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2023: Falana, INEC Boss Raise Alarm Over Plot To Truncate Election

By
James Orji
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Femi Falana, a lawyer and human rights activist has accused some vested interests in the country of plot to truncate the 2023 general election.

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to leave office next year May 29, 2023 after eight years allowed by the constitution. Governorship elections and parliamentary elections are also expected to be conducted to usher in new administrations across the country.

To this effect, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said the Electoral body has put everything in place to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

But Falana, a senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, said despite the readiness of the Electoral body the election could be truncated by undemocratic forces.

The senior advocate in a statement, on Monday, said he raised the alarm following series of attacks on the offices of INEC across the country.

The statement came on the heels of Prof. Yakubu earlier comment yesterday that the commsioning is being frustrated by the attacks, saying the problem could derail its plan to conduct a free, fair and credible election.

No fewer than 50 attacks on INEC facilities have been recorded in 15 states across the country in the last four years.

According to data obtained by the magazine, Imo State recorded the highest number of attacks on with 11 incidents followed by Osun, Akwa-Ibom, Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross River, Abia, Anambra, Taraba, Borno, Ogun, Lagos, Bayelsa, Ondo and Kaduna States.

Falana said the situation must not be allowed to continue, called on the security agencies to step up their efforts and arrest those attacking INEC offices.
He dismissed claims by security forces that INEC facilities are well protected, noting the the commission will not be able to conduct the election if those destroying its property are not apprehended.

The statement read in part: “In spite of the fact that the facilities are said to be well guarded, the criminal elements involved in the nefarious activities generally operate without any challenge from security forces. If the dangerous trend continues on a larger scale, INEC will not be in a position to conduct elections in the affected areas. It is, therefore, curious to note that the few suspected arsonists have not been charged before any court,” he said in a statement sent to Channels Television.

“The state of insecurity in Nigeria has also constituted a serious threat to the conduct of credible elections. It has been confirmed that elections cannot take place in the over 40 local government areas in different parts of the country which are firmly under the control of various armed gangs, including bandits, terrorists, and known and unknown gunmen. The territories seized by the criminal gangs are in Borno, Kaduna Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Zamfara, Abia, and Imo States.

“Unless the security forces are prepared to deal with the anti-democratic forces that are currently disrupting the democratic process, the 2023 general elections may be sabotaged to the detriment of democracy and political stability in the country.”

CBN: Emefiele Escapes Arrest, Plot To Sack Him Thickens

By
James Orji
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Godwin Emefiele, the Central Bank of Nigria, CBN, has survived a plot to remove him from office.
The embattled CBN governor has been in the eye of the storm for sometime over his decision to tighten the country’s monetary policy, he further put himself in the firing line of those who want him out of office recently after the bank announced the redesigning of the naira, and the limitations on cash withdrwal effective January 31, 2023.

According to the Cable, the CBN governor, who just returned from a trip abroad with President Muhammadu Buhari, survived the first move to get him out of his plum job after a federal high court in Abuja, rejected a suit filed by the Department of State Services, DSS to arrest him.

According to the online newspaper, the DSS had secretly filed a suit before the court to get its approval to arrest the CBN governor on allegation of terrorism financing.

The alleged plot to arrest the apex bank Governor comes on the back of suggestions that Emefiele has stepped on the toes of some top politicians in the country, following the cash restriction policy recently introduced by the government bank.

By tightening the noose on cash withdrwal, watchers of the polity said the CBN has effectively taken a solid step to discourage the monetisation of next year’s general election.

The decision, watchers of the CBN said, obviously did not go down well with some political players in the country who are employing every means to get him out of office.

“It’s not impossible for these unnamed politicians to use some pliant government agencies to frustrate the CBN. It’s an issue of strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter,” a CBN source said on Tuesday.

The source futher stated that some powerful Nigerians contesting or supporting politicians contesting the 2023 election consider the cash restriction policy as a plot by the CBN to stop thme from buying votes from voters.

Rejecting the suit filed by the DSS, Justice JT Tsoho was said to have declined the request on the grounds that Emefiele was not in the country when the suit was filed, and that the secret police did not give enough evidence to substantiate the allegation of terrorism financing against the apex bank govrnor.
Sources at the high court told TheCable that the judge said he should have been taken into confidence if there was any evidence to back the allegations in the application, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2255/2022.

“The honourable judge also wondered why the name of the respondent was given simply as ‘Godwin Emefiele’ without a material disclosure that he is the same person as the CBN governor, a highly ranking public official who occupies an extremely sensitive position,” the source said.

The court futher stated that such an application should have been accompanied with the presidential approval because of the grave implications for the Nigerian economy if the CBN governor is arrested and detained.

In a swift reaction to the issue, the DSS has warned the public not to try to undermine its job.
In a statement issued on Monday, Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesperson, said the service will not be distracted by those seeking to use “propaganda” to undermine its lawful investigations.

The DSS said it has continued to discharge its services in the overall interest of Nigerians and would not be deterred by the effort of some persons to throw mud at the Service for selfish interest.

The statement said, “As such, the Service will continue to disseminate actionable intelligence to the relevant authorities devoid of any sentiment,” the statement reads.

“While professionally discharging its mandate, the DSS pledges to remain focused and unbiased. It will not, by any means, succumb to propaganda, intimidation and the desperation of hirelings to undermine it.

“It will also not give room to the use of falsehood and deceit to misdirect public understanding and perceptions of issues of national importance.

“Given not to join issues, the Service warns those on a wild goose chase to be mindful of their actions. Similarly, it urges members of the public to disregard the vituperations and rantings of misguided elements and not allow themselves to be used as instruments of destabilisation.

“Notably, these elements should remember the famous axiom that ‘you will only deceive some people, some of the time, but not all people, all the time’

“To put it succinctly, the Service will not be distracted by persons and/or groups from carrying out its duties to the Nation, citizens, and, President and Commander-in-Chief.”

Meanwhile, a massive protest rented Abuja, the nation’s capital on Monday from groups supporting the CBN governor.

Led by Tochukwu Ohazuruike, the coalition made up of different groups claimed there was a plot to frame Emefiele for terrorism. They said the CBN helmsman is not a terrorist, warning that he should not be forcefully removed from office.

Ohazuruike said: “We have firmly in our custody, genuine hardcore evidence of a plot by the DSS to frame the Governor of CBN, Emefiele for terrorism financing, abduct him and keep him away for at least 60 days in solitary confinement, which will pave way for the forceful removal of the CBN Governor from office and destabilize the President Buhari backed CBN economic stability and reform efforts, especially the new currency redesign and cash withdrawal limit policies which in the immediate will help achieve President Buhari’s promise of a credible election in 2023.

“It has taken us some time, diligent and careful monitoring and resources to discover that on the said December 7, 2022, a motion was filed in the FCT High Court, with the major target of getting the CBN Governor out of office. The motion had suit number M/294/2022.

“On December 7, 2022, another ex-parte application was secretly filed at a Federal High Court, Abuja this time directly by the DSS. The suit is between the DSS v Godwin Emefiele. Our intelligence which discovered this shocking development showed the suit was filed at the court without disclosing the full identity of Mr. Emefiele to the court and working on the premise that the court would grant an order for the Service to arrest and detain Mr. Emefiele for a minimum of 60 days hiding under section 66 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.”

Emefiele may have survived the latest plot to remove him, analyst say, those who desperately want him out of the bank will not stop until they achieve their aim before the 2023 election. His traducers only need the buy-in of President Buhari, who has not shown any sign of dumping the apex bank governor, analysts said.

Okupe Freed, Home; Wife Says  He Made A Mistake; Former Governor Testifies To Good Character; May Lose LP’s Top Job

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

Convicted Presidential  Aide to two former Presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, currently the Director General of Labour Party’s Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Doyin Okupe, is free. He is home. And did not spend a second in jail after his conviction by an Abuja Federal High Court.

Okupe was convicted on Monday by the Honourable Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, and was sentenced to a two year jail on each of the 26 count charges he was found guilty of, to run concurrently.

But Okupe escaped serving jail term at Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.

Here’s why.

The Judge gave him an option of fine to the tune of N13m, and set a time limit of 4.30pm for him to pay the fine, or be thrown into  jail. He, expectedly, chose the fine option, and was able to pay before 4.30pm.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had taken Dr Okupe to Court, and preferred a 56-count charge against him.

But he was found guilty of only 26 of charges, and jailed for breaching the Money Laundering Act.

Before he was sentenced, two members of his family wife Omolola, and son, Adesunkanni, testified to his character, and pleaded for leniency. And so did two prominent Nigerian citizens, former Anambra State Governor, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, and Dr Idi Farouk, a former Director General of the National Orientation Agency.

Said his wife: “I got married to him on the 1st of May, 1991. My husband is a very good person. He has been a role model to myself and children with sound Christian values.

“I have never found him in any allegation of this before. I will like to appeal to the Court for leniency.

“My husband has dedicated his life to serve the Nation and he is not here today because he is found guilty of the offence, but because of his mistake.

“I ask the Court to consider his health and age which is 70 years. He has run his family effectively my lord.

Son, Adesunkanmi, in his plea for leniency,  said : “I have known him for 31 years.He is a man of honesty and integrity with great character..

“I have the privilege of being mentored by him throughout my life time. He had imparted in me high value of perseverance and hard work that greatness comes by following God, unbending faith and diligence.

“This among many others is what I have learnt about Okupe.”

Both Ezeife and Idi Farouk, urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

While sentencing  him, the Judge posited that Okupe is guilty of contravening Sections 16(1)&(2) of the Money Laundering Act, for accepting cash payments without going through financial institution, in excess of the threshold allowed under the Act.

He had collected the sum of N240 million in cash from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retired).

Okupe’s conviction has destabilised, to an extent, the LP Presidential Campaign, and is likely to trigger a reorganisation. He may lose the top job.

Even though he is not serving time in jail, many are of the opinion that he should  stand down as the DG of the Presidential Campaign.

Said one analyst: “That he paid the fine does not detract from the fact that he is, now, an ex-convict. He should not be seen to be in charge of  Peter Obi’s Campaign.

He should step aside, and not give Obi’s political competitors a weapon to fight him.”

Not a few people agree with him.

Kazure’s N89 Trillion Stamp Duty Revenue Poppycock: Nigerians Must Learn To Interrogate Everything

By
The Source
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0
Nnamdi Obiaraeri

By Nnaemeka Obiaraeri

“It is becoming so clear to every honest and discerning observer that Kazure may actually be an integral part of organised syndicate  within the class of political bandits who are so hell bent on discrediting and undermining the CBN Governor, INEC, and Buhari’s reform agenda to ensure a free and fair elections in 2023”

Many Media Houses shared the Kazaure N89trillion Stamp duty allegations against the CBN.

He alleged that the CBN diverted N89trillion (being 40% of the total stamp duty revenue collected between 2015 to 2022], and remitted the remaining 60% [N133.5trillion] to the federation account.

It was also alleged that he is pursuing this purported investigation and recovery,  because one industry professional promised him N370bn commission if he helps to recover the funds allegedly looted by the CBN.

The last time I checked stamp duty fees in Nigeria is about 0.75% ..

Records at the CBN and other credible sources,  show that between 2015 to 2022, the highest volume and value of Industry E payment figures captured ( across all the channels..POS, ATM, Mobile transfers,  cheques, etc was recorded in 2019. It was 90, 875, 084,742 transactions valued at N441,905,957,714,981.00 [Four hundred and Fourty One Trillion, Nine Hundred and Five Billion, Nine Hundred and Fifty Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Fourteen Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty One Naira Only]

Even if you apply the stamp duty charge of 0.75% on the N441trillion value of transaction, you will get maximum N3.3trillion in one year.

If you apply N50 on every of the 90,875,084,742 volume, you will get N4.5trillion.

Please can anyone, explain to me,  from which source  Kazaure generated  his N222.5trillion CBN Stamp duty revenue  2015 to 2022?

It is becoming so clear to every honest and discerning observer,  that Kazaure may actually be an integral  part of an organised syndicate   within the class of  political bandits, who are  so hell bent on discrediting and  undermining the CBN Governor , INEC and Buharis reform agenda to ensure a free and fair elections in 2023.

That the political class are united in opposition against the  CBN  new naira REDESIGNING and cash withdrawn limit evidences the fact that it is a good one,  aimed at stopping their criminal and nefarious activities.

Nigerians must resit these  political bandits.

Dr Obiareri wrote from Owerri, Imo State.

Fayose’s  Allies Reject Membership Of Atiku/Okowa PCC; Cite Inclusion of Opposition Members

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The list containing names of members of Presidential campaign Council of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Ekiti state, released on Sunday is dead on arrival.

This is because prominent members of the Atiku/Okowa Campaign Council for Ekiti state have started to reject their appointment into the Council.

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Director-General of the PDP’s Presidential Campaign Organization (PCO), had released names of members to steer the wheels of their campaign in Ekiti ahead of the 2023 General Elections.

Among names listed is Bisi Kolawole, the Gubernatorial Candidate in the June election. He was named Chairman of the Council, while Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe was named Vice Chairman.

Kolawole and Ogundipe are die-hard followers of former Governor Ayo Fayose. Both have rejected the appointments.

Kolawole, the appointed Ekiti PCC Chairman was the first to denounce the list, claiming that some names in it are not members of PDP.

In an open letter to the PDP’s PCO, which was copied to the Presidential flag bearers, Atiku Abubakar and Ifeanyi Okowa, he claimed that he was not officially notified about his appointment as PCC Chairman.

He also mentioned the replacement of the PCC list of PDP members he had previously submitted with another that included some members of the opposition party, the Social Democratic Party, (SDP).

The letter reads : “My attention has been drawn to the list of members of the Presidential Campaign Council and Campaign Management Committee for Ekiti State, being circulated on Social Media.

“Even though I have not been officially consulted by anyone, I wish to raise the following concerns as per the membership of the Campaign Council and Management Committee, should the list being circulated on Social Media be authentic.

“As you already know, I am a committed and loyal member of the PDP, and so I will remain.

“However, in spite of that, I regard this appointment as an honour, but I wish to state that I will not be able to function in the midst of people who openly and gladly worked against my election.

“As it was done in other States, I was given a template and instructed to come up with list of members of the Presidential Campaign Council and Campaign Management Committee.

“In arriving at the list, I followed the template and consulted relevant stakeholders, most importantly National Assembly candidates whose elections are on the same date as that of the president.

“Also, in the meeting with the Vice Presidential Candidate of our party, His Excellency, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, it was agreed that the list was okay and that it should only be moderated by including about three or five names.

“By ignoring that list and including people who are still in the Social Democratic Party (SDP), it is a clear indication that the Presidential Campaign Organization does not respect its own decisions.

“Also, the SDP members included in the Campaign Management Committee are people who left PDP before the governorship election and have not returned to the party.

“With their inclusion in the Campaign Committee, how will they function when their party, the SDP, is also fielding candidates for National Assembly and the National Assembly elections will hold same day as that of the President?

“Will they be campaigning for the presidential candidate of our party and at the same time be campaigning for the Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates of the SDP?

“While I am not against the party and its presidential candidate having a working arrangement with members of other parties, including the SDP, I am however of the belief that such arrangements should not amount to rewarding people who decamped to other parties to work against the PDP with the membership of the party’s campaign committee.

“By doing this, we are only saying that it pays to leave PDP and work for other parties. This to me, will be a sad commentary on party loyalty and discipline.

“In view of the above, I wish to notify you that I will not be able to function as Chairman of the Campaign Council. This will, however, not affect my commitment as a member and a leader of the PDP in Ekiti State.”

Also rejecting the PCC list are the seven PDP National Assembly candidates: Alhaji Lateef Ajijola, Senatorial Candidate, Central, Funso Ayeni, Senatorial Candidate, North.

Others are: Otunba Oluyinka Akerele, House of Reps Candidate, Ekiti North 1, Lere Olayinka, House of Reps Candidate, Ekiti Central 2,  Mrs. Emiola Adenike Jennifer, House of Reps Candidate, Ekiti South 2, Joju Fayose, House of Reps Candidate, Ekiti Central 1, and Otunba Babatunde Ajayi, House of Reps Candidate, Ekiti North their rejection letter PCO, they also cited the inclusion of opposition members on the list.

“Our attention has been drawn to the Presidential Campaign Council and Campaign Management Committee for Ekiti State, as released by your good self, being circulated on various social media platforms.

“Particularly, the persons appointed as Directors of Campaign for the Central and North Senatorial Districts are members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

“The SDP is fielding Senatorial, House of Representatives, and House of Assembly candidates in the above-mentioned Senatorial Districts.

“In the list, the majority of the nominees are not members of the PDP. They are SDP members. Furthermore, the majority of the rest who are PDP members did not win their polling units in the last governorship election.

“Our elections will be held alongside that of the president. The implication is that members of SDP will work against us as our Senatorial Directors of Campaign for our elections.

“To us, the campaign council/committee is not a gift item to impress anybody if the objective is actually to win the elections.

Senator Duro Faseyi who left the PDP to pick the senatorial ticket for Ekiti on the platform of SDP was named as a director for Ekiti north district in the PCC list.

Akwa Ibom Agog As Obi, Their Son-in law, Arrives

By
The Source
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Peter Obi and his wife

The Labour Party Presidential Campaign train makes the landmark stop  Tuesday December 20 in Akwa Ibom State.

The Presidential Candidate of the party, Peter Obi, is a faithful son-in law of the State having married Margaret, an Akwa Ibom daughter decades ago.The the marriage is  blessed with two children.

According to the Obi-Datti Media office,  the State Capital, Uyo, and the rest of the State are charged for their daughter and her husband who arrived the state on Monday for Tuesday’s momentous rally.

At the rally, Obi is expected to continue his message of taking back Nigeria and transforming it from consumption to production and eradicating poverty by creating job for the energetic youths of Nigeria.

A victory for Labour Party and Obi on February 25, 2023, Akwa Ibomites are drumming,  means that an Akwa Ibom daughter will be the Country ’s First Lady a swift pathway to the seat of power which no one wants to sacrifice  for anything.

Court Jails Doyin Okupe For Two Years, Gives Him Option Of Fine

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

After listening to his plea for mitigation of his sente nce, the Federal High Court in Abuja  sentenced Doyin Okupe, Director-General of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Council, to two years imprisonment for a breach of the money laundering act.

He has an option to pay N13 million fine for his conviction.

In a judgment delivered on Monday, Okupe was found guilty of 26 out of a 59-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Honourable Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu sentenced Okupe to two years in prison on each of the counts.

The sentences are to run concurrently. The Judge also ruled that Okupe is at liberty to pay a N500,000 fine on each of the counts, totalling N13 million.

Dr Doyin Okupe, DG LP Presidential Campaign Council,  Convicted

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

A possible setback and reorganization are imminent in the campaign activities of Labour Party (LP)presidential candidate, Peter Obi.  The Director General of hiscampaign Organization, Dr Doyin Okupe, has been convicted.

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday convicted Okupe for money laundering.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Okupe in 2019 on a 59-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and diversion of funds to the tune of N702 million.

He was arraigned before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu alongside two companies – Value Trust Investment Ltd and Abrahams Telecoms Ltd.

Okupe was said to have received cash from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) while Sambo Dasuki was in office.

Delivering judgment, Ojukwu found Okupe guilty of contravening sections 16(1)&(2) of the Money Laundering Act by accepting cash payments in excess of the threshold allowed under the act without going through a financial institution.

The judge said the NSA is not a financial institution and although the former President allegedly authorized the funds, he did not specify a cash payment in violation of the Money Laundering Act.

“I find the first defendant, Dr. Doyin Okupe, guilty on counts 34, 35, 36, and 59,” the court ruled.

The Judge, however, found the defendants not guilty in counts 1 to 33 on the grounds that the prosecution failed to establish the charge of money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption against the NSA.

The matter was subsequently stood down until 1:45pm to allow the convict (Okupe) to call witnesses to testify about his character, as enshrined under Section 310 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

The sentencing is expected to be delivered after the process is concluded.

Dangote Cement Drivers Boycott Southeast Over Insecurity

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

The Association of Drivers of Dangote Cement Transport, Obajana in Kogi State has directed all its members to boycott the transportation of cement to the South-East region of Nigeria.

The association said the decision was taken over the security situation in the region and in Akwa Ibom state in the South-South region.

According to a memo dated December 11, 2022, and sent by the drivers’ association to the company, the drivers said, the five southeast states and Akwa Ibom state have become a no-go area for them following the spate of killings in the region.

Doing otherwise, the drivers said will endanger the lives of their members.

The drivers said, “We kindly write this short notice to the company that we are returning some waybills of the southeast state Nigeria that we driver (sic) are not going to some part (sic) of southeast Nigeria due to ongoing situation of the site Nigeria those part (sic) of southeast they are as follows: 1. Enugu, 2. Anambra, 3. Abia, 4. Imo, 5. Ebonyi, 6. Akwa Ibom.”

Criminals enforcing sit-at-home orders in the South-East have in the past burnt trucks belonging to Dangote Cement and reportedly killed some of the company’s drivers.

Meanwhile, market experts said, the development will likely affect the prices of cement in the region during the festive period which normally experience price hike in building materials.

Fidelity Bank’s Onyeali-Ikpe, Banda, Make Outstanding African Women List

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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First female Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, has made the list of 110 ‘Outstanding Women in Africa’ for the year 2022.

The ‘Outstanding Women in Africa’ report is developed by the New Africa Magazine, a strong believer in the culture of recognition for both men and women who have been shaping the vision and progress of the African continent. 

Some others picked for the special recognition  are Hon. Joyce Hilda Banda, Former. President of Malawi, Hon. Jewel Howard Taylor, Vice President of Liberia; Jamila Sedqi, First Moroccan Female Judge at the UN Administrative Tribunal, and Pastor Faith Oyedepo, Wife of the Founder, Winners’ Church, Worldwide.

A statement by the magazine publisher, Gift Chidima Nnamoko Orairu, said “in Africa, one needed extra hard work, dedication and focus to succeed.

“In addition to the so many factors affecting women progress on the continent at the political and socioeconomic level; a great number of women have been silenced with violence, hate, discrimination, and isolation.

“However, these Pan African women have never been silent, and have led important revolutions for democracy, freedom and social justice.

“They have gone on to write their names on the sands of time; breaking old records and setting new standards, smashing barriers and detecting the pace.”

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