₦airaland Forum

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Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says it would have been better if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) used its 16 years in power to develop only electricity.

Tinubu said this on Friday while speaking at the flag-off campaign of the APC in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital.

The former governor of Lagos asked Nigerians to vote a better future by supporting Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.

He also urged the people to reject the PDP, saying the party would take the country backward.

“Today is a very successful day and outing as I can say it. This stadium filled to capacity for one thing, the progress of our country Nigeria, to endorse the continuity of progress,” Tinubu said.

“I read their response to the last budget presented by this government and I could see several missteps of Atiku’s takeaway. Well, let him take it away. It is shallow, full of contradictions and it is nothing that Nigerians should hope for.

“Our president is seeking re-election. For the sake of this country, we will re-elect Muhammadu Buhari, an APC government that will give you hope and a diversified economy.

“Sixteen years of miserable economy, corrupt economy, corrosive economy of PDP will never come back to this country. We are strongly determined to re-channel the goal and redirect the vessel of governance in this country. That is what Muhammadu Buhari is all about.

“Vote for your future. They came 16 years and gave you 16 years of darkness. Evenly, a PDP government would have concentrated on one item and one item only–electricity–without which there can be no industrialisation, no development. It would have been better.”

“They say they want to come back. No, we are not bringing you back. No backward in our gear. It is forward marching.

“Please, be determined. Don’t be persuaded to convert.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/itd-have-been-better-if-pdp-focused-on-just-electricity-for-16-years-tinubu.html

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The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has assured the teeming supporters of the All Progressives Congress in Kwara that Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is the ‘authentic governorship candidate’ of the party in the state.

The minister, who is the leader of APC in Kwara, gave the assurance on Friday in Ilorin after a meeting with the state’s Party Executive Council led by Bashir Bolarinwa.

He said, contrary to the rumour in certain quarters that Abdulrazaq has been disqualified by a Kwara High Court, no part of the court decision nullified his candidacy.

“I read the court judgment and there is nowhere that talks about our candidate being disqualified. Of course, we have appealed the judgment for other reasons.

“As at today, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq remains the authentic candidate of the party,” he said.

The minister added: “As we speak today, he is in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, with Mr. President to launch the presidential campaign of the party.

“He will be given the flag by the party National Executive as the authentic governorship candidate of APC in Kwara.

“The other faction can go to whatever length they want to go circulating the fake news that he has been disqualified; they can never succeed.”

It may be recalled that a Kwara High Court sitting in Ilorin had, in a recent judgment, recognised the Executive Council of the Ishola Balogun-Fulani faction of the APC in Kwara.

The faction was dissolved by the National Working Committee of the APC after the Senate President, Bukola Saraki; and Kwara Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, defected from APC to PDP.

The minister expressed the confidence that, come 2019, the APC would certainly win in Kwara State.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/dont-doubt-abdulrazaq-is-authentic-kwara-governorship-candidate-lai-mohammed.html

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RIP

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In a condolence message on Friday night, General Babaginda, President Buhari, Bishop Kukah said the former President died at a time Nigeria, nay Africa needed his wise counsel most.

Bishop Kukah

“The late former president was a committed patriot, dedicated to the building of a peaceful and democratic Nigeria.

“In his pursuit for dialogue, he was the first Nigerian leader to invite the Pope to visit our country in 1982, thus, laying the moral foundation for his Ethnical Revolution,” Kukah said.

Pres. Buhari
He described the death as the departure of a patriot whose life of service and humility was widely acknowledged.

Buhari recalled part of the birthday message he (Buhari) sent to him last February when he said, “we are enthralled and regaled with the many years of unequalled patriotism, sacrifices and contributions to national development. More specifically, we celebrate the role modelling qualities of integrity, diligence and humility that have been the hallmark of your visionary leadership.”

General Ibrahim Babagida
He said ex-President Shagari was a great patriotic leader and an accomplished gentleman, who was first a teacher, an administrator, a technocrat and an honest, decent, unassuming simple Nigerian leader.

According to him, the late former leader would be remembered for his tolerance and politics of peace without bitterness.

Saraki
“President Shagari, was a quintessential public servant; having served in seven cabinet positions and as a legislator. He dedicated his best years in the service of our nation and its people. May Allah grant him a place among the righteous ones in Aljannah Firdaus.”


https://all-gists..com/2018/12/buhari-babagida-bishop-kukah-reacts-to-the-death-of-ex-president-shehu-shagari.html

Rip ....

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I regret to Announce the death of former President Shehu Shagari who just passed away at National Hospital Abuja. May his Soul Rest in Peace.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/just-in-ex-president-shehu-shagari-dies-at-93.html

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The spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Campaign Organization, Alhaji Buba Galadima has said that President Muhammadu Buhari has already given up on his quest to returning to office come May 29, 2019.

Galadima insisted that Buhari will not be the President to be sworn in on May 29.

Appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Galadima said by the next Democracy Day in Nigeria, Buhari would have handed over to Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s presidential candidate.

While anwering a question on Buhari’s refusal to sign the electoral bill, he said, “I quote the president, he said he is leaving it to the next government, of course, God will answer his prayers because, by May 29, he will not be the president of Nigeria.”

Galadima further stated that when the PDP comes in, it will be “the first duty of ‘President’ Atiku Abubakar to sign the electoral act.”

He also spoke about the peace accord signed by the various presidential candidates in the forthcoming election in Nigeria.


The spokesman of the PDP presidential campaign organisation, however, argued that “It doesn’t look like this government believes in the rule of law or justice.”

He said by not signing the electoral bill, the President is denying other candidates a level playing field, transparency and access to power.

“I don’t think that by this the President thinks that he could do justice to other people and that he is looking for peace,” Galadima said.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/dont-doubt-buhari-has-already-handed-iver-to-atiku-buba-galadima.html

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The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) has urged all Nigerians to vote out the All Progressives Congress,APC-led government in 2019 in order to build a united, prosperous and peaceful Nigeria.

The Director, Media and Publicity of the the PPCO, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan said in a statement on Monday that Nigerians should use the occasion of Christmas to pray against poverty and hunger in the land.

“This year’s Christmas celebration is unique, in that it marks the last under an oppressive and insensitive administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and his dysfunctional All Progressives Congress (APC), which relish in inflicting hunger, suffering and pains on the people.

“The PPCO laments the ugly situation in which Nigerians cannot celebrate a wholesome Christmas as they use to do prior to the emergence of the Buhari presidency in 2015.

“PPCO however, charges Nigerians not to despair as the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, whom they have resolved to elect as their new President, has already perfected templates to revamp our economy and ease suffering in our nation.

“The Atiku Abubakar policy document shows his commitment to entrench greater participation of our citizens in economic activities in various sectors, as against the Buhari exclusionist system, where our collective patrimony is only accessed by a cabal in the Presidency and corrupt APC leaders.

“Nigerians should therefore, celebrate this year’s Christmas, focusing on the brighter future that awaits our nation under Atiku Abubakar as the next President and not on the pessimism and promise of more suffering by President Buhari.

“In this regard, the PPCO urges Nigerians to use the occasion to show love and share with compatriots in anticipation of a brighter future,” the campaign organisation said.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/christmas-message-pdp-urges-nigerians-to-vote-out-apc-in-2019.html

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Top African philosopher, Professor Sophie Oluwole is dead.

Professor Oluwole known for her pan-African stance passed on at the age of 83.

Her death was confirmed by one of her colleagues, Professor Yomi Akinyeye of the Department of History and Strategic Studies, University of Lagos.

He said, “Yes, I just confirmed it now. I spoke to her daughter who confirmed it to me. I don’t have the details just yet.”

It was reported that Oluwole died around 8pm on Sunday evening after a protracted illness.

Oluwole was the first Nigerian female doctorate degree holder in philosophy and a practitioner of Yoruba philosophy.

Born in Igbara-oke, Ondo State in 1936, she studied history, geography and philosophy at the University of Lagos and eventually settled on philosophy.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/just-in-prof-sophie-oluwole-is-dead.html

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President Buhari, who said this in his 2018 Christmas message to Nigerians, which commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, urged Nigerians to exchange gifts, pray and visit loved ones, and remember many others who cannot be with their families at this time.

According to him, “We cannot bring back the lives lost to floods, unfortunate fire disasters, road accidents, farmers/herders clashes and insurgency.

“But we can put back smiles on the faces of the grieving, the displaced and the troubled, if we show a little love and recommit ourselves to building relationships with those outside our ethnic, religious and socio-political divides.

“As we celebrate Christmas, exchange gifts, pray and visit loved ones, let us remember many others who cannot be with their families this time.”

He maintained that the season is another opportunity to reflect on the imagery of the humble, symbolic and divine birth of a young child thousands of years ago in Bethlehem, Judea, and the message of hope, compassion, salvation, reconciliation, forgiveness and peace that Jesus Christ embodies and conveys.

President Buhari noted that in 2018, Nigerians have had mixed blessings, typical of human beings.

According to him, “On the pleasant side, our economy has made significant progress since coming out from recession and our faithful implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

“Agricultural revolution has seen a vastly improved local production to the detriment of importation, while we have achieved surplus in our trade balance. Similarly, infrastructural deficit has been greatly reduced with significant improvements in roads, railways, aviation and power.

“In addition, we have not relented in the fight against corruption while the business environment has been improved through institutional reforms.”

President Buhari also commended the bravery of military personnel and other security agencies who have sacrificed to keep the nation save and United.

He said, “Our brave Armed Forces, and other security men and women who make incredible sacrifices to keep us safe, the aged, the sick, physically challenged persons, all deserve our goodwill in this season of love and sharing.

Together we can show generosity to our neighbours and demonstrate the diversity that makes Nigeria unique – a land with a beautiful climate and vegetation, beaming with an energetic and creative youth population.

“We must not also forget that what lies ahead of us as a nation is better than whatever we must have experienced in the past.

READ ALSO: Oyetola promises completion of ongoing projects

With general elections around the corner and heightened political activities across the country, I have charged our security and law enforcement agencies to secure the sanctity of the ballot box and ensure that the outcome of the polls reflects the will of the Nigerian people.”

He President reiterated his commitment to free and fair elections next year.

Buhari said, “My avowed commitment to free, fair, credible and violence-free polls is not a ruse or yet another vain political promise. My word is my bond.

“It is a sworn declaration on the advancement of Nigeria, the future and safety of our young and unborn generations.

“Let us tell the world that, indeed, ‘‘something good’’ can come out from Nigeria. And it will happen, as we all team up to make it happen.

Merry Christmas!”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/buhari-promises-better-times-in-christmas-message.html

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President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has felicitated with Christian faithful and all Nigerians as they celebrate the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, congratulated Nigerians for their resilience in the face of the challenges facing the nation and urged them to pray for improvement in the social, political and economic condition of the country, in the New Year.

He urged Nigerians to make it part of their New Year resolution that they will play their constitutional roles to ensure that the country has a peaceful, credible, free and transparent elections in February and March 2019 and that the results of the elections will lead to rapid socio-political and economic development of Nigeria.

“I wish all Nigerians a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. I want to call on Christians, in particular, and Nigerians, in general, to emulate the virtues of Christ, who through self-sacrifice brought salvation to humanity.

“This is a time for us to be our brother’s keeper, extend our generosity to one another and ensure that the less-privileged among us are not left out of the ensuing merriments”, he stated.

He added that the upcoming election is another opportunity to lay a new foundation for the growth and prosperity of the nation and to banish poverty from the land.

While praying for journey mercies for as many Nigerians that would have to travel during the period, he urged the police and other security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities and ensure that the lives and property of Nigerians are fully secured at all times.

“The security agencies must of necessity redouble their efforts to ensure that the Christmas and New Year celebrations are observed peacefully across the country,” Saraki stated

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/saraki-send-lovely-message-to-nigerians-at-christmas.html

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Okupe, who spoke on Arise Television, yesterday, advised Nigerians, particularly the unemployed, to salvage the situation by voting for a President who will be in charge and be fully aware of the happenings around him.

“Is that what we want to vote for, a government that you don’t know who will run the administration? A country of 200 million people with so many youths? We are in dangerous and perilous times, and only God and PDP will save this country in 2019″, he said.

The medical doctor-turned-politician said that the government led by the All Progressives Congress (APC) had brought indecency into Nigeria, and continuously peddled lies.

He said the Buhari’s administration had not created 12 million jobs as claimed, adding that Akinwumi Adesina, the erstwhile Minister of Agriculture during the Jonathan government, evidently had over 10 million farmers on his mobile wallet data base.

Okupe added that Buhari’s government may have added two million farmers to what Adesina had verifiably done.

He declared that Nigeria is in a perilous time and only God and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can save the nation from total collapse.

The former governorship aspirant of the PDP in Ogun State said the President’s wife, Aisha Buhari, had made it clear that her husband is not in charge of the nation’s affairs.

Okupe said, “His wife came out on television and said the president is not in charge. Mrs Buhari said two men are the people running the country”.

Meanwhile, the former presidential aide cleared the air on the support of his son for Buhari. He said his son’s support must have been informed by his education and gullibility.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/2019-okupe-mobilises-unemployed-youth-against-buhari.html

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Ondo State government has bought brand new sports utility vehicles (SUVs) for members of the state House of Assembly, a move interpreted as trying to break the ranks of the 16 lawmakers opposed to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

In addition is said to be a promise of automatic ticket to parliament in next year elections made to some of the aggrieved lawmakers by the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

One of the sources said the governor had insisted that he would personally present the SUVs to each of the 26 lawmakers.

On presentation day, it was learnt that the lawmakers started to trickle into the Assembly Complex ostensibly to benefit before the expiration of their tenure in June next year because of the governor’s insistence to present the car personally to each of the willing lawmakers.

No fewer than 16 out of the 26 lawmakers, it was gathered, have been presented the official vehicles.

APC has promised to give automatic ticket to some of the aggrieved lawmakers ahead of the 2019 polls to further divide them.

But those who won the last primaries, and are not lawmakers, and their names already submitted to INEC have vowed not to let go of their tickets.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/ondo-house-crisis-akeredolu-woos-lawmakers-with-suvs-automatic-tickets.html

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Ben Murray-Bruce, the Senator representing Bayelsa East district has cited a major problem with 2019 budget presented to National Assembly on Thursday by President Muhammadu Buhari.


Bruce in a series of tweets on Saturday, said the amount proposed for servicing debts borrowed by the Buhari’s government in three years was a serious problem to the 2019 fiscal budget.

The Bayelsa lawmaker wrote: “The main issue with the 2019 budget is that Nigeria has borrowed so much money these last 3 years that we now spend more on servicing our debts (that is paying interests, not paying off the debts) than we do on infrastructure. And twice paying salaries what we spend on projects.”


Bruce further condemned Buhari for having more recurrent expenditure in 2019 budget despite his criticisms at ex-president Goodluck Jonathan of making high expenditures in 2015.

According to him, “President Buhari criticised Goodluck Jonathan for having a high recurrent expenditure, but it is so funny that in his latest budget, recurrent expenditure has doubled from what it was in 2015. My advice to the President is this-make your words sweet, just in case you have to eat them.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/buhari-doing-same-mistake-jonathan-did-in-2015-ben-bruce.html

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The immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, has criticised the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, for lambasting the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha.

Oshiomhole had, in Imo State on Friday, flayed Okorocha, calling him out as a governor who had reduced governance to an affair of his own (Okorocha’s) extended family.

Oshiomhole was attending the inauguration of the campaign of the state APC governorship candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma.

The APC national chairman took a swipe at Okorocha’s administration, calling it a “family affair” that will be ended by Uzodinma’s election as governor.

It may be recalled that Okorocha’s son in-law, Uche Nwosu, is also running for the Imo State governorship on the platform of Action Alliance, with the support of the incumbent governor who is also Nwosu’s wife’s father.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/fayose-blasts-oshiomhole-says-failure-in-abuja.html

Build uncompleted Project

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Naaa only God can save us from APC

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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has slammed previous administrations of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for lack of transparency and accountability with a charge on Nigerians to ask them what they did with monies earned from the sales of crude oil.

Prof. Osinbajo gave the charge during the weekend at the palace of the Ovie of Ughelli, HRM Oharisi III during a courtesy visit on the monarch in company of other Urhobo monarchs.

The Vice President also disclosed that in building infrastructures for the development of the country, the administration of President Muhammad Buhari had spent N2.7 trillion on building infrastructure since its assumption in office.

In his address to the monarchs, Osinbajo, who was accompanied by Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and others, said: “This is not a government that believes that the money of the people should be stolen because our determination is to build this country.

“We are earning today 60 percent less than what the country earned in the past 10years, yet we are spending more in building infrastructure than any government in the country today.

“The question we ought to ask previous government is, what did they do with the monies if today we are still building the Itakpe-Warri railway line which was established 35years ago as well as the Kaduna Hydro project which also was established 40years ago?”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/tell-nigerians-oil-money-16-years-osinbajo-tells-pdp.html

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No problem

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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, has condemned nepotism in the government of Imo State.

Oshiomhole, who spoke at the just concluded rally to launch the APC campaign in the state, said the party’s governorship candidate, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, would return Imo to the people and bring an end to government by a single family.

The incumbent governor, Mr Rochas Okorocha, and the state Chairman of the APC, Mr Dan Nwafor, were absent from the rally.

Oshiomhole stated that the days were gone when a governor would look at the faces of his people and say there was no money to do other things besides pay those who were working for the government.

He said, “When you elect Senator Hope, appointment into government will be based on merit, not family connection.

“I’m assuring you that we have a governorship candidate, whose purpose is to develop and bring prosperity to the Igbo young man, the Owerri young woman, the carpenter, the mechanic and, above all, my own comrades, the civil servants of Imo State who don’t know any longer what a payday looks like.

“When we talk of happiness, we will not domesticate it in the hands of a sister. The happiness of the great people of Imo State will be the primary purpose of government under Sen. Hope Uzodinma,” he said.

According to the APC chairman, due process will be the basis for constructing buildings and building roads.

“One contract will not be awarded to three people. If it must be awarded, it will not be awarded to in-laws. It will be awarded to the genuine businessmen and women of Imo State.

“Never again will any of your governors look at your (traditional) leaders and abuse them because democracy is about people.

“Never again shall we govern on the basis of family connections. Whether you know somebody or you don’t, whether you marry from me or I don’t marry from you, that shall not be the basis for winning the next election,” he said.

Oshiomhole assured families with breadwinners and pensioners who had not been paid for six to nine months that “the bailout, which President Muhammadu Buhari had given governors, including the governor of Imo State, and was not used for that purpose, will be retrieved and our pensioners will smile again.”

He added, “Let me also say without fear of contradiction that those who are printing posters and putting President Buhari’s face on it with their face and logo because their face and party are unknown — those ones are fake.

“President Buhari has the APC as his party. He is our presidential candidate. He has adopted Sen. Hope Uzodinma as the governorship candidate.”

Earlier, Uzodinma assured the APC chairman that, at the end of the day, the party would be vindicated.

“We are not going to disappoint the people of Imo and we’ll have victory, five over five. I promise, in the name of the almighty God, it shall never be the same again. The Egyptians you are seeing today, you shall see no more,” he said.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/imo-governorship-not-family-affair-oshiomhole-blasts-okorocha.html

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The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has described as “bad politicking” the “unruly” behaviour by lawmakers from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party during 2019 budget presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Some unruly lawmakers threw away parliamentary decorum to behave like ordinary protesters or agitators. It is nothing but bad politicking,” the minister said yesterday while addressing journalists in Abuja.

He however said such action provided the platform for ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers to assert their majority in the National Assembly.

“The plan by the opposition was to embarrass the President and prevent him from presenting the budget. But they were comprehensively overwhelmed by our lawmakers who are in the majority. That also sends a clear signal to the opposition that they lack the number to override the President’s decision not to accent to the Electoral Bill,” he added.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/pdp-lawmakers-are-bad-politicking-unruly-behaviour-lai-mohammed.html

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The national chairman of the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has described Nigeria as a country in distress, saying that it has collapsed under the watch of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

“Our country is in distress. Our economy has collapsed. Security has collapsed. Badeh was killed because there is no security; you can see where we are today.

“Buhari is not in charge. He is not worried about what Nigerians are suffering. He is passing the bulk. Atiku will not pass the bulk; he will take full responsibility of the economy and the country.

“We must weep for our country. In the last three years, we are lagging behind in virtually every sector.

“APC is dancing on the grave of farmers killed by herdsmen. Farmers no longer go to their farms. Atiku’s priority is to provide security and the next thing is to unlock the abundant potentials of the country”, Secondus assured.

Atiku promised to introduce reforms that would decongest the Lagos ports and make other ports in Calabar, Warri and Onne more functional to aid the ease of doing business in the country.

“I am giving you my words that whatever can be done to improve business in this country which is in the confinement of our laws, I’ll do it. If we really want to make Aba the hub of business in Africa, we must listen to people like you and the challenges you’ve enumerated for me are very evident.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/nigeria-in-distress-collapsing-secondus-mocks-buhari-apc-governors.html

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President Muhammadu Buhari and governors of the All Progressives Congress, APC, will be part of the campaign flag-off ceremony of the party’s governorship candidate in Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma in Owerri today.

The Director of Media and Publicity of Uzodimma Campaign Organization, Declan Emelumba, disclosed this in Owerri.

“President Muhamadu Buhari and state governors are among the top dignitaries that will grace the flag- off campaign of the APC governorship candidate for Imo State, Sen Hope Uzodimma, in Owerri today. The national chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole, members of the National Working Committee , NWC,of the party and top party chieftains from across the country will also be on hand to grace the ocassion. The flag off ceremony is seen by political observers as an opportunity for the APC candidate to showcase his widespread popularity in the state,” he said.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/buhari-apc-govs-to-attend-uzodimmas-campaign-flag-off-in-owerri.html

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Hope Alive Nigeria, a top-notch Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, promoting good governance and sustainable development, in collaboration with various allied organisations, has conferred on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State the Most Performing Governor in Nigeria award for 2018.

Obaro also stated that the decision to confer on Okowa with “this well deserving award was taken after extensive research to see what all the governors in the 36 states have done in the past three years in five major areas, namely: infrastructure development, human capital development, promotion of peace and security, as well as nearness to the grassroots people, and execution of people-oriented social service programmes that directly impact on the land and lives of people in each state.”

“Governor Okowa is the foremost governor in terms of being the governor who most frequently visits project fields, completing abandoned projects as well as kickstarting, inspecting and commissioning new projects; thereby, creating comfort and prosperity for Deltans through his SMART administration.”

High Chief (Bashorun) Askia Ogieh, the Executive Director of Finance and Administration at the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), received the two meritorious awards on behalf of Governor Okowa, who was inevitably attending to other important state functions.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/delta-state-gov-okowa-bags-awards-as-most-performing-governor-for-2018.html

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President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his determination to ensure a level-playing field for all contestants into political offices in 2019 general elections.

The President said this when he received a delegation from International Republican and National Democratic Institute, United States of America, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday.

Buhari said: “I am glad you are here to assess our pre-election preparations. It reminds me of the visit by the then Secretary of State, John Kerry, before the 2015 polls. We appreciate the concern of America for stability in developing countries.

“Having run for president three times, ending up at the Supreme Court all the three times before God and technology made a way for me the fourth time, I know what it is to be cheated at the polls.

“What they used to do was just to award votes, and tell anyone who was dissatisfied to go to court. But we won’t do that.

“I am prepared to give the opposition the opportunities I was not given in the past.’’

President Buhari assured the visitors that he had told the heads of the security agencies not to be partisan, but to do their work professionally, and allow the will of the people to prevail.

While stressing that the governing All Progressives Congress would keep faith with its priorities of securing the country, reviving the economy, and fighting corruption, the President said he was happy that the opposition had not been able to successfully fault the focal areas of the government.

“We have done fairly well in the areas we focused on. We know how many local government areas in the North-East were under Boko Haram occupation before we came.

“That does not happen again, save for cowardly attacks, using young girls as suicide bombers.

“Other areas of security challenge like farmers/herdsmen clashes are receiving attention, and would be sorted out as much as possible,’’ he added.

On the Electoral Bill that was not assented to, the President said: “Time is against us. We are extremely vulnerable, and need to be careful that messages are not hijacked and figures tampered with, while being transmitted electronically.

“Even the Russians were accused of tampering with American election, so we will remain conventional and use electronic transmission in subsequent elections.’’

The leader of the American delegation, Ambassador Linda-Thomas Greenfield, said they had met with the media, civil society, and political parties and concerns expressed included fears of security agencies being partisan in the forthcoming elections and suspected non-commitment to free and fair elections by key stakeholders.

She said they also cited the delayed budget for the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission, and the non-signing of the new Electoral Bill.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/2019-election-ill-give-pdp-sdp-others-the-opportunity-w-was-denied-buhari.html

Members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) have begun their four-day warning strike.

The workers had issued a strike notice on Sunday. As of the time of filing this report, entrances to the assembly complex had been blocked while the workers also cut off water and power supply to the premises of the assembly.

They are demanding to be paid outstanding salaries and allowances.

The workers also want to be put on the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS).

On December 4, they shut down activities of the national assembly and prevented lawmakers from sitting.

The strike was suspended after Senate President Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, intervened.

In a meeting, the duo directed Mohammed Sani-Omolori, clerk of the assembly, to ensure that the workers demands were met.

Before the workers embarked on the strike on December 4, Sani-Omolori had in a letter to PASAN, explained that their demands could not be met because of poor budget releases.

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to present the 2019 budget proposal to a joint session of the national assembly on Wednesday.

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/strike-workers-cut-off-water-and-power-supplies-to-national-assembly.html

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) needs another strategic session in Dubai.

In November, top leaders of the opposition party spent at least four days in Dubai, strategising for the 2019 elections.

Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC spokesman, said it is “amazing” that the opposition party could not present any alternative governance agenda before the 2019 polls.

Issa-Onilu said instead of focusing on its own campaign, the PDP is worried about if the ruling party has commenced its own or not.

“It is very amazing that two months into the election, PDP is still not presenting any alternative governance agenda before the people of this country. Sadly, the main opposition party appears at a loss as to how to face Nigerians knowing they would have to explain why they so badly mismanaged this country at a period of surplus,” he said.

“Rather than focus on its own campaign, the only apparent concern of PDP is whether APC has flagged off its campaigns or not. Of course, APC will soon begin strategic engagements with the people of this country. Unlike PDP, our party as the ruling party began our campaign immediately President Muhamnadu Buhari resumed office.

“We have spent the last three and half years carrying out massive infrastructural projects in all the 36 states of the country. We have invested heavily in social intervention programmes targeted at the ordinary Nigerians, at a scale never seen before in this country. The onslaught against corruption, the lasting solutions being put in place to provide security across our country, the transformation in the agricultural and the solid minerals sectors are the real campaigns that the APC government has embarked on since June 2015.

We understand that PDP cannot campaign on issues as they have none to present. PDP’s recent attempts to speak to issues have ended in disgrace as it became obvious they base their projections and analyses on fallacious data. In effect, PDP is left with no other option than to resort to sophistry.

“They obviously need another trip to Dubai. Perhaps, they may try China this time, hoping they would at least get their figures right.”

https://all-gists..com/2018/12/you-need-another-trip-to-dubai-apc-blasts-pdp.html