The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2019 general elections.

  • Rivers PDP, APC fight dirty over alleged illegal training of militia

    THE leaders of the Rivers State chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are fighting dirty over an alleged illegal training of militia for the 2019 general elections. Rivers State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Darlington Orji, yesterday on a local radio in Port Harcourt, condemned Thursday’s disruption of the training of recruited members of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency by soldiers from the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt. Orji expressed surprise about the disruption by soldiers, after the 6 division acknowledged a letter on the training from the Rivers State government. He stressed that the exercise was to provide employment opportunities for the properly-screened youths and never to be used to rig the 2019 general elections or to unleash mayhem or violence in Rivers.

    The Rivers Publicity Secretary of PDP also insisted that the police and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) were involved in profiling the trainees for the good of the society, with the corps mainly to assist the security agencies with intelligence and information. Rivers Chairman of APC, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, however, declared that Governor Nyesom Wike of the PDP was using the state’s Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency to recruit thugs to be used during 2019 elections. Flag-Amachree also described the training of the militia as illegal, while lauding the Nigerian army for the prompt action of dispersing the recruited youths.

    The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of 6 Division, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, reiterated that the Nigerian army discovered an illegal militia training camp at the National Youth Service Corps’ (NYSC’s) Permanent Orientation Camp, Nonwa-Gbam in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers, while maintaining that the letter from Wike’s administration on the training was never approved. Iliyasu noted that the troops on a routine surveillance discovered the “illegal militia training camp,” with over 100 recruits met undergoing military type of training. The deputy director, army public relations, stated that similar illegal militia training camps were discovered and disbanded in Benue and Taraba states earlier in the year, with measures promptly taken to forestall breach of security and ensure safety of citizens. Wike, while speaking on Thursday at Odiokwu, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he kicked off the construction of a Model Primary Healthcare Centre, Odiokwu Internal Roads, Odiokwu-Anwuigboko and Odiokwu-Oyigbo roads, alleged that the Nigerian army had been transformed into a political weapon and has abandoned its security responsibilities.

    The Rivers governor also described the invasion by soldiers from the 6 division of Nigerian army as the worst act of irresponsibility, aimed at instigating insecurity in the state. Wike said: “If you do not want Rivers State to be safe, then Nigeria will not be safe. They want to use their guns against us. If they stop the training elsewhere, personnel of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency will be trained at the Government House, Port Harcourt.” A senior army officer, who would not want to be named, however, declared in an exclusive interview that if Wike decided to go ahead to train his ‘illegal militia’ inside the Government House, Port Harcourt, with the intention of arming and using them to rig the 2019 general elections, soldiers would still “peacefully” chase them out.

    The Director-General of Tonye Cole Campaign Organisation of the APC, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, stated that Wike embarked on the illegal recruitment and training of the hapless job-seekers, preparatory to deploying them to kill, maim and rig the 2019 elections for him. Lloyd said: “Disappointingly, the Federal Government until now, appeared to treat a sensitive matter bordering on treason under national security, with kid gloves. “We are aware that Wike has already procured illegal arms for the private army he is setting up. Afraid that his illegal arms procurement and distribution might leak, he recently raised a false alarm, alleging that the Federal Government was plotting to plant 800 guns in Rivers State. His false charge was to create an opportunity to blame the Federal Government, should his deal be busted. He will simply claim that the arms were planted by the Federal Government, as he earlier warned.

  • INEC: no fresh voter registration until after 2019 general elections

    THOSE pushing for fresh voter registration got a reply from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday. “Wait until after next year’s general elections,” the commission has said.

    INEC debunked reports that it has commenced fresh registration of voters. It noted that the news, which has gone viral in the social media was untrue.

    Besides, the commission said voter registration will only resume after the 2019 general elections.

    Read also: 2019: We’re monitoring campaign closely, says INEC

    In a tweet @inecnigeria, the electoral body shared by INEC Director on Information & Voter Education, Oluwole Osaze Uzzi, said Nigerians should disregard the false information being circulated on the social media.

    The tweet reads: “Information reaching the commission that some persons have been circulating messages online that INEC has giving another opportunity to register for your PVC, starting on the 2nd to 10th December 2018.

    “The report is untrue and we advise the public to ignore it.”

  • Buhari Support Group charges Nigerians to be critical of politicians

    The United Kingdom Chapter of the Buhari Support Organisation (BSO) has called on Nigerians to be critical of politicians who looted the country`s treasury in the past.

    Mr Joseph Adebola, convener of the UK BSO, said that Nigerians should avoid voting such politicians back to power in 2019.

    He made the call in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, adding that such politicians should not be allowed to get close to the corridors of power in the interest of the nation.

    Adebola made the call at the lunch of the UK chapter of the BSO held at the D’Luxx Restaurant in Blackheath, London.

    He added that the goal of such politicians, was to continue looting the nation`s treasury and to further impoverish the masses.

    Adebola, however, said that now was the time to support the BSO in Nigeria and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

    He added that the UK chapter of the BOS would continue to sensitise Nigerians on the need to ensure the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

    This, he said, was critical to ensure the consolidation of the achievements of the Buhari-led administration in all facet of the county`s economy in the last three and half years.

    Adebola noted that the administration had laid the foundation for a brighter future for generations yet unborn, apart from its three cardinal programmes which were economy, security and fighting corruption.

    Read Also: Ondo APC leaders: we will work for Buhari’s victory

    He added that the administration had also succeeded in diversifying the country`s economy from over reliance on oil to agriculture as well as blocking the looting of public treasury by public office holders.

    He said the Social Investment Program designed primarily for the masses with no access to mainstream banking system and the clean-up of Ogoni land was a first of its kind in Nigeria.

    Adebola added that ensuring victory for the APC and President Buhari in the 2019 general elections should be the focus of all party members and progressive Nigerians.

    He further added that members of the party should redouble their efforts to forestall the opposition from getting close to power.

    ‘’Those that plundered the country’s common patrimony and almost pushed it off the cliff edge, are now regrouping with the devilish intention to regain power.

    “It therefore behooves on well-meaning Nigerians to come together with a unity of purpose to not only stop these political mercenaries by breaking their shackles, but to retire them from active politics forever,“ he said.

    The event was attended by Alhaji Garba Sani, BOS Diaspora coordinator, Nigerians from the country`s six geo-political zones, including Dr Dapo Williams, Prof. Ali Alao, Mr Seun Baiyewu and Ibrahim Magaji among others

    NAN

  • 2019: We’re monitoring campaign closely – INEC

    …Expresses satisfaction so far

    ..Vow to arrest, prosecute perpetrator of Kwara violence

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has said that it is closely monitoring the ongoing campaign by various political parties and candidates ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The Campaign for the 2019 Presidential election officially commenced on Sunday 13 November 2018 as provided for by the Electoral Act.

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, made the disclosure Wednesday during the meeting of INEC management team with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from the 26 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Read Also:INEC Chair to Nigerians: we ‘ll conduct credible poll

    Yakubu in his opening remark said the commission was happy with the trend of the campaign, which has been on policies rather than personalities; hoping that the trend will continue that way.

    “The Commission is committed to closely monitoring the campaigns pursuant to our statutory mandate and to ensure compliance with the extant laws and regulations. We are pleased that the focus in the last few days since the commencement of the campaigns has been on policies rather than personalities. We sincerely hope it remains this way,” he said.

    The INEC boss who also used the opportunity to react to the Kwara state bye-election at the weekend, said vowed that the commission will arrest and prosecute those involved in the attack on its staff and destruction of electoral materials in the Kwara state at the weekend.

    Yakubu also said the commission will work with the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators.

    He said: “On a sad note, the Commission lost four (4) members of staff in Kogi State and one (1) in Edo State to road accidents last week. Similarly, two (2) of our staff survived road accidents in Katsina State during the bye-election last weekend and one (1) election duty staff suffered a head injury following attack by hoodlums who destroyed election materials at a polling unit in Kwara State.

    “We are deeply saddened by these incidents. While we pray for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives and wish the injured a speedy recovery, we will work with the security agencies to ensure the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the attack on our staff and vandalisation of election materials. ”

    Speaking on the window for political parties to substitute their candidates ahead of the 2019 elections, Yakubu said, “For Governorship and State Assembly elections, the submission of nomination forms closed on 2nd November 2018 while the last day for substitution and withdrawal of candidates is 1th December 2018.”

    He also reiterated that the Area Council elections in FCT will hold on March 2, 2019, along with the governorship and state Assembly elections.

    He also disclosed that the list of candidates for elections will be published in its Federal Capital Territory office and also at the six Area Councils on Wednesday, 21st November, 2018.

    Speaking on the meeting with RECs he said the meeting will provide opportunity for the electoral body to review the progress on collection of outstanding Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    He said, “At today’s meeting, we will also discuss with the RECs the progress made on the collection of outstanding Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) by citizens as well as new modalities for a more efficient administration of the collection process. Similarly, the meeting will consider the recruitment and training of election duty staff, discuss the on-going review of the framework for voting by Internally Displaced Persons (lDPs), explore additional assistive measures in support of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the electoral process, examine additional ways to safeguard the sanctity of the ballot against the menace of vote-buying at polling units, appraise issues relating to electoral logistics and generally assess facilities and preparations for the General Election. “

  • 2019: PDP accuses APC of unholy alliance with police

    ….PDP inciting public against police – APC

     

    The Bayelsa State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of unholy alliance with the police ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The state Chairman of PDP, Cleopas Moses, in a statement alleged that the leaders of the APC in the state turned the office of the Police Commissioner, Joseph Mukan, to their operational political base.

    But the APC in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Doifie Buokoribo, said the PDP was irresponsibly inciting the public against the police.

    Cleopas, described the office of the police chief as critical to security maintenance and the preservation of state stability, but lamented it had been tainted with political bias in Bayelsa.

    The PDP Chairman claimed that the conversion of the office of the Commissioner of Police to the security wing of the APC was the first manifestation of the political mission of the Joseph Mukan in Bayelsa.

    He said the opposition APC in its desperation for political control in the state started colluding with the police chief to weaken the security apparatus in the state for selfish political purposes.

    Cleopas asserted that the unholy alliance between the commissioner and the APC culminated in an upsurge of cultism in the state.

    He said that the action of the police boss was not unexpected as he was sent to the state to prosecute a dirty political assignment which he stressed would be resisted by the Bayelsa people.

    While acknowledging that the Inspector-General of Police has the right to deploy his men, Cleopas queried why Mukan was posted to head Bayelsa State Police Command for a record three times, if there was no ulterior motive.

    The PDP Chairman said that a police commissioner, whose posting was allegedly influenced by the APC and who identifies with the publicity apparatus of the party’ could not be trusted with the security of Bayelsa.

    He said: “We made it clear to Nigerians a few days ago that this particular police commissioner was posted to Bayelsa to intimidate PDP supporters to join APC, destabilize the security and stability of the state for political purposes ahead of the 2019 elections.

    “This unholy alliance, he stressed is fueling the upsurge of activities of cultists who are mainly APC members.

    “Since he was posted to Bayelsa State, his office has become an annex of the APC headquarters as members of the party have relocated to the command to plan how to destabilize the state by weakening its security.

    “Nigerians should Note that this particular CP has been transferred to Bayelsa State for the third time, and we as a party wonder why this particular CP out of the many in this country is the preferred commissioner for Bayelsa?

    “The last time he came he was accommodated by APC leaders in Abuja and Yenagoa, Former Governor Timipre Sylva and the Minister of State for Agriculture, Hen. Lokpobiri.”

    But the APC, however, condemned the PDP for a serial show of irrationality and fear since the recent posting of a new commissioner of Police to the state.

    Buokoribo said that PDP took its phobia to an alarming extent of now creating frightening scenarios and plotting “low level fiction” all in an attempt to incite the populace against the police.

    He described as indecent and reprehensible that a party in control of government and power in the state could be so frightened by a lawful routine security posting, with no evidence of infraction that it would begin to provoke unlawful behaviour among the population.

    He recalled that not long ago, under the Governor Seriake Dickson government, his personal friend and member of his party, PDP, was posted to the state as Commissioner of Police.

    The APC spokesman said despite apparent injustices, APC never resorted to PDP’s current attempt to provoke public anger against the police and cause anarchy.

    He accused the PDP of having something untoward up its sleeves and fearing that the new police commissioner would not condone such.

    He said: “As usual, the PDP has not provided any evidence to support this low level fiction. We consider it indecent, reprehensible and ungodly for a political party that is in control of government and power at the state to serially incite the populace against the police.

    “We are in a democracy, and the PDP must know that it has to respect all the institutions of law and order. The PDP cannot decide for the Inspector General of Police whom he should appoint as Police Commissioner in the state.

    “Except there is something they are not telling us, the PDP is not in a position to say it is only someone they can do business with that must be Police Commissioner in the state.

    “The PDP is taking its objection to the posting of the new Bayelsa State Police Commissioner, Joseph Mukan, beyond the red lines. It has become a joke taken too far.

    “The Bayelsa APC is a party of peace-loving people committed to democracy and the progress of Bayelsa State. Like President Muhammadu Buhari, we would like to take the state to the next level. We have nothing to gain in the event of a breakdown of law and order in the state.

    “We cannot help but wonder with alarm what unlawful acts the PDP plans to engage in this time, which they fear the new Police Commissioner, unlike their friend and party man, would not condone. To us, the new police commissioner is doing very well in the state.

    “Indeed, we commend him for reaching out to all the critical segments of society, especially the youth, in his attempt to rid the state of crime and criminality.

    “Similarly, we salute Police Commissioner Mukan for apprehending the suspected killers of Miss Seifa Fred. Fred, a first year student of Niger Delta University, was killed recently in Yenagoa. We call on the people of Bayelsa State to support and cooperate with Police Commissioner Mukan”.

  • 2019: S/South, S/East monarchs worried over security of communities

    With the 2019 general elections drawing closer daily, traditional rulers from the Southern part of Nigeria have deemed it fit to draw a road map for elections that would be free, fair and violence free.

    They also expressed concerns for the safety and security of lives of members of their community during the forthcoming election.

    Arising from  the second Consultation Meeting of National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) South-South, South East Chapter which held recently at the Best Western Homerville Hotel, Benin City, Edo State, the monarchs noted that if “the local community is saved, the whole Nigeria is saved.”

    Chairman of the Second Consultation Meeting of the Southern monarchs, HRH Edmund Daukoru, the Mingi XII Amanayanabo of Nembe Kingdom, said the meeting was convened to consider the security situation in the country particularly at a time when the elections are just round the corner.

    “This period is usually tensed and as traditional fathers, we felt we should get together and look at the matter from the grassroots point of view. Being that we have at many times look at it from the holistic national point of view but we felt that such brand of skills required quite some injection of money to get implemented.

    “So this time we changed the tactic and said we should look at it from a practical and local point of view because if our local community is saved, Nigeria is saved. So this is a complete departure from the past when we always focused on the problems from a very high level. But now we are talking about community security at the local government level, at the level of our respective kingdoms and the senatorial districts that is where our concerns rest now,” he said.

    Riding on the theme, “Ensuring a Violence-free 2019 General Elections in Our Zones and Kingdoms: The Role of Traditional Rulers”, he said, “We have made sure that the recommendations we arrived at this meeting does not require much money but require something that we as traditional rulers do every day and can implement by just applying a bit of more of our own time. But close to elections, we need to rededicate ourselves to what we already have been doing and draw up a sort of check list by engaging with local authorities and stakeholders.”

    “Elections exaggerate already exiting problems and tensions in our community, so we have to address those flash points and those cannot be immediately solved, at least stakeholders must have an understanding. And from the screening to primaries to the actual campaign strings and then the election day itself, we should ensure that we have secured places in our communities where voting materials and ballot boxes can be stored, and again, we should consider the means of the day,” he added.

    HRH (Dr) Appolus Chu, the Ebere Emere Okori, Eleme of Eleme Kingdom, Rivers State; HRH (Dr) Appolus Chu, (event sponsor) said the meeting was a platform where the traditional rulers from the South-south and South East part of Nigeria will come together and speak with one voice on the policies that would be made in the interest of the nation.

    “For today’s consultation, the main issue will be looking at ways of ensuring a violence-free 2019 general elections. Aside that, we are going to look at other areas of common interest and grounds where the traditional rulers from the Southern part of Nigeria would come together and rub minds.

    “We have touched the area of violence free election which is the theme of this meeting and we have touched other areas of collaborations amongst our various communities. The whole essence is to ensure that traditional rulers rise up to their responsibilities to ensure that things go the right way during the forthcoming general elections,” Chu said.

    He called on government and other stakeholders to provide conducive environment for people to vote during the elections and also calling on individuals in their various communities to conduct themselves properly during the voting process.

     

  • Risky to return power to PDP, Buhari should continue – Presidency

    President Muhammadu Buhari should be allowed to complete the good work he started and would be “too risky and dangerous” for power to return to the Peoples Democratic Power (PDP) in 2019.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, said at an event organised by Buhari Media Organisation in commencement of campaigns for the Feb. 16, 2019 Presidential Election.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Jan. 9 released the timetable and schedules of activities for the 2019 general elections.

    According to him, the PDP has not shown remorse for what they had done and had not admitted their mistakes and has not taken steps to address those mistakes.

    “They want to compound matters for Nigeria. It is too dangerous and risky for power to return to PDP,” Garba said.

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari would win “clean and square” on the basis of the record that the administration had achieved.

    “In 2015, we ran on the basis of promises, majorly insecurity, anti-corruption and repositioning of the economy on all of these three counts, he has achieved 90 per cent.

    “The time has come that we are going to unfold to the nation, all achievements and Nigerians will not make the mistake of taking us back to where we were in 2015.

    “This election is going to be a tough one but Buhari is going to win.

    “Don’t mind the noise, don’t mind all the propaganda. Buhari will come back. He has done it before, he is doing it now. He is going to do it for the country again,” he said.

    The spokesman added that the president was rebuilding the country saying this was not a time to change a president.

    “He must be allowed to complete the good work he had started.

    “Whatever they say, he has minimally 12 to 14 million votes coming from masses in elections. This is not going to change in 2019.

    “This election will be a work-over for him,” he said.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi said 2019 would be about “truth and falsehood, reality and illusions.”

    “For me, these two choices are not difficult to choose from. Obviously, we know where we are coming from.

    “We are coming from a period in time which people just did anything they wanted to.

    “Today, we are having a different government under our President who is definitely taking things the way they should be.

    “We had a very serious infrastructural deficit and because of that our productivity is extremely low.

    “The most sensible thing for anybody to do and which this government is doing creditably is to focus on infrastructure,” Abdullahi said.

    On her part, the National Coordinator for Women for Buhari and Osinbajo, Fatima Adams said women must support the president for continuity.

    “Women must mobilise for President Buhari for the future of our children,” she added.

    Earlier, Chairman, Buhari Media Organisation, Mr Niyi Akinsiju said Buhari had built a new foundation for governance with the change mantra. (NAN)

  • 2019 : Delta Council boss sues for peaceful electioneering

    Mr Michael Tidi, Chairman, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta has urged the electorate to maintain peace and decorum in the forthcoming electioneering for the 2019 general elections.

    Speaking with newsmen in Warri on Thursday, Tidi said there was no need for violence.

    He called for cooperation and friendship during electioneering.

    “From November 18, I believe the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will lift ban on campaigns and so many persons will be involved in the electioneering process.

    “Therefore, we should go about politicking with decorum; after all we are brothers and sisters at the end of the day,’’ Tidi said.

    The council boss also advised youths in his domain to eschew violence and other criminal acts that could lead to breakdown of law and order throughout the yuletide and beyond.

    He said that the thought of get-rich quick syndrome should be out of their minds and admonished them on legitimate means of livelihood.

    Read Also: Delta APC suit: Court adjourn yet again until December 5th

    Tidi, who assumed duty in January, said that he would continue to provide the dividends of democracy to the people and urged them to remit their levies promptly.

    “In the yuletide period and beyond, we should eschew violence and any act that will lead to break down of law and order in Warri South.

    “The get-rich quick syndrome should be deleted from our minds so that at the end of the day, everybody will be happy, ‘’ he said.

    Tidi said his administration had introduced the use of scratch cards to facilitate the collection of levies and also ensure transparency and accountability in the processes.

    “We are blocking loopholes. Before now some money ended up in the hands of individuals and tax agents.

    “With the scratch cards, people now pay their levies to our designated banks, bring the card to the council for proper capturing.

    “This method has helped us in policy formulation, implementation and project execution because priority is given to areas where revenue is paid in the course of our responsibility as a government,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Buhari lists conditions for restructuring

    …Why Nigerians in diaspora won’t vote in 2019

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday gave conditions to be fulfilled before the government can go into restructuring of the country.

    He pointed out that there should be proper definition of what Nigerians want before the government can delve into restructuring the country.

    The President also noted that many Nigerians who have been calling for restructuring have been doing so without defining what the restructuring should be.

    Read Also:Jail terms no longer deterrence for illicit financial flow, says Buhari

    Buhari, who spoke during the interactive session with Nigerians living in France, was in the country for the Peace Forum attended by about 70 world leaders in Paris.

    The Nigerian community, which was made up of Nigerian Diaspora Organization (NIDO), All Progressives Congress (APC) members in France, students and friends of Nigeria, asked the President questions ranging from restructuring, security, anti-corruption, education and opportunity for Nigerians in diaspora to vote in 2019 general elections.

    The President said; “There are too many people talking lazily about restructuring in Nigeria. Unfortunately, people are not asking them individually what do they mean by restructuring? What form do they want restructuring to take?

    “Do they want us to have something like the three regions we used to have? And now we have 36 states and the FCT. What form do they want? They are just talking loosely about restructuring.

    “Let them define it and then we see how we can peacefully do it in the interest of Nigerians.

    “They are just saying they want Nigeria restructured and they don’t have the clue of what the form the restructuring should be.

    “So, anybody who talks to you about restructuring in Nigeria, ask him what he means and the form he wants it to take,” he stated.

    He also gave reasons why Nigerians in diaspora might not vote in the 2019 general elections.

    According to him, it will be very difficult for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to put in place structures to accommodate them with just about three months to the 2019 elections.

    Noting that the increasing Nigeria population in the diaspora supports the calls for their participation in electing Nigeria leaders, he said that it might not happen in the 2019 general elections as INEC had been more focused on strengthening and consolidating on its achievements to conduct credible elections within the country.

    But he said that Nigerians in diaspora would definitely participate in future elections.

    Buhari said “We want to secure the Nigeria votes first before we go foreign. We are going to strengthen the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be more independent and viable ….  so that they can recruit more committed and educated Nigerians to be in charge and use technologies to get the votes from all the constituencies.

    “So, with the way the economy is now, I think with the elections in three months’ time, it will be very difficult for INEC and the government to organize quality survey of those that are outside,” he said.

    Responding to the question on education in Nigeria, the President said that his administration is doing its best to invest more in infrastructures, education and other sectors.

    The Nigerian elites, he said, disappointed Nigeria and the Nigerian masses under the sixteen years administrations of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    According to him, so much waste has gone down the drain from the huge resources earned in during the PDP administrations in the country between 1999 and 2015.

    He said that there was nothing to show for the earnings including the $16 billion said to have been spent on power.

    He urged Nigerian elites, both at home and diaspora, to do more in contributing to the educational sector of the country, expressing surprise that the elites tolerated the fall in standards and structures of educational institutions despite the huge oil earnings.

    He said; “So, really I have seen it all and I was disappointed in the Nigerian elites. What have they done in these sixteen years?”

    “What do we have with our oil production down to half a million and the price per barrel went down to about $30, what could we have done with the infrastructure?

    “You should find out the damage done by the main opposition now to the economy and the integrity of the country.

    “So, we are now trying to improve infrastructures and do more in education and other areas.

    “We are currently reviewing investments in the entire infrastructure of the country like road, rail and power, including investing more in education. We will certainly need to do more in education,’’ he said.

    He added “I am doing my best now to utilize our resources to develop the country. We are already getting results on road, rail and power. My frustration is that some people still have plenty stolen money stashed in Europe, U S and other countries.’’

    According to him, return of stolen assets in some safe heavens will bolster the administration’s current effort of investing more in critical infrastructure that directly impact on the livelihood of Nigerians.

    He said that the war against terrorism will be reinforced with new weapons and hardware for the military

    The challenge of abduction and kidnapping in some parts of the country, he said, will receive more attention with better gathering of intelligence.

    According to him, God and technology in form of card readers and Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) won the Presidential elections for him in 2015 despite not succeeding in three earlier times.

    “We campaigned on three key issues; security, improving the economy, and fighting corruption, and we have not been controverted by anyone that we have not recorded some results,’’ he said.

    Speaking earlier, the Nigerian Ambassador to France, Dr. Modupe Irele, said that the Nigerian community in France had demonstrated high sense of responsibility, dedication and morality.

    According to her, the large number of professionals had been encouraged to also contribute to the country’s development.

    “Nigerians here are law abiding, peaceful and resourceful,’’ she said.

    President Buhari’s commitment to change, she noted, will make Nigeria the envy of other African countries.

    Speaking to journalists at the end of the interactive session, Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, said that it was very important for President Buhari to attend the Peace Forum in Paris.

    He said “President Muhammadu Buhari has been preaching for peace, especially when he came on board, he met our country religiously and ethnically divided.

    “I think it is important that he meets with other world leaders to discuss how peace can be promoted among the nations and various people of the world.

    “There is no way you can promote peace where there is massive corruption. Massive corruption deprives people of development, and if there is no development, there won’t be any peace.” he said

    Willy Obiano of Anambra State said that it is important for Nigeria to be emphasizing peace.

    In the education sector, he said that the state has invested a lot of money into the sector in the last four years.

    He said “We revamped 1482 primary and secondary schools. We have sent our teachers to Singapore and Germany for training.

    “More importantly, what my administration has done in Anambra State with respect to education is to reach the … end of Anambra State.” he said

    House of Reps member, Nasir Ali Ahmed, representing Nasarawa Federal constituency of Kano State, said that the interactive session was a very successful meeting.

    He hoped that a lot of the Nigerians living in France will come back home to contribute their quota to Nigeria’s development.

    Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, a Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs, recently nominated Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Diaspora Commission, who facilitated the meeting, said that a lot of Nigerians living in France are already doing many things at home for the economy.

    “So, we will continue to engage with them and continue to stress the positivity about our country, Nigeria,” she said

    Stressing that there are some Nigerians in prisons in France, she said that Nigerians are being encouraged to obey the laws of the land wherever they go.

    She also pointed out that the new commission is not a charity organization, but aims to tap into the enormous resources of Nigerians in the diaspora.

  • 56 political parties ready for 2019 general elections – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 56 political parties out of the 91 registered parties in the country are set to participate in the 2019 general elections.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in charge of Rivers, Mr Obo Effanga, said this during a media briefing on Friday in Port Harcourt.

    He said that INEC was interested in all the 91 registered political parties, adding that the commission would only deal with political parties that registered for the election in 2019.

    The REC assured Rivers people that the commission was ready to ensure free, fair and credible elections in 2019, stressing that “we assure you that on the day of the elections, every material needed for the elections would be ready to ensure free, fair and credible process.”

    Effanga noted that the Card Readers would be used for the 2019 general elections.

    He pointed out that any voter who was not accredited by the Card Reader would not cast his or her vote.

    He explained that provisions would be made if the Card Reader developed any hitch in the process.

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    He, therefore, called on community leaders to advise their youths against disrupting the elections, emphasising that any community that could not advise its youths to be of good conduct, INEC would not conduct elections there.

    The REC urged stakeholders to play their part properly, saying that security agencies, the political class, among others, should ensure that the 2019 general elections were successful.

    He stressed that any politician who would have objections of any kind concerning the 2019 general elections should go to court to seek redress.

    He called on the electorate to pick up their Permanent Voter Cards at their areas of registration to enable them to exercise their franchise on the day of the election.