₦airaland Forum

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has expressed sympathies to the Owo community, the government and people of Ondo State, and the country in general over the attack on worshipers at the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State on Sunday.

DAILY POST had earlier reported that an attack was launched on the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, in Owo town, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State capital while mass was ongoing on Sunday, with many worshippers killed.

Dr. Kayode Fayemi Governor, the Ekiti State Governor and Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, conveyed the sympathy in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja. He described it as a gory, ugly, and gruesome act by extremely wicked persons.

“We mourn with the people of Ondo State. The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) wishes to express its deepest sympathies to the Owo community, the government and people of Ondo State and the country in general following the attack on worshippers at the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State in which scores of people were reportedly killed.

“The NGF considers this a gory, ugly, and gruesome act by extremely wicked and warped minds meted out to innocent victims on a holy day.

“However, in the spirit of all our faiths, we pray for them. May God forgive and grant them mercy.

“As Governors, on our oath, we solemnly pledge to work with Mr President, all citizens and residents of our dear Country, Nigeria to assure you of a fully secure environment.

“Our goal is to halt brutalities, address unresolved criminal acts and ensure all killers are ultimately brought to face the consequences of their actions,” the statement read in parts.

Recall that exactly a week ago, the head of the Methodist Church in Nigeria was abducted along with two other clerics in the southeast of the country.

The Methodist prelate said he paid $240,000 (£190,000) or N100 million to be freed with his companions.

Two weeks ago, two Catholic priests were kidnapped in Katsina, President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state in the north of the country. They have not been released.

In March, gunmen targeted the vital rail link between Abuja and the northern city of Kaduna killing at least nine people and kidnapping dozens of others, many of whom are still being held.

Omooba77:
Buhari government actions may incite Christians to directly defend themselves....And we know the end results....

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has stated that insecurity has “gotten out of hands” in the country and has become an embarrassment.

CAN stated this on Sunday while condemning the unprovoked attacks and killing of several innocent worshippers at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, Owo.

According to a statement signed by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Media Assistant to the CAN President, His Eminence, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle, the federal government was asked to stop the de-radicalization program for repentant terrorists as one of the preventive measures against insecurity.

It called on the security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators of the attack and also console families of the bereaved.

The statement partly reads:

“This is sad, wrong, condemnable, outrageous, unacceptable and satanic. There is no explanation for this unprovoked attack and assault on a place of worship. This is raw persecution. These people are possessed, demonic and are not working for the good of the country. May God descend heavily on them and fight them mindless agents of Satan from their roots in Jesus’ name.

“We are once again reiterating our quest for a total overhauling of the security architecture and are asking President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the recycling of those criminals and terrorists in the name of de-radicalising programme. If the programme is not counterproductive, how come the criminalities are always on the increase and nowhere is safe again.

“This menace of insecurity has gotten out of hands and is embarrassingly sore. Criminals are operating with impunity all over the country and unfortunately our government appears to be so busy with the 2023 general election that it has no time for the unending killings in the country. What legacy is the government and those who are the managers of our security architecture leaving behind for the unborn generation?

“We are praying for the government and the security agencies to get it right before it will be too late. If the Federal government is not interested in the State Police, what efforts are being put in place to arrest this unpleasant situation? We call on the State Governors to meet with the President to find the lasting solution to these killings. Issuing mere press statements of condemnations and what looks like empty threat is apparently not a way out of it.

“CAN commiserates with all the bereaved, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) and the Ondo State Government.”

As condemnation and criticism continue to trail his speech in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Thursday, frontline aspirant for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu has said he did not attack President Muhammadu Buhari or the North.

He clarified that his speech was not disrespectful to Buhari or the North but it was laying bare his contribution to the party which should count in his favour.

A statement signed by the Director, Media and Communications, Tinubu Presidential Campaign Organisation, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday said, no time did Tinubu play any ethnic card or denigrate any ethnic group as being alleged.

Tinubu had among other things said it “was Yoruba’s turn, it’s my turn” to be president, while wooing delegates in Abeokuta.

He also told his audience that he was instrumental to the emergence of Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.

But he has come under attack especially in the manner he presented the matter with many accusing him of a sense of entitlement.

But his statement Friday evening downplayed the development, saying, “We are least surprised that he is the target of well-calculated and most unkind virulent attacks.”

He described the former Lagos governor as a great party man and remains the man to beat at the party’s convention on Monday.

“In his effort to convince the party delegates to vote for him at the primaries, he went down memory lane to provide specific instances when he brought his political clout and strategic skills to assist individuals, groups and tendencies in the party to gain political power.

“These factual references are already in the public realm. They have been reported and analysed in the media in the last eight years. They are therefore matters of public knowledge,” he said.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Mohammed Bello, has charged security agencies to arrest anyone who comes to solicit bail for arrested criminals.

The Minister who gave the charge on Thursday during the weekly ministerial briefing organised by the Presidential Communication Team explained this was part of efforts to keep the metropolis safe and free of crimes.

Bello also said the revenue generation drive of the FCT is targeted at surpassing that of Lagos State.

He informed the Federal Capital City generates more than N200 billion annually.

Speaking on curbing crime rate in Abuja, the Minister said the charge to security agencies became more pertinent because there had been reports of some highly-placed individuals who had been known to solicit release of arrested criminal elements.

He appealed to residents to expose those involved in freeing such urchins by reporting them to authorities.

Mohammed affirmed that the criminal justice system in the territory had challenges as its three correctional facilities are filled to capacities and unable to take in more convicts.

According to him, criminals convicted in Abuja courts are being sent to Suleja in Niger State as the territory is proposing what he called a “bolster centre” to accommodate underage convicts.

The Minister also noted that his administration has earmarked N1bn to renovate the National Mosque and National Ecumenical Centre to ensure they remain visitable sites in the FCT.

He blamed the need for demolition of structures in the territory on the failure of past Ministers to properly carry out their responsibilities.

According to him, if agencies had been able to do their jobs, the structures earmarked for demolition would not have sprung up in the first place.

Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina says Nigerians need to ‘buga’ for his boss for properly representing the country in Spain

Buga as used by Nigerians music star, Kiss Daniel, means to flaunt one’s effort, success or achievement.

Adesina, in a statement entitled “VISIT TO SPAIN: LET’S BUGA FOR MR PRESIDENT”, narrated his experiences while he was with the president in Spain, particularly how the Nigerian leader met with some footballers in Madrid city.

According to him, one of their hosts described the president as a man of integrity, probity and accountability, saying the host added that “they respect Buhari very much in their country, and generally in the West.”

Adesina said, “Come and see the meeting with Nigerians in Diaspora on Thursday afternoon. The President was in his elements. When Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, introduced Kenneth Omeruo, a Nigerian footballer playing professional soccer in Spain, the President said: “I know him. I always see him on TV, with his peculiar hairstyle.” Looool.

“Omeruo thanked the President for his many supports to the Super Eagles, and presented him with an autographed football, jersey of his team, Leganes FC of Madrid, and a jersey of the Super Eagles.

“An appreciative President told the footballer that as a student, he didn’t play much of football because of his lean stature, “but I felt safer with hockey, since I had a stick I could use to defend myself.”

“The expedition to Spain by President Buhari was very successful on all fronts. Our President did the country proud, represented well, and brought us glory. Why shouldn’t we then flaunt him? We must ‘buga,’ and showcase our leader, no matter what those who cavil say”.

Islamic cleric Sheikh Gumi has called for the establishment of the Ministry of Nomadic Affairs to address the grievances of bandits and herders terrorising the country.

Mr Gumi made the call at the Pastoralists and Fulbe Security Conference on Wednesday, in Abuja with the theme “Exploring the contemporary security challenges facing pastoralists and Fulbe in Nigeria”.

The event was jointly organised by Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Northern Consensus Movement (NCM).

The cleric, in a chat with reporters, said that the Fulani herders and other aggrieved groups should be accorded the same treatment given to the Niger Delta militants.

“Government should focus more attention on these people because they always say that they are aggrieved,” said Mr Gumi. “What I expect from the government is nothing less than what it did, when the Niger Delta youth were vandalizing the economy.”

Mr Gumi, an ardent advocate for bandits and killer herdsmen argued that “These people are also disturbing the Nigerian agriculture which is the backbone of the national economy.

“I think the government needs to be more proactive; they need attention.”

“The least they need is the Ministry of Nomadic Affairs that will look into their affairs,” Mr Gumi stressed.

The National President of MACBAN, Husseini Bosso, in his address of welcome noted that it was no longer news that kidnappings and armed banditry had become the order of the day in many communities in the country.

Mr Bosso, however, said that contrary to the general belief that pastoralists were behind this crime, they also were victims of this misdemeanor.

“What is baffling is that crimes perpetrated against pastoralists have no traction in the media. Our members have been the highest victims of criminality..

“MACBAN Chairmen in Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa States and five other local government chairmen including Gwagwalada Area Council were all recently abducted and killed.

“This buttresses the fact that we are not spared from the atrocities of the kidnappings and banditry in our communities,” he said.

He said that from 2015 to date many pastoralists were murdered and over two million persons were displaced and impoverished, while over four million livestock were either rustled, killed or outrightly confiscated by state governments.

While condemning alleged maltreatment of pastoralists by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN), Mr Bosso said that this barbaric display of inhumanity must stop.

He expressed concern that no compensation or resettlement had been given to herders who lost cattle to rustlers or other non-state actors.

“Yet no compensation, no resettlement unlike other Nigerians who suffered similar fate. For a people with no known skills or trade, this is real danger in the making.

“Recently, it has become like a competition to enact Anti-Open grazing laws without recourse to the fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the Constitution,” he said.

He expressed the hope that the gathering would proffer solutions to the security challenges and predicament of the pastoral community in the country.

“We hope measures will be taken to implement the recommendations of stakeholders and experts that will emerge from this conference,” he said

President of NCM, Awwal Aliyu, in his remarks, said there was the need for a holistic approach to the challenges facing pastoralists and Fulbe communities in the country.

Mr Aliyu called for integration of pastoralists into the society, stressing that they had been marginalized for too long.

He, therefore, call for practical solutions to the challenges of pastoralists.

The Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Wednesday said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not win the 2023 election because the parties “have expired and lost their political relevance in the country.”

He said this while speaking with journalists shortly after a meeting with leaders and members of the Labour Party in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

Obi who recently resigned his membership of the main opposition party, said the PDP stepped out of fortune and victory following its refusal to zone the Presidential ticket to the South.

Speaking through his campaign Director General, Dr. Doyin Okupe, Obi berated the PDP for being “unrighteous and unjust” by jettisoning the zoning arrangement of the party.

According to him, those who opposed zoning in the PDP undermined the the existence of the PDP and the violated the gentleman agreement of the founding fathers of the party.

Obi said, he is banking on Nigeria’s workforce, youths, market women to beat both the APC and the PDP at the 2023 general elections.

He said, “The PDP was a veritable party that was put together by our elders and leaders. Those who came yesterday and said rotation does not matter undermine the very essence of the existence of the PDP, the moment they took that step, the PDP stepped out of line of fortune, of future, of victory because it has become suddenly unrighteous and unjust.

“There is no unrighteous and unjust pillar that will stand. The PDP was a good platform, but it has expired. The APC was never a good platform, it is of no consequence. The two parties are out, these two parties have expired, they are not relevance to the new things that Nigerians and the youths are looking for.

“Labour party in the scheme of things is still a very small party, but we are not unaware of that before we moved here. But the Labour Party is a sleeping giant. The potential electorate reservoir of Labour Party is more than three times the membership of APC and PDP put together. NLC, TUC, NURTW, market women, professional bodies, students are all part of Labour Party.

“The NLC has a membership of about 5 million, the TUC has a membership of about 8 to 10 million, the number of students registered in the Federal universities is about 2.5 million, those who are not in the Federal universities are about 6.7 million, when you add all that together, you are looking at about 20 reserved voters that have direct affiliation with Labour Party.

“Our strategy will be to reawake the Nigerian workers. Nigeria is going to see something it has not seen before, we will beat APC and PDP pants down.”

ValCon888:
The ticket that cut can buy you a truckload of Nigerian girls.

sinkhole:
Naija people are always wicked at heart
Imagine, exporting wickedness to England

Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has perfected plans to be the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Sokoto South following the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report.

Mr Tambuwal, whose statutory second-term as governor ends next year, had sought to be his party’s presidential candidate but stepped down and endorsed Mr Atiku just before the commencement of voting during the primary.

Mr Atiku went on to win the primary election scoring 371 votes.

Though he did not contest in the Sokoto South senatorial primary in his state, PREMIUM TIMES learned that Mr Tambuwal has concluded plans to replace the winner of the contest, Aminu Bodinga, as the party’s candidate during the national Assembly election next year.

Mr Bodinga, the immediate past commissioner for land and survey, was elected unopposed.

Sources close to the Sokoto State government told this newspaper that Mr Tambuwal asked the former commissioner to stand as a proxy while he contested to be the party’s presidential candidate.

“Wasn’t it surprising that only Aminu Bala Bodinga contested for the seat? All the other aspirants refused to buy the form when they learnt that His Excellency had a plan B,” a chieftain of the PDP from Shagari Local Government told PREMIUM TIMES.

He insisted that most of the cabinet members were aware of the “arrangement.”

The source said Mr Tambuwal co-opted the former commissioner to help execute his plan because Mr Bodinga is one of his staunchest loyalists.

“They’re close friends and I can tell you no one knows the depth of their friendship”

The source said when the time comes, Mr Bodinga will notify the party of his decision not to contest the election which will give Mr Tambuwal the chance to replace him as the party’s candidate.

When contacted for comment on the issue, governor Tambuwal’s spokesperson, Muhammadu Bello, said he was not aware of the arrangement.

He sent a terse reply thus: “I don’t know”

Mr Bodinga didn’t respond to several calls and an SMS sent to him by this reporter. After attempts to get his response failed, the phone number stopped connecting.

How is it possible?

While the time for the primary election for National Assembly members of the PDP has elapsed, Mr Tambuwal still has the chance to contest in the general elections.

But this can only happen with the help of the candidate holding the ticket.

Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended states that a candidate can withdraw and the party can replace him with another candidate.

The section reads: “A candidate may withdraw his or her candidature by notice in writing signed by themselves and delivered personally by the candidate of the political party that nominated him for the election and the political party shall convey such withdrawal to the commission not later than 90 days to the election.”

Section 33 of the Electoral Act then provides for how such a candidate should be replaced.

“A political party shall not be allowed to change or substitute a candidate whose name has been submitted under section 29 of this Act except in the case of death or withdrawal of a candidate.

“Provided in the case of withdrawal or death of candidates, the political party affected shall, within 14 days of the occurrence of the event, hold a fresh primary election to produce and submit to the commission for the election concerns.”

Not the first time

Mr Tambuwal explored this loophole in 2019 when he was finishing his first four years as governor and decided to contest to be his party’s candidate.

After he failed to clinch the party’s ticket, his deputy, Manir Dan Iya, whom he used as his proxy, wrote to the party withdrawing his candidature.

Since there was no other participant in the party’s primary election, the party was asked to present another candidate to replace Mr Dan Iya.

Mr Tambuwal is not the only politician to have explored the loophole. A former governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo, who also contested the PDP presidential primary in 2019, used a proxy, Muhammad Ribadu, to retain the Gombe North Senatorial ticket for himself.

After Mr Dankwambo failed in his bid to be the party’s presidential candidate, Mr Ribadu organised a political rally to welcome him and handed over the senatorial ticket to him.

He, however, lost during the general election.

In bid to stop the spread of Monkeypox, the Federal Government has suspended importation of wild animals and warned hunters and sellers of bush meat to relax operation.

The government also cautioned operators of zoos, parks, conservation and recreational centres keeping non-human primates to adhere strictly with biosecurity protocols aimed at preventing their contacts with humans.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammad Abubakar, in a statement, yesterday, directed veterinary epidemiology officers, field surveillance agents and to step up surveillance activities aimed at picking any possible case of Monkey Pox in animals.

He added that the Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services now partners with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other stakeholders in the One Health Team to bring the situation under control.

He said: “Following the recent confirmation of Monkey Pox (MP) resurgence in Nigeria on the 29th of May, 2022 involving 21 persons by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), where it was said to have led to the death of one person with co-morbidity.

“The Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development (FMARD) through the Department of Veterinary & Pest Control Services is actively collaborating with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other stakeholders in the One Health Team to ensure the situation is contained and brought under control.

“In view of the above, The FMARD is hereby giving the following advice:

“People must avoid contact with persons suspected to be infected with Monkey Pox at home and at work places.

“Hunters and dealers of “Bush meat” must desist from the practice forthwith to prevent any possibility of “SPILLOVER” of the pathogen in Nigeria.

“Transport of wild animals and their products within and across the borders should be suspended/restricted.

“Silos, stores and other agricultural storage facilities must institute active rodent control measures to prevent contacts and possible contamination of Monkey Pox Virus with foodstuff.

“All operators of Zoos, Parks, Conservation and Recreational centers keeping non-human primates in their domains must ensure strict compliance with their biosecurity protocols aimed at preventing their contacts with humans.

“All Veterinary Clinics, Veterinary Teaching Hospitals and other Veterinary Health Institutions across the country must ensure vigilance so as to be able to pick possible signs and symptoms of Monkey Pox in non-human primate (NHP) patients.

“We must also ensure regular hand washing using strong disinfectant anytime we handle NHP and rodents in our various locations.

“We must also discourage the act of consumption, trade and keeping of NHP as well as rodents as pets in our homes.

“The general public are hereby advised to report any pox-like lesions seen on humans or animals to the nearest human or veterinary clinics respectively.

“Lastly, Veterinary epidemiology officers, field surveillance agents and veterinarians should step up their surveillance activities aimed at picking any possible case of Monkey Pox in animals.”

The Police in Ebonyi state on Tuesday raided a suspected camp of Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the state killing three of the members of the group.

ESN is the militia wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB).

Police spokesperson in the state Chris Anyanwu revealed this in a statement.

He said the operation was carried out with Military and Department of State Security (DSS).

He said the camp raided by the Police was in Isu within Onicha Local government area of the State.

According to him, the raid was sequel to an attack on a Police patrol team on Monday evening during which a Police officer was murdered in cold blood by the hoodlums.

“Based on intelligence at the Police Command’s disposal, the hoodlums were trailed to a camp at Isu Onicha”

“While surveying the one-way route into the camp, the combined security forces were ambushed by the hoodlums who rained sporadic bullet shots in their direction”

“In a swift and spontaneous response, the joint team engaged the hoodlums in a counter-firing that lasted over 30 minutes and neutralized them.

“As a result of the superior firing power of the joint team, some of the hoodlums with bullet wounds scampered for escape in different directions.

“The team later combed the bush and recovered two AK rifles with a few rounds of their ammunition and three corpses of the assailants”.

“The team made their way to the main enclave of the miscreants and after a thorough ransacking, recovered more exhibits,” he said.

Some of the items recovered after the operation include one AK-49 rifle breech number 1984-AM1196, One AK-47 rifle breech number 1971-DF2726, One AR rifle with illegible breech number, One hundred and forty-seven (147) rounds of AR ammunition, and Thirty-eight (38) rounds of AK-47 ammunition

Others include “One locally fabricated double-barrelled pistol, Two walkie-talkie sets and their chargers, Two charm-like substances, One hospital card, One Diamond bank ATM card, Two National ID cards, One Techno phone battery, and other incriminating items.

Mr Anyanwu said the fatally wounded gunmen were confirmed dead at the hospital adding that efforts are still on to apprehend the fleeing criminals.

The spokesperson also said that the police also raided the shrine and residences of two notorious native doctors in Ikwo local government area.

He gave the names of the native doctors as Itumo Omukwor aged 63yrs and Irem Ogbeji Nwaduma aged 50yrs, all of Okpera Osege in Ndufu Echara Ikwo LGA, of Ebonyi State..

He said that one locally fabricated pistol, one revolver pump action gun with two cartridges and substances believed to be charms were recovered from them.

According to him, the duo were arrested in connection to the incessant attacks on Police formations/personnel and government establishments.

The police spokesperson said they were responsible for preparing charms for members of the criminal groups in the state.

“The Police Command advises all medical practitioners and hospital operators to report any case of patients with bullet injuries to the police for necessary actions.

“Members of the public are hereby implored to assist the Police with relevant information about the activities of the criminals and their hideouts and be assured of utmost protection of their identities.”

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

In other countries their youths are leaders of tomorrow that will definitely come tomorrow but, in this country called Nigerian, their you are leaders of tomorrow that will come in the next 20-30 years.

So so unfortunate

The primaries of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) across States showed children of top politicians secured tickets of both parties respectively.

The children of these prominent politicians will be flying the tickets of APC and PDP for 2023 polls.

Here is the list of children of top politicians who secured APC, PDP tickets:

1. Son of late Sani Abacha, former Head of State, Mohammed Abacha, won Kano governorship ticket on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party.

2. Son of former Jigawa Governor, Sule Lamido, Mustapha, emerged the governorship candidate of the opposition PDP in the State.

3. The eldest son of Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Bello El-Rufai, won the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the House of Representatives in Kaduna North Federal Constituency.

4. Idris Abiola-Ajimobi, son of former Oyo Governor Abiola Ajimobi, emerged APC candidate for Ibadan South-West II State Constituency.

5. Daughter of former Delta Governor James Ibori, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu secured the PDP’s ticket for Ethiope Federal Constituency.

6. Son of Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, Umar, secured the APC ticket for House of Representatives, Dawakin Tofa, Rimin Gado and Tofa Federal Constituency.

7. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’ daughter, Marilyn Okowa-Daramola, secured the PDP’s ticket for Ika North East House of Assembly seat in Delta State.

8. Son of the late former Governor Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala won the APC ticket for Ogbomoso North, South and Oriire Federal Constituency.

9. Joju Fayose, son of former Governor Ayodele Fayose, won the ticket for Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1.

10. Sadiq, the son of the convener of Northern Elders Forum, Prof Ango Abdullahi, despite being in captivity, won the Sabon Gari Federal Constituency.

11. Olumide, the son of former Ogun Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, who is a member representing Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi Owode Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has again won the APC ticket for the third time.

12. Son of the late Ogun senator, Buruji Kashamu, has secured the PDP ticket to contest the Ijebu North Constituency I in the state House of Assembly.

13. Adedapo, the son of late Oyo Governor Lam-Adesina, won the APC ticket for Ibadan North East/South East Federal Constituency. He was a member of the House of Representatives in the eighth Assembly.

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

donbachi:
He who sells his brothers.will not be taken serious by the buyer.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has declared that he would not allow himself to be treated as a second class citizen in the country.

Wike, who lost the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential primary election to the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, spoke on Monday while addressing Rivers people after his return from the election held in Abuja.

Lamenting the outcome of the election, Wike said the North should not claim ownership of the country, saying Nigeria does not belong to a particular geo-political zone.

He said, “We have all it takes to do whatever we want to do. It is a matter of you to be fruitful. We cannot answer second class citizens in Nigeria.

“We just used this one to tell them that enough is enough. We made them not to sleep, we made them not to eat, we made all of them from wherever they think they are coming from to know that there is somebody who can take them on.

“This country does not belong to one particular zone. If people are afraid of talking, it is their business. I cannot be a second class citizen in my country.

“They just want somebody they can control, somebody that will do whatever they want him to do, I will never be a party to that, they only people that can control me are Nigerians not the few people that want to remain in power since the military regime”.

Malory:
Exactly what we are expecting the army to say. Initially I was skeptical of the news but with them denying it means it is true. Nigeria is a paper tiger

helinues:
I said it that the story get k-leg

The Nigerian Army said reports about attacks on some villages by Cameroonian (Ambazonian) separatists were false.

Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu issued a statement on Monday.

Nwachukwu said the Nigerian troops at Danare received information and mobilized to the Bashu community, which was allegedly invaded.

The spokesman noted that on arrival, they discovered that no incursion happened at Bashu.

“Rather, the separatists attacked Obonyi 2 and Njasha, both of which are communities located in the Republic of Cameroon”, he added.

Four victims, who crossed to Nigerian territory, were later rescued by soldiers and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) officials.

Nwachukwu assured of military protection and advised members of the public to stay calm.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has lampooned governors from the southern region for betraying and causing him to lose the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to former vice president Atiku Abubakar.

Wike, during an event organized to welcome him after the PDP primary in Rivers State, described governors from the South as “betrayers” and stated that they will “suffer” for their actions in the nearest future.

THE WHISTLER reports that the Rivers governor attacked his southern colleagues a few hours after Atiku paid him a visit at his Abuja residence on Monday.

“We have done our own part, we never betrayed anybody because it’s not in our blood to betray. It is a shame to those people…some of our governors of the south that they are the people they used to sabotage us. Moreover, we have shown them that we are not like them, we have the capacity to do whatever is good for us,” Wike said at the event streamed live on Facebook and monitored by THE WHISTLER.

The Rivers State Governor came second at the primary election with 237 votes while the winner, Atiku, polled 371 votes with the help of Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who had stepped down and asked his supporters to vote for the former vice president.

Wike told a cross-section of his supporters that attended the event that he is happy and proud to have run against Atiku and made a political statement on the importance of Rivers State as “of the three states” that determine the outcome of general elections.

He added that his decision to run for the PDP presidential ticket was taken based on the agreement of the southern governors that the presidency should return to the region in 2023.

“As far as I am concerned, there is nothing we should worry about. I contest the election based on the principles and agreement of all the southern governors and leaders of the South, that the presidency should go to the South this period.

“I don’t want to talk about some other people who cannot even win elections in their own places. I have told them that in this election, I made a vow to the PDP, that whoever emerges, I will support him. Yes, it might be painful for you or us, but we cannot abandon the party. And let me also say, those who do not understand and take Rivers State for a ride, now have learnt their lessons.

“You need us. Forget about these people who have nothing to offer. I saw one governor who was dancing, meanwhile he did not bring one delegate.

“For me, we have done what we are supposed to do and stood firm in what was agreed upon by the entire South. Leave his history for the betrayers of their own people. History will judge them. They will live and see how betrayers suffer. We have done our own.”

Governor Wike added, “If I wanted to scuttle this convention, I would have done that. There are people you think are human beings but are not human beings.

“I told Atiku Abubakar this afternoon when he came to seem that some of the people who are following you here don’t have one vote. They are empty, I have votes. So, I have something to offer.”

MadamVanessa:



He's simply stupid. Instead of doubling his hustle, he want to cash out doing nothing. stupid and usêlèss idiota.

Sam Ohuabunwa, one of the contenders at the just concluded Peoples Democratic Party primary said he is willing to accept any offer to be Atiku Abubakar’s vice in the forthcoming 2023 general election.

The businessman revealed on Monday that he is willing to serve the country in any capacity when the opportunity arises.

Ohubunwa’s dream to be PDP’s candidate to run against the All Progressives Congress and other political parties was dashed at the primaries that saw him secure the least vote on Saturday.

Atiku, Nigeria’s ex- VP secured the highest vote of 371, Rivers State Governor Nyeson Wike was second with 237, Bukola Saraki the former Senate President secured 70, while Udom Emmanuel who is the Akwa Ibom State Governor got 38 votes.

Bala Muhammed, Bauch State Governor secured 20 votes, while Anyim Pius Anyim and Ohuabunwa got 14 votes and one vote respectively.

Both candidates who secured the least votes are from the South Eastern Nigeria, a region clamouring to hold the top position for the first time since 1999.

But losing the primary has left the pharmacist and founder of Neimeth Pharmaceutical to scramble for the VP Post.

Ohuabunwa said, “The issue is that as I said in 2019, there is nothing new, it is the same system. We cannot pretend that it is just a new development,” he told Channels TV.

He added, “But the issue is that I have a heart to serve Nigeria willing to make the sacrifice and whatsoever opportunity presents, I will certainly consider it. It is not about me; it is about redeeming this country. It is about creating future for my children and grandchildren. It is about uniting it and making us energetic as a globally competitive nation that will be at peace with itself and respected.

“So, whatever role that God grants me to advance that vision, I will gladly take.”

He decried that delegate who voted were motivated by “the effect of money. So, whenever you see the votes coming you will see that it is skewed towards that direction.”

According to him, it was difficult for the delegates who voted to see money and ignore it particularly as it was substantial.

He explained that PDP primaries has always tilted towards the same pattern.

Although Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, said that it will not back Atiku’s candidature over the South East presidential agenda, Ohuabunwa said the party needs to compensate the region for the sake of equity and justice.

Shawnnn01:
Even if I sit in snow I will not be voting the Pandora Criminal. Na that old man wey de peepoo for body I go vote. You can write in the deepest part of hell with your wail.