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Category: General News

  • Presidential Primaries: Processes reflect parties, candidates’ popularity – Yoruba Ronu

    Presidential Primaries: Processes reflect parties, candidates’ popularity – Yoruba Ronu

    By Abolade Ogundimu

    Character

    Abuja, Oct. 8, 2018 (NAN) The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, a pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political group, has said that the process of electing party candidates show their (political parties) commitment to transparent election and the popularity of candidates.

    The Secretary-General of the group, Mr Akin Malaolu, said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

    The group was reacting to the conduct and outcome of party primaries and national conventions.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) gave Oct. 7 as deadline to parties to submit their candidates for the 2019 general elections.

    NAN also reports that some of the 93 political parties in the country have candidates for all elective offices while some parties adopt others’ candidates for certain offices.

    But the group said many Nigerians were qualified for political posts, urging “we must however ensure that most qualified persons are elected into offices.

    “The events of the two dominant parties in the past few days ago in democratic contest had been concluded in faithfulness to their party constitutions.

    “We applaud non-violent conduct that heralded their successes but a clear distinction has been made by them regarding who obeyed and followed the norms better in a democracy.

    “Even as many options were open to political parties in electing their candidates ahead of 2019 elections, they were at liberty to ensure the best aspirants emerge.

    “Direct primary, as adopted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) conducted by its National Working Committee (NWC) was a show of popular participation by all its members all over Nigeria,” he said.

    The group said APC members all over the country were involved in choosing their presidential candidate as well as candidates for other elective offices.
    “Popularity of the ruling APC could be seen in number of their members that took part in the primaries.

    “That was in contradiction to what took place at the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) primaries, climaxed by its presidential primary election on Saturday.

    “Money was the pivot that turned the wheel of success at the PDP presidential polls held in Port Harcourt.

    “From the two events therefore, the verdict that shall come from the 2019 polls may not be farfetched.

    “It can be concluded that Buhari would secure a walk over on his opponents including PDP, for displaying the best understanding in a democratic contest, dependent on the people,” the statement read in part.

    NAN also reports that Buhari polled 14,842,072 votes nationwide during the APC’s direct presidential primary to emerge as its 2019 candidate, before 7,000 delegates also ratified him on Oct. 6.

    Atiku polled 1,532 votes on Oct. 7 to defeat 11 other aspirants for PDP’s presidential ticket in an election by about 3,700 delegates. (NAN)

  • Agbaje promises to empower local governments

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Candidate for Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has promised to empower the local government system to deliver service for the people of the state. (more…)

  • OPC, Fasehun hail Atiku’s emergence, praise PDP’s internal democracy

    TUNJI OLANIYI

    The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has hailed the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). (more…)

  • Primary: Aggrieved aspirants lied about rigging accusation, says Ekiti APC

    The Ekiti State Working Committee of the All Progressive Congress (APC), on Monday exonerated the committee sent by the national body of the party to conduct the National Assembly primaries in the state of rigging and brazen display of impunity during the election. (more…)

  • Mimiko emerges ZLP presidential candidate, promises to restructure Nigeria

    Mimiko emerges ZLP presidential candidate, promises to restructure Nigeria

    The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) on Sunday elected former Gvernor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, as its presidential candidate for the 2019 election.

    Mimiko was elected as a consensus candidate by members of the party in Abuja at its national convention.

    The presidential hopeful said that he would leverage on the party’s social democratic ideological orientation to convince Nigerians to work with him.

    He said that with the party’s pedigree and those of its leading lights, he would not have trouble convincing Nigerians why the party is the preferred option for them in the 2019 elections.

    “As a social democratic party committed to the enduring principles of good governance, utilitarianism and a restructured federal system for Nigeria, ZLP is set to capture the imagination of Nigerians.

    “The party will lead the process of renewing the Republic.

    “I am resolutely committed to a programme of restructuring the Nigerian federation.

    “This is with a view to affording every segment of the country the opportunity and privilege of development at its own pace.

    “This will be done in such a manner that the age long beauty in competitive development will be fully tapped.”

    Mimiko said that he was persuaded beyond any doubt, that such restructuring would give vent to the spirit of Nigerians.

    He added that the spirit of accomplishment, which had made stars of individual Nigerians all over the world, would be ignited again.

    Mimiko urged members of the party not to be intimidated by the big parties, but concentrate on the size and weight of ZLP ideas.

    The former governor also urged the party to focus on the purity of its ideological commitment.

    “We must focus on our compassion for the weak and the poor in society.

    “We must focus on the clarity of vision and thought that we bring to the fore for Nigerians as we go into the elections.”

    Mimiko said that it was with the confidence in the ability of Nigerians to make existential decision in the 2019 elections that he made a decision to serve.

    He stressed that he was out to disrupt settled assumptions, by focusing on new ideological narratives that affected the people directly.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mimiko governed Ondo State between 2009 and 2016 under the platforms of Labour Party and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), respectively.

    Mimiko had earlier declared his presidential ambition under the Labour Party but later defected to the ZLP.

    The Chief Returning Officer and Chairman of the party, Dan Nwanyanwu, said that Mimiko fulfilled all the party’s requirements and obeyed the constitution of the party.

    Nwanyanwu reiterated the party’s support for Mimiko, adding that the ZLP would go all out to ensure victory for its presidential candidate. (NAN)

  • Flood: NEMA declares 5 more states as ‘national disasters’

    The National Emergency Management (NEMA), has declared five more states: Adamawa, Taraba, Kebbi, Bayelsa and Rivers as ‘National Disaster’ following the recent flooding that has ravaged the states.

    Mr Sani Datti, Head of Media and Public Relations, NEMA made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    According to Datti, Mr Mustapha Maihaja, Director General, NEMA made the declaration following the ongoing efforts of the agency to tackle and assist flood victims across the country.

    He said that the declaration of the five new states now puts the numbers of flood affected states under flood emergencies to nine.

    “It would be recalled that on Sept. 17, a National Disaster was declared in Kogi, Niger, Delta, Anambra States.

    “In consideration of the data and information being received, in particular the Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) and guided by relevant NEMA Policy documents, additional 5 states are observed to have been impacted severely by the disaster.

    “On the consultation, subsequent endorsement of all the stakeholders here present, and the delegation of Authority conferred on me by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “ I, Mustapha Yunusa Maihaj, the Director General, NEMA hereby declared National Disaster in the five (5) states of Adamawa, Bayelsa, Kebbi, Rivers and Taraba,” Maihaja said.

    Maihaja commended the efforts and commitments of all stakeholders, and the International Partners for their contribution so far to the success of the operation.

    He explained that the addition of the five states recently declared expands the scope and the need for  response and call for more support accordingly.  (NAN)

  • Baba Sala family announces burial date

    Family of the Late (Baba Sala), has announced Dec. 6 and 7 as dates for the burial ceremony of the icon, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    His son, a Performing Officer at the National Troupe of Nigeria, Emmanuel Adejumo popularly called “Boisala’’ told NAN that the family was decided on the date for the burial.

    NAN reports that the late Adejumo, a Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), comedian, dramatist and actor died on Oct. 7 at 81 in Ilesa, Osun State.

    His body has since been deposited at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex Annex, (Wesley Guild Hospital) in Ilesa. (NAN

  • BRISIN’s operations will take governance closer to Nigerians

    BRISIN’s operations will take governance closer to Nigerians

    The Basic Registry and Information System in Nigeria (BRISIN), says its provision of with credible data to the Federal Government and its agencies will take governance closer to Nigerians.

    Co-ordinator of the scheme Dr Anthony Uwa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja that the implementation of BRISIN would ensure daily collection and storage of credible data from the various wards to be used by government agencies for the betterment of the lives of the people.

    Uwa gave assurance that BRISIN was not in conflict with any government agency responsible for collecting data for the country.

    “Brisin is just like an umbrella tree, it starts from the grass root, to the local government, to the states and to the federal, so the (BRISIN) data centre is built at the ward level.

    “That BRISIN centre gives us a clear picture of what exist in that ward; this gives us the opportunity for rural development of that ward.

    “This gives us the opportunity of knowing if that ward requires some additional funding from both governments, from the BRISIN system, if that ward actually has been lacking.’’

    .According to Uwa, when the data is collected and stored in the data bank, any MDA that requires data will be assured of real time data to run its affairs for the good of Nigerians.

    He said with the data, there would also be no need for lobbying for projects at the National Assembly as the system would provide clear and true picture of what was needed in the various wards.

    “There will be no room for misplaced projects, there will be no room for lobbying, it will make governance very easy; with just a click on the BRISIN data bank all information will be made bare.

    “The good thing about BRISIN is that they collect report every day; it is not like that which you will report and it will be static for ten years, every day there must be new information.

    “And it is a very big project; it is a project that is going to solve the high-headed Nigeria problem that has been lingering,’’ he said.

    According to Uwa, BRISIN will also settle the issue of unemployment in the country because it will provide information on the number of people that are employed, unemployed, and those qualified to be employed.

    He said BRISIN would create a medium where artisans from different sectors would be identified and properly trained by the government to contribute to the growth of the nation’s GDP.

    On the on-going recruitment, Uwa said the 5,000 personnel to be recruited were just for the FCT pilot phase, adding that more Nigerians would be employed subsequently.

    He said: “When you consider the six Area Councils, 62 wards, and the central city, you will realise that it requires a lot of personnel.

    “So we are going to employ more; this is just the pilot phase.

    “We could have up to 10 million people employed within the number of years that BRISIN will run.”

    NAN reports that BRISIN is an integrated system that collects, stores and distributes information to support management of the country’s economy. (NAN)

  • Aisha Buhari foundation builds 70-bed health clinic

    Aisha Buhari Foundation has embarked on the building of a 70-bed antenatal and maternity clinic within the premises of the Federal Medical Centre, Yola.

    The Clinic is being built to complement the existing 17 bed Maternity ward at the Centre.

    Aisha Buhari’s personal physician, Dr. Mohammed Kamal, while inspecting the project said, the clinic when completed will cater for the health need of the people of Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Taraba as well as the neighbouring Cameroon Republic.

    Kamal, said the clinic was built as part of Aisha Buhari’s commitment to improve the healthcare of women and children in Nigeria.

    The inspection was conducted to ascertain the level of work so far done.

    Kamal, conveying Aisha’s optimism, said the project would be completed and handed over before the end of the year.

    The facility, which is being built through private partnership comprises of emergency operation ward, consultation rooms, ultra sound room, Antenatal and Gynaecology ward, pharmacy, laboratory as well as family planning units.

    The facility, when completed, will have the capacity of attending to 200 patients.

    The Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Prof. Auwal Abubakar, said, the new Antenatal complex will assist the Centre to adequately cater for the health needs of women and children.

    Abubakar said that the existing maternal centre was over stretched due to the influx of patients within and outside the state.

    He said that the new complex will go a long way in reducing the challenges faced by patients during emergencies.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the wife of the President also donated a similar Maternity Clinic in Daura, Katsina State as part of her efforts to contribute to the well-being of women and children in Nigeria.