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Obaseki’s Reign In APC Was Hell, ‘We ‘ll Never Pray For Such’, Says Party Chieftain

Published

3 years ago

June 24, 2020

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Hon. Samson Osagie, has described as as ‘hell’ the reign of the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, before he eventually joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Osagie, a former House of Representatives member who was reacting to the successful conduct of the just concluded party primary in the state, prayed the state never had such a person as a governor again.

According to him, the exit of the governor from the party was a good omen for the party, just as he said the four months left for him as the governor of the state is for the PDP to have a feel of him.

Osagie said, “We have been through thick and thin; we have been through a lot of troubles, since through his election to the post of governor of Edo State and through his administration, it has been a tough rough journey for the party as a whole and we pray and hope we will never experience the kind of torture we went through him.”

“I strongly believe that APC will hold on to power by November this year.

“This four months is a period of grace we have given to PDP to celebrate and taste government, that seat is for the APC.

“And we decided to take that risk for the overall heads and future sustainability of our party.

“APC practically rejected Obaseki. You can see what is happening now, he joined the PDP last week and today there is a court order against him by a member of the party restraining him from contesting. He carried his troubles to PDP.”

On Obaseki’s stand to contest under the platform of the PDP, Osagie opined that Obaseki is not qualified to contest under the party within a week of joining the party.

He added that the governor joined the party when sales of Expression of Interest form had closed hence he is not qualified.

“He is not qualified to participate in that exercise. Ogbeide Ihama is exercising his legitimate right.

“How can Obaseki be qualified to run for PDP primaries when he joined the party last week when the sale of forms have been concluded, including screening of aspirants.

“I am not a PDP man , let them test their constitution”, he said.

Commenting on the outcome of the APC primary, Osagie said it was the first time in the history of the state that there was no rancour after the exercise

“I want to congratulate the All Progressives Congress in Edo State for the successful completion of the governorship primary by direct mode.

“It is one process that was quite peaceful with the police and security agencies exhibiting uncommon professionalism in ensuring the peaceful conduct of that primary election.

“Now the party has a candidate in the person of Osagie Ize-Iyamu, with the very kind cooperation of other aspirants. This is one occasion where a party candidate emerges without rancour”, he said

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More Than Half Of world’s Poor In Africa – Economist

Published

10 hours ago

March 20, 2023

Editor

Chief Economist, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Hanan Morsy, said Africa accounts for more than half of the world’s poor.

Morsy gave the figure on Monday at the 55th session of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The official noted that the continent faced a tsunami of global shocks that have exacerbated existing socio-economic operation and equity.

“Africa, as a result of these shocks, currently accounts for more than half of the world’s poverty at 54.8 per cent,” the economist hinted.

Morsy said an estimated 548 million Africans lived in poverty in 2022, while 149 million more at risk of falling into poverty.

She observed a skewed distribution across the continent in terms of concentration of underlying issues, with East and West Africa having a higher share of poverty.

Morsy called for inclusive macroeconomic policies such as targeted and efficient spending, and resilience to future shocks at the household and community level.

The ECA chief, however, urged African governments to enhance resource mobilisation, including closing tax loopholes.

“Africa loses 40 to 60 billion dollars annually in tax evasion. There’s also funding that can be raised through tackling issues of illicit financial flows,’’ she said.

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Abia Guber Poll: Otti Wins In 10 LGAs, PDP 5

Published

15 hours ago

March 20, 2023

Editor

Alex Otti of the Labour Party has won a total of 10 out of the 16 Local Government Area results so far declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before the commission suspended collation of the Abia governorship election.

Otti polled a total of 171,747 votes while Okey Ahiwe of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, scored a total of 79,477 votes after winning five LGAs.

Young Peoples Party, YPP polled 8,839 to win Osisioma LGA the home of its governorship candidate, Enyinnaya Nwafor.

Meanwhile, INEC, has directed the immediate suspension of collation of governorship election results in Abia State.

Administrative Secretary of INEC, Abia State, Chief Clement Oha read the directive midway into collation at the INEC office in Umuahia on Monday.

He said that based on the alleged irregularities by in some polling units particularly Obingwa Local Government Area where INEC office was invaded, collation had been halted at the LGA.

According to him, there will be no further collation of results at Obingwa until INEC Commissioners arrive from Abuja by Tuesday to supervise the collation and take decision on what has to be done after reviewing the situation on ground.

The Presiding Officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Owerri, FUTO, Professor Nnenna Oti had in the course of collation brought in the Administrative Secretary to read the message she said that came from the INEC headquarters Abuja.

She had said that the INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, personally called her and gave her directives on guidelines to follow in ensuring that Abia governorship election results were collated based on the extant guidelines.

Professor Otti thereafter, announced the immediate suspension of collation pending the arrival of the team from Abuja.

She had earlier vowed to the neutral but strictly objective in discharging her duties.

Professor Otti who is also a Pastor with the Redeemed Church, assured that the will of Abia voters would not be subverted under her watch.

”I’m Professor Nnenna Oti from Afikpo, VC of FUTO. The people’s mandate shall stand.

“I have spent all my adult life in pursuit of the ideals of good governance. We shall stand by the these principles.

”The pastor in me and the mother in me will not permit me to do anything that will adversely affect the future of our children. I shall do right by God and by man!”

Meanwhile INEC in another statement signed by its Head Voter Education and Information Committee, Festus Okoye, announced suspension of collation of governorship election results in Abia and Enugu States.

INEC in the statement, cited alleged cases of violence, irregularities and invasion of its offices in the affected states as reason for the action.

According to a statement, the commission will review results in the affected LGAs before further action.

But Alex Otti of the Labour Party is already leading in the 12 LGAs so far declared.

Below is a full text of the statement.

“SUSPENSION OF FURTHER COLLATION OF GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION RESULTS IN ABIA AND ENUGU STATES

Below is a full text of the statement entitled ” Suspension of Further Collation of Governorship Election Results in Abia and Enugu”:

“The Commission met today, Monday 20th March 2023 and reviewed the conduct of the Governorship and State Assembly elections held nationwide on Saturday 18th March 2023. Arising from the meeting, the Commission took the decision to suspend forthwith further collation of the Governorship election results in some parts of Abia and Enugu States.

“It will be recalled that our office in Obingwa Local Government Area was invaded by thugs yesterday Sunday 19th March 2023 and our officials held hostage in relation to the collation of results from the Local Government Area. Similarly, reports from Enugu State call for a review of the results for the Governorship election from the two outstanding Local Government Areas of Nsukka and Nkanu East.

“Consequently, the Commission hereby suspends the collation of results in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State and the two outstanding Local Government Areas of Enugu State which are yet to be collated. A review will be undertaken immediately before the process is concluded.

“We appeal for the understanding and patience of voters, parties and candidates in the affected States.”

Meanwhile, Dr Alex Otti has maintained a comfortable lead in the 16 Local Government Area results so far declared.

He won five LGAs out of 10 that was declared on Sunday, and collected another five out of the six LGAs announced on Monday, thus bringing the total number of LGAs under his kitty to 10.

Young Peoples Party, YPP won in one LGA while PDP has five LGAs.

According to the results of the 16 LGAs declared so far, Otti polled a total of 171,747 votes, while Ahiwe of the PDP trailed behind with 79,477 votes.

In the results declared on Monday, YPP polled 8,839 to win Osisioma LGA the home of its governorship candidate, Enyinnaya Nwafor.

Labour Party came second in Osisioma after polling 7,032 votes while PDP got 4,699 votes.

APC, APGA and ADC scored 504, 292, and 332 respectively.

LP swept Umuahia North the seat of Abia power with 27,668 while APC whose candidate, Chief Ikechi Emenike who hails from the area, came second with 7,225 votes.

PDP got 4,843 votes while APGA and ADC polled 1,816 and 457 respectively.

Similarly, LP cleared Aba South with 22,014 votes while PDP crawled behind with 3,348 votes; and APGA, 1,762 votes.

The Labour Party continued its winning spree at Aba North where it polled 20,974 votes while the ruling PDP managed to get away with only 4,146.

YPP scored 2,296; while APGA got 1,404 votes.

LP also swept Ohafia LGA with 11,848 votes against PDP’s 4, 128 votes.

APC and APGA got 1,354 and 945 votes respectively.

The Labour Party still cleared Umuahia South with 16,187 votes while PDP got 5,464 votes.

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Falz Reacts To Sanwo-Olu’s appreciation Post

Published

19 hours ago

March 20, 2023

Editor

Famous Nigerian singer, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz the bad guy, has reacted to the Lagos State re-elected Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s appreciation post.

Governor Sanwo-Olu had on Monday, in a post shared on his official Twitter handle, appreciated Lagosians for believing in him.

He wrote: ”I’m deeply humbled and grateful for the overwhelming support and trust of the good people of Lagos State. I’m honoured to be re-elected as your governor and pledge to continue to work tirelessly to deliver a better Lagos for all. Thank you for believing in me.”

Reacting to this, Falz, who quoted the tweet, said everyone had seen the electoral irregularities unfold and Sanwo-Olu was only deceiving himself.

”You were not re-elected. You selected yourself. Everybody saw it unfold. You are only deceiving yourselves,” he said.