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Kaduna Guber ; Apostle Kure Urges Voters To Vote For Peace, Unity and Love

By Mike Odeh James

Chairman, Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Forum ( SKCLA) and former National Secretary of Pentecostal Feliowship of Nigeria (PFN),

Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Nuhu Kure has appealed for calm during the forthcoming Governorship and House of Assembly elections holding on 11th March 2023.

He said in a statement on Wednesday that Muslim and Christian brothers should vote with one voice to break that wall and bring back the God of Love to Kaduna state.

He said “I passionately and desperately appeal to all citizens of Kaduna State as we approach the elections on Saturday to vote against that WALL that has sown enmity, distrust, fear, and very unhealthy and bloody rivalry between the northern and southern Kaduna, separated people of faith even from within same religions.”

“The last eight years has caused so much pain and confusion for most of the state and even more for one part. Unfortunately the secret campaigns to the elections still carry the same messages of fear, lies, seeds of division, blackmails, inducements and strange promises of all sorts.”

“I plead with my Muslim and Christian brothers, let’s vote with one voice to break that WALL and bring back the GOD OF LOVE to the state.”

“The last eight years has sown so much hatred even among people of same religion that I fear that another four or eight of that will be the end of the state. And will impact greatly on or shake up this country, taking past precedence into account.”

“Both religions have prayed and fasted for a better future, let us please with one voice vote together to remove that past on Saturday.Let’s start a healing season and process.”

“Let’s not play politics of sentiments this Saturday, let’s vote for unity, survival, and justice for all as our Holy Books command and our religions advocate. That is if we still believe in God and the Holy Books. God will hold us religious leaders accountable for destroying this nation.”

“We did not see unity in the last eight years. Let’s bring back God’s love to Kaduna State. Let Kaduna State become the epic reference center of the north again. Is this -God’s Will- too much to ask the people of the books? Let’s vote a government that will break this wall. Again with a broken heart and cry to God, I appeal to you, let’s bring a government that will bring down this wall.”

“WHOEVER WINS BY GOD’S GRACE MUST BRING DOWN THIS WALL, HEAL WOUNDS AND RESTORE CONFIDENCE AMONG ALL IN THE STATE.”

“May God bear witness this day that somebody spoke out for God and for ALL religious leaders who still fear God by the Holy Books. And for the many blood of the innocent that Kaduna State has swallowed or may continue to swallow if we make a mistake on Saturday,” Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Nuhu Kure,the Vision Pioneer, Throneroom Trust Ministry and co-Chair, House of Kaduna Family has said.

EXPOSED: Fintiri’s dubious political deals to retain power at all cost

~ How gov cunningly blindfolded Ribadu, CAN, Atiku, Tukur, Aisha Buhari into supporting his second term bid

By Dahiru Sani

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s foxy political scheming to retain power at all cost come March 11, 2023 governorship election has been unveiled. In one of the most diabolic political maneuvers in history, the governor has deceptively lured even his arch political rivals and opponents into supporting his second term bid.

Findings by this paper indicated that the governor is cunningly using a double-edged snare and fake promises to entrap his unsuspecting political preys into his booby trap.

Information available to this paper indicated that the governor has through the dubious promises cajoled a number of political gladiators with a promise to anoint them as his successors if they support his second term ambition

Some of the governor’s victims according to sources close to the politicians include, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, Aisha Buhari, Atiku Abubakar, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and his close associates, professor Liman Tukur and Awwal D. Tukur.

Multiple sources close to the seat of power disclosed that Fintiri has enlisted the support of Nuhu Ribadu into his second term project by promising to handover power to him at the end of his second tenure.

In the same vein, the governor also made former vice president Atiku Abubakar to believe that he will handover power to his first son, Adamu Atiku Abubakar upon the expiration of his second tenure.

The governor has also allegedly promised CAN of anointing a Christian as his successor so as to curry their favour in the coming election and at the same time promised to anoint professor Liman Tukur as well as Awwal D. Tukur as his successors.

This paper learnt that energized by such promises all the affected persons and groups are reportedly working round the clock to ensure the victory of Fintiri come March 11, guvernorship election in the state.

A source with latest information about the governor’s recent deals with Ribadu told our reporter that the governor used a senior APC stalwart from Ganye local government to convince Ribadu to key into his reelection bid with the promise that the gesture will be requited in 2027.

The source said in order to maintain fidelity to the deal, it was agreed that the governor will return to the APC after winning his second term bid so as to create the necessary atmosphere for the smooth handing over of power to Ribadu in 2027.

It was also agreed that upon defection to the APC, Fintiri will also forward the name of one of Aisha Buhari’s brothers who once aspired to lead the state as minister designate from Adamawa State.

Some of the terms of agreement according to our sources include deployment of huge sums of money to get a section of the APC machinery in Adamawa State to work against the interest of the guvernorship candidate of the party, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani.

The plan according to the source will entail the deployment of huge sums of money to ensure APC supporters dump their candidate and support the aspiration of governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

In order to be on the safe side, the Nuhu Ribadu camp has reportedly demanded that a document containing the terms of the deal should be sealed as the camp is said to be wary of Fintiri especially in view of the fact that he has once betrayed an agreement with Nuhu Ribadu in the aftermath of governor Murtala Nyako’s impeachment.

“Accordingly, the governor of Jigawa state Mohammed Badaru Abubakar as well as his counterpart of Zamfara State Bello Matawalle have been chosen to witness the deal so as to prevent a possible backlash and perfidy by Fintiri,” our sources disclosed.

According to insiders, the deal will be implemented at the national and state levels. The operation at the national level is aimed at convincing the president elect, Bola Tinubu to accept the deal as the most expedient thing to do rather than allowing the party to lose election in the state.

The second operation will be done at the state level and will be spearheaded by the organizing secretary of the party, Mustapha Atiku Ribadu who will ensure that the party structure at the state level works against the ambition of Binani. It is said that Mustapha Ribadu has been carrying out his part of the deal as he was said to have unleashed a serious media war against the candidate of his party.

It is also revealed that in a bid to warm his way into the heart of former vice president Atiku Abubakar, governor Fintiri has also promised to make Adamu the heir apparent to the Dougirei government house in 2027.

Information pieced together by this paper revealed that the outcome of the just concluded presidential election in Adamawa State has shocked the governor to his marrows as he never envisaged even in his wildest imagination that Atiku will sweep the state in the manner he did.

Initially, Fintiri had envisaged that Atiku will lose the state to Tinubu as he thought the Muslim-Muslim ticket will receive overwhelming support of the Hausa/Fulani stock. However, the permutations somehow changed due to the belief that the Hausa/Fulani whose votes are predominantly for Buhari decided to go against the APC due to fuel scarcity and naira redesign policy which exposed people to harsh economic realities. Another reason for the overwhelming victory of Atiku has to do with the tacit endorsement of Atiku by the pro Buhari establishment who worked hard to ensure the defeat of the presidential candidate of the APC in Nigeria.

It is believed that out of the four hundred thousand votes garnered by Atiku in the presidential polls, about three hundred thousand came from the Hausa/Fulani establishment while about one hundred thousand came from the core PDP constituencies.

With this unsettling realization, it dawned on Fintiri, that Aisha Binani, his major opponent may coast to victory on a platter of gold as most of the three hundred thousand votes which came from the APC constituency will naturally go to her. And with the mutual distrust between him and Atiku, his only saving grace is to ensure being on the side of the Waziri of Adamawa.

Information available to us indicated that Fintiri who at best of times kept the former vice president at arms length suddenly became extremely loyal as he became very close to the former vice president. To even nudged the loyalty further, Fintiri was one of the seven PDP governors who filed a lawsuit to the supreme court challenging INEC over superficial conduct of the presidential and national assembly elections as they claimed the election was massively rigged.

Sources with the know how of happenings in the Atiku camp are wary of the latest antecedents of the governor and refused to be swayed by Fintiri’s renewed show of loyalty towards Atiku. A number of Atiku’s close lieutenants like Baba 10 have been vociferous in their opposition towards the governor’s second term ambition despite his open show of remorse and embrace of Atiku.

Similarly, Alh. Babangida Bushiyare, a trusted ally of the villa cabals who supported Atiku with all their might in a radio program said his group is fully mobilizing for Binani as revenge for Gov. Fintiri’s loyalty to Nyemson Wike instead of Waziri.

Again with the promise that he will anoint others, to occupy the plum seat, the question that readily comes to mind is the fate of Professor Liman Tukur whom the governor promised to make his successor when he assumed power in 2019.

Snippets and anecdotes about relationship between Fintiri and Professor Liman Tukur reveal that in the run up to the 2019 general election, Professor Liman Tukur enlisted the support of his brother Hassan Tukur to bankroll governor Fintiri’s ambition to rule the state with a promise to also handover power to Liman Tukur in 2027 after serving for eight years. In the same breadth, feelers from the Dougirei government house indicated that after he lost out with the Bamanga Tukur’s family following his failure to give Awwal D. Tukur the Adamawa central senatorial ticket, Fintiri has promised to compensate the family by making Awwal the next governor when he will exit the government house in 2027.

Again the promise which Fintiri made to CAN that he will anoint a Christian to succeed him is an open secret. The governor according to informed sources has sealed a pact with the christian community to the effect that he will ensure that a Christian succeeds him in 2027.

Like the case of Nuhu Ribadu, the christians also struct some bargains with the governor to ensure that they are not shortchanged. Part of the bargains entered stipulated that CAN will dissuade christians from getting into the guvernorship contest even in the small political parties so that the christian votes can go to Fintiri in block. That deal according to feelers is also responsible for the open declaration of support that CAN chairman in Adamawa State Bishop Dami Mamza accorded Fintiri.

In turn, the governor also promised to give christians more considerations in the implementation of some critical policies like employment, and award of scholarships and other very critical endeavours.

As the election draws nearer, the question on the lips of many is how does Fintiri intends to escape the snare of the Frankenstein monster he has delusionally created unscathed? Only time will tell.

Bauchi: Again Bala Will Win

By Abdul-Azeez Suleiman

The 2023 governorship race in most states feels like the most intense and controversial election to have ever been seen. And there’s plenty of action in races down ballot, too. This however, may not be the case in Bauchi State where the contest could be a workover for incumbent Governor Bala Abdukadir Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party who is challenged by a weak All Progressives Congress candidate, Sadique Abubakar, a former Chief of Air Staff.It looks like voters in Bauchi will have two distinct choices for governorship on March 11, each with his own personal traits and his own take on things. The two may have certain views in common, but each candidate has his own unique style and character.Siddique for instance, will be going into the fight from the position of obvious weakness having been far removed from the reality of the ordinary people of the state for much too long. And this is the constituency from where bulk of the winning votes are extracted.Saddique Abubakar is already having an uphill task relating with, and canvassing for votes at the grassroots, something that Bala Mohammed has been doing for long, including passing nights in communities while on campaigns. He also needs to work to gain the lost confidence of Islamic groups in the state who are powerful deciders in the governorship elections of Bauchi, as well as the Christian communities both of which Bala Mohammed has effectively done already. The religious leaders and groups are influential in the politics of the state because they have the pulpits and platforms to reach a large audience and send messages within a short time. Yet the APC candidate has not sufficiently utilised this platform with his refusal to visit them and it will seriously count against him going into the polls. Another weakness for Siddique Abubakar is that the electorate lament that he does not have a single project to show apart from the Airforce base and school he influenced to be sighted in Bauchi. He will therefore have a Herculean task to prove to the people of Bauchi State how he can be reliable when he becomes governor. Another major hinderence to Siddique’s chances of becoming governor is the issue of his identity with many in the Katagum zone where he hailed from disputing the claim he is really their son.Bala Mohammed on the other hand, has established himself as an experienced politician since 2007 when he first burst into the limelight by defeating then-incumbent governor, Adamu Mu’azu to become a senator. Since then, he has fought and won many political battles including a failed recall by his constituents, before being appointed minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by President Goodluck Jonathan. In 2019, he went into one of his toughest battles and defeated a sitting Governor. In the the current contest, Governor Mohammed, at the risk of overstating the obvious, has several strength factors going in his favour that are certain determinants to his success.In this regard, Bala will intimidate his challenger with the volumes of projects he has executed in the past three and a half years as governor. This is a major plus for the governor who has been widely praised for developing infrastructure across the state as has never been seen before within a short period of governance. Another area of advantage that Governor Mohammed will also bank on, is his excellent relationship with religious groups and traditional rulers in the state, which he established after his election in 2019. This cordial relationship with groups has been sustained by his administration as the 2023 general election draws closer. Recently, the Izala group came out to openly appreciate Governor Mohammed for doing a lot for them. The group said the governor built schools and mosques for them. The Christian Association of Nigeria also openly appreciated the governor for building churches for Christians in the state. The Christian body led its members in the state on December 26, Boxing Day to the Government House, to register appreciation to him, singing solidarity songs during the visit. The governor will reap immensely from this relationship with various groups in the state who won’t disappoint him when they cast their votes. Positively too, such groups would mobilise their members to vote for him.Beyond these obvious factors running in Bala’s favour, there are also a number of qualities or characteristics that make him a good candidate. Here’s a small sample of Bala’s personal characteristics that are relevant determinants in the contest for the Bauchi government house.According to experts on behavioural science, if we were to do a simple opinion poll, we will find that voters tend to often differentiate candidates in terms of their personal qualities. Why? Because character traits are deemed important. As is well known, a trait is an attribute associated with an individual. In other words, it’s the behavioural characteristics that can often be observed in a person.Most often, casual political conversations with neighbours and friends turn on the candidates’ personalities and believe it or not, when pressed to explain why someone supports Bala Mohammed, people often cite his personal attributes as a central reason.Some will say, “It is very simple, actually. He comes across as an honest and trustworthy person.” Another person may be more nuanced and say, “I don’t necessarily agree with him on all of the issues… I just want to see an honest candidate like him.”Fire in the bellyThis term, used in political circles to describe someone who has a desire to win and is willing to overcome obstacles, is one of Bala Mohammed’s major attributes.Someone who has “fire in the belly” always make a good candidate, especially if like Bala, he also has the courage to make unpopular decisions and demonstrate integrity and leadership in crisis management. At the same time, voters will expect stability and compassion from their chosen candidate which Bala possesses abundantly.Willingness to servePublic service, according to Bala’s perception, is about serving the needs of the people above the needs of one’s self which is why he shows compassion and inspires hope and is willing to serve and to lead. As a servant leader, Bala serves the better good of the people and the state, not the best interests and desires of himself.Hard workingRunning for the highest office in the land is not easy. A campaign will drain you of your energy and spare time, the realization that prepared Bala to always rise early and stay up late to get the job done. Bala Mohammed and his running mate have been doing exactly that for years. Ability to connect to votersBala has amply proven his ability to speak in public and be able to articulate a message, even in the face of adversity. He knows how to appeal to voters and rally them behind a common cause with a clear message. It is obvious that no candidate will be able to agree with all the voters. However, Bala happens to be willing at all times to listen to all sides of an issue, and is able to communicate effectively and connect with supporters and opponents.Knowledge of the issuesHe has proper understanding of national and local issues that are important to all groups in the society such as senior citizens, farmers, small businesses, worship centers, etc in addition to experience in running a campaign and knowing how to attract new and/or undecided voters. Hopefully, this will help the candidate and his political party to develop or formulate a strong vision of the Bauchi State’s future.On a separate and final note, it occurs to me that another simpler and more subjective set of criteria that you could apply well to both Bala and Siddique without bothering to look at which colour or party they each stand for, is ask yourself, which of them would be: more approachable, more experienced and more effective?Good luck, vote well and may the best person wins.

Suleiman, a journalist, wrote from Abuja

Gov’ship election: Avoid stories capable of triggering political crisis – CAN, JNI appeal to Kaduna journalists

From Mike Odeh James Kaduna

Ahead of the March 11 governorship and states assembly elections in 28 States including Kaduna, the leaderships of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) have appealed to journalists practicing in Kaduna State to avoid promoting stories that are capable of triggering political violence.

The two religious bodies and other partners appealed at a one-day interactive session organised by Global Peace Foundation-Nigeria (GPFN) in collaboration with Big Minds Communications Consult (BMCC) and Corespondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Chapter.

Apart from being the third largest state after Lagos and Kano, Kaduna is one of the Northern states that has recorded the highest number of political violence that has claimed several lives and destruction of properties, especially during the 2011 post-election unrest.

Chairman of CAN in the State and Country Director, GPFN, Reverend Joseph Hayab while delivering his keynote address on “Peaceful Election in Kaduna State with Gubernatorial Candidates” from religious and political perspectives said, media and journalists are key in having peaceful elections in the State.

“To conduct credible, free, and fair elections that would usher in the kind of leaders that the Nigerian public desires, the role of the media is substantial and that leads me to appeal to journalists at this crucial moment, especially in Kaduna state, a state that has experienced devastation in the aftermath of elections in the past, to report in a manner that douses any rising tension than to add to the flames of an already a volatile situation with sensational reporting.

“As it stands, Saturday 11th March 2023 is the day slated for the next election and the governorship vote is considered closer to the people and may attract more attention than the presidential held on 25th February 2023.

“Given the sensitivity of Kaduna state and the resulting experiences of religious tensions in the past, GPFN is calling on Kaduna state people to make use of this election to unite and respect each other’s rights and freedom of choice”, Hayab said.

Also speaking, Secretary, JNI, Kaduna State Chapter, Ibrahim Kefena urged journalists not to create unnecessary political tension in the State because God already knows who will win no matter the circumstances that may play up.

He said, “already, God has decided who will be the governor of Kaduna State. So, why should we fight over an election that God has already concluded even before we go to the polls?

“Journalists should not create tension in the state. I hope whoever emerges the next governor on Saturday should be left to God to judge if he fails to do justice to all of us.

“We are hoping we will have peaceful elections. We hope this and other engagements that have been coming up we help us to have a peaceful election in the state”, he added.

Engaging colleagues on the revised media code for election coverage, a former Director General (Media) to a former governor, Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki recounted how about 800 people lost their lives while about 65,000 others were displaced due to the 2011 post-election crisis in Northern Nigeria with Kaduna topping the list.

He urged media platforms to ensure equitable access to all contenders irrespective of whether they are contesting on a major or minor political party.

According to him, when access is given to a candidate and the same was not given to the other, “it is a breeding ground for conflict which media and journalists must avoid as captured in the first and most important portion of the revised code.

“Again, the media must practice social responsibility. As a journalist, you are first a Nigerian before you are a journalist and so, you must promote peace at all times because conflict doesn’t know who is a journalist and who is not. You must ensure fairness, balance, and accuracy in your report. You must not report an issue that will generate conflict”, he said.

Earlier, the Chairman, Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, Abdulgafar Alabelewe said, “this programme was put together to refresh our memories as journalists on the need to promote peace as we approach the 2023 governorship and state assembly elections.

“Though promotion of peace is entrenched in the journalism code of ethics and even in our formal training, we cannot underestimate the need for fora like this to remind ourselves of our roles as nation builders.

“Without wanting to preempt the guest speakers, I want to call on my colleagues in Kaduna state to be conscious of the volatility of our dear state and avoid reportage that is capable of setting the state ablaze”.

Timi Frank Urges INEC Chairman, Yakubu To Resign

A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Monday, called on the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to as a matter of urgency resign of his appointment or President Muhammadu Buhari should do the needful by relieving him of his position for conducting the worst ever rigged election in the history of Nigeria.

He called on President Buhari to be courageous enough to sack Professor Yakubu for bringing shame and opprobrium to the country by declaring highly compromised and heavily doctored results as an outcome for the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections

Frank who made this call in a statement in Abuja, said it is high time the INEC boss resigned because Nigerians have lost total confidence on him.

“We are supposed to be the light and example in Africa but with the dismal conduct of INEC and its officials during the last Presidential and National Assembly elections, other countries in the continent absolutely have nothing to learn from us because of what Yakubu and INEC have done,” he said.

He insisted that despite the avalanche of facts of rigging and manipulation that characterised the Presidential and National Assembly elections available in huge volume of videos, audios and documentary evidences yet Yakubu went ahead to declare the APC’s Presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as winner.

He said:“Nigerians have lost confidence in Yakubu. His words and his promises mean nothing. He has started again by promising free and fair governorship and State Assembly elections but Nigerians are no fools because they know he will do exact the opposite.

“Prof. Yakubu has shown himself to be a practical disgrace to Nigeria and has brought shame, disgrace and embarrassment to Nigerians in the global community. Today, Nigeria is now a laughing stock among members of the international community.

“Even in 1993 without the use of technology, Nigeria conducted an election adjudged as the freest and fairest ever. But in an age of advanced technology like internet and BIVAS in 2023, Yakubu chosed to compromise the oath of his office and obviated every truth and betrayed the confidence reposed in him by Nigerian taxpayers.

“Even at that time, the then Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, was asked to stop announcing results by then Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, but he continued because he stood on the platform of truth and living conscience.

“This is why he needs to urgently resign or President Buhari should show capacity to throw him out.”

He called on the academia to strip Prof. Yakubu of his professorship rank because he has brought shame to that highly revered and top echelon of the academic community and scholars.

Yakubu has failed to project the academia in good light through personal probity, integrity and fidelity to his promises and sacred trust of the people

Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, also urged the International Community to review and reverse all his current VISA status.

He enjoined them to do the needful by canceling all visas he presently holds and never give him opportunity to visit any of the developed countries like United States, United Kingdom or any member countries of the European Union.

He said that the election conducted by Yakubu has failed to meet international threshold of transparency and credibility and all friends of Nigeria must of necessity denounce it.

For instance, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard in a statement on Sunday unequivocally stated that it is clear that the electoral process as a whole on February 25 failed to meet Nigerians’ expectations.”

She added that while “many citizens are angry and frustrated with the results, some others are celebrating victories, they believe were hard-fought and well-earned.”

He added: “We also use this opportunity to call on international community especially the US, UK, EU and other international institutions not to recognize the outcome of the rigged and fraudulent elections conducted on February 25, 2023.

“This is the time Nigerians expect the international community to prioritize the interest of Nigeria first before their own interest in order to save our democracy.

“In this wise, they must not recognize the APC’s purported President-elect until the final outcome of the cases in court.”

“We still use this opportunity to call on the judiciary to remove Nigeria from this shame through truthful, fact-based and unbiased judgement on the post election cases soon to be instituted before the Election Petition Tribunals and the appellate courts.”

Timi Frank hails judiciary for overruling Buhari On Legality Of Old Naira notes

*Urges them to save democracy by siding with the law in 2023 election petition cases

*Says Nigerians heartbroken, agitated, angry, frustrated because INEC raped, murdered democracy

A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Sunday, commended the Supreme Court for overriding President Muhammadu Buhari on the legality and validity of the old Naira notes of N200, N500 and N1,000.

Frank in a statement in Abuja, however called on the judiciary to leverage the same patriotic courage it demonstrated in reversing the ban on old Naira notes in dispensing substantial Justice in the several election petition cases to be brought before them soon.

He said Nigerians are heartbroken, agitated, angry and frustrated because INEC raped and murdered democracy in the country on February 25, 2023.

He lamented that some of the rulings emanating from the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court in recent times brought shame to the entire country.

According to him, “Some of the Supreme Court’s ruling in recent time have made Nigerians to lose hope in the judiciary especially the one that awarded Senatorial tickets to Akpabio and Lawan who never participated in senatorial primary in their respective constituencies.

“How can Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senate President Ahmad Lawan be made candidates overnight by the apex court and today they claim to have been elected as Senators?”

Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, reminded the Judiciary that Nigerians have since lost hope on them as they believe they already know how the courts will rule on the various post election cases to be filed before them.

He called on the judiciary especially the Supreme Court to rise up from its ashes of partisanship and servile disposition to the APC and seize the opportunity by the present political conundrum to reset its image and do the needful courageously.

He urged the Judiciary to know that this is not the time to again sell justice to the highest bidder, saying, “they must redeem their image by ensuring that justice is done and seen to be done to the election petition cases now being brought before it.”

He urged the Judiciary to note that even the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, admitted that issues of logistics, election technology (BIVAS), the behaviour of some election personnel at different levels, marred the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

He insisted that this a clear indication that INEC failed woefully in its duty to deliver credible elections nor use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to conduct the elections in line with its guidelines.

He said: “This is the justice that Nigerians are asking for. INEC has failed and we urge the judiciary to so hold that INEC violated its own guidelines and did not comply with the Electoral Act and its guidelines.”

He insisted that the present case is unique in the sense that Nigerians have continued to cry out that their votes have been stolen and their mandate denied.

“Both international and local observers have agreed with them that the election was marred by massive irregularities and rigging. They equally berated and scored INEC low for not adhering to the law and its own guidelines.

“It is equally obvious that INEC failed to follow its guidelines and promise to transmit election results from the polling units to its server in real time.

“All over Nigeria, evidence abound in video, audio and hard copy formats showing how the results of the elections were falsified to favour the ruling APC.

“We believe that Nigerian Judges and Justices of the Appeal and Supreme Courts were in this country when the Presidential and National Assembly Election was conducted.

“Besides, we believe that Nigerian Judges and Justices read newspapers and listen to news on radio and television, therefore, they cannot claim to be unaware of Electoral heist that was perpetrated during the last election.

“It now behooves on the judiciary to review the facts that would be presented before them by aggrieved political parties, sift them to determine the truth and rule to uphold Justice, stability, peace and democracy in the country.

“Now that the cases will be coming before them, Nigerians are hopeful that they will use the same patriotic courage to rule in favour of the over 30 million Nigerians who voted during the last election in order to make their votes count.

“We saw how the Judiciary in Kenya rose up and sided with the yearnings and aspirations of the people when it annulled a rigged presidential election and ordered for a fresh one.

“We are calling on the Nigerian Judiciary to equally be courageous enough to declare the actual winners of the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections as duly elected.”

Northern movement hails Lalong for APC’s victory, congratulates Tinubu

The Northern Nigerian Movement for Asiwaju has congratulated the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his overwhelming victory in the just concluded presidential election.

This was contained in a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Dr Mohammed Attahiru in Abuja on Wednesday.

They praised the Plateau State Governor and Director General, Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Organisation, Simon Bako Lalong, for his commitment in ensuring the victory of Asiwaju against all odds.

According to the group, the overwhelming victory of Asiwaju Tinubu after polling over 8 million votes in a keenly contested election showed that the president-elect remains the preferred choice of Nigerians.

Tinubu, a former Lagos State Governor was declared winner of the presidential elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the early hours of Wednesday after polling the highest votes at the polls and meeting other requirements for the elections.

Attahiru expressed deep optimism that the emergence of Tinubu as Nigeria’s next president at this auspicious period of the nation’s life, signifies dawn of renewed hope, prosperity and rapid transformation for the country.

“As governor of Lagos State, we could all attest to the sterling performance of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu which saw rapid transformation in all facets of the state.

“It is our sincere belief that when Tinubu assumes office as next president, he will replicate the same transformation across the country for the benefits of all”, he said.

He also expressed optimism that Tinubu’s administration will also address the issues of insecurity, separatist agitations, banditry and kidnapping, among other crimes in the country.

Attahiru said Tinubu’s administration will engender unity and national cohesion by giving every part of the country a sense of belonging, adding that the administration will be all inclusive.

The group while commending Lalong for the sacrifice he has made in ensuring Tinubu’s victory, recalled how Lalong galvanised fellow Northern governors in backing the Asiwaju’s emergence as presidential candidate against all oppositions in the build up to the primaries

The group also noted that Governor Lalong against all oppositions from his home state and other quarters, stood stoically and firmly for the Asiwaju course and eventually saw his victory at the poll, adding that Governor Lalong losing his senatorial bid was part of the great sacrifices he has paid for the victory of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Attahiru expressed the firm assurance and hope that Governor Lalong will definitely be handsomely rewarded and compensated for all his sacrifices and commitments to the Asiwaju Tinubu’s presidency project which is now a done deal.

11 March 2023: As Fintiri prepares to sweep brooms out of Adamawa State

By Ibrahim Mada

From all intents and purposes, the incumbent governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has concluded all finishing touches to sweep brooms out of Adamawa State in order to consolidate the grip of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

The near total victory of the PDP in the just concluded presidential and national assembly elections in Adamawa State is a pointer to the rising popularity of PDP under the able and committed leadership of governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

The governor through purporseful leadership coupled with the political wizardry and sagacity of the former vice president Atiku Abubakar who incidentally was the PDP’s presidential flagbearer have shown the world that Adamawa belongs to PDP and PDP belongs to Adamawa State.

Under the able leadership of the duo, PDP was able to capture the reins of power from APC which hitherto held sway as the ruling party in 2019. Since then the party has been waxing from strength to strength because of its ebbullience in carrying the people along in its programs and policies.

The good posture and purporseful leadership it has bequeathed to the people has warmed the party into the hearts of the people to the extent it has almost pulverized its major opposition political party the APC in the state.

A glimpse of the 2023 result will convince even the most ardent naysayer that Adamawa has become the base of the Peoples Democratic Party in Nigeria due to its meteoric rise, grip and influence on the lives of the masses of the state.

In 2019 when governor Fintiri recorded an overwhelming victory from the then ruling party, the APC, he made one categorical and critical promise to the effect that he will banish APC in the state and make Adamawa, a one party state.

Although his traducers and other elements dismissed that promise with the wave of the hand saying it was a tall dream, the valiant governor did not only walk his talk, he has done it forcefully through distinction and leadership excellence.

The reality of APC’s total extinction from Adamawa State polity should be gleaned from the fact that out of the positions contested in the last presidential and national assembly elections, PDP has made a mince meat of its rival and has supplanted it from the minds of the populace.

An insight into the massive failure of the APC should be seen from the failure of her Gubernatorial candidate Sen Aishatu Ahmed Dahiru Binani to make an atom of impact in the last election. The APC gubernatorial candidate was woefully trounced right from her own unit.

It is curious to note that despite her inflated popularity, Binani in a rather bizarre show of incapacity failed to deliver her Mbamoi polling unit to the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the election.

That is not all, after her woeful failure to deliver her polling unit, the APC guvernorship candidate also conceded her Yola South local government to the presidential candidate of PDP, Atiku Abubakar.

That crass and shoddy performance is least expected from a woman with a feeling of self worth and an overrated popularity.

One of the dubious credentials she always flaunt to promote her self styled and undeserved promotion is the populist inclination under the borrowed garb of philanthropy.

But as it is now, the facade she is using to deceive the gullible minds has melted at the slightest litmus test. With such a very dubious and wobbly base, how can she think of supplanting a sitting governor who enjoys the trappings and perks of office and moreso an undiluted popularity and acceptance of the people like Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri?

With this overrated and hyped popularity, it would have been condescending for Binani to loss even her senatorial zone to the PDP especially considering the huge war chest the presidential candidate provided for her in the run up to the 2023 presidential polls.

With such a woeful showing, one can hazard a guess that Binani is not really at home with her people to deserve such humiliating snub at a time when they ought to have rallied round her.

Again one can say such mistreatment may be a function of her unforgiving and unreliable posture as she has been at daggers drawn with real and percieved enemies despite eyeing the most coveted job in the state.

Despite being the guvernorship flagbearer of APC, she has been spending considerable energy and man hour fighting needless wars against real and percieved enemies in her won party from her ward to the state level.

Such tendencies to pick quarrels with real and percieved enemies sometimes without any form of provocation made her to sideline a number of party officials from the ward to the state level without any justification.

She was said to be the brain behind the aborted suspension of Mutapha Atiku Ribadu, the organizing secretary of APC in Adamawa State and the zonal vice chairman of the APC in the north east, Comrade Mustapha Salihu.

Such quarrelsomeness and intolerance made a lot of people at various levels to loss confidence in her. It is also the major ingredient behind her suspension from the party. That is why everything seems to be falling apart for the touted most popular politician at the twilight of a general election.

But while his rival is fighting a needless war against her own party men and women, Fintiri was busy consolidating and uniting his party to become the most potent and strongest political force in Nigeria.

Such informed his overwhelming victory at the presidential and national assembly elections which made the presidential flagbearer to win the state by an unprecedented margin.

It is also responsible for the victory of the party in the senate and house of representatives election which led to the emergence of two senators and seven members of house of representatives out of eight slots from the state.

With this glaring facts, can anyone in his right state of mind doubt the overwhelming victory of PDP in the coming Gubernatorial and state House of assembly elections? Only the undiscerning political neophytes can hazard such a guess.

Mada, a political analyst writes from Kaduna

Kaduna Pentecostal Bishops Congratulate President- Elect, Asks INEC To Address Grievances

By Mike Odeh James

…urges aggrieved candidates to approach Court

The Penticostal Bishops Forum, Kaduna State Chapter has congratulated the President elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and all other winners in the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.

This is even as the clerics averred that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) needs to redeem her image of being an unbiased umpire by leaving up to expectations, sequel lots of concerns raised on the February 25th elections.

Addressing a press conference at the Seat of God ministries headquarters of the forum in Kaduna State, the Chairman of the forum, Bishop Ademola Idowu Tinuoye who read the text of the briefing and flanked by no fewer than 15 bishops called for peace and calmness in the face of the various concerns raised.

According to forum, “We acknowledge that the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly election could be conducted and managed better by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as there were avoidable errors and failed promises on the procedures. Imperfection is in nature of mortals, yet basic standards are expected to be met and surpassed in other for losers to be gallant in vanquish and winners to be humble in victory”.

The bishops however said, the uproar that followed after the collation and announcement of the final result as declared by the Electoral body,
INEC calls for deep concern.

“It is evident and crystal clear that tension has built or is rather building and emotion stirred for imaginable and unpredictable consequencesand revolt –a situation if not tamed and properly managed can easily split over into National chaos and calamity. God forbid.

“It is for this reason therefore, that we the Christian Leaders of this Forum as Spiritual fathers and mothers of the land,deemed it necessary and fit to issue a Communiqué to make our position known under the prevailing circumstances, especially considering the fact that Kaduna State is always pivotal and usually known to be a hot spot of crises in Nigeria, in thedistance and recent past”.

After extensive deliberations on the political state of the nation, the Forum
resolved as contained in a 7-point Communiqué signed by the Chairman of the forum Bishop Tinuoye , the forum appealed to the citizens particularly, the body of Christ to exercise restraints considering the delicate peace we have in our dear state.

“This is penultimate and necessitated by the peculiarities of our dear state, Kaduna; situation whereby protests no matter howintended to be peaceful were easily hijacked and mis-presented as sectarian and religious. We cannot afford to breach the peace we currently albeit delicately enjoy under any circumstance.

“That if peace has not brought about anygood, violence can definitely not be the solution.“violence is never a conquering virtue” The solution to a bad marriage is not a new marriage. In the wake of this reality therefore, we’re strongly appealing to the Body of Christ in Kaduna State, all our followers and teeming Christian Youths across denominational barriers, not to take laws into their hands, but to tow the path of wisdom and give peace a chance.

“We should not engage in any act of violence that will inflicton the fundamentalright of other citizens, thereby hampering the fortune and development of the state.That in the face of the present heat and perceived dissatisfaction of the outcome of the general election, we are of the position that legal redress should rather be sought in the court of competent jurisdiction, while we congratulate the President-elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as declared by INEC.

“That, relegating the experience of the just concluded Presidential election to the background, we urge our followers, congregants, all and sundry to shunall forms of Voters apathy andtroop out enmassin the forth coming Gubernatorial and State House of Assembly Election on Saturday the 11th of March, 2023 to vote the candidates of their choice without fear and intimidation. This way, we shall be making a statement, not just locally but to the International Community that we are comingof age, on course toward getting it right (Politically) and for a better Nigeria.

“That as a Forum, we are calling on the State Government and its machineries to provide the enabling environment for peace to thrive in Kaduna State as we remain committed in our resolve to partner with the State and its leadership toward the accomplishment of this noble goal and objective across board.

“To this end, we will remain committed in our responsibilities and obligation as Clergies and Fathers of Faith in the land as bridge builders to uniting all ethnic groups and religious bodies for the common good and development of all. We are relentless in prayers to the Almighty God for His Grace and empowerment in this regard.

“At this juncture, the General Overseers, presiding Bishops, Pastors and Leaders
of Denominations, inter alia, are required to rise above personal feelings and guide members to be objective and proactive in electing leaders without parochial sentimentsas they go to vote in the Gubernatorial and State Assembly
elections.

Fear of God, competence and experience should be considered in making our choices asKaduna State needs leaders who will be fair to all without bias in governance and leadership.‘If there is government, there should be governance’. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, those who love it shall prosper” (Psa. 122:6) in this context, Kaduna State and Nigeria at large”.

ENDS

ABUJA LAND GRABBING SYNDICATE AND THEIR LAWLESS CONDUCT AND THREAT TO SECURITY OF COMMUNITIES

ABUJA LAND SYNDICATE AND THEIR LAWLESSNESS CONDUCT

Reference to the letter written to the Inspector General of Police Of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Usman Alkali Baba and copies sent to the DSS, EFCC, ARMY and other security agencies and publication in the Blueprint Newspaper in November 2022, Seeking the attention of the Nigeria security service to come to the aid of some land owners in Lugbe but till date the Nigeria Police is yet to take action.

Again we are using this medium to call on the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to investigate the following:
Kinsley Abasi Ifeanyi (also known as IFEDI HOMES) Monday Onimisi and their cohorts

They are busy going against the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by trespassing on lands that do not belong to them, threatening land owners, violating the rule of law and disobeying the court order.

It’s so shocking that these fellow, (land syndicates) go about the city of Abuja in convoy of heavily armed Police personnel and hoodlums, which they use to intimidate, harrass and threaten genuine land owners. We are aware and evidence that they have the backup of some Serving and retired high profile Police officials.

We hereby call on the I.G of Police, Director of DSS, Nigerian Army and the Judiciary, to speedily checkmate and investigate the activities and unlawful use of police personnel and hoodlums to harass, intimidate and threaten the genuine land owners that they have encroached on their properties.
The Judiciary should step up, as these syndicates claim to be untouchable, thereby violating court orders.

As it stands the lives of the original land owners are seriously being threatened as they are being repeatedly attacked by the team of Kingsley Abasi Ifeanyi (IFEDI HOMES) and MONDAY ONIMISI.