Ex INEC Boss, Attahiru Jega, Eyes Presidency In 2023 Under PRP
Former INEC Boss, Attahiru Muhammadu JegaThe immediate past National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega may be eying the Presidency in the 2023 election via a leftist political party, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
Jega recently joined the PRP, which was originally formed by late Aminu Kano, a socio political redeemer of the common man in the second Republic.
The ready-to-be-reformed PRP is being led by the SWOT analysis committee and is listed among the prominent Northerners to reposition the party against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 polls.
Those among the new entrants into PRP is the publisher and Chairman of the Trust Group of Newspapers, Kabiru Yusuf, who is also a member of the committee that was mandated to critically examine the strength of PRP, its weaknesses and the opportunities available to the party as well as threats to its existence and wellbeing.
Other members of the committee include Professor Momodu Kassim Momodu. Dr. George Kwanashie, Ayo Sando, Dr. Obi Osisiogwu and Professor Nath Abraham.
According to a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abdul Gombe, the decision to constitute the committees was reached at the party’s 62nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Kaduna.
The statement said that the committee is also to recommend to the party strategies to adopt for its survival and growth. Other committees set up include the Membership Mobilisation Committee and the Finance and Funding Committee.
Gombe said the committees are also expected to review the performance of the party in the 2019 general elections with a view to repositioning the party for better performance and facing new challenges of Nigerian politics.
The Membership Mobilisation Committee is headed by Alhaji Sule Mohammed with the Group Managing Director of Leadership Newspapers, Abdul Gombe, as a member among others, while Alhaji Falalu Bello is the Chairman for the Finance and Funding Committee with other six members.
The statement said the committees are to be formally inaugurated in Abuja on August 17 and are expected to file in their reports within two months from the day of their inauguration.
It also requested party members with ideas to contribute to the committees to do so.
A group going by the name “Third Force Movement of Nigeria,” operating under the umbrella of Nigeria Intervention Movement (NIM) has vowed to defy police by going ahead with revolution march, in form of nationwide mass protests against bad political system and malgovernance in Nigeria starting on Monday, August 5.
The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has faulted the Senate over its directive to Governor Godwin Obaseki to repeat the proclamation of the Edo State House of Assembly.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Environment, Ibrahim Husseini has issued a flood alert to residents who live in danger zones to quickly relocate to safer areas temporarily before it is too late.
The leaders of Fulani herdsmen in Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), have said that Fulani herdsmen have no hand in the Thursday’s murder of the Catholic priest of St. James the Greater Parish, Ugbawka, Enugu state.
Fighter jets of the Nigeria Air Force have bombed a Boko Haram hideout in Alafa area of Sambisa Forest, Borno State, killing scores of terrorists and destroying their structures.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has lamented the continued fraudulent contraptions by those it described as social media criminals with a view to defraud members of the public, especially foreign stakeholders.
The elder brother of the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shiites, has said that there is no difference between the Zakzaky’s Shiite and the dreaded Boko Haram.
The Nigeria Police Force have declared the call for a revolution march across the country against the government by a group known as ‘Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria and others, scheduled for August 5 as a treasonable offense. 
Death Of Presidency Point Man, Tijjani Yusuf, By Oche Echeija Egwa
Until his death on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, TJ was the Special Assistant (General Duties) to the President. He retired from Public Service as a Director/Special Assistant (Special Duties) to the Permanent Secretary in 2016 and was given another appointment for his invaluable contributions. But for ill health, Nigerians would have seen TJ on television for the last time on July 24, 2019, when President Muhammadu Buhari swore in Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, at the Council Chambers. For many years, TJ had been the constant face at the swearing-in, oath taking and inauguration ceremonies. Rarely noticed, he effortlessly provides the Bible, Quran, registers and guides personalities on where to sit, stand, sign and how to recite the ordinances.
Reticent by nature and unassuming in character, TJ was the most popular name in the Villa for many years. Hardly in the limelight, but regularly mentioned, TJ is known among gardeners, stewards and cleaners, Presidents’ and Vice Presidents’ families, and he seamlessly befriends and connects the more visible operational tripods of the Villa; security, protocol and media. TJ knew the Villa history and operations by heart and experience. Since the 90s, he was there when First Families moved into their official living quarters, known as The Residence, and was most likely there when they moved out. TJ knew the joys, tensions and lowest moments of the First Families in the Villa.
He was among the first to be called to work when a President drew his last breath, and was around as Presidents’ moved their personal belongings from the Commander-In-Chief’s Office. He knew when there was a light cut, when taps stopped rushing, and was regularly on hand to ensure decorum and decorations for various ceremonies, including visits by Heads of Government and envoys. TJ was a constant.
For his diligence, TJ had many handshakes with both sitting and visiting presidents. And he made history in the Villa and public service by receiving two national awards. In 2006, he was honoured with Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by President Olusegun Obasanjo and six years later, 2012, TJ was honoured by President Goodluck Jonathan with Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). Preceding the awards, Tijani had smiled home with commendation letters for hard work and dedication from former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and Archbishop of the Canterbury, Justin Welby.
In a 2014 interview with an in-house magazine, VillaScope, the quintessential workaholic recalled:
“For the two national honours, I was just sitting down in my office then I was called upon that the President had approved that a national honour be bestowed on me. I didn’t canvass for it, I didn’t go looking for it, I was just doing my job and I didn’t know people were watching. I was just called one day that the President had approved that I be given MON and I was told to bring my Curriculum Vitae. The then Chief of Staff, Gen. Abdullahi Mohammed, also called me and told me about the President’s decision.
“The next one, OON, honestly I didn’t know how it came about. I was just told that President Goodluck Jonathan said that I should be given OON. I was asked if I had a national award before and I responded that I was given MON before. The then Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Aiyegbeni Oghiadomhe, said the President said I should be given another national honour.
“I should think it’s for humility, hard work, perseverance and endurance in doing your work. Honestly, like everyone else, I do my work. I dedicate myself. I do all that is before me, go home and come back the next day to make sure there’s no failure. My thinking is that if there’s failure in this house, then the country will be a failure. I make sure nothing fails.’’
The former Director, who was a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduated with a B.SC in International Studies, and relished his work, especially the private times spent with visiting Heads of Government, like United States President Bill Clinton. According to him, the contacts served as motivation and broadening of horizon, including the local and international trainings, conferences and official visits on the Federal Government’s delegation.
Like a typical public servant, Tijani hardly talked about personal life. But he once gave a glimpse. “All through my primary school I was a class monitor and in secondary school I was a class prefect and eventually became a Senior Prefect. Even in my advanced studies, School of Arts and Science in Sokoto, I was the Secretary of the Student’s Union. I was also the Financial Secretary to the Niger State Students’ Association in 1979 to 1980. All along, I have been building myself and the society has been building me as well. And when I finished my university, just like a carry over, God has always been with me in leadership.’’
For many years TJ coordinated swearing-in/oath-taking ceremonies of chief justices, ministers, permanent secretaries and commission members. He handled meetings of the weekly Federal Executive Council and other sundry issues relating to the President’s office and Residence. TJ worked with house-keepers on domestic issues in the Villa. Most meetings, he recalled, were not easy. “I remember standing from 9.30 am to about 5pm when President Olusegun Obasanjo swore in sixty ministers in 1999.’’
TJ lived a life of sacrifice, friendliness and diligence. As news filtered into the Villa that he passed on after a brief illness, the reality was obvious to every staff and political office holder that certainly a gap had been created. TJ was a recurring decimal – a human constant — that will surely be missed by all.
Oche Echeija Egwa is a Press Officer in the Office of the Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity.