2023: Atiku, Shettima, Obi Proffer Solutions To Nigeria’s Challenges – Newstrends
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2023: Atiku, Shettima, Obi Proffer Solutions To Nigeria’s Challenges

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Peter Obi, Kashim Shettima and Atiku Abubakar

Leading presidential candidates in the 2023 general elections have proffered solutions to some of the challenges facing the country.

Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kashim Shettima, spoke yesterday at the opening plenary of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos.

The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, did not attend the ceremony, while that of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was represented by Shettima.

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),

Professor Peter Umeadi, also attended the conference.

The candidates were invited as panellists to speak on “Democratic Transitions in the 21st Century Nigeria: 2023 and Beyond”.

I’ll attract local, foreign investment in health, education – Atiku

Atiku, who lamented that Nigeria had never found itself in a critical point as it was today, called on the citizens to choose right in 2023 in order to address the challenges.

He said, “Today, we have all the negative indices. Today, we are all disunited in the nation. We had never experienced this level of poverty. We had never experienced this state of insecurity. We had never experienced this level of unemployment. We have recognised all these negative developments in our history.

“This is where history and experience beckon on us to make sure that we don’t get it wrong at this point in time; otherwise if we get it wrong, I don’t know when we will ever get it right.

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“I was involved in the struggle to return this country to democracy in the time of military days.  In fact, I can say I am lucky to be alive because so many of my contemporaries have been killed in this struggle, but by the grace of God I have survived till this point in time.”

The former VP proposed reforms to create an enabling environment for foreign and local investors to invest in various sectors, including healthcare and education.

He said the federal government did not have the resources to be solely responsible for development.

He submitted that, “The only way is to make sure that a conducive environment is available for the local and foreign investors to participate in the development of our country; whether it is infrastructure, education or healthcare.”

You should vote for competence, Obi tells citizens

Obi of the LP said the country’s woes had gotten so bad that the 2023 elections would not be about religion or tribe, but about who had the character and competence to deliver the country from its current mess.

He said, “Nigeria is in a mess. We got here simply because of the accumulative effects of bad leadership. The coming elections are not about tribe or religion, but about character and competence. We need a bold transition from a highly insecure state to a highly secure state.”

We’ll lead our troops to frontlines – Shettima

Shettima on his part promised that the APC would lead Nigerian troops in its fight against terrorists and bandits terrorising major parts of the country. He said his principal, Tinubu, would concentrate on the economy and transform it to be the best in Africa.

He further said, “Nigerians should follow the man who knows the road. From day one, we will hit the ground running. We will promptly address the issue of the economy, ecology and security. And we have the antecedence. I built some of the best schools in Nigeria. Go to Borno and see wonders; you will never believe that it is a state in a state of war. So, we are going to replicate our achievements in Lagos, in Borno and some of the frontline states so that our nation will be a better place.”

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Nigeria starved of heroes

Award-winning writer, Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie, who was the event’s keynote speaker, lamented that Nigeria was starved of heroes to mentor its citizens, particularly the youths. She said, “We are starved of heroes. Our young people do not find people to look up to anymore.”

The author of “Half of a Yellow Sun” called on Nigerians to embrace self-criticism and untangle the knot of injustice so that peace and good governance could thrive.

She said, “There is need for resurrection. We cannot avoid self-criticism, but criticise the government. We cannot hide our own institutional failure while demanding transparency from the government.”

Naira rains for female footballers

Meanwhile, the author mobilised participants at the event to raise over N3m for the female NBA team. During her address, she noted that there was “injustice” in the monetary compensation which the male and female NBA teams would receive in the football competition.

After her speech, several personalities, including the Director General (DG) of the Bola Tinubu Presidential Campaign Organisation, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, and the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, donated to raise the prize money of the female NBA team to N3.2m from the initial N200,000. The winning prize for the male team, it was learnt, is N500,000.

Shettima’s dress stirs social media buzz

The social media came alive yesterday as netizens shared their reactions on the outfit of Shettima at the NBA conference.

Shettima was dressed in a suit and tie, accompanied by a pair of gym shoes, which many people found odd.

No fewer than 13,000 lawyers nationwide attended the opening ceremony of the NBA Annual General Conference (AGC) which was declared open by the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

The CJN, who was represented by the Chief Judge (CJ) of Lagos State, Justice Kassim Alogba, said the conference was the largest gathering of lawyers on the face of the earth.

He commended the NBA President, Olumide Akpata, for his leadership qualities.

Lagos State Attorney General, Moyosore Onigbanjo, represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The theme for this year’s NBA AGC is “Bold Transition” and is being held at the Lagos Eko Atlantic City between August 19 and 25.

Daily Trust

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BREAKING: EFCC, Cubana Chief Priest agree to settle out of court

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May 2, 2024

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BREAKING: EFCC, Cubana Chief Priest agree to settle out of court

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and celebrity bartender, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly called Cubana Chief Priest, have agreed to settle the naira abuse charge slammed against the socialite out of court.

The Federal High Court in Lagos State, on Wednesday, April 17, granted Cubana Chief Priest N10m bail with two sureties in like sum.

The court on Thursday fixed June 5 for a report of settlement in the case

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He was arraigned before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on three counts bordering on abuse of naira, spraying and tampering with the nation’s currency at a social event contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.

The socialite was alleged to have sprayed the naira on February 13, 2024 at Eko Hotel.

Cubana Chief Priest was said to have also committed the offences while dancing during a social event.

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Security forces, vigilantes arrest kidnapper terrorising communities in Kogi

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4 hours ago

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May 2, 2024

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Abubakar Ali Damina

Security forces, vigilantes arrest kidnapper terrorising communities in Kogi

Security forces have arrested a suspected kidnapper and gun runner terrorising communities in Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The suspect, Abubakar Ali Damina,43, was arrested on Monday at Ofodo village close to Igabada during a joint operation conducted by security forces and vigilante operatives led by Mohammed Ajitata.

Abubakar, who hails from Bida in Niger State, was found in possession of a single-barrel dane gun, along with various suspicious items including charms, a gun firing cap, and local bullets.

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Preliminary investigations revealed his connection to an unidentified Hausa man from Shanawa, Lokoja LGA, from whom he allegedly purchased the gun.

Abubakar confessed to his involvement in criminal activities and disclosed his migration history from Niger State to various locations before settling in Igabada, Igalamela/Odolu LGA, in 2021.

The Igamela-Odolu Local Government Departmental Security Officer, Mohammed Aminu, who confirmed the arrest on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, said the suspect is currently detained at the Kogi State Vigilante Service facility for further investigation.

Security forces, vigilantes arrest kidnapper terrorising communities in Kogi

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Three ‘EFCC officials’ arrested for kidnapping, robbery in Nasarawa

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May 2, 2024

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Three ‘EFCC officials’ arrested for kidnapping, robbery in Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Police Command has announced the arrest of three fake officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the Nasarawa Local Government Area of the State.

This was contained in a press statement in Lafia on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ramhan Nansel.

According to Nansel, the suspects who had been disturbing the peace of residents of the area recently launched an attack around the Federal Polytechnic in the Nasarawa LGA where they robbed people of their belongings and subsequently abducted a National Diploma student of the institution, Adudu Kingsley.

He further explained that the victim was released and the suspects arrested following painstaking efforts by officers of the command.

“On 17/04/2024 at about 1545hrs, a distress call was received that four individuals posing as the EFCC personnel, using a Toyota Corolla, green in colour, with registration number, Abuja YAB 509 TT, robbed some students of the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa at Samakwe Lodge behind Government College, Nasarawa LGA and abducted one Adudu Kingsley, an ND II Student of the same Polytechnic.

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“Reacting to the unsavoury development, police operatives gave the suspects a hot chase and a roadblock was mounted at the Laminga junction to stop the suspects from escaping with the victim, but they hit the barrier and fled.

“Furthermore, police operatives at Anguwan Madugu were contacted to mount another roadblock, which the suspects sighted from a distance, abandoned their operational vehicle and the abducted student and fled.

“Luck ran out of one of the suspects as he was caught and beaten mercilessly by a mob before the arrival of the police while others fled. The suspect was rescued from the mob by the police and rushed to the Primary Health Care, Laminga, where he died while receiving treatment.”

However, it was stated that the operational vehicle of the suspects was recovered and taken to the station where a search was conducted and two identification cards identifying the fleeing members of the syndicate were recovered.

“A follow-up investigation into the case led to the arrest of three other members of the gang namely: Hyelda Aliyu Ibrahim, Henry Patrick Okwu and Shuaibu Abubakar (the operational driver of the syndicate) all males of Custom Quarters and Up Market area of Masaka where one iPhone 12 Promax, Huawei and one Tecno Spark 5 earlier robbed from some of their victims and fake EFCC ID cards were recovered from them as exhibits.

“The suspects have confessed to being the syndicate responsible for robbing and terrorising student areas in Keffi and Nasarawa LGAs. Efforts are ongoing to arrest one identified suspect who is at large.

Also, victims of their nefarious activities have come forward and identified the suspects.”

Nansel added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Nadada, had ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Lafia, while assuring the public that the suspects would be charged to court for prosecution upon the conclusion of an investigation into the matter.T

Three ‘EFCC officials’ arrested for kidnapping, robbery in Nasarawa

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