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

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.

Civil Defence Corps Smashes Fake Dollar Syndicate, Recovers $15,400 Fake Notes

Editorial staff

November 14, 2022

The Special Intelligence Squad of the Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has smashed a notorious fake dollars syndicate which specialises in printing, sales and distribution of fake United States Dollar notes.

Director, Public Relations at the NSCDC headquarters, Olusola Odumosu, who made this known today, November 14 in Abuja, said that the syndicate had been operating for the past 10 years around ‘Heart Plaza,’ Mararaba under bridge in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State before luck ran out on them.

The report sai that members of the Syndicate had swindled many individuals of millions of Naira under the guise of being black market operators exchanging Nigerian Naira to US Dollars, thereby issuing fake dollar notes to the unsuspecting victims.

The suspects were smoked out of their hideout in a sting operation by the security agents, which saw personnel trying to exchange the sum of N250,000 for US dollars. “Two members of the syndicate arrested were found in possession of a total of $15,400 fake US Dollars.

They are 65 years old Ya’u Muhammed, from Warji LGA, Bauchi State and 29 years old Lamido Usman from La’u LGA in Taraba state.

Other items recovered from the suspects include one First Bank ATM card, one screw driver and original $100 dollar note.

The suspects are currrently undergoing preliminary investigation after which they would be handed over alongside the exhibits to NSCDC Nasarawa State Command under whose jurisdiction the arrest took place, for further action,” Odumosu said.

Again, Newsdiary Online suffers Cyber Attack

Greenbarge Reporters

November 14, 2022

Newsdiaryonline, an Abuja-based newspaper has once again suffered a major cyber-attack.

The Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of the online newspaper, Danlami Nmodu, mni, in a statement today, November 14, said that the attack, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, November 13, rendered all posts on the site inaccessible.

Nmodu said he was on hospital admission when he received the news of the attack from his IT staff, who battled to restored the site.

“All posts on the site have been wiped off during the attack.”

He said that the webmaster succeeded in restoring the site using multiple backup security measures in place after Newsdiaryonline’s first major experience.

Recall that the Management of Newsdiary Communications Limited, publishers of Newsdiaryonline had on April 2, 2017, announced the resumption of the online newspaper after it came under malicious cyber attack.

Nmodu had expressed gratitude to the Almighty God and the wizardry of the company’s IT professional.

“We also thank all those who called us or sent messages of solidarity and encouragement through social media platforms

“It was the worst attack we have suffered since we started publishing Newsdiaryonline in 2008.”

Recall Newsdiaryonline started operation in Lagos before its headquarters moved to Abuja in 2010.

Nmodu noted in 2017, “We are also careful not to point accusing fingers because we know cyber attacks have become a widespread phenomenon in our global village. .. Just as we know institutions can target whatever they wish, we also know there are freelance attackers.”

Army Declares Dangote, Turji, Other Bandits Wanted; Promises N5 Million For Information On Them

Greenbarge Reporters

November 14, 2022

The Defence Headquarters of the Nigerian Army has declared 19 terrorists wanted with N5 million bounty placed on each of them.
The details of the 19 terrorists are contained in a poster released by the Director, Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, today, November 14 in Abuja.
The information on the poster revealed that the N5 million cash reward is for anyone who can provide information that can lead to arrest of one wanted terrorist.
The wanted persons were described as notorious bandits/terrorists that have been terrorising Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara States.
The military authority listed the names of the wanted terrorists as follows:
Sani Dangote who hails from Dumbarum Village in Zurmi Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara
Bello Turji Gudda from Fakai in Zamfara
Leko from Mozoj Village in Mutazu LGA of Katsina State
Dogo Nahali – Yar Tsamiyar Village in Kankara LGA of Katsina State
Halilu Sububu from Sububu Village in Maradun LGA of Zamfara
Nagona – from Angwan Galadima in Isa LGA of Sokoto State
Nasanda from Kwashabawa Village in Zurmi LGA of Zamara
Isiya Kwashen Garwa from Kamfanin Daudawa Village of Faskari in Katsina State
Ali Kachalla, aka Ali Kawaje, from Kuyambara Village in Dansadau Maru of Zamfara
Abu Radde from Varanda Village in Batsari LGA of Katsina State
Dan-Da from Varanda Village in Batsari LGA of Katsina;
Sani Gurgu also from Varanda Village in Batsari LGA of Katsina
Umaru Dan Nigeria – from RAFI Village in Mada District of Gusau
Alhaji Ado Aliero from Yankuzo Village in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara
Monore from Yantumaki Village in Dan LGA, Katsina State
Gwaska Dankarami from Shamushele Village in Zuri LGA of Zamfara
Baleri – from Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara
Mamudu Tainange from Varanda Village in Batsari LGA of Katsina State
Nagala from Maru LGA of Zamfara.
The Army called on anyone with any information on the wanted terrorists to call 09135904467.
Source: NAN.

NCC’s Top Spokespersons Storm Editors’ Confab In Owerri

Greenbarge Reporters

November 14, 2022

Top spokespersons at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), converged on the 18th All-Nigerian Editors’ Conference, organized by the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) in Owerri, Imo State at the weekend.
They are, from left: Mrs. Nnena Ukoha, Head, Corporate Communication; Mustapha Isa, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE); Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs and Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, Head of Media Relations Management all at NCC.

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