TheNewsGuru

Tag: 2023 Election

  • Why I am persistent to become Nigeria’s president – Atiku

    Why I am persistent to become Nigeria’s president – Atiku

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says his enduring persistence in contesting for the office of the president of Nigeria is borne out of his passion to rekindle the Nigerian dream.

    Abubakar stated this while making his official declaration for the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja.

    He said his dream for Nigeria was that there should not be any limit to what a Nigerian wanted to achieve if he was willing to work for it.

    “I have contested for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria a couple of times in the past.

    “My enduring persistence is borne out of my passion to rekindle the Nigerian dream that I was privileged to live.

    “Nigeria is a land of possibility. There is no challenging background that will make any Nigerian give up. I am a living witness to what is possible in Nigeria.”

    He, however, said that the dream was not possible without credible and visionary leadership, adding “that is what I want to offer to Nigerians.”

    He said that presently Nigeria was in dire need of visionary leadership, saying the fundamental principles and purpose as a nation had never been challenged as it was today.

    “I offer myself to rescue the sinking ship. Under my captainship, this ship will sail to a brighter course by the grace of God.”

    He described the 2023 election as a referendum to decide whether Nigerians want greatness or continuous destruction.

    “It is a choice between two paths: the path of unity and progress or the path of division and backwardness.

    “We need a new kind of leadership that will steer us to a positive path. In 2023, we want a President who has ideas on how to fix Nigeria. We want a president who understands, who inspires and is empathetic.

    “As the election is fast approaching, we should not be distracted from the devastating conditions we are in now.”

    Abubakar advised Nigerians to be united and fight their common enemies: the lack of unity, insecurity, poverty, inflation, and unemployment.

    Abubakar said that if elected, under his presidency, he would focus on five key areas: Unity of Nigeria, Security, Economy, Education and devolving more resources and powers to the federating units.

    Describing himself as the unifier coming to bond the broken union of Nigeria, Abubakar said that his administration if elected would operate an open door for dialogue to hear the grieving voices of all Nigerians.

    “Under my presidency, there will be a new Nigeria, where everybody has an equal voice and is heard.

    “Throughout my life, I have never looked at Nigerians as divided people.

    “ In my eyes, all Nigerians are the same. When I see you, I don’t see Yoruba or Hausa or Igbo or Fulani or a northerner or southerner; when I see you, I only see a Nigerian, and I expect the best from you.

    “All Nigerians are equal and should be seen and treated equally. There is no unity without justice and fairness. That is why I will deliver leadership of justice and fairness.”

    He also pledged to increase the welfare and number of all security forces as well as use of modern technology and intelligence to combat insecurity.

    He added that if elected, he would create alternative sources of foreign exchange supply to Nigeria and reduce importation to increase the value of the Naira.

    “We will provide access to mechanized farming systems and develop the agricultural value chain. We must diversify our foreign exchange sources through exports of processed agricultural products.”

    Abubakar also promised to reduce government borrowing, saying too much borrowing comes at the detriment of future growth.

    “We will operate a liberal economy that allows small businesses to grow through lower taxes and charges for small businesses and low-income earners. We will encourage the expansion of the private sector to spur economic growth.”

    Speaking on the current fuel crisis in the country, Abubakar said that Nigerians could not afford to pay high petrol prices.

    “This is why we must ensure sufficient refining capacities within Nigeria. If we do that, petrol will be cheaper because it is locally produced.

    “In the meantime, we will protect Nigerians from higher petrol prices through a new comprehensive energy policy.

    “To provide an adequate and affordable electricity supply for every Nigerian, we will ensure sufficient investment in the sector. We will leverage renewable energies to power homes and commercial centers.”

    Abubakar added that his administration would be guided by a consolidated and timely policy document by working together with Nigerians to update and review my existing policy document.

    He also said that his style of governance would deliver inclusive governance, while urging every well-meaning Nigerian to join him in rescuing Nigeria.

    “My administration is going to be a transition of power from the senior generation to a younger generation.

    “We will cut down the cost of governance because leaders must sacrifice first for the benefit of the people.

    “We will set our fiscal budget within a realizable and realistic level so that we can reduce government debts. We will support and actively engage the private sector in building infrastructure and creating more job opportunities.”

    In his remark, l Gov. Umar Fintiri of Adamawa State described Abubakar as a special treasure to Nigeria.

    Fintiri said that Abubakar was probably the most experienced person in the race at the moment not only in the PDP but in the country.

    He said perhaps what had delayed his victory was for a special purpose like this moment, like the 2023 when Nigeria would be led by a person of his capacity, acumen and pedigree.

    He called on all to support Abubakar for President not only because he was from Adamawa state, but because he was the right man for the task ahead.

    “He is a good mentor and a leader and the best candidate that can defeat the APC and win the election for our great Party.”

    Also speaking at the occasion, a former Minister of Women Affairs, Inna Ciroma, said that at this moment what Nigeria needed was a person who has capability to lead, not zoning.

    Ciroma said that Abubakar did not only have capacity to rule Nigeria, he was known for his special attention to matters that concerned women.

    She called on the Nigeria women to support PDP and Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election.

    Former Lawmaker, Sen. Dino Melaiye, said that Abubakar was the solution to major challenges to Nigeria problem.

    Melaiye said that the PDP needed experienced person like Abubakar to win 2023 election and to unify Nigeria, not zoning at the moment.

    “Abubakar is the only man that the Ibo, Ijaw and Okun people will be comfortable with to unify the country,” Melaiye said.

  • Nigerian rapper Falz speaks on joining presidential race

    Nigerian rapper Falz speaks on joining presidential race

    Nigerian rapper, Folarin Falana, known as Falz, has addressed concerns on declaring for presidency in 2023.

    Falz has been at the forefront campaigning against old leaders, advocating for a better country and for the youths to lead Nigeria.

    Some individuals have since asked Falz to form or join a political party alongside other young agitators and declare for 2023 presidency.

    However, Falz in a podcast session with Lola Oj said he has no plans of being Nigeria’s President or any other political ambition at the moment.

    According to him, all he desires is for everything to be great in Nigeria, adding that things are upside down and needs to be fixed in the country.

    Falz said: “Being a President, I’ve never thought about it, it’s not part of the plans. I’m just a well wisher that wants everything to be ok in this country.

    “I look around me and I see everything is upside down and I don’t think we should be existing like this as a people.

    “There’s an entire array of greatness we’re supposed to walk into, but we’re dragging our feet, that’s the problem.”

  • CVR Update: INEC records 6m fresh registrants

    CVR Update: INEC records 6m fresh registrants

    6,082,639 Nigerians has done fresh registration in the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) as at 7 a.m., Monday. Feb. 21, this was disclosed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The commission, in an update on the CVR Quarter 3, Week 7 released on Monday in Abuja, also disclosed that 3,329,204 Nigerians completed their registration as at the time of the update.

    It noted that 1,373,240 registrants did online while 1,955,964 did physical registration, of which 28,711 of the figure were Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

    It noted that the gender distribution shows that 1,675,318 of those that completed their registration were male and 1,653,886 were female of which 2,310,554 were youth between the ages of 18 and 34.

    It also stated that 10,329,413 million registered voters applied for voter transfer, requests for replacement of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and update of voter information records.

    It noted that 5,506,557 million of the applications were from male voters and 4,822,856 million from female voters, while 100,610 were from PWDS.

  • I shared N140m to party chieftains on eve of 2003 election – Osoba

    I shared N140m to party chieftains on eve of 2003 election – Osoba

    A former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, has said that he was rigged out of office during the 2003 governorship election.

    According to Osoba, he had received an intelligence report about the rigging and he was advised to back out of the poll but he insisted on going ahead in the contest.

    He spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at the book launch and 60th birthday of his former Chief Press Secretary, Kayode Odunaro, on Wednesday.

    Osoba, who contested the election on the platform of the defunct Alliance for Democracy, lost to Otunba Gbenga Daniel of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    He said he knew that he would lose the election following last-minute reports from security agents but still bowed to pressure of his followers and shared N140million to the electorate on the eve of the election.

    He said, “The 2003 election, I put it behind me many years ago. 2003 is bygone whatever happened although, in his (Odunaro) book he concluded that I refused to go to court, yes I did not, because the evidence was too much and he alluded to some of the evidence, but let’s forget about all that, it has gone, it is gone and the Ogun state people have had the chance to compare and contrast and they have given their conclusions and that is private to everybody.

    “Nobody expected that the election would go the way it went, but I knew it will go the way it went because Prof Adu of FUNAAB who was the returning officer had the figure already prepared.

    “Some of the security people had given me the figure of the result that they were going to announce and I knew, he was referring to me spending money and some people taking my money to sleep in hotels, pocketed the money, I knew because in politics you must learn to engage in wasteful spending and you must learn to buy all kinds of lies, that is all part of politics.

    “I knew that the election was concluded; I was warned, the electoral officer from Cross River had told me after the presidential election that, ‘Chief don’t contest the governorship, it is concluded’, but I said no.

  • 2023: Social commentator tasks young entrepreneurs to back Saraki’s candidacy, gives reasons

    2023: Social commentator tasks young entrepreneurs to back Saraki’s candidacy, gives reasons

    A social media commentator, Rilwan Akeula has tasked young entrepreneurs in Nigeria to support former Senate President, Bukola Saraki as the next president of Nigeria, citing how he (Saraki) articulated various legislative instruments in boosting fortunes of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs ) in the country.

    Recall Saraki, has made his intention known to run for president in the 2023 general election.

    In support of Saraki’s 2023 presidential bid, Akeula who made the aforesaid call in a series of posts tweeted on his Twitter handle, said the 8th senate under the leadership of Saraki implemented various instruments that evolved into actional tools to help the executive create the environment for jobs to grow, enterprise to prosper and reduce the burden of regulatory compliance, many don’t know this!

    His words, The 8th senate under the leadership of H.E Bukola Saraki articulated various instruments that evolved into actional tools to help the executive create the environment for jobs to grow, enterprise to prosper and reduce the burden of regulatory compliance, many don’t know this!

    “These Bills and areas of intervention will deliver tangible outcomes that is aimed at boosting the fortunes of SMEs, job creation and access to credit for business growth. I will mention all…”

    “I. The Public Procurement Act (Amendment) Bill; ii. Companies and Allied Matters Act (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill (CAMA); iii. Investment and Securities Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill; iv. The Secure Transaction in Movable Assets; v. The Nigeria Independent Warehouse Regulatory Agency Bill; vi. The Franchise Bill; vii. Credit Reporting Bill; viii. Electronic Transactions Bill; ix. FederalCompetitionCommission x. National Payment Systems

    “The initial start-up capital of micro-enterprises were predominantly less than fifty thousand Naira, while small and medium enterprises were predominantly less than ten million Naira.

    “The main challenges confronting the operations of MSMEs in Nigeria are access to finance and poor infrastructure. The total number of persons employed by the MSME sector as at December 2010 stood at 32,414,884.The ownership structure by age showed that the age bracket of 24 – 50 dominates. Hence youth entrepreneurs are dominant!!

    Akeula strong believes that Saraki has all the competence to lead Nigeria having been able to actualise changes and set foundational frameworks in the three priority areas of assistance to MSMEs, which are access to finance, provision of infrastructure and regular supply of power and water.

  • 2023 Election: Diri, Wike predict victory for PDP

    2023 Election: Diri, Wike predict victory for PDP

    Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa and his Rivers counterpart, Gov. Nyesom Wike, have predicted victory for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election.
    Both governors spoke on Monday when Wike visited Diri at the Government House in Yenagoa.
    According to Diri, only PDP can rescue Nigeria from insecurity and economic downturn.
    He said the party had been repositioned to be able to clinch the presidency in the 2023.
    He further said that PDP had the pedigree to give Nigerians hope and a sense of direction.
    “The presidency is one sacred office and we must do everything to protect it and ensure that our party clinches victory in the 2023 polls.
    “The number one thing for our party is our unity. Second is who becomes president.
    “We have a capable national chairman that can steer us back to power in 2023,” the Bayelsa governor said.
    He commended Wike for demonstrating leadership and purposeful governance.
    He underscored the need for greater unity among the states of the Niger Delta region to enable them to tackle their common challenges, particularly environmental pollution and underdevelopment.
    “Bayelsa and Rivers are sister-states historically and culturally and if anyone is trying to divide us, we must come against them.
    “I call on Ijaw leaders to come together and amicably resolve whatever issues we may have.
    “Within a family, we will always have issues but that should not remove our brotherliness,” Diri said.
    He further commended Wike for his role in ensuring that PDP was repositioned, describing him as a committed party man.
    In a remark, Wike expressed confidence that PDP would produce the next president of Nigeria.
    He emphasised the need for unity of purpose between Bayelsa, Rivers and PDP, saying that success would elude the party, if members failed to form a united front
    He lauded Duri for his developmental efforts and commitment to the party and urged the people of the state to continue to support him.
    “Today, I came to let everybody know that Douye Diri is one of the governors I can tell you has shown commitment even though he is new.
    “He believes in the development of his state.
    “I have also come to tell him that everybody must work together to make PDP united because without party there cannot be a presidential candidate.
    “Let us all unite. Nigerians are waiting for PDP and we cannot afford to miss this opportunity. As governors, we must work together.
    “Anybody can be a presidential candidate but if we are not united it cannot be possible,” Wike said.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Wike was accompanied on the visit by a high-powered delegation that included a former Rivers governor, Chief Celestine Omehia.
    Two former Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara and Prince Chibudom Nwuche, as well as a former Minister of Transport, Chief Abiye Sekibo, were also at the meeting.

  • 2023: OPC takes position on Tinubu, Osinbajo, Fayemi’s presidential ambition

    2023: OPC takes position on Tinubu, Osinbajo, Fayemi’s presidential ambition

    The O’odua Peoples Congress (OPC) has stated it’s position on the presidential ambition of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports OPC as saying it’s interest is beyond the 2023 general elections, dissociating itself from a coalition of 57 Yoruba groups allegedly rooting for South-West pro-restructuring presidential candidate in 2023.

    OPC Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Oguntimehin, in a statement, denied the involvement of Aare Gani Adams in the mega accord, saying such moves were purely fraudulent and very far from the truth.

    Oguntimehin urged the groups to stop using the name of OPC for petty political mileage, saying OPC was not among the 57 Yoruba groups that met in Lagos at the weekend to mobilise the South-West for Tinubu, Osibajo or Fayemi’s presidency.

    Recall that OPC had been listed among those behind the mega accord of 57 Yoruba civil society groups that met in Lagos recently with a resolve to mobilise the South-West for a pro-restructuring presidential candidate in 2023.

    The meeting was reportedly presided over by a journalist, Mr Adewale Adeoye, while the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting was signed by Messrs Sunday Akinnuoye, Femi Agbana and Mrs Ganiat Toriola.

    The groups noted that they were aware of presidential aspirants like Dr Kayode Fayemi, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    They vowed to ensure that the 2023 presidential election produces a candidate that would restructure the country and resolve the lingering National Question irrespective of political platform.

    But Oguntimehin said that OPC under the leadership of Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams had, at no time, mobilise the group for any politician, insisting that the group’s interest is beyond the 2023 general elections.

    “Including OPC’s name without specific name attached to the purported arrangement of 57 South-West groups rooting for a South-West presidential candidate was a fraud and illegal because we are not a party to a meeting.

    “There was no visual or audio content of how, when or where the meeting was held, only for us to see the story in the papers.

    “We are aware that when elections are approaching, some politicians usually use the OPC’s name to curry favours.

    “There are some groups that are affiliates of political parties that usually make themselves available for politicians as at when due,” he said.

    According to him, those groups masquerading as OPC members have no programme or activities that they are known for.

    “Even if anything happens in Yoruba land, you don’t hear their voices, except, occasionally, during elections or when they are paid to issue statements against us.

    “So, I enjoin whoever that is behind the arrangement to toe the right path and be specific in attaching OPC’s name to any political accord.

    “Anybody or group using our name without proper attachment or specification amounts to fraud and we will handle such in the most conventional manner,” Oguntimehin added.

  • South East leaders anoint choice aspirant for 2023 president election

    South East leaders anoint choice aspirant for 2023 president election

    Some political leaders in the South East region of Nigeria have endorsed former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim as their choice aspirant for the 2023 presidential election.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara; Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, among other notable politicians on Monday endorsed the former SGF during a civic reception organized by the Obingwa community to honour some prominent Nigerians.

    In their separate reactions, Wabara, who represented Abia South Senatorial Zone in the National Assembly, described Anyim as one of the most prominent Igbo men that has the capacity to change the ugly narrative of Nigeria and bring new hope for the people.

    “Ndigbo still have qualified personalities in Nigeria. Anyim is the only Igbo man to announce his readiness to contest for President of Nigeria come 2023. We will tell Nigerians, that we have personalities in Igboland. I ask Ndigbo to support the ambition of our brother, Anyim Pius Anyim,” Wabara said.

    Meanwhile, speaking in the vein, Abaribe reaffirmed his stance to galvanize support for a president of Igbo extraction come the 2023 general election, declaring his readiness to fully support the presidential ambition of Anyim.

    “My brother is the only one that has declared his intention to run for the office of the president, I will give him all the support because he has all it takes to make Nigeria better again. Therefore, I encourage all Nigerians to support this noble intention,” Abaribe said.

  • 2023: Gov Wike vows he will not impose successor

    2023: Gov Wike vows he will not impose successor

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Thursday said he would not impose any governorship aspirant of his choice on the people of Rivers come 2023.

    Wike made the vow in a statement issued by Mr Kelvin Ebiri, his Special Assistant on Media, in Port Harcourt.

    He assured that the leadership of the party would meet to decide who to support at the appropriate time.

    Wike however said that he is obliged to ensure that Peoples Democratic Part (PDP) wins the 2023 governorship election in Rivers.

    “One mistake I will not make is to impose somebody. From my experience as a student of history, reality has shown that it is difficult for you to say Joseph is the man I can trust.

    ”Until you give somebody power and money, that is only when you will know whether that person is trustworthy or not,” he said.

    Wike stated that God would not allow someone who will destroy all the remarkable progress the state had made over the years to be the next governor.

    ”God will ensure that it is only someone who is courageous, firm and ready to protect the interest of Rivers that will succeed me.

    “Rivers is a state that so many people have interest in. It is a state that you have to put your feet on the ground. It is a state that you have to annoy a lot of Nigerians and a lot of Nigerians will hate you.

    “But what is important is for you to know is what is good for your people and stand for your people. Do not allow personal interest to sway you against the interest of your people,” Wike stated.

  • Delta 2023: Edevbie, Augoye lead in TNG online poll

    Delta 2023: Edevbie, Augoye lead in TNG online poll

    Most Nigerians, especially Deltans feel either Olorogun David Edevbie or Chief James Augoye is the best hand to succeed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa come 2023, according to an independent poll recently conducted by TheNewsGuru.com (TNG).

    TNG conducted the poll between Friday 15th October 2021 and Saturday 16th October 2021 to sample the opinion of Deltans on who they think is the best hand to succeed Governor Okowa come 2023.

    A total of 1,398 respondents took part in the poll, and after cleaning up the voting results, TNG reports both Olorogun Edevbie, the former Chief of Staff of the State and Chief Augoye, the immediate past Commissioner for Works of the State raked up over 70% of total votes.

    This, therefore, means the battle of popularity for who replaces Governor Okowa come 2023 is between Edevbie and Augoye. However, bear in mind that political parties are yet to conduct primaries, and that a poll is not a prediction of how the election will ultimately turn out. The actual poll to decide the winner of the election will take place in 2023. The poll, instead, is a snapshot of the race as it currently stands.

    According to the poll that was keenly contested, 36.67% respondents voted Edevbie as the best hand to replace Governor Okowa come 2023, and 34.65% of respondents say Chief Augoye is the one, while a scant 2.50% of respondents voted for Sheriff Oborevwori, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, who just indicated interest recently to contest the guber election.

    The poll featured, in addition to Edevbie, Augoye and Oborevwori, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Olorogun Fred Majemite, Senator James Manager, Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, Festus Ovie Agas, Chief Abel Esievo, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, Olorogun Kenneth Okpara, Barrister Ejaife Omizu Odebala and Olorogun Jaro Egbo.

    While Senator Omo-Agege polled 8.48% of total votes, Olorogun Majemite polled 7.19%, Senator Manager polled 3.31%, Otuaro polled 2.91%, Agas polled 1.70%, Chief Esievo polled 1.21%, Olorogun Gbagi polled 0.97%, Olorogun Okpara polled 0.24%, Barrister Odebala polled 0.08% and Olorogun Egbo polled 0.08% of total votes.

    Outcome of poll on who becomes next Governor of Delta State after Governor Okowa

    TNG reports the poll received votes from 27 countries, including the United States of America, Nigeria, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Canada, Cyprus, Ghana, France, Italy and Netherlands.

    Others are the Republic of South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Ireland, Sweden, Turkey, Bulgaria, Burundi, Benin, Spain, Luxembourg, Morocco, Namibia, Philippines, Romania, Saudi Arabia and Zambia.

    Countries where votes were received from

    No doubt, Delta State politics is in a state of high flux. While the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is calculating it’s options on how to retain the State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is painfully searching for a balance to wrest the State from the PDP.

    This poll is the latest survey showing the popularity of aspirants in the build up to Delta State 2023 Governorship Election. Subsequent polls would be conducted by TNG as events unfold in the State.