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Borno PDP alleges APC sponsoring thuggery, electoral violence ahead of polls

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2023: PDP Reschedules National Caucus, NEC, BOT Meetings For Wednesday

Borno PDP alleges APC sponsoring thuggery, electoral violence ahead of polls

…… Is not true, Says APC Legal Adviser

By: Our Reporter

The Gubernatorial and Legislators Campaign Council of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno State has alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC is instigating electoral violence by sponsoring political thugs to disrupt the forthcoming general elections, despite the peace accord earlier signed by all political parties in the state.

This wild allegation was disclosed in a three- page Press statement signed by the

Legal Adviser, PDP Gubernatorial and Legislators Campaign Council, Barrister Kashim Mustapha Haruna, which was made available to our Correspondent in Maiduguri on Sunday.

Barely two weeks ago, similar allegations were levelled against the ruling APC by the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP leadership that it’s campaign billboards and posters were destroyed in strategic locations across the state.

But in a swift reaction to the allegations, the Borno APC Legal Adviser, Barrister Baba Shehu Zanna said, PDP in the state is doing everything possible to incite members of the general public, as it has became glaringly clear that all PDP candidates would not win any elective position in the forthcoming general elections slated to take place in all the 27 local government areas of the state.

Barrister Zanna said, it is even unfortunate that the same PDP which sponsored some political thugs to destroy APC political campaign structures, such as APC posters and billboards in Bama local government area last week, is concocting lies against the ruling party under the leadership of governor Babagana Zulum.

The PDP’s statement reads: “We wish to bring to the attention of the general public the unfortunate actions of thuggery and violence that is continuously being perpetrated by the APC against the legitimate and peaceful campaigns of the PDP in Borno State. 

“On Sunday, 12th February, 2023, the convoy of the PDP comprising the Gubernatorial and other candidates of the party was attacked by sponsored thugs of the APC in Gwange I, II & III wards of Maiduguri, injured many PDP supporters and vandalized an uncountable number of vehicles in the convoy.

READ ALSO: https://newsng.ng/of-zulum-and-2023-the-usual-drama-as-election-year-returns-in-borno/

“Equally, on Tuesday, 14th February, 2023, the campaign rally of the party was disrupted and attacked by the same sponsored thugs of the APC in Bolori II ward of Maiduguri, as a result of which several party supporters sustained various degrees of injuries and more than 10 vehicles were vandalized by the APC thugs.

“The general public may wish to recollect the Peace Accord signed by all political parties inclusive of the APC, under the auspices of the General Abdulsalam Abubakar Peace Committee, where all parties agreed to undertake their campaigns peacefully and not to attack the campaigns of other political parties. 

“However, the APC in Borno State has never respected the Accord, which is clear from their actions when they attacked the convoy of the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar GCON during his visit to Maiduguri on his Presidential Campaign Tour of Borno State. Since then the APC in Borno has continued to attack PDP supporters and burnt offices and flags of the party across the state. 

“During the campaign tour of the APC Senatorial candidate for Borno Central Senatorial District, one Kaka Shehu Lawan, thugs in his convoy attacked and burnt PDP offices, flags and other assets in Bama and Ngala Local Governments. Eye witnesses have confirmed that the attacks were carried out jointly by members of the Civilian JTF in Kaka Shehu’s convoy in association with the APC thugs. We have reported these attacks to the security agencies in Borno State but no action has been taken yet.” Barrister Haruna lamented.

Continuing: “It is worthy of note that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has banned all vigilante organizations such as the Borno state Civilian JTF from participating in political campaigns and election activities. The Civilian JTF in Borno State is still being used by the APC candidates such as Kaka Shehu Lawan and the Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum in their campaigns, in outright violation of the IGP’s directive.

“On Friday, January 27th the PDP campaign rally in Mafa Local Government was attacked by APC thugs. We reported the incident to the police authorities, but no single APC thug was arrested nor prosecuted. All these incidences occurred within the Borno Central Senatorial District where Kaka Shehu Lawan who has been the coordinator of the Civilian JTF in Borno State is contesting for the Borno Central Senate seat. 

“We call on the security agencies to apprehend all perpetrators of the incidences of violence and specifically invite the APC Borno Central Senatorial Candidate, Kaka Shehu Lawan for interrogation in order to establish his role in these acts of violence. 

“Only yesterday, the APC thugs in the convoy of Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum burnt one of our offices in Konduga local government area as they were passing through the town. 

“All the incidences of attacks on our supporters and arson committed against PDP assets by the APC in Borno State have been brought to the notice of the security agencies and our party and supporters are still awaiting the actions to be taken by the security agents. 

“We wish to specifically state that the Borno State Police Command under the leadership of CP Abdu Umar has failed the PDP as no single action has been taken to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators of these crimes, including the attack on the convoy of the Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

“We call on the Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum who is the leader of the APC in the State to call his party thugs to order and to respect the directive of the IGP not to use the Civilian CTF in their political campaigns and in the elections proper.

“We also wish to also call the attention of the AIG Zone 15, in charge of Borno State Yahaya Abubakar and the new Commissioner of Police posted to Borno State Haruna G. Garba to investigate these crimes and prosecute all the culprits. 

“We also call on them to ensure that the elections of 25th February and 11th March 2023 are free of violence and thuggery as we unfortunately witnessed during the campaigns.

Thank you and remain blessed.” The statement concluded.

Meanwhile, the APC Legal Adviser , Barrister Baba Shehu Zanna disclosed that the allegations levelled against the ruling party by the opposition PDP Gubernatorial and Legislators Campaign Council is baseless, unfounded and far from the truth.

“The allegations levelled against our Party  by the opposition PDP Gubernatorial and Legislators Campaign Council is baseless, unfounded and far from the truth.

Mr. Haruna’s  allegations is just a figment of his own imagination. This is not the first time the failing PDP has been making such allegations and writing frivolous petitions against our party but to no avail, because all their allegations and petitions were investigated by relevant security agencies, and were found to be false. 

“The APC under the leadership of governor Babagana Zulum has zero- tolerance for thuggery. The PDP is intimidated by the humongous crowd that came out to welcome our Presidential Candidate and his running mate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima last Saturday 18th, February, 2023 at the Elkanemi sport Centre and other locations in Maiduguri, which forced them to ran made.

“It is even unfortunate that the same PDP which sponsored some political thugs to destroy our political campaign structures such as APC posters and billboards in Bama local government area last week, is concocting lies against our ruling party under the leadership of governor Babagana Zulum.

“The APC in Borno therefore demand with immediate effect from the security agencies to arrest and investigate Mr. Haruna for volunteering with false information capable of leading to break down of law and order in the state.

“The Civilian Joint Task Force has no hand in any thuggery whatsoever as alleged by Mr. Haruna and his PDP who have benefited from the fragile peace brought by the CJTF across nooks and crannies of Borno. 

Borno PDP alleges APC sponsoring thuggery, electoral violence ahead of polls

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President Tinubu Laying Foundation For A Better Nigeria, Says Hajiya Nana Shettima

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President Tinubu Laying Foundation For A Better Nigeria, Says Hajiya Nana Shettima

  • Tasks Nigerians on constructive criticism of government actions, policies

By: Our Reporter

Wife of Nigeria’s Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, has scored the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu very high, saying the President is building a better Nigeria for Nigerians through his laudable economic policies, various empowerment initiatives and investments in key sectors of the economy.

And to help the President secure a better future for all Nigerians, the VP’s wife also encouraged the citizens not to relent in giving very useful advice to the government, urging them to be more constructive in their criticism of the administration instead of just attacking for political reasons.

Hajiya Nana Shettima spoke on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, during the annual Ramadan feast, which had in attendance women groups and students

Emphasizing the determination of the Tinubu administration to leave a lasting legacy for generations to come, she said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is baking a new cake for us that are alive today, and for the Nigerian children and grandchildren that are coming behind us. It is who he is ably supported by our lovely First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.”

Hajiya Nana Shettima noted that the President means well for the people of Borno State as well as Nigerians in all parts of the country, even as she urged the citizens to always pray for President Tinubu and members of his cabinet.

“I can tell you that he (the President) means well, not only for Borno people but for the entire nation. We should not forget him and his subordinates in our prayers,” she added.

She further commended the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her contributions towards actualizing the agenda of the administration, especially through the Renewed Hope Initiative which she said has impacted many lives, including women, children and people with disabilities.

Also speaking at the event, the Director General of Maryam Babangida Centre for Women Development, Abuja, Dr Asabe Bashir, admonished women and the people of Borno State to imbibe the teachings of the just concluded Ramadan.

She also sought the people’s support and prayers for President Tinubu, thanking the President for picking his deputy from Borno State.

She said, “I always reiterate the importance of prayer because without prayers we can do nothing in life. We have just come out of Ramadan; let us imbibe that culture and lessons we received during the 29-day fast. We need to continue with the spiritual reflection.

“We should thank God and President Bola Tinubu for remembering the people of Borno State again by bringing the seat of the Vice President, not just to the North-East region but to Borno State after Ambassador Babagana Kingibe was elected along with the late Chief MKO Abiola so many years ago.

“We must continue to pray for the administration of President Bola Tinubu because if it succeeds, we succeed,” Dr Bashir added.

On his part, the Speaker, Youth Assembly of Nigeria, Tijjani Abubakar, thanked President Tinubu for his support to Nigerian youths through various youth empowerment initiatives.

Also, Dr Martins Ekunke, who spoke on behalf the South-South, Yoruba and Igbo communities residing in Borno State, commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for galvanizing support for people living with HIV/AIDS through her pet project, the Renewed Hope Initiative.

Among those that attended the annual Sallah feast hosted by Hajiya Shettima, were the wife of the Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Hajiya Maryam Lawan; wife of the Deputy Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Hajiya Laure Musa-Askira; female Commissioners and political appointees.

Also in attendance were women groups, members of the Borno State chapter of the Nationals Association of Nigerian Students, as well as the leaders of South-South, Igbo and Yoruba communities residing in Borno State, among others.

President Tinubu Laying Foundation For A Better Nigeria, Says Hajiya Nana Shettima

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UNILORIN Alumni Commences Tinubu on Appointment of Nandap, Omotowa, Aribisala

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UNILORIN Alumni Commences Tinubu on Appointment of Nandap, Omotowa, Aribisala

By: Michael Mike

The National Headquarters of University of Ilorin Alumni Association has lauded President Bola Tinubu for appointing three of its members into various leadership positions in the country.

Those appointed were Comptroller General of Immigration, Mrs Kemi Nandap,, whose tenure was elongated till December 2026, Non Executive Director of NNPC, representing North Central, Mr Babs Omotowa- and the Pioneer Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin-Ekiti, Prof. James A. Aribisala.

In a congratulatory message to the trio, the National President, Prof. AbdulRasaq Kilani, and the National Secretary, Dr Barakat Raji, said the Association received the news of the appointments with excitement.

The Alumni, who commended President Tinubu for selecting the best for their various positions, assured him that the three alumni would not disappoint him in attaining the goals set for them to achieve.

While felicitating with the appointed members on their well-deserved appointment, the Association charged them to always show the excellence in them in surpassing the targets set for them by Mr President.

The Association who extolled the pedigrees of the appointed members in their various fields, implored them to live up to the expectations of the slogan of the institutions “better by far” in all ramifications.

The Alumni then prayed for their successful tenure and tasked them not to hesitate to reach out to them whenever their services are needed in any capacity towards national development.

UNILORIN Alumni Commences Tinubu on Appointment of Nandap, Omotowa, Aribisala

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President Tinubu reconstitute NNPC Board, remove Kyari Mele

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President Tinubu reconstitute NNPC Board, remove Kyari Mele

By: Our Reporter

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a sweeping reconstitution of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited board, removing the chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure and the group chief executive officer, Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari.

In a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga,
Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), President Tinubu removed all other board members appointed with Akinyelure and Kyari in November 2023.

The new 11-man board has Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the Group CEO and Ahmadu Musa Kida as non-executive chairman.

Adedapo Segun, who replaced Umaru Isa Ajiya as the chief financial officer last November, has been appointed to the new board by President Tinubu.

Six board members, non-executive directors, represent the country’s geopolitical zones. They are Bello Rabiu, North West, Yusuf Usman, North East, and Babs Omotowa, a former managing director of the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas( NLNG), who represents North Central.

President Tinubu appointed Austin Avuru as a non-executive director from the South-South, David Ige as a Non-executive director from the South West, and Henry Obih as a non-executive director from the South East.

Mrs Lydia Shehu Jafiya, permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, will represent the ministry on the new board, while Aminu Said Ahmed will represent the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

All the appointments are effective today, April 2.

President Tinubu, invoking the powers granted under Section 59, subsection 2 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, emphasised that the board’s restructuring is crucial for enhancing operational efficiency, restoring investor confidence, boosting local content, driving economic growth, and advancing gas commercialisation and diversification.

President Tinubu also handed out an immediate action plan to the new board: to conduct a strategic portfolio review of NNPC-operated and Joint Venture Assets to ensure alignment with value maximisation objectives.

Since 2023, the Tinubu administration has implemented oil sector reforms to attract investment. Last year, NNPC reported $17 billion in new investments within the sector. The administration now envisions increasing the investment to $30 billion by 2027 and $60 billion by 2030.

The Tinubu administration targets raising oil production to two million barrels daily by 2027 and three million daily by 2030. Concurrently, the government wants gas production jacked to 8 billion cubic feet daily by 2027 and 10 billion cubic feet by 2030.

Furthermore, President Tinubu expects the new board to elevate NNPC’s share of crude oil refining output to 200,000 barrels by 2027 and reach 500,000 by 2030.

The new board chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, is from Borno State. He is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he received a degree in civil engineering in 1984. He also obtained a postgraduate diploma in petroleum engineering from the Institut Francaise du Petrol (IFP) in Paris

He started his career in the oil industry at Elf Petroleum Nigeria and later joined Total Exploration and Production as a trainee engineer in 1985.

Musa became Total Nigeria’s Deputy Managing Director of Deep Water Services in 2015. Last year, he became an Independent Non-Executive Director at Pan Ocean-Newcross Group.

Apart from his oil industry career, Ahmadu Musa Kida is a former basketballer and the president of the Nigerian Basketball Federation(NBBF) board.

Ojulari, the new NNPC Limited Group CEO, hails from Kwara State. Until his new appointment, He was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company. His Renaissance recently led a consortium of indigenous energy firms in the landmark acquisition of the entire equity holding in the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), worth $2.4 billion.

Like Kida, Ojulari is also an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked for Elf Aquitaine as the first Nigerian process engineer to begin a stellar career in the oil sector. From Elf, he joined Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd in 1991 as an associate production technologist.

Apart from working in Nigeria, he worked in Europe and the Middle East in different capacities as a petroleum process and production engineer, strategic planner, field developer, and asset manager. In 2015, he became the managing director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO).

During his career, he was chairman and member of the board of trustees of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE Nigerian Council) and a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

President Tinubu thanked the old board members for their dedicated service to NNPC Limited, particularly their efforts in rehabilitating the old Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which enabled them to resume petroleum product production after prolonged shutdowns. He wished them well in their future endeavours.

President Tinubu reconstitute NNPC Board, remove Kyari Mele

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