By Muhammad Nasir

Alhaji Abubakar Kwaire, a Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 general elections in the state.

Kwaire, according to a statement by Bashar Abubakar, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Sen. Aliyu Wamakko (APC –Sokoto North) was received by the state APC governorship candidate, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu in Sokoto

Abubakar said the new APC member, who was a former member of the State House of Assembly hailed from Tambuwal Local Government.

He quoted Kwaire saying that his decision to join APC was motivated by Wamakko’s sterling leadership qualities.

“Therefore, I believe with Wamakko as APC leader and Aliyu to govern our state, if elected, more dividends of democracy are expected,“ he said.

Kwaire restated his commitment to support all the candidates of the party to coast to victory for the best of Sokoto State and Nigeria.

In his remarks, the governorship candidate welcomed the defector and assured him of equal treatment like all other members of the party. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Prof. Wale Sulaiman

By Femi Ogunshola

Prof. Wale Sulaiman, the Kwara South Social Democratic Party (SDP) senatorial candidate has promised to seek a 10-million dollars investment in health and education for the benefits of the people of the district, if elected.

Sulaiman said this during his meeting with Kwara southerners based in Abuja on Friday, tagged: “Discussing the Kwara South Prosperity Agenda, and the Need for Quality Representation”.

The Professor of Neurosurgeon and Spinal Surgery said he had done all the needed calculation to know what it would cost to insure the people of Kwara South in health insurance and education.

“We need a contingent of Kwara South development fund, if we have 10 million dollars; we will have health and education insurance in Kwara South.

He said there was need to fight for the political and social economic emancipation of Kwara South, adding that this could only be achieved by electing someone like him with the vision.

“We need to create wealth, we need to create opportunities for private sector, when there is no opportunity, there will be no room for development,” he said.

Sulaiman urged the people to bank on his record and as a man who was fully prepared for the job having done his home work on what a Senator was capable of attracting to his constituency.

“When I was appointed as the Special Adviser to Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrasaq on Health Matters, I was the only one that declared my asset and when I was leaving I also declared my asset.

He said he would be willing to declare his asset again once he was elected as the senator to represent the people

Lending his voice to Sulaiman’s candidacy, the SDP National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, called for support for the party’s senatorial candidate in Kwara South.

“We should support him so that he can come to the Senate. Please lobby for him and cast your vote for him.

Gabam said any complaint about the candidate’s misdemeanour after he must have won the election should be reported to the party and as the chairman and appropriate action would be taken.

“If there is any complain after electing our candidate as the Senator, you can report him to our party. The choice of Prof. Wake Sulaiman is the best,” the SDP Chairman added.

Mr Saheed Popoola, the SDP House of Representatives candidate for Offa, Oyun and Ifelodun, who accompanied Sulaiman to the meeting, urged the people to vote en mass for the candidate.

He said it should be replicated across board for all the candidates of the party, adding that this would bring real dividends of democracy to the district.

“We have been in so many parties but no dividends of democracy because of interest, now we are in SDP to bring real democratic dividends,” he said

He commended Sulaiman for his contribution to the district, adding that in spite of him not being a senator or holding any elective position, he had done eye operation for over 300 for the people. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Grace Yussuf

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Sokoto State All Progressives Council campaign team has reemphasised it’s commitment to embark on an electioneering campaign without violence in spite of alleged provocation by the opposition in the state.

Sen. Aliyu Wamakko gave the assurance in a statement by Dr Danladi Bako, the Chairman, Publicity, Sokoto State APC Campaign Council and member of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council Media Directorate, on Thursday.

Wamakko spoke to newsmen after a caucus meeting on the outcome of a briefing by the heads of security agencies with political parties in the state, attended by State APC Chairman, Isa Achida.

He rejected insinuations or allegations that the APC was responsible for the increased violent clashes and counter-clashes during political campaigns in the last one month within the state.

The former governor of Sokoto state reassured APC faithful , residents and the public of the party’s resolve to commit itself to a very peaceful electioneering campaign.

He called on the PDP to endeavour to disarm its youth wing and educate them on the need for peace and tranquility as we approached the general elections.

According to him, APC as a party is made up of decent and peace loving citizens, and encouraged all residents of Sokoto to abhor violence and embrace peace during “this period and in future”.

The caucus meeting was attended by the Director-General of the APC Campaign and Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi and other party bigwigs.

Violent clashes have become a regular occurrence within the state recently, prompting Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar to call on politicians to carry out their campaigns in a peaceful and violence-free environment. (NAN)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Sylvester Thompson

Junior Chamber International (JCI), a non-profit organisation of young people, have called on Nigerian youths to take responsibility during and after the general elections.

The President of the JCI, Mr Samuel Chinonyerem, made the call while addressing newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said that youths should also make it a duty to go and get their voter’s card and vote for their preferred candidates.

“We pray that government through the security agencies provide an enabling environment for peaceful elections.

“Politicians should desist from any act that will bring violence before, during and after the elections. Government of the people will emerge at the end of the 2023 elections,’’ he said.

The president said their prayers was predicated on the fact that, the relative peace t enjoyed in the country had been threatened by heightened insecurity.

He said that the heightened insecurity which cuts across all regions of the country, needed to stop for the country to experience economic growth.

Chinonyerem who further listed the causes of insecurity in the country, identified good governance as key to the solution.

He said having the right leadership in place would guarantee good governance and can only be possible if there was peace and security in country. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

By Douglas Okoro

Mr Nwachukwu Nwabueze, a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) in Ebonyi said Mr Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the LP and his running mate, Mr Yusufu Datti presidency, if elected, would be key to national rebirth.

Nwabueze stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abakaliki.

He described Obi as a ‘detribalised Nigerian whose commitment to Nigeria’s unity was the driving force behind his presidential aspiration.

The chieftain, who also is the National Chairman of Good Governance Initiative (GGI), a group committed to promoting credible, transparent and all-inclusive governance in Nigeria noted that Obi-Datti’s presidency would lead the nation to economic, social and political prosperity.

Nwabueze said: “Peter Obi’s presidency will be a liberator and it’s a presidency that will give birth to a new Nigeria, because his leadership will embrace Nigerians from across all economic, social and political strata.

“Obi-Datti presidency will enthrone good governance and alleviate the suffering of the people .

“There is a need for the citizens to vote for Obi who is an accomplished entrepreneur, who knows the plus and minus to move the country into prosperity.”

He said that to move the country from a consumption to a production economy, corruption would be first eliminated, stressing that it was one of the cardinal agenda of Obi, if elected.

Nwabueze said: ”You must first and foremost eliminate corruption before you can talk of production, because it is the money saved from the corruption that will be invested into the economy.

”So, we need a man who knows how to invest; we need a man who knows how to block the leakages in the national treasury to move to a more sustainable business environment.”

On the LP’s presidential rally slated for Ebonyi on Feb. 3, the chieftain said that the party’s leadership had made adequate arrangements to ensure its successful.

He called on the Ebonyi electorate to arm themselves with their permanent voter cards to be able to exercise their franchise on the election days.

Nwabueze said: “So, I advise all the eligible voters in Ebonyi that are yet to collect their PVCs to go and do so to be able to vote for the candidates of their choice.

“Our votes will count; INEC has assured us that votes will count,” he added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

============
Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Angela Atabo

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Wednesday unveiled Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed as its Vice-Presidential Candidate for the Feb. 25 general election.

Edozie Njoku, National Chairman, APGA, unveiled Mohammed at a ceremony on Wednesday in Abuja, naming Jonathan Elendu as Director-General, of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

Njoku commended the judiciary for finally resolving the party’s crisis, lauding the party loyalists that stood by the party.

He alleged that he was accused of so many things including forging a supreme court judgment and expressed happiness that truth had prevailed.

Njoku said that with the court judgement, it was left for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do the needful by recognising authentic APGA candidates, ahead of the general election.

“So I am pleading with the hierarchy of INEC to address this ,because if the right thing is not done, I assure you that after the election, there will be more suits on the basis of exclusion,” he said.

Njoku said that the party was ready to launch its campaign to win the 2023 election and called for support from Nigerians to make the nation better.

He expressed confidence in the party’s candidates and in its ability to serve justice to Nigerians and unify all.

Dr Chekwas Okorie, APGA, Presidential Candidate,said he consulted with the National Working Committee (NWC) and it was unanimously agreed that no person was better suited to pair him on the presidential ticket as VP than Mohammed.

Okorie said that Mohammed hailed from Borno and had a rich and impeccable profile and she was an accomplished personality with sound education and varied academic exposure.

“I am confident that as l march side by side with Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed to campaign across Nigeria our strong and progressive message shall resonate and introduce fresh and exciting narratives to our proposed governance agenda.

“This is if by the special grace of God Nigerians give us their mandate to preside over the affairs of our great country as President and Vice President, come May 29.

“It is also my singular pleasure to unveil at this occasion the Director General of our Presidential Campaign Organisation who prefers to be referred to as simply Jonathan Elendu.

” His rich profile that shows his wide experience and knowledge as a publisher, an author, poet and public affairs analyst both in Nigeria and many countries abroad has also been read to this distinguished audience,” he said.

Okorie said it was neither by design our desire that APGA was stepping into the campaign arena somehow late.

He said that it was public knowledge that on May 9 2022, the Supreme Court corrected a judgment it had delivered on Oct. 14 2021, which erroneously referred to the former National Chairman of the Party, Chief Victor Oye as National Chairman instead of Chief Edozie Njoku.

“Unfortunately, the parties adversely affected by the well-considered correction effected by the Supreme Court engaged in all manner of blackmail, subterfuge and malicious allegations.

“ As we speak, Chief Edozie Njoku has not only been affirmed but reaffirmed to the third degree by the Supreme Court of Nigeria as the authentic, indisputable National Chairman of APGA duly elected at the Party’s convention held at Owerri, Imo State, on May 31, 2019,” he said.

Okorie said it was after these series of affirmations by the apex court that APGA resolved that the time has become ripe for the authentic Candidates of the party to step into the arena of the 2023 general election to be counted.

Speaking, Mohammed commended AGPA for the opportunity to serve as its Vice-Presidential Candidate for 2023 general election.

“Fellow party members, ladies and gentlemen, with all humility, with all sense of responsibility as a daughter, a wife, a mother and grandmother, I accept the honour of being the Vice-Presidential candidate of our great party.

“On my honour, I hereby declare that I will follow where you lead. And I know that together as we campaign, our women, youths, and even men will see that APGA is the party for today and the future,” she said.

Mohammed said APGA had always proven that it respected gender equality in Nigerian political experiment.

She called on all Nigerian women to join APGA , vote for APGA to empower women and deliver good governance.

Mr Jonathan Elendu, Director General, Chekwas Okorie Presidential Campaign 2023 congratulated the party’s chairman and presidential candidate for the judicial victory.

Elendu said Nigeria required to be rescued from the clutches of effects of an unworkable coupling that had made development of the country and peoples almost a mirage.

“In the days and weeks ahead, we shall traverse the length and breadth of Nigeria to sell your message of hope, your vision of a new Nigeria, your formula for a renewed Nigeria.

“Nigeria will be a place where security of lives and property are not just mere words that have no resemblance to the reality of our lives,” he said.(NAN)(nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Archbishop of the African Church Province of Abuja, Peter Ogunmuyiwa, on Wednesday cautioned Nigerians against voting for candidate on the basis of religion in the 2023 general elections.

Ogunmuyiwa made the call at the Interfaith Peace Summit: Tips on 2023 General Elections, with the theme,” Prosecuting Peaceful Elections: Role of Faith Communities,” organised by the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, in conjunction with the NTA Abrahamic Mission, in Abuja.

Ogunmuyiwa said: ” Religion of a candidate should not be the basis for our choices at the forthcoming elections but their antecedents and commitment to the development of the country.

” The effects of bad governance are felt on all Nigerians, irrespective of their religion or ethnicity, poverty has no religion and friend as when we have bad leadership all of us Christians, Muslims and others eill suffer.

” Democracy thrives on diversity and our diversity and our religions should be something that we harness together.

“We therefore need to be wise this time around and make wise choices in the forthcoming elections.

” We need peace in Nigeria. We can’t afford religious crises or civil war any longer which ordinarily is always instigated by the sentiment of religion or tribes.”

On the Muslim-Muslim ticket, the archbishop said any religion’s person could be a President of Nigeria.

” I am not an advocate of Muslim-Muslim ticket but if para venture the ticket wins, it will mean that christians also voted for the ticket. So, it will make a lot for the stability of this country.

” It will means a lot to the ideology of Abrahimic mission and if it comes to be and there is peace in Nigeria, then that will suggest that a Christian supports the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“The forthcoming elections are very interesting and eventually the will of God will prevail.

“But the signal will be that God is interested in Nigeria which ever way the election goes.

Earlier, the Chief Iman of Al-Habibiyyah Mosque, Faud Adeyemi,said the NTA Abrahamic Mission programme was widely accepted and had a lot of impact in the lives of Nigerians.

” Then we decided to move forward to see what can we do to get it more impactful now that elections are here.

“We want to use that expose to be able to get to the people so that we do the right thing for ourselves during the forthcoming election.

” We all know that we are mostly religious people in this country and that is why we brought Muslim and and the Christian leaders to talk from their religious perspective what should we be doing now that election is by the corner.

” And as people who follow God injuctions what are the things we should do to ensure peaceful elections in the country? Adeyemi asked.

Also, the Iman of the Abuja National Mosque, Dr Kabir Mohammed, urged Muslims and Christians to embrace themselves and continue to live in peace and harmony before, during and after the elections.

Similarly, the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Garba Abari, said the agency was doing its best to instill positive attitude in the electorate to ensure peaceful polls.

Represented by Mrs Ebele Okonkwo, Assistant Director, Political and Civic Ethics and Values Department, Abari said the agency was also working to ensure that the election was all-inclusive.

This is by engaging women and the People with Disabilities to ensure that they are represented in the electoral process.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Habibu Harisu

The remains of late Aisha Maina, the Special Adviser on Female Education Board to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State had been buried on Wednesday in Sokoto.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Maina died on Tuesday at the Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto as result of complications related to suffocation sequel to a stampede shortly after the PDP presidential campaign rally.

The funeral was conducted according to Islamic rites at her residence in the 500 Kalambaina Housing Estate in Sokoto.

Funeral was attended by PDP gubernatorial candidate, Sa’idu Umar, his running mate, Sagiru Bafarawa and Director-General, PDP Campaign Council in the State, Yusuf Suleiman.

Other were: Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, Mr Usaini Gumel, as well as the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Sokoto State Council, Alhaji Dallhatu Safiyal-Magori.

Others were: The NAN Sokoto Zonal Manager, Habibu Harisus and a NAN Deputy Editor-in-Chief (DEIC), Bashir Rabe-Mani, among other dignitaries.

Umar said that Tambuwal was touched by the sudden death and he had wished to attend the funeral, but was unable to do so due to some unforseen circumstances.

He said Maina lived an exemplary life of humility, generousity and hard work, adding that she was a devout mother who was loved by all who interacted with her.

According to Tambuwal, Maina was one of the few women in the state that contributed towards building a greater place for the less-privileged persons.

“Also, she extended the frontiers of peace, unity and cohesion by participating actively in political orientation around the North and the nation in general.

Earlier, Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Sanusi Abubakar confirmed the death of one person due to congestion after the PDP presidential campaign rally and refuted rumours in circulation that five persons died.

Abubakar said there was no description of such incidents before, during and after the rally, adding, “everything ended peacefully.

“It was after all the dignitaries had left the venue that the police started receiving reports of a stampede involving some scavengers at the stadium.

“Unfortunately, some people among the few of those taking care of the items left behind at the facility were involved.

“Consequently, police and other security services’ quick reaction forces were deployed of which the crowd was dispersed and normalcy was restored.

“Sadly, we were told that among those affected who were taken to the hospital one was confirmed dead,” Abubakar said.

The PPRO added that the overall situation was being reviewed and thorough investigations would be carried out.

NAN recalls that the late Maina was a one-time Chairperson of NAWOJ in Sokoto State and a former Special Adviser, New Media to Tambuwal.

Edited by Fatima Sule Abdullahi/Bashir Rabe Mani

Prof. Shuaib Oba, Kwara NNPP Governorship Candidate 

By Ikenna Uwadileke

Emeritus Prof. Shuaib Oba, Kwara’s New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) governorship candidate, says politics should not be seen as a dirty game left to politicians alone if Nigeria is to be fully developed.

Oba, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, urged Nigerians, especially the youths, to be actively involved in party politics.

“Saying politics is a dirty game is wrong. Politics should be for the clean people as well, for us to reach the promised land,” the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin said.

Oba said that clean people should not leave politics for the dirty people.

He said, instead, they should be involved through active participation so as contribute to cleaning the Augean stable.

“If all clean people leave politics to dirty people, we will have a dirty nation of dirty people who will make dirty laws that will be obeyed by good people, whether they like it or not.

“So, if you are going to be a victim in that case, it’s only appropriate that good people should also take an interest.

“Politics is too serious to be left to politicians alone. If people of goodwill attempt damage control, people will appreciate it,” the NNPP governorship candidate said.

On why he joined NNPP to actualise his Kwara governorship ambition, Oba said it is because, among other things, the party is devoid of corrupt leaders and members.

“I joined NNPP because it has people who have a clean bill of health against corruption.

“Our presidential candidate, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso is one of those who have not been chased around by anti-corruption agencies in the country,” he said

Oba said part of his “The Strategic Action for Change in Kwara (SACK)” programme is zero tolerance for corruption and, in the process, inspires good governance.

He asserted that zero tolerance for corruption is achievable through value re-orientation and sensitisation of the public service, including strategic and innovative investments of workers’ pensions to assure geometric bumper return on investment that safeguards their future.

Oba said another way was  showing good leadership by example, whereby the leader would make it clear through his actions that he would not tolerate corruption.

“Waste reduction and elimination, as well as getting value for money, will go a long way in eradicating corrupt practices.

“Moreover, probity, the sanctity of property rights and good governance will inspire private sector confidence.

“These will also reduce transactional costs and attract excellent symbiotic public-private partnership investment that will unlock unparalleled socio-economic inclusive growth for Kwarans,” he said.

According to Oba, good governance is relatively inexpensive.

“Still, bad governance is destructive and has catastrophic intergenerational ramifications if not stemmed,” he said.

Oba promised that he would entrench good governance from the onset once he is sworn in as the next governor of Kwara. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng).

Edited by Razak Owolabi

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Coalition of Nigeria Muslim Women, on Wednesday urged the National Assembly to ensure the speedy passage of the bill seeking to institutionalise the use of hijab in schools.

Miss Amasa Firdause-Al-Jannah, Human Rights Officer of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), made the call at a news briefing to mark the 2023 World Hijab Day, held in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 1st Feb. of every year is marked as World Hijab Day worldwide to create awareness of the Muslim woman’s dress.

The day is also used to highlight its position, what it represents, galvanise support for its wearers, and campaign against its prohibition, castigation, or maltreatment of its wearer.

Firdause-Al-Jannah also stressed the need for NASS to pass laws that served the interest of all citizens and protect the rights and freedoms of all.

These freedoms include education, health, employment, finance, home ownership and careers regardless of what one wears.

” The House of Representatives introduced a bill seeking to institutionalise the use of hijab in schools.

” The bill titled ‘Religious Discrimination (Prohibition, Prevention) Bill, 2021’ is seeking to provide a mechanism for enforcing certain provisions of the Constitution and other international laws that recognise the right of a female to adorn hijab in public and private establishments in Nigeria.

She said:” Therefore, we urge you in strong terms, to speedily pass the ‘Religious Discrimination (Prohibition, Prevention) Bill, 2021.

“It passed its second reading in March 2021. The passage of this bill will surely be worthwhile for posterity.”

Firdause-Al-Jannah also said that the group would not relent in ensuring the enforcement of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the decided cases.

She added: ” We will continue to push forward and need all the support we can get from citizens, the three arms of government, media, religious leaders, traditional leaders, educational institutions, CSOs and all relevant bodies.

” The COVID-19 pandemic had truly changed the world’s perspectives and methods of virtually everything, including clothing.

” Now over 50 countries have made wearing the mask mandatory. We wait to see whether the strong objection in some climes, to face coverings by Muslim women will hold water in the near future.”

On her part, the National President, Sisters of Jannah, Ramatu Aliyu called on the Ministry of Education at the Federal and State levels to pay attention to the alleged recurring cases of ictimisation of students.

She urged: ” They should guarantee the sanctity of Nigerian laws of freedom of worship, association, and expression for all persons devoid of sentiment.

” Indeed, re-designing, re-calibrating, and refocusing policies, programmes, and interventions by institutions and authorities will only result in widespread success and impact.

” We ask that the Ministry takes decisive action by issuing and re-issuing circulars to these schools to remind and caution them to protect this right of girls and ladies to wear hijab in schools and Universities.”

Also, Salamatu Abubakar, a legal practitioner and a member of the coalition, call on the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to introduce an optional set of uniforms for Muslim female corps members that desire to appear in modest clothing.

According to her, the current dress kit issued to corps members needed to be reviewed to recognise the right of Muslim corps members to conform to their values.

Abubakar urged: “They should also set up a monitoring mechanism at orientation camps to ensure no corps member is denied the right to protect the sanctity of her beliefs by removing her hijab or being forced to wear items such as short nickers.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
reports the coalition was formed to promote and propagate issues of concern that affect the private and public life of women, especially Muslim women and girls. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani