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Tinubu Must Come Clean Or Quit – Obi-Datti MediaOffice

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

The Obi-Datti Media Office said it  has come to the inescapable conclusion that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC Presidential bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, must come clean with his past, engage Nigerians or quit, because the office he seeks to occupy requires a man who should be clean in all ramifications.

In a statement it released on Wednesday, it said its demand is in response to the “damaging document  released by a United States court about Tinubu’s past which entails that he must come clean and stop indulging in proxy game about his past, ostensibly to deny Nigerians the opportunity of knowing exactly the person aspiring to rule them”

Part of the Statement reads.

“What has made the Obi-Datti Media Office more curious is the continued refusal of the APC candidate to present himself for scrutiny by Nigerians, dodging every public and media interaction and using spokespersons and attack dogs to reach Nigerians and cover up his dirty tracks.

“Rather than be ashamed of the embarrassing situation, Tinubu Campaign office is arrogantly and fraudulently covering up and scheming to pick and choose the public events to attend.

“It’s not enough to release a document as manifesto but not be available to defend and explain how you intend to carry out the implementations of the manifesto since spokespersons are not going to be on the ballot.

“If Tinubu truly had any record  of narcotics and money laundering case arising from drug related businesses at any stage in his life, he must explain himself to Nigerians.

“And if he hid his past to Nigerians and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, necessary steps should be taken by relevant authorities to save the country from such a person having access to power at the highest office in the land.

“Obi-Datti Media office is aware that there is a column in  INEC form to candidates seeking to know if they had ever been convicted by any court of law anywhere in the world and that withholding such information breaches the 2022 Electoral Act (as amended).

“In view of the fresh facts arising from the US court document, Nigerians expect the Electoral Commission to demand a convincing response from the APC presidential candidate and to act on it accordingly without let or hindrance

“Following the successive failure of governance in our country over time, the Electoral Commission and indeed the entire Nigerian populace should show more than passing interest in the backgrounds of all those aspiring to rule this country.

“It’s against this backdrop that we totally align our position with that of our Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi that candidacy by proxy must be rejected since the buck stops on the table of the person being elected not spokespersons or attack dogs

“Finally, the Obi-Datti Media Office demands that if the APC candidate is not ready and willing to subject himself to the scrutiny required of anybody seeking to occupy the number one job in the land, he should quit.”

Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Office in a statement signed by its Spokesperson, Festus Keyamo, SAN, said the opposition is raising an old case out of frustration. “It is a dead horse”, Keyamo said.

FG Plans Mass Release Of Prisoners To Decongest Correctional Centers

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Rauf Aregbesola and Prison Officials

By Akinwale Kasali

The Federal Government is planning to decongest Correctional Centers in the country.

Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola disclosed that the FG is planning on having a meeting with State Governors in decongesting Prisons and Correctional Centers around the country by 30 Percent, as the influx of Prisoners in these centers has made it inhabitable for humans.

Media Adviser to the former Osun State Governor, Sola Fasure, stated that interfacing with the Governors to agree on the mass release of at least 30 per cent was necessary as more than 90 per cent of the inmates were being held for contravening various state laws, noting that over 70 per cent of the 75,635 inmates at present were awaiting trial.

He stressed that some of the inmates are being kept under the legal jurisdiction of their respective States, adding that the decongestion of the 253 Custodial centres nationwide was necessary as some of the inmates have no reason to remain in custody.

“The Minister has written to the Governors Forum, but he has not met with them because they will have to communicate with him and give him a date.

“He wrote to them with the request that he wants to meet with them, but he is yet to get a response. In other words, the meeting has not been held.”

Following this development, the FG had on Tuesday revealed that over 12,000 inmates were released from various correctional centres across the country within the last six years in line with the policy of prison decongestion.

Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister  of Justice, revealed this to members of the Senate Committee on Judiciary , Human Rights and Legal Matters during 2023 budget defence session with the committee .

Malami, who made the declaration in response to question from Senator Ajibola Basiru ( APC Osun Central ) , said the Federal Government was able to decongest prisons across the country through policy actions aside from the Administration of Criminal Justice Act , meant for expeditious dispensation of Justice.

“When this government came on board in 2015, the problem of prison congestion was at the front burner of national discourse , which made President Muhammadu Buhari to set machineries in motion in different ways for required solution.

“One of such machineries set in motion was a presidential committee set up for prison decongestion which liaised with other stakeholders in the justice sector for way out  .

“Aside from the committee, Mr  President himself also wrote letters to the 36 states governors and Chief Judges of the states  for required visitations to prisons and exercise of prerogative of mercies from time to time .

‘In one of such visitations made by the Governor of Kano State , Abdullahi Ganduje  , about 500 inmates were granted pardon in one day, totality of which had led to release of over 12, 000 inmates across the country within the last six years .

“Special attention was given to awaiting trial persons  who constitute the bulk of the inmates across the various correctional centres in the country by taking Magistrates and Judges to the centres for on the spot dispensation of Justice”.

Lagos Hosts 35th NAFEST Festival As 15 States Arrive To National Showpiece

By
Akinwale Kasali
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NAFEST

By Akinwale Kasali

No fewer than 15 States have arrived Lagos for the 35th National Festival for Arts and Culture, NAFEST.

The annual Festival which is targeted at showcasing the nation’s rich cultural heritages and arts of different tribes in the country to tourists and Nigerians  began Wednesday, 9th November, 2022.

Exhibitors of Arts and cultural artifacts from all walks of life across the country are expected to showcase their wares for patronage in the week long event.

Olusegun Runsewe, the  Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, disclosed that over 15 States – Rivers, Bayelsa, Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos, Benue, Abia, Kaduna, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Nassarawa, Jigawa Katsina and Edo States – are already on ground for the festival, as more states are on their way.

Runsewe in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, disclosed that ace musician, Sir Shina Peters, would be on the band stand to entertain spectators and tourists.

He added that youths and up and coming musicians will also showcase their talents at the festival so as to draw more attention and as well dwell more on positive musical content.

“I  am excited to tell you that we now have delegates from 15 states on ground for NAFEST, we are expecting more states before the opening ceremony on Wednesday.

“This edition will be the best ever, all is set for everyone to be entertained and thanks to Lagos State Government for establishing an entertainment segment for this edition of NAFEST,” he said.

Alleged Tinubu’s US Drug Deal: Keyamo Says Opposition Raise Old Issue Due To Frustration

By
Ayodele Oni
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Festus Keyamo

By Ayodele Oni

The spokesperson for Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has said the opposition is frustrated by the continued popularity of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) candidate.

According to him, that is the reason they are now relying on an old document alleging that Bola Tinubu was indicted in a drug trafficking and money laundering case in the United States.

Reacting to the allegation via his verified Twitter account on Wednesday, Keyamo said those making the claims are chasing a lost battle.

“Sign of frustration: They are seeking to wake a horse, long dead and buried and for which a media house publicly apologized in 2016 when they tried to use the story.”

An old judgment document resurfaced in the media on Tuesday, alleging that the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, indicted Tinubu of drug trafficking and money laundering.

In July this year, David Hundeyin had in an article titled, “Bola Ahmed Tinubu: From Drug Lord To Presidential Candidate”, espoused a similar allegation. Also, in the twilight of the 2015 elections, the same allegation surfaced in the media.

Meanwhile, the allegation has continued to generate mixed reactions from Nigerians on social media.

A reaction from Fisayo Soyombo states that “The ignominy that a Bola Tinubu presidency will land Nigeria will be unprecedented.

“Imagine being lost in Democracy or Independence Day celebrations, & a US court suddenly releases fresh evidence of your president’s past dealings.”

In another comment, Ahmed Salami said: “A document dated October 9th, 1993 is what a journalist in Nigeria tagged as a fresh “leaked document.

“Don’tforget; no mainstream had posted this baseless paper because those who tried it before were begging for an out of court settlement.”

Dino Melaye Unruly

By
The Source
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Presidential TownHall Meeting

The Media Office of Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and Yusuf Datti -Baba-Ahmad, respectively, has reacted to the incident which happened between Obi and Senator Dino Melaye, during the Presidential Townhall meeting organised by Arise TV, on  Sunday in Abuja.

Obi had rebuked Senator Melaye, the Spokesperson of the Presidential Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who he said kept distracting him by interjecting with cheeky remarks against him.

But Melaye, in a video post denied making any such remarks, and said Obi’s rebuke of him was unprovoked.

However, the Obi-Datti Media Office, in a statement strongly condemned the Senator and accused him of  unruly behaviour.

Melaye’s principal, Atiku Abubakar, was represented at the Townhall, to the anger of the audience, by his running mate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor, Delta State.

Following is the full statement from the Obi-Datti Media office.

The Dino Malady and the fantasy of 2023.

“The fact that the Spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Presidential Candidate, Senator Dino Melaye could in his inordinate attitude provoke the highly peaceful and hard to annoy Labour Party Presidential flag bearer, Mr. Peter Obi shows clearly the level of his imprudence.

“At the Arise Television TownHall Meeting for Presidential Candidates on Sunday at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja,  Senator Melaye was so unruly and disproportionately large that a hardly provoked LP standard bearer had to call him out publicly to the shame of the bully spokesman.

“Notwithstanding that his principal Atiku Abubakar who was scheduled for the program ran away and sent his Running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Senator Melaye was not ashamed  of the embarrassment caused by it but was still shamelessly throwing his nuisance about to be noticed by the highly disciplined Obi.

“Instead of ruminating on the dig on him from a cross section of Nigerians for his recalcitrant behavior on Sunday, Melaye is claiming that the obidient family which has become the nightmare to his principal cannot win election.

“According to him, the Obi supporters will burn out and by January 2023 it would be obvious that any vote for him is a vote for the ruling All Progressives Congress, presidential ticket holder Asiwaju Bola Ahmad Tinubu.

“We in the Obi-Datti Media office long came to the realization that attack dogs made Mr. Peter Obi their principal target for relevance and retention of their job.

“If any right thinking Nigerian especially a politician still thinks that Obi, the Labour Party Candidate is an underdog in the 2023 Presidential race, that person must be fantasizing and should be pitied.

“Even showing face at all with an attendant ugly conduct  at a  function his Principal was missing, underscores clearly the man who probably was hired purposely for nuisance than for good.

“Obi-Datti Media Office therefore needed to actually make it clear to Senator Melaye and other characters of his ilk that Mr. Peter Obi and Labour Party are in the race to win and win convincingly .

“All political index projections ahead of 2023 show it that Obi is actually the man to beat.

It’s perhaps this type of poor political calculations by Melaye that made him lose his senatorial seat  to APC in 2019 and to a small boy in the House of Representatives  in his party’s primaries in 2022.

“What Peter Obi is out to do by trying to take back Nigeria with Nigerian youths is to ensure that political jokers like Melaye do not occupy spaces reserved for good heads for the uplifting of the nation’s democracy.

“Therefore, Obi-Datti media office needed to educate  Senator Melaye properly that rather than Obi’s vote gifting any other political party in Nigeria, it should be stated very clearly that  Nigerians are visibly tired of the two political parties and are copiously directing their votes to the fresh air in our polity which is Mr  Peter Obi.

The man who by antecedents and qualification is the man needed at this time to rescue and rebuild our beloved country.”

EFCC Says Conviction Of Its Chairman Shocking, Embarrassing

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Abdulrasheed Bawa

By Adesina Soyooye

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says it finds the conviction of its Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, embarrassing. It also said it found the situation shocking, as it is a presentation of Bawa as one who encourages impunity.

The Commission was reacting to the Committal to the Kuje Correctional Centre of Bawa by an FCT High Court Judge, the Honourable Justice Chizoba Oji for contempt.

In committing Bawa to prison, the the Judge said that the “Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is in contempt of this Honourable Court made on November 21, 2018, directing the EFCC to return the sum of N40,000,000  to return to the Applicant” Air Vice Marshall  Rufus Ojuawo, rtd,  a former Director of Operations at the Nigerian Air Force.

She said: “Having continued wilfully in disobedience to the order of this Court, he should be committed to prison at Kuje Correctional Centre for his disobedience and continued disobedience of the said order of Court made on November 21st, 2018 until he purges himself of the contempt.”

Bawa was not the Chairman of the Commission when the order was made. The Commission’s Chairman then was Ibrahim Magu, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police who was eased out of the Commission in controversial  circumstances.

But in a statement, Tuesday night, signed by its Spokesperson, Wilson Uwajaren, the Commission said that Bawa was already implementing the Court order by releasing the Range Rover to Ojuawo  since June, and has also approved that the sum of N40,000,000 be refunded to him.

The statement reads: “This ruling is surprising as it creates a wrong impression of the person of the Executive Chairman  of the EFCC as encouraging impunity.

“As far as the relationship between the EFCC and the Judiciary is concerned, the Executive Chairman, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, has been an apostle of the rule of law, due process and close collaboration between the two institutions in justice administration.

“As an investigator, and the only Chief Executive of a law enforcement agency who regularly goes to Court, the Executive Chairman will not tolerate impunity or disregard of any lawful orders of Court.

“Abdulrasheed Bawa in his capacity as the Executive Chairman  of the EFCC since   March 5, 2022, did not disregard any order of  Court. For the benefit of the public, the said order of the FCT High Court was given on November 21, 2018, three years before Bawa became the  EFCC Chairman.

“This point is germane as the contempt process is quasi criminal in nature and must be served on the person involved. In this case, Bawa as the incumbent  Chairman of the EFCC was neither served Form 48 nor Form 49.

“Despite this fact, the Executive Chairman, upon being aware of the said Court order of November 21, 2018, had released the Range Rover in question to the Applicant on June 27, 2022 and had approved the process of the release of the remaining N40m.

“Taking into cognisance the procedural lapse in the contempt proceedings, the Commission has initiated a process to set aside the entire contempt proceedings and committal of the Executive Chairman for contempt.

“Despite the discomfort of this ruling, which is seemingly promoted by misinformation, the Commission remains committed to working closely with the Judiciary in furtherance of the fight against economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.”

The EFCC had arraigned Ojuawo on a two-count charge in 2016 before the Honourable Justice Muawiyah Idris. He was accused of corruption in form of taking kickbacks to the tune of N40,000,000 in addition to the Range Rover, Super Charge which valid was put at N29,250m from an Airforce Contractor.

Justice Idris discharged and acquitted the Air Force Chief on November 21, 2018, for want of evidence. He emphasised that the EFCC was unable to prove that Ojuawo received any kickbacks from the Contractor, Société D’Equipment Internationaux Nigeria Ltd.

Malami Outlines Measures To Decongest Prisons

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami has explained that one of the conditions for correctional centres in the country to receive new inmate is availability of space.

The order, he said became imperative to ensure that Correctional Centres are not overcrowded.

To further ensure that there is no overcrowding, Malami declared that over 12,000 inmates were released from various Correctional Centres across the country within the last six years.

Malami disclosed this to members of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters during the ministry’s budget defence.

Malami, who made the declaration in response to a question from Senator Ajibola Basiru (APC – Osun Central), said the Federal Government was able to decongest the prisons across the country through the implementation of the policy actions aside the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, meant for expeditious dispensation of Justice.

“When this government came on board in 2015, the problem of prison congestion was at the front burner of national discourse, which made President Muhammadu Buhari to set machinery in motion in different ways for required solution.

“One of such machineries was a Presidential Committee set up for Prison Decongestion which liaised with other stakeholders in the Justice sector for way out.

“Aside the committee, Mr President himself also wrote letters to the 36 States Governors and Chief Judges of the States for required visitations to prisons and exercise of prerogative of mercies from time to time.

“In one of such visitations made by the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, about 500 inmates were granted pardon in one day.

“Those so far released are over 12,000 inmates across the country within the last six years.

“Special attention was given to awaiting trial cases who constitute the bulk of the inmates across the various correctional centres in the country by taking Magistrates and Judges to the Centres for on the spot dispensation of Justice.

“The guideline on non-custodial sentences issued in 2020 also helped to tremendously reduce inmates across the various correctional centres.

“The problem as far as this government is concerned, is more or less, a thing of the past now, because in line with the policy guidelines in place, no correctional centre today that is without necessary space, will receive an inmate,”

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC – Ekiti Central), said the 2023 budget estimates for the Federal Ministry of Justice and its agencies as contained in the Appropriation Bill submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari, is N71.291billion.

The total sum according to him, is inclusive of allocations to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and statutory transfer to the National Human Rights Commission.

He commended the President for increasing the budget of the Council of Legal Education from N2.7billion in the 2022 to N10.12billion in 2023.

Ohanaeze Disclaims Isiguzoro, Okwu, Asks Politicians, Public, To Ignore Them

By
The Source
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0
Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Mazi Okwu Nnabuike

The Youth  Council of the Socio-cultural Igbo Organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, (OYC) has accused Mr Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Mazi Okwu Nnabuike of impersonation.

In a statement, the OYC said hiding the two were hiding under the banner of  Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide to allegedly defraud Nigerian politicians and unsuspecting members of the public.

The Council asked politicians and the general public to dissociate themselves from Isiguzoro and Nnabuike, because they are not acting for Ohanaeze.

The warning was contained in a disclaimer issued by OYC, signed by the National Secretary General, Comrade Ifeanyi Nweke and made available to the Media.

Following is the full text of the statement

“The Apex Socio-cultural youth organization of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) wishes  to inform Ndigbo and the general public about an unscrupulous group of people who have been using Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) to defraud politicians and other cooperate organizations in Nigeria.

“It’s pertinent at this period that we enlighten Ndigbo and the general public that some criminal elements have taken the skin of Esau but the voice of Jacob and have been deceiving politicians and other cooperate organizations, with the sole purpose of financial gain, a means to make merchandise of persons hiding under the umbrella Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide (OYC).

“It’s on record that on January 10, 2021, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide conducted an election, and Amb. George Obiozor who was a Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Isreal and Cyprus emerged the President- General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, thereby succeeding Chief Nnia Nwodo at Dan Anyim stadium in Owerri, the capital of Imo state.

“It’s important at this juncture, for the general public and Ndigbo to know how unscrupulous elements came up as Ohanaeze Ndigbo with the sole aim of syphoning politicians.

“It’s important also to note that on January 3, 2021 Sen. Rochas Okorocha called for a meeting at his country home, Orashi Resort Ogboko, Ideato South which was attended by Barr. Uche Okwukwu former Secretary General Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka, President Ohanaeze Youth Council and Mr. Okechukwu Isigusoro to ensure that Professor George Obiozor would not emerge as President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, because he felt that Prof. George Obiozor would not support his 2023 Presidential project.

“Moreso, prior to the emergence of Prof. George Obiozor as the new PG of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide on January 10, 2021, the former Governor of Imo State, Sen. Rochas Okorocha had assembled few political shenanigans at his house, located at Spilbat Owerri, on 9 January, 2021, with some pressmen during which he announced his former commissioner, Chief Chidi Ibe as President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and one Mr. Okechukwu Isigusoro as the Secretary General alongside one Mazi Okwu Nnabuike as president Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing Worldwide

Unlike Dr. Jeo Nworgu, Dr. Chris Asoluka and Prof. Chidi Osuagwu who bought Ohanaeze Ndigbo form for the post of President General, the General public should know that Mr Chidi Ibe, Mr. Okechukwu Isigusoro, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike never bought any form for Ohanaeze Ndigbo election, neither did they participate in the Jan 10, 2021 Ohanaeze Ndigbo election that produced Prof. George Obiozor as the new president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

“We, therefore, state categorically that Mr Okechukwu Isigusoro is not the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and Mr. Okwu Nnabuike is not the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing Worldwide but are just mere products of Rochas Okorocha’s political misfortune and miscalculation on his white elephant project to become the president of Nigeria in 2023.

“We call on Ndigbo and general public to neglect the rampant political endorsement and press releases from one Mazi. Okwu Nnabuike claiming to be the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing Worldwide that such characters lack the pedigree, integrity and intellectual capacity to speak or lead Ndigbo in anyway.

“Mazi Okwu Nnabuike in his 2023 endorsement political “Bonanza” with People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State is a sheet means which he has carved out for himself just to DEFRAUD politicians in Enugu State for the 2023 general election. He has been moving round Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi state issuing awards to politicians for monetary gains thereby making and turning into an object of mockery, the revered name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

“We, therefore, want reiterate and inform Ndigbo that the leader/ President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is Prof. Amb. George Obiozor while the National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council OYC is Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka.

“Finally, the general public ought to know from today henceforth that any publication on print and online media about Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide that’s not from Prof. George Obiozor led Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Ohanaeze Youth Council led by Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka should be disregarded.

“We deeply apologize to general public and Ndigbo in particular on the embracement (sic) Okwu Nnabuike and Okechukwu Isigusoro have brought to them through careless and embracing (sic) Press releases.

NIMASA: World Maritime University Commends Agency’s Gender Inclusiveness  

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has been commended for its policies of gender equality which have manifested in both the number of women employed by the Agency as well as those sponsored for capacity development in the country and abroad.

This was made known by the President of the World Maritime University, WMU, Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry who paid a working visit to the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos to discuss training and manpower development with the Agency’s management led by the Director General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh.

Dr. Doumbia-Henry also thanked NIMASA for its longstanding relationship with WMU, stating: “We here at the World Maritime University have had a long, mutually, beneficial relationship with Nigeria and NIMASA in particular. Our visit is to further strengthen the ties between ourselves while exploring areas of future collaboration”.

“I also wish to especially congratulate Dr. Jamoh for the gender-inclusive nature of the Agency, especially under his leadership. We have observed that in the number of female officers of the Agency that are sent to the WMU for maritime studies’.

On his part, the NIMASA DG Dr Jamoh explained the reasons behind the longstanding relationship between both parties, stating:

“Our continued relationship with the World Maritime University is informed by the Agency’s commitment to professionalism, research, and development as well as striving to attain global best practices in carrying out our responsibilities. This informs our choice of WMU when sending some of our staff to the institution for further training”. We have a deliberate policy in line with the International Maritime Organization to encourage more female participation in maritime.

He added, “From this development, it is clear that NIMASA’s commitment to human capacity development of its staff remains unwavering. This in turn is bound to have a knock-on effect on the Nigerian maritime industry in that the level of professionalism would be improved upon”.

The World Maritime University in Malmö, Sweden, is a postgraduate maritime university founded within the framework of the International Maritime Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations.

Roman Catholic Priest Slams Reuben Abati Over ARISE TV’s Townhall With Presidential Candidates

By
The Source
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0
Reverend Father Francis Ugwu and Reuben Abati

A Nigerian Roman Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Francis Ugwu, who resides outside the country, has slammed Dr Reuben Abati over his handling of the ARISE TV’s Townhall Meeting with Presidential candidates on Sunday, 6th November, 2022.

Father Ugwu, in a letter to greet Abati on his birthday. pointed out that the celebrated journalist, as the anchor of the Townhall meeting, shouldn’t have allowed the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, to take part in the program meant for Presidential candidates only.

Fr. Ugwu, also, slammed Abati for not calling to order, the PDP Presidential  Campaign Council’s spokesperson, Senator Dino Melaye, for his continous distraction of the Labour Party, LP, Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi.

The Father finally told Abati that he was “too biased to anchor a Presidential Debate”.

Following is Reverend Father Ugwu’s letter to Dr. Abati on his birthday on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

“You Were Too Biased To Anchor A Presidential Debate”

Dear Reuben Abati,

Happy Birthday to you. I wish you all the best in life. Even as you talked about clarity in your birthday post today, and how all you could see in this new year of yours is clarity on all fronts, I have chosen to write this to you, not for anything, but for the sake of clarity.

This is about the presidential debate you hosted yesterday.

You allowed a vice presidential candidate to join a debate you tagged as a “Presidential Town Hall.” How does that even make sense that a vice, who has a constitutional role that is far different from that of the President, be ever allowed to debate with presidential candidates?

You are the organizer of the program. You and your team invited the presidential candidates. You and your team invited or made open the participants/audience. Then, something was not going your way from the audience you invited, and instead of dealing with it, you turn around and blame a presidential candidate who obviously may not even know the people you invited.

You allowed Dino, an official spokesman for the PDP campaign team to ask a question in a debate that is comprised of different political parties.

You saw that his question was directed at a particular candidate belonging to a party he considers a rival, yet you allowed it.

Do you think it was fair that you did not also extend the same privilege to the spokesmen and women of other parties to interrogate their rival candidates as well?

And there and then, one of the presidential candidates got provoked by one of your guests. The candidate spoke out because this your guest seemed to have been there to distract him. The candidate was angry. You saw the anger on his face. Everyone did. The point the candidate made was very justified. Yet, you allowed it to slide without requesting an apology from that guest or a word of caution or possibly asking the guest (Dino) to leave the premises.

Abati, on this, you totally got it all wrong.

You were obviously too biased and too partisan to anchor a debate of that nature.

Happy Birthday, Sir. For more clarity of purpose, I pray.

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