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Category: Politics

Buhari should consider Igbo IGP –Dele Momodu
Popular journalist, Dele Momodu, has urged the President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint an Inspector General of Police of South-Eastern extraction.
According to Momodu, the President must be responsive to the dissatisfaction being voiced out by the Igbo people who claimed they were being marginalised regarding certain national appointments.
The calls by interest groups for an Igbo IGP heightened this week with the expiration of the tenure of Abubakar Adamu as the IGP having reached the mandatory retirement age.
There were also similar demands last week when the President appointed four new service chiefs –Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff (Delta State); Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff (Kaduna State); Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff (Kano State); and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff (Osun State).
The Presidency had also said the appointment of service chiefs was not by ethnicity but by their ability to secure lives and property in the country.
However, speaking on Thursday, Momodu said the Buhari regime must tap into the brilliance of the Igbo people in the fight against insecurity in the country.
February 4, 2021
APC restates commitment to reconciliation and membership registration

…Says Party not wooing Jonathan for 2023 Presidency

Tom Okpe, Abuja

The All Progressives Congress, APC has restated commitment of the party to reconciling aggrieved members, uniting the party, registration and revalidation of its members emphasising that it’s not wooing former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to contest the 2023 Presidential ticket under its platform
.
Yobe state Governor and chairman, APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni also said the registration and revalidation exercise would assist the party to generate a valid, accurate and upto date data on party membership to enhance and support its planning process.

While speaking in Abuja on Thursday through his Director General, Press Media Affairs Mamman Mohammed, Governor Buni said the party has through the Caretaker committee succeeded in building a new confidence among its members, reassuring them of a new hope in the party.

He said: “Our focus is to strengthen the party through a bottom-up approach and to carry everyone on board, while those aggrieved have happily rejoined APC just as new members have joined the party.

“The Caretaker committee has reconciled many aggrieved members and factions across the country including the Zamfara state factions among others and bringing in prominent politicians including David Umahi, the serving governor of Ebonyi state with more coming.”

The Chairman also said the membership registration and revalidation exercise was a constitutional provision which is part of the strategic measures taken by the committee to give existing and new members a sense of belonging.

“Since the initial exercise in 2014, the party has not registered new members nor update personal information of existing members as provided for, by the constitution.
“The registration exercise gives our new members a sense of belonging and the existing members will update their information while those who left the party will have their names removed from the party register,” he added.

Buni dismissed claims that APC was wooing former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2023 presidency on its platform saying 2023 is not on its agenda for now.

“It is diversionary to start discussing 2023 elections now. We have a sitting president, Muhammadu Buhari, who is less than two years in office of his second term, we are concentrating on the success of his administration.”

He explained that the visit by some governors to former president Jonathan was solely to felicitate with him on his birthday anniversary and nothing more.

“This was done to honour him as a former leader, after all, in spite of the political differences, President Buhari had on some occasions delegated him on regional assignments,” he emphasised.
February 4, 2021
“APC 2023: Master Builder, Ajimobi’s Development Legacy’ll be Restored” – Akande Sadipe
Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe K, the member representing Oluyole federal constituency has said that the All Progressive Congress (APC) is poised to take back Oyo State, to restore the development legacy of Ajimobi, master-builder of the modern Oyo State.

Akande-Sadipe made these remarks at the meeting with the APC National Working Committee members assigned to supervise the Oyo Party registration, which was held on Tuesday at the new APC Oyo Party Office.
Speaking at the meeting the lawmaker noted that she was proud of the reconciliation of their party in Oyo State.
She said “the renewed re-energized APC for the change Oyo needs is here, Yesterday was a day of pride for our dear party.”
“We are on track to change the narrative, we have learned from the lessons of the past. We are builders. We will continue the development of the modern Oyo state spearheaded by our leader Late Senator Abiola Ajimobi.”
The lawmaker while welcoming the members of the committee to the State reiterated that Oyo was a first in many things and Oyo APC shall make this registration exercise a success to gain its place of pride back. And as usual, she threw in the gender and youth inclusion appeal.
In her word APC women would play an important role in the registration process and return wants a fair representation of 60/40 male to female ratio in the coming elections. “we women of APC would play our part in this registration drive. hold our own and prove our worth to the party, The party in turn should take note and ensure that a better male to female ratio is achieved. 50/50 would be nice but 60/40 in 2023 will do.”
Also, during the meeting, the Chairman of the National Working Committee was asked the question on how Diaspora Registration of APC members abroad would be achieved.
February 4, 2021
Police Nonchalant Because Of EndSARS Impact- Speaker Abia State
As the country battles to stamp out insecurity across board, Speaker Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji has said the nonchalant attitude of the police and other security agencies in dealing with the issues is a result of the negative impact the #EndSARS protest had on them last year.
The Speaker who spoke while presiding over plenary on the floor of the Assembly on Tuesday night against the backdrop of attacks in Isialangwa South where a police post was burnt down and security personnel beheaded in cold blood, and Isuikwuato urged the police to rise above their challenges and tackle insecurity with the needed energy.
According to the Speaker, the recent heightened security challenges in parts of the country that were hitherto peaceful won’t be far from the hijacked #EndSARS protest.
He said the original intention of the conveners of the #EndSARS protest was thwarted by hoodlums who started destroying people’s properties, businesses, and houses, burning down police stations, and carting away firearms in the process.
“What we are witnessing here today is the total nonchalant attitude of the police and other security agencies because of the hijacked #EndSARS protest which hugely affected them negatively. But that should change.
“Also the Laws made by us here and the many resolutions passed by the elected representatives of the people are not being implemented as expected. We have passed the Anti-Grazing Law and I’m made to understand the Governor has given his assent to it. if anybody wants to do Cattle business in the State, the person can do ranching where you buy a piece of land, fence it, and put in the cows there and do your business. In such a way, you don’t cross paths with the locals.
“The issue of kidnappings having some colouration of collaboration with some security agencies should also be looked into because it is abominable,” he said.
He vowed that the Assembly will make use of the instrumentality of its power to make inquiries from relevant security agencies on what needs to be done to secure the people of Abia.
“As an arm of Government, we have the constitutional powers to invite anybody here to give us some answers to questions we want so we can pass same to our Constituents because we will be failing in our duties if we don’t do anything concerning this matter as our people are being kidnapped and shot. If we don’t do anything now and the people take laws into their hands, it will only lead to an escalation of an already bad situation” the Speaker said in an emotion-laden voice.
“We need to look deeply into these reoccurring security breaches that have been happening in Isuikwuato and other parts of the state especially the one that just happened in Isiala Ngwa South before it escalates, which might lead to a total break down of law and order”, the Speaker said.
February 4, 2021
2023 Jonathan Presidency: APC deny plans to adopt him as her candidate
By Gabriel Udeh,, kaduna
Ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied widespread rumour of it planned fielding the former President Goodluck Jonathan as her candidate in the 2023 Presidential election.
This is sequel to reports last week that some Northern governors were working hard under ground to ensure that the former president gets the APC ticket.
The party denied that such story was not on its table but just the creation of some individuals.
Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni who is interim committee chair of the APC, told the BBC Hausa service that there was nothing like courtship in the matter as politics is all about actual talking.
“Those peddling such information ,they are afraid. But for now, there is nothing in the APC which has anything to do with the aspiration for 2023.”
” Even if someone wants to base assumption on our recent visit to him during his birthday, we were there because of his capacity as a former President of Nigeria. “
“Again, even if there is nothing, when we are talking of peaceful coexistence, we must give credit to former President Jonathan on the issue of peace. How he accepted defeat in 2015 and resigned to fate. That has qualified him to be a statesman and he is now among our
fathers.”
Governor Buni said it is customary to visit one another and exchange pleasantries.
“Our visit to Jonathan was pronounced because of his status as a former president, that could be why some may think there was something beneath.”

‘ There are numerous of such visits ,to leaders of PDP, APC, why are others not being mentioned but Jonathan?”
When asked whether the APC would listen to Jonathan if he may eventually, indicate interest, Buni said that would be a new discussion, entirely.
“Even in America where we got this democracy, I’ve not seen where people are being confined to a limit.”

Asked whether the APC is still indecisive on Jonathan, Buni said ” you are talking of democracy and at the same time talking of giving him, don’t forget even when President Buhari went to revalidate party membership in Daura, he said it is the people at the grassroots that will select leaders upwards. That no one should expect to be crowned from Abuja. This has shown that in APC now, it is from the lower level upwards. Not that people would be imposed from the top.”
“Then who are we to say we are considering Jonathan? How? It has to be a party affair and once it is a party affair, then we are talking about the people.
So we have nothing like that in our agenda .What we have now and is of importance to us, is to ensure peace amongst party members. Also, to bring members of other political parties, whichever party it might be, whoever wants ,should come in to the APC.
“This is our plan for now.”
“We are yet to start talking about aspirants, we are not in any discussion about aspirants,” he said.
February 4, 2021
Gender Equality: Akande-Sadipe Calls for Participation of More Women And Youths in Politics
Oyo State’s only Federal female lawmaker, Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe has called on Leaders of the All Progressive Congress to make provisions for more women to participate in politics.
Akande-Sadipe made the appeal on Wednesday while speaking with Newsmen in Ibadan.
The Oluyole Federal Constituency Representative at the Green Chambers noted that women have inherent leadership skills that could provoke desirable change in the development of their immediate society and the Nation, at large.
She added that her role in politics has spurred many women to join her in the commitment to contribute to positive change, saying, just like her, many are tired of venting their anger on social media.
“Our Party must dignify our women by giving them the opportunity to thrive in politics and run for elective posts. This will encourage rapid development of our party, because women have an inbuilt gift to develop things”, she said.
Akande-Sadipe, who Chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora further said, women’s participation in politics was the only sound means they could use to assume political leadership in democratic society.
Citing her adventure in politics, Akande-Sadipe said it was borne out of her passion to do things differently in the development of Oyo State and the Nation.
She therefore urged women to passionately position themselves to take up the challenge and run for elective offices, saying, “I tell members of my political party that I am the 33.3%, at the moment. If we (women) don’t become the 33.3% we are not doing right by our country. We need to create a level playing ground for better participation.
I am imploring the party Leadership of the APC to make more slots available for Women and Youth participation in elective roles and appointments.”
February 3, 2021
We are in the process of procuring Covid-19 Vaccines – El-Rufai
The Kaduna state government says it’s in the process of procuring vaccines for COVID-19 for use by residents of the State.
The state governor, Nasir El-Rufai stated this while signing a service level agreement for the distribution of medical commodities in the state.
He says the agreement builds on the state’s investments in primary health care and supply chain transformation in the health sector.
February 3, 2021
APC denies plan to field ex-President Jonathan in 2023
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied planning to field former President Goodluck Jonathan as its candidate in the 2023 presidential election.
There were reports that the Northern Governors were planning to lure Jonathan to declare for the APC and consequently field him for the Presidency in 2023.
However, the party has refuted the speculation and declared that such arrangement was not on the table of the ruling party
Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, the interim committee chairman of the APC spoke with the BBC Hausa service, saying that there was nothing like courtship in the matter as politics is all about political reality.
“Those peddling such information … are afraid,” Buni said. “But for now, there is nothing in the APC which has anything to do with the aspiration for 2023.
“Even if someone wants to base assumption on our recent visit to him during his birthday, we were there because of his capacity as a former President of Nigeria.
“Again, even if there is nothing, when we are talking of peaceful coexistence, we must give credit to former President Jonathan on the issue of peace. How he accepted defeat in 2015 and resigned to fate. That has qualified him to be a statesman and he is now among our fathers.”
Governor Buni said it is customary to visit one another and exchange pleasantries.
“Our visit to Jonathan was pronounced because of his status as a former president, that could be why some may think there was something beneath,” Buni said.
“There are numerous of such visits ,to leaders of PDP, APC, why are others not being mentioned but Jonathan?”
When asked whether the APC would listen to Jonathan if he may eventually indicate interest, Buni said “that would be a new discussion, entirely.”
“Even in America where we got this democracy, I’ve not seen where people are being confined to a limit.”
Asked whether the APC is still indecisive on Jonathan, Buni said “you are talking of democracy and at the same time talking of giving him, don’t forget even when President Buhari went to revalidate party membership in Daura.”
Buni said it is the people at the grassroots that will select leaders upwards.
“That no one should expect to be crowned from Abuja. This has shown that in APC now, it is from the lower level upwards. Not that people would be imposed from the top,” Buni said.
“Then who are we to say we are considering Jonathan? How? It has to be a party affair and once it is a party affair, then we are talking about the people.So we have nothing like that in our agenda .What we have now, and is of importance to us is to ensure peace amongst party members.
“Also, to bring members of other political parties, whichever party it might be, whoever wants ,should come in to the APC. This is our plan for now.
“We are yet to start talking about aspirants, we are not in any discussion about aspirants
February 3, 2021
56.2 Million NIN Linked To Sims, Says NCC
Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have collected 56.18 million National Identity Numbers (NIN) since the commencement of the ongoing Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) registration started, says the Federal Government.
The government added that over 1,060 registration centres for NIN have been activated by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) across the country to give Nigerians and legal residents more time to integrate their NIN with their SIMs.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, who announced this in Abuja, explained that the NIN-SIM linkage deadline of February 9 had been extended to April 6.
According to a statement by the Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Ikechukwu Adinde and his NIMC counterpart, Mr. Kayode Adegoke, yesterday, the minister ordered the extension after a meeting of the Ministerial Taskforce on NIN-SIM registration.
Adinde and Adegoke quoted Pantami as saying: “It was reported that a total of 56.18 million NINs have been collected by the mobile network operators. Each NIN is usually tied to an average of three to four SIMs and this infers that the current figure accounts for a significant portion of the existing SIMs.
“This number of NINs collected represents a significant increase when compared with the 47.8 million reported by the Technical Committee on January 18.
“Furthermore, over 1,060 registration centres for NIN have been activated and made operational by NIMC across the country.
“Mobile Network Operators have opened hundreds of centres and are rapidly deploying resources to open thousands of other NIN enrolment centres across states of the country.
February 3, 2021
Ooni failed Yoruba by not telling Buhari truth about killer herdsmen —Sunday Igboho
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi failed to convey the crisis rocking the South-Western part of the country when he visited President Muhammadu Buhari, a Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho has said.
According to him, the monarch was a disappointment for not painting the true picture of herders’ carnage on the South-West before the President.
President Muhammadu Buhari, last week, received the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, at his official residence in the State House, Abuja amid the crisis rocking the region.
Many speculated that the visit was to address the crisis brewing in the region over activities of herdsmen in Yoruba land.
Igboho who spoke on Wednesday morning at a virtual ‘Townhall With Yoruba In Diaspora’, said, “The monarchs are now afraid but we must keep praying for them to be united with one voice. They should not be afraid of arrest at their age. Some of them don’t even grant audience at their palaces any longer. So, everything is now in God’s hands.
“When Ooni met with Buhari over the herdsmen issue, Ooni should have told Buhari the truth, but he did not. When Ooni returned, he started tackling me to leave the remaining task to the government to finish. You can imagine that kind of talk?
“Alaafin of Oyo has asked me to meet him over the matter. Alaafin should have been the one invited to meet Buhari but since the Ooni was invited, he should be bold to tell the President the whole truth and make the demands of the Yoruba people known to the President.
“The Ooni disappointed himself. Some politicians are behind Ooni’s latest move. He invited me to his palace but I refused to go. I would have gone if he had represented us well but he did not. I won’t honour any monarch who does not cooperate with me. Enough is enough, the Fulani have done enough,” the activist submitted in the teleconference.
February 3, 2021