Politics
US Stronger Since 9/11 Attacks –Obama
The United States is stronger while al-Qaeda is on the road to defeat 10 years after the 9/11 attacks on the country, President Barack Obama has said.
Obama was speaking ahead of planned events to mark the 10th anniversary of the attacks on New York, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania, and amid a security crackdown following “specific and credible” threats against New York City and Washington on the eve of the anniversary.
“Thanks to the tireless efforts of our military personnel and our intelligence, law enforcement and homeland security professionals, there should be no doubt: today, America is stronger and al-Qaeda is on the path to defeat,” Obama said in a weekly radio and internet address on Saturday.
The president also referred to the killing of Osama bin Laden, the former leader of al-Qaeda, asserting that popular protest movements in the Arab world were a testament to the lack of influence al-Qaeda has over the region’s people.
“We’ve forged new partnerships with nations around the world to meet the global challenges that no nation can face alone,” Obama said. “And across the Middle East and North Africa, a new generation of citizens is showing that the future belongs to those that want to build, not destroy.”
Obama spoke as New York police put out a show of force, setting up checkpoints at major traffic intersections and at key locations on the city’s subway system.
Al Jazeera’s Asad Hashim, reporting from the city’s financial district, said the impact of the tight security on Saturday was markedly less than Friday due to the start of the weekend.
The NYPD’s response came after US intelligence reported the existence of specific, credible but uncorroborated threats involving a car or truck bomb plot linked to the anniversary.
The intelligence emanated from a source in the Afghanistan and Pakistan region, who told US officials that three men had been sent to the US with the training and intention of setting up car bombs in the two cities, a senior counterterrorism official told Al Jazeera.
US officials said they had not been able to get another source to confirm the threat or any details, but that security will be ramped up in both cities as the anniversary approaches on Sunday.
Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, had earlier indicated that the US believed that al-Qaeda was involved in the threat.
At least two of the suspects are believed to be US citizens, the Associated Press news agency reported.
At a meeting of his senior national security team on Sunday, Obama directed officials to “pursue vigorously all threat information and to ensure a heightened state of vigilance and preparedness” ahead of the anniversary.
US military bases overseas have been placed at the second-highest “bravo” alert level in response to elevated security risk.
The president also said that efforts must not let up in the days and weeks following the anniversary weekend.
Meanwhile, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, US Vice-President Joe Biden and former Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton were present at a sombre ceremony honouring the passengers and crew of Flight 93, which crashed in a field after being hijacked on September 11, 2001.
They were accompanied by relatives of the 40 victims of the crash. Speakers at the dedication of the $62m Flight 93 National Memorial also included Gordon Felt, the president of the Families of Flight 93 group. Felt’s brother Edward had been on board the flight, and had telephoned a friend from on board to report that the flight had been hijacked.
A white stone wall, bearing the names of those who struggled with the hijackers on the Boeing 757 airliner during the attack, was unveiled in the rural Pennsylvania field where the plane crashed.
Security was tight at the ceremony, and the US Federal Aviation Administration declared a no-fly zone up to 5,500m over the site, which is about 200km west of Washington, DC, for most of Sunday, when further ceremonies will be held.
Obama visited the Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday with his wife, Michelle, to remember those US soldiers who have been killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. They visited Section 60 of the cemetery, a burial ground for service members killed in those two wars, which have so far claimed more than 6,213 US soldiers’ lives.
The Obamas were due to participate in a service project on Saturday afternoon in the Washington, DC area, ahead of ceremonies on Sunday where the president is scheduled to visit the New York City, Shanksville, and Pentagon sites where hijacked planes crashed 10 years ago.
He will be joined in New York by former President Bush. The memorial at the World Trade Center site in New York City will begin shortly before 8.30am local time, with moments of silence to be observed for each of the times that the four planes crashed, and the two times when the World Trade Center towers fell.
Speakers at the event will read out the names of the almost 3,000 people who were killed in the attacks that day. The ceremony will also mark the opening of two memorial pools at the World Trade Center site, which sits at the former footprints of the two buildings, to the public.
Obama closed the day by speaking at a memorial event at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Claiming that elections in the country are typically characterized by vote buying, Mr Nwosu said a repeat of such phenomenon would taint the credibility of the forthcoming gubernatorial poll.
Mr Nwosu is among the 16 governorship candidates listed by INEC in a June 4, 2025 statement to participate in the November 8, 2025 election in Anambra State.
His party, the ADC, will battle it out with other parties to unseat incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Mr Nwosu, in a statement on Saturday, said it was baffling seeing voters openly selling their votes to party agents and other representatives around polling units on election day.
According to him, “such practices not only derail the true will of the people but also reduce elections to an auction, where the state is effectively handed over to the highest bidder.”
Mr Nwosu urged INEC to introduce secure voting cubicles that would safeguard the legitimate rights of voters and uphold the sovereignty of democracy.
“INEC must provide secure voting cubicles to ensure ballots remain private and secret. Currently, many polling areas are too exposed, allowing others to see the voting process. This not only encourages vote buying but also undermines the integrity of the elections.
“Voting must remain secret. Nigeria already has strong electoral laws which, if properly enforced, can deliver outcomes that truly benefit society”, Mr Nwosu said.
He held that the Anambra governorship election was another opportunity for INEC to secure the trust of Nigerians about its commitment to transparency and fairness during polls.
He also noted the role of security agencies in tackling the menace of vote buying on the day of election.
He said, “The success of any political activity depends largely on security, because security is key. While it is not solely INEC’s duty to ensure elections are properly conducted, the Commission must create an enabling environment that allows citizens to participate freely, conduct themselves properly, and exercise their right to vote.”
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, called on the relevant security agencies to investigate the attackers and their sponsors.
“The Labour Party is perplexed by the physical attack on our National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, by agents suspected to be working for anti-democratic elements who have tried unsuccessfully to wrestle the leadership of the party from him.
“Few hours ago, a prominent member of a known political family, Ms Precious Oruche, alias ‘Mama P’, accosted Barrister Abure while on a queue at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja, boarding a Max Air flight en route to Benin, and attacked the Labour Party’s National Chairman unprovoked.
“The attacker, Madam P, who is also a known content creator, continued the attack all through the duration of the flight, defying all attempts by the Max Air flight attendants to calm her.
“The assault, which attracted a large population of onlookers, continued unabated on disembarkment at the Benin Airport while she continued recording the scene.
“It took the intervention of the security agents on hand to whisk Abure to safety while the attacker was handed over to the police for questioning.
“In one of her films released, the lady, who is a prominent member of the ‘Obidient’ and claimed that she has contacts with the highest police hierarchy, boasted that nothing will happen to her.
“She vowed that she will not stop attacking Abure or any member of the Labour Party executive because, according to her, ‘you have killed Labour Party and you are the reason why Obi is no longer in the Labour Party.’
“The leadership of the Labour Party is completely troubled with this cyber-bullying and the consequences of the action of this political agent on the party. We are by this statement calling on the Inspector General of Police to thoroughly investigate this suicidal aggression against the leadership of the Labour Party and Barrister Julius Abure in particular.
“We sincerely believe that the lady-agent was on an assignment to accomplish the desires of her paymasters. Assault and cyber-bullying are severe crimes under our laws and we think that the Police must fish out her sponsors and cohorts, and bring them to book.
“We are calling on the members of the Labour Party to be calm, even in the face of this unwarranted provocation and wait for the outcome of the investigation on the unprovoked attack against the leadership of the party,” the statement read.
Speaking during the party’s congress in Yola, the state capital, on Saturday, Mr David Lorhenba, the chairman, Adamawa Congress Committee, described the exercise as hitch-free.
He said that a total of 2,656 delegates from 21 local government areas came out and elected 39 officials.
Mr Lorhenba commended the delegates for conducting themselves in an orderly manner.
“The conduct of the congress is very successful, all the delegates come from 21 Local Government Areas and cast their votes peacefully.
“We have a total of 2,656 delegates and we have announced the winners very successfully”, he said.
In his remarks, Alhaji Attahiru Shehu, the outgoing chairman, congratulated the new executives and charged them to continue on what they have already done for the party to remain strong.
According to him, they started as opposition in the state and produced Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri who is serving his second term, opining they “he has done well for the state.”
In his acceptance speech, Mr Madagali thanked the delegates for the confidence they reposed in him.
He promised to run an open door policy in manning the affairs of the party.
“Let us continue the legacy of good governance and prepare ahead for 2027 with focus, discipline and unity.
“To those outside our party, especially the youths and women of Adamawa, we invite you into our party.
“PDP is your home. Our doors are open to all who wish to contribute positively to the development of our state.
“Our party will continue to be a shining example of people-focused on leadership,” he said.
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