The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has expressed concern over the rising cases of insecurity ahead of the November 11 governorship elections billed to take place in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states.

In a statement by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, he appealed to political parties and their candidates to avoid actions and utterances capable of heating up the polity.

“The commission is concerned about the spate of insecurity and violence, including clashes among supporters of political parties and candidates in the forthcoming elections,” he said.

The commission appealed to all political parties and candidates to avoid utterances and acts that may heat up the polity, adding that it will continue to closely monitor the situation and sustain its engagement with security agencies and stakeholders to ensure peaceful conduct of elections in the three states.

[DailyPost]

The Federal Government, on Sunday, provided more reasons why it decided to suspend the N-Power programme, stating that the scheme had ghost beneficiaries, while some of its consultants were currently withholding participants’ funds.

Sunday PUNCH reported that over one million Nigerians had lost their jobs under the N-Power programme following the indefinite suspension of the scheme by the government as announced on Saturday by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.

The N-Power programme was established by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari to address youth unemployment as beneficiaries were paid N30,000 monthly stipend.

Providing additional reasons why the scheme was suspended, the National Programme Manager N-Power, Akindele Egbuwalo, stated on Sunday that the scheme had ghost workers that should be eliminated.

On concerns about consultants of the scheme, he said, “Preliminary findings of our audit have shown that some consultants are holding on to beneficiaries’ funds disbursed to them long ago even when their contract ended in March 2023 without any renewal.

“We condemn this practice and will not tolerate it going forward. Work is ongoing to identify those involved, understand why the payments didn’t get to the final beneficiaries, and recall the funds to pay those owed.

“We appeal to Nigerians to understand the rationale behind the temporary suspension and investigation of the programme as we work to restore the nation’s confidence in the programme and for the new N-Power to serve Nigerians better. Things have to be properly done for us to move forward.”

Egbuwalo said the ongoing restructuring and transformation would also birth an expanded programme to reach beneficiaries aged 18-40 (the previous age limit was 35).

Aare Afe Babalola, the 94-year-old Senior Advocate of Nigeria with a 60-year experience at the bar, recently revealed an open secret: that virtually all state governors are stealing the funds of the local governments.

The nonagenarian founder of Afe Babalola University lamented on September 7: “When I was a councillor, in those days, local government funds used to come directly to them. We all know what has been happening to their money. I think the current President (Bola Tinubu) should do all he can to ensure that local government allocation gets to them directly and not through the governors because they (governors) steal a lot.”

It is tragic for Nigeria that an old man whose life has revolved around the rule of law, knows better to appeal to political authorities than advocate for the rule of law, as it would be a waste of time.

Indeed, the local government contraption is a fraudulent system operating on the wings of mass deceit. It has been so for about half a century. I recall the shock of a younger friend when he went on his National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, primary assignment in a local government. The Council Chairman came to the secretariat once monthly to share the monthly federal allocation. He took ‘his share’, gave his councillors theirs, paid the staff and gave the balance to the influential persons in the area. All dispersed happily to await the next allocation. That was during the Babangida dictatorship.

 Under the Abacha regime, there was a directive that traditional rulers be given five per cent of the local government allocation. This led to squabbles in some areas as the fight for supremacy amongst them which would determine the share of the loot they collect, intensified. In some areas, in order to get greater share, kingdoms were subdivided. In cases where traditional kingdoms spanned across two or more states, additional traditional rulers were installed so they can share the states largesse.

This July, I attended a reception for a former local government chairman who narrated some of his experiences under the state governor. In one instance, he and his colleagues were invited to meet His Excellency. While seated, a document was passed round for the signatures of the Council Chairmen. In it, they were allegedly empowering the state government to deduct payments over a period for a sundry of things. He said on enquiring when the chairmen met to take such a decision, he became a marked man. In another instance, he said the Chairmen were instructed to sign vouchers for the purchase of a Hilux van each as the state government donation to the police. He said when he contacted a well-known motor dealer to ask for the price of the vehicle, he discovered that the price on each voucher was over 100 per cent higher. He said when he pointed this out to the governor, he promised to investigate. He added that he then decided that his local government would directly buy the vehicle and deliver to the government house. This he said, seemed to have sealed his political fate in the state.

In practice, local government leaders are foot mats of governors. In the first place, they might have been appointed by the governor as the ‘elected’ leaders of the local governments. So it is a servant/slave-master relationship. It is, therefore, almost impossible for a local government chairman to raise a voice against a governor. This rarity occurred in Ogun State when the Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area, Wale Adedayo, accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of diverting in the last two years, the statutory federal allocation to the local governments.

Adedayo, a self-determination activist and journalist, alleged that over N10.8bn fund of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme was also diverted by the governor. He also claimed that the 10 per cent of the state’s internally generated revenue which, constitutionally, should be paid local governments had been withheld for years. Adedayo claimed that this zero allocation to the local governments had been going on since the days of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the governor’s predecessor.

Governor Abiodun not only denied the allegations but also claimed his administration augments the funds allocated to local governments in the state to enable them meet their obligations. What logically should follow is the state government publishing the claimed allocations and release of funds, especially when they would have been done through the banks and not across the table. Rather, Adedayo was hounded. His fellow chairmen denied him and went to prostrate for the governor. His legislative council suspended him from office. The State Security Services detained him for days. The police also detained him. Then, he was arraigned on a two-count charge based on a petition signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi. It states: “Petition against Wale Adedayo’s deliberate circulation of falsehood, false report to government, threat to life and interference with the exercise of executive function.”

Basically, local government allocations are regarded as free funds to be squandered. Just as the crooked would use bread to scoop the communal soup, so do many of our leaders use local government funds to scoop our national funds.

In the first place, the creation of local governments in the last 40 years has been based on fraud. Powerful people went shopping to be allocated local governments. Military officers who sat in the inglorious ruling military councils allocated local governments to themselves. These creations followed no rules, objective criteria, logic or sense; they simply flow from the power relations in the military. The more successful coup plotters you have in the military regimes, the more local governments you had; invariably, the less coup plotters you could muster, the less local governments your ‘people’ would have. This is why today, while Lagos State which was created on on May 27, 1967 has 20 local governments, the old Kano State created the same day, has 71 (present Kano and Jigawa states). Bayelsa State which contributes about one third of national wealth has eight local governments, while many states which contribute very little, have quadrupled that number. Yet the number of local governments are part of the criteria for the allocation and distribution of national wealth.

While the idea of local governments being the third tier of government is very good, its practice is iniquitous, unfair, immoral and obstructive of social justice in the country.

Since the Constitution states unequivocally that: “Nigeria shall be a Federation consisting of States and a Federal Capital Territory” (Section 2 sub section 2), a practical and equitable way forward is for the present local governments to be scrapped, and allow each federating state to create the number of local governments it needs and can afford.

In light of the recently planned October 3, 2023 national strike that was called off by the NLC and TUC, let us examine the 1964 general strike and the Morgan Commission for lessons that might help Nigerian workers carry out successful general strikes in future. The Morgan Commission was the product of the 1963 general strike. The workers went on a general strike on September 27, 1963 and the Federal government capitulated a few days later and set up the Morgan commission. The terms of reference Morgan Commission included the investigation of the existing wage structure, remuneration and conditions of service in wage-earning employments in the country. The Morgan commission sat from October, 1963 to April, 1964 and received petitions and presentations from workers, trade unions, private employers and regional governments.

The Morgan commission recommended the division of the nation into four waged zones in its final report. The monthly minimum wages in Zone 1 and Zone 2 were fixed at £12.0 and £10.0 respectively. Minimum monthly wages in Zone 3 were set at £8.0. while those at Zone 4 were set at £6.5. For the salaried staff, the commission recommended an annual wage increase of £36.0 for those who earn less than £312.0 a year, an annual increase of £24.0 to those who earn between £319.0 and £432.0 a year and an annual increase of £12.0 to those in the £433.0 to £588.0 range. The commission recommended the establishment of wage boards to enforce the salary increases. It made the new wage scale payable from October 1, 1963.

The failure of the State to release a white paper on the recommendations of the Morgan Commission report forced the Joint Action Committee (JAC) to call for a mass meeting in Lagos on May 30, 1964 and a general strike on June 1, 1964. During the mass meeting, the militant trade union leaders agitated for a demonstration against the Federal government's ban on public meetings and demonstrations. They were supported by rank and file workers. The demonstration took place immediately after the mass meeting. Workers lined up and marched from the meeting place at Surelere to the ULC headquarters at Ebute-metta. There, the moderate trade union leaders attempted to disperse the workers. However, Micheal Imoudu decided to lead the peaceful march to the Prime Minister's residence in Lagos Island. The march never got there. On Carter bridge, which connects Lagos mainland to Lagos Island, the Nigerian Police attacked the peaceful workers. The workers were dispersed after numerous police baton charges and excessive use of tear gas. Some workers were injured and many were arrested. The 1964 general strike began on the next day. Millions of workers participated in the general strike nationwide. The Prime Minister, Sir Abubaka Tafewa Balewa, ordered the workers back to work. The striking workers ignored the order. Some workers demanded that 'Balewa must go' and a resolution asking for his resignation was passed at a mass workers' rally.

On June 3rd, the Federal State released a white paper in which it rejected most of the recommendations in the Morgan Commission's report. The Federal and Regional government, as employers, accused the commission of using a new formula to determine the how much means of subsistence was required by a worker and thereby increasing wages by 58% to 100% instead of the 15% to 20% as revealed by the cost of living increase when calculated with the old formula. They divided the country into seven zones, with 3 zones in Southern Nigeria and 4 in northern Nigeria. In Zone 1, they set a minimum monthly wage of £9.1. Minimum monthly wages was £7.8, in Zones 2 and 3. Zones 4, 5, 6 and 7 had minimum monthly wages of £6.6, £6.1, £5.3 and £4.8 respectively. The States did not increase the salaries of low income workers earning between £78.0 and £90.0 a year. Rather, it declared that they were covered by the new zonal minimum wages. Workers in the salary range of £91.0 to £318.0 per year were offered a £18.0 wage increase, while those with salaries between £319.0 and £432.0 were offered a £12.0 wage increase. A £6.0 wage increase was offered to those earning between £433.0 and £588.0 per year. The governments argued that the new wage scale should become effective from April 1, 1964.

The workers' response was to continue the strike. Private sector workers joined the strike in large number. On June 10th, the Federal State threatened to dismiss all striking workers and deny them all their pension rights. It issued queries to 10,000 striking workers. Private sector employers gave a similar ultimatum on June 12th. Some of the companies carried out the threat. For instance, Union Trading Company dismissed 1,000 workers on June 12, 1964, for participating in the strike. Policemen were invited to offer protection to new applicants. Despite such repressive measures, the general strike continued. According to the Financial Times “The strike was more than a strike for a living wage for the low income groups of workers in Nigeria. It was a protest strike against the extravagance of politicians of all parties, against corruption and nepotism in high places and the failure of all Governments in the Federation to improve the lot of workers, particularly the low income group since Nigeria attained independence in 1960. Nigerian labour leaders had decided to ask the Federal Government to appoint a commission of inquiry into the wealth of the ruling class."

The Federal State capitulated and a Reconciliation Committee, consisting of JAC leaders and representatives of the States, was set up to negotiate around the recommendations of the Morgan Commission. The general strike was called off on June 13, 1964, based on the understanding that no striking worker would be victimized and the strike period would be regarded as leave with pay. The strike cost the nation more than £10.0 million . Negotiation began on June 15, 1964.

After two weeks of negotiation, the Federal government accepted responsibility for the implementation of the new wage scale in the private sector. It also accepted the responsibility for implementing a grading system where workers doing equal work would get equal pay irrespective of their geographical location. The grading system was modified and workers divided into unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled categories. The nation was divided into 6 zones, with 2 zones in Southern Nigeria and 4 in the North. Minimum monthly wages of £10.0 were set for workers in Zone 1 and all workers in the private sector. In Zone 2, the monthly minimum wage rate was fixed at £8.125. The range of the monthly minimum wages in the 4 northern Nigerian Zones were increased from £4.0-£6.0 to £5.2-£8.0. All minimum wage rates in the country were made applicable to workers employed by Voluntary Agencies, States bodies and Parastatal ( Statutory Corporations). Salary increases of £24.0 per year were given to workers earning less than £318.0 per year. £16.0 and £8.0 salary increases were given to those earning £318.0-£432.0 and £433.0-£588.0 respectively. The daily wage system was to be abolished between 1965 and 1967 and all unskilled workers moved into the permanent establishment.

Thus, after the 1964 general strike and the Morgan Awards, the daily wages of unskilled public sector workers in the Federal Territory increased from 5s. l0d. to 7s. 8d.. This constituted a 31% increase in monetary wages. In the rest of Southern Nigeria, daily wages increased by 26% from 5s. to 6s. 3d.. Similar increases were recorded in northern Nigeria. Semi-skilled public sector workers were paid 9s. 3d. per day in Lagos, 8s. l0d. in the rest of Southern Nigeria and 6s. 2d. in northern Nigeria. The greatest increase in this grade occurred in northern Nigeria where daily wages rose by 37%. Public sector workers in the skilled (artisans) grade were paid 10s. nationwide, reflecting an increase of 15.4% from the 1963 wage rate. 

The NLC and TUC need to remember the lessons of the 1964  general strike because they are very relevant to the struggles of the Nigerian workers  today. These lessons were (1) the trade unions demanded a commission of enquiry instead negotiating directly with the Federal government. This allowed them to engage the Federal government as the State authority or representative of the Nigerian bourgeois class, rather than as a public sector employer. (2) the unions formed a united front. (3) the unions bridged the public-private sector divisions as well as the divisions between federal public sector workers and regional public sector workers. The Regional governments and private employers were invited to make presentations to the commission. (4) the unions had a strong, well prepared negotiation team. They not only prepared for the general strike, they prepared for the resulting negotiations. (5) the trade unions had clear, consistent measurable demands. (6) the trade unions mobilized, not only their members for the general strike, but also the whole of the general Nigerian civil society. The Micheal Imoudu led pre-strike Lagos demonstration was designed to mobilize civil society and public sentiment (7) the negotiations continued until most of the workers’ demands were met. The institutional memory of workers struggles needs to be maintained during capacity building and training of trade unionists. The lessons learned from the past struggles of Nigerian workers are essential to waging successful workers struggles in the future.

Foremost rights groups, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and Amnesty International (AI), yesterday, condemned attempts by the federal government through the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to gag the media, especially Nigeria’s number television station, the Arise News Television.

HURIWA specifically cautioned the NBC to avoid acting like an agency of fascism, and not to continuously act as though it was being teleguided, manipulated and mechanically remote-controlled by haters of democracy, free speech and constitutionalism, to scuttle Nigeria’s democracy.

HURIWA also called on National Broadcasting Commission to take cognisance of the ‘indubitably, incontrovertible and irrevocable’ fact that the grundnorm or the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was more supreme and bigger than any public office holders.

It said the NBC that was set up by an inferior legislative template couldn’t be seen to be attempting crudely to revoke the constitutional freedoms enshrined copiously in chapter 4 of the constitution, including freedom of information.

The civil right group said claimed the Constitution in section 22 has empowered the media of mass communication to do the duty of a vanguard and conscience of the nation and monitor the behaviours of public institutions and public office holders.

It said this was to ensure rule of law, respect for constitutionalism and fundamental freedoms recognised internationally under the Universal Declarations of Human Rights (UDHR), the African Charter on people’s and human rights, the international covenant on civil and political rights and a plethora of international human rights treaties.

HURIWA said the persistent attempt by NBC to muzzle the exercise of the fundamental human rights of Nigerians including attempting to force broadcasting stations to start operating as if they were in the era of Musolini’s fascism of Italy of far years gone by or as if Nigeria was under the North Korean type of absolute tyranny by not featuring critics or Nigerians of divergent views different from those of the persons in government of the day, must be actively resisted by all and sundry so that democracy was not imperilled.

The Rights group, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, accused the NBC of working with reactionary elements to scuttle democracy and institute absolute monarchical type of governance in this 21st century Nigeria.

Nigerians, it said, should and must actively resist this negative forces, who were bent on scuttling the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms by the Nigerian citizens.

On its party, Amnesty International, condemned NBC for issuing a ‘final warning’ to owners of Arise Television over the use of derogatory and incendiary remarks on the station.

In its reaction shared on its X account in the early hours of Saturday, October 7, 2023, Amnesty International Nigeria said the NBC action has proven that the Nigerian authorities were not prepared to be held accountable.

It urged the government to desist from what it called an attempt to silence media organisations whose roles are crucial in ensuring independent and diverse media space in the country.

The statement read: “Amnesty International condemns the ‘final warning’ issued to @ARISEtv by the FG through National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Targeting Arise TV simply for doing their work sends the wrong message that; Nigerian authorities are not prepared to be held accountable.

“Nigerian authorities must stop the unrelenting quest to silence media organizations like @ARISEtv which are crucial to ensuring independent and diverse media space in the country and fulfilling people’s right to information.

“Using regulations as a way to silence independent journalism is completely unacceptable. The media in Nigeria should be free to exercise their right to freedom of expression as protected by international law.”

The Federal Government has approved the appointment of doctors, nurses, and other clinical healthcare workers as contract staff after attaining their compulsory retirement age or years.

The government, however, said the appointed contract staff would be on the same salary scale level that they retired on if they desire and deserve it.

A circular obtained by our correspondent, dated October 5, 2023, by the Federal Ministry of Health, directed the Chief Executive Agencies, Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and Heads of Regulatory Bodies and Schools to ensure compliance with the circular earlier issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to all staff in their institutions.

The office of the OHCSF had in a circular dated August 30, 2023, rejected the upward review of the current retirement age of Medical/Dental Consultants and other health professionals from 60 to 70 and 75 respectively.

The circular titled ‘Re: Review of retirement age to 65 and 70 years for health professionals and medical/dental consultants,’ with reference number HCSF/SPSO/ODD/CND/100/S./145, was addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the FMoH.

The circular signed by the Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, Olufemi Oloruntoba, for the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation read partly, “I am directed to refer to the above-mentioned memorandum presented at the 44th National Council on Establishment held from 5th-9th December 2022, in Yola, Adamawa State requesting a review of the current retirement age of Medical/Dental Consultants and other health professionals from 60 to 70 and 75 respectively.

“After careful consideration of the memorandum, the council rejected the request based on the following: Professionals in the health sector were leaving the country because of pecuniary consideration and unfavourable conditions of service and not as a result of retirement age.

“Some state government had already increased the retirement age of medical doctors and other health workers and this has not addressed the spate of brain drain.”

It also said it was dissatisfied with health workers’ attitude to work, noting that in spite of efforts by the government to encourage health workers, the exodus of health workers had not abated.

“Council, however, approved that clinical health workers who have attained the compulsory retirement age/years may be given contract appointment on the same salary scale level that they retired on if desired and deserved.

“Government should engage the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Medical Association to extract some level of commitment from medical doctors.

“To address the observed dissatisfaction with the attitude of health workers to work, there is a need to institutionalise an effective performance management system in the public service in order to improve the work ethics of the medical officers and consultant, and medical doctors should show more patriotism in the discharge of their duties and avoid holding the system to ransom,” it added.

Consequently, the FMoH in its circular urged all executives of agencies, Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and Heads of Regulatory Bodies and Schools to ensure strict compliance with the directive from the OHCSF.

The circular signed by the Deputy of Appointment, Promotion and Discipline, Daloba Paul Edward for the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, was referenced C.4007/T.2/37.

President Bola Tinubu has rejected a request by Niger’s military leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani for direct one-on-one talks to help resolve the crisis in the West African country.

According to diplomatic sources, Tinubu dismissed the overture as disrespectful to detained President Mohamed Bazoum and an endorsement of the illegal junta government.

The request was conveyed to Tinubu by a delegation of Muslim clerics who met him in Abuja last month. But the Nigerian leader outrightly ruled out interacting directly with the head of a coup government not recognized by ECOWAS.

Government sources confirmed Tinubu insisted that engaging Tchiani would improperly legitimize the junta and disappoint other ECOWAS leaders. The president stated that the coupists must be held accountable.

Tinubu had also received emissaries like ex-Nigerian leader Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar and Sultan of Sokoto, who visited Niger to discuss resolution. But the impasse persists amid doubts on sending envoys who benefited from past military rule.

The ECOWAS chairman however told the Ulamas delegation that the bloc remains committed to a peaceful and diplomatic solution. Tinubu pledged to continue restraining calls for swifter intervention in the crisis.

Analysts say Tinubu’s rejection of direct discussion with Tchiani sends an important signal, but a united ECOWAS front is needed to resolve the coup crisis. The junta continues to hold President Bazoum in detention.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, at the weekend, disclosed that the Federal Government was planning to resume the dredging of Rivers Niger and Benue.

Utsev added that his ministry had put committees in motion to work on the modalities for the dredging of the two rivers.

Fielding questions from journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State, on the sidelines of the graduation ceremony from a youth empowerment scheme and distribution of items organized by the Lower Niger River Basin Authority, he said: “Dredging of Rivers Niger and Benue is what we are working on. We have put some committees in place.”

His words were,

• “The committees will assess the feasibility of the dredging. After that, we will discuss it with President Bola Tinubu. At that point, we will then tell all Nigerians where we are on the dredging of the two rivers.”
• He added that his ministry was working to ensure the provision of potable water, sanitation, and irrigation for Nigerians.

Importance of dredging the Rivers

On the benefits of dredging both Rivers, the Minister said,

• “Water for irrigation will be used to provide food for the enhancement of food security and ultimately generate income and empowerment.
• As you can see, some youths are being empowered today. Water is not only important; it is very necessary for the existence of living organisms.”
• “Without water, there will be no life.”
• “President Tinubu in his Renewed Hope agenda promises Nigerians to work on food security and revive Nigeria’s economy in addition to healthcare and security.”
• “We at the ministry are working assiduously to see how we can provide potable water for drinking, sanitation, and irrigation,” he stressed.

Backstory

Calls for the dredging of the River Niger and Benue are not new, and the federal government had made efforts towards dredging these two rivers to combat flooding, provide water for irrigation and encourage marine transport and other economic activities.

In 2017, the then Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi announced the awarding of contracts for the dredging of critical parts of the river Benue. He also said dredging of Lower River Niger from Warri to Baro has begun.

[NairaMetrics]

President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, declared that with the hitherto abandoned Ajaokuta Steel Complex now nearing completion, the project will have the capacity to employ 500,000 Nigerians once designated as a free trade zone.

The president further promised to fully harness the potential of the complex once it is completed, as it would boost Nigeria’s foreign direct investment and provide an avenue for the creation of the much-needed conducive business environment for all sectors to thrive.

President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, made this known at the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

The governorship poll in the state is slated for 11 November.

Addressing a mammoth crowd in Lokoja, Mr Shettima also noted that Mr Tinubu remained committed to completing the constructions of the River Niger, the Kabba-Lokoja and the Abuja-Lokoja roads.

He said Mr Tinubu is a man of plenty of ideas who is determined to reposition the nation in its rightful place, especially as it borders on restructuring and stimulating the Nigerian economy.

“Given Mr President’s commitment to the development of Kogi State and indeed the entirety of Nigeria, Kogi in particular being a confluence state, cannot afford to have a governor who is hostile to the centre. We must be partners in progress and work hand in hand to develop this great nation,” the vice president said.

He further hinted about plans by the Tinubu administration to make the Itakpe crop processing project a dream come true, just as he promised jobs and affordable education under the present government.

Reemphasising that the welfare of the citizenry would never be willfully compromised, Mr Shettima called on Kogi citizens to come out en masse on 11 November to vote for the candidate of the APC, Ahmed Ododo, to consolidate the achievements of the APC government in the state.

He added that the natural endowments of Kogi State would be harnessed for the development of the state and the nation at large, adding that President Tinubu had further given his nod for the rehabilitation of Obajana-Okene road in Kogi State.

Speaking earlier, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, thanked President Tinubu for accepting to flag off the governorship campaign in his state, disclosing that his administration has achieved a lot, and it is time for consolidation to move the state forward.

“We have done a lot in the area of security, education and health, among others. We want to consolidate on that. I am, therefore, calling on the people of our dear state to vote for our candidate to move Kogi State forward,” he said.

The APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, said because Mr Bello has provided good governance to the people of Kogi, the state cannot afford to be left behind by giving power to another party different from the one at the centre.

Also, the Chairman of the APC Campaign Council for Kogi State, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, enjoined the people of Kogi State to clean up their voter cards and turn out in numbers to vote for the candidate of the APC in the November governorship election.

On his part, Kogi State APC governorship candidate, Ahmed Ododo, pledged to carry the people of the state along if elected, saying he remained committed to the development agenda of Kogi State.

“We will build on the legacies of my mentor, Governor Yahaya Bello. We will give attention to security, education, agriculture and health. Our women will also be empowered,” he said.

Other dignitaries at the campaign rally were the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq; Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, and members of the National Working Committee of the APC, among others.

The vice president’s engagements in Kogi had started with an audience with traditional rulers and other stakeholders of the state ahead of the governorship election.

At the audience with the stakeholders, Mr Shettima also solicited support for the APC candidate in the forthcoming election.

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, the President, Kogi State Traditional Council and the Attah of Igala, Mathew Opaluwa, pledged their support for President Tinubu.

The royal father commended the state governor for working hard in addressing security challenges in the state.

Stanley Nkwocha
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications
(Office of the Vice President)
8th October, 2023

Ahead of the forthcoming off-cycle gubernatorial elections in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states, the Director of the Abuja School of Political Thoughts, Dr Sam Amadi, has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to correct the inadequacies and lack of due diligence witnessed during the 2023 general election to avoid more crises in the states.

Amadi stated this in Abuja at the weekend during a policy roundtable at the Centre for Public Policy and Research.

Expressing his concerns over the integrity of the past elections in these states, he said: “Today, we have seen various tribunals come down with judgement. What’s common about most of these judgements, in spite of their decision in terms of either upholding or nullifying the election, is the evidence-based clarity about how INEC makes mistakes in some places.

“So now we are about to face another election, the governorship election in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states. INEC had earlier promised to do transmission of this election, which is what they promised at the presidential election and just about a few days ago, we got news circulated that the Bayelsa election would be manually collated. So, back to the same false assurances and false confidence. We know that most of these states, like Imo, are under a serious security threat in terms of the recent sad incident of the killing of Nigerian soldiers.

“We know that if elections are manipulated as they have been, it could spike into a new level of insecurities, particularly in Imo State, where, out of the three, is now the most traumatised with insecurity.”

Similarly, speaking at the event, Prof Abiodun Adeniji stated that there ought to be measures to ensure that the country experiences free and fair elections in the November off-cycle gubernatorial elections.

[DailyPost]