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Tag: re-election

  • EU congratulates Buhari on re-election

    The European Union has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his recent re-election and expressed willingness to work with his government.

    The EU in a March 22, 2019 letter jointly signed by  Donald Tusk for the European Council and  Jean-Claude Juncker for the European Commission, said: “On behalf of the European Union, we would like to congratulate you on your   re-election as the President of Nigeria.

    “We look forward to your leadership in strengthening democracy and uniting the country in line with the principles and spirit of the 2019 Abuja Peace Accord, and the EU is willing to work with your government to follow up on the recommendations of our Election Observation Mission.”

    The European Union also reiterated Nigeria’s important position in world affairs and the Union especially.

    “What happens in Nigeria matters to the rest of the world, including to Europe. Your commitment to an inclusive government offers an opportunity to take Nigeria forward in a way that meets your objectives of strengthening the economy, fighting corruption and improving security.

    “The European Union has always partnered with Nigeria and its people. We look forward to continued and increased cooperation on bilateral and international matters,” the statement said.

    The Union wished President Buhari   more success in promoting peace and prosperity for all Nigerians as he enters the new mandate.

     

     

  • El-Rufai’s self-importance

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State said something that attracted attention on the March 9 governorship election day.  El-Rufai, who was seeking re-election, had said to journalists while waiting to cast his vote: “I have no fears if I win or not because the president has already won his re-election. The worst thing that could happen is for me to lose the election. But since the president has already won his re-election bid, it means I already have a job in Abuja. Only my staff are jittery if I win or not and I usually share this joke with them.”

    It is interesting that El-Rufai sounded so sure about a job waiting for him in the Muhammadu Buhari presidency should he fail to get re-elected as governor. If he wasn’t re-elected after a four-year term, it would have suggested that his administration had failed and the electorate wanted a change.

    But he was re-elected. “Alhamdulillah! We campaigned vigorously on our record and continuously prayed for God to choose the best leader for Kaduna State even if that choice is someone else!! God has decided. We are grateful to over 1 million Kaduna voters through whom He made us the choice,” he tweeted following the announcement of the result.

    El-Rufai, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), got 1,045,427 votes. Alhaji Isah Ashiru of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 814,168 votes. The APC won in 14 local government areas (LGAs). The PDP won in nine LGAs. There are 23 LGAs in the state.

    By boasting that the Presidency would have given him a job if he had lost the governorship election, El-Rufai unwittingly gave an insight into how some people get jobs in the Presidency. Why was El-Rufai so confident that he would get a job if he had lost the governorship election?

    Had he been promised a job? Was a job reserved for him? On what basis would he deserve a job if he had lost the governorship election? Or was it just an empty boast? Was El-Rufai just trying to show that he had solid connections in the Presidency, and that given Buhari’s re-election there was no way he would be out of the power loop even if he had lost the governorship election?

    This is how some people in power go about promoting their self-defined relevance.  Such people are full of self-importance.

  • Foursquare Gospel Church congratulates Buhari on re-election

    The Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on the renewal of his mandate at the recent presidential election.

    A letter addressed to the President and signed by the General Overseer, Rev Felix Meduoye on behalf of the Board of Directors and entire worshippers of Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, said: “Your victory at the presidential poll held on Saturday February 23, 2019 is a testimony of God’s divine providence over your life.

    “We commend your administration for providing the enabling environment for a generally peaceful and successful election.

    “We urge you to see your renewed presidential mandate as a call from all Nigerians to you to marshal the growth, unity and stability of our dear country.

    “We therefore pray that God will enable you to utilize this God-given mandate to continue to forge a strong, virile and united Nigeria irrespective of race, religion or region.

    “As a Church, we will continue in our duty of offering prayers for the success of your administration, for your sound health and for divine wisdom to guide you in lifting the country to the desired level of growth, development and progress.”

     

  • Desmond Elliot thanks constituency, political elders on re-election

    Nollywood actor and producer turned politician, Desmond Elliot, has thanked his constituency members as well as his family and political associates for his victory at the Saturday gubernatorial and house of assembly polls which held in 27 states in the country on Saturday.

    Desmond, who sought re-election as member representing Surulere at the Lagos State House of Assembly, took to his Instagram account to show his appreciation.

    “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Surulere, Surulerians, Everyone,” he wrote, attaching a ‘thank you’ poster bearing ‘ready to serve’ and with the All Progressives Congress, APC, logo emblazoned on it.

    “Thank you for giving me another opportunity to serve. I promise to be better and give more than my best to make you proud. To those I may have hurt, offended, knowingly or unknowingly pissed off, ahh to those who can NEVER see anything good in me, I’m very sorry. I dedicate this victory to God Almighty. To the memory of my Late Father

    Engr Emmanuel Elliott. My late Step mum. I dedicate this to all SURULERIANS you made it happen .. again.”

    In several other posts, he then listed his political associates.

    “Sincere thanks go to my national Leader Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu, VP prof Osinbajo, Prince T Olusi (leader in Lagos central), Yeye Oluremi Tinubu, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, Rt Hon Speaker @mudashiruobasa Speaking speaker, Hon Kabir Lawal (Ceaser), Hon Agbo Dabiri—Dg Team continuity, Chairman and mayor -Hon Ajide surulere, Hon Bashua(LAGOS island), Hon SS Ajao and lGA members, Chief Mrs Hussain, All leaders and elders in Surulere, All councilors , Supers and SSAs, Hon Fuad Laguda, All appointees, All ward chairmen and excos.”

  • More leaders hail Buhari’s victory

    President Milos Zeman of Czech Republic has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election.

    In a message, Zeman wished the Buhari every success in his second term in office for the well-being and prosperity of the Nigerian people.

    “I highly value the diversity of cooperation and longstanding friendly relations between the Czech Republic and Nigeria. I am looking forward to working with you in the years ahead to further develop mutual cooperation to the benefit of the people of both our countries,” the Czech president said.

    Read also: ABCON backs CBN’s monetary policy, financial stability roles

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, also received goodwill messages from Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of United Arab Emirates (UAE); Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of UAE; and Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of UAE’s Armed Forces.

  • Hausa youths pledge support for Ugwuanyi’s re-election

    YOUTHS of Hausa extraction living in Enugu State have pledged total support for the re-election of Governor Ifeanyi  Ugwuanyi in the March 2 gubernatorial election.

    Speaking during a solidarity visit to Governor Ugwuanyi on Thursday, the youths who converged on the Government House, Enugu, in very large numbers described the governor as a detribalized leader who treats everyone equally regardless of religion and ethnicity, and equally commended him for developing the state.

    “Most of us were born and brought up here in Enugu and don’t know anywhere else as home,” Alhaji Hamza Buba, leader of the Arewa Youths explained amid cheers from the excited crowd.

    According to him, youths in the Hausa community in the state have been in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and will always remain in the party.

    “PDP is a party for democracy and for everybody. There has never been any governor since the return to democracy that has shown concern for our welfare like you have done. You visit us when there is need. “We remain loyal to you because you are our father.

    Our votes will be cast entirely for you and the PDP. We will definitely ensure we return you to Lion Building,” he said, adding that they would be going into the streets from the Government House to campaign vigorously for him.

    A former youth leader, Alhaji Danladi Abubakar, who also spoke at the gathering, praised Gov. Ugwuanyi for enthroning an inclusive policy that gives every resident a sense of belonging and lays a firm foundation for peace.

    “You are the first to give the position of chairman of the Pilgrims Welfare Board to us. No governor has ever done that. We are with you one hundred percent. You visit us during our period of fasting, you assist widows, you assist women, you assist everybody,” said Alhaji Abubakar, who is also the chairman of New Artisan Market.

  • Yoruba youths back Buhari’s re-election

    The Yoruba Youths Coalition (YYC) has declared its support for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    The group urged youths in the nation’s six geo-political zones to vote for President Buhari and Osinbajo in next year’s presidential election.

    It said the Buhari administration had used the last three and a half years to restore the country’s glory and laid a good foundation for its socio-economic development.

    In a statement by its National President Olalekan Owolabi and National Secretary Boluwaji Ayeni, the coalition hailed the government for its fight against corruption and various intervention programmes for youths.

    It said: “We examined the state of affairs of our nation in the last three and a half years under the leadership and administration of President Buhari.

    “It is our observation that the anti-corruption drive of Mr President in all sectors of the economy has been unparalleled and unprecedented, which has made the various government corporations and agencies accountable in revenue generation.

    “Mr President has, on several occasions, made it known that Nigerian youths and not oil are the assets of the nation.

    “It is in view of the foregoing that the President initiated, among others, the social intervention programmes, which comprise the N-Power and numerous agricultural schemes designed to enable the Nigerian youths explore their potentials and become masters of their own businesses.

    “Expectedly, millions of Nigerian youths have become beneficiaries of the several initiatives put up by the Federal Government.

    “The Buhari administration has improved the security situation in the country and performed creditably well in upgrading and developing transport, power and health infrastructure.

    “We cannot afford the Nigeria project and the march towards greatness to be truncated by those who possess no agenda other than enthroning greed and placing the wealth of our nation in the hands of a very few.”

  • Ekiti artisans hold rally for President’s re-election

    Artisans in Ekiti State yesterday held a solidarity rally in support of the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Acting under the aegis of Artisans, Traders and Allied Technicians’ Association (ATATA), the artisans described President Buhari as the “best man for the top job” on the strength of his achievements in the last three and a half years.

    They marched on the streets of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, before ending the rally at the Government House where they were received by Governor Kayode Fayemi and his deputy, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi.

    The artisans submitted a letter backing President Buhari’s second term bid to Fayemi for onward delivery to the President.

    They spoke through the state ATATA President Ebenezer Fadipe, who said: “In view of the laudable programmes his administration initiated and executed and which have impacted positively on the lives of Nigerians with special interest in his tremendous achievements in Ekiti State, we have resolved to endorse him for re-election in the 2019 presidential election.

    “We are particularly elated and impressed by the laudable achievements of Mr. President in the anti-graft war. Of special interest to us is his diversification programme, which has revamped the solid minerals and agriculture sectors and rescued our economy from the monolithic structure of dependence on oil and blocked all leakages leading to humongous pilfering of national wealth by a few cabals.

    “We praise Mr. President for ordering the extension of the proposed Lagos-Kano rail project to Ekiti out of the love he has for the people of this state. We know this will in no small measure boost the economy of the state when completed.

    “Added to the foregoing was the introduction of N-Power programme for the unemployed youths, where over 11,000 Ekiti graduates have benefited; transformation of the nation’s rail and air transportation sector, aggressive road construction, especially in the Southwest, the School Feeding Scheme, which will soon begin in Ekiti and the construction of a Federal secretariat and low cost housing estate for affordable homes under the National Housing Scheme.”

    Fayemi said President Buhari deserves a re-election because the Southwest benefited immensely from his administration.

    He said: “Under President Jonathan, we saw how the offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Minister of Finance, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chief of Staff to the President were concentrated in just two zones in the South while the Southwest was abandoned.

    “But when President Buhari came on board, he made a Southwest person his Vice President, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing is from this zone, the Minister of Health and other juicy positions were also allotted to this zone.

  • NUJ President Odusile hopeful of re-election

    •Six jostle to unseat him

    THE incumbent  Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) National President, Waheed Odusile, is hopeful that his achievements will ensure that he is re-elected between today and tomorrow  to serve another term of three years.

    Odusile, who hails from Ogun East, expressed optimism that he would in future emerge the third journalist to govern the state.

    The first journalist to preside over the affairs of the Gateway State was Chief  Olabisi Onabanjo (1979 – 1983) from Ijebu – Ode and followed by former Managing Director of Daily Times of Nigeria Aremo Olusegun Osoba, an Egba son.

    Odusile  is seeking a second term and  will  square it up with six other candidates at the union’s 6th Triennial Delegates Conference slated for Abeokuta, the Ogun capital.

    The six other contestants include: Atunbi Bamidele (Federal Capital Territory (FCT Council), Abiodun Olalere (Osun Council), Chris Iziguzo (Enugu Council), Mike Aladenike (Edo Council), Uzaka Uzaka (Bayelsa Council) and Jacob Edi (FCT Council).

    Odusile, who spoke with reporters in Abeokuta, said his achievements in office in the last three years were manifest demonstration of his competence to further lead the union to a greater height, if re-elected.

    He cited  the biometric data capture of members, which his administration introduced and  the proposed NUJ Television Station that would soon begin  operations as part of his achievements in office.

    “I strongly believe that my chances of winning the election are brighter than all the other contestants because they don’t have the pedigree.

    “With due respect to all of them, they have never done it before. I have been the one there and we have done some certain things, which others have not done before in the history of our union, which our members have applauded.

    “We have been able to introduce the first bio-metric registration and Identity Cards (ID)  to our members. Our International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) that has been operating from rented apartment for years, we have been able to move it to a permanent site and in the process, save the union from the financial burden of N10 million annual rent.

    “This is the first leadership in the history of NUJ that will call out journalists on a successful protest against highhandedness of the media and journalists. We succeeded in getting our members, who were illegally arrested and detained by security agencies, which included the police and the Directorate of State Security (DSS) released. One of them was even awarded damages by the court for illegal detention.

    “These are things, which our co-contestants with due respect to them, have not done. They cannot do it because they don’t have the pedigree. I have listened to some of them and the nearest thing they said was ‘we will improve’. That means they have also acknowledged that we are doing something.

    “So, we believe that with God being on our side, all things being equal, we should triumph over others at the poll.”

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun,  Minister of Information Lai Muhammed and Osoba are among  eminent Nigerians expected at the conference.

    Mohammed is the industry host and Amosun will be the host governor.

    The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo will serve as the royal father.

     

     

  • Delta Rep gets support for re-election

    A political pressure group, the League of Burutu Democrats (LBD), has urged delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to vote for incumbent representative for Burutu Federal Constituency in Delta State, Julius Pondi.

    In a statement by its Chairman, Charles Tuedon, and Publicity Secretary, Ekenwan Akwagbe, LBD noted that Pondi had offered quality and effective representation to his constituents beyond all expectations.

    According to the group, the Federal lawmaker placed the interest of his constituents above any other consideration, making him deserving of a re-election.

    The statement said: “We discovered from our investigations that as a first-term member of the National Assembly, Pondi deserves a second term, following his highly commendable achievements. Among several others, Pondi sponsored a private bill – A Bill for the Establishment of The Nigerian Coastal Communities Protection and Development Agency, The Governance Evaluation Commission (Establishment) Bill 2018, etc.

    “He has also moved several motions on the floor of the House, among them are: The Motion for the Resuscitation of the NNPC Floating Stations in the Coastal Communities of the Niger Delta; A Motion to Mandate the Use of Life Jackets and Other Safety Gadgets in all Maritime Travels; A Motion on the Need to Rehabilitate the Victims of the Landslide that Occurred in Tuomo in Burutu Federal Constituency, etc.

    “Other achievements of the legislator include the employment of youths in different government ministries, departments and agencies, youth sporting activities and skills acquisition, upgrade of the Ogulagha Community IT Centre to JAMB standard, construction of classroom blocks in several communities, among many others.

    “With these and numerous other achievements of Pondi in a spate of three years, the LBD thought it imperative to give him a second chance in the House of Representatives.

    “We are, therefore, using this medium to appeal to the good delegates of Burutu Federal Constituency to give their votes to this dynamic young lawmaker during the primary to enable him return to the House to consolidate on his achievements.

    “Remember the ‘Not Too Young to Run Bill’ that has been signed into law. It is to give youths like Pondi to play active role in politics.”