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Nasarawa Stands Still For PDP …Atiku Promises Youth-Driven Govt …As PDP Hails DR Congo, Vows To Beat APC
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has promised to run a youth-driven administration if given the mandate in the February 16 general election, as Nasarawa State virtually stood still the party’s presidential campaign yesterday.
Atiku gave the commitment yesterday at the PDP presidential campaign in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.
According to the presidential hopeful, the essence of running the youth driven administration was to prepare them to garner experience for effective governance.
“Let me make this commitment that 40 per cent of my government will be dedicated to the youth and 30 per cent to the women.
“This is because I want the youth to garner enough experience to be able to take over from us,” Atiku said.
He urged the people to vote for the PDP in the forthcoming general election in order to end hunger, poverty and insecurity in the country.
The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki called on the people of the state, especially the youth to vote for the PDP and Atiku as president so he would create massive jobs and reduce restiveness in the country.
He noted that the standard of living of Nigerians had not improved within the last three years, hence the need for them to vote for Atiku to get the country working again.
Similarly, Mr Uche Secondus, PDP National Chairman and Mr Peter Obi, Vice Presidential candidate of the party urged the people to turnout massively to vote for Atiku and all PDP candidates during the election.
Secondus, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to exhibit high sense of neutrality and avoid compromising the electoral process in the interest of democracy in the country.
“If INEC and the security agencies love this country, they should allow free, fair and credible election,” Secondus said.
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus and the party’s presidential candidate for the February 16 election, Atiku Abubakar, has vowed that the party would crush Boko Haram insurgency in the North East and guarantee employment opportunities for Nigerians if voted into power.
Speaking yesterday at a campaign ground in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Secondus said Atiku would end the Boko Haram attacks, improve on the current state of the nation’s economy by providing jobs to the unemployed Nigerians and make life better for Nigerians.
Secondus also warned security agencies against rigging the elections, saying there would be consequences if they do so.
“We warn the INEC and the security agencies not to rig this election. If they want to rig this election, they are planning for crisis in Nigeria. Will you accept any rigged election?
“Let them be warned that if they love this country, they should not attempt to rig this election; if they love this country, they should allow free, fair and credible election.
“We have come with the candidate who will provide employment for all of you, we have come with the candidate who will wipe away poverty; he has done it before, he will do it again. We have come with a candidate who is coming with digital architecture for Nigeria,” he said.
Also speaking, Atiku said, “Now, I want to ask you, do you want to continue with the poverty rate we have in this country? So, will you vote for APC? No way! Do you want to continue with the unemployment rate we have in this country? Are you going to vote for APC? Never; do you want to continue with the insecurity in this country?
“Before, they said it was only North-East, today, the insecurity has gone to North-West, it has gone to North-Central, do you what to continue like this?
“Because, they don’t know how to govern, and if you don’t want to continue with all these vices, I appeal to you to vote for PDP and defend your votes.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, yesterday, congratulated the winner of the presidential election in Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshiekedi, while pointing out that his victory was a sign of things to come in Nigeria’s general election.
Tshiekedi was announced the winner of the election by the country’s electoral body yesterday, beating the preferred candidate of the ruling party to third place.
In a statement issued by the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization, signed by the Director, Media & Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the “PPCO said the defeat of ruling party’s candidate, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, is another pointer to the impending defeat of President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 16 presidential election, as African nations consolidate on entrenching purposeful leadership in the continent.”
The statement added, that the victory of the opposition party in DR Congo, would serve as a morale booster for Nigeria’s voting population.
“The victory of opposition candidate and particularly the relegation of the ruling party to third position in the election despite the daunting challenges is a confidence booster for Nigerians on Atiku Abubakar’s victory despite the shenanigans and rigging schemes of the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress.
“Nigerians should not also forget that in March 2018, the opposition candidate in Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio defeated the ruling party’s candidate. In December 2017, opposition George Weah defeated the sitting Vice President Joseph Boakai of Liberia while in December 2016, opposition party candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo defeated the incumbent President of Ghana, John Mahama.
“Those relying on rigging to shortchange Nigerians on February 16 should, therefore, be reminded, that as demonstrated in the DRC, the power of the people remains greater than the power of this nepotistic few,” the statement concluded.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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