 exercise as well.”

    The group expressed concern over what it described as the hidden agenda of the PDP government in Sokoto.

    Makama, in the statement decried what the Movement considered as “the political brigandage of Tambuwal’s foot soldiers”, saying it is undemocratic.

  • Niger APC chairman suspended

    Niger APC chairman suspended

    The Niger State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Haliru Zakari Jikantoro, has been suspended from the party for alleged anti-party activities.

    Jikantoro was suspended from his ward, Kashini, under Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.

    In the letter dated 2nd of March and signed by the ward chairman, Ahmadu Abdullahi Yagode, and the secretary, Abdullahi states that some acts committed by Jikantoro were calculated to undermine the success of our party during the just concluded 2023 Presidential and National Assembly election.

    The suspension was signed by all the 21-member Exco of the ward.

    The letter read, “We, the Executives of the Kashini Ward of the All Progressives

    Congress (APC) under Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, hereby suspend Hon. Haliru Zakari Jikantoro from Kashini Ward under Agwara Local Government.

    “This suspension became expedient as a result of the flagrant violation and disregard of the All Progressives Congress constitution by Hon. Haliru Zakari Jikantoro, the State Party Chairman of the APC, coupled with some acts committed by Hon. Haliru calculated to undermine the success of our party during the just concluded 2023 Presidential and National Assembly election conducted on the 25th February, 2023.”

    “It is on record that Hon. Haliru Zakari Jikantoro has been indulging in anti-party activities by canvassing votes for the Peoples Democratic Party for the Presidential and National Assembly elections. Little wonders that when the general election was approaching, Hon. Haliru never consulted nor called any stakeholders’ meeting of the ward executives or the local government party executives.”

  • Maiduguri market: APC donates N100m at Adamu’s visit

    Maiduguri market: APC donates N100m at Adamu’s visit

    The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, on Friday paid a sympathy visit to Maiduguri, during which he announced a donation of N100m from the APC headquarters.

    The party’s national chairman presented a cheque of N100m to support victims of Maiduguri Monday Market.

    The market, said to be the largest in the northeast, was razed down on Sunday morning, following intense fire outbreak.

    “The party (APC) leadership will stand shoulder to shoulder with you in this trying time, Your Excellency. We are therefore donating N100m to support you in providing relief to the victims of the unfortunate fire incident that happened on Sunday”, Adamu, said.

    The party chairman was accompanied on the visit by Senator Abubakar Kyari, Deputy National Chairman (North), Amb. Usman Sarki, Special Adviser on Policy, Amb. Habib Habu, Special Adviser on Protocol and Programme and Nata’ala Keffi, Special Adviser on Media.

    Governor Babagana Umara Zulum expressed gratitude to the chairman and his delegation for their visit to Borno and for empathising with the people,

    “Mr Chairman, I wish to, from the bottom of my heart, convey our deepest appreciation for this visit. We are indeed very grateful for your kind gesture of donating N100m to the victims. This amount will go a long way in alleviating the suffering of the victims”, Zulum said.

  • Lawal to youths: Let’s trust our institutions

    Lawal to youths: Let’s trust our institutions

    Founder Connected Development (CODE) and Follow the Money, Hamzat Lawal has urged Nigerian Youths to trust in the institutions of government.

    He said although a lot of people might be aggrieved and planning to take to the streets, the Judiciary is the hope of the ordinary Nigerian.

    Lawal, who called for peace and calm, added that security agents are presently overstretched due to the electoral duties, and any attempt to protest might be hijacked by hoodlums.

    The founder made the call at a press conference in Abuja to review the process and conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    He said, “A lot of people are aggrieved, with some planning to take to the streets, but our security personnel have been stretched because a lot of them were deployed for the election activities and some of them are still in their places of deployment.

    “I want to call for calm … We don’t want a situation where hoodlums will infiltrate the peaceful protest and cause mayhem, knowing that our security personnel are already overstretched.

    “I know it is your right to protest but we need to ask ourselves what kind of country we want. Do we want a country that would go up in flames or a peaceful country where we can test the institutions?”

  • Kuso congratulates Tinubu, Shettima

    Kuso congratulates Tinubu, Shettima

    The Personal Assistant to Plateau Governor and Director General of the Tinubu/ Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Dr Abubakar Kuso, has congratuled the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima on their victory at the just concluded election.

    During a briefing at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) National Collation Centre Abuja shortly after Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared winner of the election, Kuso thanked Nigerians for standing by APC and voting for Tinubu.

    He said the antecedents of Tinubu stand tall amongst all the presidential candidates and rated Tinubu as the renewed hope for Nigeria and Nigerians.

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    Kuso, who is widely followed by the Youths of Nigeria and popularly known as the “grand commander” of the youths, is one of the most dogged grassroots politicians in the North Central.

    Kuso is one of the first promoters of the Asiwaju Presidential Project when he formed the BTSO, a support group that is one of the biggest forces that drove the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Project to all the nooks and crannies of the country until Victory was achieved on 25th February 2023.

    Speaking during the briefing, he admonished the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, the People’s Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar and Rabiu Kwankwaso to all join hands with Tinubu in building a new Nigeria.

    He said that it is not about the religion of the candidate but competence and capacity.

    A few days ago the political heavyweight and ardent supporter of Tinubu shut down Bida in Niger State for Tinubu/ Shettima in a rally that kept the people of North Central wondering how he could pull such an unusual crowd and support.

    The Niger politician was instrumental in thousands of votes for Asiwaju Bola in Niger State and Nigeria at large using the BTSO platform nationwide.

    He prayed that Almighty God would grant Tinubu/ Shettima a very successful term that all Nigerians would be proud of.

  • Jubilation in Katsina over Tinubu’s victory

    Jubilation in Katsina over Tinubu’s victory

    •Police ban celebrations, rallies in Kaduna

    There were jubilations in Katsina state yesterday after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s President-elect.

    The Nation noticed several groups and individuals trooped out from streets to streets in a carnival-like procession, expressing joy over Tinubu’s victory

    The people went through various communities in the state capital including Dandagoro, Kofan Kaura, Kofar Durbi and GRA, singing praises of APC, President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Aminu Bello Masari and Asiwaju Tinubu

    They eventually assembled at the People’s Square opposite Government House where various APC leaders including Governor Masari, the APC Governorship candidate, Dr.Radda Dikko addressed them.

    Governor Masari thanked God for APC and Tinubu’s victory.

    He said:  “Katsina State has done its best to support APC in the Northwest. For the APC not to win in the state in the presidential election was the will of God and God’s willing, we will emerge victorious in the next election. We believe that Katsina will prosper under Dikko Radda as well as Nigeria under Ahmed Tinubu.

    “Let us appreciate God for being faithful to the APC-led government considering the hardship people went through especially Naira and fuel scarcities but still, it emerged victorious at the presidential election.”

    Meanwhile, the immediate past Governor of Katsina state, Shehu Shema has called on the INEC to look into “legitimate concerns and complaints” that might have arisen from the election.

    Meanwhile, the police in Kaduna State announced a ban on celebrations or rallies by supporters of political parties on the just-concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Police spokesman Mohammed Jalige, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) said: “Any deliberate act to violate the ban or cause breakdown of law and order under whatever guise would not be tolerated. Security agencies have been deployed and directed to ensure full enforcement.

    “All persons with intent to violate the order are warned to desist from that, as the command in collaboration with other sister agencies are fully prepared to deal decisively with such persons in accordance with extant laws.

    “The command uses this medium to call on the members of the public not to relent in supporting security agencies in delivering their mandates of securing lives and properties of the good people of Kaduna state, “Jalige said.