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Togo Scandal: Nigerians Strayed to Restricted Areas, Says NCAA

By
Uche Mbah
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NCAA Director General, Musa Nuhu

By Uche Mbah

The Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, said Monday, that the passengers manhandled at Lome Airport strayed to a restricted area of the Airport.

Some Nigerian passengers were rough-handled by Asky Airline officials at Lome Airport, Togo.

A video surfaced online of Asky airline officials handcuffing, beating and generally manhandling Nigerian passengers who landed at the Airport.

The video had gone viral and attracted condemnations.

The Nigerians were travelling on Ethiopian Airlines from the United States of America to Lagos, but were dumped at Lome on the excuse that the transit spaces were full.

In their attempt protest their fate, they were manhandled and handcuffed by the Airline and Airport security, with their mobiles confiscated.

But speaking to newsmen in Lagos Monday, Captain Nuhu said: “The security agencies in Togo maltreated some of the Nigerian travellers, who were stranded in that country.

“But before then, they alleged that the travellers entered the restricted areas at the airport.

“The airline has written us a letter, apologising to us that it will not happen again.

“So, we are just following up for them to sort things out. We are trying to sort out things. I am still talking with the CAA of Togo.

“The DG is a good friend of mine. We just lodged in our complaints officially so that the record will be there, but the Airline has apologised.

“Whatever it is, we will be able to resolve it amicably. Our apologies to the Nigerian passengers who were maltreated,” he concluded.

Ebube Agu will Worsen Security Situation In South-east, Says IPOB

By
Uche Mbah
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0

By Uche Mbah

The Indigenous People of  Biafra, IPOB, has stood their ground against calls for the successful kickoff of Ebubeagu  a security outfit floated in the South-East by the five Governors.

Recently, Ohanaeze Ndigbo the apex Igbo Socio Cultural Group, had asked the Southeast Governors to expedite action on setting up the Ebubeagu security outfit in the South east.

During their meeting in Owerri, Imo state capital, in June 2021, the Southeast Governors had agreed to establish Ebube Agu to the anger of IPOB, which had already set-up the  Eastern Security Network, ESN, its affiliate.

IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, in a statement Monday, said enacting the outfit cannot be in the interest of the region.

“We want to make it categorically clear to Ohaneze Ndigbo and its co-travellers that any attempt to re-establish Ebubeagu security outfit in South-East will further worsen the precarious security situation in the zone. They should understand that our gallant Eastern Security Network (ESN) operatives have been sacrificing so dearly to secure our ancestral land”, he said.

“But instead of complementing the efforts of ESN and IPOB to secure and defend our land against terrorists masquerading as herdsmen, these saboteurs, disguising as Ebubeagu security operatives give information on ESN to the security agencies. Because of this treachery, IPOB and ESN cannot operate together with Ebubeagu with undefined mission.

“It is on record that South-East governors have ulterior motives in forming Ebubeagu security outfit and we have not seen them as a sincere outfit to secure or protect our mothers, wives and sisters in the whole of Biafraland.

“Prof George Obiozor and his Ohaneze Ndigbo should not take our calmness for weakness and cowardice. They should not test the will of our people because we have no confidence in Ebubeagu. The formation of Ebubeagu from every indication was to counter the efforts of Nnamdi Kanu towards Biafra restoration.

“ESN/IPOB are ready to resist them anytime they are re-launched, and Biafrans should hold them responsible for anything that happens. They will regret any attempt to resurrect or re-launch this outfit that has sabotaged our march towards freedom,” the statement partly read.

Ekiti 2022: APC Aspirant From South Senatorial Zone Withdraws From Race, Cites Party Unity

By
Ayodele Oni
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Makinde Araoye

By Ayodele Oni

A twist is being added to the Governorship aspiration of Ekiti South Senatorial District as one of the aspirants from the area, on Monday, announced his withdrawal from the Governorship race.

Mr Makinde Araoye, from Ilawe, Ekiti, said in a statement he personally signed that his withdrawal was to further strengthen the unity within the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) in the state.

This is coming few hours after the legal icon, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, accused politicians from South Senatorial District of disunity, which has robbed them of the Governorship ticket for 25 years.

Mr Araoye stated that he was withdrawing his participation in the Gubernatorial contest in the overall interest of unity and the continuity of his party, the APC in the State.

The statement added that “Further to consultations with major stakeholders in Ekiti State, I am announcing my withdrawal from the Gubernatorial race of our dear state.

“This sacrifice, though against what we planned, is very sacrosanct at this juncture, in the overall interest of peace, cohesion, and unity in our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti state. I have clearly heard, and ceded to the voices of the leadership of our party in Ekiti-State.

“As you know, my ambition has never been about my personal gain, but to try to lead efforts to bring about ‘freedom for all, and life more abundant’ for the good people of Ekiti State as propounded by our late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, and as demonstrated by our leaders, their Excellencies: Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

“My ambition was borne out of my conviction in the doctrine of fairness and equity and in line with the globally recognized transition trend of injecting new ideas and generational shift in governance.

“In reaching this landmark decision, I am guided by history and my values as an Omoluabi. When the story of my journey in politics and governance is told, it would be one of courage of conviction, but also one of humility, unalloyed loyalty, submission, and love for the collective good.

“I am most grateful to my lovely wife, Alimah, my dear family, friends, and political associates, who believe in, and have wholeheartedly supported our collective aspiration to serve Ekiti State.

“I recognize and appreciate the courage and vision of the network of young Ekiti professionals, Ekiti youths and students, political leaders, senior citizens, and my media team for their unalloyed support so far.

“I recognise that I embody a collective aspiration beyond myself, and I appeal that you please rest assured that the will of God will prevail now and in the future.

“For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it, because it will surely come.”

It was, however, gathered that the aspirant is withdrawing following pressure from the sponsors of the perceived candidate of incumbent Governor Fayemi, the former Secretary to the state government, Mr Biodun Oyebanji.

Inspite Of Worsening Insecurity, Buhari Says Boko Haram Degraded, But Still Active

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Muhammadu Buhari

By Akinwale Kasali

The spate of insecurity in the Nation is worrisome, and this has prompted President Muhammadu Buhari to admonish the Turkish Government to strengthen its ties with the Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit to provide concrete support to help defeat terrorism and insurgency on the African continent.

Speaking at the third edition of the Summit in Instanbul, Turkey Capital, President Buhari, said the dreaded Boko Haram terrorist group have been fragmented by the Nigeria government and degraded by Nigeria’s defense forces, but, the Group keep waxinh stronger and is still active and preying on soft targets.

In a statement by the President through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, he expressed delight that the Summit convened by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has given due consideration to the issue of terrorism, while also focusing on development and infrastructure in Africa.

He said: ‘‘Another area this partnership must focus on is the global challenge of climate change which is impacting us in Nigeria, Turkey, across Africa, and indeed across the world.

‘‘It has become a catalyst for conflict through food insecurity, drying up of lakes; loss of livelihood and youth migration, among others.

‘‘The trend is the same around the world where communities are overwhelmed by forest fires, rising sea levels, flood, drought and desertification.

‘‘I want to seize this opportunity to appeal for support for initiatives such as Africa’s Great Green Wall on Environment and Land Management, which is designed to fight the effects of climate change and desertification in Africa.

‘‘The initiative aims to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land in the 11 countries of the Sahel-Sahara strip, capture 250 million tons of carbon and create 10 million green jobs by 2030.”

On the global Coronavirus pandemic, President Buhari urged nations to follow the example of Africa-Turkey cooperation, which emphasises solidarity and support in tackling the challenge.

‘‘The pandemic is a global challenge which calls for global solidarity and solutions and the Africa-Turkey cooperation model has proved to be an example to the world.

‘‘Not only has there been mutual support to respond to the pandemic but also mutual support to build resilience and sustainable development in other sectors.

‘‘We also commend the African Union for the excellent role it has been playing in coordinating the implementation process of the Partnership,’’ he said.

President Buhari noted that in view of the increasingly unpredictable nature of contemporary global challenges facing mankind, world leaders must continue to put the wellbeing of humanity at the centre of the agenda for the common good and prosperity of all.

‘‘We must, therefore, promote science, technology and innovation and share knowledge from research and development to better equip us to address present and future challenges in a more equitable and sustainable manner.

‘‘In this regard, Nigeria strongly endorses the Summit Declaration as well as the 2022-2026 Joint Action Plan,’’ he said.

He reaffirmed that international trade is an engine for development and sustained economic growth, as well as the global eradication of poverty, President Buhari welcomed the significant increase in trade figures between Africa and Turkey.

He urged the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCTA) to assist in further increasing the level of Africa-Turkey trade, leading to a win-win for all countries.

N50 Billion Bridging Claims: Fuel Scarcity Looms

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

The festive season celebration could be marred by the scarcity of fuel, if threats by Petroleum Marketers under the aegis of Northern Independent Petroleum Forum, NIFP, is anything to go by.

The Group had threatened to embark on an industrial strike action over an alleged N50 billion bridging claims.

On Sunday, the Forum’s Chairman, Alhaji Musa Maikifi, in a statement made this known that the  Federal Government through the Petroleum Equalization Fund was yet to settle the N50 billion Bridging Claim for over nine Months.

Maikifi stressed that failure to settle the claims may force many out of business and lead to scarcity of fuel in the North, adding that the majority of its members have ran out of capital, hence could not buy and transport fuel to the region.

The Forum’s Chairman said the lamentation of its members from the nine depots across the Northern States was the main reason why the the industrial action is rife and could take center stage, because for the past nine months they had made efforts to get their money paid by the FG but it has been in vain.

“If this continues in this way so many of us will have to close down our fuel stations. This will add to the fuel scarcity in the region because the marketers have no capital.

“The Federal Government couldn’t settle our claims of over N50 billion. We met the authority involved and they promised to pay us but yet they haven’t.

“So, that is why we are here to plead with them to pay us our unsettled claims so that we can continue our business smoothly,” he lamented.

The motive behind the creation of Northern Independent Petroleum Marketers Forum, according to Maikifi, is to always have one voice that will speak on their behalf, adding that the leadership crisis rocking the IPMAN has also added to their burden which their Forum is ready to address.

The Group said the bridging claims was supposed to have been paid within two weeks but for months now,  are not settled, forcing over 3000 marketers  scampering for funds to boost their businesses.

“One thing that will surprise you is that this money does not belong to the Government. It is generated from the consumers that purchased fuel from us marketers and the NNPC gathered the money and then pay us through PEF. But still they hold our money.

“Presently you can see that there is fuel scarcity here and there in the north, and if we enter January, February without our claims settled, I assure you that we can’t do it, we can’t do the business,” he said.

The Group urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timpriye Sylva, to intervene inthe matter to help them sustain their businesses.

Labour Unions In Ekiti Govt Owned Institutions Accuse Gov Fayemi Of Starvation

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Failure of Ekiti State Government to release subventions to some of its parastatals and institutions for  months may have set workers of the affected agencies against the State Government.

In a swift move seen as one to avert a bleak yuletide celebration, industrial unions in those institutions have given a 24 hour ultimatum to Government to release subventions to the affected establishments.

Governor Kayode Fayemi had, during his address to stakeholders five months ago, said that the State could no longer continue to release subventions to those benefitting agencies due to short fall in funds accruing to the state from federation account.

Salaries of top civil servants and political appointees were also slashed with a promise to restore them when the state becomes buoyant.

However, from investigation it was revealed that full salary has been restored to the affected personnel, while amount deducted had been refunded.

But the leadership of Staff of various sub-venting institutions said on Monday that the state government has failed to restore Subventions to their institutions despite improve revenue and grant from Federal Government.

They have threatened to declare an industrial dispute with the State Government over the failure to pay outstanding subventions to their institutions which stands at five months.

The affected institutions are: Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Bamidele Olumilua University of Science and Technology, IKere Ekiti, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital and Ekiti State College of Health, Sciences and Technology, Ijero-Ekiti.

Labour leaders under the umbrella of Joint Action For Committee Of Sub-Venting Institutions, told journalists in Ado Ekiti that they could no longer continue to suffer.

They have, therefore, given Governor Fayemi 24hrs ultimatum to defray the five months arrears or face the wrath of the joint unions.

The Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ekiti State University Ado Ekiti, Mr Kayode Arogundade, who spoke on behalf of the unions, explained that they could no longer tolerate the deliberate disrespect for subventing institutions.

He appealed to various stakeholders in the state to prevail on Governor Fayemi to do the needful as the unions should not be blamed for any of their action.

In a statement titled ‘Governor Fayemi’s Flagrant Refusal To Defray Our  Five Months Outstanding Subventions Is a Keg Of Gunpowder,’ Mr Arogundade explained that the refusal of the Governor to make the payment has led to unpaid salaries and thus subjecting workers to hardship.

“The sub-venting institutions in Ekiti State will like to appeal to stakeholders to help reach out to the State Governor on the need to deviate from his inept plan at destroying the state further before his exit from office.”

According to the unions spokesman, the agitation of the group was premised on what it tagged Unending deceit on monthly statutory allocation to the state.

He also accused the state government of “absolute abandonment of subventing institutions in the state on the altar of political mediocrity, constant delay in release of subventions.

“Connivance with the NLC leadership in the state to sabotage their efforts and refusal to defray the five months outstanding subventions.

“But for the intervention of all Unions across campuses and that of Tetfund, Needs assessment, WHO, UNICEF and philanthropic gesture of some well meaning Ekiti sons and daughters, our subventing institutions are no way different from glorified secondary schools and road side patent medicine stores.

“Who would ever think that the calibre of JKF would treat our dear State this way? We marched into this administration, with hopes, but now, our hopes appear dashed.

“Meanwhile, we still strongly hope that this government will retrace its steps and give us an experience we can always relish after his tenure. A stitch in time they say saves nine.

Ekiti State government has reacted through the Commissioner for Information, Mr Akin Omole, who’s said the group would soon be meeting with the Governor and the outcome would be made known.

AFCON 2022: A Long Walk Ahead For Super Eagles

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Super Eagles - Qatar 2022 Qualifiers

Weeks after the sack of former Coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, the Interim Coach, Augustine Eguavoen, and his Coaching Crew are yet to come out with a footprint for the National Team as the  African Cup of Nations 2022 championships draws closer

By Akinwale Kasali

Mixed feelings had greeted the appointment of interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen. Some hailed the decision of allowing an indigenous Coach to lead the team to the continental showpiece, while some faulted the decision to appoint Eguavoen who had not had a successful coaching career.

He led the Super Eagles to a Bronze medal finish at the 2006 AFCON tournament in Egypt, and also made a cameo appearance in the coaching department for few matches, but his performances in the domestic league with Enyimba in the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, ended in disaster.

With the National side struggling in its matches, the need for it to be strengthened was necessary. This led to the sack of the Franco-German tactician.

However, since after the sack of Rohr, there has not been any development and footprint for soccer enthusiasts, fans and analysts can point at to show that the three-time AFCON winners would add to its medal haul.

Eguavoen had earlier said that he was inviting 40 players, whose bulk will be those who had been playing for the National side with just five new players to make up the 40.

This move has led to series of questions been posed by analysts and enthusiasts.

Why would you invite 40 players and you intend picking only 23? Why the waste of resources in inviting such large number of players? There is limited time for you to do thorough screening for the invited players?

These and more are questions begging for answers.

Olalekan Ologbon, a sport analysts and General Manager, Kosach Football Academy, faulted the move by Eguavoen saying how on earth a coach would invite so much players with just weeks to the tournament.

“I don’t know the rationale behind the choice of Eguavoen, but his moves and decision will affect the performance of the team.

“The players Rohr used to prosecute the AFCON and World Cup qualifiers are superb, their usage on the pitch and the poor interpretation of matches led to his sack. All Eguavoen needed is to stick with these players and add two to three players, not naming over 40 players and you will still drop 17. That is wasteful and unrealistic for a coach that wants to succeed”.

Babatunde Balogun, a soccer enthusiast, said the sack of Rohr was wrong. Though, he didn’t say he shouldn’t be sacked, but not weeks before a major tournament.

“The appointment of Eguavoen in my own opinion is not the right choice, because he has been off the radar and he doesn’t have a blueprint for the National team.

“Inviting 40 players shows that he has no plan, no direction and no blue print.

“It will be a miracle if he would repeat the AFCON 2006 Bronze medal winning. I don’t see us going far in the tournament”.

Nigeria is grouped alongside seven-time AFCON Champion, Egypt, Sudan and Guinea Bissau.

Nigerian Boys Scout To Enact New Laws To Prepare Youths For Leadership Role

By
Ayodele Oni
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Prince Olusoga Atibioke

By Ayodele Oni

The Pro-President of Ondo State Scout Council, Prince Olusoga Atibioke, has reteriated the roles of Scouting in building a viable Society describing the organization as the greatest asset in the country.

Prince Atibioke, while addressing the 2021 Annual General Meeting organized by Ondo State Scout Council in Akure stated that the body was formed to promote unity and mental co-existence, which are critical to the survival, growth and development of the nation.

“I believe strongly that the Scouts are the bedrock of societal development and if a scout is educated, trained and empowered, he or she is built; and if you build the Scouts, you build a nation.”

Atibioke stressed that the organization is set to develop new curricular towards the development of the Youths as future Leaders of Nigeria.

“Scouting started in 1907 with just 20 boys on the Brown Sea Island, and today, it has become the biggest single voluntary organization Worldwide with over 57 Million members.

“The Vision of Scouting is to attain 100 Million membership by 2023.

“However, in order to attain this number, as the Leader of Scouting in Ondo State, l am challenging the team towards setting a target of One Million members in Ondo State within the next two years.

“And to achieve this goal, our focus would be to engage our youths from cradle of being Eaglet Scouts to being Adult Scouts, by educating them in the act of good citizenship, and Leadership programmes.

“We plan to engage and align with the Ondo State House of Assembly to re enact the Scout Association of Nigeria Law into the Law of the Ondo State Government.

“This will abolish the old Western Nigeria Boys Scout Association of Nigeria Law that has been obsolete, and concentrate efforts alone on the Boys, without minding the Gender Sensitivity within our Society.

“Upon the enactment of this law, we shall partner with the State Executive council through His Excellency, the Governor and his Deputy, to get them on board as the State Patron and State Deputy Patron of Scouts, and then interface with the Ministry of Education and Youth, to take Scouting back to Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Schools in Ondo State.

“Our Educational Method will focus on developing Good Citizenship and Leadership, since Scouting is about Leadership, we would be ready to offer ourselves for service to Train Leadership in Public and Private Organizations.

Other things that we are planning to embark upon, are programmes on Diversity and Inclusion, Social Impacts, training youths to be agents of positive changes within our communities without any discrimination to gender, color or where you are from.”

During the annual general meeting, Elections of New Officers of the State Scouts Committee took place.

The Former State Scout Commissioner, Prince Simple Mohammed Abdullahi, gave report of his tenure after which the Committee was dissolved and elections were conducted for the post of State Scout Treasurer and State Scout Commissioner.

Reverend Ajibola was re elected as the State Scout Treasurer and Ambassador Taiwo Jeremiah Oladeji was elected as the New State Scout Commissioner for itfor the next three years.

In attendance at the AGM were representatives of the Commissioners for Youths and Sports in Ondo State, Mr. Kolawole Abiodun, and the National Youth Council Chairman, Ondo State Chapter, Comrade Fadile.

Representatives of the District and Divisional Councils with over 67 members of the Ondo State Scout Council were also in attendance.

Ekiti 2022: Wole Olanipekun Says It’s Wrong To Deny Southern Zone Governorship

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Legal icon, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, has thrown his weight in support of the agitation for the South Senatorial District of Ekiti State to produce a successor to Governor Kayode Fayemi.

He, however, blamed politicians from the zone for the seeming abandonement saying most of them prefer to play the second fiddle to their counterparts from other zones.

Chief Olanipekun, an Indigenes of Ikere Ekiti from the zone, spoke during an annual Christmas feast he sponsored for notable Indigenes.

The former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) pointed out that political marginalisation and misadventures of the zone in the State’s governance structure were caused by politicians.

“Political leaders of southern extraction are architects of their political misfortunes, they are too timid to speak out for the zone in its quest to produce a governor.

“Disunity among the ranks and files of politicians that are working at cross purposes, has made the struggle to produce governor impossible.

“Some of our prominent politicians in the south are midgets, they betray the zone’s cause to mount the governorship seat in exchange for political tokenism.

“They are willing tools in doing the dictates and biddings of those from the North and Central zones solely for their parochial and selfish interests.

“I pity those who say they are politicians from the Ekiti South. They want to play second fiddle because they think they are inferior.

“That is the way I see it. But if you say I want to be deputy governor and I want to play a second fiddle, then, they will treat you as a second fiddler.

“To me, I don’t blame the people from the North, if you so-called politicians from the South feel inferior and they give them political tokenism and they will accept it.

“They see themselves as nugget and see those from the North and Central as the giants. And they behave like zombies.”

He was not happy that the zone has been relegated to the background in the State’s convoluted political equations despite its humongous electoral weight in terms of population, the calibre of political actors and the number of Local Government Areas.

According to him, the District, which was reputed for being an anchorage of giants in all spheres of endeavours has become a laughing stock in the politics of Ekiti and victim of political chicaneries since the beginning of the state’s democratic journey.

Chief Olanipekun insisted that fairness, equity and justice demanded the plum position should be the turn of Ekiti South in the next political dispensation, adding that the marginalisation must stop to foster the indivisibility and homogeneity of the state.

“I am a lawyer and I thank God for what He has done for me but assuming Obasanjo did not become the president for two-term of eight years how would we, the Southwest feel.

“Look at what happened in 1999, when the two leading parties yielded the tickets to Obasanjo and Falae both from the Southwest.

“To me, whether you are APC, PDP, APGA or YPP they should say this time around the Ekiti South should produce the next governor come June 18, 2022.

“You see I hate cheating and God doesn’t even like it. When you look at your Bible after the people of God entered the promised Land and Moses was trying to share the land, he started with all the tribes.

“So, what are we talking about the power shift to the South come 2023, if we can’t practice what we are agitating against right from our home.

“We must not allow Ekiti state to become a state of landlord and tenant that some people are tenants and others landlords. Everyone is equal.”

“It’s Either The Presidency or Nothing Else” – Anyim

By
The Source
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0
Anyim Pius Anyim

Anyim Pius Anyim, a major contender to the office of the Nigerian President, under the auspices of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has once more reaffirmed his determination to pursue his ambition of becoming the President of Nigeria in 2023 to the end.

Responding to the pleas not to back down nor play a second fiddle, independently made by a delegation from Southern Kaduna and a Coalition of Niger Delta group, Anyim assured them of his resolve to fight the battle to the end.

The groups, led by Professor Dogara Mato and Joseph Opuma respectively, had paid him a courtesy visit in his office, pledging to swim and sink with him, only if he assures them that he would remain resolute till the end.

Boosting their confidence, Anyim assured, “I’m only contesting for the office of the President and nothing else.”

He told the delegations that his confidence is buoyed by the enormous strides, his party, the PDP had made in the institution of Democracy in Nigeria.

He reminded the Niger Delta group that his party, the PDP, established the Niger Delta Amnesty program and ensured that it was nurtured to a very successful end.

According to him, majority of the Ex-Militants today from Niger Delta are successful doctors, Engineers, politicians etc.

Anyim informed the group that he gave his best not only to ensure the success of the exercise under Goodluck Jonathan regime but also that he committed himself to the over all successes of Jonathan administration.

Anyim told his excited audience that the humane approach of leadership adopted by PDP which yielded a huge result in the Niger Delta experiment will be replicated under his regime. According to him, “Whenever you take your citizens as citizens and give them reasons to be resourceful, I am convinced they will surely become patriotic.”

Meanwhile, the Professor Dogara group from Kaduna State had earlier told Anyim that they have not only come to pledge loyalty to him but to ask that they be incorporated into his campaign team. Dogara, a former Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna state House of Assembly, told Anyim that his pedigree has endeared him not just to the group but to the heart of many Nigerians.

Recalling Anyim’s unifying roles in the National Assembly, Dogara reminded Anyim that Nigeria presently is in dire need of his type of leadership begging him to, “please step forward fast to come and unite us,”  Dogara pleaded. Anyim however assured them that their support and that of the many others have emboldened him to sustain the struggle for the exalted office. He reminded them too that in addition to their hopes, that the resolutions of the Southern governors that presidency must go to the South has added another impetus to his struggle.

Anyim re-echoed his earlier assertions that Nigeria and Nigerians under his leadership will be United, proud, happy and with plenty of hopes for themselves and their country. Once more, he promised, “my  regime will harness the diversities of the country , in an inclusive governance, give everyone a sense of belonging and weld the divergent interests together into a huge asset”, Anyim assured.

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