National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has sympathized with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the death of some of its members in a fatal accident on Otukpo-Agatu road in Benue State as they were travelling for the campaign flag-off of a senatorial candidate yesterday, Friday.
National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement today, Saturday, said the party is anguished and deeply saddened by the tragic accident.
“While we share the pains of the bereaved families, we also pray that those injured in the accident make a speedy and full recovery.
“As we mourn, the Party prays that the Almighty God give the bereaved families and other loved ones the strength to withstand the tragic loss and also grant the dead eternal rest.
“Political activities have expectedly heightened in the leadup to the 2019 General Elections. The APC urges all to ensure safety as we go about our respective campaign activities.
“We also call on relevant agencies charged with keeping transport routes and campaign grounds safe to ensure that the electioneering campaigns are as humanly possible devoid of avoidable accidents and incidents.”
President Buhari and other APC leaders waving supporters at the Akwa Ibom Campaign rally
Members of the Coalition of Kano State Markets Associations have promised to work for the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 Presidential election.
The Association, in an interactive session with the Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund), Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, vowed to mobilize electorates with a view to ensuring that Buhari returns to power with an overwhelming victory.
Chairman of the Coalition, Alhaji Uba Zubairu Yakasai, in his welcome remarks said that the Coalition is the umbrella body of all the market associations in the nooks and crannies of the state.
Yakasai commended the laudable initiatives of the federal government under President Buhari, especially in the area of security and new policies for the creation of conducive environment for business development and expansion.
Many of the representatives of the Market Associations who spoke reaffirmed their commitment to support the victory of President Buhari in the coming elections. They appealed to the government to support the traders who suffered a loss as a result of the fire and flood incidences in the various markets.
In his remarks, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, who is also the Director General of the One 2 Tell Ten, Buhari Support Group Movement (BSG), said that the essence of the dialogue was to identify the needs of the traders with a view to forwarding it to the Federal Government for consideration.
He assured the traders that the Federal Government is making elaborate arrangement to assist the victims of the inferno and other disasters.
The Director General told the traders that Buhari had a good intention for the country and its citizens and a vote for him would be a vote for the progress of the country.
He disclosed that already a philanthropist had requested for the list of fifty petty traders from across the state whose businesses collapsed for support and life line so that they can return to their businesses.
Dr. Bichi also called on members of the Coalition to take advantage of the federal government’s business and investment opportunities initiated towards improving their business and commercial activities.
He assured that President Buhari is very much committed to the Nigerian project, promising a lot of people-oriented projects to consolidate the gains of democracy in the country.
He said Kano state is the home state of Buhari, being the state giving the highest votes in all his political sojourns.
President Muhammadu Buhari has honoured late President Shehu Shagari, by directing that flags should fly at half-mast in military and para-military formations, as well as public buildings for three days, starting from Sunday, December 30, 2018.
In a statement today, Saturday, which he personally signed, President Buhari declared: “the late President represented almost the last link with the government of our Founding Fathers under Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. He was also the first elected President of Nigeria.
“The late Alhaji Shagari was a man of many parts: teacher, local authority administrator, politician, minister, and finally President. He served his country with dedication and moderation.
“Over the years, through interaction at the Council of State, he and I came to understand and appreciate each other, whatever the differences we may have had in the past.
“On behalf of the Federal Government, myself and family, I send my condolences to the people of Nigeria, particularly to the late President’s family and the Government and people of Sokoto State. May his soul rest in peace.”
University students, under the banner of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has expressed shock over the threat by the leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) not to go back to negotiating table with the Federal Government again.
In a statement today, Saturday, NANS National Public Relations Officer, Bestman Okereafor, stressed the need for the leadership of ASUU to return to the negotiation table to ensure amicable resolution of the conflict.
“There is a need for ASUU to continue its negotiations with the Federal Government to find a common ground to resolve issues that led to the union’s ongoing strike.
“We consider this decision as devilish and not in the best interest of Nigerian students.
“We wonder how the lingering disputes will be resolved if meetings are boycotted.
“We are calling on the leadership of ASUU to reverse its decision and consider returning to the negotiation table.”
The students’ umbrella body advised the lecturers to work towards resolving the dispute and suspend the strike before January 1, 2019 in the interest of Nigerian students.
President Muhammadu Buhari has extolled the many virtues of the first Executive President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari whom he said lived to ripe age before he died today, Friday at the National Hospital, Abuja.
The President, who expressed pressed great sadness over his death, is however, grateful to God that Shehu Shagari lived to a ripe age and led an exemplary life, which he advised Nigerians of all walks of life to emulate.
“Nigerians held him in the highest esteem even when he was out of office until his demise and will forever miss his wise counsels.”
In a statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, the President described the death as the departure of a patriot whose life of service and humility was widely acknowledged.
Buhari recalled part of the birthday message he sent to Shehu Shagari in February this year, when he said: “ we are enthralled and regaled with the many years of unequalled patriotism, sacrifices and contributions to national development. More specifically, we celebrate the role modelling qualities of integrity, diligence and humility that have been the hallmark of your visionary leadership.”
The President prayed that Almighty God will comfort the family of the ex-president and all those who mourn him and will grant the soul of the late nonagenarian eternal rest.
Also, the Presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar expressed shock at the death of the former President, describing him as patriotic Nigerian whose life was a pattern of good works.
Atiku said that late Shagari was a completely detribalised Nigerian who served Nigeria from his youth to the evening of his life, first as a teacher and moulder of minds and later as a leader and moulder of nations.
“His election as the first executive President of Nigeria on October 1, 1979 brought relief to the nation and began the process of ending tribal politics, especially as he brought the Southeast into the political mainstream by naming Dr. Alex Ekwueme as his running mate.
“After his unplanned and untimely departure from office, he continued to devote his time and effort to nation building through the elder statesmanly role he played, including during my time in office as Vice President.
“We shared a lot in common. Like me, he held the official title of Turaki, a position of great trust. And like myself, he believed in empowering the masses, which he did through his Green Revolution.
“President Shagari was meek and gentle, yet had a firm resolve and these traits led to the golden age of Nigeria’s diplomacy under his leadership.
“He was led by the power of love, rather than the love of power, as evident from the fact that he never craved political office. Power came to him because of his character. Those who knew him reported that he had only one motive for being in office – service. He will be greatly missed.
“May his soul rest in peace and may Almighty Allah grant him al-janna Firdaus.”
A group, Buhari Media Organization (BMO) has made it clear that the campaign of lies and falsehood launched against President Muhammadu Buhari and members of his family by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar will not stick.
The group insistd in a statement today, Friday, that President Buhari’s integrity is unassailable and it cannot be brought down to the same integrity level with Atiku.
The statementby Niyi Akinsiju, its Chairman and Cassidy Madueke its Secretary, said that the Atiku Campaign had recently embarked on a lying spree aimed at damaging the character of the President, in the bid to bring President Buhari to be on the same moral pedestal as Atiku.
“The new campaign by Atiku and his party to throw falsehood in the air, aimed at attacking President Buhari’s character, is a failed mission. President Buhari has maintained an unassailable integrity throughout his public life, the same cannot be said of Atiku whose former boss has described him as a man that cannot be trusted.”
“The PDP want to place President Buhari and Atiku as if they are the same on the issue of integrity, hence the recent launch of fake news stories claiming the President and members of his family own properties and shares even where there is no iota of evidence to prove their points.
“The only thing that Atiku shares in common with President Buhari is their age group, asides that Atiku cannot stand anywhere close to President Buhari – not even on the matter of integrity.”
The group said that the claims my Buba Galadima that the President and members of his family owned properties and were now billionaires are a concocted story by a frustrated old man who lost his friendship with President Buhari due to his corrupt and morally deficient lifestyle.
“Buba Galadima’s comments can be seen from two perspectives: he is either a chronic liar or he is hallucinating, or both. A man of his age coming on National Television to tell such kindergarten lies is not just shameful but shows how morally low members of the PDP can go.”
“Furthermore, the claim by Atiku Abubakar that the authorities should probe the new ownership of Keystone Bank and Etisalat Nigeria by members of President Buhari’s family was a foolish call made with no iota of evidence to support their hallucinations.”
The group noted that Atiku Abubakar is an unrepentant liar who tells lies every time he speaks.
“Atiku would tell a lie every time he opens his mouth to speak. He recently desecrated Christmas Day by blatantly lying to Nigerians and recording a hoax video of a call to the widow of a slain soldier. The widow came out and said he never called. So who was Atiku talking to in the hoax video?”
“Atiku had also lied to Nigerians that he would address a Press Conference on December 14th, 2018, in the United States, that date has passed, and he is yet to address any conference.”
The group called on Atiku to begin to reconcile himself with his creator as he is growing old and desist from his penchant for telling lies.
The Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) and the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) have committed the greatest self-deprecating blunder yet by selecting only five presidential and vice presidential candidates for their organised debates, regardless of whatever parameters were used. An otherwise engaging and illuminating episodic medium beamed on live television, for interrogating folks, who seek Nigeria’s presidency, has lost its gravitas on the altar of indiscretion and flawed decision.
Indeed, in a situation of partisan frenzy, where bias is easily insinuated into political and election processes, it has become convenient for the vast majority of the presidential/vice presidential candidates, excluded from the rigorous intellectual intercourse, to accuse BON/NEDG of rigging the process against them. Such accusation is justifiable.
Clearly, this gaffe would impact voting-behaviours and choices in the impending presidential election. The BON/NEDG may have wittingly or unwittingly created a problem of perception for the over 30 other parties whose presidential and vice presidential candidates have been excluded from the debates.
Given the massive effort and resources that many of the parties and their candidates have invested in the presidential enterprise, it would be unfair for anybody to take actions that would undercut their profiles. But the organisers’ decision has subtracted from the profiles of the excluded candidates and their parties.
The idea of restricting the number of participants in a setting, where egalitarianism is the defining feature of democratic choice, was writ large and, therefore bruised the ethos of plurality of views that democracy espouses. It is thus inconceivable that the media, the fourth estate of the realm, would lend itself to an unconscionable abridgement of space and right of expression of political views that would guide popular choice(s).
That BON/NEDG caved in under the pressure of expediency to limit participation in the debate to five parties is evident but not salutary. Whether the pressure was internally or externally-induced, it does not matter as nothing can insulate the body against the charge of bias in the decision to construct a situation in which more than thirty political parties and their presidential/vice presidential candidates were whimsically rigged out of the debates.
Equity, equality and good conscience should have guided the platform’s decision-making to accommodate all and sundry in the 2018/2019 presidential and vice presidential debates. This is because the debates provide opportunities for Nigerians to assess the quality of the candidates. The vice presidential debate had already been held and televised live on December 14, 2018 while the presidential debate has been scheduled to hold on January 19, 2019.
If the organisers of the debates were considering the sheer number of the parties and the candidates as unwieldy, should they not have considered a series of debates, structured into different sessions? Having committed the egregious mistake, not only have they been exposed to public resentment, they have also heightened anxiety in political circles ahead of the 2019 poll.
The unfair parameters for choosing candidates for the debates cannot, therefore, escape essential indictment. It does not matter how brilliantly they are rationalized. If nationwide spread was to be the sole parameter, perhaps only the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would have been qualified to participate in the debate. But the task to rescue Nigeria is beyond spread that confers advantage on the duo.
Furthermore, if intellectual depth and capacity of candidates were to be the other considerations, so many candidates should have been qualified. This is the matrix that the organisers should have emphasized to enable the ventilation of plurality of ideas on how to build a better Nigeria. That the BON/NEDG qualified Professor Kingsley Moghalu of Young Progressive Party (YPP); Oby Ezekwesili of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN); and Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) was also not redeeming.
The decision was, rather, indicative of how premeditative and restrictive the organisers set out to be. The prior knowledge of the public space exertions by the trio, no doubt, influenced BON/NEDG’s decision to be partial in a matter in which the nuances of all political interests should have been accommodated. Unfortunately, they have bungled it. Even the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may not have been this brazen.
Again, had the BON/NEDG accommodated the presidential candidates of People’s Trust (PT), Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim; African Action Congress (AAC), Mr. Omoyele Sowore; Action Democratic Party (ADP), Engineer Yusuf Yabagi Sani and, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr. Donald Duke or Professor Jerry Gana, who are intellectually sound without the other seemingly unknown parties and candidates, they (organisers) would still have been deficient and biased.
But having rationally considered the entire field based on media reports, the presidential candidature of Olawepo-Hashim, in particular, has enjoyed increasing print and electronic media visibility, social media engagements and growing electoral value and popularity, resulting in critical endorsements and political alliances that approximate a third force in the 2019 presidential race. His late entry into the presidential race, first on the platform of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), notwithstanding, he was able to give the party a cutting edge position.
Olawepo-Hashim came with the force of his progressive ideas and intimidating pedigree in student activism, pan-Nigerian democratic struggles- during which he put his life on the line- and robust political participation that saw to his emergence as the first National Publicity Secretary of the PDP. Jittery forces in power fractured the ANN but his faction, after electing him as the presidential candidate, sealed an alliance deal with People’s Trust (PT), resulting in his adoption as PT’s presidential candidate in the forthcoming election.
His choice of statesman and nationalist, Dr Arthur Nwankwo of the defunct Eastern Mandate Union, as a running mate, produced a balanced ticket in terms of synthesis of passion for nationalism and synergy of spirit for progressive ideas and ideals. In the labyrinth of the quest for a formidable and credible third force, Olawepo-Hashim has become a rallying point on the PT platform, inspiring and consummating strategic alliances and collaborations in episodic manifestations.
First to step down for him within his party was a veteran of presidential politics, Alhaji Ibrahim Iro Dan-Musa; followed by a presidential aspirant of the ADP, Mr. Mathias Tsado and the presidential candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Prince Eniola Ojajuni. AD has the historical distinction of being one of the three parties that were formed at the outset of the current Fourth Republic democracy. The structural expansion that has resulted from these alliances has been incredible, leading to PT’s solid structures and presence in no fewer than 28 states.
Besides, given the tenor of his electioneering – creating a 4-trillion dollar economy in ten years, building a better Nigeria, providing better life for rural poor, especially, women and youth, etc., Olawepo-Hashim has generated intense social media engagements, principally on Face book, displacing Atiku Abubakar and Muhammadu Buhari to the second and third places respectively.
Remarkably, his PT platform is next to the APC and the PDP in terms of sponsorship of candidates in the series of elections in 2019, surpassing in number candidates fielded by the YPP, ANN, ACPN and AAC put together. That makes PT the most formidable and attractive third force.
Both the platform and Olawepo-Hashim are sui generis in terms of their acceptability and popularity in the forthcoming general election. Therefore, in the final analysis, the BON/NEDG failed to do due diligence in foisting the fait accompli of a rigged debate on Nigerians. Whereas, it should have fairly accommodated all – that not being the case, the whole exercise of debating has become more notional than utilitarian in helping Nigerians and the electorate to make balanced and informed choices.
President Muhammadu Buhari, in full Akwa Ibom traditional attires as he arrived Uyo, the State Capital, today, Friday, Dec 28, to flag off the South South zonal campaign for the 2019 Presidential election under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The dizzying crowd that turned up to cheer President Buhari in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibo State, at the South South zonal campaign for his second term in the 2019 Presidential election.
Information reaching us said that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) struck and leveled Boko Haram insurgents hiding in a military base in Baga, Borno State in a gallant display of military counter-attack.
It was learnt that NAF scrambled its fighter-aircrafts including Alpha jets, Mi 25 attack helicopters for the decisive bombardments.
A top military intelligence officer said that the Nigerian Airforce sustained the aerial bombardments after a tactical withdrawal of troops from the military base.
“The Nigerian Air Force in response to distress call quickly mobilized military aircraft and flew over 20 sorties Wednesday night and throughout Thursday. Some Boko Haram insurgents had earlier launched an attack at the military formation after tactical withdrawal of our troops.
“The NAF also launched a coordinated missile raid on the routes as the terrorists fled towards Doro-Baga and other axes
“After the ground troops had withdrawn from the base, some of the insurgents moved in and pretended to be soldiers, before they were bombarded.
“Meanwhile the Nigerian Airforce has continued to provide Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) functions needed by troops in the ongoing reinforcements to fully recapture and occupy the areas.”
It was gathered that there are reinforcements from the ground troops in Damasak and Mongonu axis in North-Eastern Nigeria.
The Nigeria police has made it clear that it had not dismissed 121 officers as claimed in an online newspaper publication.
“The Force is categorically stating that the story in its entirety is a fake news and not credible, and should be disregarded and discountenance by the public. No Police officer has been dismissed among the 2000 Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel deployed to the North East.
In a statement today, Friday by the Force spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, the police explained that the police officers and men who are found wanting in any way in the discharge of their statutory duties usually go through internal disciplinary procedures and if found guilty are either dismissed from the Force or given commensurate punishment(s).
The statement added that in this case, no officer was tried in orderly trial for any offence, disciplinary or otherwise that will warrant dismissal from the Force and none was dismissed.
“The writer of the story ignorantly and for mischievous reasons relied on forged counterfeit documents which did not emanate from the Force as the basis for his story; it is a crime under the penal and criminal code laws to tell falsehood with intent to mislead the public to acts that can cause disturbance of public peace and public disobedience.
“For avoidance of doubt, the Inspector General of Police did not order the dismissal of 121 police officers as claimed by the Premium Times reporter (Samuel Ogundipe). The story is evidently the characteristics mindset and pattern of the writer to deride and castigate public institutions, such as the Nigeria Police Force without any fact whatsoever.
“The pronouncement of dismissal of Police officers from the Force to the public is the responsibility of the Force Public Relations Officer and not that of the writer of the story.
“It would be recalled that on the 26th December, 2018, the Force debunked a fake and misleading report from premium times online publication that 167 out the 2000 additional Police Officers recently deployed by the IGP to the North East absconded and the attached list of personnel and the police signal were discovered to be forged documents.
“The Force therefore, implores the public to be aware that the story is ill-motive, orchestrated to puncture the morale of officers and men of the Force engaged in the fight against insurgency in the North East and other Police personnel carrying out core Police duties to protect lives and property of all Nigerians across the Country, and this should be condemned by all.
“The Force will no longer tolerate or condone deliberate mischief and reckless publications aimed at defaming and derogating the integrity of the service from any individual(s) or group (s). The full weight of the law will be applied to protect the image of the service.
“The Nigeria Police Force is assuring the Media of a continuous cooperation in guaranteeing public safety and security across the Country, however, it is important for Premium Times Online Publishers to consider National Security and public interest as paramount above sensational publications.”
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President Muhammadu Buhari has extolled the many virtues of the first Executive President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari whom he said lived to ripe age before he died today, Friday at the National Hospital, Abuja.
The Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) and the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) have committed the greatest self-deprecating blunder yet by selecting only five presidential and vice presidential candidates for their organised debates, regardless of whatever parameters were used. An otherwise engaging and illuminating episodic medium beamed on live television, for interrogating folks, who seek Nigeria’s presidency, has lost its gravitas on the altar of indiscretion and flawed decision.
President Muhammadu Buhari, in full Akwa Ibom traditional attires as he arrived Uyo, the State Capital, today, Friday, Dec 28, to flag off the South South zonal campaign for the 2019 Presidential election under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Information reaching us said that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) struck and leveled Boko Haram insurgents hiding in a military base in Baga, Borno State in a gallant display of military counter-attack.
