IYANDA'SBLOG

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Dihya, or Kahina, is a figure still celebrated today despite her story dating back to the 7th Century.

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Ditching your car can now earn you rewards in northern Italy.

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Photojournalist Encarni Pindado documents the migrant caravan winding its way from Honduras towards the US.

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With a film of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret on its way, fans of the book talk about its impact on their lives.

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The forgotten story of Damoo Dhotre, whose daredevil circus acts made him famous.

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Reducing our use of sand and cement cuts down on CO2 emissions and lessens the impact on the environment.

United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Tibor P. Nagy, says corruption will only end on the African continent when the younger generation is ready to stand against it.

Nagy, who spoke with African journalists via a telephone press conference ahead of his visit to the continent, maintained that corruption is so endemic on the continent that it would require a generational shift to eradicate it.

He said: “Corruption is so endemic that it will require a generational shift. That is one of my biggest hope in the young generations that they won't be able to tolerate what the old people are tolerating.”

He said a total and cultural change from leadership and bureaucracy, as well as support for non-governmental organisations, would help in putting an end to corruption in Africa.

“It has to be a cultural shift to young people who will say 'enough is enough' and can't tolerate it anymore. As the young people come in and we empower women, we hope corruption reduces,” he said.

Nagy, who has been a US diplomat in Africa for 22 years, urged African leaders to make the continent favourable for foreign direct investment that will help attract investors for developed countries.

“Africa should put environment in place that is transparent and rightly placed to attract investments that are done transparently. They should put in place environment that will interest foreign investment in the continent.”

When asked if Nigeria was on the list of countries he hoped to visit, he said: “There is crisis in North East, historical problem in the Middle Belt and election is coming up, which will be interesting, so why won’t I want to visit?"

Corruption International News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Tibor P. Nagy, says corruption will only end on the African continent when the younger generation is ready to stand against it.

Nagy, who spoke with African journalists via a telephone press conference ahead of his visit to the continent, maintained that corruption is so endemic on the continent that it would require a generational shift to eradicate it.

He said: “Corruption is so endemic that it will require a generational shift. That is one of my biggest hope in the young generations that they won't be able to tolerate what the old people are tolerating.”

He said a total and cultural change from leadership and bureaucracy, as well as support for non-governmental organisations, would help in putting an end to corruption in Africa.

“It has to be a cultural shift to young people who will say 'enough is enough' and can't tolerate it anymore. As the young people come in and we empower women, we hope corruption reduces,” he said.

Nagy, who has been a US diplomat in Africa for 22 years, urged African leaders to make the continent favourable for foreign direct investment that will help attract investors for developed countries.

“Africa should put environment in place that is transparent and rightly placed to attract investments that are done transparently. They should put in place environment that will interest foreign investment in the continent.”

When asked if Nigeria was on the list of countries he hoped to visit, he said: “There is crisis in North East, historical problem in the Middle Belt and election is coming up, which will be interesting, so why won’t I want to visit?"

Corruption International News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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The Senate has passed a new version of the Electoral Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

The passage came after President Muhammadu Buhari declined assent to the bill three times, on the premise of constitutional and drafting issues.

The bill was read the third time and passed on Tuesday during the Senate's plenary session, after the adoption of a report of the Committee on INEC on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 699), presented by its Chairman, Senator Suleiman Nazif.

Speaking on the development, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha said: "What APC and PDP are both interested in are transparent elections and so I want to appreciate and commend the Committee."

In his remarks on the passage of the bill, Senate President Bukola Saraki expressed the hope that the President would now assent to the proposed law.

His words: "Let me congratulate all of us, particularly the Committee on Electoral Matters for the hard work they put in. We were able to achieve this that looked almost impossible at a time, and I want to commend everybody for making this happen.

“This will go a long way in improving our electoral process and further strengthen our governance. I am sure with this now, Mr President will, of course, give his assent, and we can now finally have an Electoral Act that we would all be proud of."

 

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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The Senate has passed a new version of the Electoral Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

The passage came after President Muhammadu Buhari declined assent to the bill three times, on the premise of constitutional and drafting issues.

The bill was read the third time and passed on Tuesday during the Senate's plenary session, after the adoption of a report of the Committee on INEC on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 699), presented by its Chairman, Senator Suleiman Nazif.

Speaking on the development, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha said: "What APC and PDP are both interested in are transparent elections and so I want to appreciate and commend the Committee."

In his remarks on the passage of the bill, Senate President Bukola Saraki expressed the hope that the President would now assent to the proposed law.

His words: "Let me congratulate all of us, particularly the Committee on Electoral Matters for the hard work they put in. We were able to achieve this that looked almost impossible at a time, and I want to commend everybody for making this happen.

“This will go a long way in improving our electoral process and further strengthen our governance. I am sure with this now, Mr President will, of course, give his assent, and we can now finally have an Electoral Act that we would all be proud of."

 

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2OKxJ2z

The Senate has passed a new version of the Electoral Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

The passage came after President Muhammadu Buhari declined assent to the bill three times, on the premise of constitutional and drafting issues.

The bill was read the third time and passed on Tuesday during the Senate's plenary session, after the adoption of a report of the Committee on INEC on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 699), presented by its Chairman, Senator Suleiman Nazif.

Speaking on the development, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha said: "What APC and PDP are both interested in are transparent elections and so I want to appreciate and commend the Committee."

In his remarks on the passage of the bill, Senate President Bukola Saraki expressed the hope that the President would now assent to the proposed law.

His words: "Let me congratulate all of us, particularly the Committee on Electoral Matters for the hard work they put in. We were able to achieve this that looked almost impossible at a time, and I want to commend everybody for making this happen.

“This will go a long way in improving our electoral process and further strengthen our governance. I am sure with this now, Mr President will, of course, give his assent, and we can now finally have an Electoral Act that we would all be proud of."

 

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Shehu Sani, the senator representing Kaduna Central at the National Assembly, on Tuesday announced his defection to the People’s Redemption Party.

The announcement came two days after he left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), after discovering at the last minute that his name wasn’t sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the party.

Sani made this known in a statement released in Abuja by Suleiman Ahmed, his Special Adviser on Political Ideology.

“It has become impossible for the senator to continue to co-habit with reactionaries and their perfidious and inimical style of politics,” Ahmed said.
 
“Sen. Sani maintains the highest respect and honour for President Muhammadu Buhari. However, we prefer to live in a Cottage of Honour than a mansion of shame.

“Sen. Shehu Sani has returned to the PRP. PRP represents our socialist revolutionary ideology. Sen. Sani is now free from the toxicity and infamy APC existentially represents. We left the APC for the emperors and their lackeys.”

Confirming the development, Tom Maiyashi, the Kaduna State Chairman of the party, said Sani had been duly registered and offered membership card of the party.

 “Sen. Shehu Sani has registered with the party and his ward is Kaduna South,” he said.

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Shehu Sani, the senator representing Kaduna Central at the National Assembly, on Tuesday announced his defection to the People’s Redemption Party.

The announcement came two days after he left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), after discovering at the last minute that his name wasn’t sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the party.

Sani made this known in a statement released in Abuja by Suleiman Ahmed, his Special Adviser on Political Ideology.

“It has become impossible for the senator to continue to co-habit with reactionaries and their perfidious and inimical style of politics,” Ahmed said.
 
“Sen. Sani maintains the highest respect and honour for President Muhammadu Buhari. However, we prefer to live in a Cottage of Honour than a mansion of shame.

“Sen. Shehu Sani has returned to the PRP. PRP represents our socialist revolutionary ideology. Sen. Sani is now free from the toxicity and infamy APC existentially represents. We left the APC for the emperors and their lackeys.”

Confirming the development, Tom Maiyashi, the Kaduna State Chairman of the party, said Sani had been duly registered and offered membership card of the party.

 “Sen. Shehu Sani has registered with the party and his ward is Kaduna South,” he said.

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Shehu Sani, the senator representing Kaduna Central at the National Assembly, on Tuesday announced his defection to the People’s Redemption Party.

The announcement came two days after he left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), after discovering at the last minute that his name wasn’t sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the party.

Sani made this known in a statement released in Abuja by Suleiman Ahmed, his Special Adviser on Political Ideology.

“It has become impossible for the senator to continue to co-habit with reactionaries and their perfidious and inimical style of politics,” Ahmed said.
 
“Sen. Sani maintains the highest respect and honour for President Muhammadu Buhari. However, we prefer to live in a Cottage of Honour than a mansion of shame.

“Sen. Shehu Sani has returned to the PRP. PRP represents our socialist revolutionary ideology. Sen. Sani is now free from the toxicity and infamy APC existentially represents. We left the APC for the emperors and their lackeys.”

Confirming the development, Tom Maiyashi, the Kaduna State Chairman of the party, said Sani had been duly registered and offered membership card of the party.

 “Sen. Shehu Sani has registered with the party and his ward is Kaduna South,” he said.

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Police in Paris have seized the six-week-old animal and arrested its owner.

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The wife of US alt-right figurehead Richard Spencer accused him of assault in divorce papers.

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Americans are rushing to buy lottery tickets for the chance to find out.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a former Minister of Finance, has identified a very small percentage of Nigeria’s population — the “kleptocratic elites” maintaining  a “stranglehold” on the country — as the ones giving Nigeria a very bad name.

She stated this while speaking at a plenary session tagged ‘Promoting Good Governance for Peace and Security’ at the 2018 International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) going on in Copenhagen, Denmark.

She noted that this realisation — and for majority of people — made her commit to fight corruption.

Nigeria's two-time Minister for Finance said the fight against corruption should not be left to the government alone but individuals must be involved as well.

“We, Nigerians, have to commit and it’s not just government; each individual has to make commitment to try to fight,” she said.

Okonjo-Iweala, who was a Managing Director of the World Bank and currently sits on Twitter's Board of Directors, also said the greatest danger corruption poses for a nation — beyond the diversion of public funds — is that it corrodes its value system.

She said: “People get passionate about the issue of money diverted that could have been used for education or health. We all talk about it, but let me tell you that the worst thing about corruption is the way it corrodes the value of a society; the way it insidiously undermines integrity, trust, and the very fabric of society.

“What I found in my country now [is that] it is very difficult to get a young person that believes they can actually achieve something on merit. The person wants a job, they look for someone who is going to introduce them to someone and that is because of that.

“We cannot allow a small minority to undermine the majority in a country, so that is the issue and we cannot allow the young people to lose hope because we have got a vibrant, interesting country and we have got a vibrant interesting continent and we have to fight for it.

“When we talk about fight corruption; we focus on punitive... and on getting the people who perpetuated it and not allowing impunity and that is very important; that matters and we must do it. But, it is not all, because if we don’t fix the underlying system that allowed the corruption in the first place, you will just get a new set of people and a new set of corruption.

“The difference between developing and developed countries is not that the developed countries have more integrity or more morals, it is just that over time they have built stronger institutions and we see that even that can be undermined.

“Institutions matter in both developed and developing countries to fight corruption, and the minute a society turns its attention away from safeguarding its institutions and values, it is shooting itself in the foot. So, what I found is that in my country, we had weak, very weak institutions to non-existent institutions.”

She added that while institutions might not solve all the problems, they reduce the likelihood of corruption.

Okonjo-Iweala also said an independent judiciary and strong civil societies are other ways to fight corruption.

Going further, she acknowledged that building a strong institution is not as easy, hence the need for national and international organisations to work together.

Corruption News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SAHARA REPORTERS, NEWYORK Disable advertisements : 
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Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a former Minister of Finance, has identified a very small percentage of Nigeria’s population — the “kleptocratic elites” maintaining  a “stranglehold” on the country — as the ones giving Nigeria a very bad name.

She stated this while speaking at a plenary session tagged ‘Promoting Good Governance for Peace and Security’ at the 2018 International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) going on in Copenhagen, Denmark.

She noted that this realisation — and for majority of people — made her commit to fight corruption.

Nigeria's two-time Minister for Finance said the fight against corruption should not be left to the government alone but individuals must be involved as well.

“We, Nigerians, have to commit and it’s not just government; each individual has to make commitment to try to fight,” she said.

Okonjo-Iweala, who was a Managing Director of the World Bank and currently sits on Twitter's Board of Directors, also said the greatest danger corruption poses for a nation — beyond the diversion of public funds — is that it corrodes its value system.

She said: “People get passionate about the issue of money diverted that could have been used for education or health. We all talk about it, but let me tell you that the worst thing about corruption is the way it corrodes the value of a society; the way it insidiously undermines integrity, trust, and the very fabric of society.

“What I found in my country now [is that] it is very difficult to get a young person that believes they can actually achieve something on merit. The person wants a job, they look for someone who is going to introduce them to someone and that is because of that.

“We cannot allow a small minority to undermine the majority in a country, so that is the issue and we cannot allow the young people to lose hope because we have got a vibrant, interesting country and we have got a vibrant interesting continent and we have to fight for it.

“When we talk about fight corruption; we focus on punitive... and on getting the people who perpetuated it and not allowing impunity and that is very important; that matters and we must do it. But, it is not all, because if we don’t fix the underlying system that allowed the corruption in the first place, you will just get a new set of people and a new set of corruption.

“The difference between developing and developed countries is not that the developed countries have more integrity or more morals, it is just that over time they have built stronger institutions and we see that even that can be undermined.

“Institutions matter in both developed and developing countries to fight corruption, and the minute a society turns its attention away from safeguarding its institutions and values, it is shooting itself in the foot. So, what I found is that in my country, we had weak, very weak institutions to non-existent institutions.”

She added that while institutions might not solve all the problems, they reduce the likelihood of corruption.

Okonjo-Iweala also said an independent judiciary and strong civil societies are other ways to fight corruption.

Going further, she acknowledged that building a strong institution is not as easy, hence the need for national and international organisations to work together.

Corruption News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SAHARA REPORTERS, NEWYORK Disable advertisements : 
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Some politicians have approached the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to substitute some names on the list of candidates submitted by their political parties, SaharaReporters has learnt.

Multiple sources, who spoke with our correspondent on Tuesday, alleged that the politicians are conniving with some officials of the electoral body to manipulate the names on the list.

It was gathered that some of the parties that conducted parallel primary elections submitted different candidates' lists. To authenticate their lists, these candidates are plotting with some staff of the electoral commission to accept their preferred lists as genuine.

INEC had announced October 18 as the deadline for all political parties participating in the 2019 general election to submit names of their candidates.

However, SaharaReporters exclusively learnt that some party candidates, whose names had been omitted by their various parties, are now being added.

One of the sources disclosed that the "moneybags" in the affected parties are desperately moving round in Abuja to ensure the change of these names at the INEC office.

"These politicians are mostly from the major political parties, APC and PDP. They are colluding with their party chairmen to perpetrate this illegality," said the source.

"Many of them, in their desperate bid, are conniving with some officials of INEC at the ICT unit to substitute those names.

"Don't forget that the deadline given by the commission to the parties to submit all names of the candidates contesting for either the National Assembly or presidency ahead of 2019 general election has elapsed.

"So, what they are doing now is an act of illegality because it's against the electoral act. And it is good we call the attention of INEC to this to investigate its officers at the ICT unit of the commission. In fact, as I am speaking with you now, some incumbent members of the National Assembly who believe they hold the grip in Abuja are the ones championing this illegality for their political parties."

Another source, who confirmed the act, said the candidates are trying to get new CF002 forms that will enable them input names of their preferred candidates in the final list.

"They are moving around with the chairmen of their various political parties, and pressurising them to sign new CF002 forms to facilitate the illegal substitution of these names," he said.

Elections Politics Scandal News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Some politicians have approached the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to substitute some names on the list of candidates submitted by their political parties, SaharaReporters has learnt.

Multiple sources, who spoke with our correspondent on Tuesday, alleged that the politicians are conniving with some officials of the electoral body to manipulate the names on the list.

It was gathered that some of the parties that conducted parallel primary elections submitted different candidates' lists. To authenticate their lists, these candidates are plotting with some staff of the electoral commission to accept their preferred lists as genuine.

INEC had announced October 18 as the deadline for all political parties participating in the 2019 general election to submit names of their candidates.

However, SaharaReporters exclusively learnt that some party candidates, whose names had been omitted by their various parties, are now being added.

One of the sources disclosed that the "moneybags" in the affected parties are desperately moving round in Abuja to ensure the change of these names at the INEC office.

"These politicians are mostly from the major political parties, APC and PDP. They are colluding with their party chairmen to perpetrate this illegality," said the source.

"Many of them, in their desperate bid, are conniving with some officials of INEC at the ICT unit to substitute those names.

"Don't forget that the deadline given by the commission to the parties to submit all names of the candidates contesting for either the National Assembly or presidency ahead of 2019 general election has elapsed.

"So, what they are doing now is an act of illegality because it's against the electoral act. And it is good we call the attention of INEC to this to investigate its officers at the ICT unit of the commission. In fact, as I am speaking with you now, some incumbent members of the National Assembly who believe they hold the grip in Abuja are the ones championing this illegality for their political parties."

Another source, who confirmed the act, said the candidates are trying to get new CF002 forms that will enable them input names of their preferred candidates in the final list.

"They are moving around with the chairmen of their various political parties, and pressurising them to sign new CF002 forms to facilitate the illegal substitution of these names," he said.

Elections Politics Scandal News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2R9OGAf

Some politicians have approached the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to substitute some names on the list of candidates submitted by their political parties, SaharaReporters has learnt.

Multiple sources, who spoke with our correspondent on Tuesday, alleged that the politicians are conniving with some officials of the electoral body to manipulate the names on the list.

It was gathered that some of the parties that conducted parallel primary elections submitted different candidates' lists. To authenticate their lists, these candidates are plotting with some staff of the electoral commission to accept their preferred lists as genuine.

INEC had announced October 18 as the deadline for all political parties participating in the 2019 general election to submit names of their candidates.

However, SaharaReporters exclusively learnt that some party candidates, whose names had been omitted by their various parties, are now being added.

One of the sources disclosed that the "moneybags" in the affected parties are desperately moving round in Abuja to ensure the change of these names at the INEC office.

"These politicians are mostly from the major political parties, APC and PDP. They are colluding with their party chairmen to perpetrate this illegality," said the source.

"Many of them, in their desperate bid, are conniving with some officials of INEC at the ICT unit to substitute those names.

"Don't forget that the deadline given by the commission to the parties to submit all names of the candidates contesting for either the National Assembly or presidency ahead of 2019 general election has elapsed.

"So, what they are doing now is an act of illegality because it's against the electoral act. And it is good we call the attention of INEC to this to investigate its officers at the ICT unit of the commission. In fact, as I am speaking with you now, some incumbent members of the National Assembly who believe they hold the grip in Abuja are the ones championing this illegality for their political parties."

Another source, who confirmed the act, said the candidates are trying to get new CF002 forms that will enable them input names of their preferred candidates in the final list.

"They are moving around with the chairmen of their various political parties, and pressurising them to sign new CF002 forms to facilitate the illegal substitution of these names," he said.

Elections Politics Scandal News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Abubakar Girei, the senator who represented Adamawa Central at the National Assembly between 1999 and 2003, has expressed shock at media reports quoting Adams Oshiomhole as saying 90 percent of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) nationwide were happy with his leadership.

Girei told SaharaReporters that on the contrary, "90 percent of APC members nationwide are very angry and totally opposed to the poor way and manner the primaries were conducted, resulting into the selection and imposition of candidates".

"Adamawa State in particular, there was not even a semblance of primary election for the governorship in 95% of the wards," he said.

"Primaries for the legislative seats were similarly poorly handled and discredited.  Unless the National Chairman understands and accepts this for a fact and puts in place a strategic plan to remedy the situation, our party and candidates will pay dearly for it in the forthcoming general election." 

He counselled the national hierarchy of the party thus, saying: "Chief Adams Oshiomhole and other leaders of our party are advised to comply with the directive of our dear President to clear me."

He further warned "any attempt to sweep under the carpet, serious issues raised on this primaries by stakeholders, as they did with the outcome of the congresses will be disastrous".

SaharaReporters can report that the appeal panel constituted to settle disputes arising from the conduct of the party primaries has upheld the nomination of Governor Jibrilla Bindo of Adamawa state as the APC governorship candidate in the state.

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Abubakar Girei, the senator who represented Adamawa Central at the National Assembly between 1999 and 2003, has expressed shock at media reports quoting Adams Oshiomhole as saying 90 percent of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) nationwide were happy with his leadership.

Girei told SaharaReporters that on the contrary, "90 percent of APC members nationwide are very angry and totally opposed to the poor way and manner the primaries were conducted, resulting into the selection and imposition of candidates".

"Adamawa State in particular, there was not even a semblance of primary election for the governorship in 95% of the wards," he said.

"Primaries for the legislative seats were similarly poorly handled and discredited.  Unless the National Chairman understands and accepts this for a fact and puts in place a strategic plan to remedy the situation, our party and candidates will pay dearly for it in the forthcoming general election." 

He counselled the national hierarchy of the party thus, saying: "Chief Adams Oshiomhole and other leaders of our party are advised to comply with the directive of our dear President to clear me."

He further warned "any attempt to sweep under the carpet, serious issues raised on this primaries by stakeholders, as they did with the outcome of the congresses will be disastrous".

SaharaReporters can report that the appeal panel constituted to settle disputes arising from the conduct of the party primaries has upheld the nomination of Governor Jibrilla Bindo of Adamawa state as the APC governorship candidate in the state.

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2q79InN

Abubakar Girei, the senator who represented Adamawa Central at the National Assembly between 1999 and 2003, has expressed shock at media reports quoting Adams Oshiomhole as saying 90 percent of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) nationwide were happy with his leadership.

Girei told SaharaReporters that on the contrary, "90 percent of APC members nationwide are very angry and totally opposed to the poor way and manner the primaries were conducted, resulting into the selection and imposition of candidates".

"Adamawa State in particular, there was not even a semblance of primary election for the governorship in 95% of the wards," he said.

"Primaries for the legislative seats were similarly poorly handled and discredited.  Unless the National Chairman understands and accepts this for a fact and puts in place a strategic plan to remedy the situation, our party and candidates will pay dearly for it in the forthcoming general election." 

He counselled the national hierarchy of the party thus, saying: "Chief Adams Oshiomhole and other leaders of our party are advised to comply with the directive of our dear President to clear me."

He further warned "any attempt to sweep under the carpet, serious issues raised on this primaries by stakeholders, as they did with the outcome of the congresses will be disastrous".

SaharaReporters can report that the appeal panel constituted to settle disputes arising from the conduct of the party primaries has upheld the nomination of Governor Jibrilla Bindo of Adamawa state as the APC governorship candidate in the state.

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Akinwunmi Ambode, Governor of Lagos State, on Tuesday said he would lead a strong campaign to ensure victory for President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in the 2019 general election.

Speaking with journalists at the Presidential Wing of the Muritala Mohammed International Airport shortly after he accompanied the President to perform the official commissioning of the new Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Border Posts at Seme-Krake joint border post in Badagry, Ambode reiterated how important it is for the APC to retain its leadership positions both in the federal and state levels.

“I have just accompanied Mr. President to the Nigerian-Benin Border Post. So what we have commissioned today is a joint Border Patrol post between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin and it is called Semo-Krake Border Post,” a press statement by Habib Aruna, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, quoted him as saying.

“But again, just to also use this opportunity to let Lagosians know that we are heavily committed to the re-election of Mr. President and you can see that his continuous visit to Lagos reiterates the fact that he is actually a lover of Lagos State and I am committed to ensuring his re-election.

“We are going to campaign heavily for him. I am also committed to ensuring that the APC wins the governorship election come 2019. We support the candidacy of Babajide Sanwo-Olu and we would make sure that APC retains Lagos State and the centre.”

Earlier, Governor Ambode had received the President at the airport before the duo proceeded to Seme where the President joined his Republic of Benin counterpart, Patrice Talon, to inaugurate the Border Post.

With the inauguration, the Seme-Krake joint border, one of the busiest boundary lines not only in West Africa but the whole continent, daily recording huge movement of persons, goods and services, is expected to enhance the free movement of persons and goods in the region and foster integration between the people of Nigeria and Benin.

 

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Akinwunmi Ambode, Governor of Lagos State, on Tuesday said he would lead a strong campaign to ensure victory for President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in the 2019 general election.

Speaking with journalists at the Presidential Wing of the Muritala Mohammed International Airport shortly after he accompanied the President to perform the official commissioning of the new Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Border Posts at Seme-Krake joint border post in Badagry, Ambode reiterated how important it is for the APC to retain its leadership positions both in the federal and state levels.

“I have just accompanied Mr. President to the Nigerian-Benin Border Post. So what we have commissioned today is a joint Border Patrol post between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin and it is called Semo-Krake Border Post,” a press statement by Habib Aruna, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, quoted him as saying.

“But again, just to also use this opportunity to let Lagosians know that we are heavily committed to the re-election of Mr. President and you can see that his continuous visit to Lagos reiterates the fact that he is actually a lover of Lagos State and I am committed to ensuring his re-election.

“We are going to campaign heavily for him. I am also committed to ensuring that the APC wins the governorship election come 2019. We support the candidacy of Babajide Sanwo-Olu and we would make sure that APC retains Lagos State and the centre.”

Earlier, Governor Ambode had received the President at the airport before the duo proceeded to Seme where the President joined his Republic of Benin counterpart, Patrice Talon, to inaugurate the Border Post.

With the inauguration, the Seme-Krake joint border, one of the busiest boundary lines not only in West Africa but the whole continent, daily recording huge movement of persons, goods and services, is expected to enhance the free movement of persons and goods in the region and foster integration between the people of Nigeria and Benin.

 

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Akinwunmi Ambode, Governor of Lagos State, on Tuesday said he would lead a strong campaign to ensure victory for President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in the 2019 general election.

Speaking with journalists at the Presidential Wing of the Muritala Mohammed International Airport shortly after he accompanied the President to perform the official commissioning of the new Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Border Posts at Seme-Krake joint border post in Badagry, Ambode reiterated how important it is for the APC to retain its leadership positions both in the federal and state levels.

“I have just accompanied Mr. President to the Nigerian-Benin Border Post. So what we have commissioned today is a joint Border Patrol post between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin and it is called Semo-Krake Border Post,” a press statement by Habib Aruna, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, quoted him as saying.

“But again, just to also use this opportunity to let Lagosians know that we are heavily committed to the re-election of Mr. President and you can see that his continuous visit to Lagos reiterates the fact that he is actually a lover of Lagos State and I am committed to ensuring his re-election.

“We are going to campaign heavily for him. I am also committed to ensuring that the APC wins the governorship election come 2019. We support the candidacy of Babajide Sanwo-Olu and we would make sure that APC retains Lagos State and the centre.”

Earlier, Governor Ambode had received the President at the airport before the duo proceeded to Seme where the President joined his Republic of Benin counterpart, Patrice Talon, to inaugurate the Border Post.

With the inauguration, the Seme-Krake joint border, one of the busiest boundary lines not only in West Africa but the whole continent, daily recording huge movement of persons, goods and services, is expected to enhance the free movement of persons and goods in the region and foster integration between the people of Nigeria and Benin.

 

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Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, says the indefitie suspension of Yusuf Usman as Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has been “ethnicised and politicsed”.

Yusuf was suspended on Thursday by the NHIS board but he resumed work on Monday despite protests from  group of staff. Another group of staff protested in support of Yusuf, leading to intervention by a combined team of security operatives.

Speaking on Channels TV’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ in Abuja on Tuesday, Shehu suggested that the suspension did not follow due process.

“Did the board follow due process in suspending this gentleman? There are opinions that said ‘no they haven’t’.

“Again, we all have to do the right thing all the time. I don’t deny the fact that there is a lot of work to do; [the crisis] is complicated by the fact that the whole thing about the NHIS has been ethnicised and politicised. Even a political party was issuing a statement on matters that are unknown to it.

“I’ll tell you one thing, as we speak now, you know that no matter whatever mistakes this gentleman may have made, and that is to be proven because I don’t have the records to say yes or no, he has launched a major reform in that institution which had blocked access to public resources.

“Money from the NHIS is not money belonging to government, [it] is money taken from your salary, from my salary. If we have been enlisted, we are supposed to get treatments when we fall ill then you should ask the question in 13 years of the NHIS how many Nigerians have received the treatments.

“Yet you have HMOs, these vendors, taking N5 billion every month, money that is just being shared and somebody came and said, 'look, this can’t go on' and with strong support from this administration the N5billion has been reduced to N1.3billion.

“And even at then, the administration is not satisfied. We want to see healthcare delivered to the citizens of this country. So there is a lot of work to do.”

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Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, says the indefitie suspension of Yusuf Usman as Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has been “ethnicised and politicsed”.

Yusuf was suspended on Thursday by the NHIS board but he resumed work on Monday despite protests from  group of staff. Another group of staff protested in support of Yusuf, leading to intervention by a combined team of security operatives.

Speaking on Channels TV’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ in Abuja on Tuesday, Shehu suggested that the suspension did not follow due process.

“Did the board follow due process in suspending this gentleman? There are opinions that said ‘no they haven’t’.

“Again, we all have to do the right thing all the time. I don’t deny the fact that there is a lot of work to do; [the crisis] is complicated by the fact that the whole thing about the NHIS has been ethnicised and politicised. Even a political party was issuing a statement on matters that are unknown to it.

“I’ll tell you one thing, as we speak now, you know that no matter whatever mistakes this gentleman may have made, and that is to be proven because I don’t have the records to say yes or no, he has launched a major reform in that institution which had blocked access to public resources.

“Money from the NHIS is not money belonging to government, [it] is money taken from your salary, from my salary. If we have been enlisted, we are supposed to get treatments when we fall ill then you should ask the question in 13 years of the NHIS how many Nigerians have received the treatments.

“Yet you have HMOs, these vendors, taking N5 billion every month, money that is just being shared and somebody came and said, 'look, this can’t go on' and with strong support from this administration the N5billion has been reduced to N1.3billion.

“And even at then, the administration is not satisfied. We want to see healthcare delivered to the citizens of this country. So there is a lot of work to do.”

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