2027: PDP GOVERNORS TURN AGAINST ATIKU
Dons Eze
- October 21, 2024
RIVERS LG POLL LACKS CREDIBILITY – ELECTION OBSERVER GROUP
RIVERS LG POLL LACKS CREDIBILITY – ELECTION OBSERVER GROUPAn observer group which monitored Saturday’s local government elections in Rivers State, The Peoples Advocates, TPA, has said that the exercise was not credible due to a number of irregularities.TPA made the observation in its report on the election.The highly contentious election was held across 23 local government areas in Rivers State, despite moves by the camp of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister Nyesom Wike, to stop the exercise.Governor Sim Fubara went ahead with the poll, defying a court order which retrained the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, from conducting the election.Candidates of the All People’s Party, APP, believed to be Fubara’s loyalists, won 22 out of the 23 LGAs.However, although it commended the Rivers electoral commission for conducting the election, TPA noted that the poll witnessed several irregularities.Parts of the report read, “While we appreciate the effort of RSIEC to conduct this election at such a tough time as this in the political history of Rivers State, we believe that there is need for improvements in order to set a fair playing ground for all political parties and candidates in order to ensure a free and fair election.”The irregularities, which the observer group said undermined the credibility of the election, include absence of result sheets, violence and improper collation process, among others.“At Phalga LGA, D. Line Ward 1 units 8,9,10; Ward 4 units 48, 49, 50, 51; Ogbunabali Ward 3, Ward 2, Oroworukwu Ward 9 units 5,6,7,8,9 etc, the absence of Result Sheet undermined the credibility of the process because Agents of Labour Party and other interested Political Parties asked for Result Sheets and moved to stop the polls if the Result Sheets weren’t produced.“This systemic flop of RSIEC affected the credibility of the polls and risked the life of the Ad-hoc staff.”The group further faulted the manual voting process used in the election. According to TPA, manual voting is not only outdated but is also prone to manipulation of results.“The Manual Voting process of RSIEC and use of incident form is archaic and prone to manipulations. Electronic Voting and transmission of results is the best way to go in order to have a credible free and fair elections wherein the votes of the electorates or voters will truly count.”The report added that “early closure of polls disenfranchised some electorates”. Continuing, the report said: “Materials did not arrive in time or at all in some polling units and cubicles were not used for secret balloting. The implication is that such open balloting may sway the votes of electorates who may suffer reprisal attacks if they don’t vote a particular party or candidate.“Our Situation Room observed that the process did not create any solid internal mechanism for grievance or dissent before the results are announced. Such pattern may encourage violence or discourage genuine candidates who have legitimate complaint.“Irregularities in some polling units should be addressed before results are announced. This is to avoid announcing results in polling units where elections did not hold or where the election was fraught with fraud, snatching of ballot materials, violence etc. and some of such incidents were witnessed in this election and the candidates affected, would be left with the only option of going to court.“This is a systemic flaw, capable of occasioning injustice.“Our observers were lost as to where your Ward and State Collation should take place and who is allowed into your “holy sanctuary” to witness the collation and how you arrived at your results.“A closed collation process is prone to manipulations and should be avoided. Cumulated Results should be fact-checked with polling unit results for credibility. The truth is that the entire election lacks credibility.”TPA, in its report, added that the phone contacts of electoral…
- Spirituality
- October 6, 2024
- 146 views
WHY JESUS, APOSTLES DID NOT COLLECT TITHES – ADEBOYE
WHY JESUS, APOSTLES DID NOT COLLECT TITHES – ADEBOYE The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has explained why Jesus Christ did not collect tithes during His ministry on earth. Speaking during the church’s October Holy Ghost Service on Saturday at the Redemption City, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, Adeboye clarified this in response to an unnamed RCCG pastor who preached against tithing, citing that Jesus never collected tithes. Adeboye’s comments came shortly after he apologised for previously stating that those who don’t pay tithes may not make it to heaven, also suggesting that 10% tithing is for beginners. The pastor said, “One of my pastors went online and preached a sermon on why people should not pay tithes. I watched the sermon, thinking I would learn something profound. “He said we shouldn’t pay tithes because Jesus didn’t collect tithes. I said, ah, Jesus was not a parish pastor, He was a world evangelist.” He added that he was, however, disappointed because it was a repetition of what others had been saying. “Forgive me for saying so, but it was a very shallow sermon,” he added. In addressing the claim that Jesus did not collect tithes, Adeboye said, “Jesus was not a parish pastor; He was a world evangelist. “The Bible in Luke 8:1-3 tells us that certain women, including Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna, supported His ministry financially.” He further emphasised that the apostles did not collect tithes for the same reason because they were not parish pastors. Adeboye concluded with a word of caution, referencing a fellow clergyman who had a group of women supporting his ministry, urging against gathering women solely for that purpose and highlighting the potential for moral missteps in such arrangements.
FG YET TO RELEASE FUND FOR PAYMENT OF NYSC MEMBERS ALLOWANCE – DG
FG YET TO RELEASE FUND FOR PAYMENT OF NYSC MEMBERS ALLOWANCE – DG The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, says the recent increase in corps members’ allowance has not been implemented due to funds. The Federal Government approved the increment of corps members’ monthly allowance from N33,000 to N77,000, effective from July 2024. The increment, according to a statement by the NYSC on its official Facebook page, was contained in a letter from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, dated September 25, 2024 and signed by the Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta. But despite the official announcement, the increment did not reflect on corps members’ September monthly allowance as they received N33,000 instead of the approved N77,000. But speaking to BBC Hausa service, the NYSC DG explained that although there was approval for the increment, government was yet to release funds to the scheme for the implementation of the new allowance. He said, “Not only the corps members, even our staff members’ salary has been increased about four to five months ago, but it has not been implemented yet. But we are hopeful that the new pay will be implemented soon, but the funds have not been released to us yet. “The information we have did not specify when the new allowance will be paid, but we were assured that their monthly allowance has been increased from 29th July 2024.”
NIGERIANS WILL START EXPERIENCING BETTER ELECTIONS WITHOUT POLICE – ATIKU’S AIDE
NIGERIANS WILL START EXPERIENCING BETTER ELECTIONS WITHOUT POLICE -: ATIKU’S AIDE Paul Ibe, the spokesman of the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, said on Saturday the Rivers State local government election may usher in a new dispensation of better polls without police. He was reacting to the withdrawal of police from the Rivers local government election. Posting on X, Ibe wrote: “The withdrawal of the @PoliceNG from today’s #RiversLGAPolls2024 will confirm to the whole world the anti-democratic elements and institutions in Nigeria. “The outcome of the election may usher in a new regime in which our elections are better off without the police.” Reports had it that voting went on peacefully in the local government elections in Rivers State despite the police barring officers from providing security for the exercise. Election officials were seen conducting accreditation and voting simultaneously at a polling unit in Ikoku Area, Units 14 and 15 in Port Harcourt City Ward 18. The Rivers State Police Command had announced its withdrawal from the local government election. Spokesman of the state police command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement titled “Proposed October 5th, 2024 Local Government Chairman Election,” confirmed receiving a restraining order preventing them from providing security during the LGA elections. The command also said it was aware of the 30th September 2024 Court judgement from the Federal High Court Abuja, which bars the Force from participating in the election.
NASS TO REVISE EXISTING LAWS FOR FULL LOCAL GOVT AUTONOMY – AKPABIO
NASS TO REVISE EXISTING LAWS FOR FULL LOCAL GOVT AUTONOMY – AKPABIO Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has said the National Assembly would revise existing laws that had hindered the effective governance of local government councils in Nigeria, with the aim to ensure full autonomy for the tier of government. Akpabio identified the Joint State and Local Government Accounts Committee and the State Independent Electoral Commission laws as key pieces of legislation that would be amended to secure Local Government autonomy across the nation. He spoke at Independence High School Ukana, in Essien Udim local government area of Akwa Ibom State after participating in the local government election yesterday. A statement from his special assistant on media and communication, Anietie Ekong, quoted Akpabio as encouraging citizens to engage in the electoral process, regardless of the outcomes. “I firmly advocate for local government autonomy, and a recent Supreme Court ruling highlighted the necessity for local government funds to be allocated directly to them. However, achieving this will require some legislative adjustments due to various constitutional provisions,” he said. He emphasised the need to address the joint local government accounts committee and the regulations set forth by the State Independent Electoral Commissions. His visit was motivated by a desire to observe the electoral process and ensure transparency in the elections conducted by the state government, the statement said. Akpabio expressed concern over the frequent outcomes where the ruling party secures all available positions in local government elections. He stated, “The overwhelming support I have witnessed in my senatorial district raises questions about how any party could consistently achieve such results. If elections are held fairly, parties would select candidates based on merit rather than their affiliation with the ruling party.” He urged Nigerians to reflect on the importance of ensuring that every vote counts and emphasised the need to strengthen democracy at the grassroots level, as true development cannot reach the common citizen without it. “Vote regardless of the outcome. The joy lies in exercising your right to vote. Achieving accurate representation will require legislative efforts, executive support, and judicial backing,” he said.
POLITICALLY, PETER OBI IS BIGGER THAN KWANKWASO – BUHARI’S EX-AIDE
POLITICALLY, PETER OBI IS BIGGER THAN KWANKWASO – BUHARI’S EX-AIDE Former media aide to ex-President Muhammad Buhari, Bashir Ahmed, has asserted that Peter Obi is politically bigger than Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. Recall that both Peter Obi and Kwankwaso were presidential candidates in the 2023 general election on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) and theNew Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). However, in a post via his X handle on Saturday, Ahmad, an indigene of Kano, asserted that Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, is politically bigger than Kwankwaso, a former governor from his home state. Ahmad backed his claims making reference to the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, where Obi garnered more votes than Kwankwaso. He wrote: “Even though I have never been a Kwankwasiyya loyalist, but I have always admired and respected Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and see him as one of the progressive political figures we have in this country. However, I do not agree with his recent statement during his interview in Kano, where he claimed to be politically bigger than Peter Obi. “Looking at the results from the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi garnered 6,101,533 votes and led in 11 states, demonstrating significant national support. In contrast, Senator Kwankwaso secured 1,496,687 votes and led in just one state, Kano. “These numbers clearly suggest that, at least in the context of the 2023 election, Peter Obi has significantly more political influence across the country. “So, Peter Obi is bigger than Rabiu Kwankwaso, politically.”
ENUGU GOVT DEMOLISHES ANOTHER KIDNAPPERS’ DEN, WARNS PROPERTY OWNERS
ENUGU GOVT DEMOLISHES ANOTHER KIDNAPPERS’ DEN, WARNS PROPERTY OWNERS The Enugu State Government has demolished yet another property linked to kidnapping activities in the state, warning landlords that it would not entertain any excuses in enforcing relevant laws of the state mandating the government to bring down any property linked to such evil acts. Section 315 (Second Amendment) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 30, Laws of Enugu State provides, “If the building or structure owned by the offender or any other person, who knows or ought to reasonably know that the building or structure is so being used for that purpose, the building or structure shall be demolished or forfeited to the State Government.” Speaking to newsmen at the site, the Executive Chairman, Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, Hon. Uche Anya, explained that the mansion located at Amaebo Owelli Autonomous Community in Awgu LGA of the state, was said to be used for keeping victims of kidnapping. According to him, the video of a male kidnapping victim, who had several AK-47 riffles pointed at his head in May 2024, was recorded in the same building, but security agencies were able to track the building, rescuing the victim, while also apprehending most of the criminals and recovering a cache of arms and ammunition. “What you see here today is the continuation of the war of the Enugu State Government against all manner of criminality. Today, we are here to take down a kidnappers’ den. The property you see us taking down right now is a place where horrendous criminal activities happened. “For instance, on 25th of May 2024, some deadly kidnappers abducted a man in Enugu, brought him here, stripped bare, even naked to his red boxers, bound him, pointed guns at him, and forced him to start talking to his family to request for money. They posted that video to his relatives. “They held him down, but to the glory of God and the commitment of Governor Mbah, who is giving his all to security, the government and security agencies, through our state-of-the-art security system, were able to see what was happening in this rural community. “Security agencies moved to the place. Every other person was arrested, but the kingpin escaped to Ebonyi. We tracked him to Ebonyi, and he escaped to Lagos where the Enugu State Government and the security agencies caught up with him. Several AK-47 rifles, semi-automatic weapons and all manners of ammunition; dozens of proscribed and offensive weapons were recovered. “Interestingly, the kingpin of the gang that did this nonsense was a member of the same gang we went after somewhere at Ogbeke Nike. “To those who say why not convert these properties to good use, we want these to serve as a deterrent in accordance with the law. The Enugu State Government does not want anything that will remind us of the deadly criminality. We just want to put it out of our minds. We do not need to acquire a criminal’s property to use it to serve the public. We bring it down and we do our own thing. We do not want to profit from their criminality,” he stated. Calling for vigilance on the part of property owners, he said, “So, this is a warning to every landlord. The Enugu State Government will never accept it as an excuse. I am in Australia. I am in America. My brother-in-law took people to my property. Every landlord, once you put up a house in Enugu, we hold you responsible for any criminality that happens in your property; and once it becomes a violent crime, kidnapping, killing, armed robbery, we will take down the property in line with the law that was made by our predecessors. We…
2027: I’VE NO PROBLEM DEPUTIZING PETER OBI, WE’RE READY FOR TALKS – KWANKWASO
2027: I’VE NO PROBLEM DEPUTIZING PETER OBI, WE’RE READY FOR TALKS – KWANKWASO The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, in the 2023 elections, Rabiu Kwankwaso has hinted at the possibility of him deputizing his Labour Party counterpart in the last election, Peter Obi. In a video clip currently trending on X microblogging platform, the former governor of Kano State who spoke on Hausa, said he would be willing to deputize Obi “if certain conditions are met”. Kwankwaso, who claimed that he is politically bigger than Obi, said they are willing to engage in meaningful discussions with the LP leader to establish an agreement ahead of the 2027 elections. He said, “I’m bigger than Peter Obi politically, I’m his elder brother, I’m a PhD holder, I performed better than him when I was a governor of my state. I’ve no problem with deputizing Peter Obi, but only if certain conditions are met. “We are willing to engage in discussions, provided that trust is established”. In the 2023 election, Peter Obi won the majority of votes in 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. The former Anambra governor came third with about 6,101,533 votes. On the other hand, Kwankwaso won the election in 38 of the 44 local government areas in Kano State, garnering a total of 1,496,687 votes in the elections.
FCT THREATENS TO REVOKE PLOTS OWNED BY BUHARI’S CHILDREN, OTHERS
FCT THREATENS TO REVOKE PLOTS OWNED BY BUHARI’S CHILDREN, OTHERSThe Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has threatened to revoke the Certificates of Occupancy C-of-O) of the plots of land belonging to some prominent Nigerians and corporate organisations if they fail to settle the outstanding payments for the certificates within two weeks.The FCTA issued the threat in a notice to 3,273 allottees of the plots located in the Maitama Disrict of Abuja.The notice is titled, “Demand notice for payment of Right of Occupancy bills for issuance of Certificates of Occupancy on all lands allocated at Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone, A10, Abuja.”Among those listed as owners of the plots are the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege,Others are former Governors Theodore Orji (Abia), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Joshua Dariye (Plateau),Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Adamu Muazu (Bauchi) and Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe).Minister of Sports, John Eno, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, and former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Nwabueze Nigige, were also listed.Serving and former lawmakers on the list are Dino Melaye , Kabiru Marafa, Stella Oduah, Danjuma Goje, Ben Bruce , David Umaru, Saliu Mustapha, Biodun Olujimi, Andy Uba, Sunday Karimi, Olumide Osoba, Nicholas Ossai, Emmanuel Bwacha, Osita Izunaso, and the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, Wole Oke, Kabiru Gaya, Beni Lar, Leo Ogor, Darlington Nwokocha, Petet Nwaoboshi, Oker Jev, Lynda Ikpeazu, Khadijat Ibrahim, Obinna Chidoka, Philip Aduda, Smart Adeyemi, Chukwuka Utazi, Timothy Golu, Edward Pwajok, Ali Ndume, Ben Obi, Binta Garba, and Teslim Folarin.Also on the list are a former National Chairman of the ruling APC, Adamu Abdullahi, Third Republic Senate President, Ameh Ebute, Yusuf Buhari and Zahra Buhari (both children of former President Muhammadu Buhari).The FCTA said it issued the notice because it is carrying out infrastructural development in the district.“The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), is carrying out infrastructural development in Maitama II (A10) District.“All allottees who have not paid their bills for the Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) are hereby advised to settle their bills in full within two (2) weeks from the date of this publication.“All affected allottees are informed that failure to pay all outstanding land bills, rents, fees, and charges within the stipulated grace period will result in the withdrawal of the offers of Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O) over the said plots of land by the Honourable Minister of the FCT, and reallocation of the lands,” the notice said.Sanitising FCT land administrationThe notice may be a fresh step to sanitise land administration in the territory allegedly plagued by corruption, land speculation, and bureaucratic delays.In August, the FCTA issued a four-month window for all landholders to pay their fees or face the revocation of their titles under the Land Use Act.According to a statement by the FCTA Director of Information and Communication, Muhammad Sule, the administration is “deeply concerned” by the widespread failure to settle land processing fees, which has hindered its ability to fund critical infrastructure projects in the capital.The Director of the Land Administration Department, Ekarikpong Ukpanah, also said the non-payment is not just an administrative oversight but a violation of the terms of the land grants and the provisions of the Land Use Act.He added that, “It has also contributed to unchecked land speculation, which has further delayed real estate and infrastructural development across the FCT.”Mr Ukpanah said the FCTA would henceforth prioritise genuine…
GOVERNOR MBAH’S CRUSADE SWEEPS THROUGH ENUGU MORIBUND ASSETS BY UCHE ANICHUKWU
GOVERNOR MBAH’S CRUSADE SWEEPS THROUGH ENUGU MORIBUND ASSETS, BY UCHE ANICHUKWUDecrepit. Abandoned. Eyesore. Wasted.These and more are the immediate adjectives and pictures that confront any visitor to the once iconic Sunrise Flour Mills, one of the legacies of Senator Jim Nwobodo as the governor of old Anambra State. It was commissioned in 1983 to add to the industrialisation and economic growth of the old Anambra State.However, no sooner was the Nwobodo Administration kicked out of office by the General Muhammadu Buhari military regime than the going concern pack up in 1985. An attempt by the Sullivan Chime Administration to resuscitate Sunrise in 2013 through a 30-year leasing agreement between Enugu State and DAO-VTV International Trading Services and Investment Limited, a Vietnamese firm, did not work. So, Sunrise has been moribund for the past 39 years.The same fate also befell other legacies of Nwobodo like Ikenga Hotels in Enugu and Nsukka, Aluminum Ports Factory in Igbo-Etiti LGA, Nike Lake Resort, Anambra Television, Anambra Vegetable Oil Product, Nachi, among others, which are now either half dead or in total ruins.It is also recalled that the former Eastern Region’s economy was ranked the world’s fastest growing and industrialising economy between 1954 and 1964, courtesy of Dr. Michael Okpara’s principle of “Pragmatic Socialism”. NIGERGAS Company, Niger Steel Company, and Asbestos Cement Factory in Emene, Enugu; the Golden Guinea Breweries in Umuahia, Michelin Factory in Port Harcourt, shoe factories in Owerri, Hotel Presidential in Enugu and Port Harcourt, the Calabar Cement Factory, NIGERCEM Nkalagu; Premier Cashew Industry, Oghe, among others and numerous farm settlements and plantations for various cash crops were established across the defunct Eastern Region.Unfortunately, almost all of them, including the ones inherited by Enugu State, are in either ruins or sold off. No thanks to military rule, a dysfunctional federalism, profligate and unimaginative leaderships.Consequently, during the 2023 governorship campaign, candidate Peter Mbah, presented an economic vision to grow the Enugu State’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn by transforming the state from a public service to a private sector-driven economy. And one of his major templates to achieving that is by converting the state’s numerous moribund assets to productive assets.The N40bn Sunrise Flour DealRecently, the Enugu State Government and Jelfah Nigeria Limited, a private investor, signed a N40bn deal to bring the company back to life. Jelfah acquired a 60 per cent equity stake in the company and will in turn invest N24bn in the iconic mills, while the state government retained 40 per cent based on the existing assets of the company.Throwing more light on the transaction, Governor Peter Mbah said, “This investment will see Jelfah Group investing N24bn into the existing Enugu Sunrise Flour Mills. N22bn will be directed into revamping and resuscitation of the Sunrise Flour Mill, and N2bn is going to come to the State by way of cash.“The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is also going to own 10,000 hectares of farmland where we are going to cultivate the inputs for the flour mills such as cassava and grain.“This is a testament that when we say Enugu State is open for business, we are truly committed to it. We understand how to make a win-win deal, both for the investors and for the people of Enugu State. So, we will support you every step of the way to ensure that you succeed because the end is to create jobs and wealth for our people.“We hope that this signals to other investors, who may still be on the fence that Enugu is actually ready for business. We are committed to not just creating the enabling environment, but also working with investors to help them derisk investments and grow their businesses.”The Chairman of Jelfah Group, Moses Saromi, predicated the deal on Governor Mbah’s vision,…