The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rivers

  • ‘Why Wike is desperate to be sole gov candidate in Rivers’

    The governorship candidate of Accord Party in Rivers State, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has stated Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is desperate to be sole governorship candidate in Rivers because of his poor performance and failure to deliver real dividends of democracy to people of the state.

    The oil magnate (Lulu-Briggs), who until September 28, 2018 was a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke on Friday in Port Harcourt at a news conference.

    Lulu-Briggs said: “We state in very strong terms that we are aware that this case (by Baridoo) is another dubious shenanigan by Wike, who is afraid to go into any legitimate contest in the forthcoming Rivers State governorship election and he is doing everything possible, including sponsoring court cases against strong opponents, in order to achieve his primitive ambition to contest the 2019 governorship election against himself alone.

    “Wike’s connection in this dubious act is buttressed by the fact that Baridoo’s counsel, Wori N. Wori Esq, is from the law firm of Emmanuel Aguma, SAN, the deceased immediate past Attorney-General to Wike.

    “Baridoo got elected as Rivers Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), months after his purported nomination as Accord Party’s governorship candidate, a position known to be occupied only by the cronies of the governor.

    “We are at a loss to fathom how Baridoo, who claims to have resigned as Rivers State Accord Party’s Chairman to contest the October 4, 2018 governorship primaries could be elected a month after (in November 2018), as the State Chairman of IPAC, a position reserved only for party chairmen. It is obvious that Baridoo and his paymaster, Wike, are out to insult the intelligence of Rivers people.

    “They said Baridoo, who has since been disowned by the Accord Party’s National Working Committee (NWC), was appointed into the caretaker committee of Khana LGA of Rivers State by the Wike-led PDP government.

    “During the recent PDP’s presidential rally at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, Baridoo did not only declare support for the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, he led 56 so-called governorship candidates to step down for Wike and endorsed him for a second term.”

    He added: “My quest to liberate Rivers State from the shackles of wicked politicians, who want to continue to punish and impoverish our men and women, instigate our youths into violence and bloodshed and deny our children quality education, is still on track.

    “Dumo Lulu-Briggs is still in the race by the grace of God. I have no godfather, but God the father and by the grace of God and the will of Rivers people, we shall triumph and start the process to secure the future of every Rivers man, woman and child.”

    The governorship candidate of Accord party also urged Rivers people to be law abiding and continue to support Accord as a political party.

    He insisted that he was the recognised and officially-endorsed Rivers governorship candidate of Accord party, both by the NWC, leadership of the party and by INEC.

    The oil magnate also maintained that Baridoo did not participate in Accord party’s primary election, conducted by the NWC/NEC of the party on October 4 last year as he claimed, with the national executive of the party earlier stating that Baridoo did not procure the expression of intent and the governorship nomination forms of the party.

    The governorship candidate of Accord party noted that there was no proof that INEC issued Baridoo with form CF001, which is the document given to officially-nominated party candidates.

  • Wike’s commissioner, PDP lawmaker, others paraded in Rivers

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, has paraded Governor Nyesom Wike’s Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Dr. Reason Onya; and the representative of Ahoada West constituency in Rivers House of Assembly, Nwanaka Okpokiri, for rigging last Saturday’s elections in the state.

    The Camp Commandant of Government House, Port Harcourt, Oyoku Ifelle, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP); Major Akpoge Peter Ubah of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt and thirty one others, including policemen, thugs and ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including two women, were also paraded.

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham paraded the 35 suspects Tuesday through 6 division’s Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, at a crowded news conference at 6 division, Port Harcourt on the discoveries and arrests made by troops of the formation, in conjunction with other security agencies, for electoral offences between February 22 and 23.

    All the 35 suspects were handed over to the Deputy Commissioner in charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of Rivers Police Command, Ahmed Kontagora, who represented the Rivers state Commissioner of Police, Usman Belel, at 5:50 p.m. Tuesday.

    The Assistant Director, Public Relations of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Rivers, Violet Appolo-Ibizugbe, also insisted that no corps member died in the state during last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly polls, contrary to insinuations making the round.

    Appolo-Ibizugbe said: “Rivers State NYSC management has been inundated with the rumour of the death of a corps member during the last Presidential and National Assembly elections in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State on February 23. Management wishes to inform the general public that no corps member was killed before, during and after the February 23 elections.

    “While we commiserate with the family of the late Mrs. Ibisaki Amachree, an INEC ad hoc staff member, who unfortunately died on her way back from electoral duties in Degema LGA, we wish to state that she was not a corps member and that NYSC, Rivers State did not lose any corps member during the February 23 elections.”

    The GOC also disclosed that a lot of maneuvers by political actors were witnessed in the division’s Area of Responsibility (AOR), covering Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states, during last Saturday’s elections.

    He noted that the maneuvers were normal in a democracy, but stressed that most worrisome and dangerous was the employment of political thugs by some desperate politicians to disrupt a legitimate national process for their pecuniary gains.

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham said: “Equally of grave concern is the daring attempt by the Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike, to compromise security agencies, particularly troops of 6 Division, with hefty financial inducements to help him in his illegitimate act of thwarting a free and fair electoral process to his favour, while accusing the Nigerian Army and its command hierarchy of bias daily.

    “Apparently, Governor Wike must have underestimated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to being professionally responsive in the discharge of our constitutional roles.

    “The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has overtime reiterated and demonstrated the Nigerian Army’s resolve to being apolitical, neutral and unbiased. He (COAS) has also left no one in doubt of our total and absolute loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the President/Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (President Muhammadu Buhari).

    “No amount of cheap blackmail and unsubstantiated allegations will make us bulge. While we do not intend to take issues with any one, however, it has become expedient to bring to the notice of the general public the actual reasons behind Governor Wike’s attrition against the Nigerian Army and its leadership, with the hope that he will finally sheathe his sword and publicly apologise to the Nigerian Army, as we present the shocking discoveries.”

    The GOC reiterated that on February 15 this year, “one Barr. Emma Okah” (Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications) issued a statement, alleging that a very senior officer of the division attempted to tamper with INEC’s sensitive materials at the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Port Harcourt.

    He noted that a rejoinder was immediately issued by the headquarters of 6 division, which not only rebutted Okah’s allegation, but also demanded an apology from him within 72 hours or face legal action, disclosing that Rivers information commissioner had “arrogantly” refused to heed the advice.

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham said: “On February 23, 2019 at about 8:45 am, following a tip-off on attempt by Governor Wike’s aides to induce and compromise troops deployed at the CBN, Port Harcourt premises, Major Akpoge Peter Ubah of 6 Division and four other police personnel: DSP Oyoku Ifelle (Camp Commandant, Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt), Sgt. Akanu Garba, Inspector Hycent Oboi and Sgt. Nketan Chucks, were arrested by a team from headquarters of 6 Division.

    “Preliminary investigations discovered the sum of N2, 250,000 in a Range Rover car belonging to the DSP. Other items recovered are four INEC 2019 electoral tags, customised Rivers State Government House brown envelopes, while the sum of N500,000 was found in the Toyota vehicle belonging to Major Akpoge Peter Ubah, which he confessed was given to him by Rivers Governor’s aides, in addition to offer of a well-furnished accommodation for the period of his tour of duty.

    “On the same day (February 23), at about 7 a.m., a member of Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Nwanaka Okpokiri, in company with Dr. Reason Onya, visited our troops’ camp at Akinima (headquarters of Ahoada West LGA of Rivers) and requested to be acquainted with the Commander of the troops at the location. Hon. Okpokiri offered the officer some amount of money he removed from his pocket, but the officer not only rejected the offer, but he sent the duo away.

    “While the officer and his men were manning a check point at Mbiama Bridge (Ahoada West LGA of Rivers), a white Hilux vehicle, with a Rivers State Government registration number: L02-03RV RIVERS and eight occupants, was stopped for routine search and clearance. A carton and two bundles of INEC 2019 presidential election ballot papers were discovered in the vehicle. Preliminary investigation reveals that none of the occupants of the vehicle is an INEC staff, INEC’s ad-hoc staff or security agent.

    “During the course of on-the-spot interrogations, Hon. Okpokiri and Dr. Onya appeared at the spot and tried to convince the suspecting troops that the vehicle is part of INEC convoy that was left behind and that the vehicle should be allowed to go, because the electorate was waiting. When the vigilant officer refused to be convinced, Dr. Onya immediately placed a call to Governor Wike and His Excellency (Wike) requested to speak with the officer, who declined and requested the governor to please call the GOC.

    “After much resistance, the officer gave Dr. Onya his mobile number to pass to Governor Wike, which he did via Whatsapp message. Within ten minutes, Governor Wike placed a call to the officer.”

    The GOC also played the recorded telephone conversation between the officer of 6 division and Rivers governor, with Wike promising to send money to the army officer, through the Rivers commissioner (Onya), who recently stepped aside during the building collapse in Government Reservation Area (GRA), Port Harcourt.

  • Peterside: APC not planning mayhem in Rivers

    Deputy leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State Dr. Dakuku Peterside has said members of the party were not planning to unleash mayhem in the state.

    He was reacting to allegations by Director-General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council, Desmond Akwawor, that APC was planning to cause mayhem and bloodbath during the elections.

    According to him, Akwawor had elevated lies to an act.

    Peterside, who spoke yesterday at the Port Harcourt International Airport, insisted that all allegations were what the PDP leaders planned to do. They were only crying to attract cheap sympathy, he added.

    He accused Governor Nyesom Wike of being the agent provocateur and harbinger of violenc.

    Peterside, who is the Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), blasted the PDP campaign council for involving his home local government area, Opobo/Nkoro, in the allegation of using money to induce electoral officials.

    He said: “I am proud to come from Opobo/Nkoro, and as a party stalwart, there was no time such scenario happened. We are a peace-loving people, and we will never be part of such plot.”

    Peterside also denied accusations that the APC was working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Army and other security agencies, to subvert the people’s will.

    He said: “Anytime you see Wike and his party shouting, just know they have tried unsuccessfully to bribe security agents. This is the same old trick of Wike, but his threats will fail this time.

    “Before, during and after the 2015 elections, Rivers people knew what Wike did with Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu. APC leaders were arrested with reckless abandon and locked up till after the elections. So far, no such thing has hapened.

    “Like an uninvited gatecrasher, Wike has been working with his agents to frustrate APC’s genuine quest to be on the ballot in Rivers State.”

    The NIMASA DG called on security agents to remain alert and thwart every PDP effort to instigate violence and blame the APC.

    He dismissed PDP’s allegation that the Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, held a meeting with some people to rig the election. “Rivers people know the persons who are violent; the people know those who sponsored the thugs arrested in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni council last Friday. Rivers people know those who are desperate for power and will do anything to get it. Rivers people know their history.”

  • Breaking: PDP rejects postponement of election

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has said that shoddy arrangement for this election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is a deliberate predetermined agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari to cling on to power even when it’s obvious to him that Nigerians want him out.

    He was reacting to the postponement of the election by INEC.

    Prince Secondus said that the postponement which is part of a grand design by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to thwart the will of Nigerians at all cost, clearly exposes INEC as a failure and calls on the Chairman of the Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu to resign immediately.

    The PDP leader warns that the party will not accept anything short of a well organized electoral process devoid of manipulation, harassment and intimidation of voters and the opposition particularly members of the PDP.

    “Having failed in all their nefarious options to enable them cling on to power, the APC and the INEC came up with the idea of shifting election an action that is dangerous to our democracy and unacceptable”, he said.

    The National Chairman said that the APC in connivance with the INEC have been trying all options including but not limited to burning down INEC offices in some states and destroying of electoral materials to create artificial problems upon which to stand for their dubious act.

    According to a statement from the National Chairman’s media office signed by Ike Abonyi, Prince Secondus said that the party is privy to all the pressures from the APC and the federal government to arm-twist the INEC, to dance to their new strategy after their earlier ones failed.

    “With several of their rigging options failing, they have to force INEC to agree to a shift in the election or a staggered election with flimsy excuses pre-manufactured for the purpose.

    “For the avoidance of doubt the PDP sees this action as wicked and we are also aware of other dubious designs like the deployment of hooded security operatives who would be ruthless on the people ostensibly to scare them away.

    He said that by the action of the President has further demonstrated his insensitivity costing the huge cost after Nigerians including those who came home from abroad have all mobilized to their various constituencies.

    The National Chairman recalls that the PDP had earlier alerted Nigerians that the APC was coming up with lined up rigging strategies including burning down of INEC offices and engineering crisis in PDP stronghold areas to scare away the people.

    Prince Secondus said that the wicked killing of over 60 persons mostly women and children in Southern Kaduna on the eve of the election is a copious ploy by the APC to frighten the people away from voting knowing too well that they were not going to record any vote from the area.

    “Recall that the Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir el-rufai had earlier threatened international election observers of going to their country in body bags and with the fatal violence in the state on the eve of  election, it’s clear what the motives are, to frighten the observers from the state so that he can carry out his nefarious acts.

    The National Chairman also drew the attention of all lovers of democracy to the statement of President Buhari on the international media that nobody can unseat him from office as an indication of what he wants to do.

    Prince Secondus also regretted that President Buhari who made a promise at the signing of peace accord that the election will be conducted in a fair and transparent atmosphere  has gone ahead in breach of the peace agreements to send soldiers and other security agencies to arrest, harass and intimidate opponents in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Kano, Kaduna states.

  • Over 15, 000 security personnel for Rivers polls

    No fewer than 15,544 security personnel have been deployed to the 319 electoral wards, 4,442 polling units of the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs), of Rivers State ahead of the Saturday’s nationwide Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Usman Belel, disclosed this in a joint security news briefing held in Port Harcourt, the state capital Thursday.

    Belel promised a peaceful poll across the state, and urged politicians in the state and their supporters to cooperate security agencies to do their job.

    He said that, with the formation of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Elections Security (ICCES), adequate security would be provided before, during and after the polls.

    “Here in the state we have had robust Inter-agency collaborations, and fantastic synergies culminating in holding meetings and sessions with critical stakeholders, where it was unanimously agreed that the narrative must change in Rivers elections.

    “There will be a radical departure from the past elections, usually characterised by violence.

    “Together we shall get it right. On our part, we promise to be neutral and professional and provide level playing ground for all the political parties to exercise their franchise.

    “We have deployed 15,544 officers and men to be complemented by other sister agencies, with the massive deployment made so far, we are undoubtedly good to go as far as this election is concerned.

    “We promise to do everything humanly possible to entrench and bequeath to the state, elections that will be free, fair, credible and devoid of violence.” he said.

    He announced restriction of movements on the election day, except those on essential duties, barring notable personalities and politicians in the society from going to any voting centre with their police orderlies.

    Speaking further, the State Police boss disclosed that all entry and exit points in Rivers would be blocked, adding that movement would not be allowed in and out of the state until the elections are over.

    The CP, however, demanded strict compliance to the orders given, warning that defaulters would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

    He emphasized that there would be religious adherence to the Prohibition Order, “as same is intended to provide a conductive atmosphere for free, fair, credible and violence-free elections that will stand the test of time”.

    The police chief warned against mounting canopies and shades by food vendors, and other businesses within 500 meters around polling units, stressing that it shall not be tolerated during the elections.

  • Hope dashed in Rivers… More support for Buhari, Atiku

    The Supreme Court finally dashed the hope of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to field candidates for the elections in Rivers State. This comes at a time more group pledged support for President Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar. Eric Ikhilae, Gbenga Omokhunu, Bolaji Ogundele, Abdulgafar Alabelewe, sunny nwankwo and Jane Chijioke report.

    Supreme Court: APC can’t

    field candidates in Rivers

     

    The Supreme Court has ended the quest by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State to reverse the October 10, 2018 judgment of the High Court of Rivers State, which barred it from holding primaries for the production of candidates for the next general elections.

    A five-man panel of the court, headed by Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour struck out, yesterday, four appeals, left in the five appeals filed by the APC and some of its members against October 10, 2018 judgment of the High Court of Rivers State, voiding the primaries held by the APC in the state.

    The Court of Appeal in Port-Harcourt  refused to hear the appeals filed against the judgment by the APC and some of the candidates that emerged from the affected primaries, on the grounds that they were statute barred.

    The appeals decided on Tuesday by the Supreme Court are SC/1332/2018 (Ojukaye Flag-Amchree v. Ibrahim Umah and others); SC/1333/2018 (APC v. Ibrahim Umah and others); SC/1334/2018 (Tonye Patrick Cole v. Ibrahim Umah and others) and SC/81/2019 (APC v. Ibrahim Umah and others).

    At the commencement of proceedings on Tuesday, the five-man panel delivered rendered its decision on the arguments it took on Monday on the preliminary objection filed by Ibrahim Umah and others against the appeal marked: SC/1333/2018.

    The appeal – SC/1333/2018 – was the main one filed peal filed by the APC against the October 10 judgment and the subsequent decision of the Court of Appeal on APC’s appeal against the judgment.

    Justice Amiru Sanusi, who read the lead decision, said the appeal being pre-election related, was filed outside the time allowed under Section 285(9) and (12) of the Constitution as amended by the 4th Alteration Act 2017.

    Justice Sanusi upheld the argument by lawyer to respondent, Henry Bello and held that the appeal was statute barred.

    The judge rejected the argument by appellant’s lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) that the case was not pre-election, but about party leadership.

    Justice Sanusi upheld the objection and struck out the appeal on the ground that it has become academic exercise, as argued by Bello.

    Shortly after its decision in SC/1333/2018, the court consolidated the remaining three appeals, upon the agreement by lawyers to parties and took arguments on the objection against one of the consolidated appeals -SC/1332/2018, filed by Amachree.)

    The court said its decision in the appeal by Amachree was to be applied to the other two.

    In his argument, Bello, who filed the objection, repeated his position in the earlier objection which the court upheld, to the effect that the appeal was statute barred.

    He said the appeal has become academic having been filed outside the days allowed under Section 285(9) and (12) of the Constitution.

    Lawyer to Amachree and Cole, Wisdom Jerome and M. S. Ibrahim, argued that the suit at the trial court was not pre-election.

    Justice Augie said, since the Court of Appeal rejected Amachree and Cole’s appeals, because they were caught by Section 285(9) and (12), their appeals must suffer the same fate at the Supreme Court because, being pre-election appeals, they were statute barred.

     

    ACF endorses Buhari

     

    The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has endorsed the candidature of Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in next Saturday’s poll.

    The ACF said it carefully studied the antecedents of major presidential candidates, the manifestoes and policy documents of their parties, alongside the need for social, political and economic stability in the country, and discovered that Buhari deserves a second term to consolidate on his achievements.

    The forum, which declared its stand in statement signed by its Acting Chairman, Alhaji Musa Liman Kwande, said:”In continuation of role of ACF as the political compass of the North, the leadership under the Chairmanship of  Mallam Adamu M. Fika Wazirin Fika GCON, Chairman Board of Trustees of the Forum at a meeting today 12th February 2019, has evaluated critical national issues, especially the political situation in the country and its attendant consequences for the continued peace, unity and progress of our dear country Nigeria.

    “The ACF takes note of the state of the political situation as the nation goes into another round of elections, where tensions are heightened as a result of intense campaigns, lobbying and horse-trading among political actors.

    “The ACF takes special note that major political parties have nominated prominent northerners, for the February 16th 2019 Presidential Elections. The Forum has carefully studied the antecedents of major presidential candidates, the manifestoes and policy documents of their parties, alongside the need for social, political and economic stability in the country.

    “The ACF is therefore, of the view that certain attributes such as clarity of thought, unity of purpose, content of character and morality of the candidates, their leadership qualities, performance and general acceptability of the candidates contesting for not only the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but also for other elective offices should guide voters in making their choices.

    “The decision on who to elect should not be based on any form of inducements, mob hysteria, intimidation or false promises, but by calm and deliberate consideration of the candidates’ qualities of leadership, performance and moral standing in their public and private lives.

    “Furthermore, other considerations such as capacity to tackle security challenges, fight corruption, and boost the economy by way of diversification away from over dependence on oil, by infrastructural development in order to promote growth. The integrity of the candidate to raise the image of Nigeria in the comity of nations is equally important in the election.”

     

    Group faults Atiku’s endorsement 

     

    A pro-Eastern Nigeria group, Awake and Defend Action Movement (ADAM), has faulted the endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, by the leadership of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

    ADAM is an umbrella body of pressure groups in the old Eastern region.

    ADAM, in a communiqué signed by its acting chairman, Ndubuisi Igwekani-Agu Biafra and the South-South leader of the group (Chief James Ekpo), said: “ADAM will ensure that our people demand transparency and accountability from every elected public officer in Eastern Nigeria. We will mobilise the entire youth in Eastern to deal with any elected officer who fails in his/her duties to account to the people.

    “Henceforth, we are monitoring some Igbo political contractors who rush to their pay master in the North and other parts of Nigeria to collect evil money to destabilize our people. Henceforth, we will monitor and expose them to bring sanity and peace to our land.

    “Now, concerning the youths in Eastern Nigeria, we have noticed the exponential increase in kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, yahoo yahoo, gambling, prostitution, child-trafficking, and all manner of violent extremism just to get rich overnight. We hereby warn that it will not be business as usual. We have set up a security watch to coordinate with security agents to expose all manner of evil activities perpetuated by youths in whatever disguise.”

     

    NHRC endorses Buhari

    for second term

     

    The Nigerian Human Right Community (NHRC) yesterday endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office.

    NHRC, a coalition of 135 civil society and community-based organisations, spoke in Lagos.

    Its Secretary, Taiwo Adeleye,  said: “This is coming about 11 days to the presidential election in Africa’s most populous country of 170million people. There is no way you will go and vote without having made up your mind on who you want to vote for especially concerning a presidential election. We are now telling the electorates that before you go out there to vote, apart from seeking to know your conscience, what exactly is your conscience telling you? You need to look back, compare the two administrations; the past and the present, which is better off, which one would advance your course, your children and probably your generation.

    “We consider one major factor: the personal credibility of the two leading contenders.  It will be worst to have a man that has no iota of credibility at home and abroad to sit as the number one citizen of the country. It will be disastrous to have a proven corrupt man as the most important figure in Nigeria. We believe with the credibility of Buhari and Osibanjo, their errors of recent past can be corrected in the most honest manner.”

    The Directo- General of the Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu Ambassadors (BOSA), Wale Arogundade,  said Buhari’s administration has recorded immense achievements.

     

    Middle Belt Forum backs Atiku 

     

    The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) yesterday urged the people to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday.

    Its President, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, said Atiku’s adoption was based on a dispassionate assessment of the candidature of President Buhari of the All Progressives Congress and Atiku.

    Speaking to reporters in Abuja, Bitrus stated that the major consideration for the middle belt region was the security of lives and property of the people, in which, he said, the Buhari Administration had failed.

    He said: “One major consideration for us in this election is the security of lives and property of the peoples of the middle belt region.  It is no secret that in the close to four years of the Buhari – led administration, the entire middle belt was turned into a vast killing field.”

     

    ‘Founding fathers behind Atiku’

     

    Voting massively for presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar on Saturday will fulfil the desire of the founding fathers of Nigeria, a PDP chieftain in Kogi State, Yabuku Kampala has declared.

    He spoke with reporters yesterday in Kogi State.

    The chairman of the Nigeria Integrity Forum claimed the founding fathers have unanimously endorsed Atiku to lead the nation.

    Kampala, who is also the President of Reliable Food for All Foundation, said: “Sometime ago, I saw fathers of our nation and some past leaders in my dream. Sir Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe Aguiyi Ironsi, Odumegwu Ojukwu, Murihtala Muhammed, Shehu Shagari  and several others in a meeting.

    “At the end of the meeting they all expressed their support for Atiku Abubakar to rule Nigeria next.

    “When I woke up, my initially response was to take the dream as one of those dreams that people normally have that reflect the experiences they are going through.

    “But later on, I started feeling uncomfortable as the dream repeatedly came to my mind with unsuppressed urge to let the nation know.

    “I strongly believe this is the divine confirmation Nigerians need concerning this year’s presidential election. So, we must all rise to the challenge of voting for Atiku.”

     

    70% of voters are undecided,

    says Olawepo-Hashim

     

    The Presidential candidate of People’s Trust (PT), Mr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has urged Nigerians to support his candidacy for rapid economic development that will lift the masses out of abject poverty, saying 70% of Nigerians voters are yet to decide who to vote for among the presidential candidates less than 11 days to the 2019 election.

    Similarly, Olawepo-Hashim said he had no plan to step down for either the APC’s Muhammadu Buhari or Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, expressing the confidence that the two candidates are beatable with their parties’ woeful performances since 1999.

    The Presidential hopeful who spoke  during campaign in Akure, the Ondo state capital to solicit votes of the people of the state, advised electorates to reject the two political parties that had failed them and the country in the last twenty years.

    Mr Olawepo-Hashim who was accompanied by his Campaign Director-General and former transport minister, Mr Habu Fari, said the country was too endowed with natural resources for the citizenry to be wallowing in poverty and vowed to introduce policies that would end insecurity and economic hardship if elected the president of the nation on the sixteenth of this month.

    He advised eligible voters to secure their future by voting for his people’s trust party in 2019 election.

    Olawepo-Hashim assured Nigerians, especially youths and graduates that he would create jobs and make the environment conducive for businesses to flourish.

    The presidential candidate of PT said his party was fine-tuning its strategy in all states of the federation on how to wrestle power from the ruling APC, adding that PT had the highest number of representation in constituency nominations.

    Olawepo-Hashim said “some few days to election more than 70 percent of the electorates are still wondering who they are going to vote for. They have been examine the candidates they are going to vote for and what these candidates promised to offer and among all the alternative parties, the PT is the biggest. But i can tell you that this election is still very open even though its ten days to the election”.

    “This is one of the reasons i said if elected we will form a government of National unity which will include the good people in the APC and PDP,” he opined.

    The Director General of PT Presidential Campaign Council, Mr Habu Fari, expressed delight that the people of Ondo State trooped out enmass to receive Olawepo-Hashim, indicating that the people were ready to elect the third force which the PT candidate represented.

     

    ‘We condemn the show

    of shame in Ogun’

     

    The South West, Youth Zonal Coordinator of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has condemned disruption of the APC presidential rally in Ogun State.

    Speaking at a news conference yesterday in Abuja, the group’s coordinator, Comrade Wole Badmus, said the act of brigandage was capable of putting the party in bad light.

    He said: “‘No doubt, this intra party rancour has portrayed the party as lacking in mechanism of addressing internal differences, thereby washing our dirty linen in the public’. The press text stated.

    “We cannot conclusively blame the host government of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, yet the whole world and teeming party members wish to know how hoodlums of the other party he is supporting for governorship election in the state gained access into the venue and embarrassed Mr. President, the National Party chairman, the national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other dignitaries at the occasion.

    “The fact need be reiterated that in any electoral contest, a winner must emerge. Any aggrieved participants in such contest have the opportunity of exhausting internal machineries of addressing infractions before resorting to self-help.

    “We are particularly concern about the youth who were used as canon folders in this nefarious activity. Our view is that youth should be preparing themselves for leadership role rather than being engaged in these dirty inglorious roles.

    “While apologising to the President and Commander-in – Chief, the group promised to embark on thorough investigation into the remote and direct causes of the show of shame.”

    The group appealed to party members not to allow the Abeokuta hiccup to distract them from the onerous task of mobilising votes for President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday.

    “We should not be distracted at this material point. Members of our party especially the youths should come out and assiduously mobilised for the party’s victory at all elections most especially at February 16 Presidential Election,” Badmus said.

     

    NVDD hails Buhari over

    PVC collection’s extension

     

    The National Vanguard for Democracy and Development (NVDD) has commended the President Muhammadu Buhari government for asking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the date for collection of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to February 11 to make it possible for eligible Nigerians to participate during the upcoming elections.

    In a statement in Lagos, NVDD Public Secretary, Emeka Obinagwu said:  “We are not at all disappointed in the decision of the federal government because we had always believed that the current administration is committed to ensuring Nigerians who are desirous of exercising their franchise during the forthcoming elections to do so unhindered.

    INEC had on Friday February 8 announced the extension of the window of collection of the PVC on its twitter handle, stating that it will do everything to ensure no registered voter is disenfranchised.

    Obinagwu said: “Contrary to the lies peddled by detractors that this government wants to derail the elctions, this action shows our president to be a leader concerned with the deepening of the democratic culture. He is a leader and must be applauded for this outstanding quality.”

    “This move will not only increase in the number of people who will vote, Nigerians are reassured that for once we have a government that is not ready to meddle in INEC affairs. This government deserves to be rewarded with another four years in office.”

  • NGO to complement FG effort on peace building

    The Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace and Security in West Africa and the Sahel (WGWYPS-WAS) is set to commence its peace building campaign in some states in Nigeria.

    Mrs Bridget Affiah, Co-state representative of WGWYPS-WAS NG in Delta, said this on Tuesday during the official inauguration of the #Workingroupng4peace Campaign in Warri.

    Affiah said the campaign would be conducted in 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that the objective of the NGO was to propagate peace, particularly in  violence prone states.

    She listed the states to include; Abia, Benue, Borno, Delta, Enugu, Gombe and Kaduna,.

    She said the others were Kano, Lagos, Kogi, Osun, Rivers, Plateau, Yobe and the FCT.

    According to her, the campaign was to further ensure increased awareness on the need to reduce violence especially against the vulnerable populations like the youth, women, children and the physically challenged persons.

    “WGWYPS-WAS was set up in April 2009 with the support of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) across 15 West African Countries and the Sahel.

    “WGWYPS-WAS NG with the hash tag, #workingroupng4peace was inaugurated in  December 2016 in Nigeria.

    “It is an all inclusive platform for experience sharing, analysis and participatory evaluation within the West African Region and the Sahel.

    ” It is also for the promotion and implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and related ones on women and youth participation, conflict prevention mechanism and peace building,”she said.

    Affiah said the group recognised states where violence, hate speeches, conflicts and insecurity were prevalent, adding that there could be no meaningful development in a conflict situation.

    “We will try and see what we can do to achieve sustainable peace for sustainable development.

    ” We are going to be working with the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in Delta,” she said.

    Read Also:Breaking: INEC declares Benue guber election inconclusive

    Another Co-state representative, Mrs Rachael Ruppee, said other objectives of the NGO was to strengthen the capacity of members and bring skills together to achieve good result.

    “The aim is also to enhance information and knowledge sharing in peace, conflict and violence resolutions,” she said.

    One of the guests, Dr Agboro Andrew, said that peace and security was the collective responsibility of everyone.

    “There are a lot of issues right now in Delta, post political issues, cult issues and without peace the communities will be under developed.

    “A lot of companies are leaving the state as a result of issues related to conflict,” he said.

  • Supreme Court ruling: ‘Ignore Abe, allies’ misrepresentation of facts’

    The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Rivers people and other lovers of democracy to ignore Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers Southeast) and his allies for misrepresentation of facts on Friday’s Supreme Court ruling, insisting that the candidacy of Pastor Tonye Cole and others of APC is not imperilled.

    Cole, a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), who is a co-founder of Sahara Group, still expressed optimism that he and other candidates of APC in Rivers would be on the ballot for this year’s elections and they would emerge victorious.

    The justices of Supreme Court, Friday, ruled on APC’s legal representation in the suit at the Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt, presided over by Justice Chinwendu Nwogu.

    The apex court declared that the Legal Adviser of Rivers APC, Chinweikpe Chieme, not Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, was the main opposition party in the state and that the judgment of Justice Nwogu was a consent judgment.

    Rivers APC, through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, Friday said: “The attention of Rivers State chapter of APC has been drawn to a myriad of reports making the rounds on the social media, giving conflicting, and in some cases, outright mischievous narratives, misinterpreting and misrepresenting the pronouncement of the Supreme Court of Friday, February 8, 2019, on the matter between Ibrahim Umar and 22 others versus Rivers APC.

    Read Also: Supreme Court voids Appeal Court’s judgment on Rivers APC

    “Whereas the Rivers APC is reluctant to take issues with anyone when it concerns matters before the court, however, we believe that members of the public deserve to be protected from calculated mischief and misinformation, especially those dispensed through the social media and rumours. Therefore, it has become highly necessary to re-state what transpired at the Supreme Court.

    “The apex court ruled that, in line with provisions of the Constitution of the APC, the chapter’s legal adviser at the time the matter commenced, Mr. Chieme Chinweikpe, rightly represented the party directly or through legal appointees of his, instead of Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who was seconded by the Legal Department of national headquarters of APC. This means that the judgment given by Justice Chinwendu Nwogu was a consent judgment following thereto.

    “Irrespective of how we feel about the pronouncement, the Rivers State chapter of APC has to accept that decision, having come from the highest court of the land.

    “We make haste to, however; state that the decision on legal representation was the only matter the Supreme Court made pronouncement on Friday. We expect the apex court to rule on the all-important issue of jurisdiction of whether the Rivers State High Court of Justice Chinwendu Nwogu was right to delve into what we believe was an internal affair of the APC, with regards to primaries.

    “We urge the mainstream media and innocent members of the public to resist the lure of mischievous individuals, who are inundating the social media and entire cyberspace with jaundiced versions of the Supreme Court ruling or churning out outright fake news, with a view to deceiving the public, deluding themselves with short-lived comfort and feathering their nests from their paymasters.

    “We are convinced that no harm has been done to the candidacy of our governorship candidate, Pastor Tonye Cole, and the others. We believe that, by the grace of God, we shall triumph and ultimately be on the ballot for the 2019 elections.”

    The main opposition APC also called on the teeming supporters of the party in Rivers to remain calm, while assuring that it would surely end in praise and declared that candidates of APC in the state would surely be on the ballot and go ahead to win on February 16 and March 2, 2019.

    The Director, Strategic Communications of Tonye Cole/Victor Giadom Campaign Organisation of APC, Prince Tonye Princewill, said in his reaction Friday evening: “I have just spoken with our lawyers. The judgement is nothing to overly concern ourselves over. I thought it was worse when I heard that the Nyesom Wike (of People’s Democratic Party) and Magnus Abe’s camps were celebrating.

    “After the defeats, they (Wike and Abe) suffered in recent weeks, any news is good news for them. Our two appeal court judgments remain valid. No one else has been declared candidate and the substantive matter has not even been touched. That will be coming up on Monday. So, no cause for alarm.”

    The Spokesman of Cole/Giadom campaign organisation, Ogbonna Nwuke, a former member of the House of Representatives, while also reacting, declared that the celebrations by Wike, Abe and their drowning supporters would soon turn to sorrow, while expressing confidence that justice would be ensured by the courts.

    Nwuke, an ex-Rivers Commissioner for Information, said: “Our attention has been drawn to reports which suggest that Ibrahim Umar and 22 others have secured a final determination at the Supreme Court.

    “The fact available to us is that the only issue determined on Friday, February 8, 2019 was that of legal representation, which had been in contention.

    “Based on the various conflicting headlines being carried, it is critical to state that there are other pending matters, including the substantive appeal, which is yet to be determined by the Supreme Court. Our faith in the judiciary remains unshaken.

    “We wish to urge our numerous supporters not to panic, following the deliberate misrepresentation of facts on the social media and elsewhere, regarding the outcome of the ruling. We shall surely be triumphant in the end.”

    Contrary to insinuations making the round, the Supreme Court, Friday, never pronounced Abe and candidates of his faction, who emerged through direct primary election, not supervised by officials of the national secretariat of APC, as authentic candidates of the party, while Prince Peter Odile, whom Abe announced as Rivers APC state chairman of his faction, was not recognised by the apex court.

  • Tonye Cole: we’ll overcome temporary setback

    Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, Tonye Cole has described Friday’s Supreme Court judgement upholding decision of the Lower Court on Rivers primary as only a temporary setback that will be overcome.

    In a statement by the spokesman of the Cole/Giadom Campaign Organisation, Ogbonna Nwuke, Cole expressed confidence that the APC in Rivers will triumph at the end of the day when the substantive suit is determined by the Apex court.

    The Supreme Court had on Friday upheld the ruling of the Court of Appeal and the High Court in Rivers State blocking the primaries conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to reports which suggest that Ibrahim Umar & 22 others have secured a final determination at the Supreme Court.

    Read Also; ‘Tonye Cole should search his conscience’

    “The fact available to us is that the only issue determined today, Friday, 8th February, 2019 was that of legal representation, which had been in contention.

    “Based on the various conflicting headlines being carried, it is critical to state that there are other pending matters, including the substantive appeal, which is yet to be determined by the Supreme Court. Our faith in the judiciary remains unshaken.

    “We wish to urge our numerous supporters not to panic, following the deliberate misrepresentation of facts on the social media and elsewhere regarding the outcome of today’s judgement. We shall surely be triumphant in the end.”

  • Guber polls: South South hails military over deployment of troops to protect voters

    The South-South Coalition for Credible Leadership has described as a welcome the deployment of military troops to the region ahead of the Saturday’s governorship and house of assembly elections.
    The coalition said the action would further boost the confidence of electorate during the polls.
    Briefing newsmen on Thursday, Success Timothy, the Coordinator General of the group, said the deployment is necessary following the success of the troops in some south-southern states during the national assembly and presidential election on February 23.
    According to him, the presence of troops during the elections proved to be the right decision in view of the fact that acts of politically motivated violence were limited to a few instances.
    Success said the he pockets of violence witnessed in some parts of Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers state would have been more widespread but for the presence of troops.
    According to him, “Interestingly, the Niger-Delta, where political leaders clamored most against military presence for the election, recorded more of the instances of violence and ballot snatching during the exercise. It is logical that soldiers should be withdrawn from areas that were largely peaceful during the polls of two weeks ago to allow for the deployment of higher number of troops to the places that recorded violence.
    “Meanwhile, we observed that the personnel of the Nigerian Army were able to maintain peace and prevent political brigandage while adhering to acceptable rules of engagement. They fear of abuse and intimidation of the civilian population, which opponents of military deployment had used to back up their argument, turned out to unjustified as law abiding citizens had nothing to be apprehensive about. Only attackers that had intended to deprive other people of their right to life were gunned down in exchange of gunfire with troops in Rivers state.
    “

    Read Also:Gunmen attack warehouse, kill policeman in Aba

    The South- South Coalition for Credible Leadership therefore passes a vote of confidence on the Nigerian Army and its personnel. They have the capacity to support security operations in the regions towards ensuring that elections hold without citizens being afraid for their lives or worrying that their votes will not count because ballot box snatchers. Their presence in the entire Niger-Delta region will ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order by any group of persons.
    “We passed this vote of confidence cognizant of the campaign of calumny being waged against the deployment of the military for the elections. It does not take long to decipher the intent of those opposed to troops being in the Niger-Delta during this period. These people comprise of opposition political parties that lost in the presidential and National Assembly elections because they were unable to use thugs to snatch and stuff ballot boxes just as they were unable to intimidate voters.
    “The other sets of people opposed to seeing troops in the Niger-Delta are the militants and sabotage economic infrastructure in the region as well as those that have their sight set on kidnap for ransom. These are backed up by separatist elements, including those that belong to groups that the courts have outlawed. They are apparently scared that the presence of the military in the area will yield credible intelligence that can be used to dismantle their non-election related criminality.
    “It is most unfortunate that the criminal intentions of the aforementioned groups are being hidden behind the façade of ‘the opposition’ and for marshalling weak arguments against the deployment of troops to secure the country during the elections. The fake news they are peddling is that the Army is the region to favour particular candidates. This must rank among the greatest lies told so far in 2019.
    “We note the charge by the Chief if Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Tukur Buratai, to troops and commanders to do better during their deployment for Saturday’s election. Such decisive and responsive leadership has contributed to the sterling performance that the Nigerian Army displayed during the previous elections. His acknowledgement of the few instances of violence and a commitment to correct these errors is laudable for this gives the assurance that there will be improved voters’ turn out once the electorate are reassured that they are safe.”