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  • Buhari in Kano: I’ll continue to fulfil my promises

    THE Sani Abacha Stadium in the heart of the commercial nerve centre of the ancient city of Kano, Kano State, yesterday witnessed an unprecedented turnout of residents and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Supporters of the party from the 44 Local Government Areas of the state converged on the stadium, as the campaign train of President Muhammadu Buahari berthed in the state ahead of the February 16 presidential poll.

    President Buhari, who arrived at the stadium at about 3.55pm, said he would continue to work relentlessly to make Nigeria a great and peaceful country if given a freh mandate to serve.

    Buhari, who was all smiles as party leaders took turns to address the crowd, said: “With the demonstration (massive turnout) witnessed here, I will tell you that I will continue to fulfill the promises I made to you in 2015, which bordered on security, corruption and economy.

    “We have promised Nigerians three major issues concerning our survival as a nation. They are  fight against corruption, security and economic revitalisation.

    “In these areas, I will like to boldly say that we have delivered our promises to the electorate, he said, adding: “If you like you can asked those that came from the Northeast since they use to come to Kano to do business, most them have since returned to their houses and we see that as a significant development.

    “I want to remind you that the promise I made to you Nigerians  to enhance security has been fulfilled and you can confirm this from the people of the Northeast, since you people have business relations and they will confirm to you that they have returned to their homes. This shows that we have achieved security as promised.

    “On the side of development, we have had two successful rainy seasons during which the government provided fertiliser at subsidised rates to farmers in the country, during which we had a bumper harvest.

    “We have banned the importation of rice to enhance local production because as a country we have the capacity to feed ourselves and that is a great achievement.

    “We want to assure you that we made a promise that we will never fail you. The truth of the matter is that I have been a governor, minister of Petroleum, I have been a Head of State and now a politician.

    “There is nothing I want to achieve beyond ensuring that our Nigeria becomes a peaceful and economically developing country. I therefore call on you on election day to vote for us and we assure you of victory and because of that we are going to the next level.”

    The President said a lot had been done to make Nigeria stand on its feet agriculturally. He said: “It is a thing of pride that today Nigeria is cultivating rice to feed itself locally. We have subsidised the price of fertiliser for our farmers who embarked on mass production of food to sustain growth and development throughout the country.”

    On the economy, Buhari said that the government, under his watch, had done a lot in blocking leakages and introducing the Single Treasury Account policy to put the resources in one basket.

    Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje told the crowd that Kano State remains President Buhari’s stronghold and that “Kano politics is about him and him alone”.

    The governor said the President had done a lot in the state, citing, the Lagos- Kaduna-Kano rail being constructed as an example.

    “When he came to Kano, we asked him to construct Kano -Kaduna-Suleja road. And, as you can see, work has since reached advanced stage,” Dr. Ganduje said

    He said that the state government will soon invite the President to inaugurate some projects.

    The governor called on the electorate to come out en masse and vote for President Buhari on February 16, to keep the promise of giving him five million votes.

    APC Presidential Campaign Council’s Director-General Rotimi Amechi carpeted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential running mate Peter Obi for not being truthful during the television programme “The Candidate”.

    He said the former Anambra State governor fed Nigerians with lies by saying that they completed payment for the various railway projects embarked upon by past administrations.

    According to Amaechi, the Federal Government borrowed money for the completion of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    The highpoint of the rally was the presentation of flags by the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole to Ganduje as the governorship candidate. The senatorial and House of Representatives candidates also got the APC’s flags.

     

  • Why we want Buhari to continue beyond 2019, by Kogi Governor

    Why we want Buhari to continue beyond 2019, by Kogi Governor

    Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has pleaded with Nigerians to re-elect President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, saying his re-election is in “the best interest of Nigerians”.

    The governor, who spoke through a statement by his Director General on Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, said the country is witnessing progress under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.

    According to him, it is taking a lot of efforts to “rescue the country from the deep pit of economic mess” which previous administrations put it.

    The statement reads: “We were here during the previous administration, and we saw what our country went through. Revelations in courts and from anti-graft agencies have shown us how bad the country was exposed to economic woes.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari came and has continued to do his best to sanitise the country and relaunch it on the map of international reckoning.

    “It takes more time to rebuild than to destroy. For our President to have achieved this much is magical and laudable. In the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians, President Buhari should continue to lead our country beyond 2019”.

    Governor Bello said those opposed to Buhari’s re-election were only “exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression”.

    According to him, they are not “necessarily speaking the minds of millions of Nigerians who were at the receiving end of bad governance, corruption and terrorism before the rescue mission of President Muhammadu Buhari”.

    He added: “Anybody is free to form associations to pursue interests, provided the associations are not injurious to the laws of the land. Anyone is free to air his or her views; that remains one of the beautiful gains of our Government of Change.

    “In the recent past, airing such views, even within the space of our democratic dispensation, was considered an affront on the country. Today, fundamental rights are freely exercised.

    “However, Nigerians have continued to show their solidarity with the President. He will easily win again in 2019”.

    Bello called for prayers for Nigeria to continue to live in peace and harmony.

     

     

  • ‘Uncommon transformation ‘ll continue in Akwa Ibom’

    ‘Uncommon transformation ‘ll continue in Akwa Ibom’

    The Akwa Ibom Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has promised to continue with the uncommon transformation agenda of Governor Godswill Akpabio.

    Emmanuel, who spoke at Ikot Ekpene Stadium, Ikot-Ekpene, also promised to provide jobs for youths to enable them earn a living.

    He promised to empower women and widows, if elected as the governor.

    Akpabio, who urged the people to support Emmanuel, said: “As a PDP state, we won’t allow propaganda to come into our state through opposition parties.  Marginalisation has been ruled out from Akwa Ibom State. Indeed, the PDP has brought transformation to our state and our country through industrialization. So,  PDP is owned by all of you and not by an individual”.

    The governor said he was impressed by the massive turn out at the rally, urging them to sustain the tempo.

    He urged the people to supprt President Goodluck Jonathan for second term, assuring that he will protect their interest.

    Earlier, Akpabio had paid homage to the paramount ruler of Ikot Ekpene, Edidem Okuku Augustus Assiak at his residence and presented  Emmanuel to him as the candidate.

    The PDP Chairman, Mr. Paul Ekpo, who presented flags to the parliamentary candidates, assured that Ikot Ekpene would vote for the PDP at the polls.

    In their goodwill messages, stakeholders in Ikot Ekpene reaffirmed their support for President Jonathan’s bid for a second term.

    They also promised to elect Akpabio as a senator, saying that he has performed as the governor.

  • Akwa Utd continue victory run

    Akwa Utd continue victory run

    kwa united who have been impressive in this year’s Federation Cup scored another plus Wednesday, handing hard fighting Warri Wolves a lone goal defeat in a replayed league match. Incidentally both teams will again square up in the semi finals of the Federation cup just as Enyimba takes on Lobi Stars.

    Wednesday’s victory has been described as an indication of the Uyo based side determination to make it to the final of the FA cup.

    The result takes Akwa United to the 14th position on the league table with 30 points, even as Wolves still maintain their position above with 37 points.

    Soccer fans who reacted shortly after Wednesday’s tie, however said Akwa may not find it easy replicating the feat against Wolves in the FA Cup semis. They insist that the approach will be a different ball game.

    Former international Henry Nwosu had recently predicted that the Uyo side will hit the final of the FA Cup.

  • I’ll continue to do good, says Obasanjo

    I’ll continue to do good, says Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has pledged to continue doing good as long as he has the capacity to do so.

    Obasanjo in an interview monitored on Arise Television, urged the international community to mobilise funds to help the international coalition forces in Mali, affirming that the intervention was launched for the benefit of the global community.

    The interview was recorded in London when the former president arrived for the launch of the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation scheduled for tomorrow.

    Speaking on when he would retire from the international stage, the former president said:

    “There is no retirement in doing good in life and so long as you have breadth you should continue to do good.”

    He commended the international coalition forces in Mali, saying the Malian troops must be bolstered through increased training to be able to handle the critical situation.

    “The point is that if we have a situation anywhere in the world that affects the whole world, the world must be able to raise the needed money in order to deal with the situation,” adding: “if the will is there, it would be done.”

    The former president said his efforts which were also being channeled through his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, were in the line of American presidents who set up presidential libraries after leaving office.

     

  • ‘We ‘ll continue to serve Oyo people diligently’

    Wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, has said the current administration will continue to serve the interest of the residents of the state.

    She stated this while declaring open a one- day workshop organised for workers in her office at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Ibadan.

    Ajimobi’s wife noted that it was a privilege to be appointed to serve in public office, adding that the opportunity should be taken seriously.

    On the purpose of the workshop, she said it was necessary to increase the capacity of those working with her, in order to enhance effective service delivery.

    According to her, “It behoves us that we should serve the people of Oyo State to the best of our abilities during the length of the life of the administration. You must be very accommodating, because attitude for me is important to service delivery, ensure you tolerate everyone around you and be nice to people,

    “We should all persevere in the face of every obstacle and hostility to do our best in the positions that we have found ourselves. If we do this, we will come away with a clear conscience at the conclusion of our assignment. There is a wind of change blowing in Oyo State and I want the wind to reflect in my office, because I cannot work alone.,” she said.

    The workshop was organised for both civil servants and appointees in Mrs Ajimobi’s office which has been supporting the transformation, repositioning and restoration agenda of the Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led administration.

    One of the resource persons at the training, Mr Idris Busari while thanking her excellency for organising the workshop, said the training wouldl enable the workers perform better in 2013, adding that it was coming at an appropriate time to meet a diligent service in line with the transformation agenda of the governor.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Why poor telecom service will continue, by MTN

    Drop calls and general poor reception on mobile telephone will continue for a while, MTN Nigeria, the nation’s biggest telecom company said yesterday.

    The MTN said its ambitious expansion work – for which the substantial part of its $1.3billion capital expenditure for this year has gone into – has been stalled by the massive flooding and general insecurity in the country.

    MTN Corporate Service officials Akinwale Goodluck and Funmi Omogbenigun yesterday appealed for understanding from its subscribers.

    They described the network modernisation and swap-out exercise being carried out as important so as to replace obsolete equipment with modern ones.

    The MTN has the largest customer here in Nigeria with 43 million subscribers.

    Goodluck said: “We regret, however, that the pace of work has been considerably challenged by the spate of insecurity coupled with the unprecedented flooding being experienced in many parts of the country,” he said.

    He added that the network optimisation programme will affect over 4,000 base stations out of its over 10, 000 across the country.

    According to Goodluck, ‘The task that we are undertaking is tantamount to building a new network .We are seeking to replicate what we achieved over a six-year period in nine months,” he said, lamenting that in several communities, the base transmission stations (BTS) of the firm were submerged, a development that will inevitably affect service qaulity in the affected areas as subscribers across the network will find making and receiving calls difficult.

    “Several swap-outs have reached very advanced stages of completion. The entire network modernisation process is a very logistic-intensive one and the problem of insecurity has seriously affected the pace of work in some parts of the country,” he added.

    According to him, insecurity has compounded the problem in at least 13 states, lamenting that flooding has created additional logistic impediments such that the pace of the ongoing network modernisation efforts has slowed down.

    Acknowledging the fact that the telco’s customers have been experiencing some disruption over the last few weeks, he thanked them for their patience. “We sincerely express our thanks to our customers for their patience. We sincerely appreciate the enthusiastic support which our engineering teams continue to receive from different communities in many parts of the country,” Goodluck said, adding that such support is often a much-needed tonic in the face of the enormous logistic-challenges the project regularly encounters. He pledged that MTN would stick to its original plan of carrying out the network procedures only at night, in order to minimise disruptions to services and assured that MTN is doing everything possible, including doubling its work teams, to complete the project as quickly as possible.

    “MTN’s current network modernisation and swap-out exercise which began in July is expected to cover the entire country and was originally expected to span a period of nine months. Its objectives are to considerably enhance capacity on the MTN Network and improve service quality. Under the project, which is being implemented by a combined team of MTN engineers and technical partners that include Ericsson, Huawei and ZTE, key network components are being swapped with the latest upgrades in the industry. In addition, current power systems are being replaced with hybrid power systems which are more environment-friendly.

    “It’s a massive investment we are making to boost not only the quality of telephone services, but also to enhance the back-end information and communication technology support which we provide for banking and financial services, the oil industry and several other industries across Nigeria,” he said.