Politics

Ezekwesili said this while presenting her policy speech to newsmen in Lagos on Mondy. Obiageli ‘Oby’ Ezekwesili, the presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, has identified and proffered solutions to seven “monstrous challenges” facing Nigeria.This was part of her policy speech, which she read out to the media, on Monday in Lagos.Ezekwesili, who was Nigeria’s former Minister of Education as well as Solid Minerals, also reiterated her call on Nigerians to reject the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party in 2019.She said, “There are seven monstrous challenges that I see holding us down. To solve each of them would need bold, visionary leadership and hardwork from an intelligent government:”Too little productivity and competitiveness of the Nigerian economy: For a nation of our size and our potentials, our low real Gross Domestic Product of $375.77bb after 58 years of independence is terribly underwhelming. Unlike China which grew in double digits over almost three decades to become a $14tn GDP economy, Nigeria’s growth has been trapped in cycles of boom and bust in the classic evidence of oil price volatility and effects of Dutch disease. We need a bold economic vision to define a pathway of double digit inclusive economic growth over the next decade. That is exactly what an ACPN administration will ensure.”Too much poverty and inequality: Extreme poverty in Nigeria is increasing by nearly 6 people every minute. In the time it will take me to deliver my speech today, about 250 Nigerians would have become extremely poor. Think about that for a second. But that is not even the worst part. According to the World Poverty Clock, if the current trends continue – or to put it another way, if we continue to elect this poverty-bringing APC / PDP leadership, the number of people living in extreme poverty in Nigeria would increase from about 88 million today to 120 million in 2030. “That means that in the next 12 years, over 30 million more Nigerians will join the infamous number of extremely poor people who live on less than N700 per day. When a country has a GINI coefficient above 35 percent, it means the income inequality in that country is very high. Nigeria’s GINI coefficient is between 46 and 60 percent. Such levels of extreme inequality has all sorts of destabilizing implications for the country. Tackling the inequality and lifting 80 million Nigerians out of poverty will be the mission of my presidency. We need to start the deliberate hard work of pulling ourselves, our friends and our families and our communities from this destructive poverty tsunami sweeping through our nation. Time is not on our side.”Insecurity and conflicts”Too much insecurity and conflicts: Nigeria is now the 14th most fragile nation in the world on the Fragile States Index, and the 16th most dangerous country to live in the world, according to the Global Peace Index. The country faces at least 14 major security threats across different regions, from terrorism to herders-farmers clashes, from kidnappings to organized crime and trafficking. Our young girls go to school in the morning to pursue dreams of a better life, but end up at night in terrorists’ dens, raped and traumatised. Entire communities and even local government areas in this country have been driven into hunger and poverty, as their sources of livelihoods are completely wiped out due to insecurity. The value of a Nigerian life has been devalued and cheapened.”Illiteracy”Too much illiteracy: 13.5 million children and counting are out-of-school. That is more than the entire population of Benin Republic. Even those who have the ‘privilege’ of attending our schools these days receive an education that is unfit for purpose and unfit for the competitive and productive country we intend to build. Education will be the number one priority of my government. As Bill Gates, the founder of one of the most innovative companies in the world, said, ‘Education is like a master switch that opens up all sorts of opportunities for individuals and societies.’ I intend to fully turn up that switch if elected your president.”Health challengesCiting the recent World Health Organization (WHO) ranking of Nigeria’s healthcare system, Ezekwesili said her government will give the health sector attention.”Too much health and wellbeing challenges: The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks the Nigerian healthcare system as 187th out of 190 healthcare systems in the world. Just last month, the World Bank released its first ever Human Capital Index, and Nigeria was in the bottom six out of 157 countries ranked. My position on health is that it is a fundamental human right. Nigeria loses too much when its human capital do not live healthy lives. Health is central to lifting our people out of poverty; it is central to ensuring that we have a competitive and productive economy. And in my government, it will occupy a central place,” she said.Infrastructural deficitAccording to the former minister, “Our country has become notorious for its horrible infrastructure – roads that are simply death traps, epileptic electricity supply, insufficient broadband connectivity, underwhelming rail and ports development. There is little physical links and connectivity for development due to infrastructure deficit in both urban and rural centres. We must heed the Chinese lesson from their well known mantra that “if you want to improve the lives of your people, connect them to markets by giving them roads.”Federal structure does not work”Too much structural faults: Our current federal structure simply does not work. The structure of a federation is its skeleton. A functional structure gives shape, support, and aids the movement of the federation. No wonder Nigeria is handicapped under this dysfunctional structure. There was a time when the APC agreed on the need to restructure the federation and devolve more powers to the regions and states. ALSO READ: Oby Ezekwesili criticizes Buhari over poor World Bank rating”The party campaigned in 2015 on a manifesto that propagated the doctrine of restructuring. President Buhari went along with it every step of the way because it is all about getting into power for him. He won and then began to renege on his promises, including on restructuring. He suddenly remembered all the reasons why ‘structure  is not the problem’ with Nigeria,” she added, Dr Oby Ezekwesili has constantly promised to rescue Nigeria from mediocrity if she’s elected President in 2019.

Kwara Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed assures residents that there’s nothing to fear ahead of Saturday’s by-election. Kwara State Governor, Alhaji  Abdulfatah Ahmed has assured the people of the state, especially residents of Irepodun, Oke Ero, Isin and Ekiti Federal Constituency of their safety and security during next Saturday’s House of Representatives by-election.Governor Ahmed gave the assurance during a state security council meeting held on Monday at Government House, Ilorin, according to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr Muyideen Akorede.Alhaji Ahmed said Kwara State has been traditionally known for peaceful elections which are often devoid of rancor, adding  that the state government in partnership with security agencies, is determined to ensure the forthcoming by-election will not be any different.Governor Ahmed said he has received the assurances of all security agencies in the state that all necessary resources and men will be deployed in the federal constituency to ensure that voters exercise their choice in safety and security. The governor urged all eligible voters to turn out in their numbers to choose the representative of their choice during Saturday’s elections.He also assured the security agencies of the state government’s readiness to provide logistic support for the elections.Vigilance, voter intimidation and influx of personsGovernor Ahmed urged the security agencies to remain vigilant and prevent voter intimidation and disenfranchisement in the forthcoming election and during the general elections of 2019. Governor Ahmed also admonished the security agencies to investigate the reported influx of unknown persons into the state from neighbouring states allegedly to disrupt the elections or intimidate voters. According to him, the unknown persons are widely believed to have been lodged in hotels in Ilorin, Omu-Aran and Oro towns as a prelude to perpetrating their criminal actions during the elections. Alhaji Ahmed also called on residents of the state to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements and individuals to security agencies for investigation. The meeting was attended by the state commissioner of Police,  Representative of Brigade-Commander, Sobi, Director of State Security Services, and heads of Navy, Air Force and Civil Defence in the state, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold, Attorney-General, Barr. Kamaldeen Ajibade(SAN), Chief of Staff Government House, Alhaji Yusuf Baba Abdulwahab and other members of the state security council.

Mr Femi David, the Media aide to Mr Raheem Olawuyi, the APC candidate for the by-election, made this known to newsmen in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of the state. The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara on Monday said it had uncovered plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the forthcoming by-election in some wards across the affected Local Government Areas (LGAs).Mr Femi David, the Media aide to Mr Raheem Olawuyi, the APC candidate for the by-election, made this known to newsmen in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of the state.David said there was an underground plan specifically to rig the election in Ajase Wards 1 and 2 in Irepodun Local Government area and other flash points notable for such dastard act in previous elections.The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had scheduled a by-election in respect of four local governments making up Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency of Kwara for Nov. 17.This development followed the death of Rep. Funke Adedoyin, the last occupant of the constituency slot and the subsequent declaration of her seat vacant by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.David said the aforementioned wards which were home to a serving commissioner in the state were known to be breeding ground for the opposition in perpetrating their dastard acts.He noted that it was the same wards where the said commissioner had recently embarked on discreet move tagged empowerment scheme where prospective voters cum beneficiaries were compelled to sworn to oath of secrecy.According to him, we had it on good authority that some of the affected voters and beneficiaries, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were hoodwinked into the meeting in the name of empowerment scheme.David, however, called on security agencies to ensure that these areas as highlighted by the party as being prone to electoral fraud were given adequate priority and surveillance.He urged he security agencies to beam their searchlight on Ilala and Buhari Wards of the same council for prompt surveillance.David said this would forestall a breakdown of law and order and ensure free, fair and credible elections.He urged the Police in particular, the Civil Defence Corps to be on red alert in all the towns and villages across the affected councils to ensure a hitch-free exercise.“While the APC is ready and willing to cooperate with INEC and other stakeholders toward ensuring a free, fair and credible election.“We will not fold our arms while the PDP has a field day perpetrating their heinous act and taking laws into their hands,’’ David said.Malam Garuba Madami, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, had few days ago, during a stakeholders’ meeting in Omu-Aran, called on parties to maintain  peace and play the game according to the rules.Meanwhile, Alhaji Saheed Oyelowo, the PDP Chairman in Irepodun Local Government Area, in a reaction, described the allegation as unfounded and baseless.He said there was no iota of truth in the allegation, saying it was the handiwork of some disgruntled elements, who were bent on tarnishing the image of the party.

Ortom stated this on Monday in Makurdi when a former governorship aspirant on the platform of PDP, Mr Dave Iorhemba visited him. Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would win the 2019 presidential election overwhelmingly.Ortom stated this on Monday in Makurdi when a former governorship aspirant on the platform of PDP, Mr Dave Iorhemba visited him.“PDP will not only win in Benue but will win majority of the elective positions during the 2019 general elections. The party will also win the presidential election.“We will support both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Federal Government in order to have credible elections.“We will also guard against electoral manipulations. Nobody will be allowed to rig election in Benue. We will vote and guard our votes,”  he said.He thanked Iorhemba, for agreeing to step down for him without much pressure from the party leadership, promising to integrate his campaign team into the state PDP main campaign organisation for the overall victory of the party.Earlier, Iorhemba, said that his campaign team comprised mainly of grassroots mobilisers who were chiefly, former Local Government Area (LGA) Chairmen, Councilors and House of Assembly members.He said they would work to ensure that PDP win at the ward, district and LGA levels, stating that they had been doing it over time.Also, the Director-General (DG), Iorhemba governorship campaign organisation, Mr Iorhen Shirsha, said they had all agreed to work tirelessly for the re-election of Ortom during the 2019 general elections.

According to him, the mistrust emanated from the refusal of the party leaders in the state to put the term of consensus which led to his stepping down for Ashiru into writing prior to the party’s gubernatorial primaries. Dr Muhammad Sani-Bello, a former gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State has formally dumped the party.Sani-Bello who announced the decision at a  press briefing on Monday in Kaduna, said he left because of unending mistrust between him and the state leadership of the party and its governorship candidate, Isa Ashiru.“Based on consultations with my supporters and other stakeholders, I have decided that from today November 12, 2018, I Dr Muhammad Sani-Bello ceases to be a member of the PDP”, he stated.According to him, the mistrust emanated from the refusal of the party leaders in the state to put the term of consensus which led to his stepping down for Ashiru into writing prior to the party’s gubernatorial primaries.He added that he was also not comfortable working with Ashiru, whose academic credentials were allegedly under question.“Based on my findings, the documentation of the candidate contains certain flaws which remained unexplained “, he stressed.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ashiru had since debunked claims about his academic records, saying he has nothing to fear.However, Sani-Bello added that all efforts made by him and other “discerning and concerned party members” for the state PDP leadership to address areas of friction were rebuffed.When asked which party he was heading to, Sani-Bello said he would announce the decision after consultation with his supporters and other stakeholder.

The pro-Atiku group said Buhari’s Social Investment Programme lacked sincerity and transparency. The Atiku/Obi Advocacy Group has flayed the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) for accusing the leadership of the Senate of playing the script of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, by its decision to probe the Social Investment Programme.The pro-Atiku group described the statement by the BMO as vacuous and crass, saying it reeks of desperation to blackmail, to distract, and to stoke controversy.In a statement issued by its chairman, Fredrick Nwabufo, the group said the Social Investment Programme lacked sincerity and transparency.“The Buhari administration claims it has spent more than N66bn feeding school children. But it is clear that this programme is an avenue for enriching supporters because it has not improved our education in any way. In fact, the number of out of school children has multiplied since this programme started. The number rose from 10 million to 13.5 million,” the group said.“And the schools where this feeding programme take place are at best hovels; totally inhabitable. Our education continues to take a nose-dive, yet the government is pumping money into a failed programme to enrich its supporters.ALSO READ: Here’s all you need to know about Atiku’s ‘harassment’ by airport security“We are aware that the Buhari Media Organisation enjoys this ‘Social Investment Programme’. In fact, it was designed for them. A group which goes around government ministries and agencies demanding money lacks the integrity and moral right to question a legitimate probe into what has become a political largesse for cronies, hangers-on and minions.“To show that the Social Investment Programme lacks sincerity, no Nigerian has been lifted out of poverty by this programme. Instead every minute, six Nigerians become extremely poor – according to the World Poverty Clock, which reported that Nigeria is now the poverty capital of the world. In fact, 88 million Nigerians now live in extreme poverty, and with 1.1 million citizens slipping into extreme poverty between June and October, 2018.”We are also aware that Nigerians are being compelled to show party membership card and voter card to access the N10,000 Trader Moni. Does this not show that the programme is a political gambit? “And to show that the programme lacks transparency, there is no verifiable data of the beneficiaries, their location and total cash received so far.“Only patriotic Nigerians who are not benefitting from this farce will support the Senate’s probe of the programme. All well-meaning Nigerians are enjoined to support the effort of the Senate to purge the underbelly of this failed programme,” the group noted.Osinbajo’s spokesman speaks on TraderMoni, other SIPsSpokesman to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, has described the recent protests against the TraderMoni initiative and other SIPs as an attack on hardworking Nigerians.Reacting to calls by some traditional leaders for a stop to all the SIPs, Akande described the dispute as a direct “confrontation” with the millions of Nigerians benefitting from all the initiatives, especially the projected 2 million total who will be receiving the collateral-free loans by the end of 2018.

 
The presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Oby Ezekwesili, says she is in politics to rescue the nation from its current situation.
Ezekwesili stated this on Sunday while appearing on Channels Television’s Sunday politics.
“I am in politics not because I need the title. I am in politics not because I need to answer Madam President. I am in politics because there is an urgent need to rescue our nation,” she said.
According to her, Nigerians are tired of the politics of zoning with respect to who occupies the office of the President.
The presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Mrs Oby Ezekwesili.
 
Ezekwesili stated that most citizens have alienated themselves from the country as a result of the way those at the helm of affairs govern the nation.
She, however, promised to change the way things work if given the mandate to become Nigeria’s President.
“I am interested in tackling poverty. I want to govern in a way that we can tackle poverty from more than 80 million Nigerians.
“I am tired of the failure of Nigeria. If we are going to get a different Nigeria, we need to think of economic restructuring from an economic prism. The politicians don’t think of economic when they talk about restructuring,” Ezekwesili added.
The post I’m In Politics To Rescue Nigeria – Ezekwesili appeared first on Channels Television.

Here is the full story of Atiku’s alleged harassment by airport security when he landed in Nigeria from Dubai. PDP presidential flagbearer Atiku Abubakar, arrived Nigeria on Sunday, November 11, 2018, after a three-week sojourn in Dubai.Atiku and his campaign team were in Dubai to draw up detailed strategies for the upcoming 2019 election.What happened when Atiku arrived Nigeria? Atiku’s private jet reportedly touched down on Nigerian soil at about 1:30am.  Afterwards, according to the politician, he was subjected to the most dehumanizing airport search of his life–for political reasons. “I arrived to (sic) Abuja this morning to a search by agents of the state, aimed at intimidating me and my staff”, Atiku shared in a tweet.Atiku adds that: “I am committed to building a Nigeria where no citizen is intimidated by agents of state who are paid to protect them. Together, #LetsGetNigeriaWorkingAgain”.Comrade Timi Frank, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC who is now an Atiku groupie, says the special squad of security men who carried out the search on Atiku confessed that they were directed by the presidency to embarrass the PDP presidential candidate. The squad, Frank disclosed, were armed with recording gadgets in and out of Atiku’s aircraft “to see if he returned to the country with foreign currencies or any other implicating materials.”Frank says security men and the presidency were disappointed when nothing implicating could be found on Atiku or his aircraft. In Frank’s words, “due to information at our disposal, I have been saying it that the PDP presidential candidate is not safe under this administration because the Buhari administration is deploying all manners of devilish strategies to nail all the opposition leaders especially Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.”We are using this medium to inform the international community to also take note of how the Buhari administration is intimidating the opposition presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who has served Nigeria as Vice President for eight years.”What did the PDP say about the alleged intimidation of its presidential candidate?The opposition party says the security personnel who frisked Atiku attempted to physically manhandle him.“The deadly squad, in a Gestapo style attack, and acting on ‘orders from above’ rushed our candidate immediately he landed and attempted to physically manhandle him before invading his aircraft with dangerous weapons to conduct a violent search.“While they did not find anything incriminating on our presidential candidate, this deadly squad violently tampered with certain personal documents and gadgets belonging to him, including some of his campaign documents. “We completely reject such violent attack against the person of our presidential candidate Atiku by the Buhari presidency, which we know has been jittery over Atiku Abubakar’s soaring popularity since his emergence as our candidate”, the PDP wrote in a statement. Has the federal government reacted to claims that it intimidated and embarrassed Atiku?Yes, they have. Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, says Atiku is only being mischievous with his claim. “This is a mischievous attempt to grab the headlines. Nigerians need to know that one of the resolutions of the Atiku team at their recently-concluded, opulently-held Dubai retreat was to embark on scaremongering. This is one of such”, Sirika says. The minister adds that what Atiku went through was just a routine airport search. “For the records, all incoming passengers on international flights go through customs, immigration, health and security screening.“Where the aircraft is using the private, charter wing, as the PDP candidate did, such arrivals are met by a team of the immigration, customs and other security agencies. They go to the arriving aircraft as a team”, Sirika says.Only presidents are exempt from these airport checks, says Sirika.  “The airport authorities confirm that this is a routine process, applying to all international arrivals, including the minister; unless the passenger is the President of Nigeria.“The President, the Vice President and passengers aboard planes on the presidential air fleet use the presidential wing of the airport.“It is also important to state that even in the presidential wing of the airport, which the president of Nigeria uses, there is the presence of immigration and other security officials who must stamp his or her passport on arrival.’’ According to Sirika, no one should consider themselves above the laws of the landIn Sirika’s words: “While it is true that the Task Force on currency at the airport did the routine action of checking the former vice president’s travel bag, he was accorded full respect as a senior citizen.“These checks are mandatory, conventional, internationally applied and routine. No one is excused from them under our laws.“These checks are carried out on all international arrivals and President Buhari does not get involved in them.“Law-abiding citizens are encouraged to respect the laws of the country and our VIPs should not seek to be treated over and above the citizens they wish to serve.

This is contained in a communiqué issued on Sunday after the BSO South-East Summit by Chief Stanley Ohajuruka and Godwin Onwusi, South-East Coordinator and Acting Secretary of BSO, respectively. The Buhari Support Organisation (BSO) has launched Zikist-Buharist-Movement (ZBM) meant to be used to mobilise massive votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, in the South-East.This is contained in a communiqué issued on Sunday after the BSO South-East Summit by Chief Stanley Ohajuruka and Godwin Onwusi, South-East Coordinator and Acting Secretary of BSO, respectively.The statement noted that the ZBM remains a non-partisan movement launched to go beyond the party lines to scaling up votes for Buhari through massive mobilization of APC members and non partisan Ndigbo at home and Diaspora for Buhari’s re-election.The communiqué read in part: “Our study shows that the total membership of all the political parties APC, PDP, APGA, UPP et al is less than 30 per cent of the electorate.“And that the turnout of registered voters in the previous elections has been very poor, which makes it imperative that we have to mobilize in order to achieve 2019 massive vote for President Buhari and 2023 Presidential Turn of Ndigbo.“In this connection, we today launch the Zikist-Buharist-Movement (ZBM), a non-partisan movement aimed at mobilising Ndigbo both at home and abroad.“The ZBM in the best tradition of the great Zik, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, want to reopen the ancient North-East political alliance, which without the exclusion of any geopolitical zone earned Ndigbo indelible laurels in the 1st and 2nd Republics.“BSO South East proclamation that 2023 is our turn to produce Nigeria president of Igbo extraction is based on equity, natural justice and good conscience.“For it is our considered view that the rotation of president convention from Southern Belt to Northern Belt introduced by patriots in 1999; 4th Republic, when Nigeria returned to civil rule, is for equity, natural justice, and harmony of our dear country.“It is based on equity, natural justice and good conscience that we remind ourselves that since 1999, the South East geopolitical zone is the only geopolitical zone in the Southern Belt which has not presided over Nigeria.“And it is on record that despite the truism that His Excellencies, Dr Alex Ekwueme and Dr Ogbonnia Onu, were shoved aside in Jos and Kaduna presidential primaries, respectively. Ndigbo albeit voted overwhelmingly for the winner, ex-President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo of the South West, who served for eight years’’.It recalled that in 2010 and 2015, Ndigbo repeated the same voting pattern by voting overwhelmingly for ex-President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, adding that it was clear that Ndigbo supported their two Southern brothers, even when South West in 1999 refused to vote for Obasanjo, meaning that `Ndigbo has paid their dues’.The communiqué stated further: “BSO South East in deep reflection asked ourselves, what option in a scenario where two Fulani-Muslim brothers – Buhari and Atiku – are front liners in the 2019 Presidential Election, who could the great Zik choose if he were alive?“In answering this germane question, we said two major critical issues will readily come to Zik’s mind – one, whom between the two of them has the support of the North; two, what is their programmes?“As a pragmatist, the great Zik would readily choose President Buhari who has uncommon cult followership in the northern belt. This choice is based on the pragmatism that for us to achieve the Igbo presidency, we need Buhari’s supporters not only in the north but nationwide.“On the second issue, the great Zik would be attracted by His Excellency Atiku Abubakar’s promise to restructure the country in six months in office; but as a pragmatist he will reason that it cannot be achieved by Fiat-Executive-Order.“Whereas the Atiku restructuring mantra is appetizing, the truism is that it cannot be done by Fiat-Executive Order, but by the amendment of the rigid 1999 Constitution. All that glitters is not gold, the sage says’’.The statement said that APC and by extension President Buhari was not against restructuring, otherwise they could not have set up the Malam El-Rufia Committee on Restructuring and its report receiving attention.On the issue of four years, it said that Buhari’s remaining four years after 2019 is cast on constitutional stone, while Atiku’s is at best pledge.“In summary, we call on Ndigbo both at home and abroad, to join the ZBM to actualise this noble objective of over 80 per cent massive vote for the performing president, President Muhammadu Buhari,’’ it said.The summit was attended by BSO and APC chieftains including Chief Osita Okechukwu of Voice of Nigeria (VON); the Director-General, Nigerian Film Commission, Mr Chidia Maduekwe; National Commissioner of National Population Commission, Mr Ejike Eze, and National Chairman of BSO, Dr Abubakar Mahmood.Others are Enugu State BSO Coordinator, Mr Anike Nwoga; Imo State BSO Coordinator, Adaobi Obi; Enugu State APC Publicity Secretary, Mrs Kate Offor, and the Senatorial Candidate of APC in Enugu East, Prince Lawrence Eze.

The PDP also accused the security agents of tampering with Atiku’s personal documents and gadgets. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Buhari of ordering security agents to harass its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.Atiku arrived Nigeria from Dubai on Sunday, November 11, 2018.According to him, he was subjected to a search routine that was aimed at intimidating him at the Abuja airport.The PDP presidential flag bearer made this known on Twitter immediately after the incident.He said “I arrived to Abuja this morning to a search by agents of the state, aimed at intimidating me and my staff.“I am committed to building a Nigeria where no citizen is intimidated by agents of state who are paid to protect them. Together, #LetsGetNigeriaWorkingAgain.”  According to The Cable, the security agents ransacked Atiku’s private jet and personal belongings.The pilot and the co-pilot of the aircraft were not left out either.PDP reactsThe PDP also accused the security agents of tampering with Atiku’s personal documents and gadgets.The party, in a statement on Twitter, said “We condemn in the strongest terms the attack and harassment of our Presidential Candidate, @atiku at Abuja airport today by contingent of special security forces, comprising of the army, the police & other paramilitary agencies on the order of President @MBuhari.“The deadly squad, in a Gestapo style attack, and acting on ‘orders from above’ @MBuhari rushed our candidate @atiku immediately he landed and attempted to physically manhandle him before invading his aircraft with dangerous weapons to conduct a violent search.“While they did not find anything incriminating on our Presidential candidate, @atiku this deadly squad, violently tampered with certain personal documents and gadgets belonging to him, including some of his campaign documents.“We completely reject such violent attack against the person of our Presidential candidate @atiku by the @MBuhari Presidency, which we know has been jittery over Atiku Abubakar’s soaring popularity since his emergence as our candidate.” ALSO READ: “Are you better off today than you were 4 years ago?” – Atiku asks NigeriansSent by presidencyAlso, the former spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, told Vanguard that the security agents confessed that they were sent by the presidency.Frank also alleged that they were on a mission to embarrass Atiku and plant incriminating objects in his aircraft, which he said failed.You will recall that the APC had earlier called on security agencies to probe the PDP presidential candidate’s reason for travelling to Dubai to hold a meeting with leaders of his party.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the defectors included the PRP Youth Leader in Zaria, Mr Ibrahim Hassan-Pako, and a prominent PDP member, Hajiya Sa’adiya Mohammed-Mai-Yanga. No fewer than 850 members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and People’s Redemption Party (PRP) have defected to the All Progressives Party (APC) in Zaria LGAn of Kaduna State.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defectors included the PRP Youth Leader in Zaria, Mr Ibrahim Hassan-Pako, and a prominent PDP member, Hajiya Sa’adiya Mohammed-Mai-Yanga.Receiving the defectors at Tudun Wada Ward in Zaria on Saturday, the APC Chairman in the LGA, Alhaji Aliyu Idris-Ibrahim, assured the defectors that they would be treated fairly.He urged the new members to feel at home and be supportive to ensure success of the party in 2019.Idris-Ibrahim said that active support of the defectors in the general elections would be critical to APC victory.He said that APC members in the council area were determined to convince more Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Nasiru el-Rufa’I’s re-election bid because of their good performances.“This is one of the reasons that our leaders embarked on door-to-door sensitisation of people which culminated into what we are witnessing today, receiving over 850 defectors from different political parties.“It is our hope that more will join the train very soon, and we are going to assist them with the necessary support,” said.The APC Zone One Chairman, Alhaji Hussaini Central-Store, expressed satisfaction at the defection.“I want to assure you that, as we receive you today, we are all equal; you are entitled to all rights and privileges as any other member of the party.“All of you will receive your membership cards this week to formally make you bonafide members of the party.“ I want to use this medium to call on members of the electorate to elect APC candidates at all levels,’’ he said.Earlier, the APC Chairman, Tudun Wada Ward, Alhaji Alhassan Mohammed-Qassim, described the occasion as historic, and encouraged the defectors to be active members of the party.He urged them to exhibit a high sense of responsibility, loyalty and commitment toward ensuring the success of the party in the 2019 General ElectionsSpeaking on behalf of all the defectors, Hassan-Pako said they were moved by the good leadership of APC.He called on the party’s leadership at all levels of governance to maintain good leadership.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that two other women have also been cleared by INEC to run for the position of deputy governor. Names of four women are among the list of 28 candidates cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest the governorship election in Adamawa in 2019.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two other women have also been cleared by INEC to run for the position of deputy governor.The women cleared to run for governor are: Lami Musa of People’s Party of Nigeria (PPN), Na’ama Bulama of Progressive People Alliance (PPA), Rukayya Audu of Action People’s Party (APP) and Elizabeth Isa of Change Advocacy Party (CAP).Those cleared to run for the position of deputy governor are: Hadiza Mohammed of Democratic Alternative (DA) and Rashida Balarabe of Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD).Other candidates for the governorship seat are incumbent Gov. Muhammed Bindow of All progressives Congress (APC) and former Adamawa Assembly Speaker and acting Governor, Umaru Fintiri who is Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer.Others are serving Senator of Adamawa Central Senatorial District who defected from APC to African Democratic Congress (ADC), Abdul-Azeez Nyako is the candidate of ADC, while former House of Representatives member for Gombi/Hong federal constituency is the candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP).Bappare Umaru, an Islamic Cleric who is the Imam of Jamaatul Nasril Islam (JNI) Friday Mosque in Jimeta area of Yola town, is the candidate of KOWA party and a Christian cleric, Rev. Eric Theman is the candidate of MRDD.NAN reports that this is the highest number of governorship candidates ever recorded in Adamawa since inception of democracy, a development many say is a positive one and a pointer that people are becoming more interested in participating in politics.