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Don’t Over-Heat Polity, Tambuwal, INEC Warn

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The Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, has cautioned politicians to refrain from overheating the polity ahead of the 2015 general elections.
Tambuwal gave the advice in Abuja yesterday when he received a delegation from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) led by its President, Mr Okey Wali.
He urged politicians to conduct themselves with decorum and not to take the electorate for granted.
“Card carrying members of political parties are at best about 25 per cent of the Nigerian population. This 25 per cent should not hold the remaining 75 per cent in contempt.
“We should respect them and ensure that whatever we do in terms of politics, is done within the confines of the law and the constitution,’’ he said.
The speaker expressed dismay at the recent political events in the country, noting that if politicians played by the rules of the game, the problems could be avoided.
“What we are witnessing today is something that ordinarily should be avoided; we should as a matter of fact go back to the rules of engagement of the game.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to signal and allow for political activities to begin.
“Therefore, politicians should exercise some restraints and ensure that we only come out when it is time for us to do so,’’ he said.
Tambuwal said that political officeholders had abandoned governance for politicking and issues bothering on 2015.
“What we need at the moment is for all of us to pay attention to the various mandates we have been given and concentrate on our work and ensure that we deliver on those mandates.
“Whoever does well will receive kudos of Nigerians.
“When the time comes, if you do not do well, Nigerians will show you the way out through the ballot. It is a very simple practice of democracy.’’
Earlier, Wali had restated the association’s readiness to collaborate with the house, and urged the parliament to fast track the passage of sundry bills pending before it.
Similarly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday warned politicians against overheating the polity ahead of the 2015 general elections.
Its Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega gave the warning in Abuja at the third quarterly meeting of the commission and political parties.
Jega advised them to stabilise the polity rather than overheating it, and urged them to have ‘’enlightened self interest’’.
He also warned them against breeding and using thugs during campaigns and elections, adding that they should promote peaceful conduct and civility in political engagements.
“In recent bye-elections, we saw disruptions of the electoral process caused by thuggery, which is not a good idea.
“The trend in recent local governments elections in Imo,Kano and Jigawa are very dangerous and this must stop in order not to undermine the aspiration for credible election by 2015.’’
Jega also warned political parties against presenting candidates in states where they were not existing.
He said the commission had received series of petitions on the issue.
“A particular example is the recent state constituency election in Sokoto where political parties that are virtually non-existent in the state rushed to present candidates for the bye-election.’’
The INEC chairman, therefore, urged political parties to support the democratic growth and restrict their quest for elective offices to areas they have institutional presence.
He also warned stakeholders, including politicians and political parties, against embarking on early campaigns toward the 2015 general elections or face the law.
He said that such early campaigns were unhealthy and could posed a threat to the growth of the country’s democracy
“You all must be mindful of the provision of Section 99, sub-section 1 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, which limits campaign periods to commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours to polling day,’’ he said.
Jega urged the newly registered political parties to provide the commission with list of its interim executive committees at both the state and local government levels.
The meeting was attended by the officials of 20 political parties, including the PDP, PDM, APGA, Accord Party, Action Alliance and Social Democratic Party.

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Elele Etche community Gets Interim Youth Leaders ….As traditional rulers  Warned Against land grabbing 

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Elele Community in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers state has inaugurated an interim Youth Executive to run the affairs of the Elele Central Youth Association for the next six months.
Among those inaugurated are, Comrade Godspower Anaele as the youth leader, Godspower Nwala, deputy youth leader and Barrister Nnamdi Abel as General Secretary/Legal Adviser.
Also inaugurated are,Mr Ifeanyi Emmanuel as Assistant General Secretary,Chibuike Nwamkpa as financial secretary, Michael Ogundu , public Relations officer,Miss Faith Nwaobilor , welfare officer and Charles I K.Agugoesi as provost.
The Ochimba of Elele community Etche local government Area ,HRH Eze Innocent Anaemeje who inaugurated the youth executive warned them against involvement in anti social behaviours
Eze  Anaemeje particularly warned them against involvement in land grabbing stressing that having eliminated land grabbing from the area, the community will frown at any attempt to bring it back.
He   said though the interim youth executive has six months to run the affairs of the Elele central youth Association, the community might return them if their performances are satisfactory.
In an interview with newsmen, The Elele Etche monarch said his kingdom has only one youth body which is the Elele Central Youth Association, warning that private youth bodies will never be allowed to operate in the kingdom.
He said his kingdom is laying a foundation that will promote hardwork and respect to constituted Authoritaties especially from the youth, adding that nobody irrespective of his position will be allowed to hold the community to ransom
According to him, the youth of Elele Etche must respect their elders , the government and cultivate the virtues of hardwork and honesty, stressing that nobody will be allowed to bring shame to the kingdom.
Anaemeje who is the chairman welfare committee of The Etche Supreme Council of  Traditional Rulers used the occasion to call on both the  Rivers state Government and Etche Local Government Council to assist the community with the rehabilitation of its dilapidated health centre
He said the health centre which was constructed through communal efforts has become dilapidated leading to its abandonment.
Eze Anaemeje also called for Government intervention on the epileptic power situation in the area and congratulated Governor Siminalaye Fubara for his reinstatement after six months of emergency rule in the state.
Also speaking the Ezeoha of Etche ethnic nationality,HRH  Eze Chima Nwagha called on  youths in the community to respect their elders
He warned that no indigene in the area should be allowed to use his position to destroy the kingdom and advised the newly inaugurated youth association to rule with the fear of God.
By: John Bibor & Birane progress
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Stop blaming leaders, take responsibility, CAN tells Nigerians

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The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Borno State chapter, has urged Nigerians to make the right choices and take responsibility for the nation’s progress instead of blaming leaders for its challenges.

Borno CAN Chairman, Bishop John Bogna Bakeni, made the call in Maiduguri on Saturday, stressing that national renewal requires both accountable leadership and responsible citizenship.

He said the transformation of Nigeria’s economic and political systems depends on deliberate moral choices and collective action by citizens.

“As I said in my message on the pulpit, Nigerians must make the right choices. We must hold our leaders accountable at all levels, but we must also take responsibility,” Bishop Bakeni stated.

He added that it is not enough to desire a better country without consciously choosing good over evil and making efforts to build it.

Bakeni noted that problems such as kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and corruption stem from the failure of families to instill discipline and values in their children.

“We cannot continue to blame the government alone. Parents must monitor their children and instill discipline and honesty in them. Evil thrives when families abandon their moral duties,” he warned.

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NUJ hails DSS for releasing detained journalists

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The Nigeria Union of Journalists has commended the Department of State Services for the prompt release of two journalists, Ruth Marcus and Keshia Jang of Jay 101.9 FM, Jos, who were recently arrested while covering the funeral of the late mother of the All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.

The NUJ National President, Alhassan Yahya, in a statement on Sunday, said the union welcomed the intervention of the DSS Director-General, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, which led to the immediate release of the journalists.

Our correspondent gathered that the journalists had captured footage showing DSS operatives preventing some pastors from gaining access to the church premises where the funeral service was taking place.

Security officials were screening attendees, and in the process, some clerics were denied entry.

Marcus and Jang had been detained after posting a video report on social media showing a confrontation between a cleric and security operatives at the funeral, an incident that raised widespread concern over press freedom and the right of journalists to perform their lawful duties.

The statement partly read, “We are encouraged by the decisive intervention of the DSS Director-General, who not only ordered their release but also personally reached out to the Union to tender his apologies. He has also reiterated his directive to DSS operatives to conduct thorough investigations before making arrests.”

The NUJ president described the gesture as a positive shift in the culture of Nigeria’s security institutions.

“The willingness of the DSS leadership to admit errors, apologise where necessary, and commit to reforms is an important step in strengthening public trust and confidence in the agency,” he stated.

While commending the development, Abdullahi urged the DSS and other security agencies to sustain the new approach and respect the rights of journalists at all times.

“Press freedom is the bedrock of democracy, and journalists must never be treated as adversaries for performing their constitutional duties. We call on the DSS to institutionalise accountability by sanctioning officers whose actions undermine democratic values and constitutional rights”, he said.

He stressed that only by enforcing discipline within the ranks can such progress be consolidated.

Abdullahi further assured that the NUJ remains committed to constructive engagement with security institutions to strengthen mutual understanding, promote professionalism, and safeguard both press freedom and national security.

“We urge our members across the country to remain vigilant, courageous, and professional in the discharge of their duties,” the NUJ president added.

 

 

 

 

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