On Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari praised Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed for his effort to rebuild the state by making significant investments in infrastructural development.
When he paid the Emir of Bauchi, Dr. Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu, the customary homage, Muhammadu Buhari offered praise.
At the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi, President Muhammadu Buhari attended the APC Presidential Rally.
Muhammadu Buhari congratulated the governor of Bauchi State for creating a fair playing field for political activities in the state and challenged politicians throughout the nation to play politics by the rules of the game.
Additionally, he valued the Emir and conventional institutions in the state for complementing government’s efforts towards promoting peaceful coexistence in their domains.
While receiving the President at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi and Palace of the Emir of Bauchi, Governor Bala Mohammed said that although the President was in the state for APC activities, he was honoured by the President’s commendation.
Bala Mohammed assured the President of his commitment to consolidate on the efforts put in place to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free 2023 general elections.
The Governor also commended the Federal Government for its sincere fight against insecurity and insurgency in the North East subregion saying that the area is gradually regaining its sanity and safety.
Those present in the company of the President were the Party’s Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, the Speaker House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, APC Governors, aspirants and supporters.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) reported that in 2022, the largest tax collection ever seen in its history, it collected over N10 trillion in tax revenue.
The figure was included in the “FIRS 2022 Performance Update” report, which was signed by the organization’s executive chairman, Mr. Muhammad Nami, and made available to the public on Monday following his briefing with President Muhammadu Buhari, according to a statement by Johannes Oluwatobi Wojuola, the special assistant to the executive chairman of FIRS on media and communication.
The report reads: “The FIRS, in the year 2022 collected a total of N10.1 trillion in both oil (N4.09 trillion) and non-oil (N5.96 trillion) revenues as against a target of N10.44 trillion.
“Companies Income Tax contributed N2.83 trillion; Value Added Tax N2.51 trillion; Electronic Money Transfer Levy N125.67 billion and Earmarked Taxes N353.69 billion.
“Non-oil taxes contributed 59% of the total collection in the year, while oil tax collection stood at 41% of total collection,” the report noted.
It is the first time that the FIRS will cross the 10-trillion Naira mark in tax revenue collection.
The Performance Update Report further clarified that included in the total revenue sum is the sum of N146.27 billion which is the total value of certificates issued by the Service to private investors and NNPC for road infrastructure under the Road Infrastructure Development Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme created by Executive Order No. 007 of 2019.
The report also stated that the N10.1 trillion is exclusive of tax waived on account of various tax incentives granted under the respective laws, which amounted to N1,805,040,163,008.
Providing perspective to this unprecedented tax collection, the FIRS noted in the Performance Update that the Muhammad Nami-led management upon assumption of office came up with a four-point focus, namely: administrative and operational restructuring; making the service customer-focused; creating a data-centric institution; and automation of administrative and operational processes.
It further noted that over the period of 2020 to 2022, the management had introduced reforms bordering around these four-point focus which were producing results.
“The reforms introduced at different times from 2020 are gradually yielding fruits. By the close of 2022, the Service had fully restructured the administration of the Service for maximum efficiency and achieved internal cohesion such that all functional units are working in unison towards the achievement of set goals.
“As a result of conducive environment created for staff, officers of the Service are pulling their weight on the global stage with international recognitions and awards;
“The Service had also automated most of the administrative and operational processes. A major leap was the full deployment of the TaxPro Max for end-to-end administration of taxes in June 2021. The module for the automated TCC went live 1st January 2023 while taxpayers had already downloaded over 1,000 TCCs this year without having to visit FIRS office,” the report read.
It also noted that the Service had operationalised its data mining and analysis system thereby allowing for data-backed taxpayer profiling.
Other reforms the Service introduced in this period focused on the detoxification of the tax environment by ridding it of mutual mistrust, negative tax morale, and tax evasion, through effective taxpayer education, open engagement with stakeholders and improved services.
It noted that it is courtesy these reforms, framed around the four-focus points that the Service was able to achieve this collection.
Mr. Muhammad Nami, Executive Chairman of the FIRS, commenting on the N10.1 trillion record tax collection achieved under his leadership stated that this was made possible through “dogged implementation of strategic reforms over the past two years; a renewed commitment by officers of the Service, accompanied with a boosted morale; as well as the innovative deployment of technology for automation of both tax administration and operational processes.
“This collection was possible through collaboration with our stakeholders, from our colleagues at the Executive branch of government, to the members of the judiciary, to our brothers and sisters at the National Assembly, as well as the tax advisory committee, professional bodies, unions, and most crucially our taxpayers.”
Speaking on the outlook for 2023, Mr. Nami stated that the Service would build on the current reforms, achieve full automation and continue to establish a resilient Service that would continue to provide sustainable tax revenue to fund the government.
“We intend to maintain, and even improve on the momentum in 2023,” he stated.
“We have peaked, but this is not certainly our peak. In fact, my hope is that this would be the least sum the Service would ever collect going forward.
“Our goal is to identify more areas where we can improve on in the delivery and efficiency of our collection; and plug loopholes, while deploying innovative reforms in data and artificial intelligence.
“Ultimately, we believe that the FIRS can shoulder the responsibility of providing revenue needed for the governments across the Federation to cater for the needs of the Nigerian people through taxes.
“This is feasible once we get the much-desired support from the three tiers and arms of government, as well as all stakeholders.”
The FIRS appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for his support, as well as the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed and the Minister of State, Mr. Clem Agba.
“FIRS Management uses this medium to commend all patriotic taxpayers who paid their taxes correctly, stakeholders for their support, and officers of the Service for their dedication to duty.
“The Service equally owes its achievements in 2022 to effective leadership of the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning – Mrs Zainab Ahmed, her brother, the Minister of State – Mr Clem Agba, members of the National Assembly and the fatherly support of the President and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria – Muhammadu Buhari.”
This is the second consecutive year that the Service will be recording unprecedented tax collection.
In 2021, the Service achieved a record tax collection of N6.405 trillion, being over hundred percent of its collection target for the year, as well as the first time that the Service will cross the six trillion mark.
In 2022, building on the success of the preceding year, the Service achieved a record collection of N10.1 trillion, being over 96% of its collection target for the year, and the first time the Service will cross the ten trillion mark.
This collection represents an over one hundred percent leap from the tax collected by the Service in 2020 the first year of the current management of the Service.
Dele Momodu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council’s director of strategic communications, has revealed how Atiku Abubakar will triumph in the upcoming presidential election, which is set for February 25, 2023.
Atiku will rule the North East, North West, North Central, and South South, according to Momodu’s analysis.
He said: “Tinubu may pick a few states in the North and South West but won’t have enough to win. The bridges required to cross to victory has taken Atiku 30 years to build. Tinubu has not been able to lock down the entire South West not to talk of the whole of Nigeria. Over-reliance on bribing the electorates will fail. Hoping to rig brazenly will also fail spectacularly.”
Analysing further, Momodu sais that a Presidential candidate cannot depend totally on votes from outside his home base to win this election, adding, “it is a fact of history that whenever the South produced two strong candidates, the dominant Nothern candidate won, such as in 1979 and 1983, Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikiwe versus Shehu Shagari.”
Stating why the APC presidential candidate will not win, Momodu said, “Bola Tinubu is far weaker today in the South West and Awolowo was by far more formidable, while Obi is the new Azikiwe (the first Governor General and President of Nigeria) in the South East, and Kwankwaso is the current Aminu Kano.”
He hinted how Atiku will win the election, Momodu said, “I repeat, the entire North and the South South will make Atiku the next President. Atiku will still be competitive in the South East and South West. Wherever Obi is number one in the East, Atiku will be number two. Wherever Tinubu is number one in the South West, Atiku will be number two or vice versa.
“Atiku will be the first to cross the line of recording 25 percent in 24 states. He will get 25 percent automatically in the 19 states of Northern Regions and will pick six in South South automatically. He will pick more 25 percent in all of the five states in the South East, a traditional base of PDP, and same in the South West.
“Wherever Obi is number one, Atiku will be number two or vice versa. I do not know of any state PDP will not record 25 percent and eventually win the overall popular votes. Nigeria has become so polarizingly divided (pardon my tautology) that the ‘peoples’ are going to vote majorly along ethnic lines as well as primordial sentiments.
“The North will not vote a ‘fake Muslim’ in the name of a pretentious and mischievous Muslim/Muslim ticket. The scam is dead on arrival. The North East will never vote for a number two position when they’ve been chasing the number one since 1966. The North West will not abandon an Atiku for a Tinubu who’s well known for his iron grip on Lagos State since 1999.”
Speaking further, the Director of Strategic Communications of PCC said, “the South West itself knows it has the most controversial and palpably weakest candidate in this race this time and would humbly and readily accept its fate with equanimity. It will also dawn on the South East that Obi’s raving popularity alone cannot carry him across the winning line and many of their traditional voters will willingly settle for Atiku Abubakar and Ifeanyichukwu Okowa, the cerebral man and gentle giant of Igbo ancestry.
“I predict that former President Atiku Abubakar will be the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is the most prepared, experienced candidate in the race who’s ready to hit the ground running from day one… Nigerians will experience real politicking in the days ahead.”
The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has announced support for the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) senatorial candidate in the Kogi Central senatorial district, Barr, as the PDP continues to revel in the influx of defectors. Missy Akpoti-Uduaghan
The party announced this over the weekend when Mr. Sunday Denis Ozomata, the state party chairman, and Prof. Aliyu Otaru, a member of the party’s national board of trustees, led the party’s executives, candidates, and other notable PRP members to Barr. Natasha Akpoti-hometown Uduaghan’s to make the announcement.
Prof. Otaru said that the Ebira Nation should be proud that they have a daughter leading a democratic revolution to change the condition of the people of Ebiraland.
“I and my people have come here to identify with you and support the revolution to change our story through the ballot”, he said.
The state party Chairman of PRP, Mr. Sunday Denis Ozomata, averred that they decided to pitch tent with the PDP senatorial candidate because they were convinced by her antecedents that she is the best amongst all the candidates jostling to represent Kogi Central senatorial district in the Senate.
“If a woman can stand and fight for our people even when men are afraid to talk, such a woman deserved every support and we will work for you with utmost sincerity to emerge as the next senator of Kogi Central”, he said.
Natasha appreciated the support given to her and promised not to disappoint them when she gets to the Senate.
“My courage is rooted in the love I have for my people and the quest to liberate our people from the bondage of bad governance.
“As our father said, we are in dire need of a democratic revolution to change the bad situation and we are going to do that on February 25, 2023, with our thumbs, to be free once and for all.
“We need to get to the stage where there will be less tension to carry out our daily activities. Thanks for this support, and the collaboration to rewrite our story”, she said.
N95 Billion (Ninety-five billion Naira) worth of unlicensed pharmaceutical products were destroyed in Cotonou by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
This was announced at a meeting by Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, Director General of NAFDAC at a press conference on Monday in Abuja, Nigeria, saying, combined international destruction of five 40-foot containers of unlicensed pharmaceuticals, including tramadol 200 MG and higher potency.
A group of NAFDAC officers, including those from the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, traveled to Cotonou on December 21 and 22, 2022, for the purpose of destroying the five containers. They were led by Prof. Adebayo, Director of Ports Inspection Directorate.
Going down memory lane, she said, “Following an intelligence report from the Presidency in August 2018 , I directed the Director of Ports Inspection Directorate, Prof. Samson B. Adebayo on the intention of some unscrupulous importers to ship thirty-one (31) containers of unregistered pharmaceutical products including tramadol 200mg and above from India. The containers were labelled building materials and for bonded terminal.
“The Director, Ports Inspection Directorate, working with his Intelligence & Monitoring Unit commenced the surveillance and monitoring of the reported containers from the ports of loading to the successive ports where they were transloaded along the sea routes. The first approach was to collaborate with the Nigeria Customs Service under the leadership of Comptroller General (Col.) Ahmed Ali (rtd.).
“Eventually, twenty-one of the containers were discharged at the Apapa port in Lagos, Nigeria as manifested. One container couldn’t be tracked because of a missing container number. Out of the 21 containers, only two had building materials.
“However, as the importers of the containers became aware that NAFDAC was tracking and monitoring the containers on arrival at the Apapa port and intercepting them, they decided to change their strategy by diverting the remaining away from the Nigerian port.
“Four containers never got to Nigeria but were discharged at transhipment in Malaysia. One container was transferred to the Cotonou port in the Republic of Benin while the remaining four were initially diverted to the Tema Port in Ghana but later diverted them to Cotonou having met resistance from Ghana Food and Drug Agency that NAFDAC already contacted for collaboration to stop the four (4) containers.
“Director-General of NAFDAC Prof Mojisola Adeyeye then liaised with the Ambassador of Nigeria to the Republic of Benin at the time, His Excellency Kayode Oguntuase, who worked tirelessly to ensure that the port authority in the Republic of Benin effected the seizure of the five containers on the request of NAFDAC. His successor His Excellency Olukayode O. Aluko never relented in his effort at ensuring that all these five (5) containers are released to NAFDAC for destruction.
“Meanwhile the other twenty-four containers Some entity took the case to court in Benin that the containers should be brought back to Nigeria. This took about one year plus but Ambassador Aluko stayed on the case until the court made the judgement that the containers can be destroyed in Benin. Alas, the government of the Republic of Benin eventually agreed to engage with the Nigerian counterparts to carry out the destruction of these containers in Cotonou. The following products were found in the five containers during the joint physical examination.
Brand name generic name details:Tamral 225 tablets tramadol hcl 1,276 CTNSX50 ROLLSX10X10 TABS; Tamral 250mg Tablets tramadol HCL 571 CTNS X50 ROLLSX10X10 TABS; Tramadol 120mg Capsules tramadol Hcl 129 CTNS X30ROLLSX20X10 CAPS; Tramadol 225mg Tabs tramadol Hcl 415 CTNSX50 ROLLSX10X10 TABS; really extra diclofenac tablets 50 mg diclofenac & caffeine 58 CTN X 50 X 10 X 10 tabs; and relity extra diclofenac tablets 50 MG diclofenac 24 CTN X 50 X 10 X 10 tabs
“The street value of the drugs was estimated at N95 Billion (Ninety-five billion Naira). A team of NAFDAC officers (including Investigation & Enforcement Directorate officers), led by Prof Adebayo, the Director of Ports Inspection Directorate travelled to Cotonou where the destruction exercise of the five containers took place on 21st and 22nd December 2022.
She continued: “This international landmark achievement (that had never been recorded in the history of the two countries and NAFDAC) did not come without the unflinching efforts of the staff of Ports Inspection Directorate in Apapa and Seme Border.
“The Management and Governing Council of NAFDAC would like to recognize the support of the following partners in the fight against misuse and abuse of drugs: The a) Government of the Republic Benin; b) Nigerian Embassy in the Republic of Benin, c) Nigeria Customs Service, and d) Ghana Food and Drug Agency Finally, our appreciation goes again to all individuals who have contributed in a significant way to ensure that today becomes a reality. More importantly, to the gallant officers of Ports Inspection Directorate (Seme and Apapa) who refused to be compromised by ensuring that the Agency continues in her efforts at safeguarding the health of the nation.
“Thank you all for believing in us as we continue to safeguard the health of the nation”, she stated.
Adeyeye thanked President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) for returning NAFDAC to the ports in May 2018 after seven-year absence.
Saying, it was the return of NAFDAC to Nigerian ports that made the four and a half years monitoring of unregistered pharmaceuticals including tramadol to be possible.
She also thanked Comptroller General (Col.) Ahmed Ali (rtd.) whose leadership fostered the collaboration and the success of NAFDAC’s regulatory activities.
The Agency is grateful to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Ambassadors to Benin Republic – Excellency Oguntuase and Excellency Aluko for their resilience and professionalism over the period of monitoring.
I want to thank the staff of Ports Inspection Directorate of NAFDAC who doggedly ensured that the Agency’s mandate was carried out, i.e., regulating and control of importation of regulated products.
On Monday morning, the majority of Nigeria’s international airports experienced severe turmoil as a result of a strike by the employees of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc.
It was discovered that the workers went on strike because the management had ignored their Condition of Service (CoS), which had been on the table for more than four years.
Numerous NAHCO-managed airlines’ passengers were left stranded as a result of this move, particularly at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), where one of the airlines had to fly back to its base.
According to our source, Qatar Airways, which was already in the air, had to return to Doha because of the signal it received that it would not be handled by the ground handling company.
The workers it was learnt embarked on the strike action 12a.m on Monday when their request for upward review of CoS was unattended to for years.
The workers were backed by their unions; Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE).
However, it was learnt that the unions had issued the management strike notice with deadline to comply with their demands, but failed.
Rather for the management to comply, the management approached the court in an attempt to stop the workers from embarking on the strike.
Other foreign airlines that may also be affected by this action include Kenya Airways, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, KLM, Delta Air Lines, Air France, AKSY, Egypt Air and Rwandair.
The Federal Capital Territory’s Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) will implement the law to penalize or punish any organizations, employers, or agents that fail to comply with the clearly outlined filing deadline.
As the Service has no intentions to extend the deadline, it recommended taxpayers to file their annual reports by the deadline of January 31, 2023, especially if they have employers or agents in the FCT.
According to Mustapha Sumaila, the FCT-head IRS’s of corporate communications, in a statement to press in Abuja.
The statement reads: This exercise is “In compliance with Section 41 of the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) 2011 (as amended) provides that all employers of labour in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are required to file annual returns of income from All sources for the year ended, (31st December, 2022) on or before the 31st of January 2023 using the prescribed forms i.e Form G and Form H1 respectively.
“Sections 94, 95 and 96 of the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) stipulate penalties for non-filing, incorrect or false declaration and late submission.
“Copies of the forms (Form G and Form H1) can be obtained from any of the FCT-IRS Tax Offices across the territory or downloaded from the website at https://www.fctirs.gov.ng/downloads”.
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has been urged by the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council to make an official apology to Nigerians for the Special Purpose saga rather than making futile attempts to cover up the terrible controversy.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate is accused of violating the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, and the APC PCC called on the anti-graft agencies to arrest and prosecute him. The APC PCC even threatened to take the agencies to court to force them to take action.
As a response to the APC, Atiku and the PDP have asked the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to bring charges against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for alleged money laundering and drug violations.
Expressing his displeasure with the twist in the allegations and counter allegations, the APC PCC said Atiku was using the spurious tale tale old drug accusation against Tinubu to defray a damaging allegation.
The statement signed by Bayo Onanuga Director, Media & Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Council said Atiku had no moral ground to seek public office after the SPV scandal.
“It is obvious that the Peoples Democratic Party and its Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar are yet to recover from the bombshell released last week by the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, which questioned the morality of the candidate to remain in the race, following his own damaging self-confession.
“At the press conference we called on the security agencies to arrest, investigate and prosecute Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President for running Special Purpose Vehicles used to loot the treasury of the country, in what is now known as Atikugate.
“Since the scandal broke out, along with legal action to compel anti-graft agencies to perform their role, Atiku and his party, PDP have laboured in vain to deflect and cover-up with their series of ad hominem arguments.
“Instead of Atiku to apologise to Nigerians for abusing his office and position of trust in the past, Atiku’s spokesmen continue to dig deeper in the hole they already found themselves by raising many false allegations against our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The latest chapter in Atiku and PDP’s comedy, is the rehash of old tales and fables that have no basis in facts and reality against our candidate”.
The PCC maintained that to he former Vice Presidentack.the character to present himself to seek public office.
“Our stand remains that Atiku Abubakar lacks the character to be the president of Nigeria.
“He is unfit to lead our country because he can be an easy target for compromises that will be against national interest.
“Atiku in deeds and words has shown that he cannot be trusted to manage the resources of Nigeria.
“And we believe that the characters who still parade themselves as his spokespersons have lost their minds. This is why they think Nigerians can be swayed by all their deliberate falsehoods and the lies they manufacture everyday against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deceive the public, when they should all be remorseful for the legendary corruption of their boss”.
In the run-up to the 2023 general elections, the Pan Yoruba socio-political organization Afenifere has urged political parties and their candidates to concentrate on policy rather than resort to personal assaults on rivals.
Afenifere stated that political parties and their candidates should concentrate on how they would address the myriad of challenges that the country is facing rather than coming up with statements and deeds that “de-market opponents and possibly cause bodily harm on other people” in a press release issued on Sunday by the organization’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Afenifere stated that political parties and their candidates should focus on issues regarding how they would tackle the myriad of challenges that the country is facing rather than coming up with utterances and actions that border on “de-marketing of opponents and possibly causing bodily harms on other people.
The organisation noted that politicians are, of late, hurling serious verbal attacks against one another while physical attacks have also been reported in a few places, which has even led to the loss of lives in some instances.
Afenifere maintained that politicians ought to have matured beyond the seeming villainy they currently display, stressing that the verbal attacks emanating from some candidates and their spokespersons are encouraging their unscrupulous supporters to violently attack opponents in a manner that could result in bloodshed.
The socio-political organisation recalled that Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, last week came up with various allegations against the prresidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and in the same vein, the spokesman of PDP, Honourable Debo Ologunagba, accused the presidential candidate of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu of directing “his party members to unleash violence on Nigerians”.
According to Afenifere, Ologunagba alleged that Tinubu gave the directive at a closed-door event in London that inadvertently leaked to the public.
Afenufere stated, “Earlier last week, a man suspected to be one of the supporters of the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, was allegedly tortured by some unknown men at Oraifite in the Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State.
“A video clip that has been circulating on the social media shown the leader of the unknown gunmen threatening that anyone caught wearing or putting on any campaign material of politicians would be severely dealt with.
“On Friday, January 20, 2023 three persons were reportedly injured, following double explosions that rocked a rally by the APC, at the Rumu-Woji Play Ground, also known as Ojukwu Field in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Expressing serious concern over the escalating violence in spite of various peace accords being signed by presidential candidates, Afenifere disclosed that a research organis, SB Morgan had, in a report at the end of last year revealed that 27 Nigerians were killed in 57 politically-motivated violent incidents between January and December 2022.
The organisation also quoted the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, Major General Babagana Monguno, as saying that Nigeria recorded 52 acts of political violence across 22 states between October 8 and November 9. That was 52 acts of political violence within just one month! Monguno said this at an emergency meeting of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja recently.
“The Electoral Commission had earlier said that as at December 2022, it had recorded 50 attacks in 15 of the country’s 36 states and the federal capital (Abuja) since 2019. There have been some other attacks since then including the ones that happened in Ogun, Osun, Imo, Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu states among others,” Afenifere stated.
“Penultimate week, the attacks became so worrisome that INEC officials spoke of the danger the attacks could constitute for the smooth conduct of the forthcoming elections. Afenifere, like some other concerned groups and individuals in the country, issued serious warnings against anything that could cause a postponement or cancelation of the scheduled elections.
“Candidates and political parties that have good programmes to execute would not resort to verbal or physical attacks. We urge political parties and their candidates to focus on what plans they have to put an end or at least ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians. They should let us know that they understand they enormity of the problems facing us and that they have solutions to these problems. An end should be put to mutual self-abuse either verbally or physically,” Afenifere noted.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has established a parallel army (the Jagaban Army), and the Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organization has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to protect the integrity of the Nigerian military and the sovereignty of the country by calling a meeting of the National Security Council.
The campaign stated that Nigerians are worried that the APC and its presidential candidate will use a parallel army, code-named the Jagaban Army, to undermine national security, insult the Nigerian Army, cause confusion, disrupt the 2023 elections, and derail the election. This concern was raised by the public outcry over the APC’s and its presidential candidate’s exposed plan.
The campaign, in statement by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan said, “this is even more worrisome in the face of undenied allegations in the public space that the Jagaban Army is training and arming thugs with dangerous weapons in secret locations across the country ostensibly to use the illegal formation to undermine Nigerian security forces and unleash mayhem on Nigerians during the elections.
“Nigerians have been wondering how a political party or any candidate for that matter can create a parallel Army and adorned them with uniforms as well as ranks within a sovereign State as if Nigeria has become Asiwaju Tinubu’s fiefdom.
“Furthermore, Nigerians are alarmed that the APC Presidential Candidate went to London to declare war on our nation by openly charging his party cohorts to take power at all costs, only for him to return to the country to have his campaign set up a parallel Army to undermine our national security in order to achieve his malevolent designs.”
The campaign said that the expectation of Nigerians was that after Asiwaju Tinubu declared that “political power is not served in a restaurant, it is not served a la carte. It is what we are doing; It is being determined; you do it at all cost; fight for it, grab it, snatch it and run (away) with it,” the security authorities ought to have immediately taken him in for questioning for treasonable felony.
The campaign said that this is not the first time Tinubu has come out brazenly to undermine the sovereignty of the nation as well as the office and the person of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Nigerians can recall how Asiwaju Tinubu went to the Presidential villa, undermine President Buhari by using the Presidential facility in the Seat of Power to announce his presidential interest. That, to say the least, was felonious.
“Nigerians are also aware of how the APC Presidential Candidate has arrogantly continued to disrespect, disparage and undermine the person of the President and how he had publicly mocked and depicted President Buhari as weak and weeping over losses in presidential elections until, according to him, he (Tinubu) came to his rescue and made him (Buhari) President.
‘The import is that Asiwaju Tinubu, in his arrogance, believes that he cannot be subjected to President Buhari’s Constitutional powers and this accounts for his temerity to run a parallel Army; a treasonable act against the Office of the President and our national sovereignty,” the campaign said.
The campaign said it is clear that Asiwaju Tinubu is desperate to be President, but with manifest signs of rejection by Nigerians, he is ready to cause bloodletting and destroy the democratic process.
“It is imperative to state that insurrectionary groups that unleashed mayhem and derailed democracy in many parts of the world all started with desperate power seekers who cannot gain office through democratic means.
“The fear across our country is that the APC Presidential Candidate is apparently following this dangerous path.
“We implore Asiwaju Tinubu to come to terms with the reality that Nigerians have made up their minds to elect the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as the next President of Nigeria, come February 25,” it said.
The campaign, has, however, demanded that President Buhari should stamp his feet of authority and check Asiwaju Tinubu from sinking the nation into an abyss.
