The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2019 general election

  • Christian elders fault CAN’s visit to Buhari

    The National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) has described the visit of the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, with some CAN officials and Christian leaders to President Muhammadu Buhari on his victory in the just concluded 2019 presidential election as shocking.

    NCEF disassociated itself from the visit claiming that it is: “sub judice” as the determination of who won the 2019 General Election is still in Court. It is therefore premature and presumptuous for anyone to congratulate President Buhari for “winning” an election that is contested in Court.”

    The forum said the visit which was made last week is also not in the interest of Christians.

    A statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the  Chairman of NCEF, Solomon Asemota, (SAN) said: “The National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) was shocked to read in the news that the President of CAN, Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, with some CAN Officials and Christian leaders paid a “congratulatory” visit to President Muhammadu Buhari on his purported victory in the 2019 General Elections.

    “The NCEF wishes to state that the congratulatory visit to Aso Villa by CAN could not be in the interest of Nigerian Christians who daily bear the agony of thousands of their brethren being killed, maimed, displaced and marginalized in the Jihad launched in the northern parts of the country. It is well known the indifference of the Buhari Administration to the murder of Christians all over the country. This indifference has led many, including foreign observers, to conclude that the Buhari Administration is complicit in the genocide that is taking place in Nigeria.

    “The action of the CAN President, Rev. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, is a further confirmation of all the protests and petitions of NCEF in 2018 querying the faithfulness of Dr. Ayokunle to Christ and to His Church. In its 2018 Report titled FACTORS HINDERING CHRISTIAN POLITICAL CONSENSUS FOR 2019 ELECTION, the NCEF provided irrefutable facts that Rev. Ayokunle deliberately frustrated Christian political consensus in a country in which religion has become a major factor in politics. With this ill-advised congratulatory visit to President Buhari, it should be clear to every Christian of good conscience that Rev. Ayokunle is running CAN as an appendage of APC which has proven by its religiously popularism biased appointments and policies that it is primarily a religious party that is to the disadvantage of Christians whom Rev. Ayokunle claims to be representing.

    “It would be recalled that during the Elections, Rev. Ayokunle presumptuously deployed a 1,000 man CAN Election Observers team to monitor the Elections nationwide. The action was presumptuous since CAN does not have the Constitutional responsibility of engaging politics. Christian leaders deliberately established Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN) for this purpose in 2001 as the socio-political arm of the Church. Nonetheless, after observing the Elections, the 1,000 man CAN Election Observers is yet to release its Report before CAN rushed to congratulate one of the contestants. Since all the other Observers have since released their Reports, where is the Report of the CAN Observers Team?”

    REad also: CAN’s post-election visit to Buhari sparks quarrel

    According to NCEF, notable arm of the Church, the Catholic Church, did not join the delegation that went to congratulate President Buhari adding that: “This would be consistent with the Communiqué issued by the Catholic Church expressing concern about the Elections and advising that dissatisfied individuals should seek recourse in court of law. This in the view of NCEF is how a Christian body should respond to issues of this nature.

    “NCEF is making these points for record purposes so that in years to come, if any further evil befalls Christianity in Nigeria, no one would claim ignorance of the issues that led to the emasculation of the Church. As Christian Elders, we affirm that it was ill-advised and ill-motivated for anyone claiming to represent the Body of Christ to rush to congratulate President Buhari pending the determination of the suit in Court.

    “Presently, Christians are mourning over 200 people murdered in Kajuru and Adara in southern Kaduna. There are increasing reports of Clergy routinely kidnapped and murdered in Middle Belt and parts of the North. These are in addition to genocide in Benue, Taraba, Plateau, and other parts of southern Kaduna. So far, no arrest has been made and no one has been prosecuted. Therefore, for any Christian leader to go and shake the hand of the man who has done nothing to stop the genocide is morally and spiritually reprehensible.

    “In addition to the concerns expressed above, it should be remembered that we all witnessed the debacles during the campaigns for the 2019 Elections as well as the violent conduct of the Elections. We witnessed the widespread application of “inconclusive” Elections where the opposition party had upper hand. We saw with regret the way Kano, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Lagos, Taraba, Bayelsa, and Plateau states Election, amongst others, were handled. The campaign debate and Presidential interview exposed the competence and capability of the candidates and Nigerians spoke through their votes and expressed their preference. Therefore, the will of the people must not be subverted. It is wrong for anyone, or any group of people, to seek to use CAN to legitimize an illegality. That congratulatory visit, we insist, was not on behalf of Nigerian Christians.

    “Fortunately for the NCEF, in making this clarification, no one can accuse the Christian Elders of religious bigotry or ethnic discrimination since both front runners are Muslims from the North and of the same ethnic stock. In the same vein, no one could say that NCEF is holding brief for any political party since NCEF neither supported any political party nor adopted any candidate during the elections. The interest of NCEF is that Democracy should be permitted to flourish and prevail in Nigeria. As President Goodluck Jonathan demonstrated in 2015, the will of the people must not be subverted. We are no longer in the era of Military coup in which individual(s) can impose themselves as rulers over the nation. This is Democracy and the will of the people must not be subverted.  Any attempt to kill democracy by a President who subverts the very process that brought him to power under the instrumentality of stealth and conventional jihad must be resisted and rejected.

    “NCEF aligns itself with the stand of the ethnic nationalities in South West, South East, South South and Middle Belt Zones that the Judiciary should perform its rightful oversight and ensure that the rightful winner of the 2019 Elections is sworn into office in May 29, 2019. If the Judiciary, for whatever reason, is unable to take a stand and defend the will of the people then Nigeria would have destroyed Democracy and signed on as a fascist state.”

     

     

  • 2019 general election and plight of corps members

    The National Youth Service Corps, which is aimed at inculcating discipline, patriotism and loyalty among the youth, has also made them to experience so many challenges in the course of their duty to the nation.

    It is on record that so many corps members have lost their lives en-route their places of assignment due to the bad state of roads and insecurity in the country. Despite the harsh conditions and rejection faced by many corps members, the government has done little or nothing to curb this menace. It is worrisome and calls for concern. The government is saddled with the responsibility of providing security to citizens, especially corps members. It is possible to provide security against other ills but as far as death is concerned, we men live in a city without walls.

    During the 2011 post election violence in some parts of the northern states, no fewer than 10 corps members lost their lives while answering the clarion call. Also, in the 2015 general elections many corps members who served as presiding officers (PO) lost their lives while on national assignments. In spite all assurances by the government to bring the perpetrators to book, no arrest has been made till date. The most painful part of the whole issue is the manner in which these unfortunate corps members were buried by government officials. Some corps members also died due to negligence by hospital attendants who pay little or no attention to the late corps members claiming they are faking the illnesses.

    The postponement of this year’s 2019 election has caused different reactions from different groups and personalities. Corps members are not left behind as some of feel saddened by the postponement of the election, saying they had risked their lives for this national assignment and wasted their meagre allowance on transport to various polling units without a dime from INEC.

    Government has to wake up from its slumber and fulfils its responsibilities to the corps members by providing them with adequate allowances, accommodation and security. They are our future. The government needs to fix our value system and take responsibility for their actions.

    • Deborah Phillips Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano.

     

  • The Touchstone: Bad weather saved Nigeria from compromised polls – Sam Omatseye

    Political analyst and Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation Newspapers, Sam Omatseye, joined by Member, Online Editor, Sunday Oguntola to discuss the 2019 General election, Democracy in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, INEC, PDP, APC, Corruption in Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, Ballot box snatching.

  • Polls shift: APDA backs INEC for credible election

    The Kano state chapter of the Advance Peoples Democratic Alliance ( APDA ), on Monday, threw its weight behind the postponement of the 2019 general election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying it will enable the Commission to conduct a more credible, free and fair elections that will be acceptable to Nigerians.

    The party also called on Kano residence to support the aspiration of its gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Abacha and all its candidate in the state and National Assembly.

    Speaking to Reporters at the party’s Kano headquarters, the state chairman, Alhaji Bashir Hamza Bataiya, said that, “the shifting of the election will enable INEC cover some lapses and challenges so as to conduct a more credible election.

    “You can recall that barely a week to the elections, hoodlums in some states vandalized INEC facilities, burning down its offices and other infrastructure. It would have been so tedious and difficult for INEC to conduct elections in such situation.

    “APDA as a party has watched with concern, reactions from individuals, stakeholders and even political parties and civil society organizations as regards to the postponement.

    Read Also: Polls shift: NANS suspends protest in Ogun

    “As a responsible political party, we urge our teeming supporters, and indeed, Nigerians to bear with the electoral body, and troop out en-mass to perform their civic responsibility come February 23 and March 9, 2019.”

    Bataiya who said the position of the party was endorsed by its gubernatorial, Alhaji Muhammad Abacha, also hailed President Muhamnadu Buhari’s administration for its giant strides in the area of economy, security, power generation, agriculture and the fight against corruption.

    The, party, however, appealed to security to be up and doing in their responsibilities during the elections, while wishing Nigerians, “a historic, hitch-free, fair, credible and violence free-election.”

  • Naira stable despite election fears, says ABCON

    • CBN’s, BDCs’ reforms hailed

    The naira has in over 18 months remained stable at both the official and parallel markets despite several odds facing it ahead of the 2019 general elections, President, Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe has said.

    Speaking yesterday to financial journalists in Lagos, the ABCON boss commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) financial sector reforms, and the contributions of the Bureau de Change (BDC) operators to the current exchange rate stability, as against the common practice of currency devaluations and depreciations across the world at election times.

    The naira exchanges at N306/$1 in the official market and N358/$ in the parallel market despite the election fears.

    Gwadabe said that the absence of foreign exchange spikes and volatility before and during the 2019 elections year is a major achievement by the CBN and Federal Government. He said: “The dexterity of the government policies in ensuring that naria remained stable in an election year is commendable. Election years, as witnessed during the 2015 general elections, are marred by exchange rate volatility and spikes in the market”.

    He disclosed that financial pundits had had in early 2016, speculated that the naira will depreciate to as low as N1000/$. The election period of 2015, he added, witnessed over $100 billion capital flight outside the country. The activities of currency hoarders, speculators and rent seekers reached its peak in 2015.

    He disclosed that ironically, the trend in the foreign exchange market during this year’s election showed hope for the economy, sustained exchange rate stability, adequate dollar liquidity, increasing foreign capital inflows and most importantly, a unified and convergent exchange rate of the BDCs and the parallel market. These feats, he said, are commendable by all standards.

    On deepening capacity/skills of industry operators, Gwadabe    appealed  to the CBN to issue Letter of Consent to ABCON proposed training institute.  This, he added, is going to boost the current ABCON Management commitment to capacity building for its members to stimulate competency in the sector and make room for better foreign exchange management.

    Continuing, Gwadabe also listed factors that led to the current successes in the foreign exchange market. He said: “First, I want to congratulate the leadership of the CBN for a well coordinated, proactive exchange rate management strategies which include creation of several foreign exchange windows to deepen liquidity and price discovery, restriction of foreign exchange on 42 items that can be produced locally, self sufficiency in rice production and continuous partnerships between the apex bank and BDCs, all led to the current exchange rate stability enjoyed in the country”.

    According to Gwadabe, the contribution of the security agents in the effective surveillance of Nigeria’s boarders/ airports to checkmate illegal foreign currency evacuation have in no small measure strengthened  exchange rate and promoted economic growth.

    He also praised the BDC operators under the ABCON leadership for staying in the business despite  lower margins and risk of operations they face on daily basis.

    The ABCON boss said the BDCs have remained resolute in ensuring sustainable and stable exchange rate, price discovery and uniformity in the market pricing for the dollar against the naira.

    He said the current one per cent transaction margin that operators take is not sufficient for BDCs’ sustained operation, and totally falls below global standard of 10 per cent.

    He said the BDCs under the ABCON leadership have demonstrated patriotism in the business by staying and sustaining it despite several challenges facing  the sector.

     

     

  • 2019: PDP plots chaos through Parallel Voting Tabulation System – BMO

    The Buhari Media Organization (BMO) has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) plan to use the Parallel Voting Tabulation System (PVTS) to rig the 2019 general election, create chaos in the aftermath of the election.

    In a statement on Thursday signed by the group Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, BMO also said the strategy embarked upon by the PDP was destined for failure.

    The Statement read, “We know that it is the usual template for PDP to create various scenarios in build-up to elections. Sensing defeat, they begin to create imaginary, unsubstantiated and unscientific claims and stories. We urge them to be careful so they do not impose the conclusion of their mental gyration on Nigerians, especially when Nigerians have decided for President Muhammadu Buhari”.

    Read also: Buhari’s last minute campaign full of fabrications, false claims, says PDP

    “We find it laughable that just a while ago, Osita Chidoka claimed they – the PDP – have mobilized 40 million people as PDP’s independent election monitors. Now if we may ask, how many voters are there that they need 40 million election monitors? Are they mobilizing to rig the election, because we do not know anywhere in the world where election monitors are up to 40 million”.

    “Who could be more fitting as a rigger than the PDP who, for 16 years, hatched several flawed electoral processes that even its former president admitted openly to”.

    “We know that it is deeply engraved in the culture of the PDP to be scammers, from the Maurice Iwu days to the employment scam of 2014, to this bogus claim that they have mobilized forty million election monitors. Such claims ought to be disregarded as Nigerians focus on the polls on Saturday.”

    “We urge well-meaning Nigerians to come out and vote for their conscience, to choose between a party headed by a man who – despite holding several public offices in the past – was never indicted in any corrupt cases; and a man with huge integrity deficit, an internationally acclaimed thief chosen by a party that led Nigeria to the brink of destruction”.

  • The Touchstone: Amosun is a gangster governor – Sam Omatseye

    Political analyst and Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation Newspapers, Sam Omatseye, joined by Member, Editorial board Femi Macaulay to discuss the APC Presidential rally in Ogun State, President Mohammadu Buhari, Atiku Abubakar, PDP, APC, 2019 General Election, Presidential Polls, APC Rivers crisis.

  • Elections: Police task politicians on peaceful conduct

    Ahead of 2019 general election, the Nigeria Police Force has urged all political parties in Kano and their supporters to avoid acts capable of breaching peace in the state.

    The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr Muhammad Adamu, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, in charge of Research and planning, Mr Aminchi Baraya, made the call at an interactive session with stakeholders in Kano on Tuesday.

    The interactive session was aimed at ensuring a hitch-free election, maintain adequate peace and tranquility in the state.

    “I have deployed all the DIG’s to the six geo-political zones in the country to oversee the general election.

    “My officers have been trained on how they are expected to conduct themselves during the election, adding that the NPF is prepared to ensuring that the election is free, fair and credible.

    Adamu appealed to the public to vote peacefully and conduct themselves responsibly at the polling units, adding that after voting, everyone was expected go back home.

    Speaking earlier, the Kano Commissioner of Police, Mr Wakili Muhammad, commended the stakeholders for participating in the interactive session.

    He also called on various stakeholders in the state to join hands with the command in the fight against drug abuse in the state.

    NAN reports that the AIG Zone 1, Mr Dan Bature, governorship candidates from some of the political parties as well as other stakeholders attended the meeting.

    Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, Hajiya Hauwa El-Yakub, Kano central senatorial candidate under New Progressive Movement (NPM) pledged to cooperate with the security agencies to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

    She, however, appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in fighting political thuggery, in order to have peaceful elections not only in Kano state but across the country.

    “You cannot take away drugs from political thuggery, candidates from various political parties use youths to get what they want during the election,”She said.(NAN)

  • Buhari will campaign for all APC candidates- Presidency

    The Presidency on Sunday maintained that President Muhammadu Buhari will campaign for all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) towards the February general elections.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, however said that that does not mean that Buhari will decline courtesy calls or offers of support from citizens in other parties.

    He said: “Following repeated media enquiries on the matter, the Presidency wishes to state in clear and unmistakable terms that as a party leader and a candidate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the coming elections, President Muhammadu Buhari will campaign for the party and all its candidates.

    “This however does not mean that he, as the nation’s leader, will decline courtesy calls or offers of support from citizens including candidates flying the flags of other parties.

    “There is no doubt that the President has no competition here in terms of popularity in the coming elections.

    “But the more support he gets, the wider the margin of victory there will be.

    “So please let there be no confusion about this. President Buhari is APC.

    “He will campaign for all APC candidates, but he welcomes support and endorsements.”

  • Kaduna needs spiritual, political deliverance – Shehu Sani

    …flags off reelection campaign

     

     

    Senator representing Kaduna central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani has said that Kaduna State needs spiritual and political deliverance as it approaches the 2019 general elections.

    Senator Sani who is seeking reelection for the same position he occupies now on the platform of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the 2019 general election called on the good people of Kaduna State not to be carried away with sweet talks to determine who govern or represent them in the forth coming elections.

    Addressing Journalists at the Secretariat of the Kaduna Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) shortly after officially flagging off his campaign at the National leader and former Governor of Kaduna State residence, Alhaji Balarebe Musa, the Senator solicited for the support and prayers from the Journalists.

    “Today 20th November, 2018 I have formerly flagged up my campaign for reelection as Senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial district and am here to seek for your support and prayers and as a sign of honour and respect, I decided to visit your secretariat to do so.

    “In the last three and half years, I have played the role of voice for the voiceless and my impact was felt accordingly to the best of my ability.

    “As a country, we need Parliamentary institutions of government with people with independent mind to speak on issues that affect her people and the state and the country at large.

    “Time for people to make choices that will define their future and the future of the country. We must make Choice between bondage and freedom, humiliation and dignity, past and the future.

    “APC, PDP are party of the Goliath and PRP party of David which is Move by our conscience. You need a senator who will stand and defend you at all times and the Senate must not be a retirement home for governors.

    “It must not be for stooges, people of Kaduna need deliverance and deliverer who will stand for them in the darkest of the night and brightest of the morning. Kaduna state over the years have witnessed tyranny and threat. Time to be freed, you don’t need a divisive leader who will exploit with the divide and rule system either on religious or ethnic grounds.

    “APC in Kaduna state has failed to serve as beacon of hope who will deliver us to the promise land.

    “Don’t make the mistake of reelecting a man, who takes himself as a demigod, the consequences will be hard for you to bear.

    Respect people who treat you with honour and dignity. Kaduna at the moment is in a state of dictatorship by one person who sees himself as a god.

    “I have decided to join PRP because it is a party that is in tandem with my socialist ideology to free the people of Kaduna central and am here to seek for your support, vote and prayers,” he said.