The Nation Newspaper

Tag: peaceful poll

  • NGO, religious leaders seek peaceful poll

    A non-governmental-organisation (NGO), Strength in Diversity Development Center (SDDC) and some religious leaders have urged politicians to ensure peace reigns during tomorrow’s and March 2nd general elections.

    They made the submission at inter-religious and inter-denominational prayers for peaceful election.

    SDDC, in a communiqué signed by its Executive Director, Imam Shefiu Abdulkareem, said a national week of prayers and rally were held between February 8th  and 10th.

    The resolutions including reduction of hate speeches by educating the people to understand its consequences and urging religious leaders to desist from the act of hate speech.

    SDDC also bemoaned the act of vote buying, which it said has denied Nigerians from enjoying the good governance.

    “There must be penalty for such act (both the seller and buyer). The punishment must be enforced as well,” the group said.

    The Sarkin Fulani of Lagos, Alhaji Muhammed Bambado, at the conference, urged religious leaders to use their influence by calling on politicians within their domains to show commitment in preventing electoral violence.

    “Beyond ensuring peace, it has also become imperative for leaders to enlighten their subject and followers and encourage them to ask questions and seek clarification before going out to vote,” he said.

    The Chief Missioner of Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Ahmad, said fake news and hate speech are worrisome trend that has bedevilled Nigeria, noting that fighting it has become a matter of urgency.

    He urged religious leaders to desist from circulating fake news and hate speech in their sermon.

    He said: “We are the one suffering the threat of social media not the owner, It is better we act now by exploring common humanity and not emphasising on parochial interest”.

    Bishop Mathew Daniels said vote buying creates a big distortion and hindrance to the democratic idea of a free and fair election that ensures that the electorates elect the leaders they deem fit to rule them.

     

     

  • Ekiti 2018: Bejide, others seek prayers for peaceful poll

    Three governorship aspirants in Ekiti State – Ambassador Dare Bejide, Senator Ayo Arise and Mr. Kola Alabi – have urged the residents not to lose hope, despite the trying times the nation is going through.

    In their separate Christmas messages yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, they prayed for a peaceful governorship poll in the state next year.

    Bejide, who is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, urged Nigerians to use the Christmas and New Year period to pray for a better Nigeria and Ekiti State.

    He urged the people to embrace peace, love and unity, which he described as attributes of Jesus Christ, whose birthday was being celebrated.

    In a statement yesterday by the Director General of his campaign organisation, Mr. Toba Adaramola, Alabi noted that Ekiti people deserved better, more progressive and development-oriented leadership than what it is getting.

    He urged them to vote for a credible candidate in the All Progressives Congress (APC) “so that we can bring a more fruitful change to all facets of our people’s lives”.

    Arise said prayer is the only tool “that can reinvent the new Nigeria that we all crave, as the country is in serious need of prayers, most especially for those at the helm of affairs”.

    Arise urged Ekiti workers to continue in their persevering spirit, assuring them that the arrival of a new government would give them deserved packages.

     

  • CNPP calls for peaceful poll

    CNPP calls for peaceful poll

    The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) yesterday urged stakeholders in tomorrow’s Rivers State rerun to be peaceful.

    The coalition of the nation’s opposition parties said it was “against the inciting statements from Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers State, as quoted below”.

    ‘Fake materials were printed here. The people were arrested. INEC has done nothing to facilitate prosecution of those persons. It has kept quiet and allowed the police to sweep the issue under the carpet.’

    A statement by its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Wale Okunniyi, said: “CNPP is worried by the inflammatory statements emanating, especially from Governor Wike, boggling our minds with memory of the numerous casualties and victims before, during and after the 2015 general election, in particular the death of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, an orphan, Samuel Okonta, on Election Duty in Ahoada Local Government.

    “We sadly recall that it was the intensity of the electoral violence in 2015, which made INEC to summarily suspend the exercise midway in eight of the 23 local governments in Rivers State, including Eleme, Gokana, Bonny and Khana.

    “Our worry is anchored on the fact that security agencies in that instance allowed hoodlums and well armed political thugs to dictate proceedings. Till date, nobody has been sentenced for killing Okonta. This is to us a shameful assault on democracy.

    “On Governor Wike’s allegation and police affirmation that indeed his Chief Security Officer, DSP Promise Nwosu, was withdrawn, we implore the inspector-general of Police (IGP) to replace him with the security commensurate to Wike’s office.”

  • Southsouth women seek peaceful poll

    Southsouth women, under the aegis of the Concerned Women from the Southsouth, have urged Bayelsa State electorate to ensure peace before, during and after the December 5 governorship election.

    They hailed the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, for displaying maturity.

    The women praised the non-violent approach of the governorship candidates, especially Sylva and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Seriake Dickson.

    The Concerned Women, comprising politicians and community leaders from the Southsouth, yesterday issued a communiqué at the end of their meeting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    They said women should always be given a pride of place in Nigeria.

    The communiqué was signed by Dame Maureen Tamuno, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, Esther Etuk, Victoria Nyeche, Mrs. Irene Inimgba, Alice Ekpenyong and seven others.

    The communiqué reads: “The meeting calls for a peaceful election in Bayelsa State and commends the non-violent approach of the candidates. It, however, notes with concern the attack on APC’s candidate (Sylva) and his followers during the Operation Clean-up Bayelsa Initiative.

    “The meeting especially commends Chief Timipre Sylva for his maturity and peaceful disposition to the conduct of his campaigns.

    “The meeting rose with a resolve to steadfastly promote the advancement of women in every sphere and encourage the inclusion of more women in decision-making as no nation can make progress without the involvement of more than half of its population.”

    The Concerned Women expressed delight on the victory of APC’s governorship candidate in Taraba State and minister-designate, Senator Aisha Alhassan, at the election petitions tribunal.

    Alhassan, according to the women, would be the first elected woman governor in Nigeria, despite the decision of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku to appeal the judgment.

    The women hailed Alhassan for her tenacity and doggedness in the face of daunting challenges.

    They urged her to continue to be a beacon of hope for Nigerian women.

     

  • How peaceful poll saved $3.5b Total oil project

    How peaceful poll saved $3.5b Total oil project

    THE peaceful presidential election saved the country from losing the $3.5bilion Total’s Egina field’s floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) project,Managing Director, LADOL Integrated Logistics Enterprise, Dr Amy Jadesimi, has said.

    Ms Jadesinmi, who spoke to reporters in Lagos, said the country would have lost the investment if the election was marred by violence.

    She said there was apprehension before and during the election, adding that the development made people to conclude that the country was heading for crisis which would have had strong implications on the socio-economic activities.

    Ms Jadesimi, during a tour of the company’s facility, said the multi- billion dollar oil and gas investment in LADOL Free Trade Zone (FTZ), Apapa, Lagos would have gone down the drain if politicians had refused to exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship.

    She said: “The outcome of the election was favourable. There was a peaceful atmosphere in the country. Hard it been the country is in turmoil, the Egina FPSO project would have suffered. Also, the benefits that are being expected from the project by stakeholders would not be realised.

    “The Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL) is targeting 50,000 direct and indirect jobs from the project. This goal would not be realised if there is crisis in the country.

    “The whole world focused attention on Nigeria because of the election. The perception of Nigeria by the international  communities was high. The developed nations were expecting much from Nigeria in the area of conducting a peaceful election, due to its role in Africa. We thank  God there was no pre- and post- election violence that could have affected the ongoing oil and gas project in LADOL.”

    Ms Jadesimi said some activities on the project could not hold due to the political fever that gripped during the election. She said the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to accept defeat before the announcement of the final result of the election saved Nigeria from political violence that would have affected businesses. “Though I’m not a politician and do not belong to any political group, the clement political weather arising from the election, has helped in facilitating the growth of the project,” she said.

    She urged stakeholders to continue to support the project to enable it realise its goal of serving the needs of local and international oil firms, adding that the potential in the free trade zones are massive, and require the support of operators in the oil and gas, maritime and others to promote economic growth.

    Ms Jadesinmi said the growth of the oil and gas industry is tied to  nation’s security, urging the government to make the operating environment more conducive for oil operators.

    The cost of the FPSO, which was initially $3.2 billion was increased by $300million, following a lengthy legal tussle on the issue.

     

  • Muslims seek peaceful poll

    Over 5000 Muslims across Lagos and its environs are expected to converge on the Blue Roof, Lagos Television (LTV), Ikeja, Lagos for a special prayer for peaceful elections this year.

    The prayer session, put together by the Joint Muslim Forum (JMF) under the auspices of the Muslim Community of Lagos State, will hold on Sunday.

    A statement by the Chairman, Steering Committee of the group, Alhaji Thabit Wale Sonaike, said the Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Garuba Akinola Ibrahim, would lead the prayer session.

    Vice-President, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Senator Hassan Fasinro, will deliver the welcome address, while NSCIA Secretary-General, Prof Ishaq Oloyede and former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Alhaja Lateefah Okunnu, will give keynote address.

    Prayers will be led by the National Missioner Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad, while NASFAT Chief Missioner, Sheikh Abdullai Akinbode; Chief Missioner, Al-Fatiu Quareeb Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Sulaiman Adangba and AbdulHakeem Awwal of Ikhwan Muslimun Society of Nigeria will take turns for special prayers.

  • Ex-police commissioner seeks peaceful poll in Ekiti

    A former Commissioner of Police in Plateau State, Mr Dipo Ayeni, has called for a peaceful poll in Ekiti State on June 21. Ayeni, who is the Special Adviser to Governor Kayode Fayemi on Security, said the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate is dedicated to the cause of transparent and credible poll.

    The retired police commissioner, who spoke in Akure, Ondo State capital,   said efforts are being made to make the state conducive for a freee and fair elections, urging the stakeholders to cooperate with security agencies.

    He also urged the youths to shun violence, saying that it is an ill-wind that does not blow anybody any good.

    Ayemi said that a level playing ground would be provided for the candidates. He warned against any act of violence and brigande, vowing to hand over culprits to security agents.

    Ayeni lamented that Ekiti, which has been peaceful in the last three and half years, is being heated up by ”do-or-die politicians.”

    He said: ”Throughout the campaign tours of Fayemi across the state,I never witnessed any violence. But, we know those who wanted the election to be acrimonious and we are appealing to all security apparatus to curtail their excesses. Fayemi is a peaceful person. He has been preaching peace. His campaigns have been issue-based, particularly on how to further provide dividends of democracy to the people.”

    The former police chief pointed out that sovereignity belongs to the people and not by a fierce battle for power by all means and at all costs. he said that on June 21, electoral manipulation will be resisted in Ekiti State.

    Ayeni urged the stakeholders to fight fraudulent election processes in the interest of democracy.

    He highlighted the achievements of Governor Fayemi, pointing out that he has made impact in the areas of infrastructural development, social security, qualitative education and and healthcare.

    Ayeni, who congratulated Ekiti State for having an intellectual in power, described Fayemi as a highly cerebral and passionate leader who has passion for development.

    He said: ”I don’t use to praise sing. I am not playing to the gallery. It is what I have seen. Fayemi has encouraged democratic governance and provided excellent, purposeful and focused leadership.”

    Urging the people to vote for Fayemi to guarantee the continuity of good governance, he said that,  inspite of Ekiti’s ranking as the 35th state, in terms of the allocation from the Federation Account, the governor successfully imple-mented his eight-point agenda.

    He added: “Fayemi deserves to be re-elected for continuity in prudence, decent and responsive governance”.