The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President Atiku Abukakar, yesterday declared that insecurity is escalating in the country because the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration does not know how to govern. Atiku, who stated this during the PDP campaign rally in Lafia, Nasarawa State, added that the APC is not campaigning because it is plannning to rig the 2019 presidential election. For his part, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, who also spoke at the rally, charged Northern Elders to speak out against the ravaging insecurity in the region. He added that Nigeria is witnessing destruction because those he called enablers have resorted to worshiping an individual and comparing such a person with God. In his remarks, Atiku, who promised to address unemployment crisis, pledged to give 40 per cent of his government positions to the youth and 30 per cent to the women, “making a total of 70 per cent, this is because I want you to succeed us.” He added, “Do you want to continue with the insecurity in this country? Before they said it was only North-east, today the insecurity has gone to North-west, it has gone to North-central, do you what to continue with? “Because they don’t know how to govern, and if you don’t want to continue with all these vices, I appeal to you to vote for PDP.” Speaking earlier, Dogara said, “On the issue of insecurity, all of us know what is happening at Borno, in Abuja, Kaduna, Zamfara and Katisna, even Sokoto now. And even Nasarawa state, Benue and Plateau state. I cannot even mention all, is a general problem in the country. But I only mentioned the state where the situation is so endemic. “Now the issue is this, when this things was prevalence in 2015 we hab Borno Elders, where are Borno Elders now? Where are the leaders of northern Nigeria, where this problem has become endemic? What are they saying? The truth is that if we don’t rise to the challenge sooner than later if things continue this way we are not going to have a country.” “So it is our responsibility to rescue Nigeria from the clutches of insecurity, because without security we cannot even understand the meaning of democracy. “Now the sad commentary about the elites in Nigeria is that we have all by our silence become enabler to those who have been unable to tackle this insecurity. And you know what enabler do? Enablers don’t build a country, they only instigate or worship an individual to a position where they will compare such a person with God and none of us was built to receive worship. Any human being who accepts worship will meet destruction. “That is why we are witnessing destruction in Nigeria, because we have elevated some human beings to the status of God. And we need to rise up as a people to rescue the country from the clutches of insecurity. “The last issue today is a referendum on education in 2019 election. Is been said that if you want to distroy a community, a state, if you want to distroy a nation don’t even fire shot, don’t even build the crisis that is been perpetrated around, don’t even bring nuclear bomb, all you do is to lower the standard of education in that society, community or nation. Once you succeeded in doing that you have killed the nation. You may not understand what am talking about here. “Right now in Nigeria universities lecturers are on strike, if it was a decent government that is committed to the future of this country, it wouldn’t take one week to resolve this problem. Unfortunately, this problem is lingering and if we shut down education, we have shut down progress, shut down the future for our teaming youths who are gathered here. We shut down progress for this country called Nigeria. “So 2019 election is a referendum on education, I have multiplied it from education, to hunger, next time we will talk about the fight against corruption, health, social welfare and the rest,” Atiku said. On his part, national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to stop hiding in the Villa and come out and engage the people. Secondus said Nigerians must elect a President they can see and feel stressing that Nigeria can no longer afford analogue leaders in digital era. He said that while the PDP candidate and leaders are engaging the people for votes, President Buhari and APC leaders are hiding in the Villa planning how to rig election. “But let me reiterate this warning to them including the Independent National Eceltoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies, that any attempt to manipulate the election would be an invitation to a national crisis. “If they love this county, they must not attempt to thwart the will of the people because it would be a recipe for crisis.
…as APC Apex leader, Dr. Ajose, LGA Chairman, Alhaja Adeshina Others applaud her exemplary virtue and kind-hearted role in the LCDA
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
It was another colourful and well attended political gathering yesterday at the prestigious Ola-Oki School of Health Auditorium, Ibereko Olorunda LCDA in Lagos state as the former Supervisor for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Nurat Olayinka-Zubair hosted over 300 widows and aged in the LCDA as she presented them food items and cash gifts to cushion the current economic hardship as part of efforts to celebrate her political associates and mark her birthday anniversary.
Report has it that, this is the seventh edition of its kind since she assumed office as Supervisor for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation before and during the era of the present Council Chairman Honourable SAMOLA.
In her welcoming address to the mammoth crowd, Zubair acknowledged each leader and guest with utmost respect adding that their support, advice, mentorship and prayers have made her to continue steering.
According to her, “I have invited you all here today to come and thank God for what he has done in my life, because this is a time and avenue to appreciate God and to continue to demonstrate the covenant I made with God even before I got appointment that I will continue to feed and support the widows and aged.”
Our correspondent gathered that over 300 widows and aged across the 5 wards in Olorunda LCDA received food items such as rice, garri, salt, tomato paste and cash from the celebrant.
Political gladiators and leaders of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) who attended the gathering applauded Zubair for her kindness, support and love for the party as they all expressed their promise to support her candidature during the forthcoming local government poll.
According to the representative of the Badagry APC Apex Leader, Dr. Sunny Ajose, who was ably represented by the Badagry Central Party Chairman, Alhaji Gafar Meyon, said this is commendable from a former office holder who is not currently serving. He added that what he witnessed here today will be reported to the party and leaders of the APC as he call on other political officer holders in Olorunda LCDA to emulate Zubair leadership style.
The second speaker at the gathering who spoke about Zubair’s unique and leadership style was Alhaja M.l Adeshina. In her words, she said, “I am a living witness to what zubair has been doing in Olorunda since the inception of its first edition up to this seventh edition, claiming that the empowerment program had brought succour to many homes and we need to support the program because this is coming from a woman.”
Also Speaking at the event, Alhaja Princess Kikilemo Pesu Ladipo said Zubair’s humility and generosity is second to none and this good act will take her to places because God will never undermine her intention.
On his own side, Hon. Ashade Joseph said what the celebrant did was purely human as he personally donated the sum of 20,000 Twenty Thousand Naira to support the good initiative and kind gesture of Hon. Zubair.
it will be correct to say, Zubair, a former supervisor for WAPA in the LCDA who work rigorously towards the success of the party during the last Presidential and Governorship poll in state is now vying for the ticket of the number one seat of OLORUNDA LCDA come 2025.
Highpoint of the event was the cutting of the birthday cake and presentation of the packed food stuffs to the widows.
Special Guest at the event where senior staff of the Lagos state Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr, Ayo Afuwape; Olori Aholu Agano, The First Ajara Agamathen Kingdom, Dr. Chief Mrs. Busola Onilogbo Odedina, Senior lecturer from the Lagos State University, (LASU) Dr. Mrs. Fatimoh Abass, current Supervisor for WAPA in Olorunda, Hon. Chief Mrs. Taibat Abisoye and The LGA Woman leader of Olorunda LCDA, Mrs Esther Asade and other Wards Woman leaders.
Wike and his T-Pain Collaborators playing politics with the suffering of Nigerians
…Atiku preoccupied with genuine issues affecting Nigerians
Our attention has been drawn to the recent remarks made by Mr. Nyesom Wike, which can only be described as another of his theatrical outbursts. Ordinarily, we would not respond, but we recognize that silence might be misinterpreted.
However, we remain calm, knowing that Nigerians are well acquainted with his antics, a lingering symptom of the bitterness he harbours from his defeat to the Waziri Adamawa at the 2022 party presidential primaries.
Mr. Wike’s comments are nothing more than a string of inanities, lacking substance and driven by personal grievances. If he truly believes Nigerians are content with the current state of affairs under the government he serves, it reveals a deeper truth: his priorities lie not with the people but with himself. This self-absorption is evident in his preoccupation with domestic affairs in Rivers rather than his ministerial responsibilities.
While he may seek to divert attention with his baseless rants, we remain focused on the genuine issues affecting Nigerians. It is clear that Mr. Wike is more concerned with self-interest than addressing the real challenges faced by the nation. In contrast, our commitment remains unwavering, centred on the welfare and progress of the people.
Mr. Wike appears to delight in conjuring fantasies, indulging in his imagination, and paying for live TV coverage to launch tirades against whomever he pleases. However, we shall not descend into the gutters where he feels at home. Instead, we prefer to rise above, maintaining our dignity while others revel in the mud.
Former Vice President of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar has described Nigeria’s former military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon as a refined and uncontroversial public figure with unwavering commitment to national unity and integrity.
Gowon
In a statement on the occasion of Gowon’s 90th birthday anniversary on Friday, the former Vice President joins Nigerians and others to celebrate this great statesman who had demonstrated leadership acumen, finesse and sagacity in handling the Nigerian civil war.
According to Atiku, “healing the wounds of the civil war through national reconciliation was one of General Gowon’s greatest and indelible achievements.”
He explained that the introduction of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a shining example of Gowon’s commitment to national integration by encouraging our youths from different cultural backgrounds to interact with other people outside their own ethnic zones.
“Happily, the NYSC has gone a long way to encourage intermarriages, thereby breaking down the barriers of cultural, ethnic and religious prejudices,” Atiku added.
The former Vice President also recalled that the impact of General Gowon’s national development plan in building infrastructure to boost economic development is still visible on the ground.
Similarly, Gowon was instrumental in the founding of one of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has helped in forging socioeconomic economic and political integration in the sub region.
He further praised Gowon’s humility and integrity, saying that his modesty and simplicity are some of the remarkable virtues for which he is widely respected.
He prays to the Almighty God to continue to bless him with a longer life and good health in the service of humanity.