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Tag: 2019

  • No plans to contest against Buhari in 2019 – Jigawa Governor

    …disowns 2019 presidential campaign group

    Governor Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa says he has no plans to contest for the 2019 presidential election.

    Badaru also disowned and disassociated himself from a group supporting him to run for the office of President in the 2019 general elections.

    The governor made his position known in a statement issued on Saturday in Dutse by his media aide, Malam Bello Zaki.

    “The attention of the Jigawa State Government has been drawn to a mischievous paid newspaper advertisement purported to have been made by a faceless and unknown organisation called `Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar for President Support Group’, which purportedly aimed its support to the recent comments by former President Obsanjo.

    “The State Government hereby calls on the general public to dismiss and ignore the false and malicious advertisement and the message
    and evil innuendo it intends to propagate”.

    The governor said that he neither have nor endorsed any organisation or group for the purpose of vying for any national office.

    “Governor Badaru Abubakar does not have and does not endorse any
    organisation for the purpose of achieving or vying for any
    national office as he grapples with the challenges of governing his state and delivering on the mandate given to him by the Jigawa electorate.

    “We understand that there are persons within and outside the state
    that perceive the cordial and progressive relationship that exists
    between the Governor and the Presidency as inimical to their personal
    and political interests and aspirations, especially in the light of several national assignments that the Governor is successfully carrying out at the behest of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.

    “We are working with the newspaper that carried the obnoxious
    advertising with a view to identifying the miscreants behind its publication and will use all available legal avenues to ensure that they pay for this dastardly attempt at souring the relationship between the State and the National Government,” it said.

    The governor, therefore, urged the general public to ignore this and any future attempt to disparage the office of the governor using cheap and unimaginative media distortion.

    The government also advised media organisations to place professionalism above commercial considerations.

    It enjoined the media to utilise industry best practice and guidelines in determining the identity of persons and entities before publishing or broadcasting political and potentially controversial contents in the interest of national peace, stability and progress.

     

  • 2019: No decision on running with Buhari yet – Osinbajo

    2019: No decision on running with Buhari yet – Osinbajo

    …says I’m concerned about doing the job elected to do

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that he has not decided if he will be running with President Muhammadu Buhari for the 2019 presidential elections.

    The vice president insisted that all he is concerned with for now is completing the job Nigerians elected him and President Buhari to do in 2015.

    Osinbajo said this during a media chat he had on the last day of his participation at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

    His Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, made the transcript of the press interview available to journalists on Friday.

    When asked if he intended to run with Buhari in 2019, Osinbajo said, “I’m absolutely focused at this time on doing the job that we have been elected to do. That is my concern for now.”

    When asked if the Federal Government had been in contact with the Niger Delta Avengers over its threat to resume attacks on oil facilities, Osinbajo said the government was in constant consultations with all the groups in the region.

    More importantly, he said the government was busy addressing all the issues that it agreed with the Pan Niger Delta Forum.

    “We are engaged with the groups; we have opened the Maritime University. We are working hard on the modular refineries, which we hope will be a replacement for some of the illegal refineries and also create opportunities in the Niger Delta.

    “We are in constant consultations. There are many groups in the Niger Delta, including the Niger Delta Avengers, and we are in constant consultations,” Osinbajo said.

    The Vice President said the country was doing better than ever before as far as the economy was concerned.

    This, he said, was happening despite the security challenges in the country.

    He said, “If you look at the difference between Q1 of 2017 and now, there is a lift from $908m to $4.1bn. There is no deterrent.

    “I think that global investors understand that there are security challenges everywhere and that so long as you are able to provide enough grounds for people to believe that, by and large, there is safety.

    “Look at what is going on elsewhere in the world, security is a challenge everywhere. The duty of the government is to ensure that security is maintained as robustly as possible.

    “Sometimes, by the very nature of security concerns, if something is happening in the Delta or up North somewhere, it really does provide a challenge for security agencies, but it is an opportunity to beef up security.

    “We are recruiting policemen, we are even trying to build up the army and recruit more people into the army. For instance, if you look at what happened during the clashes in Southern Kaduna, we had to locate a military formation there.

    “We may have to do that in several other places, locating military formations where we find communal violence. Security is dynamic; you have to keep working at it.”

    Osinbajo argued that Nigeria’s economy was in a better state than it was two or four years ago.

    He put the nation’s reserves at $40bn, describing it as the highest in four years.

    He said the nation’s capital market was set to be the best performing in the world.

    He, however, admitted that “the man on the streets must feel the impact, which sometimes takes a while because when you are talking about growth, there must be jobs, but growth doesn’t immediately translate to jobs.”

    The Vice President said the government was trying to establish a system of governance that emphasised prudence in financial spending.

    He said that was what informed the Treasury Single Account, adding that the government would employ 300,000 people this year.

     

  • 2019: ` Don’t campaign under guise of voter education’- INEC warns politicians

    2019: ` Don’t campaign under guise of voter education’- INEC warns politicians

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged politicians in the country not to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) to campaign.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr. Emeka Ononamadu, gave the caution in Enugu on Thursday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    “The government should play by the rules. You do not campaign under the guise of mobilisation when INEC has not lifted the ban on campaign.

    “Government should continue to work towards realizing free, credible and transparent election and no one should position or look for undue advantage,” Ononamadu said.

    The REC said that the government also had a role to play in order to guarantee credible polls, adding that they needed to play by the rules when mobilising the electorate for the CVR.

    Ononamadu stressed the need for the electorate in the state to take the exercise more seriously.

    He said that the exercise had provided an ample opportunity for residents of the state to take their destinies into their hands.

    “The CVR is catching up well in Enugu State but we need to do better. People have started coming up in their numbers since the beginning of this year.

    “I think Enugu people will need to buckle up. This is an ample opportunity that has been provided to citizens by INEC as required by law,” he said.

    The REC said that the commission had been sensitizing the electorates on the need to register in order to perform their civic responsibilities.

    According to him, we used the yuletide to reach out to people in rural areas as well as in churches.

    Ononamadu noted that people were beginning to have a renewed confidence in the electoral umpire due to its excellent conducts in recent outings.

    He said that the exercise had been violent free in the state, adding that it was continuous and would stop 60 days before any general election according to the law.

    “When we started people were not too sure whether it was going to work or not but today they have seen that INEC is serious in terms of implementing its entire statutory mandate,” he said.

    Ononamadu, however, said that it was sad that people were still suspecting whether or not their vote would count.

    “I wonder what gave them that illusion because INEC had demonstrated in strong terms and statements that we are here to protect the mandate of Nigerians and that is what we shall do,” he said.

    He said that the commission had intensified efforts to sensitise residents of the state with a view to either registering or picking up their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    He said that the state had 1.6 million voting strength based on the ongoing registration, adding that about 127, 000 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) had yet to be collected.

  • 2019: INEC seeks UN support to conduct credible elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has sought the cooperation of the United Nations, UN, to conduct a peaceful, and credible election in 2019.

    The chairman of the commission, Mahmood Yakubu said this on Monday during a meeting with the United Nations Team led by the representative of the Secretary General, Needs Assessment Mission on the 2019 General Election, Sergi Kubwimana.

    He said INEC needed support in aspects like technology, capacity building for staff, voter education and sensitisation and the electoral process as the 2019 election is fast approaching.

    The commission also said UN support would be needed to also help political parties in electoral conflict mitigation, inclusiveness, especially of women, youth and persons with disabilities.

    Mr. Yakubu noted how over the years, the UN had provided great support to INEC while trying to introduce and sustain reforms of the electoral system in Nigeria.

    He assured the UN of the commission’s commitment to conducting free and fair election.

    While enlightening his guest on the development so far in the electoral process, he said INEC has registered over 74 million voters, and promised that the number will rise.

    He also said the number of registered political parties now is 68 and the commission is processing over 90 fresh applications seeking registration as political parties.

    He also informed the visiting UN officials that there are 119,973 polling units, 8,809 electoral wards and 1,553 constituencies for which elections will be conducted in 2019.

    The INEC chairman told the UN delegation that in past elections, the commission had deliberately and purposefully embarked upon far-reaching reforms of the electoral system in terms of operational procedures.

    He listed the reforms as changes in voting procedures, enhancing the physical security; on the ballot papers, ballot boxes and result sheets, the reorganisation of the commission’s administrative structures, capacity building and professionalisation for the staff; instituting the long term planning processes; introduction of technology such as biometric registration and authentication process (permanent voters’ cards and smart card readers), collation and results management as well as the trafficking and monitoring of electoral activities.

    Meanwhile, Mr. Kubwimana said the UN would look at “the overall context, political context, social economic context and human rights context.”

    He also said in conducting the needs assessments, the UN would work with relevant persons and bodies including the security, political parties, civil society organisation, including women organisations and the People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs).

    “Women organisations are also an important aspect of our collaboration to see how we can increase representation of women in politics and also increase number of voters. Security is also important in any given contest,’’ he said.

  • 2019: ‘Third Force’ political movement, NIM gets boosts as Obasanjo tears APC, PDP apart

    Now trending, the 13-page statement released by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday, which exposed the inadequacies of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and also stripped both the Peoples Democratic Party[PDP] and All Progressives Congress [APC] of the capacity to provide solution to Nigeria’s many problems has given a boost to an emerging third force political movement, National Intervention Movement (NIM).

    Obasanjo, in his explosive press statement entitled, “The Wat Out: A Clarion Call for Coalition for Nigeria Movement” said Mr Buhari has under-performed while urging him to honourably “dismount from the horse.”

    The former president condemned both the PDP and APC, stressing that the two political parties lack the remedy to the malaise that ails the country. He, however,urged for a movement he termed Coalition of Nigeria, which he offered to be a part of, to wrest power from the present ruling class and lead the country into the path of rebirth.

    In a swift reaction, one that can almost be perceived as planned, a fresh political platform called National Intervention Movement (NIM), that has been positioning itself as “the third force political movement’ issued a statement to corroborate Obasanjo’s stance on the way forward for Nigeria, especially as it concerns 2019.

    In the statement which was signed by NIM’s Director General, Media, Mallam Naseer Kura and made available to TheNewsGuru.com, the ‘movement’ saluted Obasanjo for endorsing a ‘third-force’.

    The statement reads: “The Nigeria Intervention Movement NIM wishes to salute the political acumen and vision of Former President of Nigeria and Elderstateman, Olusegun Obasanjo, who today in a most decisive manner called on all Nigerians to immediately join forces to bring about a Coalition for Nigeria; a political Third Force Movement that will rescue the country from the impunity and inertia of the two dominant parties in Nigeria; PDP and APC

    By this statement today, the NIM asserts that the validity of the third force initiative of the Nigeria Intervention Movement NIM has once again been further proven by the Elderstateman and Former President, who is not known to be associated with frivolous commentary about Nigeria

    It will be recalled that Obasanjo in a most dramatic dimension earlier today charged Nigerians to henceforth seek for their political and economic salvation in the direction of a political third force outside the two dominant parties in Nigeria; PDP and APC, whom he said have both grossly disappointed the people of Nigeria

    NIM affirms that Obasanjo’s historic clarion call to the Nation at its formative stage has profoundly validated the initiave of NIM’s Conveners to facilitate an all inclusive, non partisan pan Nigerian political third force to rescue the country from the impunity and lack lustre performance of traditional political elites in the PDP and APC among others

    While endorsing and applauding OBJ historic statement on the way forward for Nigeria in the march towards the 2019, NIM wishes to clearly states its resolve to embrace the strategic counsel contained in the Elderstateman treaties on how the emergent Movement can rally and work with other Movements in building a major Coalition for Nigeria to save Nigerians from an inert political leadership

    To this end, the leadership of NIM shall be ready, in the succeeding weeks, to enter into strategic talks and alliance with more platforms sharing similar philosophy and ideology towards the consolidation of the much desired Coalition for Nigeria advocated by the Former President”

  • Third Force: All you need to know about NIM, the movement to rival PDP, APC in 2019

    Third Force: All you need to know about NIM, the movement to rival PDP, APC in 2019

    As the 2019 general elections draws closer, some prominent Nigerians dissatisfied with the present administration and the opposition parties have come together to form a political platform called National Intervention Movement (NIM) which they described as “a third force political reality to provide a credible alternative platform for ideal and acceptable political leadership and governance in Nigeria.”

    The ‘Third Force’ says it seeks to entrench a new political order and leadership for the country that is transformative and visionary. With the elections just about one year away, NIM is gaining popularity and acceptance among several Nigerians including several leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Prominent members of the group includes former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke; former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Charles Soludo, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), and, former Presidential aspirant Prof. Pat Utomi.

    Former Education Minister, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, is also a member of the group, which also has former Information Minister, Frank Nweke Jnr, former Kaduna Military Administrator, Col. Abubakar Umar (rtd.), Ms. Ayo Obe, Rabiu Ishyaku Rabiu, and former Presidential Adviser, Akin Osuntokun, among several others.

    According to the conveners, the idea of a “Third Force” became necessary in order to provide a viable alternative to the PDP and the APC. It enjoys huge support amongst dozens of members of the National Assembly, including its leadership. Also, some very influential former heads of state as well as key politicians and king makers have keyed into the idea.

    Olukayode Salako, Head of New Media and Networking, NIM National Secretariat, described the movement as “a political platform purely owned by the mass movement of the people of Nigeria. It does not have founding fathers, owners and money bags investors.

    “Every member Nigerian will contribute his token and widows might to fund and grow it and also fundamentally run it for the purpose of access to equal and unbiased opportunities to contest or run for elective offices in Nigeria under ideal democratic rules, tenets and ideals.

    “It is not a political party per se, but a mass movement of ideologically compatible and patriotic Nigerians to move against the frustrating governing order status quo and operate as one force major entity under a political mission and agenda to always ensure the entrenchement of a new and ideal leadership order in Nigeria.

    “NIM will work with other splinter political, civil society and professional groups of interest in Nigeria to negotiate for power and elective offices for its members; support them to contest and help to install acceptable governments in every part of Nigeria.

    See a comprehensive of members of NIM below:

    NIM PROVISIONAL TASKS TEAMS & STEERING COMMITTEES MEMBERSHIP LIST.

     

    A. STEERING TEAM

     

    1. Olisa Agbakoba
    2. Rabiu Ishyaku Rabiu
    3. Pat Utomi
    4. AbdulJhalil Tafawa Balewa
    5. Donald Duke
    6. Ghada Abubakar
    7. Kemi Jorge-Oyewusi
    8. Aisha Aliyu
    9. Frank Nweke Jnr
    10. Jibrin Ibrahim
    11. Isa Aremu
    12. Emeka Okengwu
    13. Olubunmi Usim Wilson
    14. Hauwa Shekarawu
    15. Eugene Enahoro
    16. Khairat Animashaun-Ajiboye
    17. Mary Manzo
    18. Oby Ezekwesili
    19. Bisola Clark
    20. Ikpe Obong – Labour
    21. Peter Balogun – Labour
    22. TUC
    23. PLWDs
    24. Wale Ajani – Youths

    25.Naseer Kura

    1. Charity Shekari
    2. Olawale Okunniyi – DG

     

    B. FINANCE TEAM

     

    1. Donald Duke
    2. Rabiu Ishyaku Rabiu
    3. Olisa Agbakoba
    4. Pat Utomi
    5. AbdulJhalil Tafawa Balewa
    6. Kemi Jorge-Oyewusi
    7. Abisola Clark
    8. Akin Osuntokun
    9. Adenike Sobajo
    10. SECRETARIAT

    C. IDEOLOGY COMMISSION

    1. Jibrin Ibrahim
    2. Pat Utomi
    3. Eugene Enahoro
    4. Kemi Jorge-Adewusi
    5. Sam Amadi
    6. Bolanle Onagoruwa
    7. Isa Aremu
    8. Opeyemi Agbaje
    9. Femi Aborishade
    10. Odia Ofeimun
    11. Natasha Akpoti

     

    D. POLITICAL COMMISSION

     

    1. Olisa Agbakoba
    2. Issa Aremu
    3. Emeka Okengwu
    4. Shittu Kabir
    5. Alistar Soyode
    6. Akin Osuntokun
    7. Dare Falade
    8. Adijat Oladapo
    9. Kassim Afegbua
    10. Folashade Grace Brent
    11. Ogbeni Lanre Banjo
    12. SECRETARIAT

     

    E. CONTACTS & MOBILISATION TEAM

     

    1. Shehu Gabam
    2. Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu
    3. Kemi Jorge-Oyewusi
    4. Olubunmi Usim-Wilson
    5. Rachel Oniga
    6. Naseer Kura
    7. Aisha Aliyu
    8. Tony Uranta
    9. Wale Ajani
    10. Adenike Sobajo
    11. Adijat Oladapo
    12. Chigozie Ubani
    13. Shettima Yerima
    14. Seidu Ahmed TAL
    15. Foluke Daramola
    16. Bunmi Oriniowo
    17. Mojisola Olusoga
    18. SECRETARIAT

     

    F. STUDENTS & YOUTHS’ CELLS TEAM

     

    1. Mary Manzo
    2. Khairat Animashaun-Ajiboye
    3. Abbah Ejembi
    4. Ismail Olawale
    5. Wale Ajani
    6. Steve Aluko
    7. Japhet Odesanya
    8. Rachel Oniga
    9. Gbenga Ademujimi
    10. SECRETARIAT

     

    G. REPORTS HARMONISATION

     

    1. Olawale Okunniyi
    2. Emeka Okengwu
    3. Naseer Kura
    4. Promise Adewusi
    5. Bolanle Onagoruwa
    6. Prof Anthony Kila
    7. Inn. C.
    8. Fatima Bako

     

    H. STRATEGY & MARKETING TEAM

     

    1. Tony Uranta
    2. Inn. C.
    3. Victor Enahoro
    4. Opeyemi Agbaje
    5. John Ekwuyasi
    6. Rachel Oniga
    7. Dare Falade
    8. Saidu Ahmed TAL
    9. Kola Onadipe
    10. Anthony Kila
    11. Ejembi Abbah
    12. Emeka Okengwu
    13. Bunmi Oriniowo
    14. SECRETARIAT

     

    I. LEGAL TEAM

     

    1. Olisa Agbakoba
    2. Femi Falana
    3. Mike Ozekhome
    4. Femi Aborishade
    5. Ayo Obe
    6. Supo Sasore
    7. Osagie Obayuana
    8. Jiti Ogunye
    9. Ebun Adegboruwa
    10. Supo Ojo
    11. Esther Uzoma
    12. Malachy Ugwumadu
    13. Ubani Oyenkashi
    14. Mohammed Fawehinmi
    15. Joe Nwokedi
    16. Natasha Akpoti
    17. Yomi Dada

    SECRETARIAT

     

    J. DIASPORA COMMISSION

     

    1. Baba Adam
    2. Bola Abimbola
    3. Moshood Aderibigbe
    4. Taiwo Akinola
    5. Lanre Ijaola
    6. Alistar Soyode
    7. Muyiwa Okunniyi

     

    K. THE NATIONAL SECRETARIAT

    Olawale Okunniyi, DG

    Naseer Kura – (DDG) – Publicity

    Promise Adewusi – Administration

    Ronnie Dikko – Documentation

    Chris Azor – Research

    Abba Ejembi – Strategy

    Khairat Animashaun-Ajiboye – Contacts

    Kayode Salako – Social Media & Networking action.

  • 2019: Buhari, Osinbajo to inaugurate Southwest campaign office Saturday

    2019: Buhari, Osinbajo to inaugurate Southwest campaign office Saturday

    As the 2019 election year approaches, President Muhammadu and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are leaving no stone unturned to realise their second term bid as the Southwest campaign office of the Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign office will be inaugurated on Saturday (tomorrow) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The campaign office will be managed by the Buhari/Osinbajo Dynamic Support Group, an initiative of the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu.

    The venue is Oritsejolomi Thomas Hall of the International Conference Centre at the University of Ibadan (UI) at 11 a.m.

    In a statement, Shittu, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), said former Abia State Governor Orji Uzo Kalu will be the guest speaker.

    Other prominent Nigerians expected at the event include the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (special guest of honour and grand patron of the group); former Senate President Ken Nnamani (chairman of the occasion); a former Minister of Petroleum, Don Etiebet and Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (chief host).

    The statement also listed Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi and APC’s former Interim National Chairman Bisi Akande as guests of honour.

    Governors listed to attend the inauguration are: Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos) and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo).

    Former Senate Leader Alli Ndume; the senator representing Katsina Central, Abu Ibrahim and MBO National Patron, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, are guests of honour.

    The statement said all governors as well as APC Deputy National Chairman (Southwest), Segun Oni; Chief Pius O. Akinyelure; Chairman, APC, Oyo State, Chief Akin Oke; National Coordinator, MBO, Usman Ibrahim; National Secretary, MBO, Isaac Peace Agunloye and National Woman Leader, MBO, Ogechukwu Michael are expected at the event.

    Shittu said the group stands for unity, peace and development of Nigeria as well as its heterogeneous tribes.

  • Nigeria Third Force Movement rolls out action plans for 2019 elections

    Nigeria Third Force Movement rolls out action plans for 2019 elections

    *Olisa Agbakoba, Tafawa Balewa, Pat Utomi, Obby Ezekwesilli, Col Abubakar Umar, Donald Duke, Ayo Obe, Rabiu Ishyaku Rabiu, Frank Nweke Jnr, Femi Falana, Charles Soludo, Akin Osuntokun others set to lead the Third Force Movement into 2019

    * Plans to engage the Nigerian Presidency towards enduring panacea to herdsmen / Farmers clashes in Nigeria

    The Nigeria Intervention Movement (NIM), a Pro-democracy Movement and Pressure Group of like-minded Nigerians who are committed to changing the political order, which has failed to fashion a Nigeria that works for all is conceived as the THIRD POLITICAL FORCE to rescue Nigeria from corrupt and inept political leadership and system by the year 2019.

    NIM is concerned that the political elite, since independence and particularly since the exit of the military from visible power in 1999, has proved that it is ill-equipped and unprepared for the challenge of transforming our nation from its underdeveloped status to one that is prosperous and can create a veritable environment for the realization of its citizens’ potentials and well-being

    It is clear that the political elite, as currently represented by the 2 dominant political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) among others have failed Nigerians for lack of clear Ideology and principle on how to run the country

    Concerned that left to their schemes and antics this class of entrenched leaders will lead Nigeria into a state of indescribable human misery characterized by death, hunger, disease, illiteracy and manipulation, therefore the NIM being unable to continue to stand aloof has decided to create a THIRD POLITICAL FORCE, a platform to mobilise all citizens of goodwill and conscience towards engendering a new political system and culture in Nigeria capable of bringing about the desired opportunities for all to actualize their dreams and potentialities; a nation where no man or group is oppressed.

    To this end, NIM is presenting to all Nigerian citizens at home and in the diaspora, a roadmap towards achieving the political alternative to the existing visionless, ill-equipped and unprepared political leadership and order in Nigeria. We call particularly all Nigerian youths, women and the vulnerable to urgently heed this call by joining and supporting the agenda and road map of NIM adopted on Tuesday, 9th January, 2018 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

    This is no doubt, a revolutionary Time Table of Action, which profoundly tallies with the milestones contained in the 2019 elections Timetable released later that same day by the INEC. For we are very confident that Nigerians can together end the misery of the past 19 years and give to themselves a nation of their own making and dream with the action plan attached below:

    The leadership of the NIM is made up of Nigerians with rich pedigrees and credible profile from across political, ethnic, regional and religious divides of the country. Below are the Protem Officers of the NIM:

    Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN – Co-Chair

    Dr. Jhalil Tafawa Balewa – Co-Chair

    Professor Pat Utomi – Deputy Chair

    Rabiu Ishyaku Rabiu -Deputy Chair

    Comrade Isah Aremu -Deputy Chair

    Chief Akin Osuntokun – Deputy Chair

    Hajia Aisha Aliyu – Woman Leader

    Mr Dayo Isreal – Youth Leader

    Dr Osagie Obayuwana – Legal Adviser

    Hajia Barr Shetu Alfa Ibrahim -Treasurer

    Mallam Naseer Kura – Publicity Secretary

    Col Abubakar Umar Dangiwa – Ex -Officio

    Dr Obby Ezekwesilli – Ex -Officio

    Mrs Ayo Obe – Ex -Officio

    Sir Olawale Okunniyi – National Secretary/Director General

    Chairmen of Standing Committees are:

    1. Mr Donald Duke – Finance Committee
    2. Prof Jibrin Ibrahim – Ideology Commission
    3. Comrade Najeem Usman – Political Commission
    4. Mallam Tanko Yinusa – Mobilisation
    5. Mr Wale Ajani – Students & Youth
    6. Mr Taiwo Akinola – Diaspora Commission
    7. Mr Tony Uranta – Strategy & Engagements
    8. Mallam Shittu Kabir – Contact/Logistics
    9. Barr Femi Falana SAN – Legal Team

    However, other Protem officers of the Movement, especially Zonal and State Chairpersons/Coordinators will be announced next week after due zonal Consultations

    The Movement also expressed its deepest commiseration with the governments and peoples of Benue, Taraba and Southern Kaduna on the mass murder of their Folks; alleged to have been murdered by herdsmen. NIM consequently plans to undertake condolence visits to the trouble spots as well as a strategic advocacy engagement of the Nigerian Presidency towards proffering enduring solutions to herdsmen/farmer conflicts in Nigeria

    The Movement, initiated as an inclusive, non partisan, multi-stakeholders pan Nigerian pro-democracy platform to serve the interest of the masses of Nigeria, also resolved at its national Caucus meeting to make membership free for all Nigerians, while requesting Nigerians to urgently take ownership of the platform by donating generously (in the Obama campaign model) to the historic cause of rescuing Nigeria from merchants and traders in power

    Membership of NIM can be accessed and acquired through a dedicated website: nim.org.ng. or at the Temporary National Secretariat of NIM at No 8 Kayes Street, Wuse Zone 1, Abuja and its Lagos Annex at Ojodu Estate, Ikeja, Lagos in the meantime.

  • 2019: Simple steps to obtain, validate your voters registration status

    2019: Simple steps to obtain, validate your voters registration status

    As the 2019 election year draws closer and the politicking flying around across the local, state and federal levels, the need to validate or obtain one’s voters registration status can never be more compelling.

    To facilitate this process even as time tickles by the seconds, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has developed an easy to go technologically driven solution.

    Recall that the election umpire had on April 27, 2007, commenced the continuous registration process to enable qualified persons to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs.

    The commission outlined two steps towards obtaining the PVC’s.

    The first step is for the qualified Nigerian who had not registered before to do so in the Continuous Voters Registration Phase 2 currently going on in selected states, including the FCT from 9 a.m-3 p.m Mondays to Saturdays.

    Voters registration centres in one’s area can be located online by visiting: http://www.inecnigeria.org/?inecnews=registration-area-centres-continuous-voter-registrationcvr-phase-2

    The link lists registration centres in 12 states. These are Anambra, Sokoto, Oyo, Ondo, Kwara, Jigawa, FCT, Ebonyi, Delta, Cross River and Bauchi.

    By clicking open any of the states in the link, the interested Nigerians can download the information for the registration centres.

    Each state provides information on the local government areas for registration and the different registration centres under each local government.

    Step two is for those who are not sure of their registration status.

    To confirm if one had registered or not, one could visit: http://voterreg.inecnigeria.org and follow the instructions on the site.

    The link will lead to a voters registration verification platform where one would have to fill a form to check one’s status. The form will require the person’s state of residence, surname and Voters Identification Number, VIN.

    In the case where the individual forgets his or her VIN, there is an option to use the day, month, and year of registration to verify one’s status.

    Although the link provides information for only 12 states, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the continuous registration process is going on in the 36 states.

    He also stated that aside local government headquarters, INEC has created other registration centres.

    “Yes, registration is going on in all the 36 states on a truly continuous basis,” he said.

    “Apart from the LGA headquarters, we have created other registration centres in our bid to create more access,” he said on Wednesday.

    The commission also stated that its Citizens Contact Centre is functional, and can be reached on 0700 2255 4632 for questions or enquiries.

  • Harassment of Pst. El-Buba: ‘Pastors organising massive protest against Buhari’s DSS’ says Adeboye’s son

    Leke Adeboye, the last son and Senior Personal Assistant of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has disclosed that youths, major pastors in jos are organising a protest against the reported attempt by the Department of State Service, DSS, to arrest the founder of EBOMI ministries, Prophet Isa El-Buba.

    Recall that TheNewsGuru.com reported on Tuesday that State Security Service, SSS, moved against a clergyman after he asked church members to vote out President Muhammad Buhari for “failing” Nigerians.

    Over 70 Nigerians were last week given a mass burial in Makurdi, the Benue state capital after being allegedly slaughtered by men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

    Leke, reacting on his Facebook page, wondered why no Fulani herdsman has been arrested since the incessant killing of innocent Nigerians in Benue, Taraba and other parts of the country began.

    Earlier in the day, Leke also wrote, ”I just woke up, upset this morning. I don’t know why. Wait I actually do. Maybe it’s because DSS is trying to arrest Prophet El Buba in JOS. Why? For his strong videos, ”Please how many herdsmen have you arrested lately? What are we doing here? We will be watching and waiting.”

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