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Court Of Appeal Affirms Kalu As Senator, Defeats Ohuabunwa Again

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s victory at the February 25th National Assembly Election has been affirmed by the Court of Appeal Lagos Division. The Court affirmed him as the duly elected Senator for Abia North  Senatorial District.

Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had alleged disenfranchisement at the poll and challenged Kalu’s victory. But the Court of Appeal stated that Ohuabunwa failed woefully to prove the allegation of disenfranchisement.

Justice Abiri JCA of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal in his ruling said that the respondents proved that elections were held in all polling units and tendered form EC40G to explain why there was no voting in the affected polling units.

“The appellants did not plead the total number of people who picked up their voter registration cards.” “The appeal was dismissed with costs,” Abiri stated.

The Court, therefore, upheld the judgment of the National Assembly petitions Tribunal, Umuahia, which had earlier dismissed the petitions of Ohuabunwa and LP’s Iro-Orji for lacking merit.

The appellate court said the election of the former Abia State governor complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act. It also faulted the arguments of both petitioners that election did not hold in over 120 polling units mainly in Ohafia and Arochukwu Local Government Area.

The Court also set aside the prayers of Ohuabunwa to disqualify Kalu for having allegedly admitted before the Federal High Court that he was convicted of fraud.

It would be recalled that prior to the verdict of the Appeal Court on Kalu and Ohuabunwa’s case, Kalu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, had also defeated Labour Party’s, LP, Iroh-Oji at the Court of Appeal to be affirmed as Senator.

Iron-Oji had approached the Court, urging and pleasing with it to nullify the election that brought Kalu in as Senator because the former Abia State Governor admitted to having been convicted.

Kalu was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, having scored 30,805 votes to defeat Iroh-Oji and Ohuabunwa who polled 27,540 and 15,175 votes respectively.

Cardoso Not Qualified For CBN Job – Babachir Lawal

By
The Source
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By Gideon Njoku

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, has pointed out that Yemi Cardoso, newly appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is not the right man for the job.

Reason: Cardoso, says Lawal is ill-qualified, because, according to him, Cardoso has no experience to run Nigeria’s Apex Bank.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Cardoso as CBN Governor after the forced resignation of Dr. Godwin Emefiele as the CBN Governor.  Before his forced resignation, Tinubu had suspended Emefiele from office in June. Within 24 hours of his suspension, Emefiele was picked up by the Department of State Services, DSS, for interrogation over sundry issues, including illegal possession of a gun, and alleged economic sabotage.

About a couple of weeks ago, he was released by the DSS, but became, immediately, a guest to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

On Wednesday, November 8,  2023, Emefiele was released on bail on the stern orders of a Federal High Court, Abuja, 151 days after his arrest and detention.

But Lawal, who spoke on Arise TV Wednesday, criticised the qualification of Emefiele’s successor, Cardoso. He accused President Tinubu of appointing somebody with what he described as “patch-patch CV” as the Governor of Nigeria’s Apex Bank.

Cardoso, among other things, was the Commissioner of Planning, Lagos State, under the administration of Tinubu as Governor of Lagos State. He was, also, the Chairman of Citi Bank. But Lawal said those positions hardly qualify him for the CBN job.

He argued that even though Lagos could be classified as a big economy, it is a small State out of 36 other States. He, also, pointed out that the bank which Chairman Cardoso was, was a small bank with only 13 branches in Lagos, Warri and Benin. The bank was ”targeting oil money,” he said, and emphasized that Cardoso had no experience to run the CBN.

Proof: Lawal said because Cardoso has no experience, he, Lawal, was not surprised that the first thing Cardoso did as CBN Governor, was to open the gate for the importation of 43 items, including rice, thus, destroying the near self-sufficiency of Nigeria in rice production and the plan of Nigerian Farmers to begin the export of excess rice in 2024.

Lawal: “As to his (Tinubu’s) Central Bank Governor, in my response to APC (All Progressives Congress) when they decided to take me on, I mentioned that the President had a Central Bank Governor with ‘patch-patch’ CV.

“I said ‘patch-patch’ CV because he was the Commissioner of Planning in Lagos State, a very small state out of the 36 states we have. It is a big economy but you cannot say he has enough experience to be in that position as the Central Bank Governor.

“They also went on to say that he was a Chairman of a bank with 13 branches, and that doesn’t give him sufficient exposure – a bank with 13 branches. I mentioned that they are all located around Lagos with two branches in Lagos, Warri, Benin City, and all that.

“To me, the bank was targeting oil money and he is now the Central Bank governor.

“He didn’t disappoint my expectations because the first thing he did as the Governor was to remove the import ban on 43 items, most of which were very critical to Nigeria’s food sufficiency.

“He removed the ban on importation of rice. Nigeria had a very massive programme on self-sufficiency in rice for the Anchor Borrowers Programme, and we were beginning to reach about 90% self-sufficiency.

“We, farmers, were beginning to think that by next year, we will be exporting the excess rice that we have produced. But he comes and says ‘no, you are now free to import rice, he can give you the foreign exchange to import rice.’

“He does the same thing on many other agricultural items. It convinces me that my suspicion that this man will not be able to do this job was right.”

Lawal is a former President Tinubu’s  close friend and political ally who turned a political enemy. Both men parted ways over Tinubu’s choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate in the February 25th 2023 Presidential Election. Lawal was scandalised that Tinubu, a Muslim, chose Shettima, another Muslim, as his running mate in a religion sensitive country like Nigeria.

Since then, Lawal, who supported Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, in the Presidential Election, has been a strong critic of Tinubu and his Government.

OPINION: Saturday Poll: Which LGA Will Uzodinma Not Win?

By
The Source
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0
Hope Uzodimma and Collins Opurozor

By Collins Opurozor

Electoral victory, especially when transparently achieved, is very predictable. This is because the variables that animate the passion of the electorate and inform their decision can easily be studied and understood. Political support is measurable, very empirical. Remember, there is a science of politics, which classifies facts and makes absolute judgements based on consistent and universally-valid principles. Political science.

On Saturday, Imo people will be at the polls for the governorship election. The debate has actually shifted. It is no longer about who will win. Everyone knows that Governor Hope Uzodimma will be re-elected in a fair, transparent and credible manner. The indices are clear and solid. But, what has been left unaddressed is this question: “Is there any LGA in Imo that will not massively vote Governor Uzodimma?” I sincerely do not think there is any.

From Oru East, where a polytechnic has been built and equipped, a general hospital built and equipped, massive road infrastructure done and security restored, to Oguta, Ohaji-Egbema and Oru West, each of which also has a new general hospital and other landmark projects, Uzodimma’s victory in those areas is sealed.

To be sure, from Orlu, Njaba, Mbaitoli, Owerri North to Owerri Municipal LGAs, which have the magnificent 37-kilometer Owerri -Orlu Road, Uzodimma is coasting to victory in the areas. Again, the IMSU Teaching Hospital rebuilt and equipped, the FMC that is now a Federal University Teaching Hospital, the Alvan Ikoku College of Education that has been transformed to a university and the massive balloon technology drainage system that has totally addressed the menace of flood, are all located in the areas. The people are dusting up their PVCs to say thank you to Governor Uzodimma on Saturday.

More so, from Okigwe, Onuimo, Mbano, Ikeduru, Owerri North to Owerri Municipal, which have the Uzodimma-constructed 59-kilometer Owerri -Okigwe Road, the Governor’s victory is firmly secured.

Similarly, from Ezinihitte, Ahiazu, Aboh Mbaise, Owerri North to Owerri Municipal, where the Governor has constructed the Owerri -Mbaise-Umuahia Road, the people are eagerly waiting to show appreciation. Both Obowo and Ihitte Uboma areas are also beneficiaries of this infrastructural giant stride.

From Orlu to Ideato North and South, where Governor has flagged off the construction of the Orlu-Akokwa-Uga Road, and to open up a floodgate of opportunities by transforming the area into a new economic zone, the people are excitedly gearing up for the Governor’s re-election.

The youths and students have been given sills and empowered to become viable human beings through the Skill-Up Imo Project. The vulnerable have been taken care of through the Imocare Initiative, who provides free medicare to thousands of them. The incidence of double or multiple taxations eliminated through TSA, and today traders, businesses, artisans and commercial motorists have heaved a sigh of relief.

It is clear that history will be made in Imo state on Saturday. For the first time, a governorship candidate will win the 27 LGAs of the State. This is the reality on ground, because there is no area in the state that does not have countless reasons to vote overwhelmingly for the re-election of Governor Uzodimma.

Ibeanyi, the slogan now is “Ka Imo dikwuo mma!”

Opurozor, now, a Special Adviser to Governor Uzodimma was his bitter and acidic critic until a couple of months ago when he defected from the PDP to the APC

Presidential Election: With Peter Obi, PDP Would Have Won – Bode George

By
The Source
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0

By Charles Igbo

Chief Bode George has bemoaned the mistakes and miscalculations and selfishness which cost the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  the 2023 Presidential Election.

George, a former National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), concluded that when he addressed the Press in Lagos on Wednesday. He expressed the fears that the Party, which once paraded itself as the largest party in Africa, could go extinct like the All Nigeria Peoples Party ANPP if some steps are not urgently taken by its leadership.

One of such steps, he said, is to embark on a post mortem to find out why a number of its important and influential members left the party. Using the 2023 Presidential Candidates of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and that of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso as examples, George said the PDP should set up a Committee of trusted and respected and loyal members to travel the length and breadth of the Country, to find out why such people opted out of the PDP.

Chief George said a post mortem is necessary to also pin-point why the Party suffered a technical knock out in the 2023 General Elections.

“Imagine if Obi had not left, what would have happened. It would have been a walk over for us.”, he bemoaned.

He hinted that the fate which became the party was a product of selfishness, and submitted: “No one owns the PDP. So no one can claim ownership. This is not the time for selfish ambitions.  We need to save PDP from collapse.

Bode George: “We have to find out why the likes of Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso left the party and deal with the issues. Imagine if Obi had not left, what would have happened? It would have been a walk over for us. No one owns the PDP, so no one can claim ownership. This is not the time for selfish ambitions. We need to save PDP from collapse.

“It is human to make mistakes. When it happens like this, that we got an uppercut in the struggle for Nigeria, yes, the most sensible thing to do is to go back and do an in-depth analysis of what did we do wrong, and what did we do right, and then clean the Augean table and reposition the party for the future.

“There should be no short approach, sweeping everything under the carpet is a foolish way to do it. We must set up a committee that will go around the country, state by state, and make inquiries and understand what happened.

“How were the primaries conducted in each state? Who did what? Otherwise, what I am saying is that the party must conduct a meeting and we must set up a committee of very knowledgeable, loyal, dedicated and committed leaders to visit every state of the federation for their experiences, where they did well, we will know, where they didn’t do well, we will also know. So, they can bring the report and discuss it.

“We must have a solid opposition to put them (All Progressives Congress (APC)) on their toes, and as long as I live, in the next four years, that will be the role we are going to play. If everybody is telling the APC and the president, what you are doing is fantastic, you know, it is the noise makers who are saying what the president is doing is fine that will be the first to condemn the president when he is out of office.

“What I owe President Bola Tinubu now, forget about the differences between us, this nation must grow and when we are in the opposition, we must keep them (the APC government) on their toes for the good of our nation. That is the responsibility that I foresee as an opposition party.

“If there is no strong opposition the APC government will take this country on a journey ride, but when we give them constructive criticism, they will think twice before doing things, they will say before this party comes and slams us, let us consider all options, not a one-sided option.”

Recall that George had said he would leave Nigeria and go into self exile if the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, wins the Presidential Election. Tinubu has since May 29, 2023, been sworn-in as President, and Bode George is still in Nigeria. There has been no mention of going on self-exile since then.

Hamas: Israel Bows To US’ Pressure For Ceasefire

By
James Orji
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Benjamin Netanyahu
The State of Israel has agreed to a four hour daily military ceasefire in Gaza to allow Palestinians fleeing the warthorn Northern Gaza to the south of the Strip.
It was learned that the United States government forced the Israeli government to agree to a ceasefire, having earlier rejected same from other diplomatic quarters, on the basis that such would allow Hamas to regroup.
The US acted on pressure from Arab and European allies on the issue, diplomatic sources said on Thursday.
Recall that President Joe Biden had earlier pressed Israel to allow humanitarian materials to enter Gaza through Egypt.
 The US,  Israel’s strongest backer had earlier agreed with the country that the terrorists group could capitalised on a ceasefire to rearm.
Speaking on Thursday, John Kirby, White House National Security Council spokesperson stated that the Benjamin Netanyahu-led government has agreed to a military operations to allow civilian a smooth passage to the other side of the Gaza strip.
Kiby said: “We’ve been told by the Israelis that there will be no military operations in these areas throughout the pause and that this process is starting today.”
The war, which started in October after Hamas fighters attacked Israel, from land an sea, killing civilians and soldiers, has claimed thousands lives on both sides.
Calls for  ceasefire have been rejected by Israel which has demanded the release of over 200 persons abducted by Hamas during the attack on its country early last month.
The Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip has been reduced to rubbles due to Israeli military bombardment.
The world has sued for peace on both sides, as the number of casualties, particularly women and children grow.
Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken on Thursday, countered the Israeli government’s plan to occupy Gaza after the war.
Prime Minister Netanyahu had earlier stated that Israel would remain an occupying power in Gaza post-war, to which the US government said no.

Nov. 11: “Our Candidates Are Leading”- PDP; Says Rigging Will Be Resisted 

By
James Orji
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0
The People’s Democratic Party, PDP,  has urged the All Progressives Congress, APC, to forget any plan to rig the governorship election coming up this weekend.
Three states, Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi are taking part in the off-season governorship election slated for November 11, by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
 Analysts insist that the election is a two-horse rs e for the two major political parties, which have accused each other of trying to rig the make or mar election for Nigeria’s biggest political parties.
While the APC currently controls Imo and Kogi, the PDP is in firm control of Bayelsa, where tension is currently on the rise due to allegation that the ruling APC is planning to capture power at all cost.
But, the PDP says the APC should forget any plan to rig the gubernatorial election in the three states.
The party made this known in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Thursday.
The PDP has directed its supporters to ensure that they protect their votes to forestall rigging, adding that “anybody, no matter how highly placed” who tried to manipulate the election would incur the wrath of the people.
The party said recent polls indicate that its candidates in the three states are leading.
The statement read in part:  “Our Party restates that it will never allow anybody, no matter how highly placed to manipulate the electoral process in the governorship election in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States.
“Our Party states in clear terms that anybody who attempts to rig or manipulate the election in any way may have to deal with the legitimate wrath of the people.
“The PDP specifically cautions Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and his puppet candidate, Usman Ododo, to accept their rejection by the people for their abysmal failure in government and get ready to concede defeat on Saturday.
“The PDP reaffirms that all indices from several Entrance Polls indicate that the PDP candidates are leading and will sweep the governorship election in the three States.
“Any electoral trajectory that does not reflect the clear tide of the Will of the people at the Polling Units will be firmly resisted.
“In Imo State, the PDP confirms that it has received messages and visits from many prominent Imo State citizens, including major industrialists and businessmen wherein they expressed their support for the PDP Candidate, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
“These prominent Imo citizens have also denied their reported support and donation of funds to the APC and its governorship candidate, Governor Hope Uzodimma.
“Of course, no well-meaning citizen of Imo State will lend support to Governor Hope Uzodimma whose administration has wrecked the economy of the State, brought untold hardship to the people and turned Imo State into a theatre of violence, killings and kidnapping.
“Our Party challenges Governor Uzodimma to make public the names of the Imo State citizens he claimed to have donated money to his campaign so that the people can identify the enablers of insecurity and hardship that his administration represents in the last three years.”

Rivers: Fubara Says “My Oga Remains My Oga,” As Wike Storms Port Harcourt

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

There seems an end to the crisis between Rivers state Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, now Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Nyesome Wike, over the control of the State.

Both met on Thursday in Port harcourt at a rededication ceremony for the state Judiciary 2023-2024 legal year during which Fubara affirmed his unwavering loyalty to Wike.

The Rivers State Governor called for peace in the oil-rich state once more and said that the current political turmoil in the state is history.

Rivers State can, according to Fubara, if the players and those who support them, behave peacefully.

“My oga remains my oga. Whatever that has happened is in the past. I have not sent anybody to malign anybody.”

In addition, the Governor issued a warning to those endorsing him to refrain from disparaging his opponents by using foul language, stating that he had given them no permission to do so.

According to him, in trying to attain development, the devil will always attack, but what is most important is to “identify the devil and push it out.”

It was the first time the two politicians, who were the major characters in the most recent political controversy would cross paths in the State’s public eye.

Crisis Looms, As Ogun Students Reject Tuition Fee Hike, Set For Mass Protest

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

There is brewing crisis in Ogun State as the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Ogun State Chapter, is set to embark on a mass protest following a hike in the tuition across all Tertiary Institutions in the State.

Over the past week, the Students have been lamenting the hike in their School Fees at a time the nation is going through economic crisis.

The Students alleged that the hike was targeted at forcing many of them out of school and making life difficult for them and their parents.

They urged the State Government to either reverse what they described as “abnormal and killing school fees” within four days or be ready for mass protest during when they would occupy the Governor’s Office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta until their requests are granted.

It would be recalled that students of the Tai Solarin University of Education, TASUED, Ijebu-Ode had on Monday, protested the over 100% increase in their school fees, a development that has forced the school to shut down.

Speaking with Journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital on Thursday, the NANS chairman, Francis Adeyanju, kicked against what he described as an “abnormal” increment in the school fees of all the state-owned tertiary institutions.

The NANS Chairman threatened to shut down the State with mass protests if the Government fails to reverse the hiked school fees in the next four days.

Adeyanju who was flanked by the National President of the National Association of the State Students, Kehinde Mathew, described the increment in school fees as an attempt to prevent vulnerable and indigent students in the state from accessing affordable and qualitative education.

Expressing his displeasure, Matthew stated that the “insensitivity of the government towards the plights of students and development of education in the state”.

Adeyanju said, “It is no rumour that the government has almost abandoned tertiary education. This is evident in the current deplorable state of our campuses across the State. Our schools are now filled with decaying infrastructure, inadequate teaching and non-teaching staff, an unconducive learning environment and salaries of staff are being owed.

“Most pathetic is the recent hike in school fees across our tertiary institutions. This is unfair and unacceptable. At Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), returning students are now to pay N180,000 as against N76,500 per session, while new students are now to pay as much as N230,000.

“The school fees of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), have been jacked up from N62,000 to N120,000 for Science students, while nonscience students are to pay between N150,000 to N155,000 as against N55,000.

“For Ogun State Polytechnic of Health and Allied Sciences, the school fees were increased from N67,000 to N109,000 for indigenous students, while non-indigenous students are now to pay N124,000 as against N77,400. These are just a few examples of the abnormal increment in school fees of tertiary institutions in the State.

“There is no excuse for any government to increase school fees abnormally for whatsoever reason, in as much as we are concerned as progressive-minded Nigerian students’ leaders, we believe the government is at liberty to diversify and seek funds, but tertiary institutions should not be seen as an avenue to source for funds.

“Tertiary institutions should not be seen as an avenue to generate IGR, rather they should be seen as an avenue to prepare the youths for the future, for us to take our leadership positions.

“ We hereby give the Ogun State Government a four-day ultimatum to reverse all increments in state-owned institutions.

“If nothing is done at the expiration of the ultimatum, we will mobilise our students across the State and shut down the state in a mass protest until our demands are met”.

Imo, Bayelsa, Kogi Guber: DSS Warns Against Inflammatory Statements

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
DSS

By Adesina Soyooye

Barely 48 hours to the off-circle elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States, the Department of State Services (DSS) has given a stern warning to individuals and groups against inflammatory statements.

The warning came as tension rose in the three States with groups and politicians making all kinds of allegations against officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and threatening fire and brimstone.

The DSS, also, warned individuals who may decide to engage in “illegitimate acts or conducts inimical to public order”,  that they “will be decisively dealt with as dictated by the law.”

The Service said it has observed “rising trends and patterns of incendiary comments by some personalities of influence and representatives of non-governmental entities within and outside the country.”

The DSS said such statements “run against public peace and harmony”, and therefore, urged key political players and their supporters in the  affected States to “conform to the rules of engagement and specifically the electoral laws to avert situations likely to undermine the processes.”

Peter Afunanya, the Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Department of State Services National Headquarters, Abuja signed the statement.

According to Afunanya the Service has “substantially liaised with INEC, sister security agencies and relevant NGOs to ensure hitch-free exercises in the affected States.”

The statement reads in part:

“It is strongly believed that a resort to acerbic pronouncements by certain persons will not only heat the polity but set the ground for deep-seethed animosities and divisions among the populace. Also, it serves the country no good if its citizens, whether at home or abroad, demarket or subvert her through misleading and false narratives.

“Similarly, the Service urges key players and their supporters in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa States to conform to the rules of engagement and specifically the electoral law during the 11th November 2023 gubernatorial elections in the areas.

“However, individuals or groups that may decide to engage in illegitimate acts or inimical conducts to public order will be decisively dealt with as dictated by the law. Forewarned is forearmed.”

November 11 Governorship Polls In Three States: DHQ Alerts “There Are Fake Soldiers”

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Defence Headquarters has said that it has uncovered plans by some persons to impersonate the Military by wearing its uniform during Saturday’s governorship election in three states.

It has, therefore, warned trouble makers to “stay away from the November 11 Governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa or face injurious consequences from the military.”

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, gave the warning while briefing newsmen on the operations

of the armed forces  as regards the election on Thursday in Abuja.

Buba said the military is aware of plans by some individuals to dress in military uniform to disrupt the electoral processes in the three states on Saturday.

He said that “for the off season elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states this weekend, here is a message for those who planned to disrupt the process.

“We are aware of your plans to dress in military gear to misled the public. Be assured of injurious consequences should you proceed with those plans. We will not allow our image to be dragged to the mud. You’re warned.”

The director said the military is determined to give the elections the seriousness it deserves, adding that troops and platforms were being moved to locations to reinforce security already in place in those states.

He stated that security agencies are ready to identify and differentiate between real soldiers and the fake ones.

Buba explained that troops had continued to exert pressure on groups that sought to derail any progress toward peace and security in the country.

According to him, it is for these reason the military is inflicting severe damage on terrorists, insurgents and violent extremists through operations across the country.

He added that “accordingly, we are targeting their leadership, infrastructure and foot soldiers. The coordination between air and ground forces is like never seen before and yielding amazing results.

“We are expecting new platforms that would further enhance our capabilities to further root out terrorists and destroy their military capabilities.”

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