Politics
Jonathan urges Africa to strengthen democracy
- Buhari, others hail him at 63
President Muhammadu Buhari, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Senator Ike Ekweremadu have hailed rejoiced with former President Goodluck Jonathan on the occasion of his 63rd birthday anniversary on Friday.
This came as the former president made a case for the consolidation of democracy in Africa, describing it as a leverage that could ensure that the continent’s future would be better than its past.
Jonathan noted that democracy might have its flaws but pointed out that various academic studies had demonstrated that the system of government “yields better economies, better health for its citizens and better respect for human rights.”
Buhari, in his congratulatory message, said Jonathan’s life of service has brought honour and goodwill to the country.
This is coming as Jonathan has made a case for the consolidation of democracy in Africa, describing it as a leverage that could ensure that the continent’s future would be better than its past.
The president’s spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari expressed appreciation to the former president for his dedication to service following his astronomical rise to the highest level of service and eventual emergence as ECOWAS envoy in recent times.
The president prayed God to grant Jonathan long life, wsdom and good health so that he can continue to serve humanity.
The statement read: “On behalf of the federal government and Nigerians in general, President Muhammadu Buhari warmly felicitates with former President Goodluck Jonathan on his 63rd birthday, November 20, 2020, congratulating him for a life of service that has brought honour and goodwill to the country.
“The President notes with appreciation the peculiar and remarkable climb of the former president on Nigeria’s political ladder, and dedication that has kept him working most recently as ECOWAS envoy to bring peace to the Republic of Mali.
“As the former Nigerian President turns 63, President Buhari prays that the Almighty God will grant Dr Jonathan longer life, good health and more wisdom to keep serving the nation and humanity.”
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has also congratulated Jonathan, as he clocks 63 years today, saying his efforts at promoting democracy particularly in Africa are impactful and commendable.
The former president’s “unique statesmanship and graceful disposition to issues” has also endeared him to democrats globally, Okowa said through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika.
He said that Jonathan’s bourgeoning role in entrenching democracy across Africa through his observer-mission activities was impactful and laudable.
Okowa also noted that the former president’s role in the peace process in Mali, describing it as “truly statesmanlike”.
Ekweremadu has also hailed Jonathan, for his democratic temperament and selfless leadership.
Ekweremadu commended the former President for not only the electoral reforms recorded under his administration, but also for providing the right democratic atmosphere to ensure that the reforms were implemented by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant agencies and stakeholders.
Jonathan in his keynote speech at a virtual conference organised by the Kofi Annan Foundation which focused on ‘Democracy in East Africa in the age of COVID- 19: challenges and opportunities’.
Jonathan further affirmed that it was no coincidence that the countries with the best human development index scores are all democracies, while the worst performers are not.
He said, “We have made enormous strides in Africa in terms of democracy. According to Freedom House, there were only two democracies in Africa in 1980; now there are no fewer than forty.”
Stressing that not all of these democracies meet the required standards, the former President however emphasised that they are mostly big improvements on what came before.
Comparing democracies to dictatorships, Jonathan stated that dictatorships around the world tend to underperform “because they are subjected to little or no accountability, either from a free press, an independent judiciary or a vibrant opposition.”
Jonathan noted that democracy “is fundamentally a competitive system, and competition keeps people, even politicians, on their toes”, adding that they are meant to be in power to serve their people and their countries, not themselves.
He said although democracy has its challenges in many countries, the aspiration to democracy has taken root, especially among our youth.
“From Washington to Abuja to Nairobi, democracy is always a work in progress, everywhere: each generation has to address the challenges left by its elders.”
Politics
Tinubu will win Kano in 2027 – Senator Barau aide
Tinubu will win Kano in 2027 – Senator Barau aide
Ado Garba (Thirty), the legislative aide to the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, says President Bola Tinubu will win Kano State with a landslide in 2027, despite criticisms of his reform policies by some people in the state.
Ado Thirty told newsmen in Kano on Sunday that the people of the state would massively vote for President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress in 2027 because of the goodwill of the Deputy President of the Senate,Barau Jibrin, the people of the state “have been enjoying.”
Such goodwill he explained, include Senator Barau’s women and youths empowerment programmes, scholarship schemes, desilting of dams, provision of Federal and feeder Roads and irrigation schemes in the Kano North Senatorial District which he represents in the National Assembly.
Other initiatives, he said, are distribution of 60 trucks to farmers free, establishment of a Transport Service with over 1000 buses and bringing the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) campus to the Kano North Senatorial Zone.
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“All these programmes have impacted positively on the lives of the people of Kano North in particular,and the people of Kano State in general.
Besides,Ado Thirty said,Senator Barau’s populist programmes have been attracting more membership for the APC in the state, with the Deputy President of the Senate receiving thousands of NNPP supporters into the APC.
He said Barau had so far received thousands of NNPP supporters who defected to the APC “despite the fact that the State Government is controlled by the NNPP,and we are still counting.”
“Thus, Senator Barau’s initiatives and development programmes coupled with President Tinubu’s realistic and patriotic reform policies will move the people of the state to vote for the President enmasse in 2024,” Ado Thirty said.
Tinubu will win Kano in 2027 – Senator Barau aide
Politics
APP clears 22 of 23 chairmanship seats in Rivers LG election
APP clears 22 of 23 chairmanship seats in Rivers LG election
The Action Peoples Party (APP) has won 22 of 23 chairmanship positions in Rivers State local government election.
Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Adolphus Enebeli, announced the results of the elections on Saturday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
He said the result of the remaining LGA — Etche — world be announced at a later date because collation was still ongoing.
Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers, had recently directed his loyalists to defect to the APP to contest the election.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers had earlier cautioned against the declaration of the results.
Aaron Chukwuemeka, the Rivers PDP chairman, warned that announcing results could incite violence.
Victor Giadom, APC chairman in the South-South, said the party boycotted the election because of discrepancies with the existing laws.
On September 4, a high court in the state held that RSIEC could conduct the LGA elections using the 2023 voter register.
But on September 30, a federal high court in Abuja barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voter register to RSIEC.
The court also barred the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) from providing security for the poll.
Fubara was however not deterred and insisted that the election must hold.
Politics
Days of red cap numbered, Barau says while receiving NNPP defectors
Days of red cap numbered, Barau says while receiving NNPP defectors
Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has received a large number of grassroots leaders of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The senator it would soon be rare to see someone with a red cap, the symbol of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, in Kano State.
Responding to a question on the gale of defections rocking the NNPP in Kano, he said the rate at which the NNPP members, including their leaders, are trooping to the APC is a testament to the growing popularity and support APC is getting in Kano despite being an opposition party.
“I will continue to receive NNPP members rushing to join our party. Politics is a game of numbers. If you have a political party and members of other parties are not joining you, it means there is a problem.
“The NNPP members are attracted to the APC by our numerous interventions across critical spheres of our state and the country at large by the President Tinubu administration.
“At the formation of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu went across the country to woo people to the party. And this was why the party became popular in the country.
“We will continue receiving NNPP and other party members regardless of what some people say. Time will come. You will be looking for someone with a red cap, the symbol of the Kwankwasiyya, and you won’t see any in Kano. We will get there soon.
“We are doing this to lay a solid foundation for our party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and others to win the presidential, governorship, national and state House of Assembly elections come 2027 in Kano and beyond,” he was quoted in a statement by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir.
The Deputy National Women Leader of the APC, Hajiya Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim, who witnessed the defection, commended Senator Barau, describing him as a blessing to the APC, the people of Kano, the North and the country.
“The massive support our party is receiving in Kano shows the days of the NNPP are numbered in the state. We will take back our state at the poll come 2027, by Allah’s grace,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Deputy President of the Senate has received members of the APC Amalgamated Support Groups in Kano State at the National Assembly.
Under the leadership of Hon. Shehu Isa Direba, the group was at the National Assembly to reaffirm their support and appreciation for Senator Barau over his various interventions in the state.
The group, comprising former LG chairmen, party stakeholders, farmers, businessmen, and civil servants, among others, said that with the support and interventions of Senator Barau, APC is no longer considered an opposition party in Kano.
“APC members are envied in Kano State by the NNPP, the ruling party in the state, because of Senator Barau’s numerous interventions, projects and programmes,” the group said.
Days of red cap numbered, Barau says while receiving NNPP defectors
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