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Muslim-Muslim Ticket: Northern Group Suggests Lalong As Running Mate To Tinubu

By
James Orji
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Governor Lalong

By James Orji

A Northern group, Coalition of Arewa Forum for Good Governance, CAFGG, has cautioned the Presidential candidate of the ruling APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not to throw the country into crisis by picking a Muslim as his running mate.

Amidst fears that the APC will pick a Muslim from the North to run with Tinubu, a former Lagos Governor who won the nomination to fly the party’s flag in the 2023 Presidential election, the group is agitated.

The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, a Muslim from the North, will chose a Christian running mate from the South.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has however set this week as deadline for political parties to forward the names of their Vice Presidential candidates to its office.

Reacting to the apprehension among Nigerians of possible Muslim-Muslim APC ticket, CAFGG said the APC will plunge the country into serious political problem if it picks  a Muslim as Tinubu’s running mate in the forthcoming election.

The group said in a statement that APC should find a way of cooling down “tension.  We are calling on the winner of APC primaries and flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to pick the only Northern Christian Governor in the party.”

CAFGG said, ”Nigerians are not unaware that Tinubu is a Muslim from the South-West geo-political zone,thus we feel it would be rational for a northern Christian, especially from the marginalized North-Central geo-political zone to be a running mate, who can also take care of interest of the minorities.”

“We strongly believe that once a Christian is picked, the warning and threats by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) would have been taken care of too.

“It is not about Political Party now, but the country as a whole. This is part of reasons we are calling on Tinubu to shun those rooting for a Muslim -Muslim ticket under the guise of “merit and competence.

“We are sure the South will also be comfortable with him, considering his detribalised disposition and how he has handled the problems of insecurity in Plateau State as the Governor.

“The interest of few and selfish politicians rooting for Muslim-Muslim ticket should not be allowed to override the interest of most Nigerians, who desire a united one nation”.

Meanwhile, Senator Ajibola Bashiru from Osun state has advised Tinubu to allow APC leaders in the North West and North East to select the Vice Presidential candidate for the party. According to Bashiru who is also the spokesman of the Senate, the party is depending on the two regions to win the 2023 Presidential election, as such they should be allowed to determine the running mate for Tinubu. The Senator is a muslim and ally of the former Lagos State Governor.

Bashiru who spoke on a Television Continental programme on Monday, said competence rather than religion should determine the choice of Vice Presidential candidate for APC in next year’s Presidential election.

Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai shares same opinion.

2023: “You Will Move From Jagaban Borgu To Jagaban Nigeria”, Kingibe Tells Tinubu

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Babagana Kingibe and Bola Tinubu

By Adesina Soyooye

Repeating, almost, word for word, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s claim, in Abeokuta, to the Presidential seat of Nigeria in 2023, Ambassador

Babagana Kingibe  endorsed him  for the top job. “Eyin lo kan (you are the next) Kingibe told Tinubu at a meeting the two of them had in Abuja over the weekend.

A couple of days to the Presidential Primary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on June 7 where Tinubu had a landslide victory, Tinubu had told delegates in Abeokuta that: “It is the turn of the Yoruba, and it is my tenure.”

Kingibe’s endorsement is significant. Aside from being one of the most respected  technocrats and  diplomats from the North, he was the running mate to  Chief MKO Abiola in the annulled June 12, 2023, Presidential election presumed to have been won by the pair.

Unfortunately, while Kingibe served in the General Sani Abacha regime, Abiola was clamped into detention where he eventually died.

Kingibe said Tinubu would be Nigeria’s next President.

Kingibe, who was also a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation under President Olusegun Obasanjo, said he endorsed Tinubu in appreciation of the APC candidate’s sacrifices for democracy.

Kingibe: “You will move from Jagaban of Borgu to Jagaban of Nigeria; from Asiwaju of Lagos to Asiwaju of Nigeria. For all your sacrifices, for all your effort, God will reward you this time.”

Just before the Presidential Primary, 11 APC Northern Governors endorsed a rotation of the Presidential seat from the North to the South. It is believed that most of them swung victory to Tinubu’s way.

He defeated a strong field which included Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the immediate past Minister for Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi by garnering 1,271 votes.

AFCON 2023 Qualifiers: Super Eagles Assure Nigerians Of Victory Against São Tomé

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Super Eagles

By Akinwale Kasali

By 2pm Nigerian time, Monday June 13, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will file out against ‘The Falcons and the True Parrots’ of São Tomé and Principe at the Agadir Stadium in Morocco for the 2023 CAF African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Coach Jose Peseiro- team is basking from the euphoria of its 2–1 triumph against the Sierra Leone National Team at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja, and will hoping to leverage on that triumph and secure the maximum point against São Tomé.

Before jetting out of Nigeria for the all important match, players of the Super Eagles had assured their teeming fans of a successful outing, promising to secure the maximum point and continue its 100 percent record in the qualifiers.

São Tomé on its part will be aiming to get back to winning ways after losing their first match 5-1 to Guinea Bissau in Bissau, the country’s Capital.

Knowing that another defeat will dim their chances of scaling through the qualification hurdles, the São Tomé National Team is planning to stage an upset by defeating the three-time African Cup of Nations Champions.

Nigeria’s delegation for today’s qualifying match against ‘The Falcons and True Parrots’ of São Tomé and Príncipe landed in the Southern Moroccan city of Agadir on Sunday morning.

The Air Peace airline’s Embraer 195 E2 which had flown the team to a number of match venues including from Morocco when they defeated Liberia in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Tangier, touched down at the Aeroport Agadir Almarissa at exactly 8.15am on Sunday, with a total of 25 players and technical and administrative crew.

The delegation was led by NFF 2nd Vice President, Mallam Shehu Dikko and also included the General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, a number of board members, a couple of NFF Management and Staff, a few stakeholders and some media representatives.

Peseiro said at the Aeroport Agadir Almarissa that the encounter against ‘The Falcons and True Parrots’ will bring the best out of his team as they seek to go top of the Group A table.

“We want to be the team at the top of the table, so we must fight hard against the opponents. Every match, we must commit ourselves fully to winning it. As I said earlier in the week, Nigeria have huge pedigree and they also have both quality and quantity of players. It is important that we select the best all the time to win the big games.”

Defender and deputy skipper William Ekong and midfielder Innocent Bonke have returned to their respective bases in England and France to attend to injuries copped during the international break.

It would be recalled that Bonke was injured in the friendly game against Mexico in Dallas on 28th May, while Ekong suffered a groin strain in the 2-1 defeat of Sierra Leone in Abuja last Thursday.

CAF has appointed Liberian official Hassen Zinnah Corneh as referee for the encounter, with his compatriots Joel Wonka Doe, Ephraim Grant Whengar and Moses Forkpah as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively.

Alim Konate Aboubakar from Cameroon will be match commissioner. The match starts at 1pm Morocco time.

Anglican Bishop Of Jebba, Wife, Kidnapped; Chaplain Escapes; Abductors Demand N50m

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
Oluwaseun Aderegba

By Adesina Soyooye

A repeat of the high profile abduction of the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Samuel Kanu Uche and the Bishop of Owerri Diocese, His Lordship, the Rt Rev. Dennis Mark, and the Prelate’s Chaplain,has occurred.

The Bishop of Jebba Diocese, Anglican Communion, His Lordship the Rt. Revd. Oluwaseun Aderegba has been Kidnapped. Abducted with him is his wife.

They  were abducted  Sunday evening of June 12, 2022, along the Ogbomoso/,Oyo Road.

His Lordship’s shocked and devastated Chaplain, who escaped the  abductors by whiskers, narrated what happened.

His words: “We were traveling from Jebba to Oyo. When it was few kilometers to Oyo, our vehicle developed a fault. My Lord Bishop called the Lord Bishop of Oyo, Bishop Aladekugbe for help.

“However, before  help came, some young men surfaced and surrounded them, and ordered them into the bush. I was lucky I was not visible because of my black cassock.

“I fell flat on my belly to hide myself, while they marched my Bishop and wife deep into the forest.”

The Primate of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, The Most Revd. Henry Ndukuba and other Church authorities have been informed  of the sad incident by the Bishop of Oyo.

There is no information yet on the driver of the Bishop’s vehicle. But the abductors, after a tension and anxiety-soaked hours, finally  made contacts  through the Bishop’s wife.

The ransom demand: N50 million.

A couple of weeks ago, on a Sunday too, when His Eminence, Prelate Uche, His Lordship Bishop Mark, and the Prelate’s Chaplain were kidnapped in Umunneochi, Abia State, on their way to the Imo Airport to take a flight back to Lagos, a whopping sum of N100m was paid to the abductors by the Methodist Church of Nigeria of Nigeria, within 24 hours for their release.

Now, it is the turn of the Anglican Bishop Of Jebba and his wife.

Democracy Day: Don’t Despair, APC Will Soon Be History, PDP Urges Nigerians

By
The Source
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0

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has asked Nigerians to resolve and re-educate themselves to voting out the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2023.

In a message to salute Nigerians on Democracy Day, the PDP accused President Muhammadu Buhari of paying lip service to serious issues and “go beyond his usual rhetoric and take practical steps to guarantee the conduct of free and fair elections.

The President had, in his Democracy Day speech promised a free and fair elections.

The PDP in the statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, reminded the President and the APC that “June 12 embodies the struggle by Nigerians against corrupt, suppressive and dictatorial forces; against lawless, insensitive anti-people and terrorism promoting regime; against injustice, high-handedness  recklessness and incurable impunity, all which APC has come to represent.”

Following is the full text of the statement.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urges Nigerians to use the occasion of the June 12 Democracy Day to reaffirm their determination to vote out the anti-democratic, inhumane, lawless and rudderless All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general elections.

“The Party also calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to go beyond his usual rhetoric and take practical steps to guarantee the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections in 2023.

“The PDP reminds President Buhari that Nigerians are now, more than ever before, determined to fully entrench the democratic demands of credible elections, which is at the core of the Democracy Day celebration.

“June 12 embodies the struggle by Nigerians against corrupt, suppressive and dictatorial forces; against lawless, insensitive, anti-people and terrorism-promoting regime, against injustice, high-handedness, recklessness and incurable impunity, all which the APC has come to represent.

“It is unpardonable that the APC administration has arrogantly continued to violate and trample on the substance, value and quintessence of June 12 Democracy Day; the democratic principles of Constitutional Order, freedom, justice, fairness and equity as well as the much-desired national cohesion and tolerance which Chief MKO Abiola personified and died for.

“Our Party cautions the APC to stop testing the Will of Nigerians with its continued abuse of process, violation of human rights, nepotism, electoral manipulations, stifling of freedom of speech, promotion of violence; the very pattern of the dark era of military dictatorship in our country, which Chief MKO Abiola fought against.

“The PDP demands that President Buhari should take steps to check the use of security agencies and thugs to suppress voters in addition to guaranteeing that only votes cast at the polling units are transmitted and declared.

“President Buhari by now should know that Nigerians have rejected his party, the APC and that the outcome of the 2023 general elections must not speak otherwise.

“Our Party urges all leaders across the country to reflect on the essence of June 12 in all their activities so as to build a nation guided by the democratic principles of the Rule of Law, mutual respect and unity of purpose.

“The PDP prays for the nation and wishes Nigerians a successful Democracy Day Celebration.”

Insecurity: Southwest Moves To Ban Operations Of Okada; Sets Up Committee To Advise Governors

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By  Ayodele Oni

Southwest Governors, confronted by increasing insecurity, are contemplating banning use of motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, for commercial purpose, especially in State capitals.

The six Governors of the Southwest, held a virtuall meeting at the weekend and deliberated extensively on the rising wave of insecurity in the country, especially the South West.

They decided on some measures, deemed immediate in stemming the tide of banditry, kidnapping and terror attacks in the region.

A Communique issued and signed by the six Governors at the end of the meeting, stated that the recent attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa Street, Owo, compels immediate intervention in the whole of the South West to nip the insidious phenomenon of insurgency in the bud.

“The meeting, consequently, took decisions, some of which are expected to have far-reaching implications in the quest to protect lives and property in the region.

“The meeting deliberated on issues which pose great risk to the collective well-being of the people and resolved as follows:

“The Governors condemn, in very strong terms, the horrendous crime perpetrated by Terrorist against the people and residents of Owo, Ondo State, and, by extension, the peace-loving people of the South West.

“The Governors agreed to declare a 3-day mourning period in memory of the victims of the 5th June, 2022 terror attack on St Francis Catholic, Owaluwa Street, Owo, Ondo State, starting from Monday, 13th June, to Wednesday, 15th, June, 2022 to symbolise our collective loss across all South Western States in Nigeria.

“The meeting agreed that all the Governors should direct the flying of Flags at Half Mast in all public buildings, facilitates and official residences across all the States in the South West in honour of the victims of the Owo terror attack.

“The Governors noted, with great discomfiture, the increasing agitations about spaces taken over by unidentified and unknown migrants in all South West States.

“The meeting, therefore, recommends an increase in the scope of surveillance of the activities of these undocumented settlers by relevant security agencies in all the States.

“The Governors, as Chief Security Officers, resolved to continue to assist the security agencies in the areas of crisis management and intelligence gathering at ALL times.

“The Governors reviewed reports from various States on the factors militating against peace and security in the region.

“They expressed grave concern on the influx of Okada riders into all parts of the South West, especially the State capitals.

“The meeting further resolved that efforts be geared toward identity management of Okada riders and stringent regulation put in place for their operation.

“Consequently, the Forum decided it was time to reconvene the South West Security Committee to look critically into this creeping menace before it blossoms into another intractable social problem.

“The Committee will be expected to submit its findings on the desirability of Okada operations in the region.

“It is also expected to submit a multi-level template to combat the threat of insurgency and terrorism in the region.

“The Forum agreed to convene forthwith a physical meeting of the South West Governors to deliberate on the security challenges confronting the region.”

Gov El Rufai Reveals Last Minute Alignment Which Gave Tinubu Ticket; Says North East Goes Where North West Goes

By
The Source
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0

By Ayodele Oni

High-wired politics which preceded the just concluded Presidential Primary Election of the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) still continues to unravel, a week after the contest.

Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El Rufai, in a Channel’s Television interview programme, revealed how the pendulum swung in favour of the former Lagos state Governor, Bola Tinubu.

Rufai disclosed that the North-West and North-East national delegates chose Bola Tinubu instead of former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, and Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.

According to him, Governors of the North-West met and decided that Tinubu, who is the National leader of the APC, is the most sellable of the five Southern aspirants submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari.

“President Muhammadu Buhari refused to pick a particular candidate out of the five and insisted he asked the governors to allow the delegates to decide.”

Tinubu won the primary election with1,271 to defeat his closest challenger, Amaechi, who polled 316, while Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, came only third in the primaries, polling 235.

“I can’t say all of us stuck with Bola Tinubu. Not all of us were stuck with Bola Tinubu. In many of our states, the delegates’ votes were divided. And I went to address the Kaduna delegates for the last time before the voting.

“I don’t know how the delegates voted but the feedback I got after the voting is that most of them voted Asiwaju, some voted for Amaechi and some voted for Vice President, Osinbajo.

“But overall, you can see that overwhelmingly, Asiwaju Tinubu won. I cannot say all the Governors did that.

“We, the Northwest Governors, met and we decided that our best bet is the person we can most easily sell in our region, and that is Asiwaju Tinubu and this is why you see the pattern of the voting that way and where the North-West goes, the North-East follows.”

DIG Heads Police Team For Ekiti Gov Election

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Usman Alkali Baba

By Ayodele Oni

As the 18th June Governorship election in Ekiti state is being heralded with violent clashes among supporters of candidates, the Inspector General of Police, (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba has ordered the mobilization and deployment of adequate police personnel.

Also being deployed are Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), technical capabilities of the Police Airwing, the Force Marine, Mounted Troops, K-9 Section, and other operational assets for the Elections.

A statement on Sunday by the force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi disclosed that seasoned Strategic Commanders from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police and above have also been deployed for effective supervision of security personnel and operations in the Election.

The statement added that “The IGP noted that the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) who is the supervisory DIG for the South-West Geo-Political Zone, DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, psc(+), mni, has been deployed to Ekiti State as the Coordinator of the security component for the Election.

“DIG Kokumo is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Operation Order evolved from the Election Security Threat Assessment, to ensure a peaceful and conducive environment devoid of violence and to guarantee law abiding citizens of secured freely perform their civic responsibilities without molestation or intimidation.

“DIG Kokumo will be assisted by four (4) Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), three (3) Commissioners of Police (CPs), five (5) Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and eighteen (18) Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs).

“The Senior Officers are to coordinate human and other operational deployments in the three (3) Senatorial Districts, sixteen (16) Local Government Areas and the 2445 polling units in Ekiti State.

“The IGP noted that the Force has carried out these necessary operational deployments as part of actions aimed at creating a conducive and enabling environment that will guarantee the peaceful and proper conduct of the election in Ekiti State.

“The IGP further noted that the personnel, comprising conventional police officers, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces personnel, Explosives Ordinance Unit (EOD), Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), INTERPOL, Special Protection Unit (SPU), Force Public Relations Department (FPRD), as well as Police Medical Teams, will be on ground to guarantee free, fair, credible and acceptable election.

“In addition, five (5) Armored Personnel Carriers for patrol as well as four (4) helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for aerial surveillance amongst other unique operational capabilities.

“The IGP reassures the nation and the international community that the Force is adequately prepared for the Gubernatorial Election in Ekiti State which is scheduled to hold  on June 18, 2022.

“He reiterates that the Force will do everything within its powers to work with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all stakeholders to protect democratic values, provide level playing field for all political actors, ensure adequate protection of voters, INEC officials, equipment, accredited observers, both domestic and international, and other key players in Ekiti State.

“The IGP therefore admonishes the good people of Ekiti State to be law-abiding and comply with the restriction of movement order which will be announced by the Commissioner of Police as and when due.

“The IGP equally calls on the Good people of Ekiti State to come out en masse and exercise their franchise as adequate security has been emplaced by the Police and other security agencies to protect them before, during and after the election.”

Saturday violent clash between supporters of the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, (APC), Biodun Oyebanji and that of Segun Oni, of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP) continued on Sunday.

Many people could not attend church service as major roads in Ado Ekiti were blocked with suspected members of the drivers union that were protesting killing of one of them on Saturday.

Armed military personnel were drafted to remove barricades before free vehicular movement was restored.

2023 Same Religion Ticket: This Is Not 1993; You Will Fail -CAN Warns

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
MKO Abiola

By Adesina Soyooye

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has warned all Political Parties against fielding a same religion ticket for the 2023 Presidential election.

The warning comes at the time Nigerians are celebrating Democracy Day in honour of Chief Moshood Abiola, popular as MKO Abiola.

In 1993, Abiola, Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, had won the race on a same religion ticket.

A Muslim, Abiola chose Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, another Muslim, as his running mate. The duo won the election which was held on June 12, 1993. But it was cancelled by the Military Government led by General Ibrahim Babangida. Abiola, clamped into detention, and charged to Court for alleged treason by General Sani Abacha, Head of State, for insisting on his mandate, sadly died in custody.

Since the Presidential Primaries of all the Political Parties ended, attention has shifted to who their running mates will be. For the big parties in particular, especially the All Progressives Congress, APC, which candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is a Muslim from the South, the controversy on who to choose, has boiled over, almost.

While some people are encouraging him to pick a Muslim running mate as long as the person is competent and can help move Nigeria forward, others warn that it is not only a no-no, it is a recipe for crisis.

For the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, competence and capacity and capability should be the driving forces. Religion should be separated from governance. To him, therefore, there is nothing wrong with a Muslim-Muslim ticket as long as the person is competent.

But a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, disagrees. He said it is a recipe for crisis and failure.

CAN agrees with Lawal.

In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Barrister Joseph Bade Daramola, CAN warns that “2023 is not 1993.”

 

Following, the full statement by CAN in which it rejected a same religion ticket.

 

Christian Association of Nigeria Rejects Proposed Muslim/Muslim Presidential Ticket in 2023

 

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has once again warned the leading political parties to bury the thought of Christian/Christian or Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket in 2023. We want to unequivocally state that it is a threat to the fragile peace and unity of Nigeria.

 

We congratulate the Presidential Candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP):Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi respectively, including other parties that are participating in the forthcoming Presidential election.

 

CAN urges that a balance of both religious practitioners be considered in the choice of running mates of the presidential candidates. We do not subscribe to Christian/Christian ticket or Muslim/Muslim ticket. Politicians can talk politics but we have stated our view long before now.

 

Any party that tries same religion ticket will fail. This is not 1993. Even when we have joint Muslim/Christian ticket, the church still goes through hell.

 

Only God knows the number of Christians that have been killed in the last seven years with no one apprehended or prosecuted.

Imagine how bad it will be if we have two Muslims in power?

 

The extant Nigerian Constitution promotes religious balance. So, if any political party wants to try Muslim/Muslim ticket, it’s at it’s own peril. CAN is only forewarning, but will make a categorical statement in the event our warning is not heeded.

 

The Presidential runningmate for the APC presidential flag bearer, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu should be a Christian from the North, Atiku’s runningmate should be a Christian from the South while Obi should choose his own among the Muslims from the North. Anything contrary to the above means that the leadership of these political parties do not bother about the unity of this entity called Nigeria.

 

Those who are planning Muslim/Muslim ticket should also find out what was the outcome of MKO Abiola and Kingibe ticket in 1993. If they try Muslim/Muslim ticket this time around, the outcome will be worse because our fault lines are very visible.

 

There is no party that has no great, good and patriotic Christians who can preside over the affairs of this nation not to talk of being the Vice President as some mischievous people are trying to say. If merit and competence are used as yardsticks, we have many qualified Christians in all the 774 Local Government Areas of this country.

 

In the ongoing dispensation, CAN leadership cried in vain to ask President Muhammadu Buhari to break the monopoly or dominance of the security architecture with people of same faith. We are all seeing the outcome now. It is obvious that the Nigeria of today is different from that of 1993.

 

Our politicians should stop flouting the Constitution by respecting the North and South dichotomy and religious factor.

 

To those arguing that people do not care about the religions of their leaders once they are competent and credible, we dare APC to pick its Presidential runningmate from the South and PDP pick its own from the North and see what follows.

 

When the late sage, Papa Obafemi Awolowo picked Chief Mrs Oyibo Odinamadu, a fellow Christian and Southerner, as his runningmate in 1979, we all know the consequences of his performance in the North. Our politicians should be doing what will unite us instead of what will further polarise the country.

 

Signed

Barrister Joseph Bade Daramola,

CAN’s National Secretary.

Friday, 10 June, 2022

We Saw The Worst Of Our Leadership On June 24, 1993, The Day Abiola’s Victory Was Annulled

By
The Source
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0
Muhammadu Buhari

By Muhammadu Buhari

 

“I will conclude this Democracy Day speech, my last as President, by assuring you of my commitment to protect Nigeria and Nigerians from all enemies from within and outside.“

 

Fellow Nigerians, Today, June The 12th, marks another Democracy Day anniversary and an occasion to celebrate freedom and unity of our Nation.

 

  1. From 1999, we consistently celebrated Democracy Day to mark the end of military rule and the return of power and control into the hands of those freely elected by the people. On this day, Nigerians recommit themselves to ensuring we protect and preserve the ideals of democracy.

 

3.In 2018, we moved Democracy Day from 29th of May to the 12th of June. This change was to remind all Nigerians of one free election after which the presumed winner along with Nigerians were denied their rights and their choice.

 

  1. On June 12th 1993, Nigerians saw the best in our citizens as we all went out to vote peacefully. By June 24th 1993, we also saw the worst of our leadership as the elections were annulled.

 

  1. We must never forget the sacrifices of the heroes of Nigeria’s democracy during 1993. Their patriotism and peaceful struggle should guide our actions especially when it comes to electing our leaders and holding them accountable, now and in future.

 

  1. Fellow Nigerians this is my last Democracy Day speech as your President. By June 12th, 2023, exactly one year from today, you will already have a new President. I remain committed and determined to ensure that the new President is elected through a peaceful and transparent process.

 

7.It is important for all of us to remember that June 12th, 2023 will be exactly 30 years from the 1993 Presidential elections. In honour and memory of one of our national heroes for democracy, Chief M.K.O Abiola, GCFR, we must all work together to ensure this transition is done in a peaceful manner.

 

8.I am hopeful that we can achieve this. The signs so far are positive. Recently, all registered political parties conducted primaries to select their candidates for the 2023 general elections.

 

9.These primaries were peaceful and orderly. Those who won were magnanimous in their victories. Those who lost were gracious in defeat. And those aggrieved opted to seek judicial justice as opposed to jungle justice.

 

10.I followed the party primaries closely from the state level to the Presidential level. I was very impressed to see across all the political parties that, most candidates ran issued based campaigns. The language and tone throughout were on the whole measured and controlled.

 

11.Another positive that came from the 2022 party primaries was the significant increase in women and youth particularly across all parties. I was very pleased to see this development. This augurs well for the future. These trends clearly show the level of maturity our democracy has achieved in the last 23 years.

 

12.As we move into the general election campaign season, we must sustain this mature attitude to campaigning and ultimately, voting. We must never see it as a “do or die” affair. We must all remember democracy is about the will of the majority. There must be winners and losers.

 

  1. I will therefore take this opportunity on this very special day to ask all candidates to continue running issue focused campaigns and to treat opponents with dignity. As leaders, you must all showcase high character and never forget that the world is watching us and Africa looks up to Nigeria to provide example in governance. The tone you set at the top will surely be replicated in your followers.

 

14.For the voters, I am pleased to inform you that in the last 7 years, our government across all tiers, has made significant investments to reform and enhance our electoral laws, systems, and processes to safeguard your votes.

 

  1. The Executive, Legislature and Judiciary were and still remain united and committed to ensure these reforms are fully implemented in the 2023 general elections. Fellow Nigerians, your right to choose your government will be preserved and protected.

 

  1. I know many of us are concerned with the rise in insecurity due to terrorist activities in parts of the country. As a government, we are working hard to contain and address these challenges. And ensure that the 2023 general elections are safe and secure for all Nigerians.

 

  1. To achieve this however, we must all contribute. It is not the job of government alone. I ask all citizens to support and cooperate with our security agencies by reporting any suspicious characters and activities to law enforcement agencies. We can only have a safe country if we are able to prevent crime not after the crime has been committed.

 

18.On this special day, I want us all to put all victims of terrorist activities in our thoughts and prayers.  I am living daily with the grief and worry for all those victims and prisoners of terrorism and kidnapping. I and the security agencies are doing all we can to free those unfortunate countrymen and countrywomen safely.

 

19.For those who have lost their lives, we will continue to seek justice for their families against the perpetrators. For those currently in captivity, we will not stop until they are freed, and their kidnappers are brought to justice. If we all unite, we will be victorious against these agents of terror and destruction.

 

20.We have reformed some of our security structures. Some of the defence assets we procured three years ago have arrived and have been deployed.

 

21.Our cyber security and surveillance systems are being upgraded to further enhance our ability to track and trace criminal elements. We are also recruiting and training new personnel across all our security and intelligence agencies to strengthen the country’s over-all security.

 

  1. I will conclude this Democracy Day speech, my last as President, by assuring you of my commitment to protect Nigeria and Nigerians from all enemies from within and outside.

 

  1. I am also promising you a free, fair and transparent electoral process. And I am pleading with all citizens to come together and work with Government to build a peaceful and prosperous nation.

 

  1. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

President Muhammadu Buhari delivered this speech on June 12, 2022, to mark the 2022 Democracy Day

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