2023: I Will Assemble Best Team Ever, To Do The Following If…Tinubu In Jos

November 15, 2022

The Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that he would assemble the best team ever to move the country in all aspects to the next level.

“Under this hopeful pact, we will assemble the best team.

“We shall build on progress in the agricultural sector by establishing commodity boards guaranteeing minimal prices for strategic crops.

“We shall create agricultural and industrial hubs in all zones.

Tinubu, who rolled out numerous development agenda, at the Flagg off of the APC presidential campaign today, November 15 in Jos, capital of Plateau State, said that Nigerians will witness water catchment and irrigation systems to help farming while mitigating the dire effects of drought and flooding brought about by a changing climate.

“We will encourage urban employment through a national industrial plan that employs a series of measures including tax and employment credits.

“We will deepen the knowledge economy. Millions of the tech savvy, innovative youth will benefit as will our overall economy. talented youth will find a place in our government.

“We will bring greater power through natural gas and reasonable reform of the entire power sector.

“Our government will continue the infrastructural expansion so the overall economy may continue to expand in lockstep.

“Most importantly, I will give utmost priority to extinguishing terrorists and violent criminals. We shall augment our military, police and security personnel while providing them with better tactical communication and mobility. We will employhi-tech aerial surveillance to track and attack these menaces.

“These evil forces seek to destroy our democratic way of life. I have news for them. We will defeat their destructive way of life. They shall be utterly defeated and vanquished from our soil.”

Tinubu, whose speech was later interpreted in Hausa language by his running mate, Kashim Shettima, praised Nigerians for believing in the APC to lead the country to progress after years of backwardness under the PDP administration by declaring “hope is back.”

He said the campaign was starting in Plateau, a place that properly shows Nigeria’s vast potentials.

“One can see greater prosperity and jobs in an economy humming with activity. From the farmer in the rural area to the city boy in a bustling urban centre, each will have productive work to do and a decent home to return to.

“One can see a Nigeria where all who want to will be able to build a decent life from the fruits of their individual and collective endeavour.

“From this fine vantage point, we see how far we have come. We also see how far we must go and the road that will take us there.”

Tinubu praised President Muhammadu Buhari for his presence at the flagoff and the great foundation he has laid for the nation, which his incoming administration plans to build on.

“I am deeply honoured for the presence of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari. As campaign chairman, he promised to lead from the front. A man of his word, President Buhari has done what he said and more.

“Mr. President, you have provided exceptional service to the nation and party. Your contributions are both positive and enduring. When the history of this period is objectively written, it will smile upon you and treat you with utmost kindness,” he added.

He also praised Adamu for leading the APC and steadying the ship of the party since assuming office as national chairman.

On his plans for the country if elected president, Tinubu said unlike other parties who are either dwelling on a fruitless past or a tomorrow of fantasies, his administration hopes to chart the course of progress already stated by the Buhari administration.

“We hereby reaffirm our commitment to progressive good governance and to the fruits that such governance can bring to this nation.

“February 2023 is more than an election. It is a fight to define the soul of the nation and to determine our collective fate. Do we adhere to the ideals of broadly shared prosperity, competence, peace, justice and compassion toward all? Or do we toss these ideals away, lashing ourselves to the divisive politics of the past or to those whose rantings show they cannot distinguish between fact and fantasy.

“One party wants to take us back to a past that never should have been. Another party wants to take us to a past that resides only in its candidate’s head. Neither the old road nor the fantasy road is good enough.

“Instead, we forge the wiser path toward our approved destination — an even better Nigeria. This is what the election is truly about,” he added.

To ensure overall energy security and resource mobilization for the country, Tinubu promised to continue the ongoing exploration works in all frontier basins and especially speed up the development of the commercial oil find in Gombe/ Bauchi states.

Reeling out the succeses of the Buhari administration, Tinubu said there was massive development in the agricultural, infrastructure and power sectors in the last eight years of the APC government.

According to him, these foundations now require more builders to make it a massive structure, calling on all Nigerians to embark on the journey with him.

“Here, I thank president Buhari again because he has truly established a strong foundation for the things we are now to do.

“The Buhari administration achieved things in the agricultural, infrastructural, and power sector no other administration has done. Additionally, his government liberated hundreds of communities from terrorists and brought thousands of displaced persons back to their homes.

“Truly the foundation has been set. It is now time to call more builders forward to further construct the national edifice that will be our best home. We, the APC and the Tinubu/Shettima team, seek to make permanent a covenant of progressive good governance with the people.”

The flag off had in attendance Vice Presidential Candidate Senator Kashim Shettima, Senate President Ahmed Lawan and Speaker of the House Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila.

In attendance were Governors Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq (Kwara), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Abubakar Sani-Bello (Niger), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Prof. Ben Ayade (Crossrivers) Governors Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Lagos Deputy Governor Femi Hamzat, former Bauchi governor Mohammed Abubakar, former Ekiti governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Borno, Modu Ali-Sheriff, and former Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi.

There were also Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of APC Presidential Candidate, Hajiya Nana Shettima, wife of the Vice Presidential Candidate Shettima, both of who also addressed the rally, and Dr. Ibijoke Sanwoolu, wife of Governor Sanwoolu of Lagos, ministers and members of APC National Working Committee.

While addressing the rally, both the National Chairman of the party and the Chairman, Progressives Governors’ Forum who is also the governor of Kebbi, Bagudu, commended President Buhari for his achievements, saying he would be leaving behind important legacies in democracy, good governance, infrastructure development and economic growth particularly in the area of agriculture and food security.

The Director-General of the Tinubu/Shettima Campaigns and governor of Plateau, Hon. Simon Lalong, said Tinubu who is described as City Boy of Lagos is now City Boy of the Plateau.

On his part President Buhari presented the party’s flag to Asiwaju Tinubu to formally present him to Nigerians as the symbol of the party in the coming presidential election.

2023: I Swear, No Candidate Will Be Denied Of Electoral Victory, Irrespective Of Party – Buhari

Editorial staff

November 15, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari has made it abundantly clear that no candidate of any political party will be denied electoral victory in the 2023 elections.

Buhari, who joined capacity crowd at the Jos township stadium to flag off the Presidential campaign of Tinubu-Shettima, flag bearers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 presidential contest, said today, November 15, before the rally at the palace of Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, that he is committed to ensuring that every vote counts.

“No election winner will be denied his mandate, irrespective of the party to which they belonged.”

The President was apparently referring to the Campaign Director-General, Governor Simon Lalong, who announced the intention to recreate the SDP-Moshood Abiola historic victory in 2023 in a campaign that took off in the same city 3o years ago. That election victory was annulled by the military.

While handing the APC flag to the candidate at the tumultuous occasion, President Buhari said the country needed a man like Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

He called on the party faithful to campaign on issues and the abilities of the candidate and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.

The President reiterated his earlier assurances that he will be at the forefront of this campaign because of his belief in the party.

The President said that it is only the APC that can steer Nigeria to fulfill its historic purpose, adding that working together with the leadership of the party, the campaign council, and its teeming supporters, the goal will be achieved.

The Chairman of the party, Senator Adamu led other party stalwarts, including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to call on Nigerians to vote for the APC ticket which is the surest way to the prosperity for the country.

Peter Obi’s Team To Soludo: We Won’t Respond To Your Personal Vendetta

Editorial staff

November 15, 2022

Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organization has made it clear that the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi is too busy trying to convince the Nigerian electorate to vote for him rather than engaging in verbal warfare with the Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo.

The spokesperson of the Presidential Campaign Organisation, Ndi Kato, made this position known in a statement today, November 15, responding to Governor Soludo, who yesterday, wrote a lengthy statement, saying that Obi knows he cannot win the presidential election.

Obi’s campaign team said that rather than dissipate energy responding to the fallacies contained in Soludo’s article, Peter Obi would remain focused on galvanising support for his vision.

“We read with amusement and dismay, a very lengthy and belaboured treatise of an article, written by Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State, focused on our Presidential Candidate, His Excellency Peter Obi.

“It seems obvious that Professor Soludo is itching for limelight, in this election season, perhaps fired up by possible understanding or alliance with our struggling political opponents.

“While we note the glaring fallacies, misrepresentations, personal insinuations and signs of personal vendetta in that long writeup, neither His Excellency Peter Obi, The Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation, nor the Labour Party, for that matter, has any interest in an extended engagement with Prof. Soludo this critical time when there is a bigger fish to fry.

“His Excellency Peter Obi has his work well cut-out for him, this campaign season.

“Primarily, he is accelerating his reach-out and influence to all Nigerians, rural and urban, in all areas, regions and states; and firmly engaging them, on his critical and visionary plans to take the country from consumption to production.

“In doing this, Mr. Peter Obi is firmly placing the Youths, intensive Agricultural revolution, and revamping of critical areas of the economy as part of the focal points in the drive to turn around our fortunes and take back our country.

“We, the Youths, spreading across partisan political lines, have found reason to place the highest level of trust and confidence in HE Peter Obi, and we are committed to continuing partnership with him, transparently, vigorously and creatively, to bring to fruition, the vital changes urgently required in this our country, of so much potential.

“We strongly believe that A New Nigeria is possible… and together with Peter Obi, we are working to make this a reality.

“This is our focus; this is our occupation.. and we shall not be distracted.”

Soludo Mocks Fellow Igbos: We Can’t Produce President By “Nzogbu Nzogbu” Politics

Editorial staff

November 15, 2022

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo has mocked his fellow Igbos from Southeast Nigeria, saying that they cannot produce Nigeria’s President until they properly learn the country’s politics.

He said: “frenzied nzogbu nzogbu politics” (war song) won’t favour the Southeast.

“Igbos, in their frenzied nzogbu nzogbu politics, have sadly found themselves in a political cul- de-sac. Tragic indeed! When will my people smell the morning coffee?

“When will Ndigbo understand and learn politics, especially of Nigeria?”

The Anambra state governor made this point today, November 14, on his Facebook page.

According to him, the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is not a sure route to Igbo presidency.

Soludo was responding to criticisms that greeted his earlier comment at an interview where he described Peter Obi’s investments for Anambra to be “worth next to nothing.”

Soludo, who was once the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), advised Igbos to align with his All Progressives Grand Alliance party (APGA), saying that under Tinubu, the Southwest strategically organised under a different political party, the ACN and went into a formidable alliance that kicked out a sitting president.

The Governor’s statement runs contrary to the clamour for a president of Southeast extraction.

I’ve Told Peter Obi: You Can’t Win Presidential Election – Anambra Gov, Soludo

Editorial staff

November 15, 2022

The Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has said that he had personally told the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi that he will not win the 2023 Presidential election, and may not even place third position.

Governor Soludo, in an article today, November 14, titled: ‘History Beckons and I Will Not Be Silent (Part 1), 21st Century Chronicle reports,’ said: Peter Obi knows that he can’t and won’t win. He knows the game he is playing, and we know too; and he knows that we know.”

The article reads in part: “So I already told him my opinion. Indeed, there is no credible pathway for him near the first two positions, and if care is not taken, he won’t even be near the third position.

“Let’s be clear: Peter Obi knows that he can’t and won’t win. He knows the game he is playing, and we know too; and he knows that we know.

“The game he is playing is the main reason he didn’t return to APGA. The brutal truth (and some will say, God forbid) is that there are two persons/parties seriously contesting for president: the rest is exciting drama!

“That many Americans may not like the fact that Joe Biden (79 years) and Donald Trump (76 years) are two frontrunners for president in their parties does not remove the fact that if both of them emerge as candidates, definitely one of them will be president in 2024.

“As my brother, I wish him well and even pray for him. I told him during his courtesy call that my prayer is that himself or Prof Umeadi of APGA would win, why not?

“That is from my heart, but I also told him that my head and facts on the ground led me to know that it’s probability is next to zero (what I cannot say before you, I won’t say behind you).”

Appeal Court Sacks Akpabio As APC Senatorial Candidate In Akwa Ibom State

Editorial staff

November 14, 2022

The Abuja division of the Court of Appeal has sacked Godswill Akpabio, setting aside the Judgment of Federal High Court Abuja on his All Progressives Congress (APC) candidacy of the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.

A three-member panel of justices lec by Justice Danlami Senchi, today, November 14, held that Akpabio failed to file a proof of arguments within the time provided by the rules.

The panel further ruled that Akpabio, being a presidential aspirant of the APC, could not participate in the valid primary of the party held on May 27 and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which produced Udom Ekpoudom as a candidate.

A Federal High Court in Abuja had on September 22, asked INEC to reinstate Senator Akpabio as APC’s candidate, being the candidate nominated by the party in the second primary of June 9.

The lower court had directed that INEC should accept Akpabio, who is former Minister of Niger Delta as the APC flagbearer.

The court also ordered INEC to publish Akpabio’s name as APC senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North/West senatorial district in 2023, saying that the Commission acted illegally by refusing to accept and publish the former governor’s name when it was submitted to it by the APC as its candidate.

Justice Emeka Nwite, who delivered judgment, held that Akpabio was validly nominated as the Akwa – Ibom North/West Senatorial District candidate of the APC from the primary conducted by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on June 9, 2022.

The trial Judge faulted INEC for electing to monitor the May 27 primary, conducted by an illegal faction of the party, led by Augustine Ekanem as against the June 9 primary authorized conducted by the APC NWC.

Broadcasting Commission Fines Arise TV N2 Million Over Fake News On Tinubu

Editorial staff

November 14, 2022

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has meted out punishment on Arise TV, asking it to pay a fine of N2 Million for breaching the broadcasting code through the airing of a fake report about the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

The punishment came on the heel of a petition by the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the party, signed by the Special Adviser, Media, Communications and Public Affairs of the PCC, Dele Alake, addressed to the Director-General of the NBC, Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, accusing the station of breaching the broadcasting code.

The fine was contained in a letter dated 13 November 2022 and addressed to the management of the station.

The letter, signed by the Director General of the Commission, said that the station failed to comply by the broadcasting code for airing a press statement purportedly signed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The commission said that the infraction was allowed to happen despite its recent sensitization programme for all broadcasters.

Tinubu Campaign Team Petitions Against Arise, Channels TVs To NBC Over Fake News

Editorial staff

November 14, 2022

The Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has petitioned the National Broadcasting Commission, asking for sanctions against Arise News and Channels TV in respect of their fake reports on the APC Presidential Candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a petition signed by the Special Adviser, Media, Communications and Public Affairs of the PCC, Dele Alake, and addressed to the Director-General, Balarabe Shehu Ilelah both television stations were accused of breaching broadcast codes with their actions.

According Dele Alake, the purported indictment against Asiwaju Tinubu as reported and discussed on Arise News and Channels TV had already been cleared in a correspondence between the then Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun and the US government.

The Council said that the continued broadcast of a non-existing ‘indictment’ violated the NBC code.

“The case in question, which did not indict our candidate, has since been overtaken by events after interrogation and correspondences between then Inspector General of Police Tafa Balogun in 2003 and the United States government. The US Justice Department in a letter dated 4th February, 2003, issued by the Lagos Consulate of the United States Embassy cleared our candidate. The letter was signed by Michael Bonner, the Consulate’s legal attache.

“The Campaign Council was therefore surprised that certain media houses, such as ARISE News and Channels TV among others, went ahead to transmit and broadcast issues purportedly indicting our candidate in violation of section 3,3 I of the Code which says that:

“The Broadcaster shall

(a) Ensure that any information given in a programme in whatever form is accurate’,

“We believe that the operators of the stations, by their professional standing, should have access to research platforms to verify information before dishing it to the public,” the petition read.

It accused both stations of using the already cleared document in their interviews of Festus Keyamo SAN and spokesman of the opposition PDP respectively.

Both stations, the petition said, went further to broadcast a fake letter in circulation, purportedly issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission, stating that the electoral body was investigating Tinubu.

This was also against the NBC code, which forbids broadcasting fake news in the words of Mr. Alake.

“Notwithstanding the broadcast of the falsehood peddled by opposition elements, ARISE TV and Channels TV went ahead to transmit and circulate a fake letter insinuating that the Independent National Electoral Commission has initiated an investigation of the APC Presidential candidate premised on the fake letter in circulation.

“Section 5.1.2 states that ‘The Broadcaster shall present news as factual and in correct and fair manner without (a) Distortion, Exaggerations or Misrepresentation.

“Section 5.1.3 further states that ‘Fake News is prohibited’.

“The fake INEC letter has been proven to be fake and this breach is tantamount to disinformation.”

The APC Presidential Campaign Council listed other infractions against Arise TV which has been known to carry fake reports against Asiwaju Tinubu.

“Arise TV has admitted guilt to this in a broadcast few days ago. We make bold to say that in 2014 the AIT transmitted a TV documentary “The Lion of Bourdillon” to which the NBC sanctioned it and it apologized to the victim.

“However, only last week Chief Bode George, a chieftain of the PDP in an interview on Arise TV referred to materials from the documentary to vilify our Presidential candidate in breach of the Code and the apology granted the victim.

“These breaches attract a sanction of Class B and we implore the National Broadcasting Commission to invoke the aforementioned sections to penalize ARISE TV and Channels TV for breach of the Broadcast code. Section 5.3.3 of the code states that “The Broadcaster shall (b) in using Political materials for News and current Affairs Programmes avoid hate speech, inflammatory, Derogatory and Divisive remarks or Allusions’.”

The party said the events “vilified and denigrated” Asiwaju Tinubu as an indicted offender and law breaker in the US”.

“As a matter of seeking justice for the APC presidential candidate, the PCC is asking the NBC to invoke the appropriate sanctions against the offending television stations.

“Our Presidential candidate was vilified and denigrated as an indicted offender and law breaker in the US court case by ARISE TV and Channels TV during their broadcasts in the last week, such as The Morning Show and Politics Today respectively.

“Section 3.1.2 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code also states that-

‘The Broadcaster shall not transmit any programme, programme promotion, community service announcement or station identity which is likely in any circumstance to provoke or perpetuate in a reasonable person intense dislike, serious contempt or severe ridicule against a person or groups of people..

“For the effect of reference of powers to sanction erring broadcasters, The Code states in Chapter One, Section 1.1 (h) ‘The Power to establish and disseminate the code is derived from the provisions of Section 2 (1) (h) of the NBC Act, which is its enabling law.

“We hereby request the National Broadcasting Commission to sanction the offending Stations in the name of justice and in protection of the rights of our candidate as well as avoidance of future reoccurrence,” Alake said in the petition.

Nigeria Has No Debt Problem, Vice President Osinbajo Insists

Editorial staff

November 14, 2022

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has insisted that Nigeria doesn’t have debt problem.
“On the positive side, the economy continues to grow with GDP growth at 3.54% in the 2nd quarter of this year. Non-oil revenues have similarly continued to improve due in part to strategic revenue initiatives, including the annual Finance Act.”
“But it is still our revenue challenges that heighten the notion that we have a debt problem, which is really not the case, given that our debt/GDP ratio is just 23%.”
Professor Osinbajo, who spoke today, November 14 on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, at the opening event of this year’s National Economic Summit, said that though the country’s current debt service to revenue ratio is high, but that “unlike in the past, when we were not keeping a close eye on debt matters, the creation of the Debt Management Office means that we are better able to adopt strategies to manage our debt, including using more concessional loans, spreading out our debt maturities and re-financing short-term debt with longer-term debt instruments.”
“This is why increasing revenues should engage most of the attention.
“We have already seen real improvements in our non-oil revenues, but our focus must now be on productivity or encouraging value addition. Productivity and value addition means creation of traceable value; it means jobs, opportunities, and more tax revenues.”
“To increase productivity, we must free up our environment for business, make local and international trade easier by fixing the ports, effecting the National Single Window, revamping our Customs processes and Tariff codes to reduce delays and arbitrariness, removing needless restrictions on imports to enable value added processes.”
Professor Osinbajo emphasized that Nigeria must also press its advantage in renewable energy, noting that “the future are the jobs and opportunities from the green economy.”
“Solar Power Naija programme launched under the Economic Sustainability Plan which is designed to achieve 5 million solar connections impacting over 25 million Nigerians will contribute in this regard. But the impact includes opportunities in manufacturing and maintaining solar equipment and facilities.”
He also highlighted local security and economic challenges, global turbulence on the political, economic and social fronts, including the Russia-Ukraine war and global tensions, which he noted “is impacting Africa, including through higher food prices and disruptions to democratic governance.”
The Vice President said that with global economy still recovering from the effects of COVID-19, as well as the challenges posed by climate change, which has caused flooding in several states in Nigeria, “it is clear that our work is cut out and we have to choose our priorities going forward very carefully.

“There are a whole gamut of things that require our attention and many are well captured in the National Development Plan 2021 to 2025.”
On the volatility of the country’s exchange rate, Professor Osinbajo said that the discussion that “we must have, shorn of sentiments, is how best to manage the situation by finding a mechanism for increasing supply and moderating demand, which will be transparent and will boost confidence.”
The Vice President emphasized the need for urgent action to reduce inflation, noting that inflation is both a tax on the poor and disrupts long term growth.
In addition to the monetary measures being taken by the Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Osinbajo said: “we would need to increase domestic production of food and ensure that it gets to the market.”
“In this regard, we must pay closer attention to the institutional insight of the Agriculture for Food and Jobs Programme of the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP), which sought to support small scale farmers by guaranteeing uptake of their production through enabling bigger farmers, suppliers to manufacturing companies and commodity exchanges to support them across every stage of production.”

Tyranny Of The Vocal Minority, By Fredrick Nwabufo

Editorial staff

November 14, 2022

It must be their way or the highway to hell. These are intellectual indigents who have secured residence on different social media platforms. They maul and bludgeon anyone who differs from the herd. According to them, death is the penalty for differing. But this insidious mob can have their say; they cannot have their way.

While Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has steadied his campaign on critical issues – economy, security, education, healthcare and the like – some other presidential candidates have been dutiful in advancing hate and fake news.

It is dispiriting that some young people enlist themselves into morbid mobs to tear down divergent voices for some assumed political messiahs. Patriotism is defined around the choice of candidate, and not on allegiance to national ideals. It is very unfortunate.

Youth unemployment should be a critical issue this season. The current unemployment rate is put at 33 percent. It is really concerning. There is no doubt that this is a vector of a spectrum of social anomalies. With a youth population of over 120 million, it is imperative that young people are at the heart of policymaking in Nigeria.

In his Action Plan concepted as ‘Renewed Hope’, Tinubu delineated seminal elements to harnessing youth potential. He says, as president, the youth will not be exploited to do the bidding of the government. He says his administration will aim to cut the youth unemployment rate in half within four years through entrepreneurship and job creation as well as through social and political empowerment.

On the entrepreneurship and job creation plank, Tinubu says his government will work with the CBN to develop suitable incentives to encourage commercial banks to target low-cost loans towards a given quota of youth-led enterprises. He says commercial banks will also be encouraged to ensure their loan application processes are simplified and give greater priority to young people with marketable ideas, and that federally owned and affiliated banking institutions will immediately be mandated to develop similar schemes for young entrepreneurs.

The APC presidential candidate says there will be an increase in intergenerational, business mentoring and cooperation with two million volunteer entrepreneurs and professionals across the nation committed to working with the youth to find employment, hone job skills and create businesses.

This is clearly a plan and an antiserum to the contagion of youth restiveness and delinquency. It is disturbing that young people on the internet resort to promoting ethnic and religious prejudices, and passing sentences, threats, and curses on those whose political choice is at variance with their preference.

Concerning are the chronic onslaughts by supporters of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), against citizens from the south-east who do not support his bid. They threaten to cause harm, curse, and use every vile instrument in Frankenstein’s toolbox to drive fear and intimidate differing voices. Such hate and prejudice should not be found among well-meaning citizens.

Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra state, became a casualty of the Obi Red Army when he only confirmed the obvious. In an interview in 2018, Peter Obi had claimed he invested $20 million in International Breweries on behalf of Anambra state while he was governor. This is a company he has interest in.

But Soludo said Peter Obi’s purported investments in Anambra are worth next to nothing.

He said: “I think there was something I read about somebody speculating about whatever investment. With what I’ve seen today, the value of those investments is worth next to nothing. So, let’s leave that aside.’’

It is disturbing that despite the promise of issue-based campaigns by contending political parties, the entire political expedition is dissolving into a free-for-all with divisive methods, slander and fake news deployed, particularly by opposing parties.

The rippling of a fake statement purportedly emanating from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) alleging a probe of Tinubu is a clear breach of the sanctity of the campaigns. Although INEC quickly torpedoed the fake statement, the attempt underscores the predatory and sinister complexion of our politics.

As I often say, if we divide the country during the campaigns, we will have to live with the consequences of presiding over a divided people. If the purpose of seeking power is for the good of all, then we must begin by keeping the campaigns clean. What is the good of power when the next government will spend the next four years struggling to mend fences and manage diversity without success? We will only be reinventing a parlous wheel. If we sow hate during the campaigns, we will reap hate afterwards. The travails of the past years should teach us not to make campaigns about ethnic and religious prejudices, threats, curses, slander, and fake news.

The parties going down this scorched and serpentine path, must beat a retreat.

Fredrick Nwabufo, Nwabufo aka Mr. OneNigeria is a writer and journalist.

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