Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria, said during the virtual conference on leadership and nation-building organized by the Africa Leadership Group that Nigeria no longer needs “think tanks” but rather “do tanks” leadership.
Speaking with Ituah Ighodalo, president of ALG, who served as the forum’s host, Obasanjo emphasized the essential qualities of effective leaders.
In his words: “A leader is someone who leads in front or ahead. We cannot find them in books, they exist in society. A good leader has character, progressive attitudes and modern skills that can drive nation building.”
Obasanjo who has been a long advocate for strong leadership at all levels of society, not only in Nigeria but in Africa did not mince words on the state of leadership on the continent.
“Africa’s long-standing problem has been good leadership. That is why governance and nation-building are largely deficient in the continent.”
As Nigeria prepares to elect new leaders in the forth-coming 2023 general elections in February, the former president charged Nigerians not to be swayed by the prevalent ethnic and religious colourations present in our society.
He said: “For me, I’ll critically and clinically look at whom to vote for with a clean and clear conscience and not be influenced by religion, ethnicity and nepotism. This is what will guarantee we are progressively looking at the future.”
“Our nation is diverse, which is actually one of our biggest strengths. But if you cannot manage diversity, what right do you have in managing the affairs of the country?”
He further urged the masses to be very astute in selecting the next set of leaders that will rule Nigeria in the coming years.
“In choosing a leader, character matters. Not only that, we should examine a candidate’s track record and scrutinise the person’s vision if it tallies with the kind of future we want for us and our children.”
”The incoming president must be someone who is intelligent economically and has a solid grasp of what is needed to be done to effect things positively.” He added
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress’s presidential candidate, has chastised the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and Atiku Abubakar, warning them that defeat is an impending reality that would materialize in six weeks.
According to him, the PDP candidate lacks any specific information to provide Nigerians, so in order to occupy media space, he makes reckless assertions.
The APC has been blamed by the PDP for orchestrating the security alibi, which was used as an excuse to call off the election and impose an unconstitutional conundrum on the nation.
Bayo Onanuga , Director, Media and Publicity , APC Presidential Campaign Council in a statement said the PDP is confused and disoriented because of the impending defeat of it candidate and has refused to hear the assurance of INEC and the federal government that the election will be held and not be compromised in any way.
Onanuga said the once towering party has become an embarrassment.
The statement reads: “For lack of nothing tangible to tell Nigerians six weeks to a general election as its candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar disappeared from the campaign trail, PDP has resorted to making irresponsible statements just to fill media space.
“The latest is the false information that the Federal Government and INEC plan to postpone the general elections.
“Nigerians are advised to ignore this senseless conjecture from PDP as there is no iota of truth in the allegation.
“The electoral umpire has made it abundantly clear of its readiness to conduct the elections and these elections will hold as scheduled in February and March this year.
“President Muhammadu Buhari who has given this country the most credible elections both regular and off season since 2015 has consistently assured Nigerians, even up to two days ago that 2023 elections will hold.
“Similarly the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has reiterated President Buhari’s position that the Federal Government has no intention to postpone elections.
“Knowing that it has no path to victory and no real agenda for development to sell to Nigerians by its absentee presidential candidate, PDP has nothing profitable again to engage in other than raising false alarms, manufacturing outright lies and disseminating innuendos to deceive the public.
“PDP should know that Nigerians have rejected it and no amount of falsehood can redeem a political party that wrecked our economy, under its watch, created massive insecurity and looted money meant for development…
“As a party and presidential campaign council, we are focused on the message of renewed hope of our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that it has been following the many furtive narratives being promoted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the view to blackmail critical election stakeholders to accede to its design to postpone the 2023 general elections, particularly the February 25, 2023 Presidential election.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Friday, the National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba exposed the attempt by the APC to mislead the public by falsely claiming that the PDP has no candidate for Borno Central Senatorial District Election.
Insisting that the 2023 elections is Sancrosant, PDP said, “our Party had earlier alerted the nation of a well-oiled plot by the APC to orchestrate security situation and promote circumstances to warrant the postponement of the 2023 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The ultimate intent of the APC is to use such unfounded circumstance to derail the entire electoral process and impose an undemocratic situation on our country.
“The PDP hereby insists without equivocation that the February 25, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly election date is sacrosanct.
“February 25, 2023 date is already locked in for the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the security agencies have given their assurances, the Federal Government has also given its assurance; Nigerians are ready for election and will not accept any postponement of elections under any guise whatsoever.”
The PDP said that the APC and its Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu know that they have no chance at all in the coming elections, having been rejected by Nigerians because of their multiple failures, recklessness, humongous corruption, violence and continuing infliction of pains, hardship and life-discounting experiences on Nigerians in the last seven and half years.
“Nigerians are not ready to continue with a hopelessly corrupt, miserably incompetent and viciously insensitive political party, the APC, which has mortgaged the future of our country with an accumulated N77 trillion debt as revealed by the Debt Management Office (DMO).
“This explains why the APC and its Presidential Candidate continue to promote and encourage violence in various parts of our country including attacking INEC facilities,” the party said.
PDP also said that APC and its leaders are desperate to use their doomsday orchestrations to frighten and blackmail INEC to alter the electoral schedule after which the APC will take advantage of the situation to unsettle the general election, foist a constitutional crisis and truncate the nation’s democratic process,
The PDP therefore charged INEC, as an independent institution not to succumb to the blackmails of the APC but focus on its preparations and fix its eyes on delivering a free, fair, transparent and credible election on February 25, 2023.
The PDP also demanded that Security Agencies should place APC leaders on watchlist and take urgent steps to halt APC’s implementation of Asiwaju Tinubu’s directives to his party members, as contained in the recently leaked video, to deploy violence and underhand dealings in the 2023 general elections.
“Nigerians are eager to vote on February 25, 2023. They have suffered a lot and cannot wait to kick out the vicious, insensitive and corrupt APC and vote in the PDP and Atiku Abubakar to rescue and rebuild our nation.
“Atiku Abubakar is poised to win the majority of votes cast across the country and secure 25% in all the States of the Federation to emerge President on the very first ballot. Those trying to push the run-off narrative or postponement of elections should perish the thought. They should get ready for elections or quit the race.
“On the Borno Central Senatorial District election, our Party has been made aware of mischievous and misleading claims by the APC, that the PDP has no candidate for the Borno Central Senatorial election scheduled to hold on February 25, 2023.
“For clarity, the PDP states in an unequivocal term that our Candidate for the Borno Central Senatorial election remains Hon. Umara Muhammad Kumalia as confirmed in the list of candidates for the 2023 general elections as published by INEC.
“Such resort to falsehood further exposes the fact that the APC in Borno State is intimidated by the towering credibility and popularity of our Borno Central Senatorial Candidate, Hon. Umara Muhammad Kumalia among the people for which they are eager to troop out enmasse to vote for him on February 25, 2023,” the party said.
***Present NNPP flags to Northeast Gov’ship candidates.
If elected president, the New Nigeria Peoples Party’s (NNPP) Eng. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has vowed that his administration will be dedicated to putting an end to insecurity in the nation.
During his party’s Northeast rally in Bauchi, Kwankwaso made the pledge in front of Ahmed Khamisu Mailantarki of Gombe State and all of the zone’s governorship contenders.
Mohammed Saad Tahir for Adamawa, Halliru Dauda Jika for Bauchi, Dr. Umar Alkali for Borno, Prof. Sani Yahaya, and Alhaji Garba Umar for Taraba and Yobe States, respectively, were also presented with flags.
Kwankwaso said, ending insecurity challenges, creation of jobs to the teaming youths, and revamping the country’s economy will top his administration’s priority.
“NNPP will surely address issues of insecurity which is the policy thrust of the party as it stands for peace, unity, stability and development of Nigeria”, he added.
He therefore urged the candidates, stakeholders and party members to keep convincing eligible voters across all ethnic groups and religions to vote for NNPP in the 2023 general elections.
He commended the people for coming out in en-mass to welcome him, especially women and youths.
He said, “This is a moment of change for our youths and women. Change for our economy and change for the nation. Nigeria is a potentially great nation. What we need is purposeful and committed leadership.”
Earlier speaking, the NNPP national Chairman, Prof. Rufai Ahmad Alkali, said the party has a determination to administer itself and lead the nation out of the current mess.
He promised that the candidates would do their best to provide good governance if elected in their various states.
He said, “We will do our best to bring food and security to the masses of this country, We will also create enabling environment that will make it easy for investors to stay here and help us prosper as a nation.
“Those are the things we believe in that will bring about good governance in all the states”, he stressed.
All 79 Squadron Commanders of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force are currently enrolled in a two-week fully residential refresher training led by the IGP, Usman Alkali Baba.
According to Force Spokesperson CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the training was conducted at the Police Mobile Force Training College in Ila-Orangun, Osun State, from January 9 to January 23, 2023, and it was “in keeping with the IGP’s mandate on training and human capacity building.”
According to him: “The training programme is geared at strengthening the operational efficiency of the Squadron Commanders and for more effective tactical deployment of their personnel to ensure a secured and hitch-free environment before, during, and after the 2023 General Elections to generally reduce crimes to their barest minimum in Nigeria.
“Some of the focus of the course includes the use of contemporary riot control gadgets for suppression of riots and other serious disturbances, crowd control techniques, ambush and counter-ambush, diplomatic protection, combating internal security challenges and insurgency as well as gun safety and weapons handling.”
The IGP has also charged officers and men of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), the punching arm of the Force, to effectively make use of the opportunities the training would offer them and improve on their crime control mechanisms and general safety strategies, especially towards having free, fair and credible 2023 General Elections.
In the same vein, the IGP has met with representatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) on Thursday 12th January, 2023, to discuss possible areas of partnership to strengthen the oversight and accountability mechanisms of the Nigeria Police Force including the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) and the Provost Department of the Force.
The meeting discussed synergy between the foreign agencies, the Police Reform and Transformation Office (PORTO), the office of the President Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Police to improve the policing system in Nigeria and handle disciplinary matters judiciously.
The Inspector-General of Police has assured that his administration will collaborate with every sector to sanitize the police towards the achievement of his vision for a people-oriented Nigeria Police.
Government has announced a traffic diversion on the Ikorodu-bound Service Lane beginning on Monday, January 23, 2023, for a period of two weeks in order to further the rehabilitation work on the Ikorodu Road section from the Ojota Interchange to the Ojota Second Pedestrian Bridge.According to a statement from the Transportation Commissioner, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, the diversion was planned to address some asphalt issues found at the edge of the ramps leading into the Iyana-Oworo/Gbagada axis and Seven up on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway. He also noted that alternate routes had been made available for motorists to use while the repairs were being made.The Statement further explained that vehicles coming from Maryland on the Service Lane will be diverted at the 2nd Pedestrian Bridge into the Main Carriage Way to make a turn at Mile 12 Underpass and continue their Journeys on Lagos/Ibadan Expressway or link Demurin Road along Ketu axis of the Expressway.The Commissioner assured that the State’s Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA and other Traffic Management Agencies will be on ground to direct traffic to ease vehicular movements.The State Government through this statement appealed to residents of the State, especially motorists that ply the corridor to support the project, which is aimed at finding a lasting solution to the ever busy road in line with efficient traffic management and transportation policy of the State Government.
On Friday, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party attempting to disqualify Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress’s presidential candidate for the general elections of 2023, and Kassim Shettima, Tinubu’s running mate.
The PDP lacks locus standi to file the lawsuit, according to Justice Ekwo’s ruling. The court claimed that the lawsuit violated the “issue estoppel” concept and labeled it as an abuse of the legal system.
In a lawsuit filed by the PDP against the Independent National Electoral Commission, the APC, Tinubu, and Shettima as the first through fourth defendants, respectively, Justice Ekwo issued the ruling.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Ekwo agreed with the defendants that the PDP had no locus standi to file the matter. The judge otes that where there is no locus, it has no jurisdiction to adjudicate on an issue. Justice Ekwo said the action was “incompetent for lack of locus standi”.
Ekwo held that the matter bordered on the internal affairs of the APC in which the PDP lacked locus to file the suit. On argument about non-disclosure of cause of action against the respondents, the judge said that there was a nexus between locus standi and a cause of action.
He, therefore, said that since the PDP had no locus standi, it also did not have any cause of action against the defendants. The court also agreed with the defendants that the suit was an abuse of court process.
“It is express in the provision of Section 29 (5) of the Electoral Act, 2022 that the right of action on the matter for which the applicant/respondent (PDP) has filed this action is given to ‘any aspirant who participated in the primaries of his political party’,” he said.
The trial judge stated it had been established that the PDP was not an aspirant of the APC. “Therefore, there is no iota of law which support this action. It is on this ground that I find that this case is an abuse of process and I so hold,” he said.
Justice Ekwo, consequently, dismissed the suit for constituting an abuse of court process.
Recall that the PDP hadon July 28, 2022, challenged the validity of Tinubu to contest for the 2023 presidential election as APC candidate on the ground that Shettima’s nomination as his running mate was in breach of the provisions of Sections 29(1), 33, 35 and 84{1)}(2)} of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended).
It argued that Shettima’s nomination to contest the position of vice president and Borno Central Senatorial seat contravened the law.
The PDP, which sought an order disqualifying the APC, Tinubu and Shettima from contesting the presidential election scheduled for February 25, also sought an order nullifying their candidacy.
It further sought an order compelling INEC to remove their names from its list of nominated or sponsored candidates eligible to contest the poll.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s Imo West senatorial primary election was invalidated by the Supreme Court on Friday.
The Supreme Court stated in a decision written by Justice Helen Ogunwumiji and read by Justice Emmanuel Agih that the PDP does not, according to the decision, have a senatorial candidate in the senatorial zone.
Jones Onyeriri, a former member of the House of Representatives who served the Nwangele/Isu/Njaba/Nkwerre federal district, won the Imo West Senatorial District primary with 228 votes, defeating closest challenger Thank God Ezeani with 118 votes and Jerry Alagbaso with 57 votes.
The ruling arose from an appeal filed by Nnamdi Thank God Ezeani against Jones Onyeriri and orhers with the reference number SC/CV/1441/2022 (respondents).
The judgement was on an appeal marked SC/CV/1441/2022 by Nnamdi Thank God Ezeani against Jones Onyeriri and orhers (respondents). Earlier, the Supreme Court had decided on a similar appeal marked SC/CV/1440/2022 by Hon. Jerry Alagbaoso against the Independent National Electoral Commission and two others.
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court held that Ezeani’s appeal “succeeds”.
The court noted that having conducted the senatorial primary election in Aladimma Owerri, outside of Orlu zone, the PDP had violated its own constitution and the Electoral Act.
Consequently, Justice Ogunwumiji opined that the PDP primary election for Imo West Senatorial District held in Owerri, was done in contravention of section 87(9) of the Electoral Act.
“The Act says that primary election to nominate candidate for a Senatorial District shall be held in the senatorial consitutency, and not outside the Senatorial zone.
“The primary election conducted in May, 2022, was held in Owerri.
“The PDP violated not only its constitution but also the Electoral Act, which is a statute. “The act is illegal” and liable to be nullified.
Justice Ogunwumiji stated that the contention of the Respondents that it was agreed by parties to conduct the primary election outside Orlu zone was an error in law. “The agreement to hold the primary election in Owerri violated the statute, Justice Ogunwumiji stated.
The Appellant’s lawyer, Azeez Taiwo Hassan said the problem started when his client’s petition challenging the conduct of the primary election outside Orlu zone was ignored.
“We challenged the nomination of the PDP candidate Hon Onyeriri at the Federal High Court Owerri and the court ruled against us.
“We headed to the Court of Appeal Owerri and was also overruled.
“But because we believed in our case and that the law was so clear, we approached the Supreme Court to arbitrate on the matter.
“By the judgement today, the Apex court has affirmed that our position all through from the lower court’s was right. “The court by this judgment has validated the immutable principle and provision of the Electoral Act, that any primary election of a party must be conducted within the designated constituency or senatorial district” Azees Hassan said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it is looking into claims of official extortion of anxious registered voters waiting to pick up their PVCs as well as employee corruption, promising to punish or prosecute offenders.
The reported discriminatory PVC issuance in several jurisdictions has also drawn strong criticism from the commission, which maintained that such actions were against the law.
The deadline for PVC collection in Wards and Registration Areas around the country has also been extended by the commission to January 29.
Barrister Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, said the Commission is heartened by the turnout of registered voters and the surge in the number of collected PVCs across the country.
“In some of the States, as many as 100,000 PVCs were collected in the last five days since the devolution to Ward level started on Friday 6th January 2023” he said.
He said that the Commission is determined to ensure that registered voters have ample opportunity to collect their PVCs ahead of the forthcoming election, hence the extension of the timeframe for collection of PVCs by eight days.
” Instead of ending on Sunday 22nd January 2023, the collection of PVCs will continue until Sunday 29th January 2023. At the moment, the period of collection is 9.00am – 3.00pm daily (including Saturdays and Sundays).
“Collection at Registration Area (Ward) level is extended by one a week from Monday 16th – Sunday 22nd January 2023. “Collection at Local Government level will resume on Monday 23rd – Sunday 29th January 2023” he said , in a statement.
The Commission, he said it is “investigating allegations of extortion by officials at some of the collection centres and inducement by some unscrupulous voters to circumvent processes in order to obtain their PVCs. Those found culpable will face disciplinary action and/or prosecution.
“Similarly, the Commission is disturbed by allegations of discriminatory issuance of PVCs in some locations. This is against the law. All bonafide registrants are entitled to their PVCs and to use them to vote on Election Day in any part of the country where they are registered. Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) have been directed to ensure that no such practices occur nationwide and take immediate disciplinary action against violators.
“For the record, the Commission has printed 13,868,441 PVCs for all new valid registrants as well as applicants for transfer or replacement of cards. Nevertheless, issuing officers should compile any complaints about non-availability of cards and forward them to their immediate supervisors for the attention of Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) who shall compile and forward them for necessary action.
“The Commission once again appreciates the patience and perseverance of citizens as we continue to finetune our process to make the collection of PVCs easier”.
The Nigeria Immigration Service’s Comptroller General, Mr. Isa Jere Idris, reiterated the organization’s commitment to providing Nigerians with better services.
The announcement was made by the CGI during the official groundbreaking for the NIS’s proposed Abeokuta Passport office. He emphasized that the project was timely and that it will improve the manufacture and processing of passports for the benefit of the residents of Ogun state.
Mr. Jere praised the state’s administration and citizens for their unwavering support of the Immigration Service and urged them to continue to stand up for the advancement of the country.
Additionally, the CG visited the governor of Ogun State, Dr Dapo Abiodun and the Alake of Egbaland Oba Adedotun Gbadebo 111.
He equally visited some border communities in the state where he interacted with stakeholders on the need for vigilance and security awareness as the country approach the general election.
The CGIS rounded up his tour of Immigration formations in Zone A (Lagos and Ogun states) with a working visit to the passport offices in Ikoyi and Alausa as well as the new passport front office in Alimosho to be commissioned soon by the Hon Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Mr Jere equally paid a courtesy visit to the Oba of lagos Oba Akiolu as well as the Oniru of Lagos before departing to Abuja.
