Democracy
General Buratai: Army will not allow subversive elements to destabilise Nigeria
The Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has warned that the army would not allow subversive and unscrupulous elements to destabilise the peace and stability of Nigeria. The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, said that Buratai made the remarks during a meeting with Principal Staff Officers, Commanding Officers and field commanders on Monday in Abuja. Musa briefed newsmen on the outcome of the meeting at a news conference. Buratai told the PSOs, GOCs and field commanders that there would be no room for disloyalty amongst all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army. He directed that they must reiterate to all their subordinates that the army was determined to ensure democratic stability in Nigeria as the only panacea for development and progress. Accor...
Edo election: Impunity responsible for APC’s defeat – Odigie Oyegun
YouTube A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Monday attributed the loss by the party during the September 19 governorship election in Edo State to the dynamic nature of democracy. While noting that the electorate voted en masse in line with their conscience, he added that impunity and imposition of candidate at the party’s primaries also contributed to the loss. In an interview with journalist in Benin, Oyegun commended President Muhammadu Buhari for not interfering in the process but allowed the people’s will to prevail. He also lauded Oba Ewuare II for his timely intervention at brokering peace between the major actors and stakeholders of the APC and the PDP. He said, “It is democracy within the parties and impunity within the parties,...
President Buhari: CAMA Act will help us fight corruption
President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday explained that the recently passed Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 (CAMA) in Nigeria will enhance transparency and corporate accountability in the fight against corruption. President Buhari spoke in a video message presented at the Open Government Partnership (OGP) 2020 Virtual Leaders’ Summit on the sidelines of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA75) in New York, United States. ”Since the inception of our Administration in 2015, the Government has been committed to changing international and domestic perceptions regarding Nigeria’s commitment to fight corruption and foster good governance. ”We focused on the task of dealing head-on with this destructive monster, which led to us joining the Open Government Partnership and...
Labour insists on reversal of fuel price, electricity tariff hike
File Photo The organised labour Thursday insisted that the Federal Government should revert back to the old prices of petrol and electricity tariff, if not the strike will stand. This is as the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige and the President of Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Quadri Olaleye, had a hot altercation over the letter to President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse the prices of petrol and electricity tariff. Meantime, Secretary to the Federal Government, SGF, Boss Mustapha said that deregulation of the Petroleum sector was long overdue, but the TUC President maintained its previous position that government should revert to the old prices before any discussion would continue. The meeting which took place at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, had...
Edo election: US expresses concern over vote-buying, intimidation of voters
The United States Government Wednesday said it is concerned over recorded cases of vote-buying and intimidation of voters and observers during last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State. The US government in a statement by the United States Mission in Nigeria, also applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Nigerian security services on the positive role they played in the election. According to the statement posted on its verified twitter handle, @USinNigeria, said the US government also recognizes the critical role that Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, during the exercise. The statement reads: “Congratulations to the people of Edo State on a credible and pea...
Governor Tambuwal: Rigging Edo election is ‘coup’ against the people
The Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, has said any electoral victory obtained through means other than the legitimate votes of the people was nothing short of a coup d’état. Tambuwal said the Edo State Governorship Election scheduled to hold on Saturday as well as the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for October 10, were test cases of our preparedness for a rule-based and consent-enabled governance. He said this in a statement titled “Tambuwal: Rigging is coup d’état,” which he signed and issued to commemorate the 2020 edition of United Nations International Day of Democracy, on Tuesday. The United Nations General Assembly in 2017 resolved to observe 15 September of every year as the International Day of Democracy — with the purpose of promoting and upholding the principl...
Enugu Assembly by-election: Casmir Nnadi emerges ZLP candidate
Hon. Casmir Nnadi has emerged the flag bearer of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) unopposed for the Isi-Uzo constituency by-election. Nnadi emerged at the party’s state primaries held on Friday 4th September 2020 at Cabrini Hotel New Haven Enugu after other candidates stepped down from the race, noting that Hon. Nnadi embodies the aspirations and representation yearned by people of Isi-Uzo constituency at the state house of Assembly. If Hon. Nnadi is elected 31st of October, 2020 Isi-Uzo constituency by-election, he will fill the vacuum created by the death of Hon. Chijioke Ugweze who died since June this year. Speaking to newsmen after the primaries, the state party chairman, Hon. Elvis Ugwuoke maintained that the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) will get the mandate of the people of Isi-Uzo consti...
Court orders police to produce Bayelsa governorship candidate
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, again ordered the police to produce Vijah Opuama, the Bayelsa Governorship Candidate in the Nov. 16, 2019 election. Newsmen report that Justice Taiwo Taiwo, on Aug. 3 and Sept. 2, ordered that Opuama, who was said to be in police custody, be produced in court but the orders were disregarded by the security outfit. Opuama’s Lawyer, Michael Odey, had, on Aug. 31, brought an ex-parte application before the court, asking the police to show cause why the detainee should not be released unconditionally. While the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Mr Adamu Mohammed, is the 1st respondent, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge-of the I-G’s Monitoring Unit is the 2nd respondent in the suit. However, the judge, on Monday, issued the third order, ...
Governor Makinde gives account, lists community development projects in Oyo zone
In his bid to take the dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of the people at the grassroots, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has given an account of his administration’s developmental projects in the Oyo zone in the last one year. The governor, who spoke through his Special Assistant (Community Relations), Hon. Olufemi Josiah, at a Town Hall meeting held in Atiba Local Government, Oyo, said the present administration in the state will continue to give account of its stewardship to the people at the grassroots. He said: “Government, to us, is about efficient allocation of scarce resources. The resources we are talking about belong to the people. So. we must always engage them in whatever the present administration intends to do for the grassroots.” While speaking on the purpose of the To...
Northern governors congratulate Yahaya Bello over victory at Supreme Court
The Northern Governors Forum has congratulated Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, over his election victory at the Supreme Court. The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong, congratulated Bello in a message by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham, on Monday in Jos. Lalong said Bello’s victory was an affirmation of the mandate Kogi people entrusted on him, which he should work hard to justify. “The Supreme Court judgment affirming your election victory gives you an opportunity to settle down to serve your people and fulfill their aspirations without any distraction. “The people have already reposed their confidence in you and are looking up to you for the dividends of democracy,” he said. Lalong assured Bello that members of the Forum would continue to supp...
Why You Should #giveashit
November 3rd. That’s it. That’s what it’s all about. But it’s not the whole story. Our world is on fire — and not in a good way. No matter where you stand or what you believe in, not giving a shit is not an option right now. For those who don’t know how to take action, we’re giving you a chance. Go ahead and #giveashit on your social platforms — and share why you’re voting on November 3rd. We may share your story. Yes, your story. Make it personal. What you stand for is personal. All we ask is that you stand for something. And you vote. Tag your friends and favorite recording artists and challenge them to do the same. If you need inspo, we’ll be featuring our favorite artists who genuinely #giveashit and, in their own words, why they’re voting in November. Why? Because if an estimated 62% ...
INEC: No going back on Edo, Ondo elections
National Commissioner and chairman information and Voters Education Committee of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Festus Okoye, has said there is no alternative to the peaceful conduct of the governorship election in Edo and Ondo states. He said failure to do so will leave both states with constitutional logjam that would be difficult to resolve. At a sensitisation forum for the media in Benin, Okoye noted that political parties must eschew violence, use of intemperate, inflammatory language designed to incite violence. He said, “Political parties and all the critical stakeholders in the electoral process must see the conduct of these elections as a national project that must be executed in strict compliance with all the safety protocols. “There is no alternative to the...
