News
Buhari, APC Corrupting Electoral Process -Timi Frank
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the ruling APC of corrupting the nation’s electoral process through their devious love for massive vote-buying.
Frank, in a statement in Abuja said the Senate and House of Representatives bye-elections held in Bauchi, Katsina and Kogi States, respectively, at the weekend, have further exposed the desperation of the APC to win local, regional, state and national elections at all cost.
He stated, yesterday, that the ‘vote-buying policy’ now adopted by the Buhari-led administration will further weaken the base of the nation’s democratic enterprise and return the country to its inglorious past where outright manipulation of the electoral process to confer undue advantage on the ruling party held sway.
Frank said: “It is a pity that after increasing hunger and poverty in the country through clueless and inept governance in the last three years, the leadership of the APC has now adopted vote-buying as a policy geared towards securing fraudulent votes at elections.
“They did it in Ekiti State. Now they have extended their electoral fraud to Katsina, Bauchi and Kogi States. The APC’s electoral corruption which was first publicly applied by the party in Ekiti State, is now on a roller coaster ride across the country.
“Already, this is what they plan to do at the National Assembly where they have increased their budget to induce individual Senators and House of Representatives members from $500,000 to $1million (N352million @CBN rate of N352 to a Dollar) to remove the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Speaker Yakubu Dogara – who they fear may defect from the APC any time soon.
“Corruption is not only about stealing or misappropriating finances as vote buying will not only destroy the integrity of elections in the country, it will bring about people of questionable characters into positions of authority.
“I dare say that compromising an election by deploying huge state resources to buy votes as currently being championed and promoted by the APC is the worst form of corruption that can plague any country.
“One can wager that this evil and wicked policy which was test-runned in Ekiti and freely used in Bauchi, Katsina and Kogi at the weekend with ‘appreciable success’ would be massively deployed to rig the forthcoming general elections in 2019 by the APC.
“With the fraudulent successes the party has recorded in the five states aforementioned, little wonder that the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, has not stopped boasting that he will remove Saraki as President of the Senate soon.”
He warned that the 2019 elections is at grave risk of being totally hijacked in favour of Buhari and the APC, if nothing is done by patriotic Nigerians and the nation’s allies in the international community to stop the rising anti-democratic trend being orchestrated by the APC to compromise the nation’s electoral processes for their selfish gain.
“The APC is in power today as a result of free, fair and credible elections conducted by the immediate past administration. Now that they are in the saddle, they have jettisoned free, fair and credible elections as a way of fraudulently perpetuating the APC in power. This money politics must be checked urgently if our democracy is to survive beyond 2019,” Frank warned.
News
PDP Opobo/Nkoro Hails Fubara On Peace, Projects
Stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Opobo/ Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his disposition that has fostered peace in the State.
Rising from an expanded stakeholders meeting last Saturday in Opobo Town, the body in an eight-point communique signed by its Chairman, Hon. Benneth Daminabo, Chairman of Council, Rt. Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam and LG party Chairman, Warisenibo Godwin Pepple commended the governor for linking Opobo/Nkoro LGA to the national grid.
In addition, it lauded the effort of the governor in pursuing the 50.15 kilometre Dual Carriage Ring Road, Elelenwo internal road, Aleto-Ebubu-Eteo Road in Eleme and Andoni Road projects.
Despite the distractions, the stakeholders said they were impressed that the governor had equally done projects in health-the unveiling of Prof. Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Agric projects at Tai and Oyigbo and improving welfare of civil servants.
In their words, “members reaffirmed their unalloyed loyalty and implicit confidence in his administration.”
Condemning the unfriendly and discourteous utterances of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Tony Okocha in different fora in the State, the forum urged the duo to desist from such action in order not to heat up the polity.
The forum pledged to stand by the governor through, “thick and thin”, the stakeholders acknowledged the contributions of women, who through prayers for the government has impacted positively in the direction and posture of the governor.
Finally, the forum unanimously expressed gratitude to the Simplified Movement and other bodies that have thrown their weight behind the governor to ensure that the administration is stable and successful.
By: Kevin Nengia
News
‘Rivers People Are Now Breathing Fresh Air Under Fubara’
Aformer Caretaker Committee Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Elamo Arogu, says under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the people of the State are now breathing fresh air.
Hon Arogu said Governor Fubara has given Rivers people hope, considering the impactful and people-oriented projects being carried out by his administration.
The former CTC chairman made the assertion during the Simplified Movement’s thanksgiving service and rally held in honour of Rivers State chief executive last Friday in Abua .
Arogu said under Governor Fubara, the Abua/Odual people have the confidence that the dividends of democracy will definitely get to them.
He noted that the Governor has the strong will to change the narrative in Rivers State, being the reason he is receiving massive support across the State.
“The people of Abua/Odual are strongly behind him. Our doors ate open for everyone because there is government in place to attend to the needs of the people. I believe that he will develop Abua/Odual and other Rivers council areas, hence, the massive support. This government is business- oriented and we are ready to encourage him succeed and invest in our land. The issue of a bank; road networks and other necessities of life bordering on development as demanded by the people will be considered by Governor Fubara”, he said.
He called on the opposition to team up with Governor Fubara to build a stronger, united and viable Rivers State.
He maintained that ward nine under his leadership is Simplified.
News
Rivers State University Cooperative Society Elects New Leaders
The United Port Harcourt Peoples Cooperative Investment & Credit Society Limited, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has elected new leaders to pilot the affairs of the cooperative for the next two years.
They are Pastor Dr. Barine Aeba (President); Dr. Gift N. Nkweke (Vice-President), Dr. Kenneth Chima Adiele (General Secretary), Victor G. Banigo (Assistant General Secretary),
Rose Yeyeda Nwosu (Treasurer), Adaku Nwogu (Financial Secretary) and Stella Ereba (Public Relations Officer).
Inaugurating the new Management Committee after a keenly contested election held recently at the University Amphitheatre, the Director of Cooperatives in Rivers State, Dr. Elizabeth Chidi-Wike, congratulated the seven-member Executive for emerging winners at the election, charging them to uphold the bye laws of the Cooperative Society and hold regular congress meetings.
Dr. Chidi-Wike used the forum to commend the outgone Management Committee for reviving the Cooperative and placing it on an enviable pedestrial.
In her remarks, the Acting Registrar of the University, Mrs. Ibimonia Sotonye Harry applauded Cooperative members for keeping faith with the Cooperative Society, stressing that the goal of the society in helping members save for retirement cannot be over emphasised.
In his valedictory speech, the outgone President, Dr. Mie-Idala Jones Amachree expressed gratitude to God for the successful completion of his four-year tenure, thanking his fellow Management Committee members who gave him the needed support that transformed the Cooperative Society.
In his acceptance address, the President, Pastor (Dr.) Barine Aeba thanked the university management for providing the enabling environment for the peaceful conduct of the election, pledging that he will fulfill all his campaign promises.
A total of 165 Cooperative members participated in the electoral exercise which was conducted by an Electoral Committee led by Engr. (Dr.) Joseph D. Enoch.
-
Business3 days ago
MOWCA Strengthens Maritime Crime Prevention
-
News3 days ago
Emulate Otti, Obey Court Order Stopping Pension To Ex-Govs, SERAP, OBJ Tell Tinubu, Govs
-
Niger Delta3 days ago
Group Commences Mangrove Restoration Initiative In Cross River Communities
-
Sports1 day ago
Tornadoes Fight-Back To Stun Shooting Stars
-
Editorial3 days ago
Delta Killings: Need For Caution
-
Rivers3 days ago
Show Example In Leadership, Cleric Urges Nigerian Leaders
-
Niger Delta1 day ago
Diri Appoints New SSG, CoS, Retains CPS
-
Opinion1 day ago
Restoring Service Commission As Professional Gatekeeper