News Agency of Nigeria

Election: Blacksmithing workers endorse Tinubu

By Kingsley Okoye

The National Union of Blacksmith and Thinkers Workers of Nigeria (NUBTWN), has endorsed the presidential bid of Sen. Bola Tinubu in the Feb. 25 general elections.

National Secretary of the union, Alhaji Ishaku Kontagorah, announced the endorsement at a forum in Abuja on Monday.

The forum, attended by blacksmiths across the 19 northern states, was organised by project 774, a National Support Group for Tinubu’s presidency.

He said given the current development and support by the current government, the union was endorsing the candidacy of Tinubu for the presidential election.

He said the endorsement would ensure the APC government continued the good work started by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said members of the union, who were blacksmiths and thinkers across the nation, were satisfied with antecedent of Tinubu and his agenda for Nigeria, especially his plan for a bottom up approach of development.

The National Coordinator of Project 774, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi, said project 774 was designed to mobilise grassroots support for politics, to positively affect the local people.

According to him, project 774 for Tinubu and Shettima, which is a national grass roots support group, was designed to mobilise grassroots support for Tinubu and Shettima.

Abdullahi expressed gratitude to members of the union for making the endorsement possible.

“We believe that the project 774 should be local, it should be bottom up and our hope is to make sure we get to those who are affected with whatever we do in our government.”

He explained he had course to engage with the blacksmiths and thinkers union through his empowerment scheme as Representative of Niger-North in the Senate.

Abdullahi said Nigeria and most part of the north were reputed for agriculture, adding that bulk of the rural populace, who engaged in agriculture, could not do so without the tools produced by the blacksmiths.

“There is no village or market that you go to, that you will not see the blacksmith or the Thinkers.

“This group of people represents a part of our agriculture heritage and this informed their desire to stand with our presidential candidate, Sen. Tinubu.

“He has shown tremendous interest in the development of this nation, and he does that via bottom top development process.”

He said Tinubu had demonstrated his bottom up development approach with what he had done in Lagos State, adding that his running mate, Shettima had also shown knack to bring development from the bottom up approach.

Abdullahi said the group coming to endorse the candidature of Tinubu was significant because they were in every single village and town across Nigeria.

“This group we have here that are also in all the northern Nigeria, is a force that we cannot ignore on any way.

“So I thank you all from the 19 northern states for coming, if Nigeria is to succeed we cannot underrate your role in agriculture.

“This group has the skill to contribute and when they have been upgraded, as we have done in the empowerment scheme I did.

“They have a lot to contribute in developing new tools and supporting farmer’s production capacity with the tools.”

Abdullahi said Tinubu’s presidency would be inclusive and bottom to up.

The union was established in 1987 to improve standard of its production from old method to new technology, to meet the demand of the nation.

The association has more than 4 million members in Nigeria, with experience in production of cutlasses, planting machines, holes, harrowing tools, fertiliser application machines, among other simple implements. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Idris Abdulrahman

BVAS: Abia LP senatorial candidate, Onyeizu, says no more vote manipulation

By Emmanuel Afonne

Mr Chinedu Onyeizu, the Labour Party Senatorial Candidate for Abia South, has expressed confidence in the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise a free and credible 2023 elections.

Onyeizu expressed his confidence on Monday in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

“Now, the people have the power of choice because of INEC’s introduction of BVAS system which will ensure that the peoples vote this time will count,” he said.

NAN reports that the race for Abia South Senatorial seat has become hot and interesting, considering the candidates jostling for the position.

The senatorial district parades the most popular candidates for the 2023 senatorial election with incumbent Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who is poised to contest for a fifth term in office, and incumbent Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.

While Ikpeazu is representing the PDP, Abaribe this time, is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), having lost the PDP ticket to Ikpeazu who wants to be a senator after serving two terms as governor.

Onyeizu, however, said that he was optimistic of emerging victorious with the youth population behind him.

“I am a young person, the youth demography makes up over 65 per cent of registered voters and in addition to that, the two major gladiators contesting against me have been tested before and they know they failed us.

“I am talking about the governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, and incumbent Senator, Enyinnaya Abaribe. We are to slug it out for the Abia South Senatorial seat and I know I will defeat them on Saturday.

“The time of manipulating votes has gone, so anybody that will vote, should be rest assured that the vote will count; that gives me hope and makes me optimistic.

“So, I urge the people of Abia and Nigerians in general to come out in their numbers on Saturday and queue up and vote for Labour Party all the way.

“And after voting, also make sure you stay back to ensure that your votes are counted and transmitted using the BVAS solution,” Onyeizu said.

Onyeizu in white, during a campaign rally
Onyeizu in white, during a campaign rally

According to him, his leadership, if elected, will focus on a seven-point agenda of Energy, Infrastructure, Health, Agriculture, Trade and Commerce, Education, and Empowerment.

“I will promote bills to eliminate fuel subsidy payment, bring down NNPCL to only regulatory functions as well as accelerate establishment of small local refineries and commercialise natural gas infrastructure development for domestic use.

“I will strive to promote bills that will prioritise high economic impact roads and infrastructure in Nigeria and ensure that the Port Harcourt-Aba road and Ikot-Ekpene federal roads are fixed to enable more local trade transactions.

“We will work closely with the executive to ensure that our Primary Healthcare support sector receives adequate attention.

“For the agricultural sector, we will establish regional cassava and maize processing clusters in the rural parts of our senatorial zone, using some of Abia South’s constituency project funds.

“And for education, I will promote a bill that will grant financial autonomy to tertiary institutions and allowing them to raise funds and generate their own revenue.

“We will also attract two private universities in Obingwa and Ugwunagbo with exchange programmes between the universities and world class tertiary institutions like Harvard University and MIT in the U.S.,” Onyeizu said.

The presidential election as well as the National Assembly elections are expected to hold on Feb. 25 (Saturday). (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vincent Obi

Kwara NNPP guber candidate to embark on urban renewal if elected

Prof. Oba Abdulraheem, Kwara NNPP governorship candidate

 

 

By Razak Owolabi.

 

Prof. Oba Abdulraheem, Kwara State NNPP governorship candidate, says he will embark on urban and infrastructural renewal, if elected as Governor of the State.

 

Speaking on his agenda for the people of Kwara during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Oba said he would embark on massive rehabilitation and maintenance of major urban and sub-urban roads.

 

The NNPP governorship candidate said this would translate to increase in access to parts of the state through construction of strategic roads.

 

He said feeder roads which would facilitate ease of traffic flow, aiming at economic cost benefit, would also be constructed to link rural areas in the state with urban centres.

 

“My administration will embark on rehabilitation of bridges, culverts and drainages in anticipation of flooding during the rainy season.

 

“We will also ensure maintainance of the sanctity of set-backs on major highways to protect lives and create enough room for vehicles without hindrance,” Oba said.

 

The NNPP governorship candidate who holds the traditional title, Talba of Ilorin, also spoke on local government reform among his agenda.

 

“We will restore the structures, dignity and efficient operation of the local government authorities within the extant laws.

 

“This will include holding local government elections within six months from 29th May, 2023,” Oba said.

 

On security of lives and properties, he said this was a major concern and a very important agenda adding that all citizens have the inalienable right to life and property.

 

“The onus of supplementing/complementing the Federal Government’s efforts rests on the state goverment to rise up to the incipient challenges of banditry and kidnapping.

 

“This is by recruiting unarmed volunteer community policing outfits and harmoniding/regulating non-formal votunteer groups,” Oba said.

 

He reiterated his mission and vision for a better Kwara as creation of a governable environment, piloted by a vibrant economy and underpinned by quality service, equity and justice.

 

“I believe that our state is in need of a fundamental political reform, which requires honesty, integrity and forthrightness in order to support good governance, so as to make it transparent and accountable to all Kwarans,” Oba added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Tinubu’ll win presidential poll on first ballot–Wamakko

By Angela Atabo

Sen. Aliyu Wamakko (APC-Sokoto North) says the party’s presidential candidate, Sen. Boils Tinubu will win Saturday’s poll at first ballot.

This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by Dr Danladi Bako, Chairman, Publicity Committee, Sokoto State APC gubernatorial campaign council.

”The Leader of APC and former Governor of the State, Sen. Aliyu Wammako has reaffirmed that Tinubu will not only win the presidential ticket in the state, but will on the first ballot in the Feb. 25 presidential race.

Bako said: ”’Wamakko, who was speaking to newsmen on Sunday in Sokoto commended President Muhammadu Buhari for endorsing Tinubu for president even while out of the country in Addis Ababa.”

He quoted Wamakko as reiterating that Buhari has not only shown his astute leadership qualities but has also boosted the ego of all APC members across the country as we march towards Saturday’s general elections.

”Sen. Wamakko, who is also the APC Senatorial candidate for Sokoto North assured Nigerians that he will not only win his seat but will also ensure that the party wins all tthreehe Senatorial seats in Sokoto as well as majority of the House of Representatives seats.

“He reaffirmed that the Sokoto State Government House will be occupied by the APC by May 29 , 2023,” Bako added.

It will be recalled that APC had a very successful Presidential and Governorship rally in the state last week.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Lagos Guber: Sanwo-Olu defeatable with our strategies, says AA Chairman

 

 

By Adeyemi Adeleye

 

The Action Alliance (AA) in Lagos State says Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu will be defeated with the action plans and strategies the AA party has put in place in the forthcoming March 11 governorship election.

Alhaji Nureni Ayinla-Oniru, the Lagos State Chairman of the party, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

“Noises and dances on the streets in the name of campaign do not translate into votes. The voters are indoors and those are our target.

“We have our own strategies and we are working on them and they are very sweet and they will give us what we want. We don’t have money but we have our game plan.

“We have plans to defeat Sanwo-Olu. To some people, it is difficult but it is not impossible.

“I can assure you that Action Alliance will win 13 local government areas of Lagos during the polls,” he said.

According to him, the party is concentrating only on the March 11 governorship and house of assembly elections.

He expressed confidence that the party would emerge winners of the governorship election in the state, considering its homework of reaching out to the masses.

On campaign, Ayinla-Oniru said that the party had adopted a campaign strategy different from the usual rallies, to reach the people at the grassroots.

“Our mission is to get Lagos State back to the people and residents of the state rather than the few it is currently working for.

“We are touched by the suffering of the poor masses and want to lead a government that will make the poor live a comfortable life. To us, lives of the masses is very important.

“The masses are entitled to their rights and what belongs to them in terms of welfare, hence the reason why AA is on the ballot.

“The party is not for the rich, it is for the poor to unite and rescue themselves from hardship. We have taken our governorship candidate from the masses.

“We have trust and confidence that the masses will prevail in the election, defeating the ‘money bags’.

“No matter how hard the ruling party try, the masses will defeat Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the polls,” he added.

He said that the party had developed REBIRTH AGENDA.

Explaining the REBIRTH agenda, Ayinla-Oniru said that R stands for Restoration of Security, E for Energy and Education, B for Broad- Based Governance, I for Infrastructure and Traffic Management, R for Rural Development, T for Tourism and Transportation while H- stands for Housing and Health system. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ehigimetor Igbaugba/Vincent Obi

Election: AA endorses PDP, Atiku

By Diana Omueza

Action Alliance (AA) party has endorsed the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for the Feb. 25 general elections.

This is contained in a statement signed on Sunday in Abuja by Mr James Vernimbe, the party’s National Secretary.

Vernimbe said that the endorsement was made during PDP’s mega rally in Yola, Adamawa state.

According to him, the endorsement was informed and agreed after critical consultation with the party’s hierarchy and state chairmen.

“AA has joined some other parties to endorse PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for the 25 February, 2023, presidential election.

“The event was led by the party’s National chairman, Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze, accompanied by the National Secretary of the party, Vernimbe A James, with Six North East state chairmen of the party in attendance.

“What led to the endorsement is that our presidential candidate, Hamza Almustapha, is not contesting to win.

“Since 9 June, 2022, that he emerged as presidential candidate of the party till 16 February 2023, there have been no flag-off campaigns any where, no poster any where indicating his presence in the presidential race.

“And Atiku Abubakar is the only candidate that has assured us of forming the government of national unity where other political parties will be accommodated because what we have today in Nigeria is winner takes all,” he said.

Vernimbe said that the endorsement was done in the presence of the state chairmen of Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe and the Adamawa state Secretaries representing the state chairmen, Representative of Borno and party chieftain from Bauchi State. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vincent Obi

Nigeria’s opposition has scored an own goal on naira redesign

By Emmanuel Mogbede

Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour and Employment says Nigeria’s opposition has scored an own goal, by refusing to take side with the masses on naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He said this when he featured at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.

Keyamo, also a spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress, Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), said the opposition failed to align with the Nigerian masses on the matter.

“Now you see a situation that we found ourselves, a very convoluted and confusing situation, a situation where the government policy on naira redesign is affecting the masses negatively because of wrong implementation and wrong timing.

“Instead of the opposition siding with the masses and urging them to vote out the ruling party, it is now the opposition that is telling people to be patient.

“It is the same opposition that is telling Nigerians that Buhari is an honest man and he meant well for the country.

“They have over dribbled themselves and scored an own goal in the process, ” he said.

Keyamo, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said that the opposition turned the entire issue into politics and ended up shooting themselves on the foot,

“They perceived that the policy was crippling Sen. Bola Tinubu, the APC Presidential Candidate because they see every thing as politics.

“In their bid to heat Tinubu, they now decided to go against Nigeria masses, this is where they over dribbled themselves.

“Meanwhile, Tinubu who is in the ruling party has spoken against those implementing the policy to say that they are sabotaging the policy.

“So, the masses now see Tinubu as their hero,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

BVAS ‘ll address money politics in Nigeria – Keyamo

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC)  has expressed confidence that the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will help to eliminate money politics from the Nigeria elections.

Festus Keyamo, spokesperson for APC PCC, stated this when he appeared at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja on Sunday.

Keyamo, also Minister of State for Labour and Employment, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the introduction of BVAS electronic transmission of result from polling units.
He said that with the introduction of the two technologies into Nigeria elections, gone were the days where electoral officers and security agencies were being paid to change result at collation centres.
He said before now, money were being used to bribe security agencies and electoral officials to alter results, but BVAS will take away that.
“Let’s be honest. You can see it in one or two isolated units, Can you buy 40 million votes?
“You see in one or two units people sharing money, you now say the whole election is tinted. That is not true. You can’t buy so many votes.
“Even when you give people money to go and give me money to voters, they rather pocket the money, they will not give them they would rather beg them. So that’s the truth.
“The money they’re use in those days is to bribe security agents, when they bring results to polling unit collation centre they would drive everybody, switch off light, switch papers before you come abracadabra has happened,” he said.
Keyamo said that BVAS was a blessing to the Nigeria electoral System.
“For me BVAS is a blessing. BVAS is a blessing because it will de-emphasise money in politics.
“From the unit level straight to the central server in Abuja. You can access the central server from the ward collation center but you cannot change it, but you can enter and see what has been transmitted to Abuja.
“So when the wrong copy come from the unit you can compare and say this what has been transmitted to Abuja.
“Who do you want to bribe there, nobody?
“So for me, even BVAS has reduced the issue of money in politics, and I love that,” he said.
Keyamo also suggested that INEC should have all party agents at the commission situation room where it collate all the result from PUs level.
He said that would ensure transparency and avoid dangerous mistake in the collation of results.
“Let me tell you the danger about electronic transmission of result, it is very good but if you make any mistake and it is out already and you said no it was a mistake. I want to change it. You want to burn this country.
“Even it was a genuine mistake. If for example you say 300 + 300. You now record 350.
“And you say sorry it supposed to be 600. But you have have already released 350. You can’t change it to 600 again. Even if 300+300 is correct. You can’t change it.
“Because the person who in favour will start burning. That is the danger in electronic transmission,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Editing by Ali Baba-Inuwa

Why APC ‘ll win presidential election – PCC

By Naomi Sharang

Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) will win the Feb. 25 presidential election, because it is the most popular party in Nigeria.

Keyamo, also a spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), stated this when he appeared at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.

“Without trying to sound overconfident, I can tell you that the election is ours to lose.

“If you take the baseline for projection for 2015 and 2019 elections, you will discover that interms of demographic setup of Nigeria and the voting pattern in the last two elections, the APC has an upper hand.

“If you take the baseline from the recent elections, then you will know that the election is for APC and our candidate to lose.

“Demographically, we are extremely strong, we are the most diverse with wide spread all over the country, the APC is the only party without concentration of support from one part of the country,” he said.

Keyamo, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said it was clear that the APC would record a landslide victory at the poll, going by current developments in the country.

“Again, in a country like ours or anywhere in Africa, you have an opposition that is not together facing the ruling party, that is you have an opposition split into three, how do you expect them to defeat the ruling party.

“It is a very simple calculation, forget about all the noise going around. The split we see today in the opposition parties facing the APC, in form of PDP, LP and NNPP is an indication of weakness.

“It is a simple calculation and even when they were together as PDP just three and half years ago, we defeated them with 4 million votes, so they have a task of bridging the four million votes.

“Even if they were together, they still have a four million votes deficit to close up in the last election not to talk of now that they are split into three, where are the votes going to come from, that’s the question we are asking and we are waiting for the Nigerian electorate to answer that in a few days time,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Editing by Ali Baba-Inuwa

Leadership is about character not eloquence, good looks- Keyamo

Mr Festus Keyamo, the spokesperson for All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Campaign (PCC)says leadership is about character and not eloquence, good looks or fluency in speech.

He said this on Sunday in Abuja at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum, adding that criminals could also have such qualities.“Fraudsters are smooth talkers, they are not leaders, leadership is not smooth talk, it is character, and that is why President Muhammadu Buhari is one of the best leaders in Africa.

“This is especially in terms of integrity which had endeared him to most people, even members of the opposition political parties,” Kayemo said.

He added that unlike some leaders, Buhari who would be leaving office in less than three months time, had no magnificent building or mansion waiting for him.

“Buhari will be returning to his old house in Daura, Katsina after leaving office as president on May 29,” Keyamo said.He said that character was important in leadership and not too much talk.

He added that although Tinubu may not be a smooth talker like some people, he had achieved a lot.

“He has character, achievements and records behind him and that is why he is the best candidate for Nigeria.

“If elected as the country’s next president, Tinubu will do somethings differently, especially those things he think are not working presently.

“For instance, he already has his own ideas on improving the country’s security he will bring to the table if elected.

“And he has already given his own idea on how he think the current naira re-design and cashless policy should go,” Keyamo said.

He added that the former two-term governor of Lagos State had always given his thoughts on national issues which showed that he had his own approach to it.

Keyamo appealed to Nigerians not to be dettered by the Naira redesign and cashless policy, saying they should come out in their numbers to vote.

According to him, the more they vote, the more credible the elections will be.

“We want to appeal to Nigerians, the policy as it is today, there is nothing we can do about it, it is being implemented.

“But that should not hamper them from voting, we beg them, we appeal to them to come out enmase to vote.

“For those who want to vote out of anger, just express your anger against those supporting the policy to purnish you and vote for those fighting for you who are APC governors,” Keyamo said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

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