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Category: Politics

  • Again, INEC distances self from underage voting in Kano

    Again, INEC distances self from underage voting in Kano

    Nigeria’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, has once again exonerated itself and its staff from the alleged underage voting in Kano State.

    INEC said there were no underage voters on the register it handed over to the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission to undertake the local government elections that took place last Saturday.

    This comes exactly three years after INEC had accused the Kano electoral body of allowing underage persons to vote in 2018.

    Speaking on Tuesday, the Director, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC, Nick Dazang, that the commission does not register underage voters.

    Dazang explained that indeed INEC handed over its voter register to Kano State for the conduct of the local government election but added that INEC doesn’t register Nigerians below the age of 18.

    The INEC director further stated that INEC conducted elections in Kano State in 2019 without reports of underage voting, adding that this was proof that its register could not have been used in the local government elections in Kano.

  • Better to have Amotekun with fewer errors than rampaging armed herdsmen- HURIWA

    Better to have Amotekun with fewer errors than rampaging armed herdsmen- HURIWA


     
     
       The foremost civil rights advocacy group-: HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA ( HURIWA) has dismissed the trenchant criticisms trailing few instances of human errors in the operations of the south west of Nigeria -based Amotekun security outfit.  

    The rights group which argues that the few human errors are mere teething institutional problems that will be resolved with better strategic finetuning of training and improvement of manpower capacities of Amotekun security platform, urged massive support for the body because it is better to have home-grown institutional mechanism to protect lives and property than to permit the hitherto uncontrollable rampage and killing of citizens living in the south west of Nigeria by the rampaging bunch of determined armed herdsmen whose origin are mired in politics and deceit. Moreover, the Rights group said the Federal Attorney General and minister of justice Abubakar Malami SAN had stated that his office couldn’t prosecute Armed Fulani herdsmen because according to him, there is no case file against them. 
     
         In a statement by the National coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National media affairs director miss Zainab Yusuf, HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA ) said those at the forefront of irrational criticisms of Amotekun because of the few but avoidable human errors, are suffering from ‘intentionally deceitful  amnesia’  because if they think deeply how the south west came under incessant massive attacks and violence by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen , they would have seen that the errors were the less of the two evils. 
     
      Besides, the Rights group backs the order made by the Ondo state Governor Barrister  Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu ( SAN ) on armed herdsmen to quit south west forests , said it expected the rest of the country such as South East, North East, North Central and South South to Embrace the Example set by the South west by replicating similar law- based institutional body to protect the lives and property of their people to complement the efforts of the regular policy institution. 
     
         “ we also do expect that with Better training, retraining and a purified system of recruitment, Amotekun will become a shining example on how the state legislature working in partnership with the executive Governors should protect the lives of their people. “
     
    The Prominent Civil Rights Advocacy group-:HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) affirmed thus: “ We support Amotekun 100% and we think it is better than allowing armed Fulani herdsmen to continue to carry out genocide and be left to operate by the Nigerian police which has so far failed to prosecute a single of those armed Fulani herdsmen responsible for the killing of over 6,000 farmers all over the country in the last five years. Those now raising their compromised voices against Amotekun,  are they saying they are happy with the constant spilling of blood of the innocent attributed to armed non state actors and particularly the armed Fulani herdsmen?”
     
     
       The Rights group said the south western state’s legislature were right to pass the law Setting up the AMOTEKUN SECURITY OUTFITS IN THEOR STATES  because it is in total compliance with section 4 (7) of the constitution thus; “The House of Assembly of a State shall have power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the State or any part thereof with respect to the following matters, that is to say:- 
    (a) any matter not included in the Exclusive Legislative List set out in Part I of the Second Schedule to this Constitution. 
    (b) any matter included in the Concurrent Legislative List set out in the first column of Part II of the Second Schedule to this Constitution to the extent prescribed in the second column opposite thereto; and 
    (c) any other matter with respect to which it is empowered to make laws in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.”
     
    HURIWA  recalled that the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, had asked all Fulani herdsmen in Ondo State to vacate forest reserves within the state. He also issued a seven-day ultimatum to the herdsmen.
    The governor gave the ultimatum on Monday while meeting with leaders of Hausa/Fulani and Ebira Communities in the state.
    The meeting held at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s office, Alagabaka, Akure, the state capital.
    Mr Akeredolu said the activities of the herdsmen have long been causing a threat to security in the state.
    He also shared his statement on his official Twitter handle.
    “Today we have taken major steps at addressing the root cause of kidnapping, in particular, and other nefarious activities detailed and documented in security reports, the press and debriefings from victims of kidnap cases in Ondo State.”
    “These unfortunate incidents are traceable to the activities of some bad elements masquerading as herdsmen. These felons have turned our forest reserves into hideouts for keeping victims of kidnapping, negotiating for ransom and carrying out other criminal activities.”
    “As the Chief Law and Security Officer of the State, it is my constitutional obligation to do everything lawful to protect the lives and property of all residents of the State. In light of the foregoing, the following orders are hereby issued:

    1. All Forest Reserves in the State are to be vacated by herdsmen within the next 7 days with effect from today, Monday 18th January, 2021.
    2. Night-grazing is banned with immediate effect because most farm destruction takes place at night.
    3. Movement of cattle within cities and highways is prohibited.
    4. Under-aged grazing of cattle is outlawed.
      “Our resolution to guarantee the safety of lives and property within the State shall remain utmost as security agencies have been directed to enforce the ban.
      “In its usual magnanimity, our administration will give a grace period of seven days for those who wish to carry on with their cattle-rearing business to register with appropriate authorities.”
      HURIWA said every right thinking citizen of Nigeria should applaud the South West governors for standing up to defend their people. 
  • I Will Employ Services Of 5,000 Youths As “Sokoto Zaman Lafiya” Militants -Gubernatorial Aspirant

    I Will Employ Services Of 5,000 Youths As “Sokoto Zaman Lafiya” Militants -Gubernatorial Aspirant

    By Ibrahim Goronyo, Sokoto

    Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi Gumbi is one of the gubernatorial aspirants in Sokoto under the platform of APC and address newsmen in Sokoto on his vision, mission and drive for governance come 2023 general elections.

    He said every well meaning leader must have people oriented vision, mission and drive beforehand even though greater percentage of governors do not apply these method before contesting.

    Explaining how to support education sector, Gumbi said he would improve the standard of education through employing regular payments to teachers, improve their social welfare and standard training which they would in due course apply to students from grassroots.

    He added that a committee to monitor activities of teachers three times a week would be inaugurated with full treatments in form of vehicles motorcycles and regular allowances.
    Explaining the value of farming,Gumbi said he would purchase and distribute tractors, cultivators and other implements alongside free interest loans to farmers.

    While speaking on how to assist orphans, he said three technical schools would be established in the three zones of the state where they would be thought different types of handicrafts and engineering works as adopted by the late governor of the then Sokoto state, Alhaji Shehu Kangiwa.

    Also speaking on the current insecurity in this part of the country, Gumbi submitted that his administration would engage the services of 5000 youths and five them military training, purchase weapons, give them Land cruiser vehicles, motorcycles and all it takes to take care of the state security wise to mention but a few among his mission and drive to the state. Attachments area

  • Kano LG chairman dies two days after winning election

    Kano LG chairman dies two days after winning election

    Kano has been thrown into shock following reports that the newly elected chairman of Bebeji Local Government Area, Alhaji Ali Namadi is dead.

    Mr. Namadi was among the successful APC chairmanship candidates in the just concluded local government councils elections held on Saturday 16th January, 2021.

    Alhaji Ibrahim Adamu Tiga, Director Campaign to the late chairman in a terse statement that was made available to Reporters in Kano said Namadi died by 1:00am on Tuesday after a brief illness.

    Mr Tiga explained that the late Chairman drove himself to Bebeji General Hospital for medical attention before he gave up the ghost.

    Tiga disclosed that baring any last minute change, Namadi’s funeral prayers would take place in his hometown, Bebeji, on Tuesday morning.

  • 247 Fulani women to get Federal Government’s N20,000

    247 Fulani women to get Federal Government’s N20,000

    The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq has launched the Federal Governments Special Cash Grant for Rural Women at the Fulani settlement of Hutawa in Kebbi State.

    Under the scheme, about 247 Fulani women under the umbrella of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), will receive N20,000 each to improve their economic wellbeing and take care of their families.

    Farouq made this disclosure in a statement, signed by her Special Adviser on Media, Nneka Anibeze, in Abuja on Sunday.

    The Minister who visited the Fulani settlement located on the outskirts of Birnin Kebbi, expressed happiness at the economic empowerment training being given to the Fulani women by the Kebbi state government.

    She said: “I am delighted to see that these Fulani women are being taught the modern methods of yoghurt production using cow milk. This will go a long way in empowering them to be self reliant and able to provide for their families.

    “I enjoin all the Fulani women who have received this training by the Kebbi state government to put it to practice as this will also improve the economic status of not just the women but the state and country at large”.

    The Federal Government’s Special Cash Grant for Rural women has so far been launched in 16 states including Plateau, Sokoto, Imo, Ebonyi, Nassarawa, Kebbi, Katsina, Bauchi, Taraba, Ekiti, Ondo, Adamawa, Gombe, Kano , Jigawa and Zamfara states.

  • APC wins Kano council poll

    APC wins Kano council poll

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged victorious in the  Local Government  Council Eections held in Kano  State on Saturday.

     The  ruling party defeated their closest rival , the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winning not just the 44 chairmanship positions, but all the contested 484 positions for Councillorship

    The elected officials, by their victory,  are to man the affairs of the Local Government Areas in  the state for the next three years.

    Briefing journalists  at the headquarters of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission  (KANSIEC) on the outcome of the pollson Sunday evening, the Commission’s Chairman, Professor Ibrahim  Sheka described the  election  as successful while describing  the the turnout as impressive and commendable.,

    He however admitted  that there were pockets of skirmishes in a few locations which were not pronounced.He also said the exercise had  been apppauded by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and all the accredited observers that witnessed the polls

    He appreciated the state  governor,  Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for extending a free hand to the Commission through out the elections while appreciating the security agencies for ensuring that the election was peaceful and orderly.

  • Uganda Poll: Bobi Wine Still Under ‘House Arrest’ After Election – Party

    Uganda Poll: Bobi Wine Still Under ‘House Arrest’ After Election – Party

    Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine remains under “house arrest”, his party said on Sunday after a disputed election returned President Yoweri Museveni to office for a sixth term.

    The former ragga singer turned lawmaker came second in the presidential election and has said the process was marred by widespread fraud and violence.

    He has not left his home since he went out to vote in the election on Thursday, and on Friday said he was under “siege” as soldiers and police surrounded his home, preventing anyone from entering or leaving.

    “Our leader … is effectively under house arrest,” National Unity Platform spokesman Joel Ssenyonyi told a press conference, adding no one was being allowed access.

    “His home is not a detention facility. We are very concerned about the state in which he is in, and his wife.”

    A Twitter update under Wine’s account, written by an administrator as Uganda remains under an internet blackout for a fifth day, said the couple had “run out of food supplies.”

    The party said prominent MP, Francis Zaake, who had been arrested during an attempted visit to Wine’s house on Friday, had been admitted to hospital “badly beaten and brutalised” by security forces.

    Ugandan officials have said the soldiers and police were there for Wine’s own security.

    – ‘Minority clique’ –
    Wine and his NUP have yet to outline their next steps after dismissing the election as a “complete sham”.

    “Once again, a minority clique is forcing themselves on the majority of Uganda. That is something that we are going to resist. It is something that we are going to say no to using every avenue provided for within the law,” said Ssenyonyi.

    Museveni, 76, has ruled Uganda without pause since seizing control in 1986, when he helped to end years of tyranny under Idi Amin and Milton Obote.

    Once hailed for his commitment to good governance, the former rebel leader has crushed any opposition and tweaked the constitution to allow himself to run again and again.

    His re-election with 58.6 percent of the vote, to Wine’s 34.8 percent, came after the most violent election campaign in recent years, with the harassment of the opposition, media and deaths of scores of Wine’s supporters.

    Wine said there had been ballot-box stuffing, intimidation, and that his party’s agents had been beaten and chased away during the election on Thursday.

    However Museveni has said it was the cleanest election in the country’s history.

    US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus praised Ugandans on Saturday for voting “despite an environment of intimidation and fear”.

    She added that the US was “deeply troubled by the many credible reports of security force violence during the pre-election period and election irregularities during the polls”.

  • Minority Parties Get Votes In Kano Council Election

    Minority Parties Get Votes In Kano Council Election


    By Jabiru  Hassan, Kano.

    Parties with minority supporters were also elected in the just concluded local council’s election in kano state where almost all the parties got a number of votes across the state, which shows that in the near future multi party systems would be another advantage in the Nigeria’s electoral system.


    Daybreak news gathered that APGA, NCP, AD, LP, and other registered political parties got votes during the local councils polls because some of these parties participated in the 2019 general elections in the state and got some votes despites that they failed to produce any chair due to the might of the ruling party APC as seen after the election.


    Malam Nura Ahmed who is a member of the Labour party told our correspondent that ” we are certain that if these minority parties were given a good chance to campaign and votes, we can win many seats at  both the local government and states levels like how we are working to ensure that a multi party system is being practiced in Nigeria”. He concluded.
    As at the time of filing this report, the ruling All progressive Congress is leading at the council polls across kano state where some opposition described the  election results  as just a trick by the ruling party to dominate all the seats due to the government’s interest like what is being done everywhere in the country which is a great threat to democracy.

  • BREAKING: Uganda’s incumbent President wins sixth term

    BREAKING: Uganda’s incumbent President wins sixth term

    Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has won a sixth term in office with 58.6 percent of the vote, in an election disputed by his main rival Bobi Wine who trailed with 34.8 percent, the electoral commission announced on Saturday.

    “The electoral commission declares Yoweri Museveni… elected President of the Republic of Uganda,” said election commission chairman Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama.

    Details later…

  • Local Government Election Commences In Kano

    Local Government Election Commences In Kano

    By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.

    The local government councils election in progress across the 44 local governments where people commences voting in some polling units by 8 am, though the voting materials did not reach some destinations early.


    At Dungurawa polling unit, the electorates assembled since 7am, while the election is peaceful and hitch free with Covid-19 regulations, security presence as well as the representatives from  20 political parties that are participation in the local councils election despite the might of the ruling All progressive Congress, (APC) which dominated Kano politics.


    Malam Shehu Umar, Gargari  wards  APC chairman told our correspondent that” we came here very early to casts our votes in order to elects local government council chairman and  councilor, and from what is being seen, the election was well organised to ensure that no problem encountered especially when the local executives remained the pillars of national progress”. He stated.