Transition Monitoring Group berates INEC over extension of party primaries, warns delegates shouldn't mortgage Nigeria's future

By Editor

The Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, has berated the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for extending the deadline for the conduct of primary elections and submission of the list of nominated candidates for the 2023 general elections, from 3rd to 9th of June 2022.

While  warning  party delegates not to mortgage Nigeria's future, the group Rafsanjani, lamented the party primaries  have led to an alarming increase in the rate of foreign exchange, saying that the Nigerian Naira has now reached an all-time high of N610 to a dollar.

Chairman of the  election monitoring group, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, in a statement lamented the extension,  noting that the group received the news with great worries and concerns.  

According to him, at a time when Nigerians are beginning to have confidence in the electoral umpire some powerful forces are trying to undermine and pressurize it to doing their biddings.

Rafsanjani stated that: “A lot of political parties have made efforts in conducting their primaries and if the ruling party is still uncertain about the day to conduct its presidential primary elections that shouldn’t be the basis for the extension.”

The Group also condemned the vote-buying incidents in the ongoing political party primaries across the country, stating that “any financial inducements on delegates were tantamount to the mortgaging of the country’s future.”

Rafsanjani said: “We are appalled by the incidents of vote-buying and sundry financial inducements on the delegates in the ongoing political party primaries across the country.

“Delegates should note that they don’t have to go to the extent of mortgaging Nigeria’s future on the altar of ephemeral financial gratifications. They should think of Nigeria first before any other considerations.

“Our observers reported that aspirants’ agents were largely involved in coordinating vote-buying for various persons seeking political offices, which is unfortunate.

“It should be noted that the influence of money in an election has far-reaching implications in Nigerian politics because any politician that spends to be voted for will surely work towards recouping the money at the end of the day, and it is still the voters that will be at the receiving end.”

Ex-president Jonathan won't contest under APC － Senator Olujimi

By Editor

As people's Democratic Party, (PDP) prepares for their national convention in Abuja, lawmaker that represented Ekiti South constituency  Abiodun Olujimi has said she is  confident that former President,  Goodluck Jonathan Jonathan will not contest for Presidency. 

She made the remarks in a just concluded live interview program on TVC, which was  monitored by our correspondent. 

It would be recalled that the Federal Highcourt sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State  cleared the former President that he is legible to contest for Presidency in 2023.

The senator said she is "very sure that ex-President  Jonathan will not contest under the ruling All Progressives Congress,  (APC) because he is a man of integrity."

The lawmaker however said  that the PDP will not resort to campaign of calumny, unlike APC whom were desperate to wrestle power in 2015.

Corruption: Take ownership, hold Gov't responsible, Kaduna Commissioner tasks non state actors

By Editor

The commissioner for Planning and Budget commission,Umma Yusuf Aboki has observed that the fight to curb the swell of corruption in the public space is a collective effort between both state actors and non-state actors, and untill this is done, the fight would be won.

The commissioner stated during a roundtable discussion on the topic, 'Curbing Systemic Corruption in the public service', in continuation of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) week celebrated in the state.

Aboki expressed that corruption is accross every facet of life, but, there is so much concentration on the public sector because, they are there to serve the people, while stressing that the canker worm starts right from the home. 

She said untill and unless non-state actors too play their parts by holding the state actors, that is the government responsible for what they do and ensure that if they committed to do something, it is done,  as they cannot be everywhere and due to the pack loads of work on them, corruption in the public space would be brought to the bearest minimum.

According to her," if we do not collaborate between both the state and non state actors, Corruption will have to stay, but Non state actors have to hold the state actors responsible for what they do and ensure that if the state commit to do something, it is been done.

"Alot of this things are done by the state actors, we contract this things out, and we cannot be everywhere, if you look at the man power within the public service, it is a very minute percentage of the Nigeria populace, it is difficult to have the public service actually monitoring all of these activities, unless the community takes ownership and hold us responsible and that's the way to curb corruption", Aboki said.

 

She said Kaduna state government under the present administration having signed the Open Government Partnership(OGP) pact into law is ever committed, to let the citizens and world know that the state is really willing to run a transparent and open government, as well as, a govt for the people, where they are carrying the people and the communities along in everything that concerns them.

Also, the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Planning and Budget commission, Mrs. Jummai C. Bako the government is committed to everything they have signed into, saying, "that is for creating of development plans, to co-creating of budget, co-creating of monitoring and even procurement, so we are committed to everything we have signed off in the OGP".

El-Rufai's aide joins southern kaduna senatorial contest

From Editor 

The Senior Special Assistant on land matters, Mr. Bulus Audu has declared to vie for the seat of the Southern Kaduna Senatorial seat under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Bulus make his intentions known amidst Party stakeholders and supporters at New Choice Hotel in Kafanchan, the headquarters of Jema'a Local Government Area.

Audu noted that he was aware of the peculiarity of the zone, and said he would address its problems which include insecurity, boosting agriculture, and provision of infrastructure.

He said he would lobby for projects that will develop the zone, and actively engage the teeming youths through job creation to curb restiveness and other vices prevalent among them.

The aspirant urged the electorate to take the antecedents of elective office seekers into consideration first, before giving them their mandates to avoid being short-changed through poor representation.

" If I emerged as the APC’s flag-bearer and wins the election in 2023, i would bring my wealth of experience to bear to turn Southern Kaduna’s fortunes around," Bulus promised.   

The Zone 3 Chairman of the party, Shehu Tafa while delivering his remarks, said he would support the candidature of Mr  Bulus who was seeking to represent the good people of Southern Kaduna.

According to him the APC was working assiduously to take over all elective positions in the zone come 2023 general elections.

He saluted Bulus Audu’s courage for contesting in the zone, which is largely dominated by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and noted that the APC was rapidly gaining acceptance, as evidenced in the last Local Government elections.

Mr. Bulus Audu served as the Senior Special Assistant on Lands to former Governors Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, and Mukhtar Ramalan Yero.

End..

2023: Ex-army general, Katunku, threatens legal action over N100m bribery allegation

By Editor 

 A House of Reps Aspirant, for Zango-Kataf/Jaba Federal Constituency, under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Gen.Simon Gora Katunku (rtd), has debunked the allegation that he collected about N100m to withdraw from Monday's primary elections of the party.

Katunku was alleged to have withdrawn from the contest after collecting 100m from one of his co-contestants, Gideon Jock, who lost out to the incumbent member Amos Gwamna Magaji.

In a statement on Tuesday, Katunku said it was unfortunate that anyone would  level such unfounded allegation against his person, adding that he was too big to be bought over with a 'paltry sum of N100m'.

"It is laughable that anyone would accuse me of collecting N100m to step down for anybody. I am worth far more than that.

"People need to stop mounting such campaign of calumny against their perceived rivals.

He noted that the false allegation against him emanated from the camp of his political opponents who were out to tarnish his hard earned reputation.

The former army general challenged those levelling the allegation against his person to come forward with proof or risk legal action.

According to him, he stepped down from the race in the interest of strengthening true democracy in his constituency.

Meanwhile, Katunku congratulated the winner of the contest and promised to work towards the success of the party in the general election.

2023: Amaechi Is Trustworthy And Is Capable Of Being APC Presidential Flag Bearer--Buratai

By Editor

The Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic Excellency, Ambassador Tukur Yusufu Buratai, has called on the All Progressive Party (APC) teaming members and supporters to rally round the APC's presidential aspirant and immediate Minister of Transport Chief Romi Chibuike Amaechi in order to succeed incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari come 2023 presidential election.

Ambassador Buratai made this call on Wednesday in Kano when Amaechi Presidential Campaign Team visited Kano state as part of his continued consultation with APC stakeholders before the party’s primary election.

Buratai added that, "Today is the first time in history that I mounted a political podium to make a political speech and I 'm happy that I started this, in Kano and on a man that has all the qualities to be the President of Nigeria ".

He added that "having worked with Amaechi when he was the Governor of Rivers state where i served as a Bridge Commander I am assuring you that Amaechi is a trustworthy person".

Ambassador Buratai further explained that President Muhammadu Buhari has a great trust for Amaechi which was why His Royal Highness, the Emir of Daura recently Turbaned him as "Dan Amanar Kasar Hausa (Trusted Son of Hausa Land) recently.

He maintained that Amaechi has a good upbringing which makes him displays respect for both the elderly and the young in the society as such he is the right candidate to shoulder the APC flag as he would consolidate the good things President Buhari is doing for our dear nation.

Meanwhile, in his speech during the consultation visits in Bauchi, General T Y Buratai (RTD) Assured delegates that Ameachi would surely deliver if elected as the party flag bearer in the upcoming presidential elections come 2023.

S'Kaduna APC senatorial aspirant accuses party chair of bias, alleges plot to scheme him out of contest

By Editor

Hon. Nasara Rabo, a frontline aspirant for the Southern Kaduna senatorial seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has accused the state chairman of the party, Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekada (rtd), of plotting to scheme him out of the senatorial race. 

Rabo disclosed this in a statement he personally signed and issued to newsmen in Kaduna. 

The Senatorial hopeful, who is currently the Executive Chairman of Kagarko Local Governnment Area, said the APC chair was biased given the manner in which he was openly supporting another aspirant. 

He noted that any attempt by the state party chairman to frustrate his ambition against the wish of the masses would be resisted by the good people of Southern Kaduna.

The council boss maintained that he was still vibrant and battle ready in the senatorial contest despite conspiracy and bias of the state party chairman.

"I enjoin the party chairman and other stakeholders of our great party to shun divisive tendencies that will cause restiveness in the region.

“I am eminently qualified, widely accepted and well loved by the people because of my laudable achievements as an executive chairman," he stated

He urged the people of the zone to go for a candidate that was dynamic, vibrant and had the interest of the people at heart. 

"The office of the senator requires a distinguished personality, not one that continually brings shame and reproach to a people or somebody that is not in tune with their yearnings .” he said.

He stated: "Southern Kaduna has been seriously shortchanged and the area could no longer continue to be relegated to the background. 

“Let me further tell you that as far as this contest is concerned, I have no rival. I am eminently qualified and positioned to emerge victorious at our party primaries and the general elections.

On the alleged plan to float a Muslim Muslim ticket in the governorship race by Gov. Elrufai's anointed aspirant Senator Uba Sani, Rabo maintained that he was optimistic that the APC will need to pick its deputy from Kaduna South to win its 2023 general elections. 

Meanwhile, as at press time,  the State APC Chairman, Jakada could not be reach for comment,  as calls put through his phone numbers were switch off.