₦airaland Forum

We just hope this illiterate won't assume we all are illiterates and go ahead with rigging.

The Ohaneze Ndigbo has apologized to President Muhammadu Buhari, over the comment credited to its President-General, Chief Nnia Nwodo, endorsing the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

The group led by its embattled Secretary-General, Uche Okwukwu, told Buhari that Nwodo is on an indefinite suspension pending the outcome of a nine-man panel headed by Mr. Richard Ozobu to investigate acts of misconduct and abuse of office as well as bringing Ohanaeze to public disgrace, submits its report.

The apology was tendered when Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Association of Eze Ndigbo in 19 northern states, the World Igbo Congress and the World Igbo Union, were in the presidential villa on a courtesy visit Friday. According to Okwukwu, the indefinite suspension of Nwodo bordered on the endorsement of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi ahead of the presidential election on February 16th.

Nwodo had on behalf of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group in Nigeria, at the Summit of Nigerian Leaders and Elders with the theme: Elections: The Search for Credible Free and Elections,” jointly chaired by Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) Pa Edwin Clark, and Professor Ango Abdullahi, the Convener of Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), adopted Atiku as its presidential candidate for the February 16th elections.

The elders comprised members of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Ohanaeze Ndigbo, an apex Igbo socio-cultural group in Nigeria, Afenifere, a socio-cultural organization for the Yoruba race and Middle Belt Forum (MBF).

According to Okwukwu, the Igbo identify with Buhari’s achievements of improving ease of doing business in the south east. He said the Igbo will vote massively for him and will resist any attempt to manipulate or rig the elections.

He said Buhari will win greater number of votes from the south east, urging him not to give up and let there be no sacred cow in the fight against corruption.

Buhari said he is impressed by the show of support from the regional body, which demonstrates unity in diversity, noting that “diversity is our biggest asset that we must apply in the development of the nation.” He said perpetrators of crime whether in security, economy and corruption are from all tribes and that his administration will not discriminate in its response. He said he has identified key challenges for all regions and he will do his best to address them.



Source : https://www.sunnewsonline.com/ohanaeze-faction-apologies-to-buhari-over-nwodos-endorsement-of-atiku/

... Wants boarders shut till after election.

As Campaign train arrives Abia, Edo states.

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has charged Nigerians especially those living in boarder states of the North not to sell their Permanent Voters Card, PVC, to foreigners.

Prince Secondus said that available intelligence to the party shows that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, imported foreigners from Niger and Chad Republics and are buying up PVCs from Nigerians with a view to manipulating the results.

The National Chairman spoke at a rally in Umuahia, Abia state and Benin, Edo state as the Presidential campaign train arrived the two states on Saturday.

According to a statement from the National Chairman's media office signed by Ike Abonyi, Prince Secondus said that the Ministry of Interior should consider closing the nation's boarders in those areas until after the election.

He warned the Independent National Electoral Comission, INEC, to do everything to avert the thwarting of the will of Nigerian people on the election as that would breed violence.

"When we raise alarm about their rigging plot they get uncomfortable because they want us to keep quiet and let them manipulate the election but such will lead to violence and we want peace.

Prince Secondus charged the people of the two states to vote and remain at their polling booth until the votes are counted and recorded.

The Presidential candidate, Atiku who was earlier given a traditional title of 'Ahaeji eje mba' by the Abia state tr aditional rulers sitting in council, told the people of Abia that he will join forces with their performing Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to develop the small and medium businesses.

Other speakers at the rally in Abia and Edo states include the Vice Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the former Senate President Adolphus Wabara as well as the National Organizing Secretary of the party an indigene of Abia state. Col (rtd) Austine Akubundu.

The campaign train moves up north on Sunday to Kebbi state.



Signed.

Ike Abonyi

SA, media.

More images

Thousands of supporters turned up in Edo in support of Atiku.

....As Atiku, Obi, saraki,Umahi, Ugwuanyi, Ekweremadu Anyim others take campaign to Ebonyi and Enugu states.

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to sanction President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, APC, for importing foreigners into the country in preparation for their rigging plot.

Prince Secondus said that contrary to the Electoral Act, the APC, brought in foreigners and government officials from neighboring countries of Niger Republic and Chad to Kano to finalize arrangement on how to use them to swell their votes in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Jigawa states.

The National Chairman who raised the alarm while addressing party supporters in Ebonyi and Enugu states on friday said that the PDP has credible intelligence that the ruling party having realized their dwindling popularity in the North West zone is devising a dubious means to fake their popularity and manipulate the ballot.

In a statement from his media office signed by Ike Abonyi, the National Chairman told INEC to take necessary step to act on this matter by applying the necessary sanction on the APC candidate who invited foreigners to a campaign rally for ulterior motives aimed at influencing ballot in the country.

He also drew the attention of relevant agencies like the Police and immigration to take necessary steps to avert the influx of foreigners at this time.

"Even before Thursday's importation of these foreigners into kano rally, the PdP has gotten privileged intelligence that the Kaduna state government has been bringing in foreigners and camping them with a view to influencing votes.

"We are aware that unless they connive with INEC this dubious act would not be possible, I therefore warn INEC to take necessary steps to avert any undue influence.

The Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and his Vice Peter Obi all assured the people of the two states in particular and South East zone in general that the PDP Presidency will end their marginalization.

The Senate President who is the Director General of the campaign Dr. Bukola Saraki commended the Governors of the two states for the wonderful mass mobilization. He was particular about Enugu state that had tremendous crowd that waited till 6 pm when the campaign train arrived.

Also speaking at the Nnamdi Azikiwe sports stadium,Enugu the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu assured the PDP and the Presidential candidate that Enugu and the South East will vote massively for the party.

The wife of the Presidential candidate Jennifar Atiku Abubakar urged the two states to vote for her husband saying that as the wife she has known Atiku for over 30 years and can vouch that he loves and means well for Ndigbo.

The former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim an indigene of Ebonyi state and the state Governor Dave Umahi as well as the former Governor Samuel Egwu all tried to dispel the rumour that the state is romancing with Buhari saying that Ebonyi is PDP and PDP is Ébonyi assuring that the state will vote PDP all the way.

The high point of the rally was the appearance of the former Governor of old Anambra state Senator Jim Nwobodo who left the party two years ago to join the ruling APC only to announce his return at the rally in Enugu.

Signed.

Ike Abonyi

SA media.

The People s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday assured that his government would create wealth for women and youths through Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and privatization.


Reiterating his plan to privatise the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Atiku lamented that the Managing Director, Maikanti Baru, “unilaterally awarded” a $25bn under President Muhammadu Buhari led All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

Atiku spoke at the Lagos Island Club Quarterly Business Lecture.


In attendance were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, DG of the PDP presidential campaign, Bukola Saraki, national chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, among others.

Atiku on the power of SMEs stated: “80% of loans should go to women. We have moved 45,000 families out of poverty in my area. With small loans (N200,000), and we have a 98% recovery rate.”

“We will assist the SMEs to grow bigger and to be more productive. As we all know, small businesses offer the greatest opportunities for achieving inclusive, pro-poor growth, through increased self-employment.”


On privatization, he said: “The NNPC head in 2017, gave a contract of $25bn, without going through due process.

“If the organization is privatized, this will not be the case, since the organization would be profit-oriented and efficient. We will liberalize the economic space and privatize all ailing enterprises.

“In particular, the Atiku Plan will undertake a deregulation of the downstream sector of the economy, review the petroleum industrial bill and privatize all four state refineries that operate at only 10% of their installed capacities.

“We shall channel the proceeds from the privatization into a special fund for the development of education and health for Nigerians.

“Our privatization plan allows for sales of NNPC shares to Nigerians, on the Nigeria stock exchange, so that Nigerians can benefit when the company is resuscitated.”

Source : http://dailypost.ng/2019/01/30/atiku-explains-privatisation-plan-says-buhari-nnpc-md-awarded-25bn-contract/