POLITICS
Nasarawa State FA Election: Controversy Over Alkali’s Return

..Case Still in Court
By Ben Nwachukwu, Abuja
The time bomb waiting to explode in Nasarawa State Football Association may have reached the hottest point as the Mohammed Alkali led board of the state went ahead to reelect self without addressing the issues and objections raised by the stakeholders.
The election was said to have taken place at a hidden venue in Nasarawa Eggon instead of the original venue in Lafia agreed by the stakeholders as fear of disruption from the aggrieved stakeholders gripped the Electoral Committee.
Our investigations revealed that the Alkali led board on sensing that the camp of the nine aspirants purportedly disqualified from participating in the elections would storm the venue to protest against their unconstitutional disqualification, secretly moved the venue away from Lafia.
The disqualified Chairmanship aspirant, Haliru Ibrahim who confirmed to DAILY ASSET Sports in a telephone chat that the state FA went ahead to conduct the election without recourse to unattended matters said that his team would stop at nothing in their bid to ensure justice prevails.
He insisted that the NFF refused to do the needful thereby supporting the illegality perpetrated by Alkali and his cohorts.
According to him, “They said they have conducted the election and under the supervision of their masters from the NFF who have from the onset given them the backing to act with impunity regardless of the complaints from the stakeholders of the game in the state. But it is only a time bomb waiting to explode and it will surely explode because Nasarawa State is not governed by the NFF.”
He maintained that his team is in Court to seek justice and ensure their constitutional rights will not suffer denial even with the purported election.
Ibrahim wondered why the present NFF President Amaju Pinnick and his board have resolved to shut everyone other than those he sees as his “boys” out from the country’s football administration adding that the act does not augur well for the country which is seen as the giant of Africa in all ramifications.
“Why should NFF keep mum over the dirty activities that shrouded the elections processes even when we gave them the deserved recognition by petitioning against the actions of the Electoral Committee acting on the instructions of Alkali. They received our petitions quite right but refused to attend to it thereby confirming Alkali’s claim that they are behind him to return as Nasarawa State FA Chairman so that they would continue to under develop the state’s football. We will not accept it.”
Meanwhile, Chairman of the state FA electoral committee, Barr. Abdullahi Mohammed said his committee went ahead to conduct the election because the Court did not give any injunction stopping the election.
He claimed that the aggrieved persons did not meet the requirements of the guidelines for the election and even failed to appeal at the appropriate time.
Mohammed confirmed that he is aware that the case is in Court but insists that he did not disobey the court because there was no injunction rather, the Judge adjourned the case to another date.
DEFENCE
Army to Review Troops’ Conduct During Elections, other Operations

The Nigerian Army is set to review the conduct of troops in Operation Safe Conduct during the just concluded 2023 general elections across the country.
The review is expected to take place during the forthcoming Chief of Army Staff First Quarter 2023 Conference.
This is contained in a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.
-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Thursday in Abuja.Nwachukwu said that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, would interact with the General Officers Commanding (GOC), field commanders and other senior officers.
He said that the interaction would help to provide possible guidance towards enhancing army operations and other activities.
He said the conference, which would hold from April 3 to April 6 would offer an avenue for reappraisal of the administrative affairs of the Nigerian army.
He added that it would also help in evaluation and comprehensive review of ongoing operational engagements within the first quarter.
According to him, this will provide the army an in-depth insight to enable far reaching decisions towards achieving its set objective of addressing the multifaceted security challenges confronting the country.
Nwachukwu said that the COAS would present a new Toyota Hilux vehicles each to 14 Army Warrant Officers who had attained the peak of their soldiering career.
“Similarly, the COAS will commission the newly constructed Faruk Yahaya Historical Park located at Asokoro Abuja.
“The conference will also showcase some research and development effort of the Nigerian Army in an exhibition.
“The three days conference promises to be very eventful, as it will witness a review of the conduct of troops during the recently concluded Operation SAFE CONDUCT 2023 and other operations across the country,” he said.
Nwachukwu reaffirmed the commitment and resolve of the Nigerian army to discharging its constitutional mandate professionally.
“We will also be resolute in upholding our values of courage, selfless sacrifice, respect, discipline and unalloyed loyalty to constituted authority,” he added. (NAN)
POLITICS
Obidient Movement Not for Religious, Ethnic Considerations – Peter Obi

By Jude Opara, Abuja
The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) and the leader of the ‘Obidient Movement’ both in Nigeria and diaspora, Mr. Peter Obi has warned that the movement has no room whatsoever for religious, ethnic, and other parochial interests.
Obi in a series of tweets on Wednesday said that there is no looking back on the Movement’s objective of taking back Nigeria from those holding it down, saying that now is the right time.
“In the life of every nation, there is a turning point. For Nigeria, that time is now; a time to save Nigeria, save our democracy, and give the Nigerian youths hope.
The Obidient Movement has been the arrowhead in the take-back Nigeria mission.The former governor of Anambra state said his role in the Movement is just to provide leadership and direction, “My role in the Movement is that of a Focal Point. As I’ve always stressed, Nigeria remains a secular state. As such, the movement is not about my tribe or my religion, and it is not an Igbo agenda or in any way, to Christianize Nigeria”.
“My aspiration is for a new Nigeria, where the children of a nobody will become somebody. A nation anchored on national interests, and not sectional interests; where the entire youths from the six geopolitical zones will have a sense of belonging in the affairs of their country.
He said that his ambition is to lead a united and indivisible Nigeria and warned against ascribing ethnic or religious coloration to the OBIdient Movement.
Obi drew the attention of Nigerians to what is happening in Scotland where “A 37-year-old, Humza Yousaf is set to become Scotland’s first minister, having won the keenly contested SNP’s leadership contest. Born to Pakistani parents, who emigrated to Scotland in the 60s, Yousaf is from the ethnic minority and a Muslim.
“I have always maintained that Nigerians must rise above ethnicity, religion, and sectarian politics in matters of governance; and that the leadership selection process must be strictly based on Character, Competence, Capacity, and Compassion, only then, shall our democracy flourish, and our society progress. Contextually, the Scottish reality is instructive and presents us with some lessons learned and missed opportunities,” he said.
Earlier, the leadership of the Labour Party (LP) held an interactive strategy session with Senate-elect and House of Representative-elect members, a session Obi said was to discuss leadership and working modalities for the incoming legislators and which he noted was very constructive.
The LP standard bearer who also on Tuesday attended the 16th Ayiam Osigwe Lecture in Lagos chaired by Chief Emeka Anyaoku where the former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, was the guest speaker, strongly maintained that democratic and economic development hinges on credible polls, education, rule of Law.
Obi finally enjoined Nigerians, to strive for a leadership imbued with character, competence, capacity, credibility, and commitment.
POLITICS
AA Holds Governorship Primaries for Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi April 17

The Action Alliance (AA) Party will hold primaries for its governorship candidates in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states on April 17.
This is contained in a statement by Mr James Vernimbe, the party National Secretary and made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
He stated that the party had notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) about preparations for the conduct of the exercise.
According to him, the party will first conduct a delegate election in the three states on April 5 for those participating in the primaries.
“We wrote to notify the commission of the delegate elections to elect delegate that will participate in the Governorship primaries in the upcoming Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states 2023 Governorship Elections.
“The exercise is scheduled to hold simultaneously in the affected states as follows. In Bayelsa state on 5th April, 2023 at Action Alliance Ward/LGA Offices at 8am Prompt.
“In Imo state on 5th April, 2023 at Action Alliance Ward/LGA Offices at 8am Prompt. In Kogi state on 5th April, 2023 at Action Alliance Ward/LGA Offices at 8am Prompt.
“Consequently, the party has scheduled the Governorship Primaries to hold simultaneously in the affected states on 17 of April,” he said.
Vernimbe, however, said the primaries would hold in AA secretariats in Yenegoa, Owerri and Lokoja respectively.
He also stated that the mode of the governorship primaries would be indirect.(NAN)