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Folarin Kehinde

From Frying Pan to Fire: APC Picks Another Unfit Tinubu After Buhari – Disporans for PDP

by Folarin Kehinde June 9, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

As the 2023 presidential election shifts into high gear, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has pulled a big surprise on Nigerians home and abroad by selecting a retired, physically unfit man, Former Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as candidate for president of Nigeria.

In response, a US-based organization of Nigerians in diaspora, Diasporans for PDP, has called on APC to stop joking with the future of Nigeria.

In a statement to press by the organization’s National Publicity Secretary, Chidi Igwe, Diasporans for PDP expressed total dismay that APC’s choice of a retired, physically unfit man for president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is retrogressive and will leave Nigeria in a worst shape than the country has been under President Muhammadu Buhari, who himself, was retired and physically unfit when he took office eight years ago.

“The job of a president requires a sound mind, and by what we see today, Former Governor Tinubu is not physically fit, and will not be any different from President Buhari. I think the new name of that party should be All Retrogressive Congress,” says the Diasporans for PDP founder and national chair Honourable Victoria Pamugo.

“Every Nigerian has seen how unproductive and backward our country has been in the past eight years just because we have a retired, physically unfit person as president in Aso Rock.

Instead of giving Nigerians hope by choosing a young, physically fit, working-class Nigerian as we see in other countries like Canada and France, APC has once again shown that they do not represent the interests of the Nigerian people. Rather, they are just working to satisfy the political aspirations of a few retired men among their ranks,” Honourable Pamugo noted.

“Is Nigeria really ready to jump from frying pan to fire? APC’s choice of candidate is bad news for our country,” she lamented.

At the same time, Diasporans for PDP called all members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to unite ahead of the campaign to defeat APC. The US-based organization, which, last week, released a congratulatory message to the PDP flag-bearer, Former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, deems it necessary to remind the party about what is really at stake in this election.

“Nigerians have really suffered a lot in the hands of their incompetent, wicked, and nonchalant government under President Buhari and his APC cronies,” says Honourable Pamugo.

“These incompetent APC leaders have taken the country more than one hundred years backward,” Honourable Pamugo lamented.

“Nigerians have no access to good jobs, good healthcare system, good education… We have no electricity, no food, and no good roads. We have no security. Nothing is working in our country. Citizens are frustrated. People are killed on the streets of Nigeria everyday and everywhere with reckless abandon.

There is no potable water. Inflation is at rates never seen before. We have an abysmal rate of youth unemployment. We have no reliable broadband internet connectivity. All bridges, schools and infrastructure built by our founding fathers are all crumbling as we watch, and no new ones are being built. We have an uncontrollable brain-drain caused by massive exodus as working-class Nigerians migrate to other countries day by day.”

“What country can survive with all these vices?” Honourable Pamugo questioned rhetorically.

“Those are the things at stake in this election. Should Nigeria continue like this? I think the answer is NO in all caps. The key question Nigerians should be asking themselves is why on earth should we give APC another chance to run this country, especially when they have scorned the youth and have continued to choose these retired, physically unfit men for president?”

“All that President Buhari and APC have given us in the past eight years is institutionalizing corruption, even as they apply selective justice by using state security agencies to go after their supposed or perceived enemies and political opponents, while at the same time protecting the fat cats that continue to milk the nation through corrupt means.”

“Restoring hope, life and dignity of every Nigerian is what is at stake in this election, and PDP has a chance to show Nigerians what we can do differently as a party to change the direction in which the country is currently going.”

“We know that some party members may have been wronged in more than one way, and everyone is right to express their dissatisfaction with one party decision or another. But in the end, we are a family. We must not let our eyes off the ball. The things at stake are strong enough to cause us to unite for the benefit of all Nigerians.”

“That is why, on behalf of Diasporans for PDP, I am calling on all PDP members and party lovers to bury the hatchet for the sake of unity. Now that our flag-bearer has emerged, our party must unite, rally around our candidate, and focus on the big fight to defeat APC in 2023. And I believe that PDP is the only party that has the chance, the system, and existing structure to be able to defeat APC,” she added.

“We do not want another four or even eight years of an incompetent, retired and wicked government in Nigeria. PDP must unite for the benefit and future of our country, as it is only through unity that we will achieve victory in this election,” she said.

“As Nigerians in the diaspora, we know that we are not eligible to vote in this election. We also know that we represent a powerful economic and influential bloc. Diasporans for PDP is ready and will help to galvanize the diaspora population to bring about real and lasting change in Nigeria,” Honourable Pamugo affirmed.

“We will mobilize our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, uncles and families in Nigeria to vote wisely and together we will redeem our country from the harm caused by President Buhari and his APC friends over the past eight years,” she emphasized.

“We will support our party and our flag-bearer by mobilizing our volunteers on ground in every state of the federation for grassroots campaign operations, including door-knocking, speaking directly to voters and encouraging Nigerians to save their own country through the power of their vote.”

June 9, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

PAGED Initiative Provides Psychological Support for Journalists

by Folarin Kehinde June 9, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

Kenny Folarin, Abuja

In a bid to ensure a sound mental health for the pen professionals, PAGED Initiative in collaboration with Jela’s Development Initiatives (JDI) organized a 2 day mental health session for Journalists in Abuja.

The Programme Director, Ummi Bukar while speaking at the session stated that the mental health and wellbeing of journalists is important considering their roles as reporters who get firsthand information and the first “gate-keepers” in news reporting.

According to Bukar, psychological support is key to journalists as it will not just make them happy doing their duties but make them perform better.

“So we see first hand some of the work that journalist do and the impact on themselves and we just thought that it will be good to also give support to journalists so that they are able to do their jobs and manage it better”.

“If we have a more balanced happy journalists, it means that the quality of work is going to be better, the society and the media organizations itself, so I think we should find way to ensure that journalists have psychological support”.

She explained that the mental health session is a learning curve for them as it helps them understand what journalists are going through and what their psychosocial needs are and provide solutions to it.

“This is an important component that should not be ignored, we have carried out many advocacy with the help of the media on gender, conflict and a host of others I think it is the turn of the journalists and for us to ensure that they are better treated to have better support”.

Bukar assured that they will ensure that media organizations take mental health of journalists more seriously and provide needed support in their workspace for effective delivery.

“The next step is to ensure that media organizations take mental health of Journalists more seriously, give them needed support, we need to create sort of awareness that even for the media houses”.

June 9, 2022 0 comments

Sports

Peseiro Goes Tough On Players Diet, Distances Family, Friends from Team’s Hotel

by Folarin Kehinde June 7, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

In a bid to ensure his players make the cut against Leone Stars on Thursday, Coach Jose Peseiro on Sunday read a fresh riot act regarding teams’ diet and discipline around the hotels.

The former Venezuelan gaffer has warned Super Eagles stars to desist from over-feeding while in camp in a bit to stay fit for the tasks ahead.

Findings revealed that the Portuguese have also barred friends and families from visiting players in camp in a desperate measure to avoid distraction, which according to him could be counterproductive for the team.

” The new manager has warned the player to wary of how they eat in camp. Peseiro has fumed at over-feeding because he said such habits will surely take its toll on players at the long run.

” He also warned players to avoid all sorts of distractions coming from friends, and family members while in camp. Towards this end, anyone without any business in the camp are not allowed around the hotel,”.

Peseiro will face Sierra Leone in what will be his first official match as Nigeria’s gaffer after Super Eagles lost to Mexico and Ecuador in an international friendly match.

June 7, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Breaking: Ken Nnamani Withdraws from Presidential Race

by Folarin Kehinde June 6, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

Ken Nnamani, former senate president, has pulled out of the race to secure the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former lawmaker announced his withdrawal during a meeting with journalists in Abuja on Monday.

He said: “In the present circumstances, it does not make any sense for me to continue in the race as I have not had the opportunity to market my profile and ideas to the delegates of our party in a manner that allow for deliberation and introspection.

“Therefore, I discontinue my aspiration and wish the party successful primary and unity of purpose so that we can win the 2023 general elections.

He noted that he will continue to engage with the party and its leadership to make sure that the ideas and values that I cherish and propagate find strong footing in the party administration and in public leadership after election.

He assured that no matter the outcome of the primary, he prays that the party does justice to the southeast that ought to present the next presidential candidate of the party.

He expressed optimism that he would be glad if any of his colleagues from the southeast vying for the office wins the primary as any of them can provide strong leadership to the country.

June 6, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

BREAKING: Northern Govs Reject Lawan As Consensus Candidate, Insist Power Must Shift To South

by Folarin Kehinde June 6, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governors from the North have rejected the choice of Senate President Ahmed Lawan as the consensus presidential candidate of the party.

The National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, was said to have announced Lawan as the consensus candidate, a decision members of the National Working Committee reportedly disagreed with.

In a meeting on Monday with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Northern governors insisted that power should rotate to Southern part of the country in 2023.

The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, briefed State House reporters after the meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He said the 13 of them apologised to the president for receiving the information about their position after it was leaked.

The governor, however, said that they took the decision in the interest of justice and peace in the country.

Lalong, who stated that they would hold another meeting by 5pm today among themselves, said the president agreed with their position and maintained that the presidential candidate must emerge through a transparent process.

He said President Buhari told them he did not have an anointed candidate for now and directed them to meet the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to agree on the succession plan.

On the absence of the Governor of Kogi State at the meeting where the power shift decision was taken, he said his colleague was not part of the agreement as his signature was not on the statement.

In his contribution, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State said it was the democratic right of Kogi governor to excuse himself.

Details later…

June 6, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Owo Attack: Akeredolu Directs Nigerian Flag to fly half-mast for 7 Days

by Folarin Kehinde June 6, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

Following the terrorist attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, Owo, the headquarters of the Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Sunday, the state Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, has directed all public buildings and official residences in the state to fly the Nigerian flag half-mast for seven days to honour the victims of the attack.

This is contained in a press statement posted to the Facebook page of the governor on Monday and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde.

According to the statement, Akeredolu said the attack was “a deliberate and calculated assault on the people of the state,” adding that his government would not “be deterred in responding appropriately to this dastardly act.”

The statement, titled, ‘Akeredolu directs flying of flags at half mast in honour of victims of Owo terror attack,’ partly read, “Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has directed all public buildings, facilities and official residences to fly the Nigerian flag at half -mast for seven days in honour of the victims of the Owo terror attack on Sunday.

“Governor Akeredolu said the attack on innocent worshipers at St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, Owo was a deliberate and calculated assault on the people of the state.”

The statement further quoted the governor as saying, “Those who unleashed this unprovoked terror attack on our people have tested our collective resolves. We will not be deterred in responding appropriately to this dastardly act.

“In honour of the victims of this unfortunate attack, I hereby direct that all flags be flown at half-mast for seven days, starting from today, Monday, June 6, to Sunday, June 12, 2022. It is a collective loss to the people of our dear state.”

June 6, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

FRSC To Deploy 1,500 Personnel, 35 Vehicles For APC Presidential Primary

by Folarin Kehinde June 6, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has said it will be deploying 1,500 of its personnel and 35 vehicles for the All Progressives Congress (APC) convention to ensure free flow of traffic around the venue of the event.

The special convention will be held from 6-8 of May at Eagle Square in Abuja.

A statement issued on Sunday by Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer, said adequate preparation has been made for the Corps to work with other security agencies to provide free flow of traffic during the exercise.

Part of the statements read: “As part of preparations towards ensuring free flow of traffic to and from the venue of the forthcoming All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential Primary Elections scheduled to hold on Monday, 6th and Tuesday 7th March, 2022; the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi has ordered operatives to ensure effective collaboration with the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies to ensure enforcement on restricted areas and hitch free vehicular movement were necessary.”

The FRSC operatives drafted for the presidential primary election have equally been mandated to clear obstructions from the roads, carry out rescue operations in case of emergencies, and maintain orderliness around the cordoned areas, the statement further said.

The Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, charged the operatives deployed to to exhibit high sense of professionalism, ingenuity, and avoid any temptation that could lead to abuse of the rights of electorates.

June 6, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

EFCC Gets Direct Access to 114m INTERPOL Criminal Records

by Folarin Kehinde June 3, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, in Lyon, France, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Interpol National Central Bureau for Nigeria.

The agreement on Direct Access to and Use of Interpol Information Systems, grants the EFCC unrestricted access to nine key global databases containing 114 million records of 195 countries, hosted by the Interpol on its i24/7 secure global records and communication system.

Access to the Interpol databases is a significant boost to the EFCC as it enhances the Commission’s operational capabilities by giving it an unparalleled global reach against suspected criminals and wanted persons attempting to flee from the long arm of the law.

The global criminal databases that the EFCC now has unhindered access to, include:

     i.            Nominal Database containing records of personal data and the criminal history of people subject to request for international police cooperation;

   ii.            Stolen and Lost Travel and Identity Documents (SLTD) Database containing information on travel and identity documents reported as stolen, lost revoked, invalid or stolen blank;

 iii.            Travel Documents Associated with Notices (TDOWN) Databases, containing records of all extracted information from all Interpol Notices;

 iv.            Stolen Administrative Documents (SAD) Database, which has records of stolen official documents that serve to identify objects, for example, vehicle registration documents and clearance certificates for import/export;

   v.            Digital Interpol Alert Library Doc (Dial Doc) containing records of newly detected forms of travel documents counterfeiting;

 vi.            Edison, a Forensic database that contains genuine travel documents;

vii. Fingerprints Database grants authorized users in member countries access to view, submit and cross-check records in the fingerprints database via a user-friendly automatic fingerprint identification system (AFIS);

viii. iARMS contains over a million records of lost, stolen, trafficked or smuggled firearms. iARMS can identify firearms trafficking patterns and smuggling routes;

 ix.            Stolen Motor Vehicles (SMV) Database contains extensive identification details from all types of motor vehicles and identifiable spare parts reported as stolen.

Visit our website: www.efcc.gov.ng for more stories. Publish

June 3, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

We did not spread Monkeypox through Nigerian Labs – US

by Folarin Kehinde June 1, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The United States has denied social media speculations that the US-controlled laboratories are being used to spread Monkeypox in Nigeria.

The embassy in a statement on Monday, titled, ‘U.S.-Nigeria collaboration on infectious disease threats’, explained that the collaborative work between Nigeria and the US has provided opportunities for technical assistance in capacity building, equipment, commodities/consumables, and funding to critical public health programme, hospitals and laboratories which contribute greatly to the prevention and amelioration of global disease outbreaks.

The statement read in part, “Recent misleading posts on social media wrongly speculate on the origin of the current global outbreak of Monkeypox disease and supposedly call for the World Health Organisation to investigate the so-called ‘U.S.-controlled laboratories’ in Nigeria.

“Such reports are pure fabrication. There is zero merit to any allegations regarding the use of US-assisted Nigerian laboratories in the spread of Monkeypox. Furthermore, there are no “US-controlled” laboratories in Nigeria.

“These falsehoods detract from the work that the United States, in close coordination with Nigeria and multilateral partners, accomplish together on public health that includes disease surveillance, diagnosis, prevention, and control.”

June 1, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Politics: Jonathan May Be Screened Today Despite Presidency’s Denial

by Folarin Kehinde May 31, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

There are indications that former President Goodluck Jonathan may appear before the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential screening committee for his screening today.

This is coming despite the denial by the presidency on Sunday that President Muhammadu Buhari was involved in the plot to draft Jonathan into the 2023 presidential race under the platform of the governing party.

The presidential screening committee yesterday commenced the screening of presidential aspirants seeking to clinch the party’s ticket ahead of the 2023 general election.

The screening exercise which was conducted in camera at the Transcorp Hhotel, Abuja, is billed to end today.

According to report, Jonathan who is attending a high-level advisory board meeting of the European Corporate Council on Africa and the Middle East (ECAM Council) would proceed to the venue of the screening exercise on arrival for Italy today.

Findings revealed that Jonathan was still in the contest for the APC presidential ticket and would be screened today.

The source who did not want his name in print noted that contrary to reports suggesting that the former president has pulled out of the race, Jonathan “was fully in the contest and President Buhari has not given up on him.

“He is returning today and I can assure you that barring any last minute change of plans he would be proceeding to the venue of the screening to be screened like other APC presidential aspirants,” the source added.

The source further hinted that “a major decision would be taken any moment from now, precisely as from tomorrow (Tuesday) involving the former president.”

LEADERSHIP gathered from another source close to the presidential screening committee of the APC were expecting a name of another presidential aspirant for screening today, bringing the number of presidential aspirants of the governing party to 25.

“Currently, there are 24 names on the list of APC presidential aspirants to be screened, but the screening committee is expecting another name of a presidential aspirant form the party leadership today. This will bring the number of the aspirants to 25,” the source who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised speak told this paper.

The presidency had on Sunday denied the involvement of President Buhari in plot to draft Jonathan into the presidential race ahead of the APC presidential primary.

It said that the president had taken measures to distance himself from the plot.

Quoting an impeccable source at the presidential villa, the media reports noted that instructions have consequently been given that there shall be no public release of photos of any meetings between the former president and Buhari at this time, as the president does not want such images to be used to confer any modicum of support to the plot to get Jonathan into the race.

In spite of the fact that Jonathan had earlier rejected the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms purchased for him by Fulani and Almajiri groups, his name has continued to be linked to the APC ticket, even as his membership in the party has become a subject of public discourse.

Some APC members, including a Northern governor, were however allegedly said to be behind the push to draft Jonathan into the ruling party’s presidential primary.

Also, the judgement of a Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, which cleared him to contest for another term I office also fueled the speculations that he was in the race.

May 31, 2022 0 comments

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