Nigeria Times – Page 490

Electoral Act: Section 84(12) should cut across – Group tells NASS

A civil society organisation, Equity And Justice In Politics And Governance Movement, has said the Section 84(12) of the Amended Electoral Act 2022 should apply to both elected and appointed public officers.

In the new Electoral Act, Section 84 (12) of the Act says “No political appointee at any level shall be voting delegate or be voted for at the Convention or Congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”

According to the group, this section of the act contradicts the Nigerian Constitution which allows appointees to vote or be voted for as long as they resign their positions at least 30 days to the election.

The Convener of the group, Comrade Momodu H. Tarka, commended the attorneys general of the federation and minister of justice for standing firmly to ensure that justice is done to all Nigerians.

The Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, on March 18, 2022 struck down Section 84(12) of the newly amended Electoral Act which President Muhammadu Buhari had written to the National Assembly to delete.

The court in a judgment delivered by Justice Evelyn Anyadike, held that the section was unconstitutional, invalid, illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever and ought to be struck down as it cannot stand when it is in violation of the clear provisions of the Constitution.

Comrade Tarka said, ”We want to be emphatic about this and we dare say that both elected and appointed public officers should be treated equally, If the law is to have universal applicability

”As we have pointed out earlier, the law is selfish and discriminatory, if it applies only to appointed public officers. We therefore state that the Section should be expunged or in the spirit of fairness and equity, both should be asked to resign.

”If there is sincerity of purpose, the makers of the law should have thought it wise to say that a public officer, both elected (President, Governors, members of National and State Houses of Assembly) and appointed should resign from office before standing for another elective office.

As it stands now, the law favours one set of public officers while some others are disadvantaged. If we may ask, where is JUSTICE and EQUITY in the law?

”The law, we dare say, is self-serving and discriminatory and we are of the view that the National Assembly should make laws with universal appeal and in the interest of the nation, not discriminatory and self-serving laws that end of creating confusion.

”The National Assembly should urgently address this issue in their legislations.”

He said with this judgement, the National Assembly is not required to further make any amendments to the section as the import of the judgment is that Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act is no longer in existence or part of the Electoral Act.

He commend the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, mr abubakar malami, SAN, for the swift action taken to give effect to the judgement and also for coming out categorically to say that his office will not be appealing the judgement.

He said, ”The makers of the law obviously have an agenda for inserting the section into the amended Electoral Act and it is to shot out political appointees from contesting the next general election.

”According to the 1999 Constitution, both elective and appointed persons in public office are all public officers.

”If the law gives political appointee 30 clear days to resign from office before contesting for an elective position, why amend that section to be one year. If indeed the lawmakers are sincere and fair, they should also amend the law and cut short their stay in office before standing for another election.

”Like we said earlier, there is an agenda and thank God for our courts that stood up to the injustice and truncated it

”With the verbal attack on the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, since the judgement was delivered, it is obvious that some persons do not MEAN well for the country.”

According to him, in about seven years of his appointment as the attorney-generalof the federation and minister of justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, has faced very serious criticisms from those who obviously are no longer benefitting from the bad system the country was operating before President Muhammafu Buhari assumed office in 2015 as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

”The lacuna and situation where elected officers could get to the level of having two or more positions without resigning before contesting, simply because they are elected, does not say good about our laws and democracy.

”The National Assembly should urgently act and address the situation for the sake of JUSTICE and EQUITY”, he concluded.

2023 Presidency: Northern Youths, Women insist on Tinubu as ‘Consensus’ APC Candidate, plans rally

Thousand of youths and women in the ruling All Progressives Congress have endorsed former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as the party’s consensus presidential candidate.

To demonstrate their support for the party’s national leader, the group from 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory have announced that it will hold a national rally in the FCT on Thursday.

Speaking to newsmen, on Monday, secretary of the planning committee, Barrister Adamu Abubakar, said the exercise will be the mother of all rallies never seen in the history of the country.

According to him, the youths and women across the northern states and the FCT will converge in the nation’s capital in their numbers.

He said the march will culminate at the Aso Villa where Tinubu will be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari as his successor.

Abubakar said the choice of Tinubu was due to his incredible pedigree, experience and resume.

He noted that the former Lagos Governor is respected and widely accepted, especially in the north where he is only second to President Buhari in terms of cult-followership.

Abubakar added that the APC leader will sustain infrastructural strides, economic reforms and other remarkable legacies of the president.

He, however, enjoined other youths and women from the north to throw their weight behind Tinubu.

Tinubu @70: Buhari women group insists only he can transform Nigeria

Women under the auspices of the Buhari Women Organisation today extolled the virtues of former Lagos Governor and All Progressive Congress, APC leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as he marked his 70th birthday.

The women said Bola Tinubu is the only person that can transform Nigeria.

They bore their mind at the unity fountain in Abuja where they described Tinubu as a bridge builder and a unifying factor in Nigeria.

Led by Honourable Cecilia Ikechukwu, the women descibed Tinubu as a shining star who has distinguished himself in service to the country in ways too numerous to mention.

“He has been tested and trusted, and on this day of his 70th birthday, we have joined millions of Nigerians in rolling out the drums in celebrating a man of many parts, a man with heart gold and a man whose contributions to the socio-economic development of the country cannot be overemphasized.

“We are glad that God has been faithful to this man who is in love with the country and a man who knows no tribe or religion but one Nigeria. This much he has proven in the various bridges he has built across the country over several decades”

“That he has attained the ripe age of 70 indicates that Nigerians should expect more from this detribalized Nigerian whose focus from time immemorial has remained for the good of the common man and woman on the streets” she said

She said the women cannot but roll out the drums in celebration of an “enigma of our time and the one that is called the Jagaban of Nigeria. As we can see, today’s crowd is not one meant for those who think of themselves alone but for those dedicated to the peace and unity of our dear country.”

“We are not just celebrating Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; we are also using this occasion to make a loud statement that we want the whole country to hear. We are making a statement that would reverberate across the length and breadth and the nook and cranny of the country.

“The Buhari Women Organization is elated to be part of this epoch-making event. We are informing Nigerians that we are using the occasion of the 70th birthday celebration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to endorse him as the Presidential Candidate come 2023.

“We believe that under the leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria shall experience tremendous growth and development. We are also convinced that a Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidency is what the country needs at this critical point of our existence.

“He has the experience, the intellectual wherewithal and the political sagacity to champion the cause of a new Nigeria where there would be endless opportunities across the country for sustainable growth and development.

“We have no doubt whatsoever about the mental and physical capacity of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deliver on that mandate to take Nigeria to greater heights. This is also coupled with the fact that he is a talent hunter who can identify and nurture talents into full maturity in service to the country” she said

The women however used the occasion to wish Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu a happy 70th birthday and to assure him of the support of the Buhari Women Organization towards the actualization of his well-intended aspiration to lead Nigeria.

“Our support for this cause is unflinching as we pledge to begin the process of mobilizing women from across the country in support of the presidential aspiration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We offer our prayers and support as mothers to him on his 70th birthday. Our prayer is that God grants him good health and a sound mind. God would also give him his heart desires and crown his efforts with glory.

“We say a happy Birthday to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and we wish him many more years ahead” she said

Soldiers rescue passengers as NRC confirms terror attack on Abuja-Kaduna train

One of the passengers on the ill fated Abuja-Kaduna train which was attacked Monday evening by terrorists has confirmed the prompt response of the Nigerian Army to rescue them.

In a Facebook post after the attack, Anas Iro Danmusa said “Alhmamudililah, the army are with us, we are safe”.

Confirming the Incident, the Managing Director of Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC) Fidet Okhiria told journalists that “we can not give you much information now.

“Must of the passengers have gone into hiding and they can not be giving information, but there are reports of gun shots as the train stopped”.

Daily Nigerian had reported the Monday night attack saying the attack occurred at a point between Katari and Rijana.

One of the passengers who confirmed the incident in a telephone call said the attackers had surrounded the train, shooting sporadically.

“All the passengers are currently lying on the floor of the train. The bandits are shooting sporadically. We are in serious danger,” said one of the panic-stricken passengers.

The report said there are at least 970 passengers onboard the train, according to official sources familiar with the train service.

2023: Group canvasses for Tinubu as APC consensus presidential candidate

The Middle Belt Youth Emancipation Vanguard has called on stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress from the zone to adopt party national leader, Bola Tinubu, as its consensus presidential candidate.

The group said it settled for the former Lagos State Governor after a careful assessment of the aspirants, concluding that Tinubu is needed at this critical point in the nation’s existence.

The Middle Belt group made this known at a press conference on Monday in Abuja.

In his address, the convener, Patriot Dauda Yakubu, said Tinubu is perfect for the job having displayed consistency, capacity and sagacity over the years.

Describing Tinubu as a bridge-builder, talent hunter and icon of democracy, Yakubu said the APC national leader has contributed immensely to the democratic ideals in the country right from the era of military rule.

He also said that the ex-governor is a detribalised Nigerian that knows no religion or ethnicity and believes in the country’s unity, peace and progress.

With Tinubu at the helms of affairs, the group added that Nigeria would be guaranteed socio-economic growth and development that would in “no small measures aid the translation of our hopes and aspirations into tangible realities”.

The Middle Belt youths, therefore, called on all well-meaning Nigerians to show solidarity with Tinubu.

Yakubu noted that the former governor “ presents a credible credential laced with experience, commitment, patriotism, and an unalloyed sincerity of heart and purpose, which would come in handy in setting Nigeria on the path of sustainable growth and development”.

Read full statement below:

The leadership of the Middle Belt Youth Emancipation Vanguard welcomes you all to this press conference organized to advance the position of the Middle Belt region with regards to the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the country is once again on the curve where the country’s leadership would be elected through the ballot across the country. As concerned stakeholders in the scheme of things in the country, it is our emphasis now and always that as a people and a nation, we must get the leadership question right if we are desirous of sustainable growth and development.

The Middle Belt Youth Emancipation Vanguard, after a careful assessment of the various aspirants that have indicated an interest in the highest political office in the country, we wish to state in unequivocal terms that Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu indeed is what the country needs in this critical point of our existence.

We have also carefully studied his numerous contributions to democratic ideals in the country right from the era of military rule in Nigeria and indeed found it worthy as that presidential material with the proper focus, capacity, and sagacity to lead this country come 2023.

Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not new to us as his trademarks are replete in various sectors of our national life and paramount in the sustenance of our nascent democracy. He is a bridge-builder and a talent hunter, as evident during his tenure as the Executive Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.

It is sufficient to mention that Lagos state experienced phenomenal growth and development under his astute leadership. It is also on record that he also identified and brought into reckoning some individuals who went ahead to become resourceful in their contributions to the country’s socio-economic development at large.

The Middle Belt region owes Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu a great deal of gratitude. It is on record that he was instrumental to many gains recorded in the region through his network of friends of like minds that consequently embraced his progressive leadership style of governance.

Our firm conviction that the history of progressive leadership in Nigeria would be incomplete without the mention of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His emphasis on putting the people first is indeed noteworthy and a necessity moving forward in the country’s leadership.

Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a detribalized Nigeria that knows no religion or ethnicity; for him, it is neither east, west, south, nor north, but One Nigeria. And this much has resonated in the leadership template that has seen him building bridges across the country.

The Middle Belt Youth Emancipation Vanguard wishes to emphasize that as the country prepares for the 2023 general elections, the presidential aspiration of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the right tonic needed to consolidate on our democratic journey towards the country of our dreams. Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains the icon of our democracy. As such, he fits the bill to govern this country come 2023.

As a result of this, we endorse Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the consensus presidential choice of the middle belt region come 2023. This endorsement is hinged on his impeccable track record and his unalloyed commitment towards sustainable growth and development in the country.

We are convinced that a Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidency in Nigeria would guarantee socio-economic growth and development that would result in no small measures aid the translation of our hopes and aspirations into tangible realities.

We are using this medium to call on all well-meaning Nigerians to toe the line of the path of the Middle Belt Youth Emancipation Vanguard in endorsing Senator Ahmed Bola Ahmed Tinubu as presidential candidate come 2023.

We consider that Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu indeed presents a credible credential laced with experience, commitment, patriotism, and an unalloyed sincerity of heart and purpose, which would come in handy in setting Nigeria on the path of sustainable growth and development.
As members of the Middle Belt Youth Emancipation Vanguard, we believe that Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu has all it takes to lead Nigeria, hence our unflinching support. We pledge to deploy all our members in the Middle Belt region in a sensitization drive towards the actualization of an aspiration for the common good of all Nigerians from all walks of life.

Nigerians must come alive to this unique opportunity presented through Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential aspiration. We must come to the reality that the issues at hand require that we get it right in leadership come 2023.

Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the man for the job. As such, it behoves us all to lend our support to a man that is committed and passionate about the development of our great country.

We thank you all for your time and attention.

God bless Nigeria

How media exaggerated worth of demolished Lagos office – AIB-N

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB-N), Sunday, stated that the published value of N5 billion being peddled in the media as the purported worth of the demolished Lagos office buildings belonging to AIB-N, was highly exaggerated.

The General Manager, Public Affairs, AIB-N, Tunji Oketunbi in a statement, explained that a widely published media report in respect of the demolition albeit misleading, media report in respect of the demolition of Lagos office buildings purportedly worth five billion naira, belonging to the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB-N), an agency of the Federal Ministry of Aviation.

In his words, “It is noteworthy to state that the published value of five billion naira being peddled in the media is highly exaggerated.

“The relocation of the Bureau from Lagos to Abuja was not precipitous, as claimed by media reports. Without a doubt, AIB-N erstwhile Lagos office (former Corporate Headquarters) has since the ministerial relocation directive, served mostly as a regional administrative liaison office.

“All its core operational functions/facilities in the discharge of its statutory mandate were positioned in Abuja; except for the command-and-control centre which just recently repositioned safely to Abuja.

“The AIB-N’s Lagos office was inevitably earmarked for demolition due to its location which directly impacts some critical features necessary for the seamless operations of the just commissioned newly constructed terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos state.

“It is not lost on us that ALL LAND at the airport belongs to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN): and can be retrieved at any time for an overriding public interest, as in the present circumstances.

“AIB-N was allotted land space at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja to build its training school, which is 90% completed, and its proposed new Corporate Headquarters. Meanwhile, talks are on-going with FAAN to have a suitable location in Lagos as its regional office.

“This temporary reshuffling will not in any way affect our operations. AIB-N has invested so much in equipment and technology that will aid delivery of its mandate seamlessly.”

Help identify pipelines hampering Bonny seaport, Amaechi tells Navy

The Federal Government has enlisted the support of the Nigerian Navy to identify pipelines that may hamper the building of the Bonny Deep Seaport in Rivers State.

The Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who made this known when the Nigerian Navy led by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, paid him a courtesy call today in Abuja, said a place has already been chosen to build the seaport.

“There’s a place we have chosen to build the seaport, we want to make sure there are no pipes in that location and enroute that location by vessels”. We will be glad if they can work with us to identify where the pipes are in Bonny, so that we know where they are”, the Minister said.

The Minister also said the Ministry is prepared to work with the Nigerian Navy to achieve maritime security in the country and will be glad to assist if it is within the authority he presides over.

“If it’s something within my authority as the Minister, we proceed and approve. If it’s above the Minister, I will approach the President, so we can get the same approval”, he said.

Speaking further, Ameachi lauded the Nigerian Military for their selfless service, culminating in the safety of the citizenry and protection of the territorial integrity of the nation.

“I have very high regard for the Nigerian military, just because is a national service you are providing, it entails their lives; the sacrifice they make is what guides my relationship with the military and because of that I don’t disrespect any relationship”, the Minister said.

Earlier, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, reiterated the need for on the ground presence of an effective team of the Nigerian Navy at all seaports across the nation.

“Credible intelligence has it that since we left the ports about 1996, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons into our country is scary. But again, at every importation of fertilizer making materials or explosives for mining sites, the Navy had to be invited”, the Vice Admiral said.

Also Gambo said; “If NPA invites us at every opportunity to come and inspect these consignments and also ensure that they get to the destinations they are meant for and they are not diverted, then why not have us at the ports so that when the containers come in, they are not broached in the ports and subsequently after the inspection, we make sure they get to the right destination. But it has not gained the necessary traction but I have written again to see that there is need for that especially with the establishment of the Office of the National Coordinator on Small Arms and Light Weapons by the Office of the National Security Adviser”.

He equally appreciated the long standing support of the Minister, saying the launch of the Deep Blue project last year by President Muhammadu Buhari has impacted on the Navy’s ability to improve maritime security operations in Nigeria’s territorial waters.

The chief of Naval Staff invited the Minister to visit the Naval Headquarters, Abuja and see the Nigerian Navy’s Falcon Eye System; a maritime surveillance facility that incorporates various sensors located along the nation’s enormous coastline, enabling it respond promptly to danger signals.

Present at the courtesy call were: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Sen. Abdulaziz Murtala Nyako, representing Adamawa Central District and other top echelon of the Nigerian Navy.

ASUU: Patriots or Saboteurs

By Abike Adebayo

It is increasingly worrisome the ease with which the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarks on strike actions at the slightest chance. Of greater concern is the Union’s nonchalant attitude to the plight of Nigerian students and the impact of incessant industrial action on them, the Education sector and the Nation at large. Facts have emerged that just like Public Service medical doctors who operate private clinics and consultancy services, university lecturers now establish private institutions as side businesses. This could only be the logical explanation for the Union’s indifference to the pain of their actions on students, particularly those who cannot afford the luxury of attending private institutions or foreign studies.

ASUU has become synonymous with strikes with no record of notable accomplishments in promoting the quality of higher education in Nigeria. The Union has made industrial action the easiest and cheapest form of blackmail against the government and without hesitation, deploys this ostensible weapon when it suits its members’ selfish interests. Established with an objective to promote the welfare of its members and the development of the nation’s education sector, the Union has metamorphosed into a bully. Its priority has majorly centered on wellbeing of lecturers. Nothing else matters to it. Predictably, agitations for upgrade in salaries, concerns over IPPIS, delay in payment of remunerations and earned allowances are more pronounced when the Union embarks on industrial actions.

The Union is never about Nigeria or Nigerians. It is never about the Nigerian students. With interrupted learning and academic calendars that negatively affect their performance, innocent learners continue to bear the brunt of the Union’s insensitivity. It conveniently goes on strike for prolonged periods to push for self-seeking motives with no sense of empathy. Incessant strike actions continue to be beneficial to ASUU members as long as it affords them ample time to run their private Universities and render extracurricular pecuniary services. And despite efforts by the federal government to negotiate and also meet some of their demands, the Union remains callous and wastes no time in exploiting industrial actions to their advantage.

A case in view is the ongoing industrial action which commenced in February, 2022. Regardless of government’s efforts and current economic realities, the Union has remained adamant and has even gone ahead to extend its strike action by another eight weeks. This is more so that the Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba has asserted that all of the Union’s demands had been met and that all earned allowances and revitalisation funds had been released. It is pitiable and beyond reasoning that ASUU continues to deploy the same pattern over and over again to agitate supposed grievances. This is regardless of the fact that this strategy has produced minimal result, outlived its usefulness and crippled public tertiary institutions. Evidently, aside other things, strike actions enable ASUU members cash out on closure of public Universities to promote their personal investments and run their private Universities. Thus, their actions are deliberate, all-in pursuit of egoistic and opportunistic pecuniary gains. The Union’s style has undoubtedly become counterproductive, yielding no positive results and only inflicting unimaginable agony on Nigerians while impinging development. While this Union still exists and not scrapped beats all imaginations.

It is, however, encouraging that some Universities are starting to see through ASUU’s insanity and hypocrisy. This is the reason Abia and Delta State Universities backed out of the senseless strike, thereby unshackling the leash of ASUU’s destructive agenda against their own students. Other Universities should wake up and follow suit. Unfortunately, calls by student Unions to embark on protests have also fallen on deaf ears. ASUU has become the elephant in the room and could care less if the country is engulfed by demonstrations that ground socioeconomic activities. The Union should remember that one of its core objectives centers on the good of Nigeria and Nigerians. This strike is not good for us. ASUU must be seen to show empathy in its dealings and explore alternative means of conflict resolution. It must stop taking the easy and unethical path of strike actions to channel its grievances and seek the government’s attention. ASUU should grow up! Otherwise, no one will be wrong to term it as a saboteur.

Abike is a public commentator based in Ado Ekiti

Beg Tinubu for amnesty, group tells George

The Nigeria Rebirth Platform, NRP has urged a South West Politician, Chief Bode George to prepare to beg All Progressive Congress, APC National leader, Bola Tinubu for Amnesty by next year when he finally emerges as Nigerian President.

NRP said Olabode George has, for the fifth time, threatened to leave Nigeria should a former Lagos State governor and national leader of the All Progressive Congress, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu become Nigeria’s president.

NRP National President, Comrade Victor Onah who spoke to newsmen in Abuja said Tinubu is networking towards realizing his lifelong ambition of governing Nigeria so that he can set the country on the path of prosperity similar to what he did during his tenure as governor of Lagos State.

He said the NRP has taken time to try understand Bode George’s fixation with Tinubu and all we could conclude is that he is a victim of extreme paranoia driven by his troubled past.

He said this has caused the old man to be hallucinating things that never were.

“His delusion is so violent that he is driven to aggressively pressure others to join him in his hate-Tinubu obsession.

“For instance, George in his latest tirade alleged that Tinubu has cornered Lagos state. He went on to claim that the APC national leader set up a parallel company to the Internal Revenue Service. We are left wondering what planet Bode George came from to have such a perverted mindset. How is it possible that an individual will use a company to replace the tax authority when there is a governor, State House of Assembly and Judiciary. Even this kind of mindset swirls around in Lagos beer parlours and drinking joint, it is irresponsible for an elder of George’s standing to attempt using his fading clout to validate such.

“The embattled PDP chieftain also insinuated that Tinubu is running Lagos state by installing successive proxy governments to run the state. This fable is uncharitable even when it came from a man who is known to be persistently disconnected from reality. His suggestion is an insult to the millions of Lagosians who have consistently voted for governorship candidates that they know can deliver on good governance. We are at a loss how George will reduce the millions of votes cast during elections in Lagos state as the handiwork of Tinubu.

“If George were in touch with reality, he would have realized that he should rather approach Tinubu as a humble pupil to learn what makes millions of Nigerians eager to align with his vision and vote for candidates associated with him. Had George paid close attention, he would have realized that the Tinubu effect goes beyond Lagos state because he was strategic, in his own way, to APC’s victory nationally in 2015 and 2019 and this would be repeated in 2023” he said

Onah said the group find it surprising that Bode George is oblivious of the fact that the groundwork done by Tinubu has placed Lagos State on a sound economic footing to the extent that it is Africa’s seventh largest economy. This means only Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Angola, and Morocco are ahead of Lagos, which is in turn ahead of some 48 other countries. No wonder right thinking Nigerians are eager for a Tinubu’s presidency.

“Predictably, a man who only had his conviction for contract splitting overturned by the Supreme Court on technicalities will certainly be worried at the prospect of a Tinubu who believes in due process. George is possibly afraid that he could be tried for other crimes that could be linked to him when he was in office and that this time he would go to jail for good and for life. But we want to assure him that Tinubu would be too busy piloting Nigeria to becoming the world’s seventh largest economy to have time for a petty contract splitter” he added

The NRP further called on Bode George to nurse no fear about his ugly past.

” Tinubu will grant amnesty to all repentant criminals who stole from our country once they return their loot. He will also facilitate the necessary psychiatric treatment for people like Bode George who are struggling with Pathological Acquisitiveness Syndrome. All he has to do is to make his desire known to Tinubu when he has become president and his case would be considered on compassionate grounds.

“But only Bode George can manage himself to be free from Tinubu-phobia that is almost proving fatal for him as he now froths in the mouth each time he hears Tinubu’s name or thinks about 2023. It is a disease that has destroyed those suffering from it like George. They started out being hysterical each time they contemplate the prospect of Tinubu becoming president, they howl and rail in the media until their reputation is in tatters, which eventually leads to depression and possibly death. George, and others suffering from this disease, should approach Tinubu with open minds and get the cure for it.

“In the meantime, we suggest that Bode George finds something to distract him from his present compulsive obsession with Tinubu. A ready activity is for him to absorb himself with PDP which is on an accelerated self-destruct mode. If George does not concentrate his energy on saving his party and rather waste his efforts on futilely hounding Tinubu, by 2023 PDP will graduate from being a club of yesterday’s men into an assembly of yesteryear’s men. George and his ilk would have become too irrelevant to be accorded a mention in history by that time” he said

2023: Northern Pastors organize prayer rally for Tinubu

Some Christian clerics under the auspices of Northern Clergy and Christian for Tinubu 2023, on Thursday, staged a special prayer rally for the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and 2023 presidential hopeful, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, at the Unity Fountain, Abuja.

The Christian preachers claimed that the decision to pray for the presidential ambition of the former Lagos State Governor was informed by the Holy Spirit.

The clergies offered prayers for the will of God for Senator Tinubu’s presidential ambition to come to fruition at the rally which was also well-attended by their followers.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the one-million man prayer rally, the convener, Bishop Sunday Garuba, said God expressed it in their hearts to pray for Tinubu’s presidential ambition.

He said it was the culture of the organisation to always pray and intercede for Nigeria.

According to Bishop Garuba: “It is in our culture as an organisation to always pray and to intercede for this great nation. Just like I said in my speech, since 2015, God has been using us as an organisation to pray for this great country for good governance that God will choose the right people to lead this nation.

“And looking into that as we went to prayers, God expressed in our hearts to pray and to intercede. And we are praying, God also expressed in our hearts to pray for Senator Ahmed Tinubu because of his track records of how he had led. He is one man that has led before as the Governor of Lagos State. And for his wisdom and his ability as a man. He is not a tribalistic man. And also at the same time, he is not biased in his religious affiliation.

“That prompted our hearts to pray and to call on God so that God will give us the right leader to lead this nation.”

In similar vein, one of the clerics and Lead Pastor of Fountain of Praise, Bishop Lawrence Ungene, said Tinubu has the requirements to lead Nigeria.

He said: “We came together to pray for a person by the name Tinubu Bola Ahmed who has a trajectory records of leading this nation.

“Now, the reason for us to come to pray is that the will of God be achieved. It is one thing to have a passion to do a thing, it is one thing to have an ambition for something. But you need to pray to God who has the power to bring that to come pass.

“Because all powers belong to God. Nobody comes into authority except by the will and permission of God. It is only God that can approve for a man to come to authority. The will of God concerning Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be realized.