COVER
2023: Atiku, Tinubu Intensify Battle for Political Space
By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja
Two presidential candidates in next year’s general elections, Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have intensified their campaigns to garner more support ahead of the coming election.
While Atiku was in Benin City, Edo state for his campaign, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Tinubu was in Kano, where he commissioned the APC governorship and presidential campaign office in Kano metropolis.
We’ll Hold APC Accountable for Failures – Atiku
Atiku in a statement to his supporters yesterday, said they will hold the All Progressives Congress (APC) – led Federal Government accountable for their failures.
The former Vice President described the 2023 general election as a referendum on the performance of the APC.
He accused the APC and its presidential candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, of attempts to run away from the failures of the Buhari administration but assured that the PDP won’t let them go free.
The statement read in part: “In Benin yesterday, I made my plans clear about the work that lies ahead of us to unite, rescue, and restore Nigeria.
“It’s a plan that encompasses a wide range of the challenges that beset us currently, and the core purpose of my campaign is to market those plans to Nigerians.
“For me and everyone on the PDP side, including you, the next general election is a referendum on the performance of the APC.
“The ruling – party will want to run away from their poor performance. In fact, they will wish that we focus on topics that are irrelevant to the next election. But we won’t give them that advantage. We will hold them accountable for their scorecards.
“But even that is not enough. What is more important is that we don’t make the same mistake again.
“That’s why it is incumbent on us to evaluate the plans of each political party and let that be the yardstick of our electoral decisions”.
Atiku assured that as the PDP presidential candidate, he would focus on issues relevant to the next election.
We’ll Use Our Broom to Clean Nigeria – Tinubu
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu, inaugurated APC governorship and presidential campaign office in Kano metropolis, and declared that the ruling party would use its broom(symbol) to clean the country.
Inaugurating the office on Saturday in Kano, Tinubu said that he was overwhelmed with the campaign structure, and expressed optimism that APC would emerge victorious at all levels in the forthcoming 2023 General Elections.
“I’m really impressed with what I saw in terms of preparations and organisations of the campaign structure here,” he said.
Though Tinubu said that he was not in Kano for campaign but for the commissioning of campaign office and inspection, he assured that if voted into power, he would move the country in the right direction and Nigerians would not regret voting for him.
“We will use our broom to clean the country and give joy to all Nigerians,” he said.
Tinubu, who stressed the importance of women in the society, said that they have important roles to play in the success of the party in the general elections.
Kano state Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje in his speech assured that the people of the state would vote massively for APC as usual.
“Kano is APC and APC is Kano. So our people are on board and we are soliciting their support as usual,” he explained.
Ganduje said that Tinubu was a leader who would unite and move the nation forward.
National Chairman of APC, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, who also spoke at the event said that the party had no excuse to fail considering its popularity and number of governors.
He urged all Nigerians, regardless of tribe or religion, to support Tinubu and all APC candidates for the overall development of the country.
Yoruba World Congress Declares Support for Tinubu in UK
The Yoruba World Congress (YWC) has declared support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, with a promise to work for the enthronement of a Tinubu presidency in 2023.
According to a statement by YWC leader, Mr Adigun Raheem on Sunday in Abuja, the declaration was at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel, Stratford, London, with eminent personalities in attendance.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Yoruba World Congress (YWC), is an umbrella body of all self-determination groups and socio-cultural organisations of Yoruba descent worldwide.
Raheem said the time had come for everyone, most especially sons and daughters of Yoruba descendant, around the world to put behind the past and work for the success of their son, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the forthcoming presidential election.
He said the YWC had resolved to support the APC candidate with the hope that he would return Nigeria’s glory and bring the cohesion and peace required for the progress and development of the country.
According to him, Nigeria needs a courageous strong leader, a pan-Nigerian with in-depth experience on economy, politics and the country generally, saying that this is where Tinubu stands out.
He assured that the YWC would deploy its entire arsenal to work for Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election.
“This is the best time for Nigeria to take her place in the comity of nations and Tinubu is the right man to take us there,” Raheem said.
He added that the YWC would send representatives to Nigeria to work with the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) ahead of the election to ensure electoral victory.
According to the statement, among the guest at the declaration were APC leader, Mr Oldeebo Olaide, National Chairman of Tinubu-Shettima Support Group (TSSG) in the Diaspora, and his Deputy, Amb. Azeez Salam.
Others were: Otunba Jafaru Braimoh, TSSG France representative, Hadjia Rakeyaat Alfa, TSSG Diaspora representative, Kemi Hadjia Hauwa and TSSG United Kingdom Representative, Kemi Omole.
Also represented at the occasion were the TSSG Grand Patron, Chief James Faleke and the APC PCC Director of Diaspora Directorate, Mr Ade Omole.
The statement added that Oladapo Habeeb who represented the APC UK Campaign Council, welcomed the YWC at the event held amid fanfare (NAN)
Atiku Abubakar Eager to Serve Nigerians — PDP Chieftain
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta, Chief Fred Majemite, yesterday threw his support behind the Presidential Candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Majemite said Abubakar is always eager to serve the country due to his understanding of the nation’s problems.
Majemite said this in an interview in Abuja.
He explained that against some perceptions in the public, the PDP candidate is not a desperate politician.
He explained that the candidate had contested for the same office in the past because he is still eager to serve Nigerians.
“You know in politics once you have been beaten by the bug and you really want to prove a point that you will do better, you continue to be involved.
“Atiku Abubakar is eager to serve not desperate, hence his constant interest to be president of the country.
“If he was desperate, he had an option to be president after former President Olusegun Obasanjo first term, but he refused the option, remember at that time he had all the structures.
“But he is eager to serve the country at the presidential level, that is why he always brings himself up to contest for the number one seat.
“He is one man that understands the problems of problems of Nigeria, so I think, we should give him a chance.
“He has come out with his own programme, so we should judge him by that,” he said.
On the expectations from Abubakar should he win the presidential election, Majemite a former gubernatorial aspirant in Delta said tackling insecurity and power problem would be his focus.
“First thing is primarily he should ensure complete and total eradication of insecurity or reduction to a very minimal level.
“After that, it’s not yet uhuru in the power sector. When we talk about the free fall of the naira, we will continue to have this problem, if we don’t get the power crisis sorted out.
“This is because the cost of running a small business is something else due to the cost of diesel.
“Even the solar light, though a welcome development, but how many people can afford it now?, he said.
He said that every Nigerian needs power supply, adding that once the power issue is tackled, investors would naturally troop into the country.
“Even the companies we have here can be revived, because as it is now, most companies in the country have gone underground, because no electricity to run them.
“If he can solve the power problem, he would have been creating enabling environment for people to do their businesses.
“Then we will have enough to export and the naira will be stronger, because if we don’t change our taste, we will continue to get same result,” he said.
He said that presently, the nation is not exporting anything aside crude oil.
“We are saying everyone should go back to agriculture, but even the farm produce, we still need to preserve them, if we are to export them.
“Aside silos, we must also use warmers and dryers, so we still need electricity.
“So tackling the insecurity in the country as well as the power problem are extremely important to the PDP candidate” he said. (NAN)
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
As part of efforts to reposition the newspaper for optimum corporate performance, the management of Asset Newspapers Limited, Publishers of DAILY ASSET, has announced the appointment of David Torough as the Editor of the Abuja-based national daily.
A statement by the management said the appointments were part of the company’s new strategy to further penetrate the various states in the country and raise its readership and patronage.
“DAILY ASSET is widely acceptable across the country and to maintain our leadership position, we need to increase management presence, hence the need to create new Bureau offices in some locations outside Abuja and Lagos,” the statement quoted the Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief, Dr Cletus Akwaya to have said.
In a statement yesterday, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the fast-growing daily, Dr. Cletus Akwaya said the appointment was part of the new strategy to properly situate the paper for better productivity.
“DAILY ASSET has a commitment with the Nigerian people. We are determined to weather the storm and give Nigerian readers a Newspaper that satisfies their yearnings and reading pleasure and we can only do that with the right set of professionals,” the statement said.
Akwaya, a former Commissioner of Information from Benue State said the difficult times being faced by Nigerians posed a great challenge to the media as the people deserved credible information with which to make choices.
“We have a bond with the people, to offer credible information at all times in the best tradition of the Nigerian Press and on this scale of objectivity, truth and fairness, we pledge to remain steadfast no matter the challenges,” Akwaya was quoted to have said.
He said the newspaper will maiantin its daily print run and circulation to all states of the federation and urged advertisers to take advantage of the deep penetration of the Daily Asset brand to send their messages.
Torough, the new Editor has had a steady rise in the Newspaper in the last five years.
A graduate of Mass communication of the Benue State University, Makurdi, Torough joined the company in 2022 as Benue State Correspondent. He was spotted for his brilliance and redeployed to Abuja the following year and promoted to Deputy News Editor. He was subswuently named Deputy Editor of the paper, a position he held until the recent appointment.
Torough has attended several journalistic workshops and trainings to properly equip himself for the task ahead.
The statement also said the Management named Eze Okechukwu as Deputy Editor.
Before his elevation as Deputy Editor, Eze has been Deputy Politics Editor and DAILY ASSET Newspaper correspondent covering the Senate, having joined the organization in 2021.
Born on March 10, 1975, Eze holds a Masters Degree in Mass Communication from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
Eze began his journalism career with Daily Star, Enugu and later worked with Daily Trust Newspaper, Abuja as sports reporter.
Aside from his journalistic excellence, he has a great deal of passion for sports.
From Ngutor Dekera, Kaduna and Aliyu Askira, Kano
Northern governors and traditional rulers yesterday called for the suspension of mining activities across the region for six months, blaming illegal mining for worsening insecurity in many states.The resolution was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
The meeting, chaired by the Gombe State Governor and NSGF Chairman, Muhammadu Yahaya, had in attendance the 19 northern governors and chairmen of the 19 states’ traditional councils. The Forum expressed concern over the escalating violence in parts of the North, including the killings and abductions recently recorded in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano states, as well as renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe.“The Forum extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the governments and good people of the affected states,” the communiqué said, noting that the attacks on schoolchildren and other citizens had become “unacceptable tragedies” that required urgent collective action.It commended President Bola Tinubu for what it described as the Federal Government’s “firm response” to recent abductions and insurgency threats, especially the rescue of some abducted pupils.The governors also saluted security agencies for their sacrifices on the frontlines.“We resolved to renew our support for every step taken by the President and Commander-in-Chief to take the fight to insurgents’ enclaves in order to end the criminality,” the Forum stated.A major highlight of the meeting was the North’s renewed push for the establishment of state police, with governors and traditional rulers insisting that decentralised policing had become inevitable.“The Forum reaffirms its wholehearted support and commitment to the establishment of state police,” the communiqué added, urging federal and state lawmakers from the region to “expedite action for its actualisation.”On illegal mining, the governors said criminal mining networks were fuelling violence and providing resources for armed groups.As a corrective measure, they asked Tinubu to direct the Minister of Solid Minerals to impose a six-month suspension of mining activities in order to allow for a full audit and revalidation of licences.“The Forum observed that illegal mining has become a major contributory factor to the security crises in Northern Nigeria. “We strongly recommend a suspension of mining exploration for six months to allow proper audit and to arrest the menace of artisanal illegal mining,” it said.To strengthen the fight against insecurity, the governors also announced the creation of a regional Security Trust Fund.Under the proposed arrangement, each state and its local governments will contribute ₦1bn monthly, to be deducted at source under an agreed framework.They said the fund would help provide sustainable financing for joint operations, intelligence-driven interventions and coordinated security responses across the region.At the end of the meeting, the Forum reaffirmed its commitment to unity and collective responsibility.“Only through unity, peer review and cooperation can we overcome the pressing challenges before us,” it declared.The Forum agreed to reconvene on a date to be announced.Meanwhile, Nigeria’s worsening security crisis took a grim turn on Monday as bandits launched fresh attacks in Kano State, abducting 25 villagers, even as the Federal Government raced to secure the release of more than 300 Catholic school children kidnapped in Niger State.In the early hours of Monday, armed bandits invaded Unguwar Tsamiya—popularly called Dabawa—in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State, whisking away nine men and two women after shooting into the air and assaulting residents. The attackers also rustled two cows.A resident lamented the community’s helplessness: “We cannot do otherwise; most of us cannot leave because we have nowhere to go. This is our place, our land and everything is here.”The assault came less than 24 hours after a similar attack on Yan Kamaye in Tsanyawa LGA, a community along the volatile Katsina border.In Niger State, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has assured distraught families of St. Mary’s Co-Education School, Kontagora that the more than 300 students and staff abducted on November 21 will return home “soon.” Ribadu, who led a high-level federal delegation to the school on Monday, said the abductees are safe, though he offered no specifics on their location or the status of rescue operations.According to Daniel Atori, spokesman for the Catholic bishop overseeing the school, the NSA reassured officials: “The children are where they are and will come back safely.”The St. Mary’s attack is part of a worrying resurgence of mass kidnappings reminiscent of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction. Security analysts warn that banditry has evolved into a “structured, profit-seeking industry,” with hundreds of Nigerians abducted in November alone.The Kontagora school abduction occurred the same week 25 girls were kidnapped in Kebbi State—victims who authorities say have since been rescued through “non-kinetic” means. About 50 of the St. Mary’s hostages have also managed to escape.Ribadu’s delegation, which included the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), reaffirmed the government’s commitment to securing the freedom of all abducted citizens.As communities from Kano to Niger continue to bear the brunt of these violent incursions, the escalating spate of kidnappings underscores the urgent national demand for a more decisive and coordinated security response.
By David Torough, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said former Attorney‑General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, will face a team of interrogators at its office daily throughout December.A credible source in the EFCC said on Monday that the daily appearance was part of an ongoing investigation into the whereabouts of an alleged 490 million dollars Abacha loot secured through a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLAT) request.
The source said that Malami, who was summoned for interrogation by the EFCC on Saturday, was barred from leaving Nigeria for the next one month.According to the source, one of the conditions for his release on Saturday was that he should report daily to the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja for further interrogation.The source said Malami would have to appear daily at the anti-graft office due to the volume of the investigation and the seriousness of the charges against him.”We seized his passport, it is the normal routine during investigation, but he has to report at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja every day for the next month.”He will be reporting for further investigation throughout December.”He will be reporting every day, starting from Dec. 1st to Dec. 31st.He will appear before the team of investigators for the entire month of December.”He will be reporting to EFCC for investigation for the period because of the volume of the investigation and the seriousness of the charges against him,” the source added.According to the source, a fact sheet on the former minister revealed that Malami had several issues to clarify with the EFCC within the coming weeks.“We have asked him to explain the whereabouts of the $490 million Abacha loot secured through MLAT.“We didn’t say he stole money, but he should account for the loot. This is one of the issues he will clarify to our investigators.”The commission cited the large volume of documents he must review and the need for extensive interviews as reasons for seizing his passport.The source said EFCC would not engage in a war of words but would release its findings after a thorough investigation.Malami, in a statement by his media aide, Mohammed Doka, on Monday in Abuja, however, described the EFCC investigation as a political witch‑hunt.He confirmed he honored an EFCC invitation on Nov. 28, describing the engagement as fruitful and expressing confidence that the probe would vindicate him.Malami described the EFCC’s allegations as baseless, illogical and devoid of substance, insisting they collapse under factual scrutiny.
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