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Elections: Presidential Candidates to Sign Peace Accord Against Using Youths for Violence

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Ready to Lead Africa, a civil society organisation, on Monday said it would lead Presidential Candidates to commit against exploiting youths for violence ahead of the General Elections.

Mr Godbless Otubure, Founder, Ready to Lead Africa, made this known at a news conference, themed: “Youth-led Presidential Peace Accord and Unveiling of the National Youth Peace Symbol” in Abuja.

Otubure said that Ready to Lead Africa would host the youth-led peace accord in partnership with the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Connected Development (CODE) and Nigerian Youth Parliament.

He said the project, supported by the Open Society Foundations, is aimed at curbing potential election-related violence in the 2023 elections and also address youths on plans for a peaceful election.

He said that Ready to Lead to Africa is set to lead millions of Nigerian youths to choose peace over electoral violence as it hosts Presidential Candidates on Feb. 2 at the International Conference Centre.

“We are familiar with the events of violence that surround the process of elections in Nigeria.

“Our mission is to contribute to national leadership and development of sustainable peace in Nigeria, Africa and across the world.

“The Youth Against Electoral Violence Accord (YAEVA) is a Ready to Lead Africa peace-building initiative, designed to bring youths into the promotion of peace during elections via signing of an accord by Candidates.

“Youths are used to being used for violence, but now we are the ones calling on candidates to say we are no longer going to fight for you, we are no longer going to fight ourselves because of you.”

Otubure said that the YAEVA had been signed before ahead of six governorship elections of Anambra, Ondo, Lagos, Edo, Ekiti and Osun states.

He said that it was a testament to the strong intent of Nigerian youths to eschew violence and the corresponding commitment of political leaders to participate in electoral processes without inciting or sponsoring violence.

“The YAEVA is similar to the peace accord initiated by Rev. Kukah, Gen. Gowon and Gen. Abdulsallam but the only difference is the fact that it is led by youths.

Mr Hamzat Lawal, Executive Officer, CODE, said that the fate and the outcome of the election is centred around young people.

Lawal said that for the very first time in the history of Nigeria, youths have decided that they would not condone electoral violence.

“Therefore, the young people across Nigeria should join us in advocating for this and any candidates that does not show up on Thursday to sign the peace accord means that candidate does not support Nigeria’s unity, progress and democratic dividends.”

“Youths have signed up for peace, so we are calling on all the presidential candidates to show up and sign this accord and say no to electoral violence and stop using young people to perpetrate evil, we would not accept it.”

Mr Rafiu Lawal, Executive Director, Building Blocks for Peace Foundation, said that it was not only enough to get politicians to commit to not using youths for violence but also to hold them accountable to involve youths in national peace building and security.

Lawal said that there was the need to have politicians to commit to the youths once agenda of Nigeria and to adopt the National Action Plan for peace and security to involve youths in governance, among others.

Mr Yusuf Dantalle, National Secretary of the Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC), commended the Ready to Lead Africa for the initiative.

Dantalle assured the group of IPAC’s commitment to building peace in the nation and for free, fair and credible elections.

He advised youths not to jump into politics starting from the national level but to grow through the process from the grassroots level.

He said that IPAC would continue to give the necessary support to all electoral stakeholders to ensure a credible poll. (NAN)

POLITICS

I Didn’t Call for Ganduje’s Resignation – Alia

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From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue has denied calling for the resignation of Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman.
This was contained in a press statement issued on Wednesday in Makurdi by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Tersoo Kula.


The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CPS was reacting to some media reports that the governor has called for the resignation of the APC national chairman.

The Kula said the governor at no time called for the resignation of the APC national chairman.
He said the governor enjoyed a good relationship with the Ganduje-led leadership of APC.
“It is imperative to clarify that at no point did Governor Alia assembled, attended and sent a representative or participated in any meeting to discuss the removal or call for resignation of Alhaji.
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
“The Benue State governor remains firm in his support and allegiance to the leadership of the National Working Committee of the APC, under the leadership of Alhaji Ganduje.
“Furthermore, at no point, whether publicly or privately, has the governor advocated or expressed any desire for the resignation of the National party chairman”, he said.
He said the governor was focused on positively changing the fortunes of the state.
“He is alive to his responsibilities as the leader of APC in Benue State and is doing everything legitimate to reposition the party for future victories.” Kula said.
Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in Benue State said it has withdrawn the only case filed by the embattled state chairman of the party, comrade Austin Agada that was pending before High Court 4 in Makurdi.
It said the said case has been consequently struck out by Justice T.A. Kume.
The state publicity secretary of the party, Daniel Ihomun,  said this was done in compliance with the directive of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in its 146th meeting held on the 20th March, 2024, wherein resolutions targeting peace were made directing all pending cases filed by members of the party in Benue State against the party or concerning the party and its members be withdrawn within 7 days.
Mr. Ihomun in a statement, made available to newsmen in Makurdi, said the State Legal Adviser of the APC, Alyebo Mathew Esq, at the instance of the state chairman, filed a Notice of Withdrawal on the 25th March, 2024, in the only case filed by the chairman that was pending before High Court 4 in Makurdi.
The party urged all members affected by the directive to withdraw all matters in court to clear the way for proper reconciliation that will ultimately pave the way for peace in the party.

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POLITICS

Mutfwang Meets PDP North Central Leadership Calls for Unity among Officials

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From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has called for unity a purpose among officials of the North Central geopolitical political zone towards the growth of the party in the region.
He noted that the region has consistently remained a stronghold for the PDP since its inception, attributing it to the party’s ideologies and its developmental impact on the citizens at any given opportunity.


Governor Mutfwang made the commendation during a meeting on Wednesday with PDP officials from the North Central, led by the zonal National Vice Chairman, Hon.
Theophilus Dakas Shan, at Plateau House in Abuja the nation’s capital.

While applauding the dedication, patriotism, and steadfast support of the PDP officials in the region for their role in promoting unity and internal democracy in the party reiterated that such dedication will not be forgotten by the party.
Governor Mutfwang through his Director of Press and Public Affairs expressed his gratitude to the zonal officials for their commitment during the 2023 general elections, an effort he said aligned with the party’s principles.
He reiterated that the party’s mission is to govern not for personal gain but for the people’s liberation, voicing his expectation that the PDP will continue to be the people’s party, deserving of significant involvement in its administration.
As the opposition party, the Governor emphasized the need to strive for the governance Nigerians aspire to, stating, “We must offer constructive criticism to the government and ensure the Nigerian people are not shortchanged.”
The Governor announced plans to reform the party into a robust, dependable, and credible political platform that enables Nigerians to run for elections and fulfill the promise of democracy.
The National Vice Chairman of the PDP North Central Zone, Hon. Theophilus Dakas Shan, congratulated Governor Mutfwang on his election and Supreme Court victories.
He pledged full support to his administration, noting that the Governor’s unique position as the sole PDP-elected Governor from the zone will not be taken for granted.
He acknowledged the North Central’s role in electing the National Chairman of the PDP by consensus before the 2023 elections. However, recent political events in Benue State, has set aside the Chairman from office adding that the zone needs to address the matter as a family.
Hon. Shan said plans are underway to hold congresses of the Party and called for unity to ensure that the process is reliable, credible, and universally accepted, thereby minimizing potential litigation.

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FG Seeks Swedish Govt Support on Technical Education

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By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Federal Government is seeking the support of the Swedish Government to help drive its ongoing efforts of integrating technology and skills into the education sector.The Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman who made the appeal while hosting the Ambassador of Sweden to Nigeria, Annika Hahn-Englung, on a working visit to the ministry on Tuesday in Abuja, said it was important to leverage Sweden’s technical expertise.

The Minister also said the Federal government is seeking the support of the Swedish government in the development of indigenous languages to aid sound educational development in Nigeria.
He said: “The presence of (Swedish) tech companies in education and training is very important for us because one of the major things this ministry is focusing on now is to bring technology and skills into our education system right from the very early stage of education and we feel it is a very important mechanism tool for learning and teaching.
”And so we will be looking at your experiences to see how we can grow from that because what we want is right from primary school we want our students to be exposed to technology and skills so that at that stage they can grow with it and nurture critical thinking capabilities.“Right now education is not all about just providing training for jobs and skills of today, but preparing them to think about the skills of tomorrow and the best way to do that is by nurturing critical thinking capability right at the early stage.“So we will be leveraging your expertise and experience in order for us to develop our plans and integrate skills and technology into the curriculum at all the levels of our education system in Nigeria.”Mamman who noted that some agreements had been signed between Nigeria and Sweden in the past, however, stressed the need for both countries to deepen bilateral relationships by committing to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in several areas of partnerships.The Swedish envoy had earlier named some Swedish firms in Nigeria engaged in educational and entrepreneurship programmes.Hahn – Englung who expressed Sweden’s readiness to deepen existing relationships, especially in the area of education, noted Sweden’s desire to have more students study in the country’s institutions of higher learning.“We have quite a number of companies especially when it comes to EdTech but then also, we have ideas to see what we can do more together.“We have many Nigerian students going to Sweden every year. They are very competitive students we have noticed but we will like to see that expand more.”

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