POLITICS
2023: Okowa Cautions against Cyber Bullying in Election Campaigns
Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta and Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned against cyber bullying in the name of campaigns for the 2023 elections.
Okowa made the remarks on Tuesday in Abuja at the Northern Christian Youth Assembly Summit, with the theme ‘Unifying Nigeria:The Role of Northern Christian Youths and Women’.
He said that Nigerians should be allowed to use the cyber space to express their choices ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“We are beginning to see bullying in the cyber space of our country, I think that everybody should have his space, time, to be able to think, make comments without being bullied,” he said.
According to him, what is important in the build up to the election is for Nigerians not to act on emotions, but be guided with knowledge and build cohesion in electing credible leaders to transform Nigeria.
“This is the hallmark of those who think and use their brains; when we talk about the future is for the youths, it is actually from today.
“However, the real truth is, our youths particularly youths leaders must be in position to have a clear understanding of things so that they are able to guide others aright.
“This is because if you have a leadership that is not able to provide that true leadership of guiding people aright and people begin to think in the wrong way, then you create further problems rather than finding solutions and we all go the wrong path,” Okowa said.
He commended the group for organising the summit to discuss Nigeria’s challenges and find solutions.
Okowa also said that the topic of the event was apt, because it focused on unifying Nigeria.
He called on Nigerians not to practice politics of religion, but to unite to elect leaders that would build a Nigeria for all where things would work.
He assured that if elected, their administration would give priority to education and tackle poverty.
In his remarks, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, National Chairman of PDP said it was time for Christians to show greater interest in politics.
“I do not think God will just come down and answer your prayer, you need to act too, that way, God will help us.
“For a long time, many people saw politics as something to be left to others, but I am happy that today this narrative has changed, events have made it possible to see that the control of political power is very important.
“Therefore, it is important that Christians have to rise up, come together and show a greater interest in politics.”
Ayu also urged them to join parties and be interested in what is happening around them so as not to allow bad leaders takeover power and misuse it to affect them, their families and communities negatively.
He said that Nigerian needed leaders that would attend to the challenges facing the country and assured that Atiku Abubakar, the PDP Presidential candidate, will be the right choice to achieve that.
He assured that if given the chance, they would unify the country and enhance national development .
“We looked around and we thought we have to give him not just a vice president that will assist him, but we did our homework to select a young man who is highly educated, very humble, and who has done very well as a governor in his home state.
“It is on Okowa’s personal merit he was selected by the party as the vice presidential candidate to Atiku Abubakar.
“I think Nigeria will be very lucky to have two such people who are committed to development, who are detribalised and who believe in uniting this country,” Ayu said.
He, therefore, urged the group to support Atiku and mobilise Nigerians to vote for PDP, so as to salvage Nigeria.
In his comments, the Anglican Archbishop of Jos, Rev. Marcus Ibrahim, who read from Ezekiel 3:16-21, called on youths to guide other citizens to elect credible leaders in 2023.
Ibrahim called on the Church and youths to be the voice of the voiceless by speaking against evil and injustice in the country.
“As we enter election year, we should give our people direction, by encouraging them to come out and vote.
“Youths as watchmen should herald a new dawn in the country as we prepare for 2023 general elections.
“To me, the winning team is Atiku and Okowa, so we should make noise everywhere because that is one of the strategy God taught Joshua to defeat Jericho,” he said.
Earlier, the host, Mr Bok Ayuba, former Speaker, Plateau House of Assemby, said the group had agreed to back the PDP candidates, because they believed in their capacity to rescue Nigeria and make things right.
Ayuba said the group has branches in all local government areas of the country and would go round to mobilise support for the PDP.
“We will go to every state to mobilise from each local government to have a great number to discuss the way forward ahead of 2023 elections,” he added.
He urged members of the group “to spread the news and galvanise massive voters’ support to ensure PDP wins in 2023”.(NAN)
By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja
The Senate yesterday charged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja to urgently increase police and military presence in Uzo-Uwani area of Enugu State, with a view to forestalling the recurring clashes between suspected marauding fulani herdsmen and indigenous people, which has oftentimes resulted in loss of lives and property.
The Senate resolution followed the adoption of a motion on the need for the IGP and COAS to urgently curb the “senseless killings and maiming” of innocent indigenous peoples of Nimbo, Adani in Uzo-Uwani local government area of Enugu state by bandits, which was sponsored by Senator Okechukwu Ezea (LP, Enugu) and co- sponsored by Senator Chukwu Kelvin (LP, Enugu) and Senator Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West).
In the motion, Senator Ezea said that on April 7, 2024, five innocent farmers in Adani; a popular rice production community in Uzo-Uwani, were callously murdered by some bandits who invaded the community in the wee hours of the morning to commit the dastardly act.
He said on April 28, 2024, at about 2 pm, another attack was carried out in the same area where four innocent people in the farming village of Nimbo were gruesomely mowed down by bandits in an unprovoked attack that was reminiscent of the April 2016 Nimbo killings.
He recalled that in February 2016, Abbi community was the first to be hit by the same assailants where two people were gruesomely killed while 19 others were declared missing.
The senator noted that there was a major massacre in Nimbo community in the early hours of April 25, 2016, which left over 46 people dead and 14 persons injured, with their houses and other property completely razed.
He expressed worry that the killings did not seem to be isolated as their persistence indicated a pattern, saying that even with the 2016 killings, the authorities both at the state and Federal levels had not taken robust steps to mitigate the menace.
Senator Ezea expressed worry that if nothing very urgent and sustainable was done to put an end to the recurrent menace, people would begin to resort to self-help to ward off the criminal elements, stressing that “this might eventually lead to a complete breakdown of law and order, especially given the already challenging security situation in the region”.
He said that with the strategic location of Uzo-Uwani as a net producer of food in the country, the killings would have a significant impact on the nation’s food security as more and more farmers were now becoming afraid to go to farms for fear of being killed.
He said residents were abandoning their communities and relocating to urban areas, thereby, exacerbating the rural-urban migration crises in the country.
Senator Kelvin Chukwu (LP, Enugu)who seconded the motion added that the killing of members of the community was unacceptable, pointing out that there was need to put an end to the killings.
He said considering the strategic nature of the affected communities in rice production, there was the need to protect the residents from attack.
However, in his contribution, Sen. Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West) said although he was a co -sponsor of the motion, he was disassociating himself from the fifth paragraph of the motion, which stated that the state and Federal governments had not taken robust steps to stop the killings.
Senator Ngwu said it was a misrepresentation of facts that the state and federal governments through the security agencies were not working hard to put an end to the attacks and killings and protect members of the communities.
According to Ngwu, the Enugu state Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah and the security agencies had visited the affected communities with relief materials, adding that the state and federal governments, together with the security agencies were doing everything possible to protect the people and end the attacks.
Meanwhile, the Senate in its resolution, urged the IGP, COAS and Director General of the Department of State Services to investigate, arrest and prosecute the criminal gangs to serve as a deterrent.
It also mandated its Committees on Legislative Compliance, Police Affairs and National Security and Intelligence to ensure compliance and proffer lasting solutions.
It further urged the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to the victims to cushion effects of the unwarranted attacks.
POLITICS
Ebonyi LG Polls: EBSIEC Gives 3rd June Ultimatum for Political Parties to Conclude Primaries
By Godwin Okeh, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, EBSIEC, on Wednesday gave 3rd June 2024 ultimatum for all political parties in the state to conclude their chairmanship and councillorship primary elections.
The Commissioner in-charge of Public Affairs in the commission, Chief Nnanna Nweze-Offor stated this while answering questions on the commission’s timetable for the Local Government Election.
According to him: “Political parties participating in the forthcoming Saturday 20th July Local Government election in the state must conclude their Chairmanship and Councillorship primaries not later than third June, 2024.
He noted further that the list of nominated candidates for the Chairmanship and councillorship position must be submitted to EBSIEC before the end of Monday 3rd June 2024.
Chief Nweze-Offor pointed out that political parties conducting primaries must invite EBSIEC to observe the primaries as required by the law, noting that the commission was poised to conduct a free, fair and credible election without bias for anyone or political party.
He pointed out that soon the commission will advertise for recruitment of adhoc workers for the election, adding that various trainings will be conducted towards a successful Local Government polls in the state.
Chief Nweze-Offor noted that the commission was working round the clock to ensure a smooth election and called on all to join hands with EBSIEC in the bid to give the people the best Local Government election in the state.
Daily Asset reports that the Local Government election in Ebonyi State is slated to hold on Saturday, 20th July 2024 across the thirteen Local Government Areas of the state.
By David Torough, Abuja
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions, Amos Magaji has called for an urgent financial investment in the Federal Teaching Hospitals across the country in line with the renewed hope agenda of the current administration for the betterment of the citizenry.
Magaji who led members of his Committee on a visit to the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo said the need to allocate more funds in the health sector cannot be overemphasized considering the primary place of health institutions in the country.
He appreciated the Chief Medical Director and his management staff for showing interest in the growth judging by the tremendous achievements recorded within a period of one year.
He said that as head of the House Representatives Committee on Health Institutions, he will work with his members to ensure that more funds are made available to develop the needed infrastructure including the medical equipment to meet up with the expectations of the people.
“We are glad to be in Otukpo today to see things for ourselves. We don’t want to depend on second hand information on the true condition of the Federal University Teaching Hospital Otukpo.”
The Committee Chairman assured the management of full support of the Federal House of Representatives as appropriate incentives will be given through interface with other critical stakeholders in Abuja.
Magaji, who also observed that most of the Federal Teaching Hospitals were having almost the same challenges, advised the leadership team to accommodate all Nigerians irrespective of tribe including the host Community.
He however enjoined the Staff who he described as foundation staff to work as a team despite the working condition, “we have seen how the environment is looking and we will continue to monitor the progress. So as foundation staff, you all have the opportunity to write your name in gold”.
In his brief welcome address, the Chief Medical Director, Prof Silas Ochejele Commended the Federal Government for the establishment of the Teaching Hospital in Otukpo which has drastically changed the medical services narratives in the State.
Prof Ochejele also commended the Committee for undertaking pains to come down to Otukpo, ” the Hospital is very happy to have you here as we strongly believe that you’re coming to see things yourselves we go a long way in repositioning the Hospital for the betterment of the people’s health needs’
After the briefing, the House Committee inspected some of the ongoing projects and appreciated the efforts being made by the CMD particularly the level-playing ground provided to both staff and patients which earned them recommendation.
Para Badminton: Bolaji, Chigozie qualify for Paris 2024 Paralympics
ShareThe duo of Mariam Eniola Bolaji and Jeremiah Chigozie have qualified for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games coming up from...
FCTA Moves to Curb Medical Tourism
ShareBy Laide Akinboade, AbujaFederal capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has pledged to provide the necessary support for the successful completion and...
Ortom, Ode, Asemakaha Felicitates With Alia on 58th Birthday
ShareFrom Attah Ede, Makurdi Former Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, the incumbent Deputy Governor, Barr Sam Ode and...
NAICOM, RMAFC Collaborate on Economic Diversification
ShareBy Tony Obiechina, AbujaThe Commissioner for Insurance/CEO, Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, and his management team have met with the members...
22,000 Beneficiaries to Get N50,000 Nano Businesses Grant in Kogi
ShareFrom Joseph Amedu, LokojaNo fewer than 22,000 beneficiaries in Kogi will get N50,000 each, under the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme...
CBN Unveils Strategy to Boost Remittances
ShareBy Tony Obiechina, AbujaThe Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has activated plans to double foreign-currency remittance flows through formal channels...
Accountant General Declares N318.5b Revenue Inflow in First Quarter
ShareBy Ubong Ukpong, AbujaThe Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein on Wednesday said total revenue inflows to the...
Senate Charges Army, Police to Increase Presence in Uzo-Uwani to Forstall Peace
ShareBy Eze Okechukwu, AbujaThe Senate yesterday charged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun and Chief of Army Staff...
Ebonyi LG Polls: EBSIEC Gives 3rd June Ultimatum for Political Parties to Conclude Primaries
ShareBy Godwin Okeh, AbakalikiEbonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, EBSIEC, on Wednesday gave 3rd June 2024 ultimatum for all political parties...
Reps Member Calls for Urgent Intervention in Federal Teaching Hospitals
ShareBy David Torough, AbujaThe Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions, Amos Magaji has called for an urgent financial...