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2023: Group Urges Akpabio To Join Presidential Race

Published

2 years ago

February 5, 2022

Editor

A group of professionals that draws its membership from all over Nigeria has called on former Akwa-Ibom State Governor and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio to step out and run for the presidency of Nigeria.

The group, known as the Godswill Akpabio Uncommon Transformational Support Organisation (GAUTSO), posits that with what Nigeria is experiencing today, only a proven leader and an accomplished performer like Senator Akpabio can take us out of the woods and calls on the popular politician to throw his hat into the ring.

In a statement signed by the group’s spokesperson, Chief Bennett Akar, GAUTSO noted that Nigeria has reached a stage where it can no longer gamble with its future. In their own words, “we have looked at all the people who have so far declared their interest in the presidency and we have come to the unimpeachable conclusion that there is none that has Senator Godswill Akpabio’s political profile and track record of achievements. Nigeria needs an experienced, tested and steady hand as its pilot at this point in time.”

According to Chief Akar, apart from being energetic and focused, Akpabio has exhibited uncommon courage. “One of the biggest challenges Nigeria is facing at the moment is insecurity. Nigeria needs a tested and proven man of courage to manage its security architecture and rid the nation of these criminal elements”.

In Chief Akar’s words “When the Niger Delta militancy was at its peak, Sen Akpabio was one of those patriotic Nigerians who braved the odds, stepped into the ring and found this win-win solution that has held the region at peace till today. He has demonstrated his political sagacity in recently meeting with a Niger Delta warlord and finding a peaceful way to calm frayed nerves. Nigeria needs a leader who is proactive and has problem-solving skills.

“Still speaking about courage, we know how he followed through the forensic audit at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). He rose above stiff opposition to get the job done. In addition, under his leadership, NDDC moved to its permanent headquarters after many years, saving the nation millions of naira.

Akar also noted that the group was also inspired by Sen Akpabio’s power of vision and capacity to keep his promise. “When he was sworn in as governor, he declared that Akwa Ibom will no longer be known as a state where people come for houseboys, maids and cooks, that he will return the indigenes to their pride of place. He delivered by embarking on a massive free education programme in both primary and secondary schools, enacted a law to make it illegal for parents not to send their children to school and then gave incentives to headmasters and principals.

“Furthermore, as a detribalized Nigerian, the schools were open to indigenes and non-indigenes. This kind of unity is what Nigeria needs at this time that many regions are crying about marginalization. Sen Akpabio is connected to people from all ethnic groups in the country. This he clearly exhibited when he was Chairman, PDP’s Governors’ Forum and also the minority leader of the Senate.

That is not all “Everyone knows there is a synergy between quality education and security because though national security is the first duty of every government, education is its foundation. Senator Akpabio clearly knows how to tackle these head on and resolve them very quickly”

In addition, Chief Akar stated that a visionary, dynamic, effective, efficient and credible leader is what the nation needs to continue the present government’s infrastructural policies. “Akpabio became popular in Nigeria because of his investment in infrastructure, anyone who has been to Akwa Ibom in the last 6 years will see the infrastructural renewal in the state, he was incomparable amongst his peers and therefore the best person to continue with President Buhari’s current infrastructural development programme’.

Chief Akar revealed that Sen Akpabio being a former student union activist and student parliamentarian, is youthful, and has the charm, the charisma and the gravitas to connect to the next generation. “His easy-going nature, always fair but firm attitude, has certainly endeared him to the youths. He inspires the youths to greater heights.

“Having developed energy infrastructure via the Independent Power Projects (IPP) as Akwa Ibom state governor, Sen Akpabio has demonstrated good understanding of the need to immediately arrest the energy crises as a key to shoring up the economy and creating jobs, both of which are urgently needed today.

“A man who has done something before, can only get better at it and with his experience. We are certain that Sen. Akpabio is sure to return Nigeria to its rightful place in the comity of nations”

Featured

Stay Away from CBT Centres, JAMB Warns Parents, Threatens Arrest

Published

24 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Eric

As this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) begins on Friday, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has vowed to arrest parents found near any Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre during the 2024 UTME exercise.

The directive was issued at the final briefing of the CBT centre owners, which was held virtually on Wednesday, 17th April, 2024.

The spokesman for JAMB, Fabian Benjamin, said this directive became necessary following the intrusive disposition of some parents during the Board’s previous exercises.

Benjamin, who quoted JAMB Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said any parent, who disobeys the order would not only be arrested but his ward would also be disqualified from sitting for the examination.

Oloyede explained that this measure became necessary as it has been discovered over time that many of these intruding parents are facilitators of examination infractions while others have, by their actions, disrupted the Board’s examinations in the past.

He added that some miscreants also disguise as parents to infiltrate the centres to perpetrate all forms of infractions.

“The Board’s helmsman noted that going by the extant national policy on education, a candidate for the examination must have attained the age of 17 years.

“Therefore, it is evident that these parents had not allowed their wards to pass through the classes as defined in the document, hence the desperation to follow their wards to the examination venue with the aim of compromising examination officials.

“At any rate, it is clear to any discerning observer that these parents deserve to be sanctioned as they had obviously ‘smuggled’ underage children into the ranks of those scheduled to sit the examination,” the Board note through a statement.

Furthermore, the Registrar said all arrangements have been concluded for the conduct of the 2024 UTME, which will be held in over 700 CBT centres across the nation.

He disclosed that the Board expects a seamless exercise but it has nevertheless made adequate provision to tackle any technical glitch that might occur in the course of the examination.

He, however, warned that if a session experienced any technical challenge, candidates in subsequent sessions would be allowed to sit their examination as scheduled while the candidates in the challenged session would be rescheduled for the last session for the day or the following day or even further depending on the centre schedules.

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Oyo Govt Demolishes Operational Base of Yoruba Nation Agitators

Published

24 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Eric

The Oyo State government, on Wednesday, demolished a building serving as the operational base of the Yoruba Nation agitators led by Modupe Onitiri-Abiola, in Ibadan.

Onitiri-Abiola, one of the widows of late Bashorun M.KO Abiola, had declared the creation of the so-called Yoruba Nation in a video posted online, which has been widely condemned.

Last Saturday, some armed men in military uniforms invaded the Oyo State Secretariat, with the motive to forcefully take over the State House of Assembly, before they were dislodged by the combined efforts of police and troops for the Nigeria Army 2 Division..

Mr. Fatai Owoseni, Special Adviser on Security Matters to Governor Seyi Makinde, confirmed the demolition of the house located at Toye Oyesola Street in Ibadan South West Local Government Area.

Already, no fewer than 29 suspects – including a lecturer – arrested in connection with the foiled armed invasion were on Wednesday arraigned by the police before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan.

In a case with charge number Mi/520c/2024 between the Commissioner of Police and the 29 suspects, they were accused of a seven-count charge of treasonable felony, unlawful society, illegal possession of firearms, and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

Inspector Bakare Rasaq, the Investigative Police Officer (IPO) at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan, said the offence contravenes, and is punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.

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PDP BoT Queries Damagum, Anyanwu’s Continued Stay in Office

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2024

Eric

The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party has queried the continued stay in office of the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.

Recently, many party members have raised concerns about the ongoing tenure of Damagum and Anywanwu in their respective positions.

Previously serving as the PDP National Deputy Chairman (North), Damagum assumed the role of acting National Chairman following the court’s suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, in March of the preceding year.

With the National Secretary being selected as the PDP candidate for the Imo State 2023 governorship election, the South zone has been grappling with nominating a replacement. Despite this, he, along with other party leaders, contested and retained the position of party secretary after losing to Governor Hope Uzodinnma.

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