The Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari said he has no intention or plans to contest for any political office in 2023. The Governor disclosed this while entertaining questions from journalists in commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day. He said it will be unfair for him to jostle for any political office considering all the offices he has occupied in the past. Similarly, he said Katsina State has had its fair share in leading the country having produced three different times men calling the shot at the nation’s most exalted office. “Common sense, first of all, I was in the…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu, has called for the recognition of the political actors especially election management officials who played active roles in the June 12 elections. Ojukwu said this in a statement signed by the commission’s spokesperson, Fatima Mohammed, Ojukwu, on Sunday. He was said to have made the call during activities to mark Democracy Day, in Abuja, on Saturday. Ojukwu was quoted as saying, “The people who conducted the election should also be remembered because that election of unequalled credibility in Nigeria was conducted by Prof Humphrey Nwosu and his National Commissioners, Resident…
What started as the struggle for the actualisation of the mandate given Bashorun Moshood Abiola at June 12, 1993, Presidential Election, controversially annulled by General Ibrahim Babangida, has continued to shape the nation’s democratic experience till date, writes Festus Akanbi. As pro-democracy activists, students, and political office holders gather today to celebrate the historical developments that altered the course of history in Nigeria, 28 years ago, the reality is that the Presidential Election of June 12, `1993 remains a watershed in Nigerian history. It was President Muhammadu Buhari, who in 2019 decided to change the nation’s Democracy Day to June…
U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday said he has not been informed of any tentative deal on a bipartisan infrastructure investment package being negotiated among senators. “Not that I know of,” McConnell said when asked by a reporter whether such a tentative deal had been reached among a group of 10 Democratic and Republican senators. “I think there is still talking going on as far as I know,” he added.
The protection of democracy should be at the core of celebrating June 12 as Democracy Day, so that the lessons inherent in June 12, 1993 cannot be forgotten or wasted. This was the position of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, South-West Region on Saturday, in a statement by the General Secretary, Rahman Owokoniran, in commemoration of Democracy Day. According to PDP South-West, the events of June 12, 1993 demonstrate that democracy thrives when leaders value national unity and nation building, moral and ethical values, and devolve power. According to Owokoniran, “Democracy Day is a time for reflections on why we must…
One of the protesters who demonstrated in solidarity with President Muhammadu Buhari said he and other members of the group were paid ₦1,500 to hold a counter-protest. The pro-Buhari group’s rally is to show support for Buhari to commemorate the June 12 Democracy Day of Nigeria. Earlier on Saturday, an internal tussle broke out amongst members of the #IStandWithBuhari protest group. A pro-Buhari protester Abdul Yussuf said he and others were mobilised by one Mohammed Garba to stage a protest at Unity Fountain, Abuja. An anti-Buhari protest is also stagged at the same venue. He said the protesters were promised…
The Chairman of the party, Hon. Mouktar Atima made this known in a statement made available to journalists in Lokoja on Saturday. Atima said without proper electoral reforms, there is no guarantee that the 2023 general elections will not be characterized by “election tatatata” as witnessed in Kogi state during the 2019 general elections. According to him, the SDP in 1993 was the beneficiary of a reformed electoral process which was adjudged to be the freest and fairest elections in the political history of the country. “It is on record that our party has been the most victimised since the…
A Kogi born based human rights activist, Austin Usman Okai has condemned the State Government for not allowing June 12 peaceful protests in the State, describing it as an act of totalitarianism. He urged men of good conscience to call Governor Yahaya Bello to order so as to stop him from derailing democracy. Okai made the observations in a statement he made available to the media on Democracy Day. The statement reads: “The statement attributed to the special adviser to Governor Yahaya Bello on security, Jerry Omodara, threatening law abiding Kogites with repercussion if they dare protest against insecurity, worsening…
Kevin Kishore Kaul, a Kashmiri Pandit who arrived in South Dakota on a student visa 30 years ago is wading into a crowded field of candidates betting that California will likely hurtle into a recall election for Governor in 2021. Kaul, an electrical engineer from Regional Engineering College in Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, who made his millions as an entrepreneur in the US West Coast, is upbeat about his chances – if the recall election happens. “I have a good shot at it” he told IANS over phone from Long Beach, Los Angeles. “We’ve got commitments for more than $1 million.”…
The President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, Yerima Shettima, has expressed fear that the 2023 general elections may not be held in the country. Speaking to the media in Kaduna on Saturday, Yerima Shettima said there are indications that some people were behind the uprising in parts of the country and are against Nigeria’s unity He said such people feel they are out of the game and want to be part of it by any means. He noted, “I have a lot of fear for 2023 because the signs have shown that we may not see 2023 until the government…
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has paid tribute to its candidate in the 1993 Presidential election, Late MKO Abiola, his wife, Kudirat and Democracy activist, Pa Alfred Rewane and others for their sacrifice for the country. The chairman of the party in the state, Dr Webster Okonkwo said the sacrifice by the trio and other activists during the 1993 election was geared towards moving the country forward, but regretted that the country has instead fallen to violence and ethnic rife. Okonkwo regretted that the only chance Nigeria had of getting things right was truncated, but said that the party still…
A Forum of former Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State has lambasted some Enugu West stakeholders over their recent meeting where they kicked against what is said to be an existing zoning arrangement in the State. InfoStride News had reported that some stakeholders from Enugu West Senatorial zone had in a communique within the week said they were not aware of any zoning arrangement, and that the zone must produce the next governor of the State. But reacting, the ex-Chairmen in a communique issued after their meeting, said Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi remained the leader of the…
The factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra State , Mr Chukwudi Umeaba who was installed by an Abuja High court has annulled the election of three-man ADHOC delegates held by the party. Umeaba in a press conference he addressed on Saturday announced the cancellation of the recently held ward congresses, saying a new date for a fresh election would be announced. Umeaba told journalists that based on his reinstatement, he reserves the powers to make decisions. ” I, Hon Chukwudi Umeaba, the acting chairman caretaker committee of PDP, Anambra State working in concert with the terms of…
Speech By His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President And Commander In Chief Of The Armed Forces Federal Republic Of Nigeria On The Occasion Of Commemoration And Celebration Of Democracy Day On 12th June, 2021. Fellow Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari I join you all today to commemorate and celebrate our Democracy Day. It is a celebration of freedom and a victory for one people, one country and one Nigeria. 2. As with all democracies we will always be going through improvement processes in our desire to reach the goal of a mature democracy, a strong, evolved and integrated nation state to be…
A bipartisan group of 10 senators is trying to craft a plan to revitalize U.S. roads and bridges without tax hikes, lawmakers said on Wednesday, though some of President Joe Biden’s fellow Democrats fretted that such an approach on infrastructure legislation would fail. Revamping America’s infrastructure is a high priority for Joe Biden, but his sweeping $1.7 trillion proposal has run into trouble in a Congress that his party only narrowly controls, making Republican support pivotal. Republican Senator Mitt Romney told reporters that members of the group have reached “tentative conclusions” on their plan but did not provide details. The…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that its commitment to progressive reforms and its electoral promises remains unwavering. The party gave the assurance in a statement on Friday in Abuja by Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, National Secretary of its Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC). The party was felicitating President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians on the occasion of the 2021 Democracy Day being marke on Saturday, June 12. Akpanudoedehe noted that this year’s Democracy Day coincided with the sixth anniversary of the people-oriented Buhari administration and the 22nd year of continuous democratic governance in Nigeria. He recalled that it…
Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and his Imo State counterpart, Governor Hope Uzodinma, have lauded former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani for the growth of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-east. They stated this when they paid a working visit to the South-east APC Secretariat in Enugu State. The governors, who are themselves APC members, were at the secretariat to inspect the pace of work, which was due for commissioning two weekends ago, but was disrupted by the death of a leader of the party in Imo State, Hon Ahmed Gulak. The governors expressed happiness at the…
Former Ekiti Governor, Segun Oni has said his political opponents are trying to discredit him ahead of the Ekiti 2022 governorship election. Yemi Arokodare, Director-General of his campaign, raised the alarm of blackmail in a statement at the weekend. Arokodare said the information that Segun Oni would share political appointments before the poll was promoted by rivals. The DG noted that Oni’s track records, tradition and political philosophy was beyond sharing offices. Arokodare said the camp remains guided by the dictates of time, law, wisdom, and common sense. “We have consistently shown an uncommon fidelity to due process. By our…
Jasibi says she fled her hometown in Honduras after a gang killed her parents and gave her 24 hours to leave the country. The 37-year-old headed north, hoping to seek asylum in the United States, but earlier this year was blocked by a Trump-era health order left in place by President Joe Biden. The order enables U.S. officials to rapidly expel migrants at both the southern and northern borders during the COVID-19 pandemic, essentially cutting off access to asylum for most migrants. In Mexico, with nowhere to go and few funds, she slept on the street and was kidnapped, according…
The President says he remains unapologetic believer in devolving power to the people. President Muhammadu Buhari says the contentious issue of restructuring, true federalism or devolution of powers remains a constitutional matter, with which only the National Assembly can handle. He, however, reiterated his position on devolving more power to the people. The president stated this when he received members of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) led by Co-Chairmen, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Dr Samson Ayokunle, at the State House, Abuja, on Friday. The President said: “On the…