Senator Shehu Sani Compares Party Delegates To Bandits Who Collect Ransom After Kidnapping Victims

May 26, 2022

Senator Shehu Sani has, following his defeat at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries in Kaduna State, compared the party’s delegates to bandits who collect ransom.

“There is no difference between bandits who collect ransom and delegates who collect money to vote.”

In a statement after securing only two votes, he alleged that the voting process was marred by bribery and corruption with delegates collecting money to vote for unqualified candidates.

The former Senator vowed not to bribe delegates to vote for him.

“No one should pay any delegate on my behalf…I don’t believe in the political ritual of paying to be elected. That is inconsistent with my ideological and moral beliefs.”

Responding to questions about the outcome of the election, Sani said that he was proud he did not bribe anyone to vote for him.

“I was not unaware of the decadence in our political system and processes that we have helplessly and unconscionably accepted and embraced.

“My participation is to expose the system and open it for an honest conversation as a way of rescuing our political system from institutionalised corruption, that has made it impossible for credible people to participate in politics and for men and women of honour to emerge as leaders.

“Literally, have not lost the primaries, I’ve lost a political bidding process and an auction. We can’t continue to recruit, select or elect our leaders through a dishonourable delegate system that thrust politicians to power weighing on the amount of money they pay to a select few.

“We don’t compromise our principles for our politics. The seed of our political system is deeply corrupted. Delegate system ensures and guarantees the accession of criminals to the throne of power.

“The two clean votes I got without paying out of hundreds, tells much about the impropriety of politics of our country than about myself.

“If we don’t courageously and consciously revolt against cash and carry politics, it’s impossible to sanitise our country and impossible for the younger generation to aspire for the position of leadership.

“There is no difference between bandits who collect ransom and delegates who collect money to vote. It’s a contradiction for any society to object to ransom payment and accept paying for votes.”

2023: Abacha, Other PDP Governorship Candidates Emerge In States; Full List

Greenbarge Reporters

May 26, 2022

Governorship candidates of the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including Muhammed Abacha for Kano, have started emerging in many States of the federation ahead of the next year’s elections.

The governorship candidates emerged after thre conduct of the primary ahead of the party’s Special National Convention during which its presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections will be elected.

However, states like Imo is yet to conduct its governorship primary due to issue with its delegates list while the PDP in Ogun State conducted two different primary elections.

Below is the list of states and governorship candidates of the PDP:

Borno State: Mohammed Jajari

Nasarawa State: David Ombugadu

Delta State: Chief Sheriff Oborevwori

Abia State: Prof Uche Ikonne

Enugu State: Peter Mbah

Jigawa State: Mustapha Lamido

Oyo State: Seyi Makinde

Adamawa State: Ahmadu Fintiri

Taraba State: Agbu Kefas

Kwara State: Abdullahi Shuaib Yaman

Benue State: Titus Uba

Gombe State: Jibrin Barde

Bauchi State: Ibrahim Kassim

Rivers State: Sim Fubara

Akwa Ibom State: Pastor Umo Eno

Lagos State: Abdulaziz Olajide Adediran (Jandor)

Kano State: Muhammad Abacha

Kaduna State: Isah Ashiru

Sokoto State: Sa’aidu Umar

Plateau State: Caleb Mutfwang

More updates later.

Source: Naija News.

For Second Time, Gunmen Kidnap Kogi Elder Statesman, Isa Ozi Salami

Greenbarge Reporters

May 26, 2022

For the second time in about five years, an elder statesman in Kogi State, Alhaji Is a Ozi Salami has been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen.

Isa Ozi Salami, who is currently a board member of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), was kidnapped at Ogaminana in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Information available to us at Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper said that the elder statesman was kidnapped at gun point on his way from his house to join congregation in a nearby Mosque for the early morning prayer.

Sometime in 2017, the same man was kidnapped at his Abuja resident and was rescued by the police after three days of being with the kidnappers.

Meanwhile, the Kogi Police Command is said to have Deployed Crack Team In Rescue of Kidnapped Isa Ozi Salami.

Nigeria, Others Need $432 Billion To Fully Recover From Effects Of COVID-19 – Adesina

Editorial staff

May 25, 2022

The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, foreseen what he called “slow economic growth” for the continent in 2022 and that Nigeria and other countries in Africa would need at least $432 billion to fully recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking today, May 25 at the Bank’s Annual General Meeting in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Adesina said that the recovery for Africa will be very costly.

“Africa will need at least $432 billion to address the effects of Covid19 on its economies, plus on the lives of its people, resources that it does not have.”

“The measures taken already by the global community, especially the Debt Service Suspension Initiative, the G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments, and the issuance of the $650 billion Special Drawing Rights by the @IMFNews, have all helped.”

On the outlook of Africa’s economy, he said that while the Real GDP rebounded strongly in 2021, growing by 6.9 percent in comparison to this year’s outcome, he said the continent would record slow growth of 4.1 percent in 2022.

He listed the crippling effects of the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict as reasons for the slow economic growth.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had on May 23, announced a 3.11 percent increase in Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter of this year as against the 0.51 percent recorded in the corresponding period in 2021.

Bauchi, PDP State, Has Benefited Much From Buhari’s Govt, Gov Bala Confesses

Editorial staff

May 25, 2022

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has confessed that the state under the governance of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has benefited so much from the All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governor, who visited the President today, May 25, at the Presidential villa, Abuja, to thank him for the commissioning of N23.5 billion World Bank Assisted Upgraded Bauchi Township Water Supply Scheme at the Gubi Water Treatment Plant in Bauchi on May 19, 2022 through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, emphasized that the State has ‘‘benefited so much’’ under the present administration.

The governor highlighted such significant projects as being in the education sector, youth development, Industrial Training Fund, agro-processing, infrastructure and housing scheme.

He commended the President for the establishment of Federal College of Education in Jama’are, Air Force Institute of Technology Complex, Tafawa Balewa, Federal Government Science and Technical College Misau, Federal University of Health, Nutrition and Medical Sciences, Azare and support for primary education through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

The Governor said that through the support of the Federal Government, Bauchi State received N12 billion to build 2,500 houses across the Emirates in the State.

‘‘This is the first time we have a housing scheme running across the emirates and I know our Royal Fathers here with me are most grateful to you and the Federal Government for this gesture.”

Governor Bala Mohammed said that despite party differences “he (Buhari) is loved and cherished in the State because of his patriotism and insistence on prioritising the development of infrastructure in the country.

“On oil exploration, we thank you for prioritising the exploration activities in the Benue trough and with this Bauchi and Gombe have been out on the map. We thank you for visiting the location of the exploration and your passion for its development.”

The Governor appealed to the Federal Government to construct the road from Alkaleri to Gombe-Abba because of oil exploration in the area as well as the dualisation of Jos-Bauchi-Gombe road.

This was even as President Buhari thanked him for assembling a high-powered delegation for the visit and promised to look into requests by the State government to complete ongoing Federal Government projects in need of urgent attention.

The President commended Bauchi State for providing illustrious sons and daughters who are making invaluable contributions to his government and national development, singling out the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu for special mention.

“He has been my close associate for a very long time and he is a son of Bauchi.”

CBN Gov, Emefiele, Not Sacked – Spokesman

Editorial staff

May 25, 2022

Head of Corporate Communications at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Osita Nwanisiobi, has said that the bank’s governor, Godwin Emefiele, has not been sacked.

Reacting to online media report today, May 25, Osita said that Emefiele is currently out of the country on official assignment.

The apex bank’s boss was reported to have been sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari. The report in the social media alleged that Emefiele has been under public scrutiny since he declared interest to run for the presidency at the oncoming 2023 general elections.

Source: NAN.

Osinbajo Describes Killing Of Pregnant Hausa Woman In Anambra As Callous, Brutal, Demeaning

Editorial staff

May 25, 2022

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has described the killing of a pregnant woman, Mrs. Harira Jubril and her children in Anambra State as not only callous, brutal and demeaning, but capable of creating ethnic conflict across the country.
Professor Osinbajo, who spoke today, May 25 when he addressed newsmen shortly after meeting All Progressives Congress (APC) delegates in Makurdi, Benue State in continuation of his nationwide consultations with party delegates and other stakeholders ahead of the APC presidential primaries, said: “what took place in Anambra with the killing of a woman and her children demeans us all.

“It is such a callous act and so brutal. And I think that we must be very careful, as a people, with this type of killings that are going on, especially where it is obviously to create such horror, annoyance and create a situation where we begin to have ethnic conflicts again and all that.
“And I think we must all be careful and condemn it in the strongest possible terms, there is no excuse for it whatsoever. We must not allow a situation where we get to the point where we even countenance individuals who can do this sort of thing.
“How does anyone kill a woman and her children? I think it is such a terrible tragedy condemnable by all. Mr President has spoken about it and I just want to join my voice with those of others who are completely outraged by it.”
In his statement earlier today, President Muhammadu Buhari very strongly condemned what he described as “wild, barbarous and wanton killings of innocent people” in the South-East as well as the other parts of the country.

The President also described the killings as “deeply distressing,” even as he warned the perpetrators of these acts to expect tough response from the security forces.

Presidency To Nigerians: Yes, We’re Mourning, But Let’s Be Strong Against Cowards

Editorial staff

May 25, 2022

The Presidency has admitted that Nigeria is currently in mourning for the senseless loss of lives seen in Borno State and Katsina State over the last 48 hours, but called on the citizenry to remain strong against the cowards, whose numbers are reducing daily.

“And so while we are in mourning for those we have lost, let us face these cowards already fading in strength, number and willpower as one. Let us show them that Nigerians will not be swayed by terror. Let us show them that Nigerians will not be divided. Let us show them we will not be defeated.”

In a statement today, May 25, the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said: “now more than ever, Nigerians must come together, in proud defiance of those who would seek through terror and violence to divide us along religious, political or ethnic lines.”

According to Garba Shehu, 56,000 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists have surrendered to the authorities in a year and still counting, adding that those terrorists and bandits have been reduced to scavenging from the nation’s artisanal miners and farmers for survival.

“This is evidence that they are backed into a corner. This will be small comfort to the family members and loved ones of those murdered this week. But it is in times like these that we must be at our strongest.”

The Presidency assured that the perpetrators of the killing of Fatimah and her children in Anambra and others in other places across the country will soon be brought to justice “and they are running scared.”

The spokesman said that President Buhari “holds the victims in his thoughts and his prayers.”

Angry PDP Delegates In Taraba Stone State Gov, Darius; Deputy, Haruna

Editorial staff

May 25, 2022

Angry delegates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State stoned the convoy of the state Governor, Darius Ishaku and his Deputy Haruna Manu at the Catholic Pastoral Centre Jalingo.

Report has it that the Deputy Governor had driven to the voting arena where the election was billed to take place but the delegates in defiance drove the Deputy Governor away with stones.

Shortly after, the state Governor’s convoy drove into the arena but was not allowed to stop as the delegates started stoning the convoy insisting that they did not want to talk to the governor and leadership of the party.

Some of the delegates who expressed their feelings said that they were not comfortable with the imposition of the state PDP party Chairman as an aspirant when he was never a part of the process until barely forty-eight hours to the primaries.

Posters of Chairman of the party, Kefas Agbu who had earlier denied being a part of the governorship race in the state had suddenly sprung up all over the state capital, Jalingo shortly after the former Minister of Defense, General Theophilus Danjuma flew into the state and allegedly anointed him as his candidate for the party’s flag ahead of the 2023 general elections.

However, the action sparked widespread condemnation and agitations from stakeholders who insisted that they would not have the elder statesman impose a candidate on the party again, more so that the candidate is the seating Chairman of the party and from the same zone as the current governor who is about to complete his second tenure in office.

At the time of going to press, the primary election which is slated to hold at the Jolly Nyame stadium was yet to commence.

Source: Daily Post.

I Can’t Realize My Presidential Ambition In PDP, Peter Obi Says As He Resigns

Editorial staff

May 25, 2022

A front line Presidential contender in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi, has alluded to the impossibility of getting the ticket of the party to contest the 2023 election.

Obi, who is former Governor of Anambra State, said: “recent developments within the party has therefore compelled him to resign his membership of the party and by that, withdrew from its presidential primary slated for end of May.

The ex-governor, in a statement addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, said that the recent developments won’t make it possible for him to make “constructive contributions”.

The title of Obi’s letter, who was one of the 15 PDP presidential aspirants cleared by the Senator David Mark-led Presidential Screening Committee last month was: “Resignation From Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Withdrawal from the Presidential Contest.”

In it, he said: “I am writing to intimate you of my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, which was conveyed to the Chairman of Agulu Ward 2. Anaocha LGA Anambra, effective Friday 20 May, 2022. Consequently, I am by this letter informing you of my withdrawal for the PDP Presidential Primaries.

“It has been a great honour to contribute to nation-building efforts through our party. Unfortunately, recent developments within our party make it practically impossible to continue participating and making such constructive contributions.

“Our national challenges are deep-seated and require that we each make profound sacrifices towards rescuing our country. My commitment to rescuing Nigeria remains firm, even if the route differs.”

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