BREAKING: 2023 presidency: Wike, Ortom, Ugwuanyi, Other Govs Meet In Enugu Over Peter Obi Candidacy.

Ahead of the February 2023 presidential elections, five Governors elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Sunday, met in Enugu State.

Inside sources told DAILY POST that the discussion centred on how to deliver the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi in 2023.

The Governors are: Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Okezie Ikeazu of Abia State and the host Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

According to the insider, the five governors were moved to back Peter Obi’s candidacy because they are not comfortable with the PDP flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar.


DAILY POST reports that the decision of the governors may not be unconnected to the crisis rocking the main opposition party.

The crisis, which was birthed by the face-off between Wike and the former vice president, had degenerated despite efforts by party stakeholders to quell the cold war.

BREAKING: Atiku Comes Under Fire From Ohanaeze, Southeast Leaders Over Presidency.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former vice President Atiku Abubakar, has been lambasted for pledging to cede the presidency to the zone in 2027.
Naija News reports that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and other prominent leaders from Southeast have advised Nigerians not to take serious.

Ohanaeze said no person from Southeast or Igbo would take the advice of the former vice-president serious.

The Southeast leaders were reacting to Atiku’s statement during a rally in Enugu where he was quoted to have said that he would support Ndigbo to win the Presidency in 2027 in return for the region’s votes for him in 2023.

Tinubu Attacks Pa Adebanjo Over Afenifere’s Adoption Of Peter Obi

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has chided Afenifere leader and elder statesman, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, over the claims that the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation has adopted the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi.

The former Lagos State governor alleged that Pa Adebanjo has turned Afenifere to his personal estate as acting leader.

Tinubu, in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, director, Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Council, insisted that as an individual, Adebanjo cannot equate himself with the socio-cultural and socio-political organisation.

Describing him as the leader of ‘Ohanifere Venture,’ the APC presidential candidate clearly stated that: “Papa Ayo Adebanjo does not speak for Afenifere. He is free as an individual to support anyone he likes, in furtherance of his democratic right.

“We know for a fact that Baba has turned Afenifere into his personal estate as acting leader. We are also certain that there was nowhere Afenifere, as we know it, met and took a decision to adopt Peter Obi as a candidate for 2023 presidential election.

“We respect the age of Baba Adebanjo, but he cannot turn Afenifere into his personal franchise for any political alliance.

“We are very much aware that Baba Reuben Fasoranti, the real leader of Afenifere had stated clearly that Pa Adebanjo has always been speaking for himself on many national issues using the name of the group.

“It is our well considered position that Pa Adebanjo cannot appropriate Afenifere. Baba is just an individual who is free to support any politician of his choice. As an individual, he cannot equate himself with the socio-cultural and socio-political organisation,” he read.

Northern Elders Call for Immediate Arrest of Critic of Peter Obi.

The statement against Peter Obi by a Katsina-based activist, Shehu Mahdi, has been faulted by some northern elders According to the elders, the disposition of Mahdi as “distasteful, provocative, and capable of inciting ethnoreligious tension” Recall that Mahdi was seen advising Christians in the North against voting for a presidential candidate of southern extraction in the election.

The Katsina-based activist, Shehu Mahdi, has been criticised by some northern elders over his statement on Peter Obi Mahdi was seen in a video advising Christians in the North against voting Peter Obi, a presidential candidate from the south who is a Christian, Some northern elders have backed Peter Obi.

However, in reaction, the Coalition of Northern Elders For Peace and National Unity, CNEFPNU, described the disposition of Mahdi as “distasteful, provocative, and capable of inciting ethnoreligious tension”.

In a statement signed by the national coordinator, Prof Abdulkadir Mohammed Gummi, and National Secretary, Hajiya Hadiza M. Gwazo, the elders maintained that the position of Madhi was a brazen attempt to incite Christians against Muslims in the North on one hand, and Northerners against Southerners on the other.

He said: “May we also clarify that having followed Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, for a long time now, we can say, without equivocation, that he is a detribalised, and patriotic Nigerian, who has the interest of the ordinary people at heart”, the statement read in part. “As far as the coalition of Northern Elders Forum for Peace and Unity is concerned, Peter Obi was duly certified and cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), the Department of State Security ( DSS ) as a Nigerian who is eligible to contest for any elective office.

“INEC which cleared Obi did not say that the Labour Party Flag bearer is a Biafran. The DSS did not come out to say Obi is from Biafra and these organisations are headed by Northerners. Nigerians should be asking Madhi to tell them how he came about his allegations against Obi. “Mr Peter Obi is running to be President of Nigeria and not President of Biafra or Igbos or Southern Nigeria. His ambition according to him is to guarantee economic prosperity and security for all Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic, tribal, or religious affiliation.

BREAKING: Obidients Fire Oshiomhole, Reveals Peter Obi’s Security’s Record as Anambra Governor.

The Obidient Movement has replied to the former national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, on his comment that Peter Obi cannot solve Nigeria's insecurity problem because he failed as governor of Anambra state In a statement from the office of the Obi-Datti media, the group directed to the former governor of Edo state to the commendations of former IGP, Abubakar Muhammad on Peter Obi on security.
The Obidients said if Oshiomhole had bothered to verify, he would have found the comment of the Muhammad in Awka on April 10

NNPP Accuses APC Of Planning To Buy Voters’ Cards In Kano.

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State said it had uncovered plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to induce voters.

The opposition on Monday said the ruling party was set to purchase Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2023 elections.

State Chairman Garba Diso, and Secretary, Hamisu Sadi Ali, issued communiqué at the end of a workshop for NNPP candidates for federal and state offices.

The party noted that for the first time in the history of governance in the state, “the incumbent turned government affairs into a family affair, as seen in government policies and appointments”.

NNPP accused the Abdullahi Ganduje government of abandoning its primary responsibilities of protecting lives and properties “by being myopic and driven by sentiments, emotions, vendetta, and self-enrichment.”

It urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the names of all uncollected PVCs to create awareness for the rightful owners to claim them.

The communique lamented the closure and de-boarding of unity schools, non-payment of examination fees to WAEC, NECO, and NBAIS; delayed and non-payment of scholarship allowances to foreign/local students, and a non-educationally friendly environment.

The NNPP also decried the increasing “land grabbing, and dubious allocations and selling of land to intentionally deface Kano State.”

Road to 2023: North ‘ll vote massively for Peter Obi – El-Buba

President and General overseer of Evangelical Bible Outreach Ministries International (EBOMI), Prophet Isa El -Buba said Northern Nigeria will galvanized massive support for former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi as President in 2023.

He noted that the movement will recruit over 40 million Nigerians who will be trained, vote and protect Peter Obi votes across various polling units in the country.

Prophet El-Buba disclosed this on Saturday while leading hundreds of Peter Obi’s supporters for a 2 million walk across major streets in Jos, Plateau State.

He urged the people to vote massively for Peter Obi as President and vote other credible candidates who are standing election in some political parties that have worked for the state in the past and are willing to secure and protect Plateau citizens.

“I am a Kanuri man form the North East and I want to declare that Northern Nigeria will stand and vote massively for Peter Obi, anybody who said Obi does not have support from the North is deceiving himself, we will shock them during the election.

“We are going to work to turn the table from bottom to the top, those at the bottom will go to the top while those at the top will go to the bottom; we will disappoint the big politicians in this country, our marriage with Tinubu and Atiku has been broken.

“We are going to form a new Nigeria, a Nigeria where there will be security, a Nigeria where economy will work, a Nigeria where the son of a common man can be something.”

Prophet El-Buba described Middle Belt as the belt that has held Nigeria for several years and said the region has expressed total support for Peter Obi presidency in 2023.

“Peter Obi is not our Messiah but he is going to be our servant, he will be the vessel God will use for the realization of new Nigeria. We will kick against any power that has held Nigeria bound.” He stated.

The walk which commenced from the Rwang Pam Township stadium at about 9am culminated at the Secretariat Junction Flyover bridge, Jos, Plateau State

Rozross:
Even a mad person already know he’s going nowhere

You are not God.
Only God can determine who will win 2023 presidential election

AllKnowing:
There’s been an appreciable furore about Peter Obi’s emergence as the presidential candidate of the Labour Party. So here’s what I prophesy to happen...

Peter Obi will not win.

Don’t get me wrong. Where our only other choices are Atiku and Tinubu, then we may as well hand over the top job to Peter Obi. Yet, he will not win. This is solely because his victory rests on the one level of Nigerian society that has no say in matter of politicking — the masses!

Peter Obi’s emergence will only serve as a catalyst for another remarkable event. Read on...

One of the heavy-weights will be announced winner by INEC; I honestly do not care who! Nigeria’s youths, who through the ENDSARS movement discovered their disruptive voice, will take to the streets in a near-revolution. Unfortunately, there won’t be much change. Nigeria bleeds and urgently needs healing, but she isn’t out of the woods yet.

Her parasites persist and, God help her, they intend to suck her to comatose.

You are not God.
Only God can determine who will win 2023 presidential election

7 FUNNY Characters About Yoruba People.


Almost every one Nigeria either has a Yoruba friend, went to school with one or lives in the same house or neighbourhood with one or is in a relationship with one or married to one. There is hardly anyone in Nigeria, who has not come in contact with the Yoruba person. This is due largely to their huge population and also the fact that the Yorubas are scattered in different parts of Nigeria. However, there are certain conceptions or misconceptions about these groups of people that any Yoruba people would love to argue aren’t true. INFORMATION NIGERIA brings you 7 of those notions…


1. Yoruba Men Love Women:
People always say Yoruba men love women and can never stay with one woman throughout their life as they often end up marrying one and having several others as concubines.

2. Yoruba Women are promiscuous:
Yoruba women have been tagged as the most promiscuous women in Nigeria. Some people say it is common practice for a Yoruba woman to be married and still have sexual affairs with other men. Some people even allege that the man to whom they are married, sometimes knows the man their wife has extra-marital affairs with.

3. Yorubas are dirty:
It is a popular belief that Yoruba people are dirty. Anyone who is Yoruba to other tribes in Nigeria is seen to be very dirty.

4. Yoruba People from Ijebu are Stingy:
It is common for you to hear people say someone frugal is an Ijebu man or woman. Yoruba people who are not Ijebus even accuse the Ijebus of being stingy.

5. Yorubas don’t have guts:
It is not uncommon to hear people say an average Yoruba man is just like a toothless bulldog that only barks but can’t bite. Yoruba people are believed to have the ability to start trouble and disappear right in the thick of it.

6. Yoruba People are very fetish:
This should be the first on this list, however since we are not making a ranking, it can come anywhere. A lot of Nigerians have this belief that an average Yoruba person cannot do without consulting a Babalawo or Ifa priest.


7. Yoruba people love parties:
There is a saying that a Yoruba person could run into debt just to throw a party. According to popular belief, Yorubas would throw a party for any occasion from naming to the wedding, to house-warming to graduation, to accomplishing something to winning a lotto to death etc. A Yoruba person loves parties (Owambe) too much. Even the party name, Owambe that every tribe in Nigeria has adopted for the party has a Yoruba origin.

True or false?

Kudos

Wonderful

Akwa Ibom State has emerged the fastest developing and cleanest state in the country, according to a quarterly rating index by Clean Up Nigeria (CUN) of the Cleanest State in Nigeria.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNdoPduAb58

Wow. This is a powerful hit, keep it up, well down

Muslim-Muslim ticket: No agreement reached with Tinubu – CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has debunked reports of reaching an agreement with the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu over the party’s Muslim-Muslim ticket.


CAN said its position against a same-faith presidential ticket can’t be compromised.

Reports had it that CAN changed its position on the same-faith presidential ticket after meeting with Tinubu and his campaign team.

However, CAN described the reports as malicious, false, and should be discountenanced.

The Christian body noted that it respects the rights of politicians and political parties to make decisions that affect their electoral fortunes.

CAN reiterated that it is non-partisan but prepared to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure the country’s unity.

In a statement by CAN’s President, Daniel Okoh, he said: “The attention of the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has been drawn to a media report titled, ‘How Tinubu met, resolved Muslim-Muslim ticket with CAN’, which claimed that the apex Christian body has changed its position regarding the same-faith ticket.

“To say the least, the story is ridiculous, malicious, untrue and should be disregarded in its entirety by all reasonable members of the society.

“For the records, CAN took a position against the same-faith ticket imbroglio under the leadership of Rev. Dr Samson Ayokunle, its immediate past national president, and as a matter of fact, His Eminence Archbishop Daniel Okoh, stands on that same position.”

Ortom to Presidency: I wonder what they smoke at the Aso Rock Villa.

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has slammed Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, following comments made by the latter on the governor for faulting approaches to ongoing war against insecurity in the country.

Vanguard reported that in response to Gov Ortom’s revelation that some high ranking military officials, confided in him that, President Buhari warned them against repelling attacks on armed herdsmen, Garba Shehu had said Ortom “expects the country to believe Nigeria’s top security personnel would share high level confidential information with him. To be clear, they do not”.

Reacting to the utterances of the Presidential spokesman, Principal Special Assistant (New Media) to Governor Ortom, Raymond Magen took Shehu to the cleaners, insisting that well-meaning Nigerians know the governor as a man who does not make baseless comments on sensitive issues.

In a statement titled, “Ortom’s revelation cannot be waved away: A response to Garba Shehu,” Mr. Magen noted that “while being a weak line in the hope of making a rebuttal of the governor’s revelation, it smacks of ignorance to make the claim generally, that, Nigeria’s top security personnel would not share confidential information with a state governor. To be clear: on a number of cases, they do. And for a state governor battling with herdsmen attacks, it’s a no brainer, he must have feedback from all security outfits involved in arresting the herder attacks. And such feedback always includes “off record” or ‘don’t quote me’, information.”

He continued: “But then, Shehu would also add that, if indeed Gov Ortom is saying the truth, he should “name names”. In Garba’s words: “Let him name the military personnel who told him this story”.

“I once wrote that, I wonder what they smoke there at the villa. Garba’s outing here reinforces my curiosity. If Garba expects Ortom to give out the identities of people who give him information on their devilish plans, he’s clearly overrated. It’s sufficient that they know, the Governor and the country now knows of this order that has long been widely thought of as, merely the body language of the President. It’s worse. It’s now a communicated order.

“In phrasing the title for his State House press release on the subject, Shehu coined it “Ortom’s lies insults nation’s security system”. An alternative title more befitting, I might add, would be “Ortom’s revelation helps in understanding the emboldened attacks on communities by armed herdsmen.

“This is especially so because, one can now make better sense of the prevalence on the one hand, of gun wielding herdsmen freely moving across the country and the shoot on sight order for possessors of AK 47 – the latter, being a so-called Presidential order.

“There is now, a guided understanding to how particular weapons are strangely withdrawn from battle fields wherein their use was mostly responsible for inflicting high number casualties on enemies of state. It addresses our curiosities (Ortom’s revelation) on strange military tactics like sending out numbered personnel to battle fields with weapons that, easily gathered intelligence already points to possession of way higher grade weaponry by the enemy. It addresses our sense of wonder and helps our appreciation of the many puzzles on bizarre military responses with regards timing, armed levels, personnel numbers, reluctance or refusal to go after known targets/camps etc.

“To have as President, someone with a military background, should ordinarily assure of their loyalty to country, their broad mindedness and triumph over such common prejudices as ethnicity, religion, region etc. Instead, we have a soldier who embraces vulnerabilities in these areas and presides over country with every security decision and appointment influenced by these parochial leanings. Shame!

“It does point to a deep sense of dissatisfaction, frustration, when high placed military personnel begin to reveal unpopular orders. When these reveals do not lead to reviews and then reversals, options available as resorts are considered and they may not be pleasant options. Ortom’s revelation can not be waved aside,” the statement read.

Mr. Magen signed off the statement with a quote by former American President, Barack Obama who in 2004 said, “When we send our young men and women into harm’s way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge the numbers or shade the truth about why they are going, to care for their families while they are gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return, and to never ever go to war without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace, and earn the respect of the world.“

Gjrich:

Kwankwaso Booed, Pelted With Sachet Water In Kogi State Today

The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, was on Wednesday booed and pelted with sachet water by unidentified persons in Lokoja, Kogi State.

Kwankwaso was in Lokoja, the State capital to commission the NNPP secretariat and his campaign office.

The former Kano State governor had earlier visited the country home of his late friend and former governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, in Ogonicha, before returning to the State capital for the commissioning of the party offices.

But shortly after the commissioning of the campaign office located beside Dave Mercy Pharmacy, along the Government House road, an angry mob started to boo Kwankwaso and pelting him with sachet water.

The NNPP presidential candidate, who had arrived in a motorcade with few party supporters, was shouted down by the mob and all efforts to pacify them fell on deaf ears.

Kwankwaso was later whisked away by security agents to a nearby Popular Hotel.

On getting to the hotel and while trying to address NNPP supporters, the hoodlums in their numbers invaded the venue.

It took the intervention of his security details to disperse the hoodlums and bring the situation under control.

The angry youths accused of trying to hide under the canopy of the late former governor Abubakar Audu to woo the the supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to NNPC.

Also, dissatisfied NNPP members, who spoke to journalists on the condition anonymity, lamented that having waited for Kwankwaso since the early hours of the morning in Lokoja, the presidential candidate abandoned them for a faction of NNPP in the late former governor’s country home, whom they claimed are still members of the APC.

No peace for the wicked

Kwankwaso Booed, Pelted With Sachet Water In Kogi State Today

The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, was on Wednesday booed and pelted with sachet water by unidentified persons in Lokoja, Kogi State.

Kwankwaso was in Lokoja, the State capital to commission the NNPP secretariat and his campaign office.

The former Kano State governor had earlier visited the country home of his late friend and former governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, in Ogonicha, before returning to the State capital for the commissioning of the party offices.

But shortly after the commissioning of the campaign office located beside Dave Mercy Pharmacy, along the Government House road, an angry mob started to boo Kwankwaso and pelting him with sachet water.

The NNPP presidential candidate, who had arrived in a motorcade with few party supporters, was shouted down by the mob and all efforts to pacify them fell on deaf ears.

Kwankwaso was later whisked away by security agents to a nearby Popular Hotel.

On getting to the hotel and while trying to address NNPP supporters, the hoodlums in their numbers invaded the venue.

It took the intervention of his security details to disperse the hoodlums and bring the situation under control.

The angry youths accused of trying to hide under the canopy of the late former governor Abubakar Audu to woo the the supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to NNPC.

Also, dissatisfied NNPP members, who spoke to journalists on the condition anonymity, lamented that having waited for Kwankwaso since the early hours of the morning in Lokoja, the presidential candidate abandoned them for a faction of NNPP in the late former governor’s country home, whom they claimed are still members of the APC.

Lawrence Joseph Ellison is an American business magnate and investor who is the co-founder, executive chairman, Chief technology officer and former chief executive officer of the American computer technology company “Oracle Corporation”
Offers to build “Plane Manufacturing Company” in Nigeria if Peter Obi wins.”

The American billionaire, Larry Ellison, donated about $1m to the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi.

4teenblaq:
Where is afikpo?

Afikpo is in Ebonyi State

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “urgently instruct Mr Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to urgently withdraw the threat to revoke the licenses and shut down the operations of 53 broadcast stations in the country over alleged failure to renew their licenses.”

The NBC had last week revoked the licenses of the 53 broadcast stations and threatened to shut down their operations within 24 hours over alleged N2.6 billion debt. The NBC has now asked the stations “to pay all outstanding license fees on or before August 23, 2022 or shut down by 12am on August 24.”

But in a letter dated 20 August, 2022 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said, “The threat to shut down 53 broadcast stations is neither necessary nor proportionate. If carried out, it would offend the legal principles of equity and equality of access to mass communication.”

SERAP said, “Under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and international human rights law, freedom and diversity must be guiding principles in the regulation and licensing of broadcasting. The threat to shut down 53 broadcast stations is entirely inconsistent and incompatible with these principles.”

According to SERAP, “Revoking the licenses of 53 broadcast stations and shutting down their operations because they have not renewed their licenses would undermine the rights of millions of Nigerians to express their thoughts.”

The letter, read in part: “It would also violate Nigerians’ right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds, in any medium they choose.”

“We would be grateful if the requested action is taken within 24 hours of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”

“The NBC Act and Broadcasting Code cannot and should not be used in a manner that is inconsistent and incompatible with plurality of voices, diversity of voices, non-discrimination, and just demands of a democratic society, as well as the public interest.”

“When money or economic considerations are the major criteria for renewing licenses for broadcast stations, the fundamental principles of equal access to the media, pluralism and diversity are compromised.”

“Broadcasting is a means of exercising freedom of expression. Any restrictions on freedom of expression must meet the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality. Any regulation of broadcasting must respect these three requirements.”

“With just months to go before the general elections, scheduled for February 2023, your government ought to do more to create conditions for a free and fair vote. This includes demonstrated commitment to freedom of expression.”

“Shutting down 53 broadcast stations on the pretext of non-renewal of their licenses is neither necessary in a democratic society nor proportionate to meet the constitutional and international guarantees of freedom of expression.”

“The right to freedom of expression is based on the right to establish or use a media outlet to exercise freedom of expression and on society’s right to have access to a free, independent, and pluralistic media that allows for the most and most diverse information.”

“Rather than using the NBC Act and Broadcasting Code to shut down 53 broadcast stations, your government ought to use these frameworks to promote the broadest, freest, and most independent exercise of freedom of expression for the widest variety of groups and individuals possible.”

“The media, including the affected 53 broadcast stations, serve to distribute Nigerians’ thoughts and information while at the same time allowing them access to the ideas, information, opinions, and cultural expressions of other individuals.”

“SERAP believes that the media including the affected 53 broadcast stations play an essential role, as they allow millions of Nigerians to access both the relevant information and a variety of perspectives that are necessary for reaching reasonable and informed conclusions on matters of public interest.”

“The media plays an essential role as a vehicle or instrument for the exercise of freedom of expression and information – in its individual and collective aspects – in a democratic society.”

“Indeed, the media has the task of distributing all varieties of information and opinion on matters of general interest.”

“The public has a right to receive and assess this information and opinion independently. Therefore, the existence of a free, independent, vigorous, pluralistic, and diverse media is essential for the proper functioning of a democratic society.”

“Freedom of expression includes the public’s right to receive, and the right of those who express themselves through a medium of communication, to impart the greatest possible diversity of information and ideas.”

“According to the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, ‘licensing processes shall seek to promote diversity in broadcasting. Any registration system for the media shall not impose substantive restrictions on the right to freedom of expression.’”

“The revocation of a license must be necessary in a democratic society in order to achieve the compelling aims pursued, strictly proportionate to the aim pursued, and suitable for accomplishing that aim.”

“It is essential to remove any risks of arbitrary or disproportionate use of NBC legal frameworks.”

“The strengthening of the guarantee of freedom of expression is a precondition for the exercise of other human rights, as well as a precondition to the right to participation to be informed and reasoned.”

“It is the mass media such as the 53 broadcast stations that make the exercise of freedom of expression a reality. This means that the conditions of its use must conform to the requirements of this freedom.”

“Therefore, any regulation of the media, including licensing, must be evaluated according to the guidelines and directives imposed by the right to freedom of expression.”

“SERAP recognizes the mandates of the NBC to regulate broadcasting. However, the exercise of such mandates including renewals or revocation of licenses must follow the thresholds and guidelines set by the right to freedom of expression.”

“The free circulation of ideas and news is not possible except in the context of a plurality of sources of information and media outlets. The lack of plurality in sources of information is a serious obstacle for the functioning of democracy.”

“If carried out, the threat by NBC would impermissibly restrict the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas to a greater extent and would therefore violate freedom of expression.”

“The regulation of broadcasting must aspire to promote and expand the scope of the right to freedom of expression, not restrict it.”

“Revocation of licenses of broadcast stations can seriously jeopardize fundamental rights of the individuals involved and create a silencing or “chilling” effect on democratic speech.”

“The revocation of the licenses of the affected 53 broadcast stations is neither necessary nor proportionate, as the issue of licence fees can be reasonably achieved through other measure(s) that is less restrictive of freedom of expression.”

“The right to freedom of expression is a central pillar of a democratic society and a guarantor of free and fair electoral processes, and meaningful and representative public and political discourse.”

“It is during times of political change that the right to freedom of expression is most essential, ensuring that a well-informed and empowered public is free to exercise its civil and political rights.”

“Section 39(1) of the Nigerian Constitution provides that, enshrines the right to freedom of expression and indicates that this right can be exercised through any medium.”

“Effectively, Section 39 of the Constitution establishes that the right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds can be exercised orally, in writing, in print, in the form of art, or through any other medium of one’s choice.”

“Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights contain similar provisions.”

“The Nigerian Constitution and these legally binding human rights treaties, recognize that every individual has the right to an equal opportunity to receive, seek and impart information through any communication medium without discrimination.”

“Freedom of expression goes further than the theoretical recognition of the right to speak or to write. It also includes and cannot be separated from the right to use whatever medium is deemed appropriate to impart ideas and to have them reach as wide an audience as possible.”

“The 53 affected broadcast stations include: Rhythm FM (Silverbird Communications Ltd) FM Abuja; Rhythm FM (Silverbird Communications Ltd) FM Lagos; Rhythm FM (Silverbird Communications Ltd) FM Yenagoa; Rhythm FM (Silverbird Communications Ltd) FM Port Harcourt; and Rhythm FM (Silverbird Communications Ltd) FM Jos.

2023: Atiku, Wike in Eyeball to Eyeball.

(THEWILL) – The popular political dictum that politicians think of the next election always appears to be clogging the wheel of progress in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of preparations for the 2023 election. It is also proving to be a bitter pill for its leaders to swallow in the ongoing tiff between the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Governor Nyesom Wike of River State.

THEWILL can authoritatively reveal that just as preparations for next year’s general elections gets underway, considerations for the 2027 general election are already playing out in the crisis within the opposition party.

Reliable party sources say the raging issues, which had metamorphosed from that of the party to the group and then the personal, have continued to rear their heads and make reconciliation difficult.

The first issue had to do with the zoning of the presidential ticket to the South, following popular public clamour, as a way of addressing a perceived unfairness and inequity against the backdrop of clannish and nepotistic tendencies on the part of the current Federal Government.

Although the issue appears to have been ‘resolved’ on the grounds that rotating the presidential ticket between the North and South was for a sitting President and not a candidate in an election, it still boils within the party and it is ready to be whipped up during negotiation.

The second issue which is that of the group, deals with what is now commonly called the Wike Group (though there is also an Atiku group that does not flaunt its members publicly), which had maintained a hard stand in support of the Rivers governor after he was allegedly cheated out of the race for the VP slot.

Composed of many serving and ex-governors, ex-ministers and other party stakeholders, the group has been depleting against the backdrop of several moves at reconciliation within the party. Thus, vocal members of the group like Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State had since publicly declared his support for Atiku’s presidential aspiration. Another strong member is Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, with whom Wike and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State once dictated the tune in the party before and immediately after the former National Chairman, Uche Secondus, was booted out.


Faced with a second term election in his state, Fintiri has since fallen into the line with Atiku, his kith and kin and mentor. In Oyo, Makinde is still hanging on alongside new member Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, whose former Chief of Staff, Dr Cosmos Ndukwe and ex-Commissioner for Trade and Industry, recently sued the party and Atiku over the conduct and outcome of its May 28, 2022 presidential convention.

With the victory of the party in the Osun governorship election, which the Wike Group boycotted, Makinde’s claim to the leadership of the party in the South-West was called to question. Thus, while the Wike Group is lacking in cohesion, the personal issue kicks in.

According to sources, the personal issue that may become an impediment to proper reconciliation in the party is the matter of who owns or uses the platform for the 2027 election. “Atiku has promised to run for one-term only. Wike is waiting to see that promise cast in iron so that he can be sure to inherit the platform for his presidential ambition in 2027,” a party source said.

Nevertheless, these three issues are like shifting sands in the course of negotiations with fresh issues cropping up as some are giving way. One of the fresh issues that has created a wedge between the feuding camps is the one that insists the current National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, must resign because he comes from the same northern zone as the presidential candidate. The Atiku Abubakar group has rejected that demand on the ground that what the party said was that in the event the party wins the presidency in 2023, the National Chairman must quit. Even so, THEWILL learnt that using the party’s constitution to resolve this matter may yield nothing because if Ayu were to go, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagun, Deputy National Chairman, North, will be the one to step in until a convention is held to properly constitute another exco, according to Section 45 (I and II) of the party’s constitution.


On the eve of the Friday meeting in Port Harcourt between the Rivers State Governor and the 14-member reconciliation committee constituted by Atiku Abubakar, Wike made a revealing statement.

Speaking during the flag-off of the 11th flyover project, which was performed by a former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, at the Rumuola- Ikwerre Road-Rumuokwuta Roundabout in the Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the state, Wike, who boasted that the state was too strategically important to the victory of Abubakar, considering the 3.6 million votes from the state, said: “If we were Father Christmas before, we won’t be Father Christmas again? You must tell me what is there for me if I should vote. So nobody should bother himself…”

Reacting to the Atiku/Wike debacle, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba,told THEWILL, “The crisis you talked about is a creation of the media. That is not to say you are not doing your work. But as far as we are concerned, what you call crises are parts of disagreements that occur in an organisation and we have internal mechanisms to deal with them as they arise. Is there any organisation, even a home, that does not have disagreements? What happens in the end is that any time such disagreements occur, there are mechanisms to resolve them.”

RECONCILIATION MEETING IN PORT HARCOURT
The reconciliation meeting, as demanded by Governor Wike, was held in Government House in Port Harcourt last Friday. Although the spokespersons of the two groups, Governor Fintiri for Atiku and former Ondo Governor, Segun Mimiko, said talks were fruitful and would continue, this newspaper learnt that Wike was mollified that the party agreed to his demand to hold the meeting in Port Harcourt, a move he considered a political masterstroke to show he still controls the party in the state in the face of disaffection among party elders over his perceived foot dragging on the crisis.

A source who was privy to discussions between the Atiku and Wike groups further told THEWILL that the Wike group is seeking a reconstitution of the entire National Working Committee (NWC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) that will see a Southerner emerge as leader of both organs. “Is the PDP a Northern only party? The simple answer is no. As things presently stand, our presidential candidate, Atiku, national party chairman, Ayu and BoT chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin are all from the North. This is not equitable and fair to us from the South. So we are demanding a reconstitution that will reflect a true balance of power in the party between the North and the South. This was the core issue of the discussion last Friday. The Atiku group has taken our demands to the party and Atiku.”

‘WIKE WILL NOT LEAVE PDP’
Following his repeated assurances that he will remain in the PDP, though he may not support the aspirations of its presidential candidate, Wike, like any seasoned politician, knows that even one vote in any election is an advantage over a rival and he is flaunting the huge numbers in Rivers in the face of the party. The party is taking him seriously, though it is uncertain how far its leaders would bear his stand-off, particularly with the official kick-off of the campaign on September 22, 2023.

“You can imagine that the election is around the corner and Wike continues to make these demands, which makes you ask whether he really cares about the party or not. At first, he said he was not interested in the post of VP. Now, he is clamouring for the National Chairman to go. Is his job now to make and unmake the Chairman? This makes us begin to wonder what he wants. The thinking now is that he does not care a hoot about 2023 and wants Atiku out so he can inherit the party’s structure,” a party leader said, asking not to be identified.


Senator Dino Melaye, PDP presidential campaign spokesperson, did not respond to multiple calls to his phone.


Meanwhile, the party, THEWILL has learnt, is considering a fall back option should the Wike/Atiku imbroglio continue into the electioneering period. Sensing moves by party leaders to create parallel party groups in the state, Wike alleged last week at the 74th birthday anniversary of former Governor Peter Odili that some elders of the party in the state, who had encouraged him to join the party’s presidential race, have become turncoats and now go to Abuja for meetings with the PDP National Executive Committee and Atiku. Some of these stakeholders, according to investigation, include serving and former senators and aggrieved party chieftains who lost out in the governorship primary in the state. They may turn out to be Atiku’s foot soldiers whose duty will be to rally the party in the state during the campaigns, if Wike continues to play hardball. It is this turn of events that has informed the plan by Atiku to give a major role to the grassroots in constituting his campaign council which would soon be unveiled publicly. Funding would be directly released to ward Chairmen, unlike in the past campaign plans when funding was released to henchmen and those considered leaders in the various zones and states.

Several attempts to reach Kelvin Ebiri, Media spokesperson to Wike, were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls to his phone nor respond to text messages sent to him. Chairman of the PDP in Rivers State, Ambassador Desmond Akawor also did not respond to phone calls.

However, after the reconciliation meeting, he issued a statement confirming what Governor Fintiri and ex-Governor Mimiko said that discussions had begun to ensure reconciliation.

A chieftain of the party, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, expressed confidence in the ability of the party’s reconciliation committee to fulfil its mandate.

The one-time National Publicity Secretary, who spoke with this newspaper on Friday after the meeting in Port Harcourt, said: “What is important is for the party to go into the 2023 elections as one body. I think the committee will fulfil their mandate, from the outcome of the meeting on Friday.”

Former National Chairman of the party, Haliru Mohammed, agrees with Ologbondiyan. Mohammed who took over from Chief Nnia Nwodo as National Chairman at the party’s National Convention held in 2011 when the same argument about zoning came up because the National Chairman and President, Goodluck Jonathan, were from the South, said the Board of Trustees should have stepped in immediately to mediate in the VP candidacy crisis, following Wike’s grievance over Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa’s selection by Atiku, adding that he considers silence as his best contribution to the ongoing reconciliation efforts because speaking may be considered as an interference.

BREAKING: 2023 Election Results will be collated manually – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has announced that results of the 2023 General Elections will be collated manually.

This is despite the adoption of electronic transmission of results.

Speaking on the matter, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, disclosed that the Electoral Act explicitly detailed how collation would be done.

He added that the commission will still transmit results to its result-viewing portal.

“There is a marked difference between the transfer/transmission of results and the collation of results. Section 50(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022 gives the commission the absolute discretion to determine the mode and procedure of voting in an election and the transmission of election results.”

“Sections 60 and 62 of the Electoral Act govern post-election procedure and collation of election results. Section 60(1) of the Act provides that the presiding officer shall, after counting the votes at a polling unit, enter the votes scored by each candidate in a form to be prescribed by the commission.”

“Section 60(5) of the Act makes it mandatory that the presiding officer shall transfer the results, including total number of accredited voters and the results of the ballot in a manner prescribed by the commission.

He told Punch; “Thereafter, the presiding officer shall after recording and announcing the results deliver the same along with election materials under security and accompanied by the candidates or their polling agents, where available to such person as may be prescribed by the commission.”

“The implication of this is that the collation process of results is still essentially manual, but the collation officer must collate subject to his verification and confirmation that the number of accredited voters stated on the collated result are correct and consistent with the number of accredited voters recorded and transmitted directly from polling units.”

He added that if disputes arise from the collated results, the returning officer will use the results transmitted directly from the polling unit and the original of the disputed collated result to determine correctness.

I Didn’t Endorse Tinubu—Obasanjo

’Those claiming to be meeting insiders are candidate’s enemies’

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has cautioned supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, over the claim that he has endorsed him .

Obasanjo expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as unauthorised report of the discussion at the closed doors meeting he held with Tinubu when the candidate and some of his loyalists paid him a visit in Abeokuta last Wednesday.

The former President, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, yesterday, said the statements coming from those claiming to be supporters of Tinubu are unhelpful.

Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, had said that what transpired during the meeting between Obasanjo and Tinubu was a sign of victory for Tinubu come 2023. Gbajabiamila had made the statement on Thursday while speaking at the Surulere Local Government Area APC meeting in Surulere, Lagos.

The Speaker, who said he was present at the Abeokuta meeting, said from what he heard there, Tinubu’s presidency was almost a reality.

Reacting to the claim, Obasanjo said the statement credited to him is fake and that the people behind the report are not helpful to the candidate .

Obasanjo said, “Those claiming to be insiders at the meeting issuing statement on the discussion and those crediting to me statement I had not made are enemies of the visitor and are not doing the visit any good.

DWickedLandLord:
If you want business as usual, vote anybody BUT PO. It's really that simple

Peter Obi candidacy is divine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkZRmqmnImA

https://fb.watch/f0W6C4TbTj/

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has told members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) not to rely solely on his state to win the 2023 general election.
Wike admonished other governors to also put in work in their respective states.

The Governor, who said this while commissioning one of his state projects, added that the masses will vote the PDP based on the projects that had been executed by the elected candidates of the party.

He urged other governors noto t to be a liability and put in efforts in making sure the party clinch the presidential seat in the 2023 elections.

2023: Fulani Group Carpets Miyetti Allah Over Attack On Peter Obi.

(THEWILL) – A group known as the Coalition of Fulbe Professionals in Africa (COFPIA) has distanced itself from a statement credited to one Alhaji AlHassan Salah, National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, which claimed to be against Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election.

COFPIA enjoined Nigerians to disregard any statement from Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore, saying the group did not speak for Fulani ethnic group or represent the Fulani in any way.

AlHassan, who is the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, had, in an interview with a national newspaper, said the Fulani nation would not support the candidature of Obi, describing him not only as a tribal bigot but also as someone who did not like the North and by extension, the Fulani ethnic group.

He said the leadership of the group has instructed every Fulani in the country not to vote for Mr Peter Obi, because, according to him, “Obi is a tribal bigot and represents the Biafran interest that will not favour the Fulani nation in Nigeria.”

AlHassan had also noted: “As far as Miyetti Allah is concerned, Obi is out of the options of persons to be voted for in the forthcoming elections.

Anxiety As FG Takes Terrorism Financiers to Court
“As far as we are concerned, we know those we cannot vote for. You see one that they call Obi or OBIdient, any Fulani man who votes for him must be questioned because he may not be a true son of the soil. Obi represents the Biafran interest. So, we know those we cannot vote for and those that cannot be president of Nigeria. He is a tribal bigot,” he said.

He claimed that when Obi was the governor of Anambra State, he “destroyed the businesses of northerners and chased plenty Hausa and Fulani people from entering Anambra.”

But, COFPIA, in a statement signed by its National President, Prof Mohammed Gidado and Secretary, Hajiya Mairo Modibo, picked holes in Alhasan’s claim, adding that while it acknowledged the group’s right to freedom of expression and opinion, it lacked “the right to speak for the entire Fulani in Nigeria.”

The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a sectional, unpatriotic, ungodly and senseless statement credited to one of our brothers, Alhajji Hassan Saleh, the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, the most controversial Fulani group in Nigeria, which no doubt, is responsible for the bad name Fulani nation has been branded with in Nigeria.

“The Fulbe all over Nigeria will not be bound by that politically sponsored statement of Miyetti Allah anymore.

“The Fulani people are wise now and cannot be used as tools of extortion and religious sentiment any more. We will enlighten our people to vote for competence and capacity come 2023. We will never vote for any candidate who has nothing to offer. We have gone far beyond religious and ethnic sentiments.

“We will vote for a President that will tackle poverty and acute hunger that have held our people hostage for so long. We will vote for a President that will fight insecurity with every commitment and unbiased mind, no matter who is involved.

“Our respected tribal group, Miyetti Allah, should channel their campaign to redeem the bad image they have created for Fulani people in Nigeria rather than casting aspersions on Peter Obi, who has demonstrated capacity to rescue Nigeria from the current hopelessness.

“We wish to also make it categorically clear that we have not endorsed Obi or any presidential candidate in the forth-coming general election and we are not Obi’s mouthpiece, but it is wrong for our people to continue to brand Peter Obi as a tribal bigot and that he doesn’t like the North. Available data has shown Obi as an ardent nationalist that believes in the unity of Nigeria.

“We, therefore, call on our brothers in the Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore to only speak for their group, rather than misleading Nigerians that they are speaking for the entire Fulani people.

“They lack the moral, spiritual, and religious rights to speak for the entire Fulani people in Nigeria, especially when they have reduced themselves to tribal bigots that has no regards for other tribes and faiths.

“Nigerians have taken position in the forthcoming elections to vote for the best man for the job and cannot be distracted by any selfish agenda and blackmail.

“As campaigns start, we shall mobilise and enlighten the Fulani, young and old, to every ruga and town to sensitise our people so as not to be deceived by Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore and its likes.

Dsalvo:
https://thenationonlineng.net/peter-obi-not-ready-for-presidency/

Go and study for your neco and weac exam.
Look at all your thread how many people view and comment on them.

When others of your age starts doing well for themselves you be blaming God, joining mc olumo criminals.

But now you are here wasting your life because of tinubu's monthly 5k