Tinubu/Shettima is receiving new backing from Clerics.

A group operating under the banner of the 19 Northern States Movement for Kashim Shettima vowed to cast 20 million ballots in favour of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for president, and Senator Kashim Shettima, who is Tinubu’s running mate, in the upcoming 2023 elections.

As they arrived in Kaduna, Christian clerics from the 19 Northern states delivered a letter to Senator Shettima outlining their expectations should he win, assuring him of their support.

DG 19 Northern States Movement For Kashim Shettima, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, in his response to the turn out of the clerics, said that initially, the group was bent on delivering 16 million votes for APC in the presidential elections next year, but with the overwhelming support from the Christian clerics, he is vowing to deliver nothing short of 20 million votes.

“I am excited about the love Christians have for Tinubu/Shettima.

“We promised that we were going to deliver 16m votes across 19 Northern states, with support of Christians from 19 Northern states, because of key role, we are now going to give Tinubu 20m votes across 19 Northern states,” he said.

He promised to deliver the letter presented to him by the cleric from the 19 Northern states to Senator Kashim Shettima, assuring them that they would get a positive feedback.

Earlier, the cleric who were mainly youth, were of the opinion that the APC joint ticket of Tinubu/Shettima will reset Nigeria for progress and unity.

Bishop Monday Yaknat in a welcome address, said that the church is not against APC, and is also not fighting APC.

“As ministers of the gospel, we are father’s, we belong to everybody. If APC comes to us, we pray with them, if any other party comes to us, we pray with them. We will present a letter to Shettima and assure him that we will stand behind him, we will support him and if God gives him victory, he should remember that,” he said.

Bishop Monday Yaknat who is the Executive Director of Hope For Handicap Persons Foundation, thanked those that attended.

“I know most Christians don’t want to hear the name APC, but the fact is that some of us must be there.

” DG did not give me one Naira, but he has assured us that all of us would be carried along. He assured us that after the programme, 20 bishops will be picked and handed over to Shettima.

“We are not doing this as politicians, we are doing this as a Church. We are not saying everybody must vote APC, but I am assuring you that some of us will vote APC, including my humble self.

” For those of you coming here for the first time, we have ministers group that is involved in politics. We are insisting pastors should be involved in politics. If you feel you are interested, you can join our group, we don’t only do politics, we encourage and help ourselves, especially those that are just starting.

Earlier in a corporate prayer session anchored by Bishop Sam Alaku from Gospel Ambassadors Outreach Ministry, Nasarawa Eggon, Nasarawa State, he said that they were there to honour the call of the DG 19 Northern States Movement For Kashim Shettima.

He said, ” This movement we believe is the only group that will bring the unity in the 19 Northern States based on the love and passion they have. We therefore, encourage our Christian faithful to support the Vice Presidential candidate of Shettima and Tinubu.

“I believe as followers of Christ and church workers, their aim has been achieved and we promise to give him the support, if elected president,” he said.

The group with its motto, “Empowering Northern Organisations, declared this at the Bajju Town Hall in Kaduna metropolis, where Christian cleric from different denominations were present, as well as other faithful.

The meeting was started with a praise worship session, were several popular songs were chorused.

By Laide Akinboade

Worried by continued negligence, Nigerian youths has proposed 35% affirmative participation in governance.

Rotimi Olawale the Executive Director Youthhub Africa, stated this at Governance Agenda for an Inclusive Nigeria (GAIN) Validation Meeting, on Tuesday, in Abuja, he lamented that despite the fact that most voters are youths, there are only few candidates that are below 45 years old.

He condemned the amount pegged at nomination forms by the two major political parties that was above the reach of youths and for youths to be part of decision making in Nigeria, there must be a fair opportunity given to them.

“We youths of Nigeria, want a rich and progressive nation where our rights and freedoms are fully realized. As majority of voters in Nigeria, we 40 million strong and ready to make our voices heard. We have the ability to radically alter the trajectory of our nation because our intelligence, creativity, and skill. Our future is at stake , we can’t afford to pur our objectives and interests on the back burner any longer .

“We will no longer be persuaded by handouts or sit at the sidelines while others make choices that affect our lives.

“The youths of Nigeria, as key contributors to and beneficiaries of development, are eager to see the next Government of Nigeria devote themselves entirely to implementing the youth agenda .

“As a result, we urge the incoming government at the state and national level to hasten the realization of goals identified by young people.

“I think when we look at the political structure of Nigeria and how expensive it is to buy nomination forms, for political parties in Nigeria.

“It is becoming more tougher for young people to find political space in the polity, for example, look at the two major political parties in Nigeria, and how much they sold their nomination forms, it was very expensive, we discovered many youths cannot afford to buy the nomination forms.

“We are hoping that the new administration will, both at national and state level, sign executive order that at least 35% of youths would be given political appointments, we want to see them as Ministers, Commissioners, special advisers, members of different boards, Director Generals etc. on assumption of office”.

On how they intend to achieve this, he said,
“The way we will go about this is by advocacy, we will be speaking with political parties, presidential candidates, gobernitorial candidates, etc. and we are going to ensure they understand what the youths have to offer to Nigeria”.

He lamented, “Many youths are not happy about the situation in Nigeria, so they are leaving the country in large numbers. If you speak to 10 educated youths in Nigeria, 8 want to leave for greener pastures, these are people that are contributing to the socio economic development of Nigeria. Those that should be part of solving Nigeria’s challenges are leaving the country and that is why we are advocating for meaningful participation in our political space”.

Charles Asiegu, senior analyst nextar group, he noted that most of the youths are voters instead of being candidates and this is not acceptable.

Adding that discussion is already ongoing about this even if it cannot be changed, the new administration should give youths 35% affirmative.

He said there is no going back on advocacy in order to achieve the 35% participation of youths in government.

The ownership of the Obajana Cement Plant has not been settled, Kogi State Government has said in statement on Friday.

The facility, which is located in Obajana, Kogi State, has generated debate because both parties assert that they are its rightful proprietors.

In a recent development, the Kogi State Government has put plans in place to sue Dangote Group and reclaim ownership of the facility following discussions and inputs from stakeholders.

This was disclosed in a statement by the state Commissioner of Information, Kingsley Fanwo; a copy of which was sent to newsmen.

Fanwo said the battle for the ownership of the plant was far from over and that the government was ready to “battle it to the end”.

Fanwo noted in the statement that the decision was as a result of late night consultations and meeting on Thursday between key government officials led by Governor Yahaya Bello and stakeholders representing the different ethnic groups in the state.

Fanwo said at the meeting, which ran into the early hours of Friday, “All stakeholders resolved to head to court in the interest of the people and generations to come.”

He also noted that the governor made it clear that there was “no going back on the state’s resolve to reclaim its asset”.

This was as he sued for calm in the interest of peace.

“This struggle is not about Governor Yahaya Bello or his administration. It is about the people of Kogi State. In the last 72 hours, well meaning Nigerians, leaders and government officials have waded in and have pleaded with the governor to consider reopening of the plant while discussions are ongoing.

“The expectations of the over four million Kogites are clear and high and we want to assure them that the Governor and the Government of Kogi State will not compromise the interest of the people of the state to reclaim their rights in the cement company.

“There were a series of high-powered meetings to resolve the impasse, including meetings having the Governor and Alhaji Aliko Dangote in attendance.

“Discussions were held and statements of interest were established, but there was no agreement yet as some desperate parties are trying to promote in the media to mislead the public.

“We shall be non-violent in our approach as we are sure of green pathways to success for the people in this battle for the economic future of our dear state.

“However, we maintain that the collective assets of the people of Kogi State must be protected and reclaimed in this instance. And that is the process the government has started. We will fight this battle to the end until we get justice from the courts. No committee can resolve this dispute,” the statement read.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed relief materials to victims of the 2022 flood disaster and bandit’s attacks in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Director General of the agency, Mustapha Ahmed, made this known while presenting the items for onward distribution to the victims on Thursday in Kaduna.

Ahmed who was represented by Alhassan Nuhu, Director of Relief and Rehabilitation, he said the intervention is to cushion the sufferings of the people resulting from the incidents.

He stated that the intervention became imperative after the agency’s assessment of the level of damage caused by flood and banditry attacks.

He however, acknowledged the effort of the Kaduna State Government in providing the first line of support to the affected population.

He mentioned that 500 households were affected by flood in Kaduna, while 1,000 households were affected by banditry in Brinin Gwari LGA.

The Director General assured of NEMA’s readiness to further collaborate with the state government and other relevant stakeholders to distribute the materials.

In his remarks, the Kaduna Central Senatorial standard bearer, Sani Dattijo who canvassed for the assistance, commended the agency for the swift delivery of the items.

Represented by Ahmed Maiyaki, he pledged that the items would be transported to Birnin Gwari Local Government Area for the beneficiaries.

Dattijo assured the victims of an end to banditry, while stressing that he would ensure that NEMA keeps to its mandate of disaster prevention.

While receiving the items, Abdulahi Amir, Chairman of Brinin Gwari LGA, appreciated the agency for the materials, while assuring that the council would ensure that they get to the affected victims, irrespective of their religion or tribe.

Amir however, said that the security situation has been controlled as residents can now move to the state metropolis without security escorts.

Our correspondent observed that the relief items were basically food and non-food materials.