Nigeria: Conduct Of Credible Polls, Panacea To Violence – Says El-Rufai

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06/12/2018

By Joseph Edegbo:

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has reminded the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to replicate its feat at the recent Ogun State Gubernatorial election in the conduct of 2019 general elections just as governorship candidates of all the political parties in the State on Wednesday agreed to a peace pact.

E-Rufa’i Rufai who was speaking in Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria at an event related to the 2019 General Elections said if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducts a credible poll, there would be no violence.

The event tagged: ‘Summit Towards Peaceful 2019 General Elections and organised by Kaduna State Peace Commission, the Governor said, his party is committed to peace and peaceful elections in the state.

El-Rufai noted that massive rigging of elections was responsible for the post-election violence experienced in the past.

According to him, “Our party is committed to peace and peaceful elections. The political parties that merged with APC were victims of rigged elections and consequential violence. It was the massive rigging of election in 2011 that led to widespread violence at that time and Kaduna state lost over 800 lives.

“The election of 2015 was a game changer because everybody believed it was credible particularly in the northern part of Nigeria and southwest. To a large extent, most people believed that 2015 election were credible and that was why it was inevitable that President Jonathan had to concede and here in Kaduna state, we are also happy the governor then called me and conceded.

“We just returned from Osun State for the inauguration of a Governor. I was in Osun for the first round of election and it is the most credible election I have ever seen in the world. I was not around for the second round, but the first round of election in Osun was very credible. Election materials arrived early, no incidences of destruction or violence or snatching of ballot boxes.

“It is my view as candidate of APC that if INEC conducts election of 2019 with the same kind of credibility as Osun 1 election, there will be no violence at all because it is rigging that lead to violence.

“I want to tell you all those that want to be governor, it is not an easy job. It is just that when I look at some of those that want to be governor and what they have done to the state in the past, I feel I have a duty to protect the state and so many people of the state from the evil of the past.

“Now as a governor of the state, the biggest challenge we have as state government in Kaduna state is the likelihood of violence during campaign and election day. Most of the violence that occurred in this state were post-election violence.

“Elections and campaign in Kaduna state have generally been peaceful, it is after the results are announced that we have instances of violence. Politicians have been engaging in hate speeches and they have been encouraging others to engage on social media, incitement, malicious falsehood and religion and ethnic sentiments in politics. This is the biggest problem we are facing as a government. I appeal to all of us politicians to desist from these.

“We end up destroying lives by giving young people weapons and guns for election purposes. What will they do with them after the election? They become a monster difficult to deal with. So, I want to appeal to our colleagues to listen to what Bishop Fearon said to mind our language, to avoid using improper words because politic is not war. It is just a competition. We should try not to divide our people because if we win, we still need to unite them to govern them.

“If we care about our people, if we care about our state let us campaign in peace let follow the tenet of our religion. Let’s campaign on issues and achievements. May the best man or woman win.

“And for us in the Kaduna state government. We are determined to bring to justice anyone that engage in hate speech in their tweet, Facebook, WhatsApp that lead to destruction of property or human being in Kaduna state. We are doing that vigorously. We don’t care what people say.

“Anyone that comes to Kaduna and say something or even outside Kaduna no matter who he is whether Bishop, Imam or Sheikh. Whether he calls himself chief or Hakimi, we will bring him to justice. We are ready to bring him to Kaduna and prosecute him and we are in the trail of many of them- some in Abuja, Lagos. We will bring them to Kaduna and try them for incitement, malicious falsehood or hate speech. We are trying to do that and we are not going to politicise it because the protection of lives and properties should never be politicised.” He said.

Earlier, the State Chairman of the PDP, Hassan Hyet had charged the ruling party to ensure a peaceful election saying that fairness, equity and Justice are the foundation for peaceful election..

Chairmen and gubernatorial candidates of other political parties who also spoke said they were ready to play by the rules, but the ruling party must not use the instruments of the state to rig the election in its favour.

South Africa Appoints New Director Public Prosecutions

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05/12/2018

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President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa on Tuesday announced the appointment of Batohi as the new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP).

Batohi will commence her duties in February 2019 after serving her notice as Senior Legal Advisor at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The announcement followed a gruelling interview process that was a culmination of a Constitutional Court directive in August for the appointment of a new NDPP within 90 days.

The court had highlighted the severe challenges that have confronted the National Prosecuting Authority in recent years, including leadership instability and a decline in public confidence in the institution.

Addressing the media, President Ramaphosa said Batohi’s appointment was a response to the state of dysfunctionality and deficiencies in the NPA that were identified by the court.

“I am confident that Batohi possesses all the attributes of a capable NDPP. Throughout her extensive and distinguished career, and in the course of the selection process, she has shown herself to be a fit and proper person.”

The President said the NDPP occupies a vital position in the country’s democracy, and makes an essential contribution to upholding the rule of law and ensuring the efficiency and integrity of law enforcement.

“At this moment in our history, as we address matters that South Africans are most concerned about – such as state capture, corruption and widespread crime – our country needs a National Prosecuting Authority that is above reproach in the performance of its mandate and that enjoys the confidence of the public.

“The NDPP must ensure that the [NPA] exercises its functions without fear, favour or prejudice and should not be beholden to any vested interests, whether in politics, in business or elsewhere. The NDPP needs to be able to take decisions independently and impartially,” he said.

After the Constitutional Court ruling, President Ramaphosa decided to depart from previous practice of appointing the NDPP and sought the assistance of a panel of individuals from the legal fraternity and Chapter 9 institutions in recommending suitable candidates.

The panel was led by Energy Minister Jeff Radebe, as chairperson, and Auditor General Kimi Makwethu, South African Human Rights Commission Chairperson Bongani Majola, Jaap Cilliers from the General Council of the Bar of South Africa, Richard Scott from the Law Society, Lutendo Sigogo from the Black Lawyers Association, Lawrence Manye from the Advocates for Transformation and Mvuzo Nyotesi from the National Association of Democratic Lawyers.

Following a process of nominations, shortlisting and interviews that were open to the media, the advisory panel proposed five candidates for the NDPP position.

Batohi began her career as a junior prosecutor in the Chatsworth magistrate’s court in 1986 and steadily rose through the ranks to become the Director of Public Prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal.

She was seconded to the Investigation Task Unit established by President Nelson Mandela in 1995 and later served as the first regional head of the Directorate of Special Operations based in KwaZulu-Natal.

For much of the last decade, she has served as a Senior Legal Advisor to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

“Despite the many challenges the NPA has faced in the past, we know that there are women and men of great ability, experience and commitment within the NPA who are dedicated to doing their job and doing it well,” said President Ramaphosa.

“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the conditions exist for them to effectively serve the cause of justice and to meet the great expectations that the South African people have of them.”

Embracing the challenge, Batohi thanked the President for appointing her and the interview panel for the recommendation.

“I accept with gratitude the opportunity to serve as the NDPP. My only obligation is to serve the country with humility and dignity and to the best of my ability,” she said.

She defined her appointment as a historic moment for women in the country, saying it is a recognition by the President that the role of women in the pursuit of equality and justice is important.

“The President and, by proxy, the people, have bestowed a lot of confidence in me and the least I can do is to reciprocate that confidence,” she said.

She added that her leadership would seek to work with the different sectors of society in an effort to promote justice. Building a harmonious NPA also ranked amongst her primary objectives. –

Smuggling: Nigeria Customs On Red Alert In Ogun, South West

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05/12/2018

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BY Oladele Igbagboyemi:

The Nigeria Customs Service says it has placed a red flag on the activities of smugglers in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria, especially during the yuletide.

The Area Controller, Ogun Area Command, Michael Ojobo Agbara, disclosed this to newsmen at the Idiroko Border on Tuesday.

The Controller expressed worry about the increasing use of motorcycles in conveying smuggled items, with little regards for its dire risks.

Agbara however restated the resolve of the command’s officers and men at intensifying efforts in carrying out their statutory responsibility.

He maintained that customs will continue to campaign and sensitise members of the border community

According to him, “We have placed a red flag on Ogun state. It is a no-go area. We are ready and ever willing to challenge anyone who engages in smuggling.

“The quantity of motorcycles being used to smuggle rice is fast becoming alarming, despite the associated risk attached to it”.

“We are campaigning and sensitising the people on the negative effect of smuggling. Some of the traditional rulers are also assisting us.

“We have been deploying intelligence in our attempt to get rice smuggled by the motorcyclists because we can’t engage them when they are on motion.

“So what we do is to track them to their warehouse and seize them because the law allows us to do so. Some of them are more desperate this December period because of the festivities.

“We are doing this as our patriotic responsibility. If we encourage our farmers to grow rice, we will increase our various chain.

“Some of the rice that are being smuggled are contaminated because some of them have been kept in the warehouse for about 10 years.

“They may be the cause of some of the diseases people are having today”.

Nigeria: Minister Canvasses For Moratorium On Strikes

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04/12/2018

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By Peter Usman:

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Malam Muhammad Musa Bello wants labour Unions and professional associations in the country to place a 5-Year moratorium on all forms of industrial action.

This, he said, is a sign of patriotic sacrifice that would give Nigeria a chance to lay strong foundations for economic development and nation building.

Bello, who made the plea in Abuja when the Association of Resident Doctors and the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA FCT chapters separately paid him courtesy visits, said most countries in Europe, Russia and Asia made the same sacrifices which enabled them to lay the building blocks for their strong economic growth today.

The Minister thanked the Medical Doctors for their patriotism in not joining the brain drain train in search of greener pastures abroad, adding that the FCT Administration will continue to support them to ensure that they remain in the system as partners in progress.

He gave assurance that the ongoing hospital projects will be completed to cope with the increasing demand on health facilities in the city.

He disclosed that FCT Administration has reached some significant milestones in resolving many of the issues affecting health professionals that have been lingering for over 10 years, and therefore called for patience and understanding.

Bello however called for more private sector participation in healthcare in the FCT, saying that government alone cannot provide the required bed spaces and all the needed specialties.

The Minister who was reacting to the reports of mass exodus of doctors from the country to practice overseas, appealed to resident doctors to resist the allure of seeking greener pastures and make necessary sacrifices for the greater good of the country.

He called for introspection among the doctors, saying the countries they are rushing to today were once in similar situation as Nigeria and were only able to advance through shear hard work and sacrifices.

“I appeal to you and your members to continue to stay within the system because I believe we have a great country. If we all look at our personal needs and requirement, we will say yes, we want greener pastures. But if we all go for greener pastures, who is going to develop this country? Bello said

Earlier in his presentation, the President, Association of Resident Doctors, FCTA Chapter, Dr Michael Olanrewaju appreciated the FCT Minister for taking the bull by the horn and approving the payment of 28 days allowance in addition to adequately equipping the hospitals and approving the skipping allowance for the doctors.

He however lamented that doctors that have been trained to high degree of proficiency in different medical disciplines in the FCTA were now leaving the country in droves, while those left behind were also spoiling to join the bandwagon.

Olanrewaju said this has resulted in a situation where the doctors were now overstretched in their respective places of work, with low doctor-patient ratio making it difficult for them to function properly.

This, he added, makes patients that could be conveniently managed at the primary level thronging the secondary and tertiary centres to access health care.

Nigeria 2019: PDP ‘ll Never ‘Smell’ Power Again In Nigeria – Says El- Rufa’i

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04/12/2018

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By Joseph Edegbo:

With absolute confidence of retaining power in Kaduna State come 2019 general elections, Governor El-Rufai on Tuesday told the main opposition party, the PDP to forget coming to power again in Nigeria.

This, he said, was to avoid another fresh looting of the country’s treasury.

He also accused the Party of renting crowds from a neighbouring country for its Presidential campaign Rally which took off on Monday in Sokoto, Northwest Nigeria.

El-Rufai who was addressing inaugurated APC Campaign Council in the State, therefore advised Nigerians against voting those he called dishonest persons who plunged the country into the present economic woes.

“By the grace of God, PDP will never smell power again in the State and Nigeria as a whole because of my good performance and that of President Muhammadu Buhari at the national level”.

He also canvassed voting for other PDP candidates in the State for good governance, honesty and transparency which he said are lacking in other candidates of the opposition parties.

The campaign council is chaired by El-Rufai himself, the party’s candidate for the governorship election, with his running mate, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe as the deputy chairman.

Serving as Vice Chairmen, are the party’s three Senatorial Candidates, Deputy Gov.Barnabas Bala (South), Uba Sani (Central) and Suleiman Abdu Kwari (North).

Nigeria 2019: Kaduna APC Names Members Of Campaign Council and Directorates

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03/12/2018

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Gov. Nasir El-Rufa’i

By Joseph Edegbo:

The Kaduna State APC has released the list of members of its Campaign Council and Directorates to be headed by Ben Kure who was Director-General of the campaign in 2015. He is to lead 1,342 persons who constitute a well composed 14 Directorates of the campaign.

The inclusive list, according to an official statement, has many heavyweight politicians and distinguished professionals as Directors, campaign officials and members. The Director of Organisation is Dr Muhammad Sani Bello (Mainan Zazzau), Alhaji Umar Gana is in charge of Contact and Mobilisation, where he will be assisted by the likes of Sadiq Mamman Lagos and Comrade Cecilia Musa. Veteran journalist Shuaibu Lili is Director of Strategic Communications, while General Mohammed Sani Saleh leads the Security Directorate.

Samuel Aruwan, who was campaign spokesman in 2015, retains the role as Director, Media and Publicity. The Youth Directorate will be led by Aminu Anti, with Sabo Douglas and Joy Akut as Secretary and Assistant Secretary, respectively.

Hajiya Zainab Shehu leads the Women’s Directorate. The Support Groups for the Campaign will be coordinated by Ali Bature and Lawal Samaila Abdullahi (Yakawada). Mohammed Jamal is head of the Social Media Directorate. Alhaji Idris Othman is in charge of Fund Raising. Suleiman Garba Gora is the Director of Stakeholders while Prof. Kabir Mato leads Election Planning and Monitoring.

At the apex of the campaign is the Campaign Council, which includes all the campaign directors and several special members. The Campaign Council will supervise and guide the work of the directorates as the APC campaigns for the 2019 general elections.

The Campaign Council is chaired by Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the party’s candidate for the governorship election, with his running mate Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe as deputy chairman. The vice-chairmen are the party’s three senatorial candidates: Deputy Governor Barnabas Yusuf Bala (South), Uba Sani (Central) and Suleiman Abdu Kwari (North).

Other members include the state party chairman Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekada, Finance Minister Hajiya Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, Deputy National Organising Secretary of the APC Mohammed Sani Ibrahim, and former SSG Charles Bonat. Other members include serving members of the National Assembly and the State House of Assembly, party candidates, commissioners and other officials of the government. Party secretary Muhammed Shuaib is the secretary of the Campaign Council.

Nigeria 2019: PDP Presidential Campaign Kicks Off In Sokoto, Names Media Aide, Others

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03/12/2018

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By Joseph Edegbo:

As campaigns of the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Atiku Abubakar kicks off in Sokoto State on Monday, 03 December, 2018, the former Vice President of Nigeria has appointed, three youths and a woman as aides.

The new appointments are contained a press statement issued by his Media Adviser, Mazi Paul Ibe in Abuja on Sunday.

The new appointees include Dr. Ahmed Adamu, Special Assistant (Youth and Stratgy); Aliyu Bin Abbas; Special Assistant (Youth Support Groups); Phrank Shuaibu, Special Assistant (Public Communications) and Barr. (Mrs) Funmi Lamuye, Special Assistant (South-West).

Adamu, 33, academician, petroleum economist and leadership and development expert, who hails from Katsina State is the pioneer Global President of Commonwealth Youth Council. He was an international expert at the United Nation’s Global Forum on Youth. He was also ranked among the top 100 most influential young Nigerians by Advance Media Africa.

Abbas, 34, an indigene of Borno State, is Director General of the Atiku Cares Foundation. ACF, a philanthropic platform of the former Vice President for humanitarian interventions to vulnerable persons and communities has under the leadership of Abbas, made great impact in bringing succor to the most vulnerable around the country especially in the Northeast zone.

Phrank Shuaibu, 43, a publicist and public communications consultant hails from Kogi State.

Lamuye, a lawyer and philanthropist is the founder of Prince Alade Lamuye Foundation (PALF), a vehicle she has used to impact on the lives of the widows in her state of Osun. She was until recently a member of the National Assembly Service Commission.

AMDF Announces Speakers Of 2018 MediaAfrica Conference

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03/12/2018

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By Joseph Edegbo

Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) has announced a number of confirmed speakers and highlights for its Annual MediaAfrica Conference scheduled to hold on 11th December 2018 in Kaduna, Nigeria.

The Speakers include Prof. Umaru Pate, Dean Faculty of Communication, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria , Mrs. Fatimah Shaibu, Senior Lecturer, Mass Communication Department, Kaduna Polytechnic, Mr Bolaji Adepegba, Senior Programme Advisor, Development Communications Network, Lagos- Nigeria and Alhaji Tijjani Mohammed Bala (Bunun Zazzau), District Head of Doka, Kaduna .

Others are, Mal. Kabir M. Abdullahi, State Team Leader, Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) Kaduna State, Mr. Dominic Uzu, Publisher, City Source Online Newspaper, Kaduna and Mr. Alex Uangbaoje, Coordinator, League of Professional Online Journalists of Africa.

The 2018 Conference themed ‘Africa’s Raising Population: Media as a tool for Harnessing Demographic Dividend’ holds at I-Care Women and Youth Initiative Conference Hall, No 6 Suleiman Crescent, off Alkali Road, Kaduna. – Nigeria.

The Conference will feature Keynote Address, two Lead Papers, and two Panel Discussions Awards to Best Development Journalists as well as Awards to Media Organisations.

A statement by the organisation’s Coordinator, Sekyen Dadik says the MediaAfrica’ Conference , a project of AMDF, is a platform for discourse to bring to the fore development issues affecting Nigeria and Africa at large, and the place of media in addressing such.

“AMDF believes that no development programme and project can succeed without the active engagement of Media. This is because the media has the ability to influence and cause change in individual’s behaviour and lifestyle, as well as mobilizing communities for positive action.

“Participants to the conference include Journalists, Government officials, Development workers, NGOs, Civil Society Activists and Students among others, who are expected to also promote a working relationship between the Media and other stakeholders towards harnessing Africa’s demographic dividend.

“Conference Hashtag: #MediaAfricaConference

“For further enquiries, contact Sekyen Dadik, AMDF Coordinator, email: coordinator@amdf-centre.org, Phone: 08090899927

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