By Alex Enebeli

The PDP governorship candidate in Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, has pledged to sustain the World Bank’s Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project.

Mbah, represented by the state Commissioner for Rural Development, Dr Kingsley Udeh, disclosed this in Enugu on Tuesday during the flag off ceremony of the implementation of “Women and Youths Empowerment Programme”, by Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

According to him, he will sustain various agriculture programmes by Gov. Ugwuanyi and also expand them to accommodate others who are not in the programme.

“In my manifesto, agriculture is one of my focal areas because it is part of the tools we use as government to fight poverty and create jobs for the teeming youths.

“By God’s grace, we will use it as a tool to lift a lot of people in the state from poverty because our target is to attain a zero per cent poverty rate in Enugu state, and that is achievable,” Mbah said.

He said he would partner international community, agric developing partners, both locally and internationally, to promote and improve agriculture in the state.

The PDP governorship candidate further said that he would pursue special agricultural processing zone, introduce technology for modern agriculture and reform agricultural system in the state.

He, however, congratulated the beneficiaries of the APPEALS project, especially women and youths.

“Please note that there are millions of people in Nigeria that cannot be beneficiaries but of course, based on various factors, including very stringent processes that are followed, you were selected.

“We believe that we will use this opportunity given to you to make the best out of your life, especially in the area that you have chosen in agriculture.

“You will not only feed yourself, you will feed the nation,” Mbah prayed for them.

He urged the beneficiaries to vote for him to sustain continuity in governance, saying,” What we are witnessing here today and the good work being done through APPEALS project, can be sustained.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Vincent Obi

By Taiye Olayemi

The Civic Consciousness Global Initiative (CCGI), a Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO), on Tuesday advised Nigerians to reject any inducement or coercion that would stop them from voting their conscience at the polls.

Rev. Solomon Aderibigbe, Chairman of CCGI, made the call during a press briefing in Lagos.

The briefing centred on “State of the Nation: Toward Making the Right Choices in the 2023 Elections”.

Aderibigbe noted that it had become pertinent to guide and counsel Nigerians on the quality of leaders they must vote for during the elections.

He said the electorate should cautiously consider candidates’ track record, especially how they fared on integrity scale and justice indexes.

‘Nigerians must be careful not to make mistakes of choices that will completely destroy their lives, constitutional rights and survival as a nation.

“We must also consider freedom of religion, commitment to secularity of the state, obedience to court rulings and provision of security to all in every part of the nation.

“Watch out for leaders whose body language is suggestive of division of the country.

“This particular election is very crucial for all citizens; we must all come out and should never allow apathy to deny us the right to choose our leaders in the next dispensation.

“This counsel is from us as elders giving our warning and advice. We feel obligated to do this,” he said.

Aderibigbe urged the coming government to take the plight of the poor passionately and change the old saying that “the poor get poorer while the rich get richer”.

He also advised the youths to focus on repositioning the nation and ignore every temptation to relocate abroad.

“It is time for us as the Church to speak with one voice and face same direction in the quest for justice, equity and fairness,” he said.

Earlier, Bishop Funso Awe, a retired priest of the Anglican Communion and the 2019 governorship candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in Lagos, had  said that the group was only speaking the mind of God to Nigerians.

According to him, sensitising Nigerians toward their social and political obligations was necessary as Churches have not been proactive about that over the years.

Dr Sunday Makinde, Prelate Emeritus of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, also advised the federal government to promptly wade into the suffering of the masses.

Makinde urged government to address issues like the hike in fuel price and scarcity of the product, limitied access to naira notes and other concerns.

He opined that the anomalies were  distractions ahead of the February elections.

“We pray that God will subdue all forms of distractions, vote inducements and all manners of suffering the masses are exposed to.

“This election can mar or make this nation, so we want Nigerians to be allowed to vote their conscience,” he said. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

By Oluwatope Lawanson

Yiaga Africa ,a civil society organisation, has advocated for affirmative action to be included to free Nigerian youths from financial burden in the highly monetised electoral ecology.

The call was made in a Research Report on ‘Youth Political Participation In Lagos”, launched by Yiaga Africa with the support of UKaid.

Speaking, Prof. Sylvester Akhaine of Lagos State University in his presentation of research findings on the level of youth participation in political affairs in Lagos state, said godfatherism, adultism, lack of proper information among others discouraged the youth from participating.

The don, a Professor of Political Science, said that youths do not need godfathers before they could participate in politics, rather, a mentor that could guide them in the  right direction due to their experiences.

According to him, it is one’s activities, commitment and participation that brings one out and makes one recognised and not the godfatherism thing.

He,  therefore, encouraged the youth to be more committed and consistent in order to make way for themselves in the political affairs of the nation.

Akhaine also called on all stakeholders to free the youth from the shackles of political slavery through policy advocacy, planning and sound decision making.

In his recommendation, he said the Federal Government should establish at all levels,  more agencies for the political socialisation of the youth.

“For example, the National Orientation Agency should impact the citizens in ways that can  enhance political awareness and inculcate civic responsibility in them.

“Government should establish more agencies or structures dedicated to political socialisation.

“While at state government, l recommend promotion at the level of State Houses of Assembly, the  ‘not- too-young- to-run law’ needs to be replicated at state level nationwide.”

On affirmative action, he advised on the need to create specific positions for youth in the hierarchy of public affairs to inspire them as successor generation.

According to him, affirmative action should include freeing the youth from financial burden in the highly monetised electoral ecology.

He added that government should create positions  dedicated to youth so as to facilitate their transition into the mainstream of governance in the country.

“Government must respect and promote rule of law for order and stability in the political system.

“If abidance by the rule of law is promoted, it will certainly break the strongholds in the way of youth participation in politics.

“The counterproductive role of adultism and godfathers will be a thing of the past,” he recommended.

Speaking, the All Progressives Congress Youth leader, Lagos state, Seriki Muritala, charged youths to follow people with remarkable track records for mentorship.

Muritala implored them to stop demanding for peanuts from politicians that do not mean well for them.

He encouraged them to be politically informed,  otherwise politicians would treat them as blind ambitious youth.

“The youth must get informed and follow people with credible reports.”

On his part, Emmanuel Olabisi, a member of the Obasa Youth Alliance urged youths to inculcate the idea of “not ready to fail” adding that they should be ready to take the bull by the horns.

Earlier, Mr Ezenwa Nwangwu, Board member, Yiaga Africa, called for a rejig of youth organisations like the National Youth Council and the National Association of Nigerian Students.

Nwangwu who is also the Chairman, Partners for Electoral Reform, tasked youths on making themselves relevant by taking responsibilities and making commitments to a course they believed in.

“They should stop following some politicians aimlessly looking for leftovers.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma

By Anita Osagiede

A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), National Interest Network (NIN) says it will do everything possible to ensure there is no vacancy for incompetent candidate in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.

Mr Johnson Da’ Silva, the National President of NIN, said this at a meeting in Abuja, where deliberation on how to throw their weight behind a presidential and other candidates.

He said that there was no vacancy for incompetent candidates and that they were not needed, no matter what they have done.

”Enough is enough’ in this country, where incompetent leaders are forced on the people.

“Every problem of Nigeria has been blamed on leadership and of course, its not too far from the truth and yet, instead of the emerging leaders to solve the Nigerian problems, they sometimes compound it.

“Come February and March, this body has shouldered itself with the responsibility to ensure that no incompetent candidate get into power.

“This we shall do by our votes and other legitimate medium and right Nigerians have,” he said.

Da’ Silva decried the state of insecurity in the country, adding that it had affected almost every facet of the citizenry national life, especially lives and poverty.

“Nothing to proud about or hold power for when people are dying of attacks, killing and going through kidnapping, poverty, and inflation on a daily basis,” he said.

He said that they were already mobilising the citizenry all over the country to ensure that the next Nigerian President was a competent candidate who would deliver.

According to him, the group would use the power of PVC to conquer the Nigerian enemies in the forth coming presidential election. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Isaac Aregbesola

By Naomi Sharang

Sen. Sabi Abdullahi, the National Coordinator, Project 774 for Tinubu/Shettima, says Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will clear Niger votes in spite of disruption of the support group’s rally in New Bussa, Borgu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
He said this when he spoke with newsmen after series of Tinubu/Shettima rallies in different locations in New Bussa on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Tinubu/Shettima rally was originally billed for New Bussa Township Stadium, but the venue was blocked by security agents forcing the organisers to adopt a new strategy.

Abdullahi, also Senate Deputy Whip expressed shock at the development.

“I have no explanation as to why force and power were unleashed on my efforts for the party. But I take it in good faith and leave it to God,” Abdullahi said.

He added that rally held in New Bussa had put to rest the purported claim that he had defected to another party.

“I have never gone out of APC. But some people out of mischief have come out to say that I’m not in APC.

“By the Grace of God, we will all vote for Tinubu and Shettima and all APC candidates in the coming election,” he said.

Abdullahi faulted claims by the police that the venue was blocked for fear of security breach.

“If there was going to be any security breach, I think the method we adopted today would have been the method where security breach would have been easy.

“What we saw today is love for me. I have addressed them to support all APC candidates, including in Niger North Senatorial District and they all agreed.

“This campaign was for my party. As a party man, I know the right thing to do. We had written to the state party chairman; we wrote all the zonal and local government party chairmen.

“I have done what I was expected to do by law and as a party man,” he said.

Abdullahi, who represents Niger North at the National Assembly, said he was using the platform to galvanise support for his party.

He added that all indices showed that Tinubu would win the presidential election.

“Bola Tinubu will not fail. He has proven beyond reasonable doubt that he is prepared and ready and he is waiting for that time for God to confirm this mandate.

“I don’t have any doubt. The indices and inductors show he is a better candidate,” he said. (NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Lateef Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says the amendment of the Electoral Act, has enhanced Nigeria’s electoral processes and placed it among the best in the world.

Fagbemi stated this in a keynote lecture title, Nigeria: Within the compass of the 2023 General Elections, at a public lecture in honour of Muslim brothers who were recently elevated and sworn-in as SAN, in Abuja on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture was organised by the FCT Chapter of Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN) at the Auditorium of the Abuja National Mosque.

He said that if all provisions of the electoral act, 2022 were implemented, Nigerians would enjoy the exercise of their franchise before and after the 2023 General Election and the country would be better for it.

” The technological advancement, especially the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines can be said to have taken Nigeria a step closer to a perfect election and indeed, better choice of leaders, if people exercise their franchise without prejudice or primordial consideration.

” BVAS is now like a gateway that interrogates a prospective electorate to determine whether such is eligible to vote since accreditation of voters is solely based on same unlike in the past where is a footprint of every voter and can actually be explained if the need arises.

” BVAS also shuts the door on the era of unexplained over voting and other issues related to inconsistencies in number of voters. Furthermore, with the electronic transmission of votes, challenges like ballot box snatching and interception of ballot box papers have been addressed,” he said.

The SAN also said that the act would ensure more sanity and transparency in the electoral process leading to the 2023 General Election.

” The compass of the 2023 election in the face of the electoral act, 2022 promises a good destination for Nigeria, or at least, a good start.

” However, Nigeria has never been short of good or appropriate laws. The enforcement and interpretation by the court are also issues that must be given the desired attention. Given that laws do not interpret or enforce themselves,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the recently inducted SANs, former Gov.Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State, said the title of the lecture was very apt considering election was around the corner.

” I must thank the leadership of the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, for deemed it fit to first and foremost for honouring us with this public lecture which is very educative.

” Legal practice is a profession I choosen for myself for many years ago. In fact it was a childhood ambition. I have virtually been in every sector of the legal profession and I rose through the ranks in the Bauchi State Ministry of Justice until I became a Director of Public Prosecution and ultimately the Antony General of Justice of Bauchi state,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by legal practitioners from within and outside the nation’s capital. (NAN)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Adeyemi Adeleye/Grace Alegba

The Directorate of Professional Women, Independent Campaign Council (ICC) of the APC Presidential Candidate Committee, Lagos State, on Monday urged technocrats to get actively involved in the nation’s electoral process toward choosing credible leaders.

The Director, TinubuShettima/Sanwo-OluHamzat, ICC, Dr Atinuke Owolabi, made the call at a news conference in Lagos.

She urged technocrats to support the APC Presidential Candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu and re-election of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu because of their track records of empowering professionals.

Owolabi, a professional engineer, called on all professionals, elites and intellectuals “to come out and join in this race; do all we can to win together”.

“We are first and foremost women but then we have an edge. We have been groomed; we have been refined; we have paid our dues in our different fields of endeavor; and thus we are rightly called professional women.

“The task before us is big and important. It behooves on us to make a difference and steer the ship of our nation in the right direction.

“As enormous as it may seem, our task is yet a simple one. All we need do is to participate, getting intentionally involved,” Owolabi said.

According to her, for a very long time the elites in the nation, the professionals, the intellectuals, have not been as involved as they should be when it comes to politics and electioneering process.

She added: “This time around, we will not only make our voices heard, we are going to leverage on our areas of influence to convince people and get them to also participate and get them to be part of this process.

“However, we have gone too far as a nation to start afresh or even make more costly mistakes.

“We not only encourage our people to participate, we will encourage them to choose right because if we lose this opportunity before us, it may take many years to get another. That is if we ever do.”

Stressing the need to support Tinubu, Owolabi, described the APC candidate as a builder.

She said: “He has built great leaders; he has built bridges across the nation; he played a significant role in building Lagos and making Lagos what it is today, the envy of other states.

“We have practically seen what he has done and what he can do.

“Let us all be part of positive history as we bring in our expertise and our experiences to support this great man who has volunteered to give us a renewed hope as a nation.

“Today, as professionals in different fields, we are using this medium to encourage professionals alike, not to just sit on the fence, we encourage you to be a part of this process and together we make Nigeria great.”

Owolabi called on technocrats to also re-elect Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his right hand genius, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, urging the technocrats to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) before INEC deadline.

She said, “If the artisans and traders take it upon themselves to get their PVCs, how much more an elite?”

Owolabi said that anyone who failed to vote in the forthcoming elections did not have rights to complain.

She said that the directorate would be the voice for the professionals and would embark on door-to-door campaign to different estates across the three senatorial districts, sensitising people of PVC collection.

“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.

“Let us all vote like our rights depend on it as our vote is our voice as professionals.

“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter to our great nation,” Owolabi said.

The event had in attendance directors in the directorate and the leadership and members of many professional groups. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Adeleye Ajayi