Friday Olokor, Jos

A humanitarian organisation, Builders of New Nigeria, has called on Nigerians to shun the nation’s 58th independence anniversary on October 1, 2018 (today) because there is nothing to celebrate in the country.

The organisation described as sad, undesirable and dangerous a situation where the government had been suspected and accused of complicity in killings.

According to the BNN, the government must, therefore, do everything needful to set the right impression, saying the “government or leadership that routinely arouses the suspicion of its own people would soon lose its legitimacy.”

“In essence, I insist, there is nothing worth celebrating. Therefore, Nigerians should, rather than role out drums on that day, should actually fly the flag half mast and begin to come out with solutions and not just pray. I’m a Christian and for many years, we have been praying,” the BNN stated.

The Convener and National Chairman of BNN, Yinka Quadri, issued the warning on Friday during a news conference held at the Internally Displaced Persons Camp, Geosciences Institute, Anguldi in Jos, and entitled: ‘Relentless killings and a nation now at a crossroad.’

He said for the killings to continue for so long was “a confirmation that we are something else, other than human beings.”

He said, “What is worth celebrating in this country today? If we are not people living within the fringes of mediocrity, as a nation that has been on for 58 years, what do we have to celebrate? The question about the celebration is not just a Middle Belt affair.

“Just look behind me and see the human beings and not animals. We all have children, we have wives and husbands. How would we feel to wake up suddenly and see some people invade our homes? What are these people going to celebrate?”

Quadri regretted that some Nigerian compatriots had been looking towards the 2019 general elections, adding “And it pains people like us to discover that it is the election that is very important to them and not even the lives of our people.”

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Deji Lambo

Commuters and motorists plying the Sagamu Road, Lagos State, have called on the Federal Government to expand the road.

They told PUNCH Metro that the road, which is undergoing rehabilitation, was too narrow, adding that the plan to make it two lanes serving two-way traffic was faulty.

A businessman, Ernest Ogboh, urged the Federal Government to use the road’s setbacks to expand the project.

He said, “People who built houses in the area left the setback for this kind of project; so the government should expand the road because it is too narrow. People have complained that two vehicles cannot ply the road comfortably.”

A commercial bus driver, Michael Etebu, said any vehicle that broke down on the road would cause gridlock.

The 38-year-old Computer Science graduate turned bus driver said, “The road is not wide; it should be expanded to two lanes to and two lanes fro, so that there will be free movement of vehicles. What they are currently doing is just two lanes. If any vehicle breaks down, there will be serious traffic.”

A resident, Ahmed Olatunji, noted that the Sagamu Road was the only alternative road available to drivers whenever there was traffic on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“The Ogun State Government made six lanes from Sagamu to Community Road in Ogijo before the Federal Government took over the project because it is a federal road. Now that the Federal Government has taken over, they are supposed to do more than what the state government did. Many trailers pass through this road; if the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is blocked, the only alternative road for those going out of Lagos is this road. We are pleading with the government to expand it,” the driver said.

A motorist, Olatunji Oladepo, said the ongoing rehabilitation would not change anything if the road was not expanded.

He said, “I have been using this road for more than four years now. It is a good thing that the government has heard our cries by deciding to repair it. But if they don’t expand it, the rehabilitation will make no difference. Soon, it will turn bad again.”

The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos State, Mr Ademola Kuti, said the rehabilitation were in line with the plan of the Federal Government.

He said, “The road belongs to the Federal Government and the government is doing what it should do by rehabilitating it. This is a road that has been abandoned for years and the Federal Government is fixing it. People should allow us to do our job; the work is still ongoing and we are working in line with the design that was handed over to us by the government.”

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…as Tinubu formally endorses ex-commissioner
•I’ll play high if they’re playing low – Sanwo-Olu
•Governor urges free, fair, credible primary

Sesan Olufowobi, Gbenga Adeniji and Oladimeji Ramon

The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Sunday said his only opponent for the All Progressives Congress’ governorship ticket, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was not credible.

Sanwo-Olu currently has the backing of the powerful Mandate Movement on the Lagos APC and that of the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

READ ALSO: Noah’s Ark and Osun governorship rerun

The governor who lashed out for the first time since his rift with Tinubu, his godfather, became public knowledge, added that the other aspirant (referring to Sanwo-Olu) was not fit and proper to occupy the seat he wanted for a second term.

Ambode, who spoke during a world press conference at the Lagos House, Ikeja, alleged that Sanwo-Olu was once arrested for allegedly spending fake dollars in the US, adding that he was once a patient at the Gbagada General Hospital, where he had gone for rehabilitation.

He said, “The aspirant that has been put up to contest against us is not a fit and proper person to take this job.

“This particular aspirant is somebody that has been arrested for spending fake dollars in a nightclub in America, and was detained for months.

“It is also known that he doesn’t have the competence to do what he is being propelled to do. This is somebody that has gone for rehabilitation before. The records are there at the Gbagada General Hospital.

“We don’t want to go too far; we don’t want to talk about all the things that we know; but what we want is for our leadership to have a rethink because the truth is this, I will not stand here on the mandate of Lagosians and allow our great party APC to put in somebody that the opposition will easily take out because of lack of credibility.”

The governor urged the National Working Committee of the party to ensure that the governorship primary scheduled for Monday (today) was free, fair and credible.

Ambode said since the party had agreed to adopt direct primaries, it behooves on it to follow due process to ensure that every aspirant got a fair chance to contest for the ticket in a credible democratic process.

“We believe that it is in the greater interest of the party to allow reason to prevail and allow every contestant to come out and show their strength. I believe strongly that it is in the interest of the country that our party should activate as much as possible all the democratic values that our party has always been known for and that is what I stand for,” he added.

The governor said he was concerned that with less than 24 hours to the primaries, membership cards had yet to be distributed, while even as an aspirant, he had yet to be given guidelines for the election. He added that it would be injustice to deny newly registered members of the party the opportunity to exercise their franchise.

“I believe that the preparations are still ongoing, but there are some few things that we still need to iron out and I believe that the chairman of our great party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, will be able to correct some of these things that we have noticed.

“We are committed progressives; we are committed to the outcome of the primaries, but what we will not accept is the disenfranchisement of millions of people that we have been able to bring into the APC fold just by our performance. What we heard is that there is a register that is being brought into the state which has only those who have registered since 2014. What about all the millions of members of APC that we have gotten in from 2015 till date?

“I take my own membership slip anywhere I go and now they say it is only the membership slip that I have; I don’t have a membership card and so the question is; are they saying that I as a governor will not be entitled to vote tomorrow (Monday)? So, the national headquarters and the electoral committee need to make immediate adjustment to this.

READ ALSO: PDP accuses Buhari, APC of posting fake presidential primary results

“All the people that have registered as members of APC should be entitled to vote in the direct primaries; that is how we entrench the democratic values that we are all preaching. So, if someone like me can be disenfranchised because I don’t have a card, what happens to ordinary members of APC? We believe strongly that this can be corrected by allowing everybody to come out and exercise their civic duty and civic right to choose who will represent them as the gubernatorial candidate for APC. So, I plead with the NWC, I plead with our party chairman and even all the people that are interested in this whole process that we should do the right thing; we should make the process credible and I believe with God on our side, we would come out triumphant,” Ambode said.

The governor said he was confident that his administration had set the pace since inception and any course to alter the process could have dire consequences on the party’s chances in the 2019 general elections.

Ambode said, “Beyond this, we will be jeopardising the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket – which I am 100 per cent standing for – by promoting another aspirant who will not be able to sell the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket.”

The governor stated that he remained the best man for the job, noting that his challenger, Sanwo-Olu, did not possess the requisite experience and psychological know how to govern the state.

“Party leaders and even party members have been misled to understand that this (Sanwo-Olu) is a better candidate than me. I have done everything in the last three and half years to serve the people selflessly and to serve the poor and that is why you see that most of the projects you have seen are to alleviate the sufferings of the poor and the only way out for us is to continue to do that in the next four years.

“We plead with all our leaders. They should have a rethink; this is not about me, but about the greater opportunities that APC stands to better the progress of Lagos and Nigeria,” he said.

Ambode also expressed concern on the heated political situation in the state, saying the government would not fold its arms and watch political thugs disrupt the peace in the state.

He explained that security reports available to the government indicated that there was an ongoing recruitment and arming of political thugs to disrupt the peace in the state in the guise of holding primary elections.

“It has become imperative to put every stakeholder on notice, especially the Federal Government and security agencies, to take more than a passing interest in the development in this state.

“The state government will do all within its powers in collaboration with relevant security agencies to protect our citizens and insulate them from any condition that may breed insecurity or the breakdown of law,” the governor said.

I will play high if they are playing low – Sanwo-Olu

But Sanwo-Olu refused to reply to the allegations made against him by Ambode.

Sanwo-Olu declined to speak on Sunday when the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamilia, and other lawmakers from the state in the lower chamber visited his Ikoyi residence to endorse him.

On the allegations levelled against him by Ambode,  Sanwo-Olu said he would rather play high as “others” had decided to play low.

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He said, “I am focused on my campaign and not joining issues with anyone. While others are playing low, we are playing high. The party will respond to them.”

Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, Gbajabiamila urged party members to vote for Sanwo-Olu during governorship primary, adding that the federal lawmakers from the state had endorsed him.

He also urged party members to remain united no matter the outcome of the exercise.

Gbajabiamila said, “This is the last political structure that is lending support to Sanwo-Olu. We needed to take our time, look at issues dispassionately and deliberate extensively. We had endorsed the governor before. He has done well in infrastructure development. But politics is dynamic. We have sat down (to think). Governance is not just about infrastructural development.

“The GAC had spoken. I was at the meeting. There was no dissenting voice in GAC. Sanwo-Olu is a man of rich pedigree; he has intimidating credentials. He has a lot of experience. We are going to support him at the primary tomorrow (today).

“We have one party. We don’t want a divided party. Whatever is the outcome of tomorrow’s (today’s) primary, our party will remain united. We believe in Sanwo-Olu and his capability. We believe he will take Lagos to the next level.”

The lawmakers at the event included a former Head of Service,  Yakubu Balogun, a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,  Rotimi Agunsoye, Bisi Ayinla Yusuf, Jide Jimoh, Jide Benson, James Faleke, Taofeek Adaranijo, Ayodeji Joseph, Setonji Bamgbose, and Wole Diya.

Tinubu formally endorses ex-commissioner

Meanwhile, Tinubu on Sunday formally endorsed Sanwo-Olu.

He said he was encouraged by the emergence in the governorship race of a candidate who had “served the state in senior positions in my administration, the Fashola administration and even in the current one.”

He said, “While possessing a wealth of experience and exposure, he is a young man endowed with superlative vision and commitment.”

“With people like him at the helm, the state will write the proper history for itself.”

The APC leader also said Lagos had recently “deviated from enlightened governance.”

According to him, the master plan or blueprint put in place for the development of the state, which he and his immediate successor, Babatunde Fashola, implemented, had been departed from.

He said it had, therefore, become imperative for members of the APC in Lagos to use the party’s direct primaries today (Monday) to arrest the trend before an “irreparable damage is done against the people of Lagos State and their future.”

Tinubu said this in a statement he personally signed on Sunday.

Tinubu, in the statement, urged APC members to vote “in a manner that returns Lagos to its better path, the one that promises a just chance for all to enjoy the fruits of our prosperity.”

He said his experience showed that when the state government remained true to that blueprint designed about 20 years ago, positive things happened.

“During my tenure and Governor Fashola’s, Lagos State recorded improvements in all aspects of our collective existence, from public health to public sanitation, from free education to social services, from administration of justice to the cleaning of storm and sewage drains.

“Businesses, large and small, invested and hired millions of workers and thrived.

“I make no pretence that the master plan is perfect. It can always be fine-tuned. However, whenever a government departed from this plan without compelling reason, the state and its people have borne the painful consequence of the improper departure.

“To ignore this blueprint for progress in order to replace it with ad-hoc schemes of materially inferior quality contravenes the spirit of progressive governance and of our party. Such narrowness of perspectives does not bring us closer to our appointed destination; it takes us farther from that destination,” Tinubu said.

Councillors deny shunning Ambode

Also, councillors in all the 57 councils of the state on Sunday said the report that they shunned an invitation extended to them by Ambode was not true, saying it was a fabrication.

Addressing a press conference at the headquarters of Ambode Mandate Support Group (AMSG) in Ikeja, the councillors, who had earlier endorsed the second term bid of the governor, added that the report was unfortunate.

Leader of the Councillors’ Forum, Kolejo-Monsuru Adeniyi, who spoke in company with  hundreds of his colleagues, said, “There is no iota of truth in the report that we shunned Governor Ambode’s invitation and we are here today to say to the whole world that all councilors in Lagos State are behind the second term bid of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.”

The Director General of AMSG, Hakeem Sulaimon, commended the councillors, saying they have done what party leaders failed to do.

Ambode confirms APC as party of fraudsters, riggers – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party on Sunday said it reviewed the world press conference held by  Ambode and surmised that the governor validated its position that the APC allegedly consisted of those it described as fraudsters and election riggers.

The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary,  Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja on Sunday, said by  “this, the whole world can see that the APC is nothing but a den of fraudsters and corrupt persons who not only cheated their way to power through lies and propaganda in 2015, but have also continued to bleed and defraud our nation with humongous sleazes and massive corruption in very high places.”

He added, “That is why the APC will have no scruples to project persons of questionable character and those with allegations of corruption hanging on the necks as their National Chairman and governorship aspirants.

“We challenge President Muhammadu Buhari to show his claimed integrity by ordering an open investigation into this huge allegation against his party’s governorship aspirant.”

Ologbondiyan called on Lagosians and Nigerians to note “this ugly trend in the APC and ensure that they throw this undesirable party to the dustbin of history, come 2019.”

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Femi Makinde, Osogbo

Some of the 48  governorship candidates that contested the Osun State governorship election have accused the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies of conniving with the ruling All Progressives Congress to steal the mandate of the people.

The governorship candidates are Mrs Mercy Ayodele of the Restoration Party; Mr Alfred Adegoke of the Socialist Party of Nigeria; and Prof Ife Adewumi of the Providence People’s Congress.

The rerun poll held on Thursday, September 27.

The RP candidate said, “Oyetola should be temporarily congratulated. I stand to say it is a stolen mandate. Democracy has been slaughtered in Osun State. Brute force was used against the people to steal victory and the masses are disappointed.

“The electoral process was quite discouraging and the security agencies in collaboration with the election umpire disappointed the poor citizens of Osun State. The APC victory will be short-lived,” he said.

The SPN candidate, Adegoke, who is a human rights activist, also berated the INEC and security agents for allegedly conspiring against the people in order to snatch their mandate and hand it over to Oyetola.

Adegoke said, “What happened on Thursday in Osun State was not an election. It was a charade and it cannot stand.  Policemen, soldiers, DSS and other security agents gave cover to hoodlums to violently rig the election.

“What happened was more than stealing the mandate; it was a broad-day light robbery. Even the election was rigged before the election day.”

Also, the PPC candidate, who is a former chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, said there was no reason to order a rerun in the areas where election had been held and the results were cancelled for irregularities.

He said the INEC seemed to have connived with the ruling All Progressives Congress to subvert the will of the majority of the people of the state.

“There is therefore no legal basis for ordering a rerun. There is no such allowance provided by or known to law.

“But there comes a time in this country when we have to learn to do the right thing. It is so sad and unfortunate that we will see light and continue to look for darkness. In any case, how does a returning officer have the power and authority to declare a rerun?

“There is nothing in the INEC guidelines or in the Electoral Act that can give validity to this illegality. But the truth remains the truth, whether spoken, contested or hushed,” Adewumi said.

Similarly, one of the chieftains of the PDP in Osun State, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, who contested the primary election of the party against Senator Ademola Adeleke, has said the result of the Osun State governorship election will not stand.

Ogunbiyi asked Adeleke to seek redress in court in order to retrieve his mandate from Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola of the APC.

Ogunbiyi said, “The  intimidation of voters, harassment of PDP leaders, journalists and domestic observers during the exercise are  clear affirmation of the ruling party’s desperation to win at all cost using government institutions and thugs.”

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John Charles, Makurdi

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom,  on Sunday,  enjoined Nigerians to sustain their faith in the corporate existence, unity and indivisibility of Nigeria even as the country faces so many challenges.

In an Independence Day message signed by his Media Adviser, Tahav Agerzua, Ortom reiterated his belief that Nigerians have cause to celebrate, having gained independence from the colonialists and come a long way in spite of several threats to the corporate existence of the country.

The governor called on the Federal Government as well as states and major stakeholders to synergise and intensify the fight against terrorism and other insurgencies such as Boko Haram, herdsmen attacks and criminal acts across the country.

Governor Ortom also called on Nigerians to redouble the efforts to be patriotic wherever they find themselves in positions of service, leadership and followership so that the country could move fast to join the comity of developed nations.

He urged Nigerians to deepen the democratic culture by abiding by the rule of law and due process as they vote for credible leaders that would lead them towards accelerated development and progress in the forthcoming elections, particularly in the 2019 general elections.

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Adelani Adepegba and Ade Adesomoju, Abuja

The Nigeria Labour Congress has suspended its seven-day warning strike following promises by the Federal Government to reconvene the tripartite committee on national minimum wage on October 4, 2018.

The labour movement said the suspension took effect from Sunday, and further directed its affiliate unions and state councils to maintain “a high level of mobilisation and readiness until the struggle for a reasonable minimum wage is achieved.”

READ ALSO: NCC clamps down on pre-registered SIM card sellers

Announcing the decision in Abuja on Sunday, the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, stated that the labour action was suspended to enable the tripartite committee to hold its crucial meeting and conclude its work.

The workers are demanding a new minimum wage of about N50,000 instead of the current national minimum wage of N18, 000.

Wabba, who was flanked by other labour leaders, said the unions had received a formal invitation to a meeting of the tripartite committee scheduled for October 4 and 5.

He stated that the two-day meeting would be the final session of the committee after which a final report would be submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The NLC President said, “We invite you here today (Sunday) to inform you that we have received a firm and formal invitation to a reconvened meeting of the tripartite committee scheduled for the 4th and 5th of October, 2018.

“We demand that this shall be the final session of the committee and that a final report will be submitted to Mr President immediately.”

He added, “In order to avail the committee the necessary conducive environment to hold this crucial meeting and conclude its work, organised labour has, after obtaining the mandate of their necessary organs, decided to suspend the strike action with effect from Sunday, September 30, 2018.”

The labour leaders had held a meeting with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, last Wednesday where they were informed that the tripartite committee on minimum wage would reconvene on October 4.

But the labour leaders were unimpressed as they refused to suspend the strike which the NLC, Trade Union of Nigeria and the United Labour Congress had ordered shortly before the parley with the minister in Abuja.

The union leaders subsequently held a meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, at the Presidential Villa last Thursday, where they were prevailed upon to call off the strike.

READ ALSO: Katsina hospitals hit goldmine from labour strike

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria has directed its members to resume work on Tuesday.

Shortly after NLC suspended the strike on Sunday, President of JUSUN, Mr Marwan Adamu, said, “The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria has asked all its members across Nigeria to resume work on Tuesday, October 2nd, 2018 following the suspension of the strike by the organised labour.”

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John Alechenu, Abuja

The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress has again rescheduled governorship primaries in Lagos, Enugu and Adamawa states.

It also changed the mode of primaries for Enugu and Adamawa states from indirect to direct Primaries.

This was contained in a statement signed by the acting National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Yekini Nabena. No reason was however given for the action.

New dates:

• Lagos Governorship Primaries – Tuesday, October 2, 2018
• Enugu and Adamawa Direct governorship Primaries – Thursday, October 4, 2018

Chukwudi Akasike and Sampson Itode, Port Harcourt

TWO candidates, Mr Tonye Cole and Senator Magnus Abe, emerged winners of the parallel governorship primaries conducted by both factions of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State.

Cole came out victorious in the indirect governorship primary held in Port Harcourt on Sunday when he polled 3,329 votes while his closest rival,  Dr Dawari George, got 491 votes.

READ ALSO: Sentimental choice of leaders, reason for backwardness —Saraki

Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs came a distant third with 38 votes while Abe got one vote.

Eighteen votes were declared void by the Jafar Isah-led Rivers Governorship Primary Committee.

It was, however, a different story at the primary held by the APC faction loyal to Abe as the senator was declared the winner of the Sunday’s direct governorship primaries conducted in the three senatorial districts of Rivers State by the APC.

The returning officer, Dr Chigbo Sam Eligwe, made the announcement in a press conference at its Secretariat in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

Abe who won with 144,929 votes followed by Dumo Lulu-Briggs who got 3,344, Dawari George getting 1,606 and Tonye Dele Cole 882 votes.

Meanwhile, there was tension in Rivers as the APC in the state held two parallel governorship primaries in different parts of the state.

While the Rotimi Amaechi-led APC conducted an indirect primary on the Igboukwu field in D-Line, Port Harcourt, the Magnus Abe faction adopted the direct governorship primary across different local government areas of the state.

Earlier before the exercise in Port Harcourt by the Amaechi-led APC, there were explosions near the secretariat of the party at about 12.30pm.

The last explosion scared supporters of the Amaechi-led APC as most of them rushed out to have a glimpse of what happened less than 50 metres away from the party secretariat.

However, the exercise went on peacefully as of the time of filing this report.

[READ ALSO] Baby factory: Cleric, 16 pregnant women arrested in Rivers

Before the primaries, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the APC in the state, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, accused the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, of trying to impose his preferred aspirant, Tonye Cole, on the party.

Lulu-Briggs also claimed that certain persons had been handpicked from various wards as delegates to the primary in breach of the party’s constitution and guidelines.

He explained that names were being added and deleted from the delegates’ list.

Lulu-Briggs, however, called for the postponement of the governorship primary in the state, saying this was necessary in order to enhance transparency.

“When the NWC reached the decision that indirect primaries be adopted for the governorship primary in Rivers, as a loyal party man, I accepted the decision in good faith despite the fact that there are pending litigations in various courts, which might vitiate and truncate the process.

“I thus ramped up my campaign, but soon discovered that our party structures from the state executive committee, local government and ward excos across the state have been directed by Rotimi Amaechi, leader of our party in the state, not to allow me access to our party faithful and delegates, but to only support the aspiration of his preferred aspirant, Tonye Cole.

“It is clear from the foregoing that the minimum standards to guarantee a free and fair primary today (Sunday) are nonexistent and any primary held today will be a mere sham and a perfidious travesty.

“To this end, I, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, most graciously appeal to the National Chairman of our great party and  the NWC to, as a matter of utmost urgency, postpone the governorship primary for Rivers State so as to correct the anomalies herein complained of because the current arrangement falls short of the minimum standards stipulated by the Electoral Act and our party constitution.”

Reacting, the state APC Publicity Secretary, Mr Chris Finebone, dismissed Lulu-Briggs’ claim, saying, “It is not correct.”

However, a source close to Amaechi urged governorship aspirants to leave the minister alone and face the primaries.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, maintained that the leadership of the party would meet with all stakeholders after the governorship primary in the state.

In another development, a faction of the APC in Rivers State, led by a governorship aspirant and lawmaker representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe, conducted its governorship primaries across the three senatorial districts of the state.

The polling officer in Omuanwa, Ward 7, Ikwerre LGA, Eleonu Ndidi, said voting was peaceful.

He said “We started accreditation started by 7.30am, voting started 8.00am and the entire process ended by 12.30pm. The entire election was peaceful and the turnout was impressive. We are packaging all votes, which will be taken to the local government collation centre.”

Also, voting was peaceful in Ward 3, Elele, Ikwerre LGA, where Chidi Wihioka, a lawmaker representing Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency exercised his franchise.

Wihioka maintained that delegates were currently non-existent in Rivers State as the State High Court had annulled the earlier state congresses held by a faction of the party.

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He insisted that National Executive Council of the party had approved direct primary for the APC in Rivers.

But vote counting was ongoing in Port Harcourt at about 7 pm, even as two of the governorship aspirants, Abe and Lulu-Briggs, were absent from the place, where an indirect pattern of voting was adopted.

The leader of the party in the state, Amaechi; Director-General of NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside; and a former acting MD of NDDC, Ibim Semenitari, were at the voting centre in Port Harcourt.

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Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to continue to work tirelessly to promote, protect and preserve a united, peaceful, prosperous and secure Nigeria.

He said he was committed to ensuring that Nigeria became a country where all, irrespective of background, could aspire to succeed.

Buhari made the promise in his national broadcast aired early on Monday to mark the nation’s 58th Independence anniversary.

Taking a look at the nation’s journey in the past 58 years, the President said Nigeria had come a long way even if the journey had not ended.

He said, “As we celebrate the 58th anniversary of our Independence, we know we are on the right path.

“Although we have our differences, they count for far less than the values, virtues and common aspirations that unite us as a nation.

“We have so much for which we should be grateful, and in which we should rightly take pride.  Our journey is not finished but we have come a long way.

“I want to assure you that as President, I will continue to work tirelessly to promote, protect and preserve what really matters: a united, peaceful, prosperous and secure Nigeria, where all, irrespective of background, can aspire to succeed.”

READ ALSO: Full text of Muhammadu Buhari’s 58th Independence Day address

Describing the anniversary as a day of celebration and solemn reflection, Buhari lauded and remembered the nation’s founding fathers who he said laboured so hard and sacrificed so much to build and bequeath a nation like Nigeria.

He said it was the responsibility of all stakeholders to consolidate the great legacy.

While saying that there had been a steady improvement in the security situation in the North-East, the President said he remained committed to ending the crisis and making the region safe for all.

He promised not to allow the Boko Haram sect achieve its goals which he said included capturing territories, destroying democracy and denying children the right to education.

Buhari paid glowing tribute to the men and women of our armed forces, the police and other security and law enforcement agencies, who he said had been working under the most difficult conditions to keep the country safe.

“As their Commander-In-Chief, I assure these our gallant men and women that I will continue to empower them by deepening their professionalism and providing all the necessary force multipliers and enablers required for them to prevail on the field.

“I am looking into all reported cases of inadequacies in relation to their entitlements, their welfare and those of their families,” he said.

The President also noted that efforts were on course in the Niger Delta to clean up polluted lands, restore hopes of the youth in the region and re-establish livelihoods, as well as strengthen their capacity to guarantee for themselves and for the country a brighter future.

He also said his administration had put machinery in place to end the incessant herdsmen and farmers clashes across the country.

He promised to deal decisively with perpetrators of violence.

He urged stakeholders to resist the temptation of viewing the conflict as either religious or ethnic based.

Buhari said, “The age-long conflict between herders and farmers that was being exploited by those seeking to plant the seeds of discord and disunity amongst our people, is being addressed decisively.

“We will sustain and continue to support the commendable efforts by all including civil society organisations, local and states governments and our traditional and religious leaders in finding a durable solution to this problem.

“This being a transhumance issue, we are working with countries in our region that are also facing similar difficulties to complement our common efforts.

“In this context, I must warn that the perpetrators of murder and general mayhem in the name of defending or protecting herders or farmers will face the full wrath of the law.

“Meanwhile, we urge all peace-loving Nigerians to reject any simplistic portrayal, at home or abroad, of this conflict as either religious or ethnic-based.”

The President noted that Nigeria is one of the countries in the world most affected by environmental degradation, as a consequence of climate change.

According to the President, the nation is a signatory to almost all conventions and agreements aimed at slowing down the effect of climate change and mitigating its evident consequences.

The consequences on lives and livelihoods of the shrinking of the Lake Chad and the pollution caused by oil exploitation activities alone, he said, made it mandatory on the government to be at the forefront of the struggle for a safer and more sustainable environment.

Buhari added that his administration was making progress in the fight against corruption and recovery of stolen public funds and assets “despite vicious and stiff resistance.”

He said the brazen theft of public fund was no more under his administration.

The President said, “The shameful past practice of the brazen theft of billions of naira is no more.

“Shady oil deals and public contracts that were never delivered have become things of the past.

“Consequently, and this is very evident across the country, we have done more with less in infrastructural developments.

“Roads, railways, major bridges, schools, energy and power, air and seaports, the welfare of serving and retired personnel both civilian and military including payment of legacy debt such as pension arrears, have been attended to.

“There is now an enabling environment for local and foreign investment in Nigeria.  We are building a rules-based system — a level playing field that is free from fixers and intermediaries.”

“This is the cornerstone to help genuine investors and honest consumers, and the platform that will allow for the real reforms that we intend to deliver over the coming years.”

On the economy, Buhari said his administration was gradually strengthening the economy with a stable naira and falling inflation rate.

He said the government was building an economy that was moving away from over-reliance on oil, consequent upon which the nation had witnessed a massive return to farms and seen bumper harvest, despite recurrent floods across the country.

These positive developments, he noted, were the result of the collective pursuit of a common vision through  hard work and dedication, “after the missed opportunities and disappointments that followed the return to democracy in 1999.”

Buhari observed that at the forefront had always been the nation’s youths who he said had been at the vanguard of the struggle for independence.

He added, “They (the youth) fought in the war to keep the country united.  And it was they who kept alive the struggle for democracy and human rights in our country at times when these were at risk, especially following the June 12th 1993 election and the historic 2015 election process.

“Even today, our youths play a central role in Nigeria’s continuing progress and developments in all fields of our national endeavour –technology, agriculture, mining, engineering and especially creative arts. Together we are building a more diverse, inclusive and self-reliant economy.

“In the past three years, we have introduced many policies and programmes targeted at youth development and youth empowerment. We support the ‘not too young to run’ legislation aimed at giving the youth a greater say in our national politics and governance.

“The school feeding programme in primary schools is aimed at encouraging enrolment and attendance.

“We are building on what we have already introduced to support schools and universities to which funds have recently been released for the upgrade of facilities, training programmes for our entrepreneurs, and rehabilitation schemes for victims of terrorism and human trafficking.”

Buhari urged Nigerians to all rise to the responsibility of shutting out “those disruptive and corrosive forces that hide in today’s  world of social media.”

“We need critical minds and independent thinking, to question and question until we are satisfied we have the facts.  Otherwise, all the progress we have made as a democracy since 1999 is at stake,” he said.

The President also restated his commitment to the conduct of free and fair elections in the country.

He promised to ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission was truly independent.

Buhari, however, admitted that developing a thriving democracy was not an easy task.

He said there could be no quick fixes or short cuts.

The President added, “I have committed myself many times to ensure that elections are fully participatory, free and fair and that the Independent National Electoral Commission will be exactly independent and properly staffed and resourced.

“The ballot box is how we make our choice for the governments that rule in our name.

“Developing a thriving democracy is not an easy task. There can be no quick fixes or short cuts.

“These are the most important lessons that we have learnt in our 58 years as an independent nation.”

At the international level, Buhari said Nigeria remained a responsible and respected member of the international community, playing active positive roles within ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations as well as all other regional and international organisations and institutions of which we are members.

He said the country would continue to support initiatives aimed at addressing the challenges of our times: global and regional crises and conflicts, terrorism, trans-border crime, climate change, human rights, gender equality, development, poverty and inequality within and between nations, among others.

In this context, he said his government was working hard to achieve both the AU 2063 Agenda for socio-economic transformation of our continent; and the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, which together aim at addressing these challenges

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All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

Fellow Nigerians,

Today is a day of celebration and solemn reflection. It is the anniversary of the day Nigerians realised one of the most cherished of human desires – the desire for freedom. We, therefore, give thanks to and remember our founding fathers who laboured so hard and sacrificed so much to build and bequeath to us this wonderful nation. It is our duty to consolidate this great legacy.

2.     On this first October date and on the eve of the start of the general  election cycle, we should do well to reflect on what binds us together and the great strength our diversity bestows on us. Ours is an ambitious nation, and, as citizens we have every right to look forward to the future with confidence and optimism which are well founded, considering where we find ourselves today.

3.     There has been a steady improvement in the security situation in the North East.  We remain committed  to ending the crisis and make the North East safe for all.

4.     Our thoughts and prayers are always with the victims of the Boko Haram’s atrocities and their families. Beyond that, we know that the goals of the Boko Haram terrorists include capturing territories, destroying our democracy and denying our children the right to education. We will not allow them to succeed.

5.     I want at this point to pay tribute to the men and women of our armed forces, the Police and other security and law enforcement agencies, who have been working under the most difficult conditions to keep the country safe.  In the process, many have made the supreme sacrifice.

6.     As their Commander -In- Chief, I assure these our gallant men and women that I will continue to empower them by deepening their professionalism and providing all the necessary force multipliers and enablers required for them to prevail on the field. I am looking into all reported cases of inadequacies in relation to their entitlements, their welfare and those of their families.

7.     We are diversifying away from reliance on oil to increased manufacturing capacity, solid minerals development, and agriculture.

8.     Efforts are on course  in the Niger Delta to clean up polluted lands, restore hopes of the youths in the region and re-establish livelihoods, and strengthen their capacity to guarantee for themselves and for our country a brighter future.

9.     The age-long  conflict between herders and farmers that was being exploited by those seeking to plant the seeds of discord and disunity amongst our people, is being addressed decisively. We will sustain and continue to support the commendable efforts by all including civil society organisations, local and states governments and our traditional and religious leaders in finding durable solution to this problem.

10.     This being a transhumance issue, we are working with countries in our region that are also facing similar difficulties to complement our common efforts. In this context I must warn that the perpetrators of murder and general mayhem in the name of defending or protecting herders or farmers will face the full wrath of the law.  Meanwhile, we urge all peace loving Nigerians to reject any simplistic portrayal, at home or abroad, of this conflict as either religious or ethnic based.

11.   We are one of the countries in the world most affected by environmental degradation,  as a consequence of climate change.   We are signatories to almost all conventions and agreements aimed at slowing down the effect of climate change and mitigating its now evident consequences.

12.     The consequences on lives and livelihoods of the shrinking of the Lake Chad and the pollution caused by oil exploitation activities alone make it mandatory on us to be at the forefront of the struggle for a safer and more sustainable environment. We will continue to mobilise international support for our efforts in this regard.

13.     We are making progress in the fight against corruption and recovery of stolen public funds and assets despite vicious and stiff resistance. The shameful past practice, of the brazen theft of billions of Naira is no more. Shady oil deals and public contracts that were never delivered have become things of the past.

14.   Consequently, and this is very evident across the country, we have done more with less in infrastructural developments. Roads, railways, major bridges, schools, energy and power, air and sea ports, welfare of serving and retired personnel both civilian and military including payment of legacy debt such as pension arrears, have been attended to.

15.     There is now an enabling environment for local and foreign investment in Nigeria.  We are building a rules-based system – a level playing field that is free from fixers and intermediaries. This is the cornerstone to help genuine investors and honest consumers, and the platform that will allow for the real reforms that we intend to deliver over the coming years.

16.     We are gradually strengthening the economy with a stable Naira and falling inflation rate. We are building an economy that is moving away from over reliance on oil. Consequently we have witnessed massive return to farms and seen bumper harvest, despite recurrent floods across the country.

17.     These positive developments are the result of our collective pursuit of a common vision through  hard work and dedication, after the missed opportunities and disappointments that followed the return to democracy in 1999.

18.     At the forefront, have always been our youths. They have been at the vanguard of the struggle for independence.  They fought in the war to keep the country united.  And it was they who kept alive the struggle for democracy and human rights in our country at times when these were at risk, especially following the June 12^th 1993 election and the historic 2015 election process.

19.     Even today, our youths play a central role in Nigeria’s continuing progress and developments in all fields of our national endeavour –technology, agriculture, mining, engineering and especially the creative arts. Together we are building a more diverse, inclusive and self-reliant economy.

20.     In the past three years we have introduced many policies and programmes targeted at youth development and youth empowerment. We support the ‘not too young to run’ legislation aimed at giving the youths greater say in our national politics and governance.

21.     The school feeding program in primary schools is aimed at encouraging enrolment and attendance. We are building on what we have already introduced to support schools and universities to which funds have recently been released for upgrade of facilities, training programs for our entrepreneurs, and rehabilitation schemes for victims of terrorism and human trafficking.

Fellow Nigerians,

22.     Now we have in our hands technology that is a powerful tool that we can and should use for knowledge and understanding. As with other countries, we must also learn how to manage those tendencies that, instead, look to abuse new technologies to provoke passions and stir tensions.

23.     Never before have we faced such a challenge. We must all rise to the responsibility of shutting out those disruptive and corrosive forces that hide in today ’s world of social media. We need critical minds and independent thinking, to question and question until we are satisfied we have the facts.  Otherwise, all the progress we have made as a democracy since 1999 is at stake.

24.     I have committed myself many times to ensure that elections are fully participatory, free and fair and that the Independent National Electoral Commission will be exactly  INDEPENDENT and properly staffed and resourced. The ballot box is how we make our choice for the governments that rule in our name.

Fellow Nigerians,

25.     Developing a thriving democracy is not an easy task. There can be  no quick fixes or short cuts. These are the most important lessons that we have learnt in our 58 years as an independent nation.

26.     At the international level, we remain a responsible and respected member of the international community, playing active positive roles within ECOWAS, the African Union  and the United Nations as well as all other regional and international organisations and institutions of which we are members.

27.     We will continue to support initiatives aimed at addressing the challenges of our times: global and regional crises and conflicts, terrorism, trans-border crime, climate change, human rights, gender equality, development, poverty and inequality within and between nations, etc.  In this context, we are working hard to achieve both the AU 2063 Agenda for socio-economic transformation of our continent; and the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, which together aim at addressing these challengesFellow Nigerians,

28.     As we celebrate the 58^th Anniversary of our independence, we know we are on the right path. Although we have our differences, they count for far less than the values, virtues and common aspirations that unite us as a nation.  We have so much for which we should be grateful, and in which we should rightly take pride.  Our journey is not finished but we have come a long way.

29.     I want to assure you that as President, I will continue to work tirelessly to promote, protect and preserve what really matters: a united,  peaceful, prosperous and secure Nigeria, where all, irrespective of  background, can aspire to succeed.

Thank you. I wish you a memorable independence celebration.

READ ALSO:  Health, education still in dire need of funding

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has warned Nigerians to beware of disruptive forces which he said were hidden in social media.

Buhari said this in his national broadcast aired early on Monday to mark the nation’s 58th independence anniversary.

He urged Nigerians to all rise to the responsibility of shutting out “those disruptive and corrosive forces that hide in today’s  world of social media.”

“We need critical minds and independent thinking, to question and question until we are satisfied we have the facts.  Otherwise, all the progress we have made as a democracy since 1999 is at stake,” he said.

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has admitted that developing a thriving democracy is not an easy task.

Buhari said this in his national broadcast aired early on Monday to mark the nation’s 58th independence anniversary. He said there could be no quick fixes or shortcuts.

The President also restated his commitment to the conduct of free and fair elections in the country.  He promised to ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission is truly independent.

The President added, “I have committed myself many times to ensure that elections are fully participatory, free and fair and that the Independent National Electoral Commission will be exactly independent and properly staffed and resourced.

“The ballot box is how we make our choice for the governments that rule in our name. “Developing a thriving democracy is not an easy task. There can be no quick fixes or shortcuts.

“These are the most important lessons that we have learnt in our 58 years as an independent nation.”

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that efforts are underway by his government to end incessant herdsmen and farmers’ clashes across the country.

Buhari said this in his national broadcast aired early on Monday to mark the nation’s 58th independence anniversary. He promised to deal decisively with perpetrators of violence.  He urged stakeholders to resist the temptation of viewing the conflict as either religious or ethnic based.

Buhari said, “The age-long conflict between herders and farmers that was being exploited by those seeking to plant the seeds of discord and disunity amongst our people, is being addressed decisively.

“We will sustain and continue to support the commendable efforts by all including civil society organisations, local and states governments and our traditional and religious leaders in finding durable solution to this problem.

“This being a transhumance issue, we are working with countries in our region that are also facing similar difficulties to complement our common efforts.  “In this context, I must warn that the perpetrators of murder and general mayhem in the name of defending or protecting herders or farmers will face the full wrath of the law.

“Meanwhile, we urge all peace-loving Nigerians to reject any simplistic portrayal, at home or abroad, of this conflict as either religious or ethnic-based.”

•Osinbajo prays for nation, Dogara absent

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

The General Superintendent, Deeper Life Bible Church, Worldwide, Pastor William Kumuyi, on Sunday regretted that Nigeria’s development has not been able to match its great possibilities.

Kumuyi said this in a sermon he delivered at an interdenominational church service held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja to commemorate Nigeria’s 58th independence.

The theme of the service was ‘Harnessing our diversity for national development.’

Taking the text of his sermon from 1 Corinthians 12:14-27, the clergyman likened Nigeria to the Corinthian church, which he described as one of the most gifted churches in the New Testament but failed to utilise its diversified gifts for collective greatness.

He said, “No doubt, our nation, like the Corinthian Church, is endowed with highly resourceful citizens by the Almighty God.

“Selfless and committed to our national development, we could easily become the envy of many nations.

“But our national development has not matched our great possibilities like Corinth.”

Kumuyi added, “We (Nigerians) are obsessed with strife and personality cult. We are blinded by selfish ingratitude. We take pride in harmful dissipations.

“Crimes against our fellow men are taking too much toll on our national life. Our families are under siege. We seem to be losing conscience in the nation.

“Selfless sacrifice for the good of others is waning. We are toeing the path of previous nations that destroyed themselves.

“Our lack of discernment is weakening the church and the nation. Our reactionary individualism may deprive us of personal and national greatness.”

For the ways out of the many national problems, Kumuyi asked Nigerians to be ready to rethink national priorities, repent, reconcile for peaceful partnership, reconnect for purposeful pursuit, recommit to positive principles, redirect national plans and projects as well as renew the passion for progress.

He said once these were done, the nation would move forward.

God deserves our praises, Osinbajo says

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on his part, said Nigerians should be thankful to God for sparing their lives to witness the nation’s 58th independence.

Osinbajo assured all stakeholders that the celebration would mark the beginning of good things for the country.

He urged them to seize the opportunity of the celebration to bless the country and its citizens.

The Vice President, who is a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, thereafter, led the congregation in a prayer session to bless Nigeria and Nigerians.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, expressed delight that the country could celebrate its independence in a big way.

He recalled that activities of members of the Boko Haram sect had in the past few years stalled such celebration.

Mustapha expressed the conviction that Nigeria would continue to get better.

Dogara absent at church service

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, was on Sunday conspicuously absent at the service.

According to the programme of the event, Dogara had earlier been picked to read the service’s second lesson from 1 Corinthians 12:4-18 while the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, was meant to read the first lesson from Exodus 13:8-13.

Shortly after Onnoghen read the first lesson, however, the master of ceremony announced that a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), would take the second lesson as a mark of honour for the former military leader.

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Even before 1999’s return to democracy; when the military allowed for political associations which led to the 1993 election, the electoral process was still in order. You remember the election of the Social Democratic Party which almost brought Moshood Abiola to power, it was still largely commendable. Abiola, then a southern Muslim, captured most of the votes in the North; unfortunately, he was not declared as the winner.

In 1999, Olusegun Obasanjo and Olu Falae both contested the presidential election and as southerners, each got a fair share of votes from the North.

The candidates enjoyed the support of all Nigerians and the process was fair.

However, when you look at the elections by late Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and now Muhammadu Buhari, you will see that the elections were rarely a resemblance of democracy. This is not about whether any one likes anybody or any political party or not.

What is happening in our electoral process – looking at Ekiti State election to the Osun State election – should be a serious source of concern to all Nigerians and our democracy.

Anyone who upholds democratic ideals should be genuinely worried, especially as we approach the 2019 elections.

A new system of rigging has surfaced such that election results of some polling units are deliberately doctored so as to increase or decrease a political party’s chance of winning an election.

This is not good for our electoral process and it is a bad commentary on the government of the day.

This obvious bias is a real danger signal for the electoral process as we approach the 2019 elections. My suggestion is that to outsmart these new rigging techniques, election results should be counted at the local government areas so that polling units’ results will no longer be removed or cancelled to favour any candidate. •Alhaji Tanko Yakasai (Elder statesman/ Chairman, Northern Elders’ Council)

My position is that notwithstanding the huge sums of money that have been invested in the process over the years, and the series of legislative interventions that have been brought into play with a view to ensuring that we have an ideal electoral process, not much has improved in practical terms.

You see, even in 2018, there is still the problem of inducement of voters, of compromised electoral process, the lack of trust in the electoral umpire and the ugly incidence of violence. All these things are still with us like they had always been from independence. Regrettably, we have not achieved much in terms of having a decent electoral process in the country.

I think our politicians should play the game according to the rules. We have fine legislations as things are in the country but the attitude of politicians wanting to win elections at all cost; I think, is the cause of our problem.

They know there will naturally be many candidates, but in most instances, there will only be a limited number of elective offices. Like in the state, you know at a particular point, that you can only have a governor. So, what has to be done is for politicians to orientate themselves to come to terms with the reality that all of them cannot win at the same time.

Most importantly, the electorate must take their civic responsibilities seriously by coming out to vote according to the dictates of their conscience.

The electoral management body, civil society groups and other non-governmental organisations have roles to play especially in the area of public enlightenment.  •Mr. Kehinde Eleja (Senior Advocate of Nigeria)

I can say categorically that our electoral process has improved from what it was at independence. We have improved because we have moved away from the things that used to cause problems. For example, ballot box stuffing, but the electoral umpire has solved the problem.

There was violence on a large scale especially on election days but that has drastically reduced now. The credit should go to INEC and the judiciary on this because elections have been nullified in areas where there is a threat of violence or where it actually occurs.

If you look at elections conducted before 2011 and 2015, they were characterised by violence and ballot box stuffing. ‘Ghosts’ used to vote during our elections but the innovations introduced by INEC have stopped that.

The introduction of smart card reader has successfully tackled the issue of multiple voting because voters cannot vote more than once in an election. Any voter that tries it would be exposed by the machine because it would detect such fraudulent people.  Underage voters have also been drastically tackled and substantial improvement has also been made in this area.

The result of this is that there has been general acceptability of election results because Nigerians now know that their votes count. That was why the All Progressives Congress which was in the opposition was able to defeat the then incumbent President in the 2015 presidential election.

The improvement noticed is also echoed by international observer groups because they give reports at the end of each exercise and there has been an improvement.

Technological devices such as smart phones have also contributed to the improvement of the electoral process because happenings at polling units and collation centres can be seen almost as they happen. People that are far away can know results of elections from each polling units immediately they are announced.

Despite the improvement noticed, there are still issues that we must successfully tackle to make the process better and one of such is vote buying. •Prof. Bolaji Omitola (Department of Political Science Osun State University)

I think we have gone many steps backwards. We were thinking that the electoral process was work in progress and would continue to improve with every election. But with what we have seen since the coming into office of the present administration, I am not so sure that we have made progress over what we had at the end of the last administration. That is the unfortunate part of it. Before now, we had thought that the introduction of the card reader, electronic verification and all that would substantially minimise, if not completely eradicate, election rigging.

It appears Nigeria has adopted another style just to defeat the card reader; with reports of vote buying, violence, militarisation of polling centres and intimidation.

The recent Osun State governorship election is a case in point. Instead of improving, we seem to be going backward. In a situation where INEC itself is crying out, the international community is crying out, contestants are not satisfied, independent observers are not happy; there is something definitely wrong with the system. First, Nigerians must take a collective decision. Unless we get our electoral system right, leadership will remain a challenge in this country.

In a situation where if you have the financial muscle, thugs are at your disposal, you have the security agencies and of course, you can compromise INEC to get whatever you want, the system will never throw up our best.

Once people get into office using those kinds of machinations, then you do not expect them to be loyal and honest to the country. This is because, at the end, whatever they have spent to get into office, the first thing they will do when they get there is to recoup their investment and seek to make profit after which they take more to prepare for the next election. •Mr Ede Asenoguan (Ex-Benin Branch Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association)

The electoral process in Nigeria has been evolving over the years but l cannot say for certain that it has improved. The hallmark of an improved electoral process is that it must be capable of ensuring a free, fair and credible elections at all times.

It is also one that guarantees the participation of all citizens who are eligible and show interest in the process without discrimination, intimidation, violence and all forms of malpractices.

It is one that can guarantee democratic consolidation. From what we have witnessed lately, l do not honestly think that the electoral process has improved.

We have seen an upsurge in incidents of vote buying, excessive monetisation of the electoral process, intimidation, and politics of brinkmanship by various gladiators bordering on desperation to grab power at all cost. All these do not point to an improved electoral process. •Lekan Oketokun (Peace and conflict resolution expert)

• Compiled by: Success Nwogu, Samuel Awoyinfa, Femi Makinde,

Olaleye Aluko and Alexander Okere

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All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

Dayo Ojerinde and Tare Youdeowei

Some stakeholders in the health sector agree that Nigeria has recorded significant progress in the past three years in certain areas, especially in the struggle to contain the deadly impact of disease outbreaks.

A glance at Nigeria’s health history, shows that while infectious diseases, such as smallpox and guinea worm, have been successfully eradicated, the successful campaign to check the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease in the country and to halt the scourge of a resurgent Lassa Fever in recent time speaks volumes about the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring a disease-free society.

Acknowledging this, the National Coordinator of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, in an interview with our correspondents, said that Nigeria had successfully reduced cases of guinea worm infection in the country from more than 600,000 to zero between 1988 and 2000.

Stressing that the eradication of smallpox was generally regarded as one of Nigeria’s greatest achievements in public health care, Ihekweazu added, “Nigeria has successfully responded to outbreaks of many other infectious diseases and continues to works towards the elimination of polio.”

These achievements, no doubt, call for some celebration.

The NCDC boss also said the centre had built a “strong and resilient” public health system to respond to diseases outbreaks. “Across the board, an effective surveillance system, public health laboratory architecture, emergency response, risk communications, as well as a strong public health workforce and partnerships have contributed to the control of these diseases. We recognise that we have improved over the years, but not where we should be,” he said.

Similarly, the President of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr Francis Faduyile, listed improvement in immunisation, the containment of Ebola in 2014 and the success recorded in the ongoing fight against polio as some of the giant strides that the Federal Government had taken to rid the country or, at least, reduce the spread of infectious diseases.

Also, the President, Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, Ms. Clare Omatseye, noted that the health sector had finally been able to achieve public-private partnership.

 “We now have an open and trusting relationship between the public and the private sector in the health system which in the past was not there. We have transparency and openness in the formulation of health policies, a national strategy for the health plan.

“The whole issue of public service partnership is no longer a lip service, but it is now being practised by government. We now see different types of PPPs in Nigeria,  where private hospitals co-locate within a teaching hospital environment. We now have equipment financing, where the private sector partner to provide technology to a hospital,” she said.

Omatseye also said that the country’s diagnostic capabilities had improved significantly since the model changed from just having a clinic and everybody trying to put up an x-ray ultrasound or lab in their hospitals to having diagnostics centres, which were not there 16 years ago.

Although they lauded the government for sustaining these gains, the stakeholders also identified key issues, which the Muhammadu Buhari administration need to address urgently in order to fulfill its promise of effective health care service delivery to the people.

Ihekweazu, for example, warned Nigerians not to forget that the country had started to witness the resurgence of some infectious diseases, such as Monkeypox and Yellow Fever.

He said, “As we celebrate these achievements in the health sector, we must remember that disease pathogens continue to evolve and we have started to record cases of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.”

Noting that fresh outbreaks of diseases had resulted in loss of lives and low productivity, as well as had negative impact on the national economy, he called on government to focus on building the capacity for a technically competent and determined public health workforce that would protect millions of Nigerians from the danger of infectious diseases.

On his part, Faduyile listed mass migration of qualified health and medical personnel from the country, inadequate funding, poor working conditions, work pressure on medical personnel, inadequate infrastructure, among others, as some of the problems still facing the health sector in Nigeria.

He said, “When you get to some hospitals where there should be three or four doctors, only one doctor is available. Even that one is overworked till he is unable to give his best. The consulting room, the operating theatre and wards now constitute a very hostile environment. These factors will not make the medical practitioner comfortable enough to discharge his duties effectively.”

He called on government at all levels to respect the 15 per cent allocation agreement for the health sector of their total annual budgets

 On medical tourism, Omatseye called for more funding of the health sector to build infrastructure, procure more equipment, train health workers, among others.

“We have a policy in place under the National Health Act that states that as long as the facility or the service is not available in the country then the people can go abroad, but we see that this rule has not been obeyed, most people are just allowed to go without checking properly if the facility or the service are being provided for in the country.

Unfulfilled promises

One of the promises made by President Muhammadu Buhari at the outset of his administration was to allocate up to 20 per cent of the annual budget to the education sector.

In addition, the President pledged to invest in the training of teachers at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels; promote effective use of teaching aids in primary and secondary schools; provide one meal a day for all primary school pupils across the country and address the out-of-school children phenomenon.

Buhari also promised to increase spending on university education; eliminate or reduce examination malpractices in schools; re-negotiate the 2009 Agreement with the various staff unions in tertiary institutions, among others.

Three years later, unfortunately, most of the promises have been unfulfilled and the education sector, which has been almost crippled by persistent strike actions, is the worse for it.

To the last count, investigations show, the sector is burdened by the presence of nearly 11 million out-of-school children, especially in the northern parts of the country. Also, despite the President’s pledge to inject more funds into education at all levels, adequate funding  remains a mirage. The Federal Government allocated a paltry seven per cent to the sector in 2017, in spite of the 20 per cent that Buhari promised.

Also, there have been concerns over a progressive decline in the quality of teaching across the country in recent time. Over 50 per cent of teachers, especially in primary and secondary schools, are believed to be unqualified to teach in these schools.

Cases of examination malpractice seem to have increased in the past three years, despite the courageous efforts of the West African Examinations Council and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation to check them. Moreso, a recent report by the World Bank indicates that a small percentage of Nigerian youth are literate.

Against this backdrop, Emeritus Prof. Michael Omolewa of the University of Ibadan, in an interview with one of our correspondents, described Nigeria’s education sector as being far from achieving a global outlook.

Omolewa said, “I would give the sector 70 per cent for access to tertiary education because of the emergence of more actors at the private level in providing universities, polytechnics and colleges. This has led to an increase in student enrolment.

“However, on the global dimension, the score would be 20 per cent. This is because many institutions have become local in terms of student and staff recruitment.”

Omolewa urged the Federal Government to stop monopolising policy-making so as to get basic and tertiary education right.

He said, “The government should not make policy-making a monopoly, but it should throw issues open for discussion among parents, employers and the civil society, including professional bodies.

“It should also encourage private-public partnership in funding of education and work out the mechanism of sustaining the quality provision of education at all levels. Nigeria should aim at exceling and producing the best and most innovative students who will assist to take the nation forward to the next century.”

Omolewa also said that despite the provision of more space to reduce the high student to teacher ratio currently experienced in basic and higher education sub-sectors, the focus should be on the improved interaction among students and teachers.

“The high student to teacher ratio is not exclusively explained by the affordability factor of public schools because it is also high in many of the private institutions. Other factors include the demand for placement by frustrated parents and the students who are tired of waiting at home doing nothing and with little hope of a breakthrough. The solution is predictably the provision of more space, and that requires greater investment in education which is lacking.

“There are many recommendations depending on the level of education and the subject involved. However, the emphasis is on the need for close attention to pupils and encouragement of interaction between the teacher and the learners,” he said.

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Former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo will Monday ask the International Criminal Court to acquit him of crimes against humanity and free him after seven years in detention.

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, were on Monday conspicuously absent at a parade organised to commemorate Nigeria’s 58th independence anniversary.

The strictly military event held at the Eagles Square, Abuja, was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

Recall that Saraki and Dogara recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

Also in attendance at the parade was the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was also absent at the event attended by two former military leaders: Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.) and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.).

On arrival at the venue, Buhari first took the national salute before moving to inspect the parade in a motorcade.

He later returned to the VIP stand to join Osinbajo, Onnoghen, Gowon, Abdulsalami and other dignitaries.

Friday OLOKOR, Jos

A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lt. General Jeremiah Useni (retd), has clinched the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 governorship election in Plateau State.

With this development, Useni, now a Senator representing Plateau South in the National Assembly, would have to slug it out with the incumbent governor Simon Lalong who had been endorsed and given automatic ticket by the All Progressives Congress.

The battle for the Plateau State governorship election between the PDP and the APC in 2019 has been shifted to the Southern Senatorial Zone as both Lalong and Useni come from the South.

Useni in the primary election with 13 aspirants held at the Treasures Inn Resort, Rayfield in Jos, polled 1,018 votes to defeat a member of the House of Representatives, Johnbull Shekarau with 340 votes.

The details of the result sent to THE PUNCH on Monday morning by the Plateau State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, John Akans, said Senator Victor Lar had 249 votes, Rt. Hon. George Daika – 199, Hon. Dr. Nicholas Kemi Nshe – 117, Dr. Ponyah Ibrahim – 62, Godfrey S. Bawa – 35 and Yitman Maimako – 4.

Others are Nandom Ishaku Pyennap – 1, Arc. Sam Jatau – 5, Sam Abashe – 3, Engr. Jimmy Cheto – 7 and Brig. Gen. Musa Gambo (retd) – 0.

Akans said, “A total of 13 aspirants participated in the gubernatorial primary, while 33 invalid votes were recorded. The total delegates for the election were 2,097.”

A breakdown of the delegates, according to Local Government Areas are as follows: Shendam – 118, Qua’anpan – 117, Mikang – 107, Langtang North – 147, Langtang South – 106, Kanam – 136, Kanke – 108, Pankshin – 124, Mangu – 159, Bokkos – 139, Wase – 90, Barkin Ladi – 119, Riyom – 107, Jos East – 104, Bassa – 157, Jos South – 120 and Jos North – 140.

Theophilus Onojeghen, Warri

Political economist, Prof Pat Utomi, has been declared winner and candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2019 governorship election in Delta State.

Utomi emerged the torchbearer of the APC at a parallel governorship primary organised by the Chief Cyril Ogodo-led factional State Working Committee of the party in Asaba, the state capital.

The exercise which started on Sunday ended in the early hours of Monday following the declaration of results by the returning officer, Elder Favour Adibor in Asaba on Monday.

Utomi polled 2,486 votes to defeat three other aspirants for the governorship ticket of the APC at the primary which was generally peaceful.

The former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Engr. Victor Ochei, polled 801 to come a distant second while Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, a former National Deputy Chairman (South-South) of the Peoples Democratic Party scored 368 to come third.

Chief Great Ogboru came fourth with 106 votes. A total of 3, 755 votes were cast by delegates.

However, as of the time of filing this report, the second parallel governorship primary which is also holding in Asaba by the Prophet Jones Erue faction has started counting delegates’ votes.