2023 PRESIDENCY: WHO THE CAP FIT TO RUN FROM SOUTHEAST?

 2023 Presidency: Who will run from Southeast?

Although most of the Southeast politicians currently believed to be nursing presidential ambition in 2023 have come out to deny being involved in electioneering campaigns, The Nation’s Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports that the search for a possible President of Nigeria in 2023 from the Southeast zone has gained more popularity.

Although 2023 presidential election in Nigeria is still two years away, it has been observed that some aspirants and interested geo-political zones have raised their game in a bid to clinch the choice position.

One zone that has been at the forefront in the quest is the Southeast zone, which is telling whoever cares to listen that it is the turn of the zone to produce the next president of the country.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, has led many other organisations and top politicians to make case for the Igbo and for the Southeast zone in particular. Just late December, the then outgoing President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, said of the zone’s quest, “this is a democracy; people are free to say what they want. But what is important is how the will of the nation will be distilled to ensure that there is justice. Nobody here is a second-class citizen and Ndigbo are not. So it is our turn in 2023.” He said this in Nnewi at the public presentation of the official biography of the town’s monarch, Igwe Kenneth Orizu, entitled The Peace General, authored by Azuka Onwuka.

Another top politician that recently insisted it is the turn of the zone is Hon. Simon Atigwe, the lawmaker representing Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency of Enugu State.

He recently told journalists in Abuja that “If equity should come to play, it is not disputable; it is the turn of Southeast. If it comes to the South and it doesn’t go to the Southeast, then there must be a very serious reason. I don’t think anybody can proffer such reason to convince people easily. I don’t think anybody has that reason that it should not go to the Southeast.”

Notwithstanding the verbal demand for the 2023 Nigerian president of Igbo extraction, The Nation investigation shows that it is still difficult to identify an aspirant that is determined enough and prepared enough to win the presidential ticket of any of the leading political parties. Close observers of both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said that as at this weekend, the aspiration of most of the known politicians from the Southeast zone remains at the speculative level. “Do not be swayed by the noise; I can tell you that in the ruling APC, no Southeast aspirant’s interest has gone beyond media speculation. You can say two years is still a long way to go, but I can assure you that in other geo-political zones, I, for one, can point at some serious and fully prepared aspirants for the party’s presidential ticket. I am yet to identify any from the Southeast. So, why should I join the agitators to say it is the turn of the Southeast,” asked Dr. Fredrick Mba, a political analyst in Lagos.

Mr. Dominic Egbe, a rights activist and PDP supporter also confided that even in the PDP, it is doubtful if anyone can say for sure that a particular aspirant from the Southeast has built enough structure and followership ahead of the 2023 presidential contest. “Ordinarily, one would expect the PDP to hand over its 2023 presidential ticket to the Southeast zone, given the strength of the party in the zone, but from what is happening and the reports that the North may still cling on the party’s ticket in 2023, it appears Southeast qualified aspirants are not enthusiastic enough to come out for the ticket. I need not tell you that power is not given. You will have to demand for it and contest for it before it would be left for you. That is the way it works. But you will agree with me that even the Southeast top politicians that have been associated with the quest so far have all denied it. Yes, that may be understandable since this is just 2021, but we all know that anyone that seriously want to preside over Nigeria in 2023 must by now have verifiable structure and followership. Presidency is a serious matter. I am yet to see such an aspirant in the PDP from the Southeast,” he said.

Game of denial

Since 2020 when observers started bandying possible aspirants for the top position from the Southeast zone, virtually all of them have made haste to deny the suggestion.

As far back as August 2020, a political association, the Igbo for President Solidarity Group (IPSC), became specific when it listed about 11 politicians from the zone it considered fit to contest for the office of president in 2023.

According to the association, “IPSC has come to the conclusion that in 2023, a man or woman of Igbo extraction will become the president of Nigeria.

“IPSC will engage in consultations across the six geo-political zones, visitation to Emirs, Obas, Eze, Obi and chiefs, to discuss and examine the characters and integrity of the eleven persons suggested,” the group said.

Some of the politicians suggested by the association are Dr. Ogbonaya Onu of Ebonyi State, former Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra, Dr. Chris Ngige of Anambra, Sen. Rochas Okorocha of Imo; Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia; Sen. Ike Ekweremadu of Enugu, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe of Abia; Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu; Sen. Andy Uba of Anambra and Prof. Kingsley Moghalu of Anambra State.

Besides such specific mention, it is observed that nothing tangible has been seen around most of the mentioned aspirants to suggest they are fully in the race. Even the most visible of the alleged aspirants had formally denied suggestions linking them to such quest.

This drama of denial trailed the politics of the zone in the last quarter of 2020 and peaked mid-January, 2021 when the former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, denied authorizing posters bearing his picture and name as a 2023 presidential aspirant.

Powered by a group known as Nigerians Ask for Anyim with Facebook and Twitter names as piusanyim2023 and with www.nigeriaask4anyim.org as its website, the campaign posters, tagged Progress 2023 with the picture of the former Senate President and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, lighted the political scene as soon as it flooded the social media.

But although the said Nigerians Ask for Anyim 2023 campaign organisation is alleged to be championed by a former House of Representatives member in Ebonyi State, Anyim swiftly disassociated himself from it..

In a statement he personally signed, Anyim said even if he is interested in running for president in 2023, the time for campaign has not come.

As he puts it: “My attention has just been drawn to posters and stories circulating in the Social Media. One of them has the inscription “Progress 2023 Anyim Pius Anyim for President…” with my picture on it;

“I want to state very emphatically that I do not have a hand in those posters or campaign and did not authorise any such publications.

As a law-abiding citizen, I am fully aware that it is not the time for the campaign for 2023 elections.

“The government at the federal level has spent only a year and seven months out of four-year term, grappling with issues of governance and so should not be distracted”.

Anyim therefore charged the general public to disregard such posters and or publications.

Also, when Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last year, the circumstances surrounding his action brought to the fore the sensitive issue of who would suceed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 and if APC would zone its presidential ticket to the Southeast in 2023.

This was mainly because of the reasons Umahi gave for his defection and choice of political party to join. It would be recalled that Umahi had alleged that one of the reasons he decided to dump the PDP was because the party was not planning to pick its 2023 presidential candidate from the Southeast, which has yet to produce a president since democracy was restored in Nigeria in 1999.

Describing the party’s action as “insensitive and insincere,” Umahi argued that “for the sake of justice, equity and fairness, the region should be allowed to take a shot at the presidency” since, according to him, “other regions have done so.”

As the Chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum, Umahi’s utterances attracted attention of political observers and various stakeholders. Many concluded that Umahi has presidential ambition and probably had the belief that he would be given APC ticket. He however shocked many when he denied harbouring plan to be a beneficiary of his agitation for Southeast’s turn to produce the President. He rather said he was prepared to be the “sacrificial lamb.”

As he puts it: “It is absurd that since 1999 going to 2023, the Southeast will never be considered to run for presidency under the PDP. And this is my position and will continue to be my position. It had nothing to do with me or my ambition.

“I want to clear the air that I never sought PDP presidential ticket and I will not. So whoever said that I moved to APC because they refused to zone the ticket to me is being very mischievous.”

Anyim and Umahi are not the only top Southeast politicians that have denied posters advertising them as 2023 presidential aspirants.

Also, when Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last year, the circumstances surrounding his action brought to the fore the sensitive issue of who would suceed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 and if APC would zone its presidential ticket to the Southeast in 2023.

This was mainly because of the reasons Umahi gave for his defection and choice of political party to join. It would be recalled that Umahi had alleged that one of the reasons he decided to dump the PDP was because the party was not planning to pick its 2023 presidential candidate from the Southeast, which has yet to produce a president since democracy was restored in Nigeria in 1999.

Describing the party’s action as “insensitive and insincere,” Umahi argued that “for the sake of justice, equity and fairness, the region should be allowed to take a shot at the presidency” since, according to him, “other regions have done so.”

As the Chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum, Umahi’s utterances attracted attention of political observers and various stakeholders. Many concluded that Umahi has presidential ambition and probably had the belief that he would be given APC ticket. He however shocked many when he denied harbouring plan to be a beneficiary of his agitation for Southeast’s turn to produce the President. He rather said he was prepared to be the “sacrificial lamb.”

As he puts it: “It is absurd that since 1999 going to 2023, the Southeast will never be considered to run for presidency under the PDP. And this is my position and will continue to be my position. It had nothing to do with me or my ambition.

“I want to clear the air that I never sought PDP presidential ticket and I will not. So whoever said that I moved to APC because they refused to zone the ticket to me is being very mischievous.”

Anyim and Umahi are not the only top Southeast politicians that have denied posters advertising them as 2023 presidential aspirants.

Former Governor of Anambra State and the Vice Presidential candidate of PDP in the last presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi, also had to do so in 2020.

When a campaign poster circulating online associated the former Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), vice presidential candidate, as contesting alongside former Governor Rabi’u Kwakwanso ahead of 2023 presidency, he promptly denied having a hand in the publication of such poster.

The campaign poster, which surfaced online, has Obi running for president while Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kano State Governor is his running mate.

The slogan on the campaign poster reads: “For equity and fairness 2023” with Obi and Kwankwaso running for presidency on the PDP platform in 2023.

In his reaction, Obi, the former Anambra State governor, denied involvement in the poster.

Obi in a short statement on his Twitter page wrote: “I am not a part of the poster being circulated – PO.”

Even the former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, had similar experience. When a poster, also circulating on social media, purporting that he would run for the vice presidential position with the Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal as his presidential candidate, he said it was false.

In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Ikechukwu Okafor, Chidoka said, “I did not produce any poster nor did I authorize anyone or group to produce any on my behalf.

“I did not directly or indirectly authorise anybody or group of persons to produce or circulate any posters for any campaign,” he said.

The search goes on

The denials notwithstanding, we learnt that more than ever, the search for an acceptable aspirant or aspirants for the office of Nigerian President from the Southeast is currently ongoing. As Dr. Mba explains it, “though party chieftains, for the fear of offending party guidelines may tell you it is still early in the day, I can tell you that Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership and Igbo elders consider the emergence of Nigerian President of Igbo extraction as a task that must be fulfilled.”

Even Ohanaeze Ndigbo, under the new leadership of Prof George Obiozor, has been reported as stating clearly that one of the mandate handed over to them is to produce a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction in 2023.

The newly elected spokesman of the body, Alex Ogbonna, was quoted as saying, “The only aim is to convince Nigerians to consider Igbo for 2023 because we have been tasked to carry and portray the awareness and consciousness of the Igbo. Fortunately, the consciousness is to produce Igbo president. There is no need to delay or coming up with a new mandate. “There is no time to be negative about the goal. We are very hopeful that we will achieve it. The mandate is an already started one and it is very clear to all of us. It is an unwritten agreement that must be achieved.”

The search is on. It therefore remains to be seen who the zone would finally present to the rest of Nigeria.

 

(The Nation)

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YORUBA YOUTHS HAS BURNT DOWN MY HOUSE AND 11 CARS AND ALSO DRIVE MY FAMILY AWAY FROM OUR HOME -OYO SERIKI FULANI

 Yoruba youths have driven me, my wife, children out of our home, burnt our house, 11 cars —Oyo Seriki Fulani

The settlement of the Seriki Fulani of Oyo State, Alhaji Saliu Abdulkadir, was allegedly set on fire by aggrieved youths on Friday night.

Abdulkadir told SaharaReporters in Ibadan that he, his wives and children were sent out of the settlement, adding that 11 vehicles and houses were burnt in the process.

He said that despite assurance by the police and the people of the state, his house was burnt in the presence of security agents.

His words, “As we speak, we are in the bush. Our cars, numbering about 11, have been burnt. Some of my children sustained injuries and we are looking for a way to get them to hospital. My children have left their houses for the bush. We need the government to help us. Police, Operation Burst and other security agencies were there when they set my house ablaze.”

Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Jiji, also confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the phone.

He said, “As we usually say, not all Fulani people are evil. Good people are among us. What can we call this now? The man is a gentleman and see how he was chased out of his house. We need the government to act now,” he said.

Sunday Adeyemo, an agitator for Oodua Republic, better known as Sunday Igboho, on Friday visited some Oyo communities to confirm compliance of Fulani people with the seven-day ultimatum he had given them last Thursday to leave Ibarapa and Igangan areas of Oyo State.

Fulani herdsmen have largely been blamed for the growing cases of killing and kidnapping in southwestern Nigerian.

Speaking with SaharaReporters early Friday morning, he affirmed his decision to visit the communities despite the threats by the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, to arrest him.

In a video shared online, Igboho was well received during his visit to the Igangan community as scores of people converged for his reception.

The people were seen jubilating; dancing and singing.

Addressing the people, Igboho said, “The Fulani have gone, we have sent them out of our land and they cannot come back again. Kidnappers cannot rule over us, they can’t take over our land from us. It belongs to us; they should stop threatening.

“Those who live with us peacefully; we are not fighting them but how will a visitor claim one’s house from him. If you live with us in peace, we have no problem with you but if you decide to kidnap and kill us, we don’t want you here. I assure Yoruba people, particularly those in Oyo State, that there is no danger.

“This one we have started here in Oyo State will not end here. We are going to other parts of the South-West. Tell Fulani herdsmen in Ekiti State, Ondo State and Osun States; in fact, in all South-West states that they should get ready for us because we are coming.”

In an interview with SaharaReporters, Igboho also alleged that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari had not brought anything good to the people of the South-West except social vices.

Igboho, therefore, called on the president to take the Fulani out of Yorubaland.

“Buhari should come and evacuate his people from our land, we don’t want them again. They are just punishing the youths; they have turned us to nothing, why? The educated youth don’t have jobs, nothing, the gain now is to kill and kidnap us. We are still on the unemployment issue, we have accepted our fate, should we not be in peace and enjoy security again? It’s enough,” he said.

Earlier in the week, Igboho also alleged that when he visited Seriki Fulani of Oyo State, Alhaji Saliu Abdulkadir, at his home to urge him to do something about the killings and kidnappings being carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the state, some Fulani people there threatened him with guns and also shot at him.

He alleged that one Fulani man also brought out an axe to threaten him.

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DON'T ARREST NOR KILL SUNDAY IGBIHO, FANI-KAYODE WARNS MR. PRESIDENT.

 Don’t arrest nor kill Sunday Igboho, Fani-Kayode warns Buhari

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has warned the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), not to arrest or kill popular Yoruba activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho.

Fani-Kayode who gave the warning on his official Twitter handle said such would be dangerous, reckless and counter-productive.

He said this following a report that the Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, has ordered the new Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Ngozi Onadeko, to arrest Igboho immediately and transfer him to Abuja.

The order was confirmed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu while speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa.

The order was issued shortly after Igboho, and his supporters stormed a community in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State where he addressed a crowd following the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum he issued for Fulani herdsmen to vacate the state.

Reacting to the order for Igboho’s arrest, Fani-Kayode advised the Federal Government to tread carefully because the activist has the full support of the Yoruba.

He said, “It would be dangerous, reckless and counter-productive for Buhari to arrest or kill Sunday Igboho. When the Northern youths demanded that Igbos should leave the north, no-one was arrested. Why should Sunday be arrested or killed for asking killer Fulani herdsmen to leave South-West?

‌“I advise the FG to tread softly because Sunday has the full support of the Yoruba nation because he has spoken for the people. Kill him and you make him a martyr for Oduduwa, arrest him and you make him the greatest hero of the Yoruba since independence. Whichever way he wins.

He said the way to solve the problem is to arrest the herdsmen that kill and kidnap the people in the South-West, not by arresting or killing those that are standing up and speaking for their victims.

He said, “Sunday did not ask for all Fulanis to leave South-West. He asked for the killers, terrorists and kidnappers amongst them to leave Ibarapa and the Yoruba people love him for it. Is that a crime? As long as he maintains the peace and does not indulge in or encourage any violence, I do not see what he has done wrong?

“In 1999 when Gani Adams was rising up, I identified him as a young man to watch. I wrote an essay about him and I said his courage would take him far. I was proved right. Today I identify Sunday Igboho who has stood up against wickedness, injustice & apartheid in our land when other Yoruba leaders were too timid to stand. I commend his courage.”

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SHOOT SUNDAY IGBIHO & FOLLOWERS ON SIGHT: BUHARI DIRECT POLICE.

 Buhari asks police to shoot Sunday Igboho, followers on sight

President Muhammadu Buhari has endorsed the use of lethal force against Sunday Igboho and his supporters if they continue to “disturb public peace” in Oyo State according to report by Peoples Gazette on Saturday.

Sunday Igboho, whose real name is Sunday Adeyemo, has been at the forefront of a controversial and illegal attempt to drive Nigerians of Fulani origin from Oyo State. The Nigerian Constitution accords all citizens the fundamental rights to live in any parts of the country, but Sunday Igboho and others have been riding on the anger of Yoruba political leadership against rising herdsmen violence to issue confrontational directives of their own.

Sunday Igboho led an army of his followers to Oke-Ogun parts of Oyo State on Friday, leading to a bloodshed that involved the razing of the home and other assets of a famous Fulani chief.

“The president was briefed on the matter and he said Sunday’s action can disturb public peace and it should stop,” a police chief told the Gazette by telephone Saturday afternoon. “We were told from IG’s office that the president has asked for Sunday Igboho and his followers to be shot at sight if they continue pushing to drag Nigeria into a civil war.”

Another police source told the Gazette that police Inspector-General Mohammed Adamu was seeking an alternative approach.

“He does not want to flout presidential directive, but he has been talking to Yoruba leaders to find other means of preventing the matter from escalating,” the senior police officer said by telephone. “A possible trip to the South-west is also on the table.” Both senior officers sought anonymity to discuss internal police communication.

Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina did not did not immediately return a request seeking comments about the president’s order, which could escalate brewing ethnic tensions if carried out by the police.

But earlier on Saturday morning, another presidential media aide Garba Shehu told the BBC that Mr. Adamu had sent out a signal for the arrest of Sunday Igboho and his supporters, leaving out the controversial shoot-on-sight directive of the president.

Mr. Buhari has a history of supporting bloodshed in Nigeria. As an opposition, he provoked his supporters to lynch hundreds of citizens after losing the 2011 presidential poll to Goodluck Jonathan. In December 2015 and October 2020, Mr. Buhari respectively supported the military massacres of over 1,000 Shi’a adherents in Zaria and dozens of anti-police brutality agitators in Lekki, Lagos.

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A LADY ATTACKED WHILE JOGGING IN THE EARLY HOURS.

Lady Attacked While Jogging On The Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge

A Nigerian lady has been attacked on the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge while jogging in the early hours of Monday.

People have been advised to be careful when jogging on the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge as joggers are now getting attacked.

A woman was attacked while jogging early on Monday morning, Jan 18.

The woman named Sike was left with a bruised face, broken finger, and a gash on her thigh.

Her sister said she was mugged and rough-handled.

Unfortunately, as the attack was taking place, people passed by and no one intervened.

Joggers have been advised to wait till it’s brighter before they jog around the area.

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SELF DISCOVERY, A PRODUCT OF LIFE COPING AND MANIPULATIVE SKILLS -POCACOV NATIONAL COORDINATOR.

SELF DISCOVERY IS A PRODUCT OF LIFE COPING AND MANIPULATIVE SKILLS--POCACOV NATIONAL COORDINATOR

The National Coordinator Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) CSP Ebere Amaraizu has revealed that the on going POCACOV Community Oriented activity tagged "SELF-DISCOVERY" is a deliberate and conscious effort of the Nigeria Police Force in line with its Public Safety and Security Framework under IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu to expose Nigerian Children and Youths to program of Life Coping and manipulative Skills amongst others, which will help them not only in achieving their dream but to eschew Cultism, Substance/Drug abuse ,Sexual and Gender based Violence, Trafficking in person and other Vices.

The National Coordinator POCACOV made the revelation today 21/1/2021 while reacting on the essence of the program "SELF-DISCOVERY" during a virtual conference with POCACOV Stakeholders, Ambassadors, POCACOV Volunteer Club for Safer Community and School coordinated from the IGP M. A. Abubakar Adamu POCACOV Resource Centre in Enugu. According to him, the Self-Discovery activity is a youth empowerment program of POCACOV in partnership with different stakeholders to achieve the presidential direction, vision and mission on youth empowerment, engagement and strategic leadership direction.

Amaraizu further revealed that SELF-DISCOVERY will be achieved when youths are exposed to life coping and manipulative skills. This will make them not to submit to brainwashing to join bandwagon of negative tendencies but to constantly seek and push to record positivism to achieve as champions and commended the untiring effort of a 12-year-old Chinonso Eche, a Nigerian boy who set football free style world record for the most consecutive touches of a football in one minute and attributing it to the power of SELF-DISCOVERY through manipulative skills attained as a result of exposures and in line with the tenets of life coping skills which also teaches one not to others what he or she does not want to be done to him. We are calling on Ministries, Department, Agencies, Government and Non Governmental Organization, Community based Organizations (C.B.Os), Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), Development Partners and Agencies, Centre for Civic Education amongst others to join hands with the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices to drive the course of SELF-DISCOVERY tailored towards Youth Value Reorientation, Engagement/Empowerment and strategic leadership direction.

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SECONDARY SCHOOL VP IMPREGNATES 12-YEAR-OLD MINOR IN KATSINA.

 VP impregnates 12-year-old pupil in Katsina

The vice principal of Community Day Secondary School, Katandani in Rimi council area of Katsina State, Ibrahim Tukur, 38, was yesterday paraded by police for serially raping a 12-year-old pupil of the school till she got pregnant.

Police spokesman Gambo Isa, who addressed newsmen at the command headquarters, said that upon interrogation, Tukur admitted having three wives with children, and that he took advantage of the girl being in the same school to consistently lure and rape her

He said, “One Ibrahim Sule of Charanchi village had reported at Rimi Divisions Police headquarters that Ibrahim Tukur on several occasions lured his daughter into his house and had unlawful carnal knowledge of her. As a result, she became pregnant.”

Isa gave the assurance that the suspect will be duly prosecuted at the end of investigations.

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BIAFRA IS BEYOND YOU TO DECIDE ALONE; NEW OHANAEZE NDIGBO PRESIDENT CAUTIONS NNAMDI KANU.

New Ohanaeze Ndigbo President Cautions Nnamdi Kanu, warns that issue of Biafra is beyond him to decide alone.

Prof. George Obiozor, the new President General Ohanaeze Ndigbo has cautioned Nnamdi Kanu to understand that Igbo nation isn’t at war with anyone.

The Igbo leader made this known during a World Press Conference at Ohaneze Ndigbo Secretariat in Enugu on Wednesday, 20th January, 2021.

He warned that Biafra Nation is beyond Nnamdi Kanu to decide alone and advised that all utterances and actions that put the Igbos in harms way must be avoided as Diplomacy is the best way to go.

In his words: “The Igbo Nation in Nigeria isn’t at war with with Nigeria and has nothing pending before any institutional authority in Nigeria or diaspora that demands a separate existence from Nigeria.

” Nnamdi Kanu is one of us and he must listen to some of us for several reasons. The fact and realities are that the issues of Biafra are above and beyond his capacity to decide. He must listen because he’s one of us and we’re all in this dilemma together. And our mutual and collective responsibilities are sacred and must be respected.

“Consequently, all actions or utterances that put Ndigbo in present and imminent danger or harm’s way must be avoided.

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TRUMP HAS LOWEST APPROVAL RATING OF HIS PRESIDENCY IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

 Leaving office, Trump has lowest approval rating of his presidency.

President Donald Trump will leave the White House this week with the lowest approval rating of his presidency, with just 34 percent of Americans supporting the job he has done, a Gallup poll showed Monday.

Gallup noted that Trump’s average approval rating during his one-term presidency was 41 percent, four points lower than any of his predecessors since the polling group has been gathering data.

Trump’s job approval had dipped to 35 percent in previous polls, most notably after he failing to condemn a violent gathering of white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017.

The last poll of the Trump presidency was taken on the week of January 4-11, which covered the storming of the US Capitol building by Trump supporters trying to overturn the certification of the election won by Joe Biden, whose victory Trump has consistently denied.

His all-time high rating was in early 2020, when he was facing an impeachment in the Senate on charges of trying to push Ukraine into helping him smear Biden and during the early stages of the pandemic, when Americans believed he was responding well to the virus that has now killed 398,000 people in the country.

(AFP)

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Okorocha reveals plan to unveil new political movement ahead of 2023

The agitation for the 2023 Presidency thickened on Monday with a former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, announcing the plan to form a new political movement in Nigeria.

Okorocha, representing Imo West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, said himself and other progressive-minded politicians were perfecting the plan as a result of the silent agitations and complaints across the country against the current state of the nation.

According to him, from the body language of the Nigerians, it was obvious that they were not satisfied with what was on ground in Nigeria.

The Senator, who is a founding member of the All Progressives Congress, unfolded the plans in an interview with journalists in Abuja.

The PUNCH reported that Okorocha, while commissioning projects in Rivers State, on the invitation of governor, Nyesom Wike, recently provoked a fresh controversy when he called on the good people in APC and the Peoples Democratic Party to come together and rescue Nigeria in 2023.

He said on Monday that there was an urgent need for the regrouping of the ‘good politicians’ to restore public confidence in governance and save the country.

The former insisted that the country needed political reengineering, warning that Nigerians cannot be fooled again by mischievous politicians in 2023.

“The movement for a new Nigeria has begun and we must come together, I mean progressive Nigerians to make the country work,” Okorocha said.

Asked if the promise of the new political movement for a new Nigeria would not be similar to that of the APC in 2015, he, retorted that the APC was hurriedly formed to take power from the PDP without much emphasis on the character of those championing the course.

He assured that the political coalition is being championed by people with a proven track record of achievement and public spirit, adding that it was no more ideal to allow people who do not have a genuine love for the unity and progress of the country to hijack power.

The ex-governor said, “The APC was a hurried arrangement, it was hurriedly formed to take power when the then government was drifting. APC would have been better until people who were not members of the party; people who came for congratulatory message hijacked the party and became Lords.”

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ANAMBRA GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION FIXED -INEC.

 INEC fixes date for Anambra governorship election

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has fixed the Governorship Election in Anambra state for November 6, 2021.

The commission disclosed this in a statement issued Tuesday and signed by a National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr. Festus Okoye.

INEC said it had met earlier on Tuesday and deliberated on a wide range of issues including the issuance of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the conduct of the Anambra Governorship election.

The statement reads; “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) met on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 and deliberated on a wide range of issues including the issuance of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the conduct of the Anambra Governorship election.

“By virtue of Section 178(1) & (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 25(7) & (8) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), election into the office of a State Governor shall hold not earlier than One Hundred and Fifty (150) days and not later than thirty (30) days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of the office.

“Constitutionally and statutorily, the tenure of the Governor of Anambra State will expire on the 17th March 2022 and the earliest date for the election into the office of Governor, Anambra State, shall be 18th October 2021 and the latest date for the election shall be 15th February 2022.

“In the exercise of the powers conferred on it by the Constitution, the Electoral Act and all other powers enabling it in that regard, the Commission has fixed 6th November 2021 as the date for the conduct of the Anambra State Governorship election. Consequently, the Commission hereby issues the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.

“By the Timetable and Schedule of Activities, the Commission will issue the statutory Notice for Election on 9th June 2021. The Collection of Forms EC9 (Formerly CF001) and EC9B (Formerly CF002) for the election will take place on 10th June 2021 and the conduct of party primaries and resolution of disputes arising from the primaries will take place on 10th June -1st July 2021. The Personal Particulars of the candidates will be published on 16th July 2021 and the parties will commence campaigns on 8th August 2021. The Final List of Nominated Candidates will be published on 7th October 2021.

“The Commission enjoins all the registered political parties to pay close attention to the timelines and schedule of activities outlined in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities as they are constitutional and statutorily provisions.

“We also enjoin political parties to conduct rancour-free primaries, guarantee level playing field for all aspirants and conduct necessary due diligence on all forms and documents that will be submitted to the Commission. The Commission is concerned about the spate of acrimonious primaries as well as the nomination of unqualified candidates, which results in avoidable litigations, and the nullification of elections by Election Petition Tribunals.

“We urge all the stakeholders to support the Commission’s efforts to strengthen the electoral process, including the deployment of technology to deliver free, fair and credible elections”.

(Vanguard)

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