February 20, 2023

February 20, 2023

Naja’atu dropped from election duties

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has withdrawn the hugely partisan Naja’atu Muhammad as one of the commissioners to oversee the activities of the police during the general election.

Ikechukwu Ani, the PSC spokesperson, announced the development in a statement on Monday.

On Sunday, Naja’atu was listed as one of the PSC commissioners to oversee the activities of the police in the north-west during the general election.

But the APC Presidential Campaign Council rejected the appointment.

The APC Campaign Council said the role given to Muhammad requires her to be unbiased, adding she had made some “vitriol” comments against Bola Tinubu, the party’s standard bearer.

In January, Naja’atu a former senatorial candidate, said she resigned from the APC and quit partisan politics — but the party claimed she was sacked and accused her of being a mole.

She, however, later endorsed Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In the statement on Monday, the PSC said she has been replaced by Bawa Lawal, an assistant inspector-general of police.

“The commission wishes to state with all sense of responsibility that its commissioners representing different geopolitical zones have always supervised assignments of the commission in the geopolitical zones they represent,” the statement reads.

“It was the same with the present national assignment.

“The commission has however decided to mandate assistant inspector-general of police, Bawa Lawal rtd, who is from the same geopolitical zone with commissioner Najatu to take over the coordination of the monitoring of police conduct in the zone.

“The commission will always be sensitive to the wishes of Nigerians and will continue to contribute its quota to the sustenance of the nation’s democracy.

“It wishes to restate its commitment to a free and fair 2023 elections where the police as the lead agency in internal security which includes election policing will discharge its duties according to the dictates of the law.”

Reported by The The Cable

February 20, 2023

Breaking: Yoruba Leaders of Thought commend APC for power shift, back Tinubu

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Yoruba Leaders of Thought

PRESS RELEASE

Yoruba leaders of thought back Asíwájú Tinubu, commend APC over power shift

Five days to the Presidential Election, Yoruba Leaders of Thought on Monday formally endorsed the All Progressives Congress Candidate, Asíwájú Bola Tinubu, for the poll, saying he is the most qualified of all the candidates.

The leaders, who met with Asiwaju Tinubu at an interactive session at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, also commended the APC, particularly the party’s governors, for embracing power shift to promote unity and belongingness in the country.

Speaking at the event, the convener of the group, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, said Asíwájú Tinubu had contributed a lot to this country, promoting democracy, good governance and economic development.

Tinubu, who arrived the venue of the interactive session along with his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, thanked the leaders for what he called their labour of love and for waiting patiently for him until he eventually arrived from Abuja.

Addressing them in Yoruba, the APC candidate noted that the 2023 presidency was for all of them and other Nigerians, saying “Eyinlokan,” meaning it is your turn.

He, however, charged them to reach for their PVCs and ensure they vote in Saturday’s election so they can herald the change envisaged for the country.

In the communique issued at the end of the session, the leaders said: “Yoruba and Southwest leaders made up of Yoruba groups who believe in the oneness of Nigeria based on equity, fairness and justice, a nation where no one is oppressed, held an interactive session with the presidential candidate of the APC Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos on Monday 20th February, 2023.

“The meeting commended leaders of the APC for encouraging spirit of belongingness and national unity by honouring the age-long desire of Nigerians for power shift, the principle which led to the overwhelming emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the presidential candidate.

“The highly successful interactive session noted the phenomenal successes already recorded by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu both in his pre-political career and in his public life as a politician, administrator and leader.

“The meeting concluded that when compared to others in the race for the presidency of Nigeria in 2023, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu stands head and shoulder above the rest. He is the most prepared, the most suitable in terms of competence, character, capacity and the most humane to lead Nigeria to an enviable prosperous status among the comity of nations in the 21st century.

“The meeting commended President Buhari for the achievements he has recorded thus far and for demonstrating that he is a patriot and a man of integrity.

“They, however, called on him to take immediate and radical steps to attenuate the sufferings occasioned by the twin-scarcity of new Naira notes and fuel in the country.

“We commend the present and founding fathers of APC for building the party into a formidable vehicle for winning elections. But it must transform from a mere vehicle for attaining electoral victories to an organization that can confidently chart and execute a development path for Nigeria.

“In conclusion, Yoruba leaders of thought appealed to Nigerians in general to keep a date with Asiwaju Tinubu on February 25, 2023 to drive the shared prosperity that the Asiwaju presidency is bound to bring to Nigeria.”

The communique was signed by Prince Olusi and the Secretary of the group, Hon.Adebayo Aina

The session was attended by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu and his Ekiti State counterpart, Biodun Oyebanji, former governors Segun Osoba, Gbenga Daniel and Adegboyega Oyetola, as well as Deputy Governor of Lagos State Femi Hamzat, Dr. Yomi Finnih and prominent traditional rulers across the Southwest.

Tinubu Media Office,
Tunde Rahman.
February 20, 2023.

February 20, 2023

Naira swap: Atiku Abubakar inconsistent and opportunistic

Atiku Abubakar

ATIKU ABUBAKAR IS INCONSISTENT AND OPPORTUNISTIC

We have observed the treacherous and shifting positions of Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar since the current currency crisis caused by the Central Bank started.

In line with his well-documented inconsistencies and unreliability, Atiku has advanced several contradictory positions, in the fruitless hope of gaining political advantage from the crisis.

We note that Alhaji Atiku and his hopeless party first hailed the CBN policy to high heavens when they initially thought it was a policy deliberately designed to stop Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from becoming the next elected president of Nigeria.

Atiku called on President Muhammadu Buhari and CBN Governor to ensure strict implementation of the policy and the deadline of 31 January because in his and party’s short-sightedness and gross miscalculation, Tinubu was the prime target.

Atiku’s position exploded on his face when the unintended consequences of the CBN policy manifested in its full ramifications and crippled the entire populace.

Atiku capitulated and sought to claim some credit by asking the CBN to ‘slightly shift’ the deadline of 31 January 2023.

The CBN and the FG to which Atiku and his party have suddenly become the cheer leaders listened to all the voices of reason and shifted the deadline for the currency swap till 10 February.

On 1 February, Atiku took another public position, asking the CBN not to shift the deadline again

“There should be no further postponement of the new Naira regime after the expiration of the February 10 deadline. The vote riggers are seeking to push the CBN to extend till after the election when they would have achieved their evil plots. The CBN and the Presidency should be steadfast. The merits of the new Naira policy far outweigh the little inconvenience we are experiencing”, he wrote in a widely circulated statement

As all Nigerians can now attest, the 10 February deadline also proved grossly inadequate. Governors of the APC challenged it in the Supreme Court and got an interim order asking the CBN to allow the old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes to remain legal tender with the new notes.

Amid the widespread misery and the currency scarcity that the Naira swap policy created for Nigerians, Atiku’s position proved once again an egregious miscalculation and clearly anti-people

But with just five days away from the presidential election, Atiku wants to cash in on the mood of the country with his latest faux empathy. He is now asking CBN to allow Nigerians to deposit their N500 and N1000 old notes in commercial banks, after thousands of desperate Nigerians jammed the CBN offices in Lagos and other places, hoping to deposit their old currency and get the new notes.

It is generally a bad time for poor and hapless Nigerians as currency scarcity has become the norm. The chameleonic politician forgot that he once described the suffering our people are going through some ‘little inconvenience”.

We recognise Atiku’s desperation to be President and like chameleon, this unprincipled and unstable politician will change positions on any issue as long as he thinks it will help his perennial ambition.

Nigerians should run away from Atiku. A man like the PDP candidate with no strong conviction and strength of character cannot offer the kind of leadership our country needs.

Nigeria needs a consistent and steady leader who will stand firm and upright when it is convenient and when it is not convenient. Asiwaju Tinubu is that kind of leader and he has demonstrated that by his principled stand on the current crisis. He has also offered a six-point solution to get the country out of the current morass.

Bayo Onanuga
Director, Media & Publicity
APC Presidential Campaign Council
February 20, 2023

February 20, 2023

Breaking: APC-PCC rejects Naja’atu as PSC Northwest co-ordinator

Naja'atu Mohammed, Police Service Commission

Monday, February 20, 2023.

PRESS RELEASE BY THE APC PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COUNCIL:

WE REJECT THE APPOINTMENT OF NAJA’ATU BALA MUHAMMAD AS A NORTHWEST COORDINATOR OF THE POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION

We are deeply shocked and appalled to read a release by the Police Service Commission appointing one of its most partisan members, Naja’atu Bala Muhammad as a NorthWest coordinator of the Presidential Election. In that role, she is expected to move about freely, supervising the conduct of Police Officers during the elections.

With the well-documented activities, actions and vitriols of Naja’atu in the last few weeks against our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (after being shown the door out of the APC as a mole) we venture to say that this appointment is not only callous, it is insensitive, openly confrontational and consequently unacceptable by the Tinubu/SHETTIMA Presidential Campaign Council. Coming at a time when President Muhammadu Buhari is constantly assuring and reassuring the world of free, fair and credible elections, it confirms our worst fears that there are functionaries of government that are actively working with the opposition to thwart the avowed commitment of Mr. President.

We need not emphasise that the role given to NAJA’ATU requires a honest and unbiased individual who will discharge the duties diligently and without reproach. The nation will not get that from NAJA’ATU.

We therefore demand for the IMMEDIATE withdrawal of the name of NAJA’ATU Bala Muhammad as a coordinator of the Police Service Commission for the NorthWest or any region for that matter. She has an inalienable right to continue to campaign for any candidate of her choice and to vote for that candidate, but she cannot be given a garment to wear at this time that is meant only for neutrals.

Thank you.

FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN, FCIArb(UK)

· Director of Public Affairs and Chief Spokesperson, Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.

· Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Federal Republic of Nigeria. SAN, FCIArb(UK)

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Day: February 20, 2023

Naja’atu dropped from election duties

Breaking: Yoruba Leaders of Thought commend APC for power shift, back Tinubu

Naira swap: Atiku Abubakar inconsistent and opportunistic

Breaking: APC-PCC rejects Naja’atu as PSC Northwest co-ordinator