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2023 general election

2023: Okowa insists,
Nigeria too fractured for inexperienced presidential candidates to govern

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**60 youth groups backs Atiku’s presidency

Delta state governor and the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party Ifeanyi Okowa, has said that Nigeria is currently too fractured for an inexperienced person to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

Okowa declared that only former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has what it takes to rights all the wrongs do to the Nation by the present administration.

This is coming even as about 60 Nigerian youths group declared their support for actualisation of Atiku Abubakar’s presidency in 2023.
Speaking Friday in Abuja at an event organised by Green Assembly Initiative (GAI) to mark International Youths Day 2022, Okowa wondered why the country will not allow much talked about State Police to secure lives and properties or embrace National Health Insurance policy for all, promising that Atiku’s government will do it for the benefit of Nigerians.
According to Delta governor, Nigeria today appears very frightening, but we cannot lose hope. It is possible, working together, trusting in ourselves to begin the rebuilding process.

“And our building process starts on 2023 when Atiku Abubakar becomes President. People ask, I don’t want to play politics. I do not believe in all those who are running for the presidency. The way we look at what is going on today in Nigeria, there are loads of problems.

“And if we do not elect the right person, we’ll find ourselves getting somebody who is going to get the seats and still confused on that seat, because the problems will overwhelmed him because he will not even know how to start.

“It’s much easier to govern in a nNtions where the rule of law is not taken for granted because institutions are already working. But in a country like Nigeria and in most African countries where the issues are different, requires a lot of deep talk, requires a lot of experience, positive experience that can truly enable you to govern and to be able to bring everybody on the table and inclusive in a governance.

“Not too many people have such experiences. I believe that in Nigeria of today’s to fractured there are so many contending voices. People are speaking in different directions. Our oneness is being threatened. Why? Not because of the north or south, Muslim and Christians, but because there’s frustration everywhere, there’s poverty everywhere. We don’t seem to have the answers because everything just appears to be going downhill.

“And then the issue of Social Security is no longer there. The security in the land is worsening, our economy is in terrible shape.

“We cannot continue in that state. We must prioritize our priorities. We must continue to look at the right things, what we ought to do.”

While sympathising with Nigerians, especially the youths for the difficult times in Nigeria, the Vice Presidential candidate said: “Youth has a role to assist or to work with the leadership of this country, to begin to re educate our people to re emphasize education, to re emphasize family management, population management, re – emphasize the issues that can truly help us.

“There are barriers everywhere in our of life, we cannot continue to frustrate the younths. So, we need to begin a consensus together. That is what I Atiku Abubakar stands for.

“That was Nigeria today we do not have the depth of knowledge, the only man who seems to have that depth of knowledge to take us out of where we are is Atiku Abubakar.

“He’s the only one that has had a similar experience in 1999. Together with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, they’re able to take us out a difficult situation.

“It is not about the PDP or APC, is about who can salvage us at the moment, we must think around, so that we will not allow the trauma in our minds to make us take the wrong decision.

“When it comes to securityd demand. Today you’re going to hear from Amotekun. You’re going to hear various voices, even the governors are crying. And they have begin to equip themselves with wapons, even unlawfully.

“So the right thing is to ensure that the states are able to have their own police where they are officially equipped. And then they can go out in support of whatever the federal government police is doing. To secure the land.”

Speaking on the theme of the International Youth Day, 2022, titled: Inter-generational solidarity creating a world for all ages, Chairman of the Green Assembly Initiative (GAI) Comrade Duke Alamboye, said it is quite disturbing struggling social services, the challenges of insecurity, dilapidated infrastructure and the decry of Nigerians is what the country have been inundated with on a daily basis over the years.

While declaring the support of 60 youths group for Atiku Abubakar, Alamboye said: “Anyone in victmized shoes will be dampened by the vociferous suggestion that what we need is to unite and maintain solidarity, however, The advocates of Nigerian problems posit religion, ethnicity, and the issue of restructuring the Nigerian federal system as the bane of our problem but the real problem lies with not maintaining a strong and progressive bond between generations in the midst of these differences.”

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2023 general election

EU reports: LP says FG is feebly adopting face saving measures

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***EU only hit the nail on the head

The leadership of the Labour Party has countered the Federal Government of Nigeria for discrediting the European Union’s conclusion on the 2023 General Election wherein it faulted the modalities by which the conclusion was reached.
It reiterated what it believed as the accurate testament of the European Union’s conclusion on the 2023 general elections which merely hit the nail on the head.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh said,
“Eropean Union’s Conclusion on the 2023 general elections are nit Jaundiced but accurate Testament of the outcome of the FG and INEC alliance to change the will of the electorate.”
“We see this face-saving measure by the Federal Government which is coming days after the submission of the report as feeble and medicine after death.

“It will interest the government to note that the European Union’s report is only one out of numerous submissions by other international Observers who have described the outcome of the election as a sham and an exercise that did not reflect the will of the majority of Nigerians.

“Labour Party stands by the position of the EU observation mission. We have always said that this election was massively rigged in favour of the APC and their candidate.
“What the FG is saying is just an afterthought and a shameless effort to mask the obvious. Even the blind can see, the deaf can hear and they know this election was manipulated.
“Huge pieces of evidence abound for even the deaf and the blind to hear and feel. We are only hoping that the judiciary will dispense justice without fear or favour in the interest of the nation and posterity.
“Nigerians already know the true winner of the 2023 presidential election and no amount of slandering, denial, or rebuttal can change the fact that the party in power has no mandate of the electorate.

“We must also note that whatever position the INEC has taken is with active connivance with the Federal Government to deny the electorate and it clearly shows that INEC is not in any way independent.
“The Commission’s action is at the whims and caprices of the government and we know it. But Nigerians looking to the Judiciary for justice. That’s where we stand.”

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2023 general election

FG tackles EU over report on 2023 general elections

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The Federal Government has countered the European Union’s report on the 2023 general elections, describing the conclusions therein as “jaundiced”.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy gave the indication in a statement on Sunday.

“We urge the EU and other foreign interests to be objective in all their assessments of the internal affairs of our country and allow Nigeria to breathe,”
According to him, the February 25, 2023 presidential election was “clearly and fairly” won by Tinubu, the then candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC).

He also advised that the EU allow Nigeria to breathe and not meddle in the affairs of the country.

“We find it preposterous and unconscionable that in this day and age, any foreign organisation of whatever hue can continue to insist on its own yardstick and assessment as the only way to determine the credibility and transparency of our elections,” he said.

He said the presidency was not unaware of the “machinations of the European Union to sustain its, largely, unfounded bias and claims on the election outcomes”.

Alake further stated that there is no substantial evidence provided by the EU or any foreign and local organisation that is viable enough to impeach the integrity of the 2023 election outcomes.

“We would like to know and even ask EU, how it reached the conclusions in the submitted final report with the very limited coverage of the elections by their observers who, without doubt, relied more on rumours, hearsay, cocktails of prejudiced and uninformed social media commentaries and opposition talking heads,” he stated.

“We have many reasons to believe the jaundiced report, based on the views of fewer than 50 observers, was to merely sustain the same premature denunciatory stance contained in EU’s preliminary report released in March.

“We strongly reject, in its entirety, any notion and idea from any organisation, group and individual remotely suggesting that the 2023 election was fraudulent.”

The media aide said Nigeria has put the elections behind, and Tinubu is facing the task of nation-building.

“As a country, we have put the elections behind us. President Tinubu is facing the arduous task of nation-building, while those who have reasons to challenge the process continue to do so through the courts.”

On June 27, 2023, the EU presented its report on the 2023 elections in Nigeria to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The EU said the election exposed enduring systemic weaknesses and therefore signaled a need for further legal and operational reforms to enhance transparency, inclusiveness and accountability.

The EU also identified six areas for improvement in Nigeria’s electoral process moving forward.

Some of the key areas listed by the Mission are ambiguities in the law, the establishment of a publicly accountable process for the selection of the INEC members, ensuring real-time publication of results as well as access to election results.

It also highlighted the need for protection for media practitioners while decrying the discrimination against women in elective and appointed positions as well as impunity regarding electoral offences.

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2023 general election

Okumagba expresses confidence in Tinubu to initiate inclusive national reconciliation 

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***Says, the president has capacity to confront insecurity with reforms

***Applauds his agenda poised to bringing about a dawn of a new era

Prominent leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Olorogun Bernard Okumagba has expressed the confidence in the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s newly inaugurated government to bring about lasting peace and prosperity to Nigeria through an inclusive national reconciliation process.

Okumagba who is also a member of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), said the president has the capacity to remarkably focus on confronting insecurity through a reform of the sector; growing the economy; and tackling multi-dimensional poverty, which would boost Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)

By so doing, he said the new government will create a robust middle class that will drive our Country’s economic rebound under his watch.

In a Press Statement, Olorogun Okumagba, a former Delta State Commissioner for Finance, also reckoned that the new President who has an established reputation as a bridge builder, a true progressive, an astute believer in true federalism, and who has over the years sacrificed to ensure the sustenance of democracy in the country, will bring these remarkable skills and attributes to bear in renewing the hopes of Nigerians for a more prosperous nation.

These were contained in a statement he issued to congratulate President Bola Tinubu (GCFR) and Vice President Kashim Shettima (GCON) on their momentous inauguration as the 16th President, and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He wished them every success in guiding our country towards stability, true democratic governance and economic development.

Reacting to President Tinubu’s inaugural address, aptly captioned “THE NIGERIAN IDEAL”, shortly after being sworn-in by the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Olorogun Okumagba eulogised the President for his firm and unequivocal commitment to “progressive good governance in furtherance of the Nigerian ideal” succintly captured in his five governance principles.

The principles that will guide his administration as outlined by President Tinubu include “governing according to the constitution and the rule of law; to defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality that threaten the peace and stability of our country; and to remodel our economy to bring about growth and development through job creation, food security and an end of extreme poverty.”

Okumagba also applauded President Tinubu’s promise to address the nation’s economic problems and his directive to the monetary authorities to make monetary policy to be more business friendly and work towards a unified exchange rate.

Okumagba stated his deep appreciation of the significant role President Tinubu has played in seeking solutions to the political and economic challenges assailing our nation. Olorogun Okumagba recalls that President Tinubu’s remarkable transformation of Lagos State as Governor between 1999 and 2007, and the sustenance of a succession pipeline has since made Lagos the state of choice to live in, work, and play.

In tune with the mood of the nation for “renewed hope” of a more prosperous and united nation, Olorogun Okumagba re-affirmed his best wishes for the success of the important work that lies ahead.

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