News

Demystifying COVID-19 Spread with Rate Your Leader App

Published

5 years ago

March 10, 2020

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

In the last couple of weeks, Nigerians have lived in absolute carefulness owing to the fact that someone brought in the dreaded Coronavirus disease otherwise known as COVID-19 into the country. The importer, an Italian citizen, had flown in via a Turkish airline on February 25 before he was discovered two days later and quarantined. His contacts were as well isolated though one has tested positive to the virus, bringing the number of infected persons to two.

Ever since, the cyberspace has been inundated with myths and conspiracy theories about the Coronavirus disease, and as a result social media experts, led by Digital Democracy Project originators and owners of the prolific Rate Your Leader app, are calling on politicians to take the lead in stopping the spread. This is by complete engagement with their electors one on one to disabuse their minds regarding these myths. Some of them are that it can be cured by keeping clean shaven or by covering yourself in sesame oil and that it was created as a weapon by the Chinese or CIA. These myths need to be rapidly rebutted by credible sources to keep people safe, and Rate Your Leader app is the veritable avenue.

Echoing world leaders’ advice that “the media has a very important role in this, particularly the social media and electronic media of all types,” the Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Rate Your Leader, Mr. Joel Popoola, said that the app will allow the free flow of accurate information concerning the virus from those who should know. He noted that dependence on unfiltered communication channel will be eliminated thereby giving electors access to only the truth.

He said:

“Social media timelines are being taken over by stories about the virus with myths about what you can do to fight it spreading almost as quickly as the virus itself.

“People might tell you that they don’t trust their representatives, but in reality, they are high credibility sources with a unique power and reach to promote crucial health messages through their networks.

“Networks like Rate Your Leader have a vital role to play in allowing accurate information to be communicated unfiltered from reliable sources to the people who might otherwise be panicked into listening to less reputable advice and taking steps which might actually be dangerous or damaging to their health.”

Rate Your Leader, a free app, was created by the Digital Democracy project to bridge the gulf between people and their elected representatives with phones and other handheld devices – whilst blocking malicious or offensive communication in a way that other social media platforms do not.

The abuse-proof Rate Your Leader app confirmed voters in specific electoral divisions to communicate directly with the elected representatives, as well as rating them for responsiveness.

The Rate Your Leader app is available from the Apple and Google Marketplaces. The app has a five star rating on the Google market, with one reviewer writing “This is the new level of politics…better communication of leaders with the electorates and accountability”.

The app, which is already making waves in the United Kingdom, is due for launch in Nigeria in the coming weeks. It is worthy of note that the launch has received the unequivocal support of not only the Nigerian government, but the generality of the public, including the oppositions

At launch, representatives of the people at all levels will take advantage of the free democracy app to stay in touch with the people who elected them and to get their messages out to confirmed voters in their constituencies, helping them truly understand what matters most to them.

News

Police Invite Sanusi for Questioning over Sallah Day Violence

Published

19 hours ago

April 5, 2025

Eric

Commissioner of Police, CP Olajide Rufus Ibitoye, acting on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, through the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in-charge of Force Intelligence Department (FID) Abuja, has extended an invitation to the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, for an “investigative meeting with regards to an incident that occurred during the Sallah celebration within your domain”.

The said incident is in connection with the violence that broke out during the recent Eid-el-Fitr procession in Kano, which resulted in the death of a local vigilante member.

The incident happened as the Emir’s entourage moved from the Eid prayer ground to the palace in a traditional procession. The clash, which marred the otherwise peaceful celebration, led to the tragic loss of life of a vigilante member, Surajo Rabiu, and left one other injured.

The invitation was conveyed in an official letter dated April 4, 2025, and signed by Commissioner of Police, CP Olajide Rufus Ibitoye, on behalf of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in-charge of Force Intelligence Department (FID) Abuja.

Emir Sanusi II

The letter reads: “I have the directives of the Inspector General of Police, through the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department (FID), to invite you for an investigative meeting with regards to an incident that occurred during the Sallah celebration within your domain.”

The Emir has been requested to appear before the Force Intelligence Department in Abuja, opposite the Police Headquarters, Area 11, by 10:00am on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

This development comes amid heightened tensions in Kano State following the earlier decision by the State Police Command to ban the annual Durbar festival due to security concerns. The ban, announced days before the Eid-el-Fitr celebration, was intended to prevent any possible breakdown of law and order during the festive period.

However, despite the suspension of the Durbar, a motorcade procession of Emir Sanusi II still took place on the third day of the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

The Kano State Police Commissioner, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, had also inaugurated an eight-member Special Investigation Panel (SIP) to investigate the violence.

As at the time of this report, there has been no official response from the Emir Sanusi II’s palace regarding the Police invitation.

News

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed Dumps Tinubu’s Appointment As Political Adviser

Published

2 days ago

April 4, 2025

Eric

Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the political adviser to President Bola Tinubu, has resigned his appointment.

Reports say the former spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) tendered his resignation about two weeks ago.

Further reports quoting presidency sources did not, however, provide details of the reasons for his decision, but only stated that it was on personal grounds.

Baba-Ahmed was appointed in September 2023 as Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Office of Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Over the past 17 months, he had represented the presidency at several public fora, including a recent national conference themed: “Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy: Pathway to Good Governance and Political Integrity”, which held from January 28 and 29, 2025 in Abuja.

News

Court Stops Pro-Wike Rally in Bayelsa

Published

2 days ago

April 4, 2025

Eric

The High Court of Bayelsa State sitting in Yenagoa has issued an order restraining associates of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, from holding a mega rally in the South-South State pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The proposed rally was scheduled for Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on April 12, 2025.

Hon. Justice I. A Uzakah granted the motion ex-parte in Suit No. BYHC/YHC/CV/133/2025 was filed by the state’s Attorney General, Biriyai Dambo (SAN).

“An order of the interim injunction is hereby made or granted restraining the 1st and 2nd Defendants, whether by themselves, their agents, associates, privies, representatives (or any person whatsoever acting at their behest), from conducting, convening, coordinating, engaging in, organizing, participating in, holding, hosting, or facilitating any political assembly, rally meeting, or gathering within Bayelsa State, for the purpose of solidarity, hosting, and celebrating the 2nd Defendant in Bayelsa State, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction,” the court order read.

The matter has been adjourned to April 11, 2025, for hearing.