Category: Northern Reports

The Commissioner of Police in Jigawa State, Mr Emmanuel Ekot, has barred all quasi-security outfits from election duties in the state.

A statement by the command spokesman, DSP Lawan Shiisu on Friday in Dutse, said Ekot also warned political thugs to steer clear of the elections.

According to him, all state-established and owned security outfits, organisations, quasi-security units and privately-owned guards and security outfits are barred from participating in election security.

He also said that the police and other security agencies have been mandated to impose the restriction of movement order from 12am to 6pm on Saturday.

The CP cautioned politicians in the state against any act that would compromise peace and the electoral process.

“In this regard, the command in collaboration with all security agencies across the state, will work assiduously to fish out troublemakers and their sponsors, conduct thorough investigation and charge the culprits to court,” he added.

Ekot warned security aides and escorts not to accompany their principals to polling units and collation centres, as anyone found flouting the directive would be severely sanctioned.

The CP assured law-abiding citizens of adequate security, saying they should turnout en masse and peacefully cast their votes.

He advised all security personnel deployed for the exercise to be professional, civil, polite and shun any form of corrupt practice.

He said the police will not allow undesirable elements to use the opportunity offered by the elections to foment trouble.

Red Cross deploys 360 members for emergency response in Kaduna

Ahead of Saturday’s general elections, the Nigerian Red Cross Society in Kaduna has deployed 360 of its members for emergency response and first aid treatment at some polling centres.

Sunday Awulu, the Secretary of the Kaduna Branch of the society, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

He said the deployment of its personnel to some of the polling centres was part of their collaboration with government and other stakeholders.

“We have a contingency plan for the election to see how we can provide our services during the period, particularly in the violence prone areas.

“The personnel are going there in case of any emergency, not only election violence; but in the course of queuing to vote, someone may slump or some issues may come up and people might sustain injuries.”

He added that the members would be deployed to each of the 23 local government areas of the state and some at the headquarters for emergency and first aid treatment.

“We have deployed 15 members to each local government area of the state and also 15 at the headquarters for emergency responses.”

Awulu said the personnel would be stationed at strategic places not close to the polling units.

The uncle of the Niger State governor, Honourable Sani Bello Mustapha, popularly known as ‘Sani Basket’ has been suspended from the All Progressive Congress (APC) indefinitely.

Sani was alleged to have been involved in anti-party activities by campaigning against his party.

He was suspended following the resolution of the APC Central Ward Kontagora and the suspension notice was signed by the APC Ward Chairman, Alhaji Hamza Majidadi and the Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Kira.

The letter, seen by our reporter, was addressed to Honourable Sani Bello Mustapha (Basket), and read, “We strongly write to convey the resolution of our great-party APC Central Ward Kontagora for the suspension of Honourable Sani Bello Mustapha (Basket) indefinitely.

“Our collective resolution to suspend the aforesaid member from the party is due to his anti-party activities i.e campaigning against his party, which is capable of tarnishing the good image of the party.

“Your utterances in the landmark F.M. Station dated 21st February 2023 are a clear testimony that the person in question has not been adhering to the party’s constitution. With this letter of suspension, the person in question (Hon. Sani Bello Mustapha) is hereby suspended indefinitely from the party.”

The letter was copied to the Niger State APC chairman, the Kontagora Local Government, the APC Zonal Chairman, and all APC Stakeholders of the Central Ward, Kontagora.

he uncle of the Niger State governor, Honourable Sani Bello Mustapha, popularly known as ‘Sani Basket’ has been suspended from the All Progressive Congress (APC) indefinitely.

Sani was alleged to have been involved in anti-party activities by campaigning against his party.

He was suspended following the resolution of the APC Central Ward Kontagora and the suspension notice was signed by the APC Ward Chairman, Alhaji Hamza Majidadi and the Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Kira.

The letter, seen by our reporter, was addressed to Honourable Sani Bello Mustapha (Basket), and read, “We strongly write to convey the resolution of our great-party APC Central Ward Kontagora for the suspension of Honourable Sani Bello Mustapha (Basket) indefinitely.

“Our collective resolution to suspend the aforesaid member from the party is due to his anti-party activities i.e campaigning against his party, which is capable of tarnishing the good image of the party.

“Your utterances in the landmark F.M. Station dated 21st February 2023 are a clear testimony that the person in question has not been adhering to the party’s constitution. With this letter of suspension, the person in question (Hon. Sani Bello Mustapha) is hereby suspended indefinitely from the party.”

The letter was copied to the Niger State APC chairman, the Kontagora Local Government, the APC Zonal Chairman, and all APC Stakeholders of the Central Ward, Kontagora.

Connection Development (CODE) says it would be deploying trained observers to 20,000 polling units across the country.

The observers would provide situation reports from different polling units in their respective states with about 60 high-level situation room personnel that validates and publishes reports from the field observers.

Founder, Connected Development (CODE) and Follow the Money, Hamzat Lawal, said CODE aims to provide real-time information for citizens and stakeholders and drive adherence to electoral guidelines across polling stations, across the country.

He said, “Uzabe is an Open Situation Awareness Room (OSAR) initiative that will provide real-time intelligence, mapping tools, and witness reports from 20,000 trained observers spread across various polling units in Nigeria. With the Uzabe observation tool, CODE is aiming to provide real-time information for citizens and stakeholders and drive adherence to electoral guidelines across polling stations, across the country.

“Importantly, Uzabe, a geo-mapping tool, is also designed to keep citizens informed of happenings on Election Day. As an open-source tool, anyone with internet access and a smart device can stay up-to-date with incident reports from at least 20,000 polling units nationwide.

“For the 2023 elections, CODE will deploy the Uzabe technology with the support of 20,000 citizen-based election observers distributed across thousands of polling stations across the country.

“For this project, CODE deployed 5000 field observers in 35 states out of the 36 states and FCT to provide situation reports from different polling units in their respective states with about 60 high-level situation room personnel that validated and published reports from the field observers; CODE actively participated and made inputs in the recently signed 2022 Electoral Act.

“CODE also partnered with Cross-check Nigeria, which served as a new front to combat fake news during the 2019 general elections in the country. The online platform for the initiative served as a collaborative information verification project aimed at improving the quality of information for the unsuspecting general public by debunking misinformation and fake news and sanitising the media space during the election.”

A philanthropist, Chief Toyin Amuzu, has donated boreholes to the  Ijemo and Ijeun-Titun communities in Abeokuta South Local Government areas of Ogun State.

Akogun Adeen of Egba Muslims, Alhaji Ismaila Odejinmi, who spoke during the handing-over of two motorized borehole projects  to the communities, described Amuzu as a selfless and courageous person who has the interest of the people at heart.

Odejinmi commended the donor for his selflessness and determination to improve the lives of the people and alleviate their sufferings.

He said Amuzu would no doubt perform excellently well if given the opportunity to serve in line with his political aspirations.

Amuzu is House of Representatives candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Abeokuta South Federal Constituency.

Odejimi said Amuzu is a true son of the soil whose services and commitment to the development of Egbaland would not be forgotten easily.

“Chief Toyin Amuzu who is the Asiwaju-Leragun Egba has lived to type as a true son of the soil who wants the good of his people. If I’m not mistaken this is the twentieth borehole project? Water, they say is life, and Amuzu has again brought succour. I have seen solar lights in different communities with his inscription on it, I have heard of various empowerments, health and education support from Amuzu.

“I am not surprised, he is a true descendant of the  Lashoju family, who are well known as warlords in Egba history. In fact, I am highly impressed and this is a clear testimonial that he would do more,” Odejimi said.

The candidate of the PDP for the Ogun State House of Assembly in Abeokuta South constituency 1, Hon. Idowu Olowofuja in his words appealed to everyone to vote massively for the PDP this Saturday.

He said the party has good experience and knowledge to steer the ship of this country away from the present hardship affecting the people.

Olowofuja was joined by the PDP house of assembly candidate for Constituency 2, Chief Lukmon Atobatele to officially declare the water projects open for public use.

It was wild jubilations as residents of the two communities, Ijeun-Titun and Ijemo, could not hide their joy having suffered lack of portable water for too long.

The Omituntun Initiative in the Diaspora (OID), a group of Nigerian professionals in Diaspora, has thrown its weight behind the re-election of the Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde .

The group, which consists of Nigerians from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, China, Malaysia, Brazil, the Republic of Ireland, Germany, Israel, Hungary, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Botswana, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa, among others, have rated  Makinde as the best governor in the history of Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole.

According to the group, following an outstanding record of achievements and the execution of excellent trailblazing projects in all sectors, his declaration to run for a second term  deserves massive votes from the good people of Oyo State, so as to continue the re-engineering  of programmes for the socio-political and economic stability of the state as a pacesetter.

A statement  by the group’s spokesman,  Ayotomiwa Adebayo,  a lawyer, which stated that Nigerians in the Diaspora are so proud of Governor Makinde as a dynamic and creative leader whose administration has had success and record-breaking performances in Oyo State, especially in education, health, infrastructure, security and economy expansion (through Agribusiness).

The group also stressed that Governor Makinde has also committed to actionable climate change policies to mitigate negative environmental impacts on a sustainable socio-economic development. The above-mentioned areas of development focus of his administration have helped to significantly generate jobs, provide food security and safety, increase prosperity, and reduce vulnerability of youths and the ageing population.

“Over 44 months of being at the helm of affairs, Governor Makinde has changed the status quo of governance, fostered unity, and rekindled hope for the possibility of a better future. In fact, Oyo State is now experiencing unprecedented economic growth and a generational shift from poor leadership and bad governance to a good governance. These laudable achievements lend credence to the viability of Omituntun 2.0 – a sustainable socio-economic development and growth agenda for Governor Makinde’s second term tenure,” the  statement stated.

 Adebayo emphasised that never again shall the good people of Oyo State, including professional bodies, unionists, pensioners, civil servants, teachers, students, farmers, artisans, youths, traders, among others, allow greedy political godfathers and their accomplices, who are puppets, to come to power in 2023. The consequences of their looting and misrule have resulted to unprecedented hardship, and the impacts are still fresh in the memories of the people.

He  stated that Governor Makinde is a very tolerant, prudent, honest and thoughtful leader who has demonstrated the spirit of fairness, equity, and justice towards the citizens of Oyo State irrespective of their religion, ethnicity and political affiliation.

The spokesperson expressed that based on the group’s 99.9% performance scorecard of Governor Makinde’s administration, the OID Convener, Mr. Moses Eledan, has directed all its members and well-meaning citizens, including the youth ambassadors’ wing and GSM Network globally, to work actively and selflessly to ensure that Governor Makinde is re-elected for the continuation of the laudable projects and policies he started.

Mr Eledan  stressed that, “the  Governor has made Oyo State a place where a child of nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody and indeed his re-election victory as a servant leader will surely inspire new generational leadership and bring more tremendous developmental milestones for the State.”

“Finally, as Governor Seyi Makinde has restored people’s trust in good governance and leadership, we urge all citizens to vote massively for Seyi Makinde and his endorsed candidates,” the spokesperson added.

The Forum of Former Governors has called for a peaceful poll ahead of tomorrow’s  presidential election.

 The forum made the appeal in a statement signed by its Chairman and Former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu and Executive Secretary, Prof. Tunde Esan in Abuja.

 The statement reads: “In the past few months, our nation has witnessed campaigns by politicians across the political divides. Information dissemination aimed at reaching the electorate are sometimes laced with controversies. In the midst of it all, our nation is and must continue to stand in peace and unity as we cast our votes. Polemics, grandstanding and vituperations of emotional positions may have whipped up sentiments, and call to question some of the fundamentals of vote seeking; in all, the voice and votes of Nigerians must count.

 “The electoral empire INEC must be supported, in their assurance of free and fair polls. There must be winners and losers, none and nobody is permitted to question the basis of our corporate existence as a nation.

From: Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal has urged Nigerians to vote for the candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi on Saturday.

  Lawal, who was represented by Prof Wesley Nafarnda said Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed have come to symbolise national revival in our national politics.

 He spoke during a prayer session organised by a coalition of Obi supporters and Enyimba Progressive Association in Abuja.

  He said: “We are all witnesses to the serious degeneration of our national affairs which has been due to the absence of contract to the national ethos and respect for our diversity.

  “As we cast our vote come Saturday, I don’t believe the choice should be difficult for Nigerians going by what we have gone through these past years.

  “The antecedent of His Excellency Mr Peter Obi in Anambra State and other spheres of life speaks for him, his humility, kindness and compassion are qualities of a great leader that Nigeria deserves now.