COVER
PDP Flags off 2023 Presidential Campaign in Grand Style
By Jude Opara, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Monday in Uyo the Akwa Ibom state capital flagged off its presidential campaign ahead of the 2023 general elections. The event was attended by leaders of the party at all levels including state governors, members of the National Assembly, former ministers and party faithful from across the country.
However, conspicuously missing was Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state and his allies, who are the governors of Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu; Oyo, Seyi Makinde; Benue, Samuel Ortom and Enugu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. These governors and their supporters have insisted on the resignation of the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as a precondition for them to campaign for the party.
Speaking at the occasion, former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar said the party was the only one that has the capacity to return the country to its glorious years which he said has been ruined by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Abubakar noted that in 1999 when the party took over the leadership of the country from the military, the country was also at ground zero but that the PDP rescued it to the point that it became the largest economy in Africa, regretting that the APC came to power in 2015 and turned back the wheel of progress and development.
“When PDP came to power in 1999, we met Nigeria in a state of poverty, insecurity and lack of education. We lifted Nigeria from the bottom to the top. We became the biggest economy in Africa, we had peace, we had progress. Then Nigerians said they wanted change and they voted for change in 2015. What we have seen is poverty, insecurity, lack of jobs and disunity. Our children are no longer going to school.
“Today as we inaugurate the flag-off of the campaign to rescue Nigeria, to rescue Nigeria from hunger, to rescue Nigeria from poverty and bring back the unity we are lacking in this country.
“I want to appeal to all Nigerians to vote for PDP. If you vote for PDP, it will be a vote for prosperity, it will be a vote for unity, it will be a vote for your safety. So there will be no more hunger and there will be security.”
In his remarks, National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu in a veiled knock on Governor Wike and his allies reminded them that the train of the party has left the station. He added that it was moving slowly so that those who are yet to come on board may decide to join the train.
Ayu also stated that only the candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar has what it takes to rebuild the country, hence the call on Nigerians to cast their vote for the party for a prosperous nation.
“The PDP train has started moving and we have left the station, but we are moving slowly so that those who are yet on board will join us on the train. It is important for us as leaders, Nigeria is not interested in our personal quarrels, Nigeria is waiting for us to come and rescue them from what is worrying them.
“The PDP knows what is worrying Nigerians, Nigerians are hungry, Nigerians are suffering from all sorts of sickness, Nigerians cannot move from one point to another without worries, Nigerians cannot sleep because of insecurity, Nigerians are getting more and more divided, Nigerians are complaining and are hoping that what we did for them in 16 years we will come back and do it for them again. Let us all join hands together because we have the solution”.
The Director General of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) and governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Tambuwal in his comments said the duo of Atiku and his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa were the best team the party could present at the moment to run the country. He added that the PDP ticket has respected the plurality of the country adding that the party was only on a mission to rescue the country.
“Today is a very historic day in the history of this country of our country as we present the most competent of all of us that are running for the presidency of this country as at today. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. The ticket of Atiku/Okowa has recognized the plurality and capacity of Nigeria and have respected our character as a nation and our party is presenting forth this two great Nigerians that have the capacity the character the competence to move the country forward.
“Our party is on a mission to rescue Nigeria and to restore its value and I believe the other party their candidature is not only against the Federal Character but against the constitution of Nigeria because it doesn’t reflect the Federal Character of Nigeria. From day one they are planning to plant a seed of discord in this country and we must not allow that to happen. We have a balanced ticket, we have a ticket that can rescue Nigeria from its current situation and I appeal to all of you men and women of goodwill to join the train of Atiku Okowa to rescue, reset and restore Nigeria”.
In his welcome address, Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel lamented the woes that have confronted the nation under the APC administration and asserted that Atiku Abubakar was the only presidential candidate with required experience, energy and capacity to lead the nation at this point in time.
“Nigerians have suffered untold woes under the APC. Atiku Abubakar has the required experience and capacity to rescue and rebuild our nation. He knows and understands the nuances of the nation and he will carry every part of the nation along.
“We must elect people who have the capacity to manage successful businesses. If you cannot manage a kiosk, you cannot manage the economy.
“As we flag off our campaign, we want to tell Nigerians that the plane to a successful nation is taking off today. Today, we are flagging off hope and the mission to rescue Nigeria”.
Speaking, the PDP Vice Presidential Candidate and governor of Delta state. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa stressed that Nigeria was faced with myriads of problems arising from the misrule of the APC. He said the nation needed rescuers at this point, adding that the PDP has brought the best option for Nigerians to choose from.
“While other parties are presenting lieutenants, our party, the PDP, is presenting a well tested General. We need experienced people like Atiku to rescue and rebuild our country. He is comfortable with all the zones in Nigeria. He has the capacity and experience to address the security and economic challenges of the nation”.
2023: No Alternative to APC Victory— Buhari
Meanwhile President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday affirmed that there was no alternative to the victory of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general elections. To ensure this, President Buhari challenged members of the APC Women Presidential Campaign Team to work hard in ensuring victory for the party in the 2023 general elections.
The president, who made the call at the inauguration of the APC Women team in Abuja on Monday, said the call had become imperative in view of the fact that there was no alternative to APC electoral victory in the 2023 presidential election.
Buhari, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari enjoined members of the team to take the party to greater heights by developing and implementing a collective an inclusive party strategy for smooth victory in the elections.
He described the inauguration of the APC women presidential campaign committee as the most crucial component of the 2023 campaign.
”To this end, I call on all members of this committee to take on this great responsibility as a testament of your selfless service to the APC.
”I strongly believe that this committee will take the APC to greater heights by developing and implementing a collective an inclusive party strategy to ensure a PCS victory in the 2023 election, because there is no alternative to our victory,” he said.
The president, who congratulated all members of the committee and the leadership of the party for the laudable initiative, wished the team a successful campaign season.
He, however, warned that the team must always be guided by the fact that their mission would involve going round the whole wards in the 774 Local Government Areas of the Federation campaigning for the party.
”The mission that lays ahead for the Committee’s is very clear, and time is not on your side. As this lunch is being hosted in Abuja, we must remember that the real work lies in far places, away from Abuja.
”The task at hand lies in over 1000 wards, and 774 local governments across the country where a party faithful will have to make a case before fellow citizens on our party’s candidate by articulating the vision and the programme for the country.
”The campaign should therefore resist the temptation for it to be turned into an Abuja activity,” he added.
The president also lauded the Nigerian women for their sacrifices and loyalty to the party
He said: ”Throughout my political journey, and my tenure, as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, women have remained the most loyal, the most supportive group in my mission for a better Nigeria.”
Buhari, therefore, charged the women to extend the same support he had been enjoying from them to the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, and the vice presidential candidate, kashim Shettima, as well as other APC candidates during and after the 2023 general elections.
The president also directed the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, in conjunction with the Minister of Women Affairs, to work closely with the office of the First Lady and the National Assembly to ensure the passage of bills aimed at creating level playing field for Nigerian women.
The APC Women Presidential campaign Team is being headed by the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari.
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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