POLITICS
2023 Election: Why I Want to be President – Nwankwo
A U.S.-based Mechanical Engineer, Mr Godswill Nwankwo, has declared his intention to contest the seat of the country’s president in the 2023 election.
Nwankwo made his intention known on Monday in a telephone interview in Abuja.
He said that his intention was borne out of concerns to build on existing structures and improve the standard of living in the country.
According to the intending presidential aspirant, the country needs to be repositioned economically to retain its status of Africa’s best economy and “Giant of Africa’’.
Nwankwo, who hails from Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia, also said he would review the country’s constitution and positively review the command structure of the police among others.
“When I am elected, my first line of action will be to review the constitution.
“Also, the command structure of the police will be reviewed.
“There is what we call community policing where you allow people that belong to that community to police or protect the communities that they are serving.
“For example, you don’t expect an Igbo man to go to Sokoto State and police a community; language will be his or her number one barrier in that kind of structure because he doesn’t understand Hausa-Fulani language.
“We will want a situation whereby , for instance, people of Sokoto are responsible for their police, Abia communities policed by their people, and in the end you have a state and local government police.
“This structure must not be influenced by the Federal Government.
“So, my first assignment will be to begin to address the issue of the constitution and come up with recommendations that will work for Nigerians,” Nwankwo said.
He said that though he had yet to decide on which political platform to contest, his main obligation would be to the citizenry.
“I have been contacted by several political parties. In the end, my sole commitment will be the manifesto, agenda and what I promised Nigerians before the election.
“I will not let anything get in the way of my promise when elected and there will be no shackles holding me down from executing my promises.
“The 2023 election will be a decision for Nigerians electing a constitutional value that will affect the core values, and the lives of their children and grandchildren.
“When I emerge as president, it will be about Nigeria and not PDP, APC, APGA or any political party and so on; I will stop at nothing to see that Nigerians are secured and are prosperous.
“I will also ensure that Nigerians are able to access the opportunity we will provide and also able to have access to law enforcement that is supposed to protect them,” he added.
Nwankwo added that his manifesto, which can be viewed on “Nigeriapresident.com” , was crafted to ensure that when he becomes president, Nigerians would be entitled to have equal rights, freedom, liberty, justice and opportunity.
He said that the focal point of his administration would be for every citizen to be happy and safe while going about their lawful duties.
NAN reports that Nwankwo had previously worked for Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes INTEQ and several national and multi-national companies both in Nigeria and overseas.
He has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with specialisation in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) from Rivers State University.
He also has a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Computer Science with specialisation in Cognitive Artificial Intelligence from Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas.
The aspiring presidential candidate also acquired a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance with specialisation in Private Equity and Investments from the University of Houston CT Bauer College of Business in Houston, Texas. (NAN)
From Marcel Duru, Owerri
The Labour Party Candidate in the 2023 general elections for Mbaitoli-Ikeduru Federal Constituency, Rt Hon Uche Ogbuagu, has appreciated the party faithful in the area for their massive support for him, in last year’s general elections.Speaking during a special well attended Thank You Parley at his Akabo Ikeduru Country Home, the political Leader poured out his heartfelt appreciation to his supporters, who fought tooth and nail to ensure his electoral victory at the polls.
He explained that he did not abandon the mandate which the people freely gave to him but blamed the outcome on a few bad compromised elements who were bent on subverting the will of God and the people, maintaining that he has left Vengeance to the Almighty.According to Ogbuagu Uche Ogbuagu, he followed the right path as enshrined in the relevant laws of the land as he approached the court, the arbitrator and last Hope of the citizenry *from the tribunal to the Appellate Court.He assured his numerous supporters to keep faith alive as God still rules in the affairs of men and his faith in Christ Jesus remains unfazed.In the same vein he thanked God Almighty and the people of Mbaike, including the women and many others who accompanied him while he campaigned across the length and breadth of Mbaike.Many leaders of the party from the State, and across Mbaike which included His campaign Council Director General, Hon. Chris Egesimba, State Deputy woman leader, Chief Innocent Anukam the Chairman in Ikeduru, Chief Ifeanyi Aguocha, the Party Chairman in Mbaitoli, the Labour Party Candidate for Ikeduru State Constituency Hon. Engr Chuks Anaele and many other leaders,party executives from State,LGA and Wards,other stakeholders from all spheres attended the special event.Highlights of the events include the Observation of one minute silence in honour of departed LP Heroes in Mbaike and Exceptional Word Of Exhortation by Apostle Chiemela Rowland, which he titled ” Allow God to Avenge.”
By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja
The Board of Trustee (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the solutions to the leadership problems confronting the PDP are contained in its Constitution but are being stalled by deliberate litigations.Sen. Adolphus Wabara, the Chairman of the BoT, who stated this at the board’s 77th meeting yesterday, however, said the PDP needs to resolve the challenges in the best interest of the party and its members.
”It is incumbent upon us to resolve this matter with utmost urgency, guided by transparency, fairness, and the best interests of our party and its members,” Wabara said. He added, “Recalling the events that led to the ousting of the former Chairman of the Party in person of Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the current Acting Chairman has spent over a year in office whereas as the usual practice of the party, the region from whence the national officer hails from should have produced a viable candidate to complete the tenure of the former national officer.”Furthermore, the contentious issue surrounding the office of the National Secretary has regrettably sown seeds of discord within our party. The ambiguity surrounding this position has led to confusion and internal strife, hindering our collective efforts to pursue our noble objectives.”The solutions to these two challenges are clearly imbibed in our party’s constitution but deliberate litigations have made the application of these constitutional solutions impossible.”He said the BoT as leaders feel the pulse of Nigerians and particularly members of the party in their demand and quest for direction at this critical time in the life of the PDP and the nation.”Nigerians are currently passing through a perilous time and their earnest expectation is for us as a party to put our house in order and effectively lead the charge to rescue our nation from the stranglehold of the All-Progressives Congress (APC),” he said.He, therefore, said that the impending expiration of the Ward and Local Government Area executive structures of the PDP presented the party with the opportunity to reinvigorate and reposition for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”The forthcoming congresses at various levels serve as a beacon of hope, offering us a platform to reaffirm our commitment to democratic ideals, grassroots participation, and inclusive governance. Let us seize this moment to embrace change, foster unity, and chart a course towards a brighter and more prosperous future for our party and our nation,” he said.In his remarks during the meeting, the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Amb. Iliya Damagum, said that in spite of the challenges confronting the party, it has been going about its activities, adding that consultations were ongoing to resolve them.Among members of the BoT in attendance at the meeting are Governor of Bauchi State, Sen. Bala Mohammed, former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi and Secretary of the BoT, former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido and Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Abbah Moro.Others former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Sen. Ben Obi, former Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, former Imo State Governor, Achike Udenwa, former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, Josephine Anenih, Sen. Biodun Olujimi, Sen. Osita Ngwu and former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswan.
By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja
The House of Representatives said it is working on plans to ensure financial autonomy for managers of nuclear energy centres in the country.Chairman, House Committee on Renewable Energy, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene called on personnel and nuclear scientists managing Nigeria’s nuclear research centres to make efforts to avoid any act of sabotage that could lead to adverse incidents that would jeopardize the security of the nation.
He assured them that the parliament is working towards ensuring that the Budget Office of the Federation “grant the two Centres of Excellence Financial Autonomy, by providing them with separate budget lines for Effective and Efficient discharge of their mandate. ”Ogene made this appeal on Thursday, April 18, 2024, in Abuja, when representatives of the two Centres met with the Committee on Renewable Energy, at the National Assembly, in continuation of the investigation into why the hazard and high-risk allowances, which was approved for the scientists in the two centres were withheld by the Budget Office, but ironically, allegedly, paid to civil servants in the employ of Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), Abuja.The two Centres in question are the Centre for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife.While the Centre in Zaria, Kaduna state, hosts the nation’s only nuclear reactor, the Centre in Ile-Ife hosts nuclear Tandem Accelerator in addition to nuclear waste and other dreaded sources of radiation that must be handled with care.The management of the two high-risk centres had raised concerns over the impact of the non-payment of the deserved allowances to the morale of scientists at the two centres, who faced daily risks in managing the nation’s nuclear facilities, through a complaint letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abass Tajudeen, in January, 2024.They also raised concerns over the danger of a possible sabotage or avoidable nuclear accident as a result of the disillusionment of staff at the two centres over poor working conditions and lack of institutional support for their programmes.The Speaker subsequently directed the Committee on Renewable Energy to look into the challenges raised by the Centres.The representative of the Centres, Prof. Ganiyu I. Balogun, Prof. J.F.K Akinbami, Dr. Bashir M. Umar and Dr. M.B Katif, who spoke in turns, explained the challenges of the centres and how they have been trying to manage the situation in order to avert ugly nuclear incidents that could lead to serious international embarrassment.But Hon. Ogene, while appealing to them for calm, informed them about the efforts of the House to bring a lasting resolution to the identified challenges.Speaking further, he told them that the Committee found merit in their petition and have therefore made some recommendations, which include:”That the Rt. Honourable Speaker, do direct the Budget Office of the Federation, as well as the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to restore the Allowances under review.”Also, direct the Budget Office of the Federation to grant the two Centres of Excellence Financial Autonomy, by providing them with separate budget lines for Effective and Efficient discharge of their mandate.”Also that the various appeals by the Chairman/CEO, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, made on behalf of his staff, should be approved by virtue of the sensitive nature of the jobs they undertake.”That the National Income Salaries and Wages Commission be queried because of its negative role in the matter.”
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