The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, stated on Thursday in Rivers State that regardless of the number of candidates vying for the All Progressives Congress presidential ticket, they must be willing to rally around and support whoever emerges as the candidate in the upcoming primary elections.
As he stated, there was no need for hostility among aspirants because the ultimate objective remained national unity.
According to a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, on Friday, Osinbajo spoke in Rivers as part of his nationwide consultations with APC stakeholders and delegates.
Osinbajo stated in rivers that the APC has the greatest potential to do the best for Nigeria.
In his call for unity, the Vice President noted that all those who had declared their intention to run for president under the APC were progressives.
He stated, “We are all progressives, and we share the belief that this country can be made better; that we can improve the lives of our youth; and that our nation can be a wonderful place.” Given the opportunity, each of us possesses this aspiration and is capable of achieving it.
“Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve emphasised that there is no need for any type of conflict, especially among presidential candidates. All of us, as candidates for the presidency, have worked or eaten together at one point or another. We are aspirants now, but only one person will emerge, and we must be prepared to work with that individual.”
According to him, the best candidate should be selected as the party’s 2023 presidential nominee.
The Vice President also remarked that the ruling APC had the greatest potential to advance Nigeria’s development and ensure its continued progress.
“We are, of course, completely in agreement that the party needs to be unified. To ensure the unity of the aspirants, everything necessary is being done and will be done.
“Our party is, as you know, not only the ruling party, but also the party with the most potential to do the best for this country,” he said.
Prof. Osinbajo disclosed the following regarding his consultations with the delegates: “Today, we spent more time discussing national issues and development issues; and we all agree that we have a great deal of work to do; we are willing and able to do the work.”
Before his interaction with APC delegates and stakeholders in Rivers, the Vice President paid a courtesy visit to the Rivers State Traditional Council led by the King Jaja of Opobo, Dr. Dandeson Jaja, Jeki V, Natural Ruler, Amanyanabo of the Opobo Kingdom, who also serves as the Council’s Chairman.
Informing the monarchs of his desire to run for president, he stated, “Our country is at a crucial juncture in its existence, and every nation faces its own difficulties. Our nation is currently confronted with some of its greatest obstacles ever.
This administration has faced more security issues than any other administration. But I am confident that not only will we be able to face the challenges of today, but also the challenges of tomorrow.”
In his address, King Jaja of Opobo thanked the Vice President for his “good wishes” and for sending a representative to his 80th birthday party, stating, “That was very kind of you. Let us campaign peacefully, and let us not add to the difficulties we are already experiencing.”
My good people of Nnewi, it is not in our culture to impose candidate on us, otherwise, it becomes force acculturation, like Napoleon in Animal Farm, all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others, I may believe in oblivion, but in contemporary democracy, it does not exist, more especially where the aspirants are from Nnewi, Nnewi agenda will not come to play. Therefore, anointing or imposing a candidate and denying others the opportunity to pursue their articulated vision in politics amounts to political rape over our knuckles. To avert impending doom, the powers that be should rethink on candidature they wish to anoint if he has the wholistic credibility to challenge other parties during the general election. Without fear of equivocation and philosophical anachronism, such practices must be abolished in our system, it does not permit competent aspirant to assume a leadership position in our town. As a matter of fact, democracy is people-oriented, hegemonic politics and favouritism is the wall of our imprisonment in Nnewi.
Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, has criticised some PDP aspirants for betraying the party in 2015, stating that they do not deserve the party’s presidential nomination for 2023.
Wike, referring to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, stated that certain PDP aspirants caused disunity in the party in 2015, created the new-PDP, and sold the party’s goodwill and electoral opportunities.
On Thursday, he met with Oyo PDP leaders and delegates in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, to solicit their support ahead of the party’s presidential primary later this month.
The Governor stated, “The question is, who caused PDP to lose the election in 2015, causing us to suffer today? Today, we are in opposition and attempting to regain control.
Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, the former Governor of Kano State, has finally abandoned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Shekarau was welcomed into the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) on Wednesday by Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, the party’s Presidential Aspirant and National Leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement.
Senator Kwankwaso, who has been visiting Shekarau in an attempt to persuade him to join the NNPP, registered him as a member of the party as his Mundubawa Residence.
“Shekarau decamping was destined by the Almighty Allah because Ganduje has been mounting pressure on him to stay in the APC in the last couple days.
“On the other hand, Senator Kwankwaso and some politicians, including Honourable Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, former speaker of Kano state House of Assembly and former special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, Honourable Abdulrahman Sulaiman Kawu Sumaila, have been persuading him to join the NNPP,” he claims.
“Alhamdulillah, the former governor has finally defected to the NNPP,” says the source. Shekarau, it appears, will not receive justice in the APC when it comes to contesting elections. As a result, we believe it is preferable for him to join the NNPP, where we believe he will be treated fairly.”
Senator Kwankwaso purged the NNPP shortly after his registration.
resented Shekarau to Kano central residents, a development that means Shekarau will be given an automatic ticket for the senatorial seat in the general elections of 2023.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed the Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to conduct all primary elections in the state using only statutory delegates.
As a result, the crisis that the PDP is experiencing in the state has worsened.
INEC had previously declared the party’s three-member ad hoc delegates election on April 30, 2022, and a subsequent rescheduled congress on May 11th invalid.
The commission, in a letter dated May 17, 2022 to the PDP’s National Chairman, obtained by THISDAY in Abuja on Thursday, also voided the party’s one-man delegate election, claiming that no original result sheets were present at any of the congress venues.
The PDP in Imo State was then ordered by INEC, in a letter signed by its acting Secretary, Aminu Idris, to conduct all primary elections using only statutory delegates as provided for in the party’s constitution.
In response to the news, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, a House of Representatives candidate, said INEC’s decision was a victory for the Imo PDP.
He described it as “a valiant rescue from an impending catastrophic end, as the party would have conducted primary elections using an illegal list of delegates, effectively nullifying the entire process.”
Ugochinyere also expressed sympathy for the state’s over 900 ad hoc delegates, who had lost their chance to vote in the party’s primaries and choose its candidates.
He also accused the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, of being to blame for the defeat.
As a result, he urged delegates and stakeholders to hold the national secretary accountable for the missed opportunity to vote.
“This situation is a mixed blessing because Imo PDP members can now sleep with both eyes closed because the desperate efforts to foist a fake delegates list on them have ended,” Ugochinyere said.
Only statutory delegates should participate in the party’s primaries in Imo State, according to INEC.”
Let me thank you deeply for the honour to present to you the revised 2022 budget which we have tagged: “Taking Off from the Blocks”. I regret however that one of you, the member representing the good people of Aguata II Constituency in the House of Assembly (my own representative) – Hon. Okechukwu Okoye, is still in the custody of the kidnappers. The security agencies are working very hard and around the clock to secure his freedom. God is on the throne and Anambra will win. Let me leave it at that.
This is my second meeting with the entire House since my swearing-in two months ago (in addition to a series of meetings with the leadership of the House), and let me use this opportunity to once again commend the cordial relationship and partnership that exist between the three arms of government. Let me particularly thank the House for its patriotic sense of duty in expeditiously screening and approving the list of Commissioners. The Executive branch will never take your partnership for granted. We are also confident that your love and passion for our state as well as your patriotic zeal for a transformed and developed Anambra will continue to propel your cooperation and partnership with the Executive branch. Irrespective of political party affiliations or other differences, we all have only one agenda in government, namely: the development of Anambra state, and together, we shall get it done for our people and for posterity.
Let me also use this opportunity to thank, for the umpteenth time, my predecessor Chief Willie Obiano, all the former governors of Anambra state, as well as the present and former members of the State House of Assembly for their contributions. We pledge to consolidate your achievements, and to work hard every day to stand upon your shoulders to take Anambra State to a much higher pedestal.
As promised, we hit the ground running from day one, putting in 8hours and 45 minutes in office on the first day, reflecting the humongous challenges facing the state as well as our full consciousness that ours is an agenda with a deadline. Our vision is to transform Anambra into a livable and prosperous smart megacity—- to become the preferred destination to live, learn, invest, work, relax/enjoy. The Agenda is predicated on four strong pillars: robust economic transformation for a new industrial-tech- leisure hub; a comprehensive social agenda for a human capital bank that is productive at home and exportable abroad; governance, rule of law and new value system; and a clean, green, planned and sustainable communities, markets, and cities. The State Executive Council was constituted within three weeks, and we have been firing from all cylinders. In some weeks to come, we shall have the opportunity to give a preliminary report on some of the foundational issues we are putting in place to kick-off and propel the journey ahead. Among the challenges we inherited, a red treasury and pervasive insecurity especially with criminals taking the seven local governments of the south senatorial zone hostage were the most acute. We have chosen to confront the foundational issue of security head-on and expected that those profiting from the lucrative criminal enterprise would viciously fight back, and they have. Suffice it to say that so far, so good. They are testing our will and resolve. Let me assure you this: Anambra will win!
Mr. Speaker, Hon members! The purpose of the 2022 Revised budget is to reflect current realities, challenges, and priorities of the new administration and Ndi Anambra. We are undaunted by the state of the treasury. We have seriously started reforming our system of tax administration to significantly ramp up our internally generated revenue over the coming years. In the meantime, the dire needs of Ndi Anambra and our transformation agenda cannot wait. We are working on a mixture of financing options (including debt that is ring-fenced to fund bankable projects and/or infrastructure with impacts on the economy) to guarantee efficient and effective service delivery to our people while ensuring fiscal sustainability over the medium to longer terms. The details of these will be laid out in our 2023 budget.
The revised budget size is about N170 billion versus the existing appropriation of N142 billion (with the capital expenditure accounting for 64% compared to 57% previously). Capital expenditure increased by 33% from N81 billion to N108 billion while Recurrent expenditure increased marginally by 0.79% from N60 billion. We left the budget on security unchanged while we count on off budget resources from donations to augment. As a reflection of our Agenda, about 60% of the Capital Expenditure is targeted at delivering infrastructure that the average citizen can feel, see, use or touch and which have the highest developmental impact within the shortest possible time.
For example, we have declared a state of emergency on rebuilding our road infrastructure and traffic management. About N52 billion or about 31% of the total budget is for the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and we intend to simultaneously invest in roads in most of the local governments, paying special attention to our urban regeneration agenda. We have requested the Federal Government to kindly intervene on emergency basis on a number of federal roads in the state that have become nightmarish death traps. We confidently expect their urgent responsive action. But in the event that the expected response does not come soon, we may have to implement urgent palliatives in some places especially at Amansea; Ekwulobia- Igboukwu- Nnobi road; Ogidi; etc where the roads are literally cutting off.
We plan to recruit qualified medical doctors and nurses for our general hospitals and upscale the infrastructure in selected ones. We have already received over 26,000 applications in response to our advertisement to recruit and train teachers for our primary and secondary schools. Visitation panels will review the operations of the State University, Polytechnic and College of Education to provide basis for our reforms to ensure that they are fit for purpose. As a precursor to our planned Entertainment and Leisure City (envisaged to be largest in Africa), we have budgeted in the interim to construct an expansive Entertainment and leisure park around the Agulu Lake. Yes, our administration is continuing with the ‘Community Choose Your Project’ initiative of my predecessor, and have raised the value of the community projects to N25 million per community.
Furthermore, to drive our “Everything Technology, and Technology Everywhere” strategy, the budget provides for a modern centralized ICT Data Centre to consolidate the State’s data and ensure business continuity in any and all circumstances. We are commencing the digitization of our land registry. Our agenda to deliberately orchestrate the emergence and empowerment of thousands of youth millionaires and a digital tribe is given its first impetus in this revised budget. We promised to reinvent the Oil Palm and Coconut revolution. We have mobilized communities and the private sector for partnership and with overwhelming demand, we plan to provide 500,000—1,000,000 seedlings this year, and millions in subsequent years. We have also provided for significant seed money to commence pre-feasibility studies and designs for bankable projects, including possible new cities. On August 27 this year, Anambra State will celebrate its 31st anniversary as a State but without a proper Government House and a Governor’s Lodge—possibly the only State with such a record. We have budgeted to correct this, to ensure the efficiency of government operations. We have also budgeted to continue the work-in-progress in our international cargo airport.
Mr. Speaker, Hon Members! In the months and years ahead, we have hard choices to make as we strive to meet the expectations of our people. Fiscal prudence will become a lifestyle as we cannot afford to waste one kobo. Transparent public finance management will be critical. That is why we have also budgeted for the full computerization of the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General. Managing our over N120 billion debt, especially the contractor debt and pension liabilities in the context of the paltry Federation Account receipts and burgeoning needs of our people will task our dexterity and demand hard choices and sacrifice. We just received the preliminary report of the external consultants’ review of our local government finances which confirms that the combined state and local government gratuity liabilities to pensioners over N20 billion. We are determined to clean the books over time and align Anambra’s pension administration with the Pension Act and let our pensioners smile. In the meantime, our administration has signaled a new dawn by insisting that we won’t owe new retirees under my watch, while we have also started (albeit gradually) paying down the backlog.
Our government is very serious in forging new development partnerships with the international development partners, the federal government, as well as the local government. We are reforming our processes and ramping up our active engagements to maximize the benefits of such partnerships. For example, we have budgeted to meet our counterpart funding requirements to access federal and development partner funds. We are also working hard to restructure and reform our local government administration in conformity with the relevant laws. We will actively collaborate with the local governments in the areas of waste management; cleaner, greener and more environmentally sustainable communities; street lighting; fire service; qualitative primary school education; as well as planned modern markets, and security. Community government will be strengthened and mainstreamed. Already, the State is forging new (sustainable) economic partnership with communities not only with the ‘community choose your project’ initiative but now with the new community-based but jointly owned Oil Palm and Coconut plantations that will soon adorn the state.
In weeks to come, we will be coming to you again and again with a set of legislations required as critical building blocks for the next Anambra we all envision, as well as other critical approvals and confirmations required from this Honourable House. By July we shall also start the process for the 2023 budget, and will again come to the House once completed. I sincerely do hope and pray that despite your busy political agenda, you would find sufficient time to devote to the expeditious discharge of these responsibilities required of your offices.
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, Hon Members! This Revised Budget 2022 sign-posts some of the key deliverables for this year as we Kick-off from the Blocks. It is also a call to collective action and lifestyle of Value for Money. The foundation of Anambra as a Smart Mega City will be tasking all of us to the limit. But we are Ndi Anambra! The irrepressible Anambra Spirit and the collective action of a people that loves their homeland dearly are what we will continue to call and draw upon to move ahead. This Anambra Spirit and collective action came alive during my visits to Lagos and Abuja last week to meet with our people. The enthusiasm and generous pledges of our people towards our homeland security demonstrated once again that Anambra can be anything we desire and work that it should be. I am emboldened by the massive support and solidarity of the people as we face the threat of common but organized criminals who want to run our people out of town and take our wealth and land by force. But we are Ndi Anambra, and together, we shall overcome! Give us the budget urgently, and by the time our people come home for Christmas, we will all be proud that we are serving the people well.
As Presidential Aspirant and former Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, continues to hold consultations with delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the country, a former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has endorsed the former Minister, stating that his loyalty and love for Nigeria and humanity is unmatched.
According to the Campaign Organization, Gen. Buratai, who is currently Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, gave his support at a meeting with APC delegates in Bauchi on Wednesday night, when he and other dignitaries accompanied Presidential candidate Chibuike Amaechi to solicit delegates’ support ahead of the party’s primaries.
Burutai stated that Amaechi’s outstanding profile and vast experience in governance prompted him to lend his support.
“As you can see from the introduction, our Presidential aspirant has a lot of experience,” he said. Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has an intimidating profile. He has proven to be a capable administrator, a versatile leader, a good strategist, and a consummate politician in all areas where he has worked. As Speaker, Governor, Minister, and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, he was first among equals, as was the dexterity and quality of the campaign (for President Buhari) he led on two occasions. That is why I am completely behind him. ” He did so with all his determination, loyalty, and, of course, love for Nigeria and humanity, regardless of religion. This is admirable, which is why he’s here today to ask for your votes. I believe you already know he’s the man of the moment based on what you’ve heard about him. He is the best option. As a result, I implore you to make the right decision and vote for him,” Buratai said.
Addressing the delegates, Amaechi stated that he is the only candidate in the party with a track record of defeating the opposition. He urged delegates to vote for him in order to benefit all Nigerians.
“This is the moment of decision,” he claims. I’ve served in public office for 22 years, as Speaker, Governor, and Minister. And you’ll see my footprint in all of them. A railway line is being built from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. The Port Harcourt-Maiduguri railway connects Port Harcourt and Bauchi. That project will be completed and jobs will be created if you vote for me. So please vote for me and elect me as the party’s candidate. I doubt the other candidates will be able to beat me; if you vote for me, I will defeat the PDP.”
Earlier, during a visit to HRM Dr. Rilwan Suleiman Adamu, the Emir of Bauchi, Amaechi used the opportunity to re-emphasize his commitment to deliver on infrastructure and combat insecurity if elected.
“Your Highness, I am here to seek your blessings and to appeal to the Bauchi delegates to vote for me on the day of the primaries, because no one in our party is as prepared to be President of Nigeria as I am.”
I possess the necessary energy, capability, knowledge, and strength to serve as President of Nigeria. I know what the problems are and what the solutions should be, and I’m asking for your help in finding solutions to those problems.” In Port Harcourt, one of the things I did to combat militancy was to create jobs. I plan to implement agricultural programmes to help people find work. If you vote for me, I will provide infrastructure in Bauchi, I have a lot of experience, and I will chase the criminals away. I’ve done it before in Port Harcourt and Rivers State, and I’m willing to do it again. I will do everything possible to restore the country’s security. Please encourage your constituents to vote for me, and I will bring my experience to bear, said Amaechi.
Gov. Soludo submits 2022 revised budget to State Assembly.
1.Roads from 12bn to 50bn
2. Youth Empowerment from 500m to 2.5bn
3. Agriculture 500k to 1million palm and coconut seedlings
4. Pension and gratuity to be cleared
5. Community choose your project from 20m to 25m. And so many others.
Ndi Anambra, Solution is here😊
The treasonable felony charges against Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, have been amended by the federal government.
Kanu’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, said one of the seven-count charges had been dropped.
“The Federal Government just amended the charges against Nnamdi Kanu now, they removed one, you know it was seven, but they removed one, and now it’s six,” Ejimakor said on Wednesday.
“We’re in court awaiting the arrival of the judge, and Kanu has yet to arrive.”
On April 8, Trial Justice Binta Nyako dismissed eight of the 15 counts of treasonable felony charges filed by the FG against Kanu.
Eight of Kanu’s 15 count charges were dismissed by Justice Binta Nyako of an Abuja Federal High Court a few weeks ago.
Counts 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 of the charges were dismissed by Justice Nyako.
Counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 15 were, however, permitted.
Today, the IPOB leader is scheduled to appear before Justice Nyako for a hearing on his bail application.
In Cross River State, about 200,000 minors are currently being immunised against polio virus disease type two, which is common among children aged 0 to 5.
Linda Ayade, the governor of Cross River State’s wife, has urged women, religious leaders, traditional rulers, parents, schools, churches, and other stakeholders to support the fight against polio in their areas.
Mrs. Ayade, who gave the keynote address at the Calabar polio vaccination launch, said it was critical for children’s survival against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Dr Janet Ekpenyong, Director-General of the Cross River Primary Healthcare Development Agency, represented Ayade, who stated that the state is targeting over 900,000 children for the exercise.
According to her, the state has launched its second outbreak response, which aims to eradicate the poliovirus type 2 in children and reduce childhood disease.
“Today, the outbreak response 2 Campaign against the dreaded type 2 polio virus begins.” We are targeting children aged 0 to 5 years old in this campaign. This is because we want to ensure that there are no cases of polio in Cross River State.”
“We hope to vaccinate over 900,000 children and believe that doing so will allow us to ensure that every child is protected against the virus.” We do not have any cases of polio in Cross River State, and we hope to keep that status. The type 2 virus has resurfaced in some states, which is why the outbreak response was implemented to prevent the virus from spreading further.
“Polio is a highly infectious disease that affects the body’s nervous system, which is why we should not take it for granted.” It is a disease for which there is no cure once you have contracted it. Mrs Ayade stated, “The only thing you can do is prevent it.”
Ekpenyong, the state’s Director-General of Primary Healthcare, assured that “the oral polio vaccine is not harmful.” It is safe, effective, and completely free.”
Mrs. Joy Chabo, Director of Immunisation and Disease Control, said of the exercise’s mode and format, “It is imperative to note that polio primarily affects children under the age of five.” Polio has no known cure. Only prevention is possible. That is why a campaign was launched to eliminate the circulating variant Polio Virus Type Two (PVT2) in children and reduce childhood diseases. Vaccinators were seen moving from house to house, religious houses such as churches, mosques, and traditional worship centres, as well as crèches, recreational centers, markets, and shopping malls, among other places, during the campaign.”
The operation began in Big Qua Town, in the Calabar Municipal Local Government Area of southern Cross River State.
