Amended electoral act: Buhari withholds assent over imposed direct primary – Newstrends
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Amended electoral act: Buhari withholds assent over imposed direct primary

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President Muhammadu Buhari has declined assent to the 2021 Electoral Act Amendment Bill, stating that signing it into law would cause trouble among the political parties in the country.

Specially, the President in a letter addressed to the Senate cited the direct primaries as approved by the National Assembly for picking candidates by political parties in the amended Electoral Act as dangerous to the polity.

The letter of rejection of the bill, which is before the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, is expected to be read on Tuesday at plenary.

President refused assent to it against the backdrop that the parties have their various constitutions that indicate that primaries should be conducted either directly or indirectly, Vanguard reported.

And until such provisions are amended, asking parties to do that through direct means would mean forcing the parties to conduct primaries through direct means which, according to President Buhari, amounts to abuse of the constitution of the party.

The source said, “With all these reasons given by the President, he has returned the bill to the National Assembly, asking the lawmakers to look at the clause that has to do with direct primaries by political parties, work on it and return the document for assent.

There are strong indications that the Senate will be turbulent as the Senators will take a decision on the growing uncertainty in the political atmosphere as the 30 days’ deadline for President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Electoral Act Bill elapsed on Sunday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity on the issue, a senator said, “We have the number to override Buhari’s veto.

“But with Senator Lawan, as the President of the Senate, it will be difficult because he operates the Senate as an extension of the Presidency.”

Senator Matthew Urhoghide (PDP, Edo South) urged the National Assembly to extricate itself from what he described as public odium and disrespect by going ahead to override President Buhari who is All Progressives Congress, APC, just as he said that history stares NASS in the face if indeed it is not a rubber stamp.

Senator Urhoghide said, “We must be reminded that members of the National Assembly are truly the representatives of the people because every constituency and senatorial district seat is allocated to a segment of the Nigerian people who are their constituents.

“The members of the National Assembly consulted with a cross section of their constituents to reach an informed position on any matter of national interest and development.

“The issue of direct primaries in our electoral process has been well canvassed, elucidated, and argued by both chambers and inputs were taken at public hearing from across the spectrum of all critical stakeholders.

“The bane has always been that the greater majority of party members do not have the privilege or right to choose who becomes the party candidate in an election.

“Hitherto, it was the exclusive preserve of the power holders or deep pockets who would always want to control the party.

“The time has come when only popular candidates within the party should be thrown up for general elections.”

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JUST IN: Tinubu confers national honours on fallen soldiers, approves house, scholarships for families 

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JUST IN: Tinubu confers national honours on fallen soldiers, approves house, scholarships for families 

President Bola Tinubu has conferred posthumous national honours on the four officers and 13 soldiers killed in Okuama, Delta State, on March 14, 2024.

The four officers have been accorded the Award of Member of the Order of Niger (MON) while the 13 courageous soldiers who also lost their lives were awarded the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR).

The President said that the Federal Government would provide a house in any part of the country to each of the families of the four officers and 13 soldiers.

He also approved scholarships for all the children of the deceased up to the university level.

The President mandated the Military to, within the next 90 days, ensure that all the benefits of the departed are paid to their families.

Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria spoke on Wednesday at the National Cemetery in Abuja during the burial of the fallen soldiers.

Tinubu stated that Nigeria owes the valiant soldiers and their families debt of gratitude.

The President vowed that those who committed the heinous crime of killing the officers and soldiers would not go unpunished, stressing, “We will find them and our departed heroes will get justice.”

The fallen heroes are as follows:

Lieutenant Colonel Ali

Major D.E Obi

Major S.D. Ashafa

Captain U. Zakari

Staff Sergeant Yahaya Saidu

Corporal Danbaba Yahaya

Corporal Kabir Bashir

Lance Corporal Abdullahi Ibrahim

Lance Corporal Bulus Haruna

Lance Corporal Sole Opeyemi

Lance Corporal Bello Anas

Private Alhaji Isah

Private Clement Francis

Private Abubakar Ali

Private Adamu Ibrahim

Private Hamman Peter

Private Ibrahim Adamu

 

Part of Tinubu’s Speech

“It is with heavy heart that I join you today to commit to earth, the remains of our officers and men who died in the course of duty on 14 March 2024 in Okuama Community, Delta State.

“The officers and soldiers who lost their lives that day were patriots, brave and noble men who gave their lives to defend and protect our nation against internal and external threats. Their sacrifice will be remembered and honoured for generations to come and their.

“On 14 March, Lt. Colonel A. H. Ali, the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, led three other officers and 13 soldiers to the Okuama Community to mediate in the lingering dispute with Okoloba Community.

“They went as peace makers and peace keepers respectfully seeking to bring an end to the hostilities between the two communities.

“They didn’t go with tanks, machine guns and other weapons. They were on a mission of peace.

“Before the dastardly attack, Lt. Colonel Ali, as the Chief of Army Staff briefed me, enjoyed great operational exploits; fighting terrorists and insurgents in the North East and North West before his deployment to the Niger Delta.

“Ali kept faith with his military calling till the end.

“On behalf of a grateful nation, we honour the sacrifice of Ali and the other gallant patriots who died that day. They will forever be remembered as heroes who answered the call of duty and paid the ultimate price.

“Each man now belongs to the hallowed list of servicemen and women who defended our country and protected their fellow Nigerians not minding the risk to their own lives.

“They have all been awarded posthumous national honours. The four gallant Officers have been accorded the Award of Member of the Order of Niger (MON). The thirteen courageous soldiers who also lost their lives have been Awarded the Officer of the Federal Republic Medal.

“I commiserate with the families of our fallen heroes and the entire Armed Forces. I share in the pain and grief you carry today. It is my prayer that God will comfort all who are bereaved as a result of this tragedy.”

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Agents of destabilisation, subsidy losers fighting back – Tinubu

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Agents of destabilisation, subsidy losers fighting back – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu says agents of destabilisation and beneficiaries of the rested petrol subsidy are beginning to fight back.

He however vowed that his administration would defeat them and not abuse Nigerians’ trust in his administration.

The administration and indeed Nigerians are currently facing serious economic and security challenges.

Measures introduced so far to tackle the problems have not really yielded positive results.

The President spoke on Friday during a meeting with the Forum of State Chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House in Abuja.

The team was led by the National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.

Tinubu said that Nigeria would overcome the forces working to sabotage efforts at repositioning the economy.

These details are contained in a statement released on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

It quoted Tinubu as saying his administration was deploying resources to critical sectors and areas with significant impact for improved welfare of Nigerians, describing the nation’s treasury as sacrosanct.

He assured Nigerians that his government was working round the clock to improve their living conditions, and asked leaders at the grassroots to encourage citizens to get their National Identification Number (NIN) for planning, structuring interventions and to achieve their full integration into various relief programmes.

“As we are fighting corruption, smugglers and old subsidy beneficiaries, they most certainly will fight back,” Tinubu said.

He also said, “All those who falsified records and became losers with the subsidy (on petroleum products) removal, they will fight back.

“But we will defend our people. The treasury belongs to the people, and that sacred trust must not be abused.

“I urge the state chairmen that regardless of party affiliation, let us help citizens by mobilizing them for NIN registration.

“Not just PVCs. Some are poor Nigerians who have not experienced formal education and have no understanding of what NIN is and how it will benefit their lives. We must teach them. We must care for them.

“Without NIN, we cannot embark on social security interventions for the vulnerable. We will be making faulty moves without accurate data and iron-clad, digital intervention structures.

“I have established a committee of governors, and it is headed by the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima. It is working on what must be done to further lift our people.

“We need to give hope, and we are giving it to the country and our citizens. We are working hard, day and night, even though some agents of destabilization are present in the polity. Nigerians, with our focused support, shall defeat them.

“The programme of our government will be truly progressive; student loans, a national consumer credit system, and social welfare for the unemployed, as well as graduates. Every Nigerian will find a place of belonging in our country.

“In the eye of even the biggest hurricane, we will find that place of tranquility and prosperous harmony for the benefit of all. Nigerians will all partake on this national journey to prosperity.”

Speaking on the central role of agriculture in expanding and accelerating Nigeria’s economic growth, the President said that his government had already drawn up a blueprint for large-scale livestock farming, which will be activated soon.

He said, “We are bringing mechanized farming to the fore. Yesterday’s crisis will become today’s opportunity.

“Fertilizers are being supplied to farmers as we speak. Agriculture and economic diversification provide the answers to our problems.

“We will not continue to import food. We know how to turn lack into abundance, and the world will watch us do it again.”

Also speaking, Ganduje said the party was poised to establish a Progressive Institute of Policy and Development for the benefit of its members and the broader Nigerian public.

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FG secures $1.3bn for Kano-Maradi rail project

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FG secures $1.3bn for Kano-Maradi rail project

The Federal Government has secured $1.3bn funding for the Kano-Maradi railway project. Maradi is in Niger Republic.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Jamilu Ja’afaru, Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali.

The rail project was initiated by the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari and performed the groundbreaking event in 2021. It is aimed at strengthening the economic and regional cooperation between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

Alkali recently said the rail project would be completed in 2025, with the earthworks reaching 80 per cent completion last year.

The latest statement from the ministry said, “The securing of $1.3bn for the Kano-Katsina-Jibiya-Maradi Railway Project is a significant accomplishment.

“The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, and a senior director with the African Development Bank, Muhammad Abdulrazak, have both endorsed the project as a catalyst for positive change, fostering economic growth and regional cooperation.”

The statement noted that the recent visit by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation, Tang Zhigang, and his delegation, further bolstered optimism for the rail project’s potential to lay the groundwork for future prosperity between the two nations.

“The Kano-Katsina-Jibiya-Maradi rail line is a testament to our shared history and ambition for economic advancement. It will create a lasting legacy of wealth and opportunities for Nigeria and the Niger Republic,” Minister Alkali was quoted as saying.

“The Ministry of Transportation will continue to provide updates on this transformative venture, marking each achievement as we journey towards a brighter and more connected future,” the statement added.

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