There is disquiet in the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the disqualification of 21 out of the 40 House of Assembly candidates of the Party for the 2023 elections.
Former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, raised an alarm that 21 of the 40 House of Assembly candidates have been disqualified.
He said the reason is because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said primary elections did not hold in the affected local governments.
The local governments are Agege, Apapa, Badagry, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Mushin, Ojo, and Surulere.
Quoting INEC, George said the electoral committee members failed to show up in some of the LGAs.
Also, it was stated that the PDP primaries were not monitored in Alimosho LGA because it was not conducted at the designated venue forwarded to the LGA.
In the statement, George said, “It has just been brought to my attention that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disqualified 21 of the 40 House of Assembly candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State because its officials did not monitor the exercise that elected them to fly our party’s flag in the March 11, 2023 State Assembly elections.
“These are candidates who are not only experienced in grassroots mobilisation but dedicated members of our party in the Centre of Excellence. They have been campaigning to ensure that the wasteful and corrupt APC government is voted out in next year’s election so that our people can have a new lease of life.”
George who expressed anger over the development blamed the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, who allegedly changed the party’s primary venues.
“When I heard the news, I was livid and the questions being asked by party members are: Where is the National Chairman of PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu? As the originator of the crisis in the Lagos State chapter of PDP, what is he doing to clear this political mess? How is this anomaly going to be rectified,” he queried.
He also challenged the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Abdul-Azeez Adediran popularly known as Jandor, asking if he was working for the ruling party with the National Chairman.
The PDP leader added, “Is Ayu, in conjunction with his cohorts, now working for Tinubu to ensure his victory in Lagos?
“What are these gormless people who are struggling to lead the party in Lagos, doing to ensure that the 21 candidates are on the ballot? Are they not culpable in this open robbery of these hardworking candidates who have just been told they can’t contest next year? Why were INEC officials not invited to monitor the exercise, or in some cases, who changed the venues without informing INEC? Have these gluttons prepared their minds from the beginning to ensure that our candidates are disqualified so that votes can go to APC?”
He described the situation as a “colossal embarrassment”, saying instead of the leaders to fix the mess, “all of them are rushing to Abuja like hungry and shameless jesters to become DG of Atiku Campaign Team in Lagos.”
“The disqualification of 21 out of 40 House of Assembly candidates, through the fault of Ayu and other so-called leaders, is the beginning of failure for the party in Lagos State,” he said.
The state PDP Chairman, Mr. Philip Aivoji and the Publicity Secretary, Hakeem Amode, could not be reached for comments as their mobile lines were not connecting.
When contacted, the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Chief Debo Ologunagba, said he was not aware of the development and directed our correspondent to INEC.
INEC spokesman, Mr. Festus Okoye, had not responded to our correspondent’s enquiry as of the time of filing this report.
Could there have been a better and more appropriate platform to interact with and relate to the North than the one provided by the North itself? Certainly no! This is because sensing the need to come together and present a charter of demands to top presidential candidates in the country in order to procure a better deal for the North in 2023, some influential groups and institutions in the region had created an avenue that brought the critical stakeholders together to interface with the candidates ahead of the elections. It was the first time the North would emplace such a powerful forum to listen to what the candidates have to offer. Held under the auspices of Arewa Joint Committee for an interactive session, a coalition of six groups and organisations including the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Arewa House, Jam'iyyar Matan Arewa and Arewa Research and Development Project had organised the talks.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, honoured the invitation of the organisers of the conference and came before the region as it were on Monday, October 17, 2022. That he attended the forum despite the allegations that trailed its perceived agenda was a demonstration of good faith by the APC candidate and high esteem in which he held the organisers. Asiwaju Tinubu did not waiver in his resolve to attend the session even when informed of the allegations. For instance, he was told the allegedly hidden intention of the organisers was to deploy the forum to endorse the candidature of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party. He was told Atiku had bankrolled the conference and was waiting to reap from his alleged investment.
Two or three critical developments around the conference, were interpreted by many observers as giving stimulus to these conspiracy theories. One, the PDP candidate had scheduled a campaign visit to Kaduna well ahead of the conference, suggesting perhaps that he may have long been apprised of the dates for the forum ahead of others. Two, the pairings of the candidates also seemed skewed ostensibly to favour the PDP candidate. Why this perception? When Atiku appeared on Day One of the conference, he was the only seemingly significant candidate scheduled for the day. The other three major contenders namely Asíwájú Tinubu, former Anambra Governor Peter Obi of Labour Party and Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party were grouped together at various times on Day Two.
Also, on the day the trio were supposed to appear, Atiku had staged a campaign rally at the city stadium, a short distance from Arewa House venue of the conference. However, Asiwaju was unperturbed, telling this writer the organisers of the conference were important institutions and prominent groups he must honour. He wanted to seize the opportunity to engage the North as he takes his campaign message of hope, full security, national unity and economic development embodied in his Action Plan christened Renewed Hope to all segments of the Nigerian society.
The organisers of the conference themselves were not oblivious of this underlying allegation. As the conference opened on Day One, the Secretary-General of Arewa Consultative Forum who doubled as the moderator for the event, Mutawalin Gombe Dr. Murtala Aliyu, dismissed the accusation, assuring everyone present there was nothing like that.
Asíwájú seized the moment at Arewa House. His emergence at the arena was as remarkable as the substance of his offerings to the North and the way and manner he delivered the message. The APC presidential candidate arrived at the forum with an entourage comprising a majority of the Northern governors and some political leaders, thus making a big statement. In his entourage were his Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima; Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kebbi, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu; Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and Governor of Plateau, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, and Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai. There were also Governors Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Mai Bala Buni (Yobe), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger) and Bello Matawalle (Zamfara) as well as former governors Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of Edo and Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara among others. At every turn, Asiwaju praised the governors for standing by him in the ongoing presidential battle, calling them promise-keepers.
The APC candidate shared both his blueprint for Nigeria’s development as well as his plans for the North at the interactive session. Some of the highpoints of his presentation bear restating here. He began by eulogising past leaders of the country including Nigeria’s late Premier of the region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Nigeria first and only Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe for being visionary leaders who gave their all to nation-building. Incidentally, on arrival in Kaduna he had first visited the tomb of the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, who he prayed for, for his invaluable sacrifice to the North and country.
Addressing the gathering, he had said: “As I said when I chaired the Sardauna Memorial Lecture, last year, I have a solemn feeling of responsibility and duty to our country every time I am here. Standing here evokes memories of a great leader and a father of this nation, the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the late Sardauna of Sokoto. The contributions of the Sardauna to nation building remain a reference point for us all. He was a visionary builder of men and institutions.”
He spoke of the vision of the foremost leaders of Nigeria, which, according to him, was for one indivisible and prosperous nation built on shared values of patriotism, equity, justice and brotherhood.
It’s no coincidence, according to him, that at independence, this vision was clearly laid out and encapsulated in the first National Anthem, which says ‘Though tribes and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand.’ This is a strong statement which acknowledges the country’s diversity and existence of different perspectives and interests and how that should not stand on the path of unity, he said, while pointing out that the framers of the anthem would baulk to know that 62 years after, “someone would come to the Arewa House to campaign on the basis of tribe or where others come from,” apparently taking a swipe at PDP candidate Atiku who asked the North to vote him because he is from the North.
On his plans for Nigeria as president, Asiwaju said he would consolidate on the investments of the President Buhari administration in all sectors of the nation to build on the successes recorded. The APC presidential standard-bearer also spoke of his plans to ensure that insecurity is nipped in the bud in the North and across the country, harness the resources which abound in every part of the nation for greater economic development and utilize the vast natural resources through strategic investment in infrastructure which will lead to the diversification of the economy and wealth creation across the entire country.
He promised to pay attention to modern economic drivers such as the digital economy, creative industries, sports and entertainment sectors for the benefit of the young people. Leveraging on his experience of building human capital, which made Lagos one of the largest economies in Africa, Tinubu promised to grow the nation’s economy to an enviable height, while also working to reposition existing industries in the country, making them a competitive source of industrialization and growth not just for the North but the entire country.
“It is time to fetch water from a dry well and I, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have done it before and I will do it. We will find a way where there are no roads,” he said proudly. While some of the presidential contenders see only despair and failure at every turn, Asiwaju does not deny the immensity of the challenges but preaches the messages of hope and light at the end of the tunnel at every point.
Speaking specifically on his plans for the North, he said the region has a greater advantage in agriculture, and that under his presidency, the region will emerge as the hub of agribusiness in Africa through huge investment in the sector in collaboration with the private sector. “Agriculture is of special interest to me. It is both an economic and existential issue for every country. Experience in the last seven years has shown the potentials of agriculture in solving the problem of unemployment and boosting our GDP,” he pointed out while citing the example of the recent investment in the rice value chain, which led to the springing up of rice mills across the country with attendant wealth creation and reduction in the import bill. He said his vision is for the North to be the hub of agribusiness in sub-Saharan Africa because the region has greater advantage in this regard due to its large and abundant arable land.
Asiwaju said he would mobilise investment in the livestock value chain, adding that subsectors like the dairy industry that have the potential of adding billions of dollars into our economy will receive significant attention. In collaboration with the private sector and governments at sub-national levels, he promised to make available high yield seeds and inputs, invest heavily in post-harvest storage and processing facilities so the country can significantly increase the value of what she produces. To ensure optimizing the full value of their produce, he would utilize Commodity Exchanges to guarantee return on investments and enhanced wealth for the farmers. Identifying financing as critical to his vision for the agricultural sector, he assured the North he would attract the much-needed investment and re-engineer financing institutions to provide impactful interventions for maximal output.
On his plans for education and reducing out-of-school children in the North, the APC presidential flag bearer while noting that education is the most effective weapon against poverty said compared with other countries, education in Nigeria suffers from funding deficit on account of the population and limited resources. Therefore, he said, working with both states and local governments to reform and retool the system, he would provide the required leadership and mobilize investment for the development of the sector. These reforms, according to him, will give special attention to the welfare and training of teachers and lecturers as necessary catalyst for the better system the North desires.
Asiwaju also identified some priority roads and hydropower projects in the North which are ongoing and which he will follow through and new ones he would introduce to aid the development of the region. Among the power projects he mentioned were the 950MW Zungeru- Kaduna River, 2000 MW Lokoja- Niger River and 1000MW Makurdi-Benue River.
Many were gripped by his presentation and the way and manner he calmly but firmly responded to the questions thrown at him.
Asiwaju’s promise to the North is no fluke I must say. It is not a vote-grabbing gimmick. Asiwaju is a true friend of the North. He has created and maintained a cordial relationship with the North where his friends and associates dotted the landscape. He has built bridges across the Niger. Asiwaju has always identified with and risen in support of the North when challenged by natural occurrences and other unfortunate developments. From Kano State to Katsina, Jigawa to Zamfara and other diverse places in the North, stories abounded of how the APC candidate had supported the people when attacked by bandits or troubled by flooding or other disaster. I have no doubts he will do more for the North and other parts of the country if elected president. Asiwaju was certainly not just playing politics when he asserted that he had always identified with the region right from his association with the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and support for other northern presidential candidates over the years and that he did not, like some others, only remember he was from the region when he needed to ask for their votes.
-Rahman, former Editor Thisday Newspaper on Sunday is Media Advisor to Asiwaju Tinubu.
Could there have been a better and more appropriate platform to interact with and relate to the North than the one provided by the North itself? Certainly no! This is because sensing the need to come together and present a charter of demands to top presidential candidates in the country in order to procure a better deal for the North in 2023, some influential groups and institutions in the region had created an avenue that brought the critical stakeholders together to interface with the candidates ahead of the elections. It was the first time the North would emplace such a powerful forum to listen to what the candidates have to offer. Held under the auspices of Arewa Joint Committee for an interactive session, a coalition of six groups and organisations including the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Arewa House, Jam'iyyar Matan Arewa and Arewa Research and Development Project had organised the talks.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, honoured the invitation of the organisers of the conference and came before the region as it were on Monday, October 17, 2022. That he attended the forum despite the allegations that trailed its perceived agenda was a demonstration of good faith by the APC candidate and high esteem in which he held the organisers. Asiwaju Tinubu did not waiver in his resolve to attend the session even when informed of the allegations. For instance, he was told the allegedly hidden intention of the organisers was to deploy the forum to endorse the candidature of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party. He was told Atiku had bankrolled the conference and was waiting to reap from his alleged investment.
Two or three critical developments around the conference, were interpreted by many observers as giving stimulus to these conspiracy theories. One, the PDP candidate had scheduled a campaign visit to Kaduna well ahead of the conference, suggesting perhaps that he may have long been apprised of the dates for the forum ahead of others. Two, the pairings of the candidates also seemed skewed ostensibly to favour the PDP candidate. Why this perception? When Atiku appeared on Day One of the conference, he was the only seemingly significant candidate scheduled for the day. The other three major contenders namely Asíwájú Tinubu, former Anambra Governor Peter Obi of Labour Party and Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party were grouped together at various times on Day Two.
Also, on the day the trio were supposed to appear, Atiku had staged a campaign rally at the city stadium, a short distance from Arewa House venue of the conference. However, Asiwaju was unperturbed, telling this writer the organisers of the conference were important institutions and prominent groups he must honour. He wanted to seize the opportunity to engage the North as he takes his campaign message of hope, full security, national unity and economic development embodied in his Action Plan christened Renewed Hope to all segments of the Nigerian society.
The organisers of the conference themselves were not oblivious of this underlying allegation. As the conference opened on Day One, the Secretary-General of Arewa Consultative Forum who doubled as the moderator for the event, Mutawalin Gombe Dr. Murtala Aliyu, dismissed the accusation, assuring everyone present there was nothing like that.
Asíwájú seized the moment at Arewa House. His emergence at the arena was as remarkable as the substance of his offerings to the North and the way and manner he delivered the message. The APC presidential candidate arrived at the forum with an entourage comprising a majority of the Northern governors and some political leaders, thus making a big statement. In his entourage were his Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima; Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kebbi, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu; Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and Governor of Plateau, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, and Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai. There were also Governors Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Mai Bala Buni (Yobe), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger) and Bello Matawalle (Zamfara) as well as former governors Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of Edo and Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara among others. At every turn, Asiwaju praised the governors for standing by him in the ongoing presidential battle, calling them promise-keepers.
The APC candidate shared both his blueprint for Nigeria’s development as well as his plans for the North at the interactive session. Some of the highpoints of his presentation bear restating here. He began by eulogising past leaders of the country including Nigeria’s late Premier of the region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Nigeria first and only Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe for being visionary leaders who gave their all to nation-building. Incidentally, on arrival in Kaduna he had first visited the tomb of the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, who he prayed for, for his invaluable sacrifice to the North and country.
Addressing the gathering, he had said: “As I said when I chaired the Sardauna Memorial Lecture, last year, I have a solemn feeling of responsibility and duty to our country every time I am here. Standing here evokes memories of a great leader and a father of this nation, the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the late Sardauna of Sokoto. The contributions of the Sardauna to nation building remain a reference point for us all. He was a visionary builder of men and institutions.”
He spoke of the vision of the foremost leaders of Nigeria, which, according to him, was for one indivisible and prosperous nation built on shared values of patriotism, equity, justice and brotherhood.
It’s no coincidence, according to him, that at independence, this vision was clearly laid out and encapsulated in the first National Anthem, which says ‘Though tribes and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand.’ This is a strong statement which acknowledges the country’s diversity and existence of different perspectives and interests and how that should not stand on the path of unity, he said, while pointing out that the framers of the anthem would baulk to know that 62 years after, “someone would come to the Arewa House to campaign on the basis of tribe or where others come from,” apparently taking a swipe at PDP candidate Atiku who asked the North to vote him because he is from the North.
On his plans for Nigeria as president, Asiwaju said he would consolidate on the investments of the President Buhari administration in all sectors of the nation to build on the successes recorded. The APC presidential standard-bearer also spoke of his plans to ensure that insecurity is nipped in the bud in the North and across the country, harness the resources which abound in every part of the nation for greater economic development and utilize the vast natural resources through strategic investment in infrastructure which will lead to the diversification of the economy and wealth creation across the entire country.
He promised to pay attention to modern economic drivers such as the digital economy, creative industries, sports and entertainment sectors for the benefit of the young people. Leveraging on his experience of building human capital, which made Lagos one of the largest economies in Africa, Tinubu promised to grow the nation’s economy to an enviable height, while also working to reposition existing industries in the country, making them a competitive source of industrialization and growth not just for the North but the entire country.
“It is time to fetch water from a dry well and I, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have done it before and I will do it. We will find a way where there are no roads,” he said proudly. While some of the presidential contenders see only despair and failure at every turn, Asiwaju does not deny the immensity of the challenges but preaches the messages of hope and light at the end of the tunnel at every point.
Speaking specifically on his plans for the North, he said the region has a greater advantage in agriculture, and that under his presidency, the region will emerge as the hub of agribusiness in Africa through huge investment in the sector in collaboration with the private sector. “Agriculture is of special interest to me. It is both an economic and existential issue for every country. Experience in the last seven years has shown the potentials of agriculture in solving the problem of unemployment and boosting our GDP,” he pointed out while citing the example of the recent investment in the rice value chain, which led to the springing up of rice mills across the country with attendant wealth creation and reduction in the import bill. He said his vision is for the North to be the hub of agribusiness in sub-Saharan Africa because the region has greater advantage in this regard due to its large and abundant arable land.
Asiwaju said he would mobilise investment in the livestock value chain, adding that subsectors like the dairy industry that have the potential of adding billions of dollars into our economy will receive significant attention. In collaboration with the private sector and governments at sub-national levels, he promised to make available high yield seeds and inputs, invest heavily in post-harvest storage and processing facilities so the country can significantly increase the value of what she produces. To ensure optimizing the full value of their produce, he would utilize Commodity Exchanges to guarantee return on investments and enhanced wealth for the farmers. Identifying financing as critical to his vision for the agricultural sector, he assured the North he would attract the much-needed investment and re-engineer financing institutions to provide impactful interventions for maximal output.
On his plans for education and reducing out-of-school children in the North, the APC presidential flag bearer while noting that education is the most effective weapon against poverty said compared with other countries, education in Nigeria suffers from funding deficit on account of the population and limited resources. Therefore, he said, working with both states and local governments to reform and retool the system, he would provide the required leadership and mobilize investment for the development of the sector. These reforms, according to him, will give special attention to the welfare and training of teachers and lecturers as necessary catalyst for the better system the North desires.
Asiwaju also identified some priority roads and hydropower projects in the North which are ongoing and which he will follow through and new ones he would introduce to aid the development of the region. Among the power projects he mentioned were the 950MW Zungeru- Kaduna River, 2000 MW Lokoja- Niger River and 1000MW Makurdi-Benue River.
Many were gripped by his presentation and the way and manner he calmly but firmly responded to the questions thrown at him.
Asiwaju’s promise to the North is no fluke I must say. It is not a vote-grabbing gimmick. Asiwaju is a true friend of the North. He has created and maintained a cordial relationship with the North where his friends and associates dotted the landscape. He has built bridges across the Niger. Asiwaju has always identified with and risen in support of the North when challenged by natural occurrences and other unfortunate developments. From Kano State to Katsina, Jigawa to Zamfara and other diverse places in the North, stories abounded of how the APC candidate had supported the people when attacked by bandits or troubled by flooding or other disaster. I have no doubts he will do more for the North and other parts of the country if elected president. Asiwaju was certainly not just playing politics when he asserted that he had always identified with the region right from his association with the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and support for other northern presidential candidates over the years and that he did not, like some others, only remember he was from the region when he needed to ask for their votes.
-Rahman, former Editor Thisday Newspaper on Sunday is Media Advisor to Asiwaju Tinubu.
A flooding advisory being circulated online claims that the water level at the third mainland bridge is almost filled to the brim.
On 23rd October, a blurry graphic design, containing an incident alert was purportedly released by Eons intelligence, a risk consulting and intelligence gathering organisation.
Eons is well-known for publishing timely security and safety updates to Nigerians via its official website and social media pages.
“There is a high risk of a possible overflow of the Lagos Lagoon which might subsequently submerged (sic) the whole Island axis of Lagos State,” the content reads.
“Current survey analysis indicates that the 3rd Mainland bridge is almost filled to the brim.”
The notice advised individuals residing in the axis “to prepare and limit movement for quick response’, adding that they “maintain situational awareness”.
TheCable contacted Eons Intelligence to confirm if the incident alert was published by the outfit, but no response has been received at the time this report was filed.
Also, a video has been circulating on social media claiming that the water level at the third mainland bridge has increased tremendously.
On October 24, Kate Henshaw, a popular Nollywood actress posted a video on Twitter, shot from a moving car, suggesting that the water level beneath the popular Lagos bridge has suddenly increased.
“Who has passed through Eko Bridge this morning…? Just received this…. The water level is quite high up…. can anyone conform??” she asked in the video’s caption.
Another Nigerian actor, Williams Uchemba, posted a video he shot while in a moving car on the Third Mainland Bridge. Uchemba’s video buttressed the one shared by Kate Henshaw.
“Yea 3rd mainland lagoon is high or is it my eyes??” he asked in the caption.
“The Lagos State government said the flood is coming. This is not to scare you but get you informed and ready for anything esp if it’s coming to your side��. Stay safe,” he added.
A Facebook user, also shared pictures alongside a caption, claiming that the “water level has risen really high, almost touching the bridge”
Checks by TheCable revealed that the first picture shared in the Facebook post has been on the internet far back as July 2020. In fact, a careful look at the same picture clearly shows the water level is just at the pile cap of the bridge.
Response from the Lagos state government
Nigeria is currently experiencing the worst flood in decades, which has affected over two million citizens and is responsible for over 600 deaths.
On October 24, the Lagos state government, via its official Facebook page, issued a statement, warning waterfront residents of highbrow areas including Ikoyi, Lekki, Victoria Island, and coastal areas of Epe and Badagry.
Tunji Bello, the state commissioner for the environment and water resources warned residents in the mentioned axis to be “wary of backflow, due to the high tide in the Lagos Lagoon”.
“The high tide of the Lagoon has made it difficult for storm run-off from the various channels to discharge effectively into the lagoon which may cause a stagnation into the streets and major roads until the level of the lagoon subsides to allow for a discharge of the channels,” he said.
High water level under Third Mainland Bridge
In response to the videos claiming that the water level at the Third Mainland Bridge is almost filled to the brim, Bello “described the trending video as fake news”.
He added that the video only captures the “Oworonshoki end of the Third Mainland Bridge which is normal because the area is a deck-on pile”.
He further advised social media users “against posting panicky messages to residents in order to create unnecessary anxiety amongst the public”.
In a report published on October 26, by the BBC Pidgin, the claim that the water level at the Third Mainland Bridge has risen to the brim was refuted with adequate pictorial evidence.
The BBC report contains a recent picture showing the pile cap of the bridge.
The picture, taken on October 26 at about 10 am, shows that the water level is just at the pile cap of the bridge and is yet to go above it, let alone rise close to the height of the superstructure, which precedes the bridge.
Verdict
The claim that the present water level at the Third Mainland Bridge has risen to the brim is false.
This fact check was produced by TheCable with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck, International Fact-Checking Network, and African Fact Checking Alliance network.
Yesterday, Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu attended the Passing Out Parade of the Newly recruited Firemen into the Lagos Fire and Rescue Service and also commissioned the 62 Brand New Fire Apparatuses at the Sports Ground, Lagos House Ikeja.
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s message to Lagosians after commissioning the Fire Apparatuses for the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service … he says Lagosians should protect these assets from anyone trying to spoil them, It’s for the people through their taxes.
Governor Sanwo-Olu witnessed the beautiful display of the Newly Recruited Firemen into the Lagos Fire and Rescue Service together with the Police Band.
Governor Sanwo-Olu commissioned the Fire Apparatuses and dedicated it to the people of Lagos State that will benefit from this and the lives and properties that will be saved whenever there is an emergency.
Governor Sanwo-Olu explains the distribution style of the Brand New Fire Apparatuses to each of the 21 Fire Stations across the State, One aerial Ladder in each Senatorial District and others to the IBILE Divisions across the State, to reduce the response time to emergencies.
Former Governor of Enugu State and Senator representing Enugu East in the Senate Dr Chimaroke Nnamani has affirmed that the Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu is hale and hearty.
Senator Nnamani, a foremost Medical Doctor and Surgeon, said Tinubu has no health challenge as erroneously being speculated saying that the former Lagos state Governor’s health is not encumbered in any way.
According to Nnamani “ I join millions of our people in welcoming Tinubu home. It is to God’s Glory that he returned in superb health.
“I continue to strongly condemn those who wallow in ignorance in celebration of real and phantom infirmities. Rather, I lend my voice in celebration of his giant strides in Governance, Reforms and Locality Administration in all its spheres. I salute his political deftness and sagacity.”
Senator Nnamani stressed: “As a medical professional, with honour, I attest to his good health and capacity. Tinubu has a robust general system, and acute awareness of his holistic environment, political and in all ramifications.
“A bubbling and vivacious personality his Confidence easily apparent, sharing and transferable. Engaging him clearly demonstrates good health, energy and readiness to rumble.”
He noted his acquaintance with Tinubu over the years but without prejudice to his current political commitments.
Look at the Party that wants to rescue Nigeria. A leopard cannot change its skin! Nigerians have since left Egypt. They can never go back to the era of PDP!
Chief spokesman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo has taken a swipe at the People’s Democratic Party over the crisis it is battling with that has left the party divided and unfocused on its political campaign.
This is coming on the back of the allies of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State pulling put of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council on the insistence that the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu resigns.
Keyamo mocked the party over its vaunted ability to rescue the country yet cannot rescue its party from the crisis rocking it.
The spokesman who is also the Minister of State for Labour and Employment took to Twitter on Wednesday to deride the PDP.
“The PDP that’s in crises because of its inability to control its billowing umbrella gathers everyday and the first thing you hear them say is that they want to ‘rescue’ Nigeria; like a teenager whose legs cannot find the clutch of a car wanting to drive a trailer! ‘No be juju be that?” Keyamo’s tweet reads.
The PDP has since May when the party’s presidential primary election took place been enmeshed in what appears an “unresolvable” crisis with Ayu not willing to give in to the demands of Wike and other chieftains of the party calling for his resignation.
The intractable and prolonged internal crisis has posed clogs in the wheel of the party as it keeps getting distracted with power struggles within it that has threatened its chances of staging a meaningful contest especially with electoral campaigns set to begin in a few days.
A social political group in Oyo state met on Thursday 16th of September in Ibadan, at the behest of their founder Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, to outline content, marketing strategies and other plans to propagate the candidature of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar towards electoral success .
This was contained in the press release made available to the media in Oyo state and yesterday after its inauguration.
According to its state chairman, Comrade Mike Akinfena The group, a State chapter of the National Mandate group was formed to be an Engine room for Atiku ‘s campaign in the State.
Comrade Akinfenwa emphasised that “The logical sequence in thinking and basic economics dictate that one can sell only a marketable product whose demand is high, we have no doubt that Alhaji Abubakar Atiku is a man of granite with winning attitude that towers above other candidates gunning for the nation’s president , we have experienced the ennui of winter in the country, we are all yearning for a temperate weather which Alhaji Atiku Abubakar signifies and very soon the scarlet – faced populace will fess up again .”
Comrade Akinfenwa further states that ” in accordance to the mission of the group, capable hands have been mandated at all local government areas to be the image makers of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and step up the game by enthroning democratic values across board”.
The Oyo state founder of the group who was a former Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide expressed delight at the willingness of the members to be part of history in “putting Nigeria back on the right track, and pledged to put out all the stops to ensure that the Waziri Adamawa emerges as the next president come 2023 for the benefit of all”.
The former Minister charges the electorates not to be carried away by the antics of other political parties and “to cast their votes wisely for the PDP at all levels so as not to continue with the present pattern of misrule ”
"ESN is known for killing people including Police, army and saboteurs"
He went on to say Saboteurs are their brothers who do not support their cause.
He also admitted that they have declared war in Imo state.
He also admitted that they are struggling for Biafra and that part of the struggle includes killing pokice officers, soldiers and fellow citizens to drive terror.
Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians of his preparedness to tackle the challenges facing the country if elected in the 2023 general election.
The former Lagos state governor who stated this yesterday at the unveiling of the Tinubu/Shettima Door to Door Group, noted that all it takes to fix the problems of Nigeria is a focused leadership armed with competence and capacity.
An initiative of APC Northern States’ House of Assembly Speakers, the event was attend by prominent party stalwarts including Tinubu’s running mate, Kashim Shettima.
Speaking at the occasion, Tinubu promised to turn Nigeria into a country that future generations would be proud of.
Ahead of the 2023 general election, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment and spokesperson for the presidential campaign organisation of the All Progressives Congress, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has advised pastors and other clerics to learn lessons from 2015 and avoid throwing their weight behind some candidates.
Keyamo, who spoke in an exclusive interview with our correspondents in Abuja, also advised the clerics to “face their core mandates”.
He said, “Having pastors tilt towards a particular candidate is a good thing for the country but after they fail, they will now go back to their core mandate. It is a mistake they are making and it is important they make it. I thought they would have learnt their lessons to separate the church from politics in 2015; they have not.
“Only God alone can give and dictate who he gives power to. God has not given them that mandate to choose who should rule over a nation. However, when you are trying to make that mistake, God will take back their mandate which is to win souls.
“They made a mistake, threw their act in the ring in 2015 and supported a candidate they lost, same in 2019, and now, they are doing that. I am a Christian, I grew up preaching from house to house and we were told they do not dabble in politics. Their duty is to lead people into the kingdom of God and not to (the Presidential) Villa. Villa is not heaven. God is allowing this to happen now because, after 2023, they would realise the mistakes they have made and that they have plunged the church into where they should not have.”
When asked to speak on the Muslim-Muslim ticket of his party and the claims about the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, the senior advocate said, “There’s no persecution going on. If they are looking to protect their interest, the position of the vice presidential candidate can’t protect their interest. The VP is fully subordinate to the President. If it were so, why are they crying (over) prosecution under Buhari? Government is run on a tripod; we have the executive, legislature, and judiciary.”
“The only person that can check and start an impeachment move against the President is the Senate President. The VP cannot do that. If they think we want to Islamise the country, a claim which is not true, they should go and look for someone that will become the Senate President and do everything to ensure he emerges.
“They are not making that calculation now. The best calculation is to support the APC. We are likely to produce the majority in the Senate and negotiate how someone who will protect their interest will become the Senate President. That is what they should be doing and not the route they are taking.
It’s practically impossible to change Nigeria to an Islamic country. constitution They have nothing to fear. My candidate’s wife is a pastor, the chapel church will be functional,” he added.
Of great significance is Proforce's ARA II MRAP. It is Nigeria's first ever defence export. Orders from various African countries have kept the production line running. This will most likely continue in the long term as more export customers express satisfaction.
We're not talking about prototypes for exhibition, but made in Nigeria defence equipments that have been actively deployed. Some are ready for the export market.
Nigerian Army Women Corps Prepare for Military Operations with the commencement of a 7 day Field Training Exercise for its troops from August 27 to 2 September 2022, in Giri-Gwagwalada general area, Abuja.
The Nigerian Army Women Corps exercise is designed to test the troop’s Leadership skills, physical fitness, team work, military operations, among other military drills to ascertain their preparedness towards supporting all the Nigerian Army’s engagements.
Tekever AR3. A true loyal wingman that doesn't need rest to be at its best. Having eyes in the sky at 15,000 + feet for 24 hours adds a level of endurance to mission planning in Nigeria's maritime domain.
Launched autonomously by a catapult launcher, no runway is required. Four Tekever UAVs ensure that NIMASA has a sustainable round the clock surveillance system from the sky, furnishing real-time information for timely action to keep our waters safe.
Falcon Eye Command & Control complex. Nigeria's deployment of the Falcon eye maritime domain awareness/surveillance system has saved Nigeria billions of dollars that would otherwise have been lost to sea crimes.
Buhari commissions ‘Falcon Eye’ Maritime Intelligence Facility, says Nigerian Navy now capable to combat any maritime crime
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday commissioned the multi-billion naira Falcon Eye Maritime Intelligence Facility built by the Office of the National Security Adviser at the naval headquarters in Abuja saying it will enable the Nigerian Navy to effectively combat any maritime crimes that could disrupt the conduct of maritime trade in the country.
Represented by Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, he said, “Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources which are largely domiciled in our maritime environment remain the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy as it accounts for 55 per cent of our GDP, 95 per cent of our export earnings, and about 70 per cent of government revenue.
“It is estimated that Nigeria loses about $26.3 Billion annually to various forms of criminality particularly piracy and sea robbery. On account of the escalated risks in some of our maritime areas insurance premiums for commercial vessels coming to these areas have raised sharply making maritime trade an unattractive proposition.
“This underscores the need to enhance our maritime security architecture. Consequently, a critical contribution of the Falcon Eye System will be the provision of actionable intelligence for curbing maritime threats to our economy.
Disclosing that, “Some key identified threats within Nigeria’s maritime environment have taken on increasingly more harmful dimensions to our economy and even the safety of citizens and commercial entities who use the maritime domain, he said “these include, piracy, armed attacks on ships, kidnapping for ransom, crude oil theft, smuggling, as well as Illegal Unregulated and Unreported Fishing (IUU).
Continuing he said, “This administration has demonstrated a clear commitment to building the capacity of our strategic institutions to secure our coastal waters and the precincts of our maritime neighbourhood.
“So the Falcon eye system is a state-of-the-art surveillance facility that incorporates various sensors located along the nation’s enormous coastline, such as Radars, long range Electro Optic Systems with thermal or night vision capability, Automatic Identification System receivers, Weather Stations and marine Very High Frequency Radios for communication.
“The integration of these sensors into the Falcon Eye system generates a real-time situational awareness of the activities of vessels in Nigerian maritime domain and some selected parts in the Gulf of Guinea.
“This will enable the Nigerian Navy generate a comprehensive intelligence picture of activities within our maritime environment for further analysis before, in appropriate cases , dispatching a Nigerian Navy Ship for interdiction, investigation, and/or subsequent arrest of erring vessels.
“The Falcon Eye System will serve as a force multiplier for our naval platforms tasked to effectively secure our maritime environment from external aggression. It will also enable the Nigerian Navy to effectively combat any maritime crimes that could disrupt the conduct of maritime trade”.
Earlier, the National Security Adviser, Major Gen Babagana Mongonu (rtd) disclosed that the Project was borne out of the necessity to combat the myriad of security challenges within the maritime sector ranging from cases of kidnapping of oil workers, sea robbery/piracy, incessant problems of crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, hostage-taking, maritime terrorism amongst other criminal activities perpetrated within the maritime domain.
“The contract for the project was signed in 2014 and designed to provide Nigeria with an effective surveillance capability of her entire maritime domain, particularly the coastline and Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Although it was initially a 2-year project due for completion in 2016, as a result of challenges beyond our control, this was not possible. Nonetheless, we are happy to have attained this level of near completion with the current operational capacity of the facility.
“Scope of the Falcon Eye project includes the establishment of a detection layer, identification layer as well as command and control centres. It also includes the installation of mobile platforms and the training of personnel. In addition, the facilities of the Project are designed to combine massive multilayer surveillance sensors to generate a comprehensive real-time picture of the activities within Nigeria’s maritime area of interest.
Meanwhile, the main sensors for the facility are made up of the ‘Over The Horizon Radars; Coastal and Satellite Automatic Identification Systems; Electro-Optic Systems; and Marine Rectos. This enables the Project to provide real-time information through a fusion of information generated by these sensors.
All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has sent his special goodwill message to the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on his 66th birthday.
Asiwaju in a statement by his Media Office extolled the 20th Sultan of Sokoto for his exemplary leadership as a preeminent traditional ruler and spiritual head of Muslim Ummah in Nigeria while describing him as an “untiring unifier and conciliator.”
The APC National Leader and frontline presidential candidate noted that Sultan Abubakar had an enviable career in the military where he retired as a Brigadier-General before he ascended the foremost throne of the Sokoto Caliphate. He attributed many of his successes and accomplishments as Sultan to his personal discipline, sacrifice and forthrightness. “I celebrate with His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on this special day that commemorates his birthday. At age 66, Almighty Allah has been merciful and gracious to this great leader, an untiring unifier and relentless conciliator.
“Since he became the Head of the Sokoto Caliphate, Sultan Abubakar has led his people and the entire Muslim Ummah in Nigeria with honour, courage, dignity and dedication.
“Our country is blessed with him with his role in promoting inter-faith dialogue; harmony and peaceful coexistence among adherents of all faith.
“His interventions on many burning national issues and crises have on all occasions been the soothing balm that helped diffuse and bring down tension.
“On behalf of my loving wife and family, I rejoice with His Eminence, Sultan Abubakar for the grace to witness another year in good health. It is my prayer to Allah to grant him many more years on the throne of his forebears. May the Sultan enjoy more grace to continue to be an exemplary and inspirational leader to all.”
The NAF today plays the central role in the war on terror, and for good reasons. Speed. The air force can reach the enemy faster than any other component of the military. It can cover much greater distances with speed and lethality. Synegize this capability with ground forces https:///55jJk2OOqB
..and you begin to understand why terrorists have given up entirely on their "Divine Mission" and pivoted into the money making business with acts of criminality, armed robbery and kidnapping for ransom. They dont even pretend otherwise anymore. They are now husslers.
The money made from ransom payment is invested into buying more weapons to further perpetuate their criminal activities. Those who advocated for the "Rights" of bandits and tried to blackmail Abuja to "settle them" are to blame for the rise of this multi- billion naira industry.
Former Minister of State for Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has changed his twitter headed picture to that of APC Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates, Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima
People have been passing videos of Ghanaians in Dagombas celebrating their "Fire festival" as that of Youths in Northern Nigeria burning their APC brooms
Recall that just recently, the Ghanaian president had to debunk news that he asked APC's Presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu to support Peter Obi
Lol this is lies pure cruise, this was celebrated by my people in the Northern part of Ghana the Dagombas , is a special festival we call the FIRE FESTIVAL
Politics / INEC ‘Disqualifies’ 21 Of 40 PDP Assembly Candidates In Lagos by Laidewiess: 11:35am On Nov 07, 2022