POLITICS
Shettima assures fraternal bond between executive, legislature
Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured Nigerians of continued fraternal bond between the executive and the legislative arms of government.
Shettima gave the assurance when he declared open a two-day retreat for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly (NASS) in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom on Friday.
The vice president said that President Bola Tinubu remains committed to safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy.
Shettima also assured the leadership of the National Assembly of Tinubu’s avowed commitment to entrenching democratic ideals and values through collaborative partnership with all arms of government.
He said the unrivalled democratic credentials of Tinubu, which include legislative experience, would continue to rub off on his governance style.
This, he said especially as it borders on respect of the rule of law, adherence to separation of powers as well as deference for constitutional rights.
Shettima described the composition of the Federal Government as well as the leadership of the National Assembly as historical, unique and a major pathway to Nigeria’s unprecedented development.
This, he said, was more so that the expectations of Nigerians would be met regardless of the present challenges.
“For the first time in our history, all the elected heads of our branches of government are produced by the hallowed halls of the National Assembly.
“For the first time in our history, the heart of the executive branch of our government is serviced by the alumni of the National Assembly.
“Both the Chief of Staff and the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President are proud alumni of the National Assembly. The Secretary to the Federal Government is one of us.
“We cannot, therefore, afford to go to war. Not because we are going to overlook each other’s transgressions, but because you are going to engage with those who know the gravity of your work and would never take you for granted.”
He said given the composition of the National Assembly, it has become emphatic that ranks are closed in the bid to give unprecedented service delivery and democratic pact to the Nigerian people.
“There’s no place in this country where you can find a fraternal bond as enduring as the ones that bind the members of the National Assembly.
“From converging on Abuja to water the dreams, debate the needs, and mitigate the fears of this diverse nation, we have forged friendships that defy the stereotypes of our differences.
“Term after term, election after election, old and new members return and exit, but the burden of managing a diverse nation has ensured that we cannot afford to tread the path of divisions.”
He further reiterated the need for national cohesion, saying it has become non-negotiable if the country’s potential must be fully harnessed and tapped for prosperity and generality of all Nigerians.
“You have a President and a Vice President who are one of you and recognise the sacrifices you make.
“President Tinubu has, with utter certainty, reassured us that we are not in government to go to war with the National Assembly. We are here to collaborate and march towards shared values.
“Governance is a collective responsibility, not a personal endeavour. Our most significant achievements were attained through cooperation and harmony.
“This is what we seek from you because we are brothers and sisters in pursuit of a country that serves all of us.
Shettima described the NASS as a complete spectrum of human experience.
“This is where you will witness eloquent testimonies of your colleagues in defence of reason.
“This is where you will witness profound debates that will dismantle your age-long assumptions. But, in the end, you will realize we are all bound by our fidelity to the ideals of democracy.”
Earlier, President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, said that the retreat was the beginning of the rejuvenation and a time of reflection and deliberate planning that would determine the direction of legislative efforts.
“We have a huge responsibility as the National Assembly leaders, as the guardians of democracy, it is our responsibility to set the legislative agenda, make sure that our venerable institution runs smoothly.
“Our neighbours are watching us, and they turn to us for leadership and action. We therefore have a chance to establish a strong future direction during this retreat, which is more than just a gathering of leaders.”
Also, the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, thanked Tinubu for his continued support and deepened respect for legislative independence and harmony.
He said the institute remained committed to working with the 10th NASS in improving legislative governance.
Notable guests at the event include Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, former Senate Presidents Ayim Pius Ayim, David Mark, Ken Nnamani and Ahmed Lawan.
Others were the Head of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Germany, Mr Johnnes Lehne and all Principal leaders of the National Assembly.
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
A total of eight political parties in Benue State are fielding candidates for forthcoming Local Government Council Elections in the State slated for Saturday 5.
Towards this end, the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) has put adequate arrangements on ground for a hitch-free exercise.
The Chairman of the Commission, Richard Terlumum Tombowua, disclosed this on Thursday during a media briefing held at the Commission’s headquarters in Makurdi.
He listed the political parties participating in the elections to includes; African Action Congress, AAC, All Progressives Congress, APGA, Labor Party(LP), New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Zenith Labor Party(ZLP).
He further disclosed that the Commission has already carried out verification of candidates for the election on September 12, adding that on Monday 16 September, political parties returned names of substituted candidates.
According to him, on Tuesday 17 September, 2024 the commission displayed the list of substituted candidates by the political parties, while the main elections have been fixed for October 5th, 2024.
Tombowua explained that no political party or a faction of any party is being favoured by the Commission as be speculated in some quarter, stressing that he received letter from the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, APC to work with the caretaker committee led Benjamin Omale in dealing with the party.
He said a similar letter was received by the Commission from the national secretariat of the People’s Democratic Party PDP to also work with their caretaker committee in the State and assured that the Commission will conduct free, transparent and credible elections.
“On our part, we are ready to conduct free, fair and credible elections. Initially 14 political parties indicated interest to participate in the election but at the end, 8 parties were fielding candidates to contest in the election.
“The House of Assembly approved our budget of 6 billion naira and as for payment; we are getting it as it is coming. We have procured 21 vehicles and made provision for sensitive and non-sensitive materials to enable us to conduct the election.
“We have already started receiving most of the materials we are going to use in the election. We also have other activities which will commence from Saturday 21, 2024 to October 5, 2024. We have made arrangements for the training of staff and adhoc staff beginning from Thursday next week”.
“We have procured parts of sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the elections. We have taken delivery of 21 vans for area offices and are awaiting the remaining ones.
“There is nothing that will stop this election, aside from God because the latest amendment to the Electoral Law has prohibited Court interference from any activity leading to this our election
“So whether you go to court, whether you have an injunction or not it will not stop us from conducting this election going by the latest Benue State LG amended law”.
“However, we shall not be using Bimodal verification and accreditation machines (BVAN) because the new law did not make provision for that “.
Eight political parties Electorates in Benue State will elect new chairpersons and councillors for the 16 local governments in the state on Saturday, with only five of Nigeria’s 19 political parties fielding candidates for the elections”, he stated.
By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has said that the Senate will tinker with the constitution to allow the Supreme Court Judgement on local government autonomy to be implemented.
Akpabio stated this yesterday when he received members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, who were loyal to the erstwhile Interim National Secretary of the party, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, in Uyo.
According to Akpabio, “I thank President Bola Tinubu, for looking for a way to bring the all needed autonomy to the local governments through the intervention of the Supreme Court.
The Senate, under my leadership, will tinker with the constitution to ensure that the judgment is fully implemented without any loopholes for manipulation by the practitioners.”It would be recalled that the former APC scribe had defected to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), after losing out in the leadership of the party.
Speaking further on the return of the party members Akpabio said, “The only thing that is permanent in life is change. Before my coming into the APC, the party never won even a councillor seat in the state and I came into the party in 2018, the then leaders of the party saw me as an enemy.
“During the 2019 elections, the APC worked against the APC. We had the best chance to have won the governorship and other elections in the state, but the then leaders refused to see it from that angle.
“I joined the APC so that we would be linked to the center and I thank God today that that dream finally came to pass in 2023. I am today the President of the Senate, through the grace of God Almighty, the support of President Bola Tinubu and my distinguished colleagues who elected me.
“God knew that I meant well for our people, so he elevated me to the position of the President of the Senate. When you raise people, your hands remain up and when you bring people down, your hands will also be down. So follow the person we know.”
“On behalf of the party leadership, I welcome you back. I am happy that you have all returned to the party where you belonged. Now that you are back, May God blesses you and grants the progressive desires of your hearts.”he prayed.
Speaking on behalf of the returnees, who said they never left the party, even though their leader left, Eteubong Alex Umoh, Obong Kufre Akpan and Mrs Roseline Eyang said,” we never left the APC. We never joined any other party, because we know you as the leader of the party in the state. We all recognize the President of the Senate as our leader in the state. We refused to be weapons of war in the hands of anybody against you and the party leadership.
“We are happy that we are all here today. There is no division in the APC because we are now one united family.”
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Kogi state governor, Usman Ododo has given an assurance that he would leave no stone unturned in ensuring free, fair and credible local government council elections slated for October 19 in the state.
Ododo in his speech at the Flag-off Campaigns of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lokoja on Thursday promised a level playing field for all the participating political parties and provision of adequate security.
He said his administration has laid the foundation for the victory of APC by touching the lives of the people positively
While commending president Bola Tinubu for making security top priority of his administration, Ododo said that the gesture accounted for the peace being enjoyed in Kogi, the governor assuring that the election would not only be l peaceful but free, fair and transparent
He appealed to the people to support the president in his drive to reposition the economy of the country, saying that the president meant well for the nation, assuring that the people will soon continue to see the dividends of his efforts, adding that the hardship being experienced now will soon be a thing of the past.
Speaking further he told APC members and support to come out on October 19 to cast their votes for APC, saying that the party meant well for the people and will continue to deliver dividends of democracy to them.
“The party cares about the welfare of the people of the state. I urged you therefore to work for the candidates that will utilize your resources to work for you and those are the candidates of our party the APC.
“The mandate given to me as Governor is to work for the benefits of the people and not about noise making. I and my team will continue to do that without making noise about it.
“We have been able to intervene in the provision of quality and adequate health for our people, improved infrastructure, investment in education, youth employment and women empowerment, which he said will form the basis of the APC campaign.”
He however urged the people of the state not to be intimidated by anyone, but to go out boldly to cast their votes for the candidates of the APC.
He thanked the people of the state for their support which he said was largely responsible for the successes recorded by his administration, saying that he will not disappoint them.
The chairman of APC in the state, Abdullahi Bello in his welcome address advised members of the party and supporters to engage in door to door campaigns to garner more support for the candidates of the party.
He assured that the party is going to win all the chairmanship positions, because the party has done well in the state.
The representatives of the three districts; Ibrahim Ahovi, Kogi Central; Matthew Kolawole, Kogi west and Comfort Egwuaba in their various speeches assured that the votes from their areas will be total, saying there was no opposition anywhere in the state again.
Egwuaba particularly noted that, the emergence of women as Vice chairmen for APC across the 21 LGAs along with five Councilorship positions, along with numerous women appointed in the governor’s cabinet has made the campaign easy for them.
Earlier, the Chairman of the APC local government campaign committee, Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman noted that the governor has simplified their job by over 90% with his impressive performance in office as Governor.
Usman who scored the Governor high in Agriculture, infrastructural development, payment of salary to both State and LG workers, added that this is also another campaign point for the committee.
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