Buhari in Maiduguri

By Hamza Suleiman

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Maiduguri as part his one-day official visit to Borno to inaugurate a 50-Megawatts Power Plant and other viable projects executed by the state government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presidential jet landed at the Nigerian Air Force wing of the Maiduguri International Airport on Thursday at about 11:10 a.m.

Buhari was received on arrival by Gov. Babagana Zulum, members of National and State Houses of Assembly, and some top government officials.

Other dignitaries that received the president were the Theatre Commander, North East Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Maj.- Gen. Ibrahim Ali, Heads of security agencies, community and religious leaders.

NAN reports that the president is expected to inaugurate the new 50-megawatts Maiduguri Gas Power plant constructed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

He will also commission the Ahmadu Bello Way, Shehu Sanda Kyari, Lafiya and Mogoram Roads, before proceeding to the Maiduguri Monday Market gutted by fire recently.

Buhari would be conducted round the scene by the General Manager of the market, Mustapha Loskorima.

The President will also inaugurate the Cancer Center at the University of Maiduguri and the newly constructed Tashan Bama Motor Park, consisting of 475 shops and an administrative complex. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chidi Opara/Rabiu Sani-Ali

Source: NAN News

NCWS National President, Hajiya Lami Lau

By Dorcas Jonah

National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) has congratulated the President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu, on his victory at Saturdays Presidential election, calling for an all-inclusive government.

NCWS National President, Hajiya Lami Lau, in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, also congratulated the Vice-President-elect, Sen. Kashim Shettima.

She urged individuals and political parties that were not satisfied with the election results not to take laws into their hands but seek redress in the court of law.

Lau said that an all-inclusive government was crucial to nation building and transformation of the country.

She also said that increased participation of female technocrats in politics would go a long way in repositioning the country for greatness.

Lau called on the president-elect to recognise the role of women in nation-building by giving them more opportunities in governance.

If more women are given the opportunity to serve in various government positions, they will bring hope back to the masses and the society will benefit.

There cannot be any meaningful development without an all-inclusive government of women, youths and persons with disabilities.

More women are needed in government, as they are the most-productive part of the society, she said.

The NCWS national president commended women and youths for coming out en masse to vote for the candidate of their choice in the just-concluded presidential and national assembly elections.

She urged them to repeat same in the March 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections, saying that they should focus more on female candidates.

Lau also stressed the need for peace as a tool for national development. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Wale Sadeeq

Source: NAN News

Supporters jubilate in carnival manner as Tinubu receives Certificate of Return

By Muhyideen Jimoh

Major streets in the FCT erupted into carnival-like celebrations on Wednesday as Sen. Bola Tinubu received his Certificate of Return as the president-elect from INECs chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

Shortly after the ceremony which took place at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, supporters of the president-elect went into a frenzy of jubilation around Garki Area 1 shopping complex.

The supporters drove in colourful motorcade hoisting the posters of Tinubu and that of Alhaji Kashim Shettima, the vice-president-elect.

They performed various car stunts on major streets while chanting Jagaban.

Malam Abubakar Mohammed, one of the supporters said they were happy Tinubu won the keenly-contested election.

Jagaban is a good man; we are happy that he won the election, he said.

Mohammed, however, called on the president-elect to focus on improving the lives of the masses.

Another supporter, Malam Nura Ismail said the victory was for all Nigerians and charged the president-elect to improve on the economic and security situation in the country.

This celebration is to thank Allah for the victory of Jagaban (Tinubu) at the polls; we urge him to improve on the economic and security situation when he is sworn in, he said.

Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 8,794,726 votes to win the 2023 presidential election. He defeated Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Mr Peter Obi of Labour Party to emerge victorious. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

Prof. Olalekan Akinbo

By Sylvester Thompson

Prof. Olalekan Akinbo, Scientist and Supervisor at Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), says Genome Editing (GEd) technology is useful to Africa.

Akinbo spoke in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.

He clarified that Genome Editing (GEd) and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) were not the same in principle.

Making this distinction, he said GMO could apply Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) information from another plant or animal to form a crop, while GEd had nothing to do with external applications.

Akinbo explained that in GEd, all what was needed was already inside the plants DNA, hence the idea was to use the inherent information to assist the plant realise its potential.

He stated that this was known as redundant DNA which GEd technology would help to activate.

The scientist, who was responding to why African countries should take GEd seriously, argued that it was an emerging technology with new innovations that help in various areas of improvements.

He listed these areas to include climate, agriculture and health among others, adding that the technology is also a means of improving livelihoods.

Akinbo said the technology of GEd was an initiative the centre advocated with focus on agricultural productivity.

According to him, numerous crops have the potentials to produce optimally but due to the limitations caused by diseases, pests and nutrient insufficiency in the soil, among others, they failed to optimally produce.

Akinbo said in such cases, crops with these shortcomings were not to be exposed to conventional breeding techniques where the parental characteristics could not be passed from one generation to another for enhancement in yields.

He added: But when the limitation is removed through genome editing which uses advanced breeding technique, then the potential of the crop would be enhanced and productivity in regards to yield will improve.

This is the most important thing because Africa is an agrarian continent that relies more on agriculture and most of agricultural productivity is very low due to pest, diseases among other inhibiting factors.

Akinbo lamentedthat the standard of Africas agricultural productivity was low in comparison to what is required or expected in international standards of crop yield and output.

He said through GEd technology, Africas crop yield and agricultural output would be improved and maximised, which would automatically impact on the Gross Domestic Products(GDPs) of African economies.

He assured that with GEd, instead of cultivating massive hectares of land for less yield as what was experienced in conventional breeding, a reduced area of land would ensure tremendous yield.

The scientist further said that GEd was helpful in addressing issues relating to climate change because there would be significant afforestation that would be going on.

He said: Africans need food to feed the teeming population, so yield may not need to be one hundred per cent farming with improvement in efficiency and productivity scale.

So, this technology could also help to improve and support the productivity of crops, with reduced area of cultivated land and provide enough feed for animals as well as increase their meat productivity.

Akinbo stated that emerging technologies were numerous but genome editing was one that made use of the technology at the DNA level, which is the information carrier in the body of any living organism.

He said that this was very important as this was one of the advantages of the technology.

Akinbo added: The truth is that science has proven that this technology will help African nations.(NAN)()

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

Bola Tinubu

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has congratulated the winner of the 2023 presidential election, Sen. Bola Tinubu.

Osinbajo extended his felicitations in a message he sent to the President-elect on Wednesday in Abuja.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier on Wednesday declared the presidential flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tinubu, winner of the Feb. 25 presidential election.

INEC has also presented the Certificates of Return to Tinubu, and his Vice President elect, Kashim Shettima.

I warmly congratulate the flagbearer of our great party, the APC, Tinubu, on his victory at the 2023 Presidential Elections, and his declaration as President-Elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

I also congratulate Sen. Shettima on his declaration as Vice President-Elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In your previous years of public service, you have demonstrated a consistent fidelity to progressive and welfarist ideals, and an ability to build bridges across several divides.

These attributes are needed especially at this time, to reach out to disaffected sections of our society and to meet the aspirational expectations of our young people who have shown such a strong desire to impact our democratic process in a positive way.

I trust that they will not allow whatever setbacks they may have experienced to truncate their strong desire to determine the future course of our national journey.

Through thick and thin, we must all remain focused on the objective of birthing the Nigeria of our dreams.

I pray that Almighty God will help you to fulfil the progressive mandate of our Party, as well as your various plans to improve the security, welfare and happiness of all Nigerians, he said.

Earlier, while presiding over the weekly Federal Executive Council, the vice president led the ministers to congratulate Tinubu, his wife, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu and the Vice President-Elect, Shettima.

He directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to formally convey the felicitations of the council.

The vice president had also attended the formal presentation of the INEC Certificates of Return to both the President-Elect and the Vice President-Elect at the National Collation Center, International Conference Centre, Abuja.(NAN)

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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

The FCT Senatorial Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Hajia Ireti Kingibe, on Monday rejected the cancellation of the Bwari Area Council election results.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had canceled the senatorial results for Abaji and Bwari due to over voting.

Kingibe, while addressing Journalists in Abuja said that there was no over voting in Bwari Area Council, therefore, the cancellation was uncalled for.

According to her, a mistake in the tabulation of results should not affect the victory of a candidate.

She said she was told that the person that wrote the figure made a mistake whether knowingly or unknowingly, and the person put two plus two equals to five.

She added that the official now referred to the mistake as over voting.

She said that the Electoral Officer (EO) said it was an error from the person that wrote the results whether he did it on purpose or accidentally, was not clear.

All the results sheets show there was no over voting in any of the polling units. So, why cancel the result of the entire area council? We have watched them.

They have been looking for a reason to cancel all our strongholds and suddenly, they found an error and that cant stand.

They said it is not their job to look at the results sheets on over voting. We have had enough.

They said we should go to the polls, they want to impose people on us, it will not work. The way this country is going, weve had enough.

Earlier, Ireti had called on her supporters to keep calm over the delay in the announcement of election results, saying the margin is too high for manipulation.

Ireti said the delay in the announcement of the FCT Senatorial election was as a result of violence recorded during the election. (NAN)(www nannews.ng)

Edited by Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

On No-Interview Visa Renewal, it said:

You are physically present in Nigeria;

If you are qualified based on the above criteria, visit https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ng to start
your application.

Please note that processing times for the program are expected to be up to two months and
you will not be able to retrieve your passport during that time.

Each applicant must individually meet the criteria; minors can apply without an interview only if
they meet the eligibility criteria on their own.

On Emergency Appointments, it said: If you have a life-or-death emergency, you may request an expedited, in-person interview;

However, to accommodate No-Interview Visa Renewals, appointments will be very limited.

Business travel, conferences, weddings, and graduations are not considered emergencies.

If you have an emergency and need to travel immediately, please follow the guidance provided at
https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ng or 234-1-227-8955 to request an emergency appointment.

The Mission alerted that third parties unaffiliated with U.S. Embassy Abuja and Consulate General Lagos
might seek to take advantage of various visa services to target visa applicants with fraudulent
offers or claims.

It advised applicants to fill out their own forms and make their appointments themselves via the
official websites.

As future opportunities for Interview Waiver appointments become available, they will be
communicated via our website.

Remember to rely on information only from genuine sources: https://travel.state.gov,
https://ng.usembassy.gov/visas/, and https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ng.

Avoid becoming the victim of a scam!, the U.S. Mission advised. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Source: NAN News

By Diana Omueza

The Cleen Foundation, an NGO, has lauded the conduct of the Nigeria Police and other law enforcement agencies during the general election held on Saturday.

The elrection was held to elect the President and Vice President and members of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Mr Peter Gad, Executive Director of the foundation gave the commendation while addressing newsmen on the foundations preliminary report on the conduct of security agencies in the elections.

Gad also urged the electorate to remain peaceful to the end of the entire electoral process.

He said from reports so far received from the foundations observers in senatorial districts across the country, the elections appeared to have gone according to the standards for democratic elections to which Nigeria had committed itself.

We deployed roving observers in the 109 Senatorial Districts and our preliminary reports indicates that, inspite some reported delays, the elections appear to be going on according to the standards for democratic elections.

The 109 trained INEC accredited observers liaised with a sizable number of citizen observers across the country covering the 109 senatorial zones in Nigeria.

They reported that the elections commenced early in most polling units before 9:00 am, however in Kogi, Ebonyi, Imo, Enugu, and Abia States observers reported delays due to late arrival of INEC staff and voting materials.

While in Delta, Ebonyi, Imo, Ondo, and some part of Lagos State, late arrival of security personnel were reported in some polling units, he said.

Gad said that in spite of the late arrivals of security, data gathered showed that over 80 per cent of the polling units had at least two or more security agents.

He added that almost all the polling units observed security agents were wearing easily visible and identifiable name tags and they were civil and approachable.

According to him, observers across the states reported that they felt safe and secure at the polling units.

Our observers reported that security personnel in the polling units visited acted professionally and impartially towards the voters.

The security personnel were of good conduct at the various polling units, he said.

The director said that most of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functioned reasonably well, except in few cases where the machines for different polling units were mixed up.

The BVAS machine that was meant for a different unit was deployed to Polling Unit 004, Ward Dan Mangu Zodu, in Bassa LGA in Plateau State.

Again our observer in Polling Unit 012, llesha Ward, Baruten LGA in Kwara State reported that the BVAS thumbprint failed to capture any registered voter as at 10:50 am.

However, in all, the elections appear to have gone according to the standards for democratic elections to which Nigeria had committed itself, he said.

Gad said that the group was still compiling reports from across various polling units and would disseminate a more elaborate post election report to the public in due time. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

Malam Saliu Mustapha, a Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara Central, has been declared winner of Saturdays election.

Prof. Abdullahi Abubakar, Returning Officer for the Senatorial Election in Kwara Central, announced Mustapha, early Monday morning, as the winner, having satisfied the requirements of the electoral law.

Abubakar said that Mustapha polled 109,823 votes against his close rival, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 69,202 votes.

Also, Mr Apaokagi Salahuddin of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), polled 13,193 to come third in the keenly contested election.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

DD/Website

By Nabilu Balarabe

Sen. Ahmed Lawan of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has won the Yobe North Senatorial District election in Yobe.

Declaring the results in Gashua on Monday, the Returning Officer, Prof. Omolala Aduoju of Federal University, Gashua, said Lawan scored 91,318 votes.

Having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest votes, Alhaji Ahmed Lawan of the APC is hereby declared the winner and returned elected, she said.

She said Lawans closest opponent, Sheriff Abdullahi, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came second with 22,849, while the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate, Alhaji Garba Umar, scored 7,210 votes.

Aduoju said Action Democratic Party (ADP) scored three votes even though the party did not field a candidate in the election.

The total votes cast in the election is 126,677 out of which 122,136 were valid and 4,541 votes rejected, she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the district comprises of Machina, Nguru, Bade, Karasuwa, Jakusko and Yusufari Local Government Areas.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations has expressed worry over the slow upload of the Presidential and National Assembly election results.

Mr Hamzat Lawal, Chief Executive, Connected Development (CODE), who spoke on behalf of the Civil Society Organisations on Sunday in Abuja, said that at the INEC result portal currently has only results for 40,000 polling units.

Lawal said, this is most disturbing as we are aware that INEC created over 50,000 new polling units with less than 100 registered voters in each of them.

This is even as elections have since been concluded in most of these polling units at 2:30p.m., yesterday.

One would expect that by midnight of yesterday, all this polling units results should have been uploaded.

This expectation is coming from the experience we observed in the Ekiti and Osun Gubernatorial elections, where we witnessed over 95 per cent of the results uploaded before midnight on election day.

He said that the CSOs were forwarding to INEC some of the reports they were got from the field.

Lawal said that with 20,000 community-driven observers on the ground, CODE and its partners using the Electoral Intelligence tool, Uzabe, noticed a worrisome trend across the nation .

He said that these pointed to the gaps and unpreparedness within the structure of the electoral process and which threaten the credibility of this election.

The coalition said that there were several reports which indicated that in states like Ekiti, Cross River, Imo, and Rivers, INEC had their Local Government Area (LGA) collation centers relocated without adequate information to stakeholders.

In Ekiti especially, we have it on good authority that all LGA collation centres were relocated, and in most cases, accredited observers were outrightly denied access to were results were being collated.

This happened in Oru East, Imo State, where our observers confirmed that no election was held and in fact, some voters were asked to vote in a private residential building of a party chieftain, which is clearly against INEC guidelines and the electoral act.

Yet we have results from that LGA. This is an indictment on INEC and all that our constitution stands for, the group said.

Lawal said that CODE and its partners call on INEC to indeed be independent and serve the people what the constitution has mandated it to serve.

Therefore we are calling on INEC to address these issues immediately. We are also calling on the Nigerian police as the lead agency on election security to monitor, he said (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bayo Sekoni

Source: NAN News

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

As Nigerians await the outcome of the Saturday general elections, Information and Culture minister Lai Mohammed has lauded his compatriots determination to elect credible leaders for the country.

Mohammed, who voted at his Polling Unit 006 in Oro Ward 2, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara, particularly lauded the voting process which he described as peaceful.

He also lauded the massive turn-out of voters.

What struck me the most is the turn-out of the young, old, strong, the physically challenged men and women; they all came out to cast their votes.

You can see the determination and resolve on their faces in an atmosphere of conviviality.

I hope that it will be the same atmosphere and ambience in every other polling unit, the minister said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seat of the President, the 109 slots in the Senate and the 360 seats in the House of Representatives were up for graps on the first election day.

The next election day is March 11 when Nigerians will elect new state governors and members of state houses of assembly. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams and Ephraims Sheyin

DD/Website

PDP Flag

By Gami Tadanyigbe/Ijeoma Olorunfemi

Mr Sunday Zaka, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the FCT, lost his life in an automobile accident in the early hours of Saturday in Kuje.

A close aide of the deceased, Bawa Benjamin, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the accident happened around 2 a.m. along the Gudaba-Arena road on the outskirts of Kuje town.

He said the deceased was returning from a meeting of party officials in Abuja, and his Peugeot car lost control and crashed into a tree.

He was rushed to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital at Gwagwalada, where he was confirmed dead by the doctors, Benjamin said.

Reacting to the sad event, Mr Abdullahi Sabo, Chairman of Kuje Area Council, while also confirming Zakas death, described it as a great loss to the party. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Mr Olawale Alabi

Source: NAN News

Obasanjo voting in an election

By Olawale Jokotoye

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, have adjudged the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections in Ogun as smooth and credible.

Osinbajo and Obasanjo expressed their views in separate interviews with journalists after casting their votes in Ikenne and Abeokuta respectively.

Commenting, Obasanjo who voted at about 10:32 a.m. at Ward 11, Polling Unit 22, Olushomi Compound, Sokori area of Abeokuta-North, expressed satisfaction at the peaceful and orderly conduct of the polls.

I think we are getting it through in election in our country.

One can see things that are encouraging and giving hope for future as far as election is concern, because there are improvements, he said.

Obasanjo, particularly, commended INEC for the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), saying that technology had improved the voting process.

I came in and I was checked. I was asked to remove my glasses and the gadget was placed before my face and my picture appeared.

That is a new one and if that will happen all over the country, I think we are making progress.

One should encourage and support anything that will help the credibility, integrity and transparency of the electoral process, because credible election is the begining of good governance of any country, he said

Obasanjo expressed optimism over the outcome of the polls, adding, my expectation is high.

Also, Osinbajo, who cast his vote at Unit 014, Ward 1, Ojurege in Ikenne Local Government area of the state, also described the exercise as peaceful.

He expressed hope that the election would be orderly and peaceful across the country.

This is my polling booth. The Ojurege polling booth is very peaceful.

I hope this is the same all across the state and the country, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

Source: NAN News

BVAS machine operated by an electoral officer

By Ikenna Osuoha

As Nigerians go to the polls on Saturday, a group, Initiative for Leadership Development and Change (ILDC), has urged voters to conduct themselves peacefully in exercising their electoral rights and vote their conscience.

Mr Ugochukwu Nnam, President of the group, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.

He called on the voters to see the election as an opportunity to make statement without fear or favour.

Nnam said: Today is a remarkable day, it is historic in the sense that it is the long expected day for Nigerians to decide their future.

So, I advise voters not to be intimidated but vote whosoever is their choice considering their vote as power to make or mar their future.

The youths leader, who commended President Muhammadu Buhari for promising free and fair elections, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to compromise its set standards.

Every hand should be on deck to support INEC deliver credible, peaceful, free and fair elections., Nnam appealed.

He lauded Buhari for signing the Electoral Act which had reduced possible incidents of thuggery and rigging in elections.

The ILDC leader advised voters to resist temptations of vote-buying and other acts capable of undermining a credible electoral process.

Nnam promised that the group was committed to the promotion of good governance in the country for a united and prosperous Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigerians will be going to the polls on Saturday to elect a new President and National Assembly members. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi/Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele

By Julius Toba-Jegede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial Candidate for Ekiti Central, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, has defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the race in his polling unit in Iyin Ekiti.

The current Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, defeated his closest rival Oladimeji Ajijola of PDP with 171 votes.

Ajijola pulled two votes, according to the result confirmed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Polling Unit 003 of Ward 13 on Saturday.

NAN reports that Bamidele is seeking a re-election to National Assembly where hes the Chairman, Southern Senators Forum.

In the same polling unit, APC Presidential Candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu scored 155 against his opponent, Atiku Abubukar of PDP who scored two.

Also in the same polling unit the APC House of Representatives Candidate Steve Fatoba polled 165 votes, while his closest opponent from the PDP scored only one vote.

Bamidele appreciated the people of his ward for the overwhelming victory and promised to report his qualitative representative hes offered in the last three years. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

JTJ/IAA

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

Members of the Atunluse Initiatives with representatives of Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso

By Segun Giwa

The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, has solicited the support of Atunluse Initiatives, a Yoruba socio-cultural and political group, ahead of Saturdays presidential election.

This is contained in a statement by the Coordinator of the Atulunse Initiatives, Mr Shalom Olaseni, on Thursday in Akure.

Olaseni said that the NNPP presidential candidate made the plea when the Kwankwaso Inter State Election Committee for Ondo visited the secretariat of the Atulunse Initiatives in Akure, Ondo.

He said the group was very much on ground with members across the communities, villages and towns in Ondo state based on the operational structure of that can be activated within 24 hours.

NNPP appears not to be leaving any stone unturned in ensuring it wins the 2023 Presidential Election as it seeks Atunluse Onitiatives support, he said.

Olaseni said that Kwankwaso was represented at the meeting by the former House of Representatives member from Kano, Ibrahim Yakubu.

He quoted him as saying that the NNPP ideology was in tandem with what Atunluse represents.

The party will be glad to work with the organisation because of what they stand for.

Therefore, we want Atunluse to join hands with Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso to rescue Nigeria from the shackles of bad and very wicked governance, he said.

The former member of the National Assembly narrated to the leaders of the organisation what Kwankwaso was able to achieve as a former governor, a federal minister and as a senator.

He said: People that are following Kwankwaso are not doing it because of money, but they are following him because they believe in him and his ideology.

Supporting Rabiu Kwankwaso to become president is a support to lift the poor masses from abject poverty.

Dr Umaru Dakwa, a member of the delegation, added that Kwankwaso share same ideology with Atunluse, saying he has the best programme for the masses among all the presidential candidates.

According to him, Atunluse is an organisation with diverse membership and this is the kind of people that we will like to work with.

The Chairman of Atunluse Initiatives, Otunba Akinsola Akinbobola, while reacting said both the Atunluse and NNPP were relative in terms of ideology.

Akinbobola reiterated that the organisation would only work with a mass oriented political party.

If you recognise us, we will recognise you, since you have come here, we will get back to you after our emergency state exco meeting with the members of the organisation.

Atunluse has the mandate to advocate for better life for Nigerians irrespective of where they come from, Olaseni quoted Akinbobola as saying. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

Buhari arrives Katsina ahead of Saturdays Presidential election

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Katsina, Katsina State, for onward trip to Daura, his country home, ahead of Saturdays Presidential election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presidential aircraft conveying the president and members of his entourage landed at Umaru Musa YarAdua Airport, Katsina, on Thursday at exactly 4:40 p.m.

The president, who was received at the airport by Gov. Aminu Masari and other State Government dignitaries as well as heads of Federal Government agencies and departments, would be casting his vote in Daura.

Prior to leaving Abuja for Katsina on Thursday, Buhari had summoned a Security Council Meeting where he met with heads of security agencies to intimate them on the need to protect electorate, ensure hitch-free and fair elections.

The president also met with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu in Abuja, where he was assured of the commissions readiness and commitment to conduct free and fair general elections on Feb. 25 and March 11, 2023.

The Nigerian leader was also present at the International Conference Centre Abuja, where candidates participating in the 2023 presidential election signed a peace accord on Thursday.

Buhari had charged all the candidates to accept the outcome of the elections as the choice of the electorate.

In the build up to the elections, Buhari had in Feb. 2022 signed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law.

He had also repeatedly vowed to bequeath an electoral process that would be adjudged credible and transparent. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters says troops of Operation Whirl Punch have apprehended one of the masterminds of the March 28, 2022 terrorist attack on the Abuja-Kaduna Train service.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, made this known at the bi-weekly news briefing on the operations of the armed forces, on Thursday in Abuja.

Danmadami said the suspect was one of thethree terrorists apprehended by the troops at Damba community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Feb. 14.

He said the operation led to the recovery of two motorcycles, mobile phones, the sum of 5,000 dollars, other currencies and some sundry items.

According to him, troops on fighting patrol also neutralised seven terrorists at Ungwan Birni in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.

He said 83 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 50 rounds of 7.62mm special, and seven magazines, among other items, were recovered from the terrorists.

Danmadami also said troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, had within the period, neutralised 23 terrorists and arrested nine as well as rescued 23 abducted civilians.

According to him, the air component conduced series of air interdiction operations to decimate and deny the terrorists freedom of action within the period under review.

Specifically, on Feb. 13, an air interdiction operation was conducted based on intelligence report that terrorists had gathered for a wedding ceremony at location within Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Another air interdiction operation was conducted at identified terrorists locations within Kankara and Batsari Local Government Areas, all in Katsina state.

Feedback revealed that several terrorists were neutralised in both air strikes, the defence spokesman said. (NAN) ()

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

DD/Website

Members of Potters Gallery Initiative

By Bridget Ikyado

The Creative Director, Potters Gallery Initiative, Mr Donald Unanka says the organization will continue to build the capacity of Persons With Disability (PWDs) in the creative industry.

Speaking at a workshop organised for PWDs on Thursday in Abuja, Unanka said the intervention was imperative, in order to provide the PWDs with sustainable business skills.

According to him, the workshop will enable them to explore other potentials in the creative industry.

We do not want PWDs to be left out of trade and businesses just because they are physically challenged, Unanka said.

Promoting the skills of PWDs would also enhance self-reliance and build their career in different fields.

They will also understand the industry properly and the market for successful businesses, he said.

The Director said the three-day workshop, supported by UNESCO, has more than 50 trainees from various discipline.

A beneficiary, Comfort Ekwo said I learnt a lot from this workshop which include how to start and improve my business skills.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the participants were drawn from different businesses and organisations in the Federal Capital Territory. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Abdul Hassan/Maharazu Hamed

Source: NAN News