Category Archives: Politics

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”.

By Mike Odeh James,Kaduna 

Less than two weeks to the Presidential elections, People Living With Disabilities ( PLWDs) have vowed to use their numerical voting strength to ensure that the Presidential  candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, ( PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar wins the February 25th Presidential election 

Speaking at Arewa House in Kaduna, the Director General, (DG) campaign North West, Senator Hayatudeen Gwarzo, who is also the chairman of people living with disabilities, in North West Zone, said that meeting was sensitise and mobilise PLWDs in the North West geopolitical zone ahead of the elections so that they would cast their ballots for Atiku Abubakar and the PDP during the polls

 The Law Maker  explained that Atiku was able to convince them the day he celebrated the world’s disability day with them and promised to give them 5% in his cabinet if he emerges Nigeria’s president from the February 2023 polls.

He said, “we are here to pledge our full support for the presidential candidate of the people’s Democratic Party, PDP, Alh. Atiku Abubakar as our next president because he is the only candidate that identify with us and promised to carry us along once he emerged as our next president.

“We appreciate his efforts to had invited us into his campaign council to ensure his victory and we are not going to let him down. We encourage our people to go to local government and units to make sure we canvass for support from our electorates so we can be able to deliver our unit to PDP.

“We believe in Atiku because he is the only one that knows our plight and even celebrated the world’s disability day with us. He promised us that when he wins, he will give five per cent to people living with disabilities so there is no way we will not support such candidate from top to bottom”.

The Deputy Director PLWDs North West, Mr. Ephraim Balarabe in his own address noted that Nigerians are passing through a lot of hard times under the current administration of the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC), adding that, APC is campaigning for Atiku through the unfavourable policies that have brought pains to the average Nigerians.

Ephraim then urged PLWDs not to be swayed by the flowery promises of APC Presidential candidate but to be focused on making sure they Atiku is elected as President. 

While reiterating that only Atiku can rescue Nigeria as its next president, Ephraim called on PLWDs, including their families to come out and vote massively for PDP, adding that the government of PDP will give them the enabling environment to explore and improve the quality of their livelihood.

….says North will not failed in keeping their promise by voting APC massively

A convener and a leader of a pro All Progressives Congress (APC) group known as Arewa New Agenda (ANA), Senator Ahmad Abubakar MoAllahyidi in a Press conference said Northern people are covenant keepers.

Ahmad in an efforts to replied Chief Ayo Adebanjo (aka Pa Ayo ) a factional leader of Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-cultural group who in Abeokuta said that the northern extraction will not vote for the Presidential candidate of the APC, Chief Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the forthcoming 2023 Presidential election.

He said Pa Ayo does not speak for the north, dispelled his position by saying that North will massively vote for Tinubu in the coming presidential polls slated February 25th by INEC.

“We wish to state that our organization respects elderly persons but, in this case, we disagree with the position taken by Pa Ayo more so as he does not speak for the north and has no such mandate; for his information the north has never failed to keep to its promise; when the north makes a covenant, the north keeps to it.

“The North is the strongest ally of APC in the contest for the 2023 primaries in the same manner that the South West was ally for the victory of the APC in the last two election cycles.

“Northern Governor of APC extraction led the charge for power shift from the north to the south; something the likes of Pa Ayo were unable to do simply because to make a covenant Pa Ayo, is not a northerner, and we cannot remember when we northerners appointed him to convey a message to any one; therefore, his assertion as widely reported is not only false but unfounded and can be better seen as the action of a meddlesome interloper or on a lighter scale the antics of a busy body.” Ahmad said

According to him the group are totally dismayed, shocked, surprised and disbelieve a statement credited to elder in Abeokuta on Saturday Jan 4th 2023, making the rounds in social and conventional media circles in which he (Pa Ayo) was quoted to have said that, it’s a typical of him.

Ahmad while reading a text to journalists in Abuja said ANA is a forum of concerned northerners comprising of academics, serving and former legislators,diplomats, technocrats, development practitioners, women and youth leaders, politicians, artisans, traders and farmers that is positioned to set an agenda for protection of the interest of the North.

By this Ahmad told Ayo that Northerners are leaders of thoughts that their yes is yes and the integrity of ANA as respected individuals cannot be bought over.

He went down memory lane and reminded Ayo and Nigerians that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo became the flag bearer of the PDP and won the 1999 and 2003 presidential elections mainly because of the backing he received from the North.

“In the APC Presidential primaries of 2022, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu scored 1,271votes more than half of the total votes cast in the convention to win the primaries, majority of these votes come from the north; the same north that Pa Ayo said will not support Tinubu

“Given what is unfolding in the South West today Pa Ayo’s attempt to justify his position by saying that his submission is based on fairness justice and equity is indeed laughable because it was said that whoever is coming to equity must come with clean hands. Records have shown that every presidential candidate that Pa Ayo opposes ended up winning the election- Asiwajus’s case will not be different
Just because Pa Ayo has some differences with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not in any way mean that the Yoruba race think the same, as we have our doubts that he has the mandate to speak for the Yorubas.

“We warn that this is the time for high wire political activities that usually culminate into tension and suspicion; we call for restrain in all utterances. From our research Pa Ayo’s statement was not driven by any nationalist instinct or principle; it is just a personal vendetta against the personality of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We advise Pa Ayo to stop taking advantage of African culture of respect for the old to pursue a very myopic, narrow minded and selfish political vendetta, this a pure act of mischief and malice.

“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has visited many States in the North, made policy statements and made a committal promises to us, if GOD Almighty gives him the opportunity to serve as our next
president, we the northerners will hold him accountable to that.

“Based on the past excellent record of performance and antecedents of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his various callings, the north is comfortable with him. He supported northern presidential candidates in the past; the north has reciprocated this gesture on every occasion; the present situation is no different as the north will repeat the performance by overwhelming support to the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.”

…Vows to Unite Members to Deliver 40 million Votes for Tinubu/Shettima

Ahead of the 2023 general elections,the National Coordinator of Tinubu Shettima Network (TSN), Engineer Kailani Muhammad has been appointmented , Acting Director-General of the Amalgamated All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Groups for the Presidential flagbearer of the Party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his running mate Senator Kashim Shettima.

Engineer Kailani Muhammad,who is also an APC Chieftain with a huge grassroots support base across the 19 Northern states of the country,promised to use the position to bring all members of the support groups together as a united front to win the election landslide.

In a chat with journalists shortly after a meeting with stakeholders and women groups at his Kaduna Residence, Kailani hinted that the over two thousand support groups spread the 36 states of Nigeria have commenced a door-door campaign to mobilize nothing less than forty million votes for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the February 25 presidential elections.

According to him,the same support groups were able to deliver twenty million votes for President Muhammadu Buhari during the 2015 election and will do same for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate Senator Kashim Shettima this time round.

He spoke further,”Today there are many people in our groups, who don’t believe in the reckless manner the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governed the country.And we still have several Nigerians joining the Tinubu Shettima support groups in order to sustain the good work of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

On issue of Naira swap and fuel scarcity, Kailani thanked Governors of Kaduna ,Kogi and Zamfara States for swiftly filing a case at the Supreme court to secure the order stoping CBN’s February 10 deadline .

“The action has helped to expose all the crooks ,who have conspired with some persons within corridors of power to frustrate the outcome of elections.

“For adequate fuel supply at filling stations , I can authoritatively inform you that the National Nigerian Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL has stepped up measures to ensure enough supply of petrol and within few days the queues will be a thing of past .

He however, urged Nigerians to shun detractors, who hell bent on working against Tinubu Shettima ticket for selfish reasons and come out en masse to vote the APC candidate,who has the best of programmes to deliver Nigeria from shackles of poverty; insecurity,unemployment , dwindling economy and shortage of food supply .

“The essence of the meeting held are to inform and show the whole world that we don’t have any other candidates than Tinubu and Shettima to deliver Nigeria and other candidates contesting under APC platform .

“We have already won the election , we have 21 governors in vault and have 5 PDP Governors supporting us .

It will interest you to know that 27 political parties have endorsed our principal Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and hoping that more persons will join as the election draw nearer.

The presidential ambition of Mr Peter Obi further gets a huge boost as Afenifere National Youths Council (ANYC) with coalition of 147 youths social political groups across the entire Yoruba land are finally set to officially declare their unalloyed support for his (Obi’s) presidential candidature as the presidential flag bearer of Labour Party

This was disclosed to newsmen in Abuja, by the National President of the group and the leader of the coalition, Prince Eniola Ojajuni, stressing that “the official public endorsement for Mr Peter Obi as president has been slated for 10 am on Tuesday 14th February, 2023 at Gallant Center located at No 1 A, Jumaat Olukoya Street, Off NNPC Filling Station, Ogudu, Ojota, Lagos State.”

According to Ojajuni, both the presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi and his Vice President candidate, Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed are expected to grace the epoch occasion.

He explained further that all the leaders of the 147 groups have met on several occasions and carried out detail analysis of the major president candidates before concluding to throw their weight behind Peter Obi of the Labour Party for this 2023 presidential election. However, he concluded that detail of their analysis will be made public during the great endorsement.

… This Travesty of Justice Can’t Happen under PDP Govt

Group under aegis of Makarfi Ambassadors has faulted the Supreme Court judgement on the Machina/Lawan Senatorial issue, declaring it as travesty of Justice.

The group,which is a People’s Democratic Party Campaign Support group observed that three Apex Court Justices that over-turned the earlier judgements of the Federal High Court and Appeal Court do not appear to be helping the nation’s democracy to grow.

According to the group , the judgment is not only shocking ,but also unhealthy for democracy.

The Supreme Court had on Monday in its judgment ruled in favour of the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, in the case between him and Bashir Machina regarding Yobe North Senatorial District,which the Federal High Court in Damaturu and the Appeal Court in Abuja had earlier ruled in favour of Machina.

Reacting to the judgement in a press statement jointly signed by
Mr. Abdullahi Ahmed – Coordinator on General-Matters and Engr. Bolade Aina, Coordinator Planning/Strategy, the group described as unfortunate a situation, where Senator Ahmed Lawan didn’t participate in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary that took place in Yobe State and produced Machina and was declared winner.

Makarfi Ambassadors further said ,” The understanding the group had based on the Electoral Law, among others is that candidate must emerge from primaries conducted by political parties.

“But how logical, sensible and fair is it that a person who did not participate directly and actively in a competition would be rewarded with the prize at the expense of those who took active parts in the said competition?”

“The lower courts that adjudicated on this matter, in our view, did the right thing. The three Supreme Court Justices that over- turned the judgements do not appear to be helping our democracy to grow.

What we deduce from this action is that the judiciary , especially the Supreme under the ruling party APC would not be a last resort for the masses.

Recalled the Imo Guber race case where Hope Uzodinma ,who was number four in the elections later became number one via same supreme court judgment .

We are calling on Nigerians to vote out APC and consider the main opposition party ,PDP that will give fair grounds for democracy to thrive .

PDP is a party that respects rule of law and has demonstrated that during its sixteen years reign as ruling party .

On Kaduna Guber race, the Makarfi Ambassadors urged the Electorate to vote Hon Isa Ashiru Kudan,Stating, “we assure citizens of a progressive leadership with human face .

APC presidential flagbearer, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that he is counting on God to win the 2023 presidential elections because “power rests with the almighty Allah”.

Asiwaju made this known at a Town Hall Meeting organized by the Stakeholders Relations Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on Sunday.

He explained that a true believer is he who looks up to Devine intervention in all he or she does, including seeking an elective office.

He also advised religious leaders not to allow themselves to be misled by politicians in the choice of elected representatives in the forthcoming general elections, assuring that the APC means well for long-suffering Nigerians.

Tinubu told the gathering of Muslim leaders and stakeholders that the forthcoming election would be an opportunity to strengthen the ligaments that bind Nigerians together as a people whose resilience would pay off handsomely in nation building.

In his opening remark at the event, Malam Jamilu Haidara explained that the event was a roll call of Nigerians from all walks of life, namely religious scholars from the North, South-south and Southeast, expressing confidence that the engagement would be robust. He described the participants as patriots passionate about the democratic future of the nation under the APC leadership.

Also speaking at the event, the Director of Stakeholders Relations’, Malam Nuhu Ribadu said that Tinubu has built enough goodwill since his days as governor of Lagos State and many years afterwards, supporting empowerment of people across the nation and advocating for good governance on the democratic space.

Jigawa State Governor Mohammad Badaru Abubakar in his submission at the event urged Nigerians to focus on the track records of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as elected representative in the past and ignore the “failed revisionism of Tinubu’s political rivals”, adding that the APC presidential flagbearer has already unveiled his development agenda for the country.

In attendance at the event were other prominent Nigerians, notably the former Speaker Oladimeji Bankole, former Minister of the FCT, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo, former State House permanent secretary, Mal. Jalalu Arabi, Mal. Nafiu Baba Ahmed, Secretary-General, SCSIN, Sheikh Dr. Khalid Aliyu, Secretary-General, JNI and member Board of Trustees, SCSIN, Sheikh Dr. Bashir Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, Sheikh Prof. Abdullahi Pakistan, Sheikh Khalid Usman Khalid, Dr. Aliyu Tilde, Sheikh Dr. Haroun Ajah, Sheikh Muhammad Sirajuddeen, Special Adviser to the APCP PCC on Public Affairs, Mahmud Jega, among many others.

Hi,

My names are Bala Abdulghafar Dirisu
I’m contesting for senate to change the fortunes of Kogi West and to give the great people of Kogi West quality representation.

As a Senator, I want to push bills that will put a stop to incessant flooding and ensure the major rivers and flood plains are dredged, bills to ensure more affordable and quality education and health care for the people of Kogi West

Furthermore, I would ensure that women are properly empowered, while children, widows and the aged are adequately provided for via welfare schemes

I also want to be in the red chamber of the National assembly to bring empowerment to my constituents to help eradicate poverty

I am in the race to ensure that Kogi West Senatorial District and Kogi State enjoy the benefits of postive leadership which I would provide when I get to the red chamber

To this end, I urge you all to go out on February 25 and cast your ballot for Bala Abdulghafar Dirisu on the banner of National Rescue Movement ( NRM)

Thanks and God bless you