NEWS
I’m Contesting Because I’m the Best Candidate – Obi
Sylvia Udegbunam Enugu
The Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, said that he is contesting the presidential election because he is the best candidate. He assured that if voted to power he would make the country the pride of every Nigerian.
Obi made this statement during his presidential campaign rally which took place at Michael Okpara square in Enugu on Thursday.
He said his desire is to ensure a new order that would serve the interest of Nigerians and also assures that he wants to secure and unite Nigeria.According to him, it is time to remove from the country a corrupt structure that has given it a bad name, enthroned hunger, starvation, bad governance, poverty and loss of confidence, and the mad emigration for greener pasture.
Obi who had earlier visited and addressed students and stakeholders at the Nsukka and Enugu campuses of the University of Nigeria while addressing the crowd insisted that the Nigeria that will be the pride of the citizenry is possible with the support of the people
Flanked by his running mate, Ahmed Datti, his wife Margaret Obi among others, he said Nigerians are tired of fake promises.
“We have more people living in poverty in Nigeria than India and China combined. We cannot continue this way. We cannot continue with the level of stealing, insecurity, and suffering in the land. I and Datti are prepared to secure and unite Nigeria,” he said.
He further promised that citizen-oriented security would be provided. ” No more police harassment. We will recruit more people at all levels of security agencies and provide them with insurance to enable them to do their work. We will create jobs and maintain rule of law. We will ensure that our people are free to move about and provide the enabling environment for trade and commerce to thrive. Nigeria will boom again,” Obi assured.
Turning to the crowd of youths, Obi told them it was their turn to be proud of the country, stressing that they would not have reasons to run away from the country should he be voted to power.
He said he left London since 2006 and had no dual citizenship and would remain in Nigeria to contribute to the development and growth of the country.
Promising to serve with the best of intentions, he said that he was running in the election because he had the requisite knowledge, ability, character, and experience to lead, stressing that the job required someone with energy.
He called on the people to ensure they picked their voters card and vote in the election, saying that doing so would help move the country forward.
Earlier, his running mate, Ahmed Datti said that it was the turn of Obi to rule the country and that nothing would come in between it. He said that besides Obi and Labour Party, any other contestant for the presidency is deceiving himself.
Former Anambra governor, Chukwuemeka Ezife, expressed happiness to be in the gathering and said there would be a new Nigeria in 2023. He said Obi’s emergence was divine, adding that he would recover the country from her several years eaten by locusts.
The former president General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and also the National Coordinator of Southern and middle belt leadership forum Chief Nnia Nwodo, assured of the support of Igbo and other zones to ensure Obi’s emergence. He also prayed that his emergence would open opportunities for the youths to take back their country.
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, Thursday and Jan.1, 2025 as public holidays.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Ministry of Interior’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Magdalene Ajani, on Monday in Abuja.
According to Ajani, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said that the public holidays were to enable citizens to celebrate Christmas, Boxing Day and the New Year respectively.
“The Christmas season is a good moment for both spiritual reflection and national renewal.
“As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, let us demonstrate kindness and extend goodwill to one another, irrespective of our differences,” the Minister.
Tunji-Ojo emphasised the importance of the season as a time to foster harmony and to strengthen bonds across families and communities.
He assured citizens of the federal government’s continued commitment to ensuring peace, security, and prosperity across the nation.
He further expressed confidence in the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu’s administration for a better and prosperous economy in 2025.
The Minister, on behalf of the federal government sent warm greetings to all Nigerians, urging them to use the festive period to reflect on the values of love, peace, and unity that the season signifies.(NAN)
Some suspected hoodlums on Saturday attacked the palace of Etsu Lokoja, Chief Emmanuel Dauda-Shelika, Nyamkpa IV, burning properties within the premises, including a vehicle.
The palace, located on plot 306, New Layout, Lokoja, was allegedly attacked by hoodlums at about 1:00 am on Saturday.
The Nupe Natives of Lokoja Development Union were planning to host the 2nd edition of the Nupe Natives end-of-the-year event, tagged “Lokoja ’24 Nupe Cultural Fiesta,” on Dec.
21, 2024, before the incident occurred.The event was, however, aborted due to the unfortunate attack.
Dauda-Shelika said this on Monday in Lokoja that he heard a big bang on my door at around 1 am.
“I woke up to check through the window, wondering what could have happened.
“Then, I suddenly saw wildfire coming out of my car that was set ablaze by attackers.
“I knew it was an attack on the palace, and therefore I could not come out because of fear of being attacked. So, I managed to come out through the back door and scaled the fence to escape for my life.
“Thereafter, I came out to the road and realised that all my neighbours in the community were on the ground trying hard to quench the fire, but unfortunately the car was burnt as well as other properties inside it.”
The traditional ruler appealed to the government and security agencies to investigate the cause of the attack and bring perpetrators and their sponsors to justice.
He admonished Nupe natives in Lokoja to avoid any reprisal attack but continue to remain peaceful and law abiding and allow the government and security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation of the attack.
“We are appealing to Gov. Ahmed Ododo and security agencies to please use their good offices to investigate this unfortunate incident and bring to justice whoever is concerned, whether directly or indirectly.
“We also want the government to kindly visit our issues by recognising and grading the stool of Etsu Lokoja, which had been in existence before colonisation,” he said.
He stated that the Lokoja Local Government Area chairman and his security team came for an on-the-spot assessment that Saturday morning, as well as the police and other security outfits.
The National President, Nupe Natives Union Lokoja, Alh. Abubakar Ndashite, said the event scheduled for Saturday was a celebration of Nupe cultural heritage and not any form of coronation as being insinuated from some quarters.
Ndashite, who doubles as the chairman of the planning committee, said the aborted event was to project the Nupe spirit and culture as well as the rich history of the diversely composed Lokoja community and the peaceful and harmonious coexistence among her.
He expressed his displeasure over the aborted cultural event, noting that the union had expended so much on it, and urged the government to bring perpetrators to book. (NAN)
The Abia Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of eight persons with two others injured in a road traffic crash that occurred along the Bende-Ohafia Road.
A statement by the Sector Commander, Mrs Ngozi Ezeoma, on Monday in Umuahia said that the crash occurred on Sunday along the Mmuri River axis of the road in Ohafia Local Government Area of the state.
She said the crash involved a Trailer carrying chippings which hit and fell on a Sharon Volkswagen vehicle with 10 persons on board.
“At the time of the crash eight persons had died including a woman standing by the roadside and three were injured.
“The injured victims were taken to the hospital while the dead ones were deposited at the morgue,” she said.
Ezeoma said that preliminary investigation revealed that the crash was caused by dangerous driving and excessive speeding. (NAN)
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