TheNewsGuru

Tag: chatham house

  • 2023 Elections: Kwankwaso gives only reason to step down

    2023 Elections: Kwankwaso gives only reason to step down

    The New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso has stated only reason he could be stepping down to support another candidate in the forthcoming general elections in the country.

    Kwankwaso said he is a PhD holder with over 30 years in politics, hence he’s more qualified than many candidates  to rule Nigeria.

    Speaking at the Chatham House in London, Kwankwaso said competence should be the yardstick in picking Nigeria’s next president not sentiment.

    Noting that he has been a governor for eight years and Senator, Kwankwaso vowed to only withdraw from the presidential race to whoever is more qualified than him.

    According to Kwankwaso: “I’m a PhD holder in civil engineering. I check your candidate for what he has. I have been in the system for over 30 years now. I wasn’t a trader.

    “If anyone wants Kwankwaso to withdraw, let’s bring criteria and select the best.

    “Anytime I have a better candidate, I’m ready to talk to him. If you have a party which is based on ethnicity and religion — that is the difference between the Labour Party and our party, which is a national party.”

  • Nigeria Decides 2023: Level of preparations okay – INEC

    Nigeria Decides 2023: Level of preparations okay – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it’s leaving no stone unturned in its quest to ensure a hitch-free and credible 2023 general election.

    Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman, INEC, said this when he addressed the press at Chatham House, London, on Tuesday.

    Yakubu said that INEC was satisfied with the level of its of preparations for the election, saying that 11 out of 14 activities scheduled for the election had been accomplished.

    He, however, said that in spite of extensive preparations, there were still some outstanding issues and challenges of concern, some of which were beyond INEC.

    Yakubu said that one of the problems had to do with the current security challenges in the country and the possible impact on the election.

    He said security challenges in many African countries remained source of concern for election managers.

    “For many years, Nigeria has been grappling with its own insecurity In the North-East, the long-standing Boko Haram insurgency has continued, albeit with attacks now more intermittent than regular.

    “In the North-West and the North Central, banditry, terrorism and the herder-farmer conflicts remain major challenges.

    “In the South-South, the threat of renewed insurgency by groups demanding more share of petroleum revenue to the Niger Delta continues to simmer.

    “In the SouthWest, although an earlier surge by a group demanding independence for the region has considerably dissipated, recent violent attacks on places of worship, rise in the activities of violent cults and kidnapping groups, as well as a history of violence involving groups seeking to control markets and motor parks remain strong,” he said.

    Yakubu added:“In the South-East, the lingering agitation for separatism championed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) pose a major security threat.

    “Not only have violent attacks by a number of armed groups increased, the long-standing weekly lockdown of the five States in that geo-political zone, continue to disrupt social and economic activities.”

    He said that violence and threat of violence were major challenges to organising credible election in 2023.

    He said that violence could make deployments for elections difficult, particularly where some of the attacks were targeted at the electoral process and participants.

    Yakubu however, said that the commission had been working with security agencies and other stakeholders to establish mechanisms to understand, track and mitigate security challenges.

    “We are working collaboratively in the context of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

    “We also have the Election Violence Mitigation and Advocacy Tool (EVMAT), which is a research and diagnostic tool for predicting and mitigating election violence prior to elections.

    “In addition, there is the Election Risk Management Tool (ERM), which tracks and reports general risks to elections.

    “In all, we feel assured by the actions we have taken and our collaboration with the security agencies. The 2023 general election will proceed as planned. There is no plan to postpone the election,” he said.

    Yakubu said that another challenge was the fate of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) and rising attacks on INEC facilities, materials and staff.

    He said that although INEC had revised its policy on IDPs voting, it was difficult to identify IDPs in some states as they lived in host communities or extended family members or in communities where they were not registered voters.

    “As a result, it is very difficult for the Commission to provide necessary electoral services to such IDPs. However, those in camps within Nigeria will be catered for in line with the commission’s policy,” he said.

    Yakubu said that between 2019 and 2022 INEC experienced 50 attacks on its facilities, mostly in the form of arson and vandalisation.

    He said that the 2022 attacks constituted the deepest concerns for INEC.

    “This is so not only because they are increasingly happening closer to the general election, but also because some of them seem to be coordinated,” he said.

    Yakubu said that the implication of the attacks was that those facilities must be rebuilt and several election materials must be replaced.

    “Further, the commission and security agencies must have to increase the number of their personnel to these facilities.

    “Nevertheless, the commission is determined to continue its preparations for the general election in spite of these attacks.

    “So far, all the destroyed facilities will be rebuilt, or alternatives found, and the materials lost are being replaced.

    “However, the commission has repeatedly called for more concerted efforts to control the attacks,” he said.

    He listed other challenges to include campaign violence, fake news and disinformation, campaign finance and vote buying as well as litigations.

    Yakubu said that in spite of the challenges, INEC had promised Nigerians and friends of Nigeria that the 2023 general election would be free, fair, credible and inclusive.

    “We have left no stone unturned in preparing for it, in spite of several challenges.

    “But all elections, especially those involving the type of extensive national deployment like we do in Nigeria, will naturally come with challenges.

    “We have worked closely with stakeholders and development partners to confront these challenges and we are satisfied with our preparations so far.

    “Our commission does not take the pledge that we have repeatedly made to Nigerians lightly. We are leaving no stone unturned in our preparations,” he said.

    Yakubu renewed INEC’s commitment to serving Nigerians only as an independent body.

    “We cherish the institutional independence and integrity of the commission.

    “With the enthusiasm of Nigerians, the goodwill of stakeholders and partners, and the commitment of the Commission, we believe that the 2023 general election will be among the best conducted in Nigeria,” he said.

    He acknowledged that there were enormous expectations, both within Nigeria and outside, on the conduct and management of the election.

    Yakubu said that those expectations placed a great responsibility on INEC, a responsibility that was not taken lightly.

    “We appreciate that there are challenges and concerns. But we also realise that there is enormous goodwill and support, both in Nigeria and beyond,” he said.

  • Read 10 powerful quotes by Peter Obi at Chatham House

    Read 10 powerful quotes by Peter Obi at Chatham House

    The highly anticipated Chatham House interview of the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, which was streamed live from London on Monday to over 60, 000 viewers, has continued to trend on social media, with many describing his performance as outstanding.

    Flanked by his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, Obi who was garbed in a simple-styled black outfit addressed a large crowd outside the Chatham House, before his scheduled interview, assuring that the dream Nigeria was possible with the collective efforts of every Nigerian.

    He later used the opportunity of the interview to speak to a global audience about his vision for policy and governance reforms in Nigeria, including the priorities for tackling deep-rooted insecurity and corruption, and measures to promote social and political mobility for Nigerian citizens.

    Below are 10 timeless quotes culled from his speech during the interview:

    1. “We would use merit to employ, dramatically reduce poverty and return Nigeria to a place of strategic relevance with high value”.
    2. “We will facilitate stronger institutions, a key anchor that will turn Nigeria from a country of oil consumption to a country that produces based on fast factors”.
    3. “Insecurity is a result of ineffective security strategy, address this by projecting strong leadership, state security and pursue a robust reform of security sector”.
    4. “Emphasise from consumption to production which is driven by agrarian revolution and export industrialisation, build dams for export and revenue generation”
    5. “Borrowing must be for productive purposes, not consumption…enhance human capital development in our youths through investment in education, research and quality health”
    6. “Pursue a compulsory technical education, digital skills from primary to secondary level, prioritise funding of the artificial sector, data science and blockchain. Our higher institutions will be renovated as research centres”
    7. “I will conduct an Afro-centric policy that will protect the rights of Nigerians abroad, advance the rights of Nigerians businesses abroad”
    8. “The problem of Nigeria is based on complex leadership… lead Nigeria for an inclusive and sustaining Nigeria that works for all”
    9. “Nigeria’s resources will be most prudently used for Nigeria”
    10. “As commander in Chief of Nigeria, I pledge our part to pursue policies that sustain inclusive growth and development”

    BONUS QUOTE: “If I am elected president, people will be proud to use the green passport again”.

  • Doyin Okupe sorry after abandoning daughter for Peter Obi

    Doyin Okupe sorry after abandoning daughter for Peter Obi

    Former Director General of the Labour Party presidential campaign council, Doyin Okupe has apologized to his daughter, Moradeke Okupe for prioritizing Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the party, over her.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Moradeke graduated from Hull University in the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday but Okupe was busy with Peter Obi at Chatham House where the presidential candidate reeled out his vision for policy and governance reforms in Nigeria.

    “My darling daughter Moradeke Okupe graduated with a second degree today at Hull University. I love you so much Keke and I pray God will open new ways for you and bless you. Sorry I could not attend though I am in the UK because it coincided with Obi’s lecture. Politics is about sacrifice and commitment,” the former Labour Party PCC DG tweeted.

    Recall that Okupe was DG of the Labour Party PCC until Akin Osuntokun took over after the former aide to former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan was convicted and sentenced for money laundering.

    Subsequently, he was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos on his way to London. Later, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) clarified he was arrested in error.

  • BREAKING: Atiku yet to accept to speak to us – Chatham House

    BREAKING: Atiku yet to accept to speak to us – Chatham House

    Chatham House has disclosed that the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar is yet to accept the offer to speak at the world-leading policy institute.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Alex Vines, Director of Africa Programme at Chatham House disclosed this before Peter Obi made his presentation on his vision for policy and governance reforms in Nigeria at the institute on Monday.

    According to Vine, the invitation to Atiku is still open, stressing that the PDP presidential candidate still has the opportunity to be at Chatham House to make his presentation.

    “We still have an invitation out for Mr Atiku. He hasn’t replied to us but we know that he has received the invitation. So, he is still most welcome if he wants to come to Chatham House and also present,” Vine disclosed.

    Meanwhile, the Director of Africa Programme at Chatham House confirmed that the flag bearer of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso will also speak at Chatham House later in the week.

    Vines also confirmed that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu will make a presentation at the institute in the course of the week as well.

    Recall that on December 5, 2022, Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) made an appearance at Chatham House, where he revealed some of his plans for Nigeria.

    TNG reports Atiku, Obi, Tinubu and Kwankwaso are the frontline candidates in the February 25, 2023 presidential election.

  • Chatham House: My Presidency will dismantle inefficiency, stop transactional policies in government – Obi

    Chatham House: My Presidency will dismantle inefficiency, stop transactional policies in government – Obi

    The Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, was a guest of Chatham House, the famous British international Policy institute, saying that Nigeria’s Presidency with him and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed in charge will dismantle inefficiency and eliminate transactional policies that breed corruption in government.

    Obi who took over 15 questions from the audience after his elucidating paper on various sectors said they will dismantle the structure of criminality which they have been using to hold the country.

    Stating that “there will be no sacred cow” under the Obi-Datti administration, the Labour Party Presidential candidate said that “our objective is to dismantle these structures of criminality and enthrone competence, character, and capability so that talents and ideas can flourish.”

    On how he intends to cope with possibly having a National Assembly that may be dominated by other parties, Obi said he went through such experience as Governor of Anambra state when none of the 30 members of the State of Assembly came from his political party, adding that what he needed to navigate such case is to do the right thing, avoid nepotism and transactional policies, because even the parliamentarians desire good governance.

    Responding to question on the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and why he has not condemned them, Obi said that for him and many other reasonable Nigerians including Igbos, the Biafra war ended 53 years ago. But he is not oblivious of the agitators’ demands for justice.

    According to him, “we are going to look into the issue of justice and marginalization which some of them are hinging their grievances.

    “We are going to apply the carrot and stick in dealing with the agitators. But in the end there can only be one government and we will be in charge.”

    On the how to attract investors to Nigeria which was asked by a former British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, Obi likened what he intends to do to attract investors to bee and and honey, he will create enabling environment where rule of law thrives and will avoid any transactional policies which breeds corruption and weakens governance.

    On security, he said it will be his top priority because everything will be done to secure the environment and he will do this by first turning the country into production and pulling people out of poverty and adequately utilizing our military.

    Obi noted: “Our military once secured Africa and they should secure Nigeria and we will provide the needed leadership and political will.”

    He also answered questions on the independence of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), saying that what is happening in the apex bank now is a consequence of mix up of responsibilities and not necessarily of competence, a situation he assured his regime will correct by ensuring that square pegs are in square holes both in personnel and policies.

    Obi also said that the on-going fiscal rascality in the system will be dismantled and order and discipline injected into the country’s monetary policies.

    On how to navigate the so called ‘big boys’ to be able see through his beautiful policies if elected, the LP standard bearer said the challenge will be surmounted as there will be no sacred cow.

    The former Anambra state Governor also provided convincing answers to questions on education, Health, debt servicing among others to win the consistent applause from the audience.

    Obi gave indication of his preparedness for the program when he was offered seat by the moderator of the program and he respectfully rejected it saying the problem in Nigeria his country is so serious not for sitting down and he stood all through the nearly two hours program.

    Obi-Datti Media office reports that millions of people within and outside the country followed the program via social media and 99% of the comments eulogized the Candidate for his fantastic outing.

  • 2023: Peter Obi vows to tackle IPOB, declare war in power sector

    2023: Peter Obi vows to tackle IPOB, declare war in power sector

    Mr Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party for the 2023 presidential election has vowed to tackle the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group in the South East if elected president.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mr Obi said he will not only address the menace of IPOB but also tackle secessionist agitation across the country.

    The Labour Party presidential candidate made the promise on Monday while discussing his vision for policy and governance reforms in Nigeria at Chatham House, London.

    Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, argued that the problem of secessionist agitation across the country has to do with bad leadership and that he will address the problem by being a better leader.

    “I condemn all agitators. But in condemning them, you have to look at why all these agitators are all over the place including IPOB, the Yoruba Nation.

    “IPOB and other agitations in the country are a culmination of years of bad leadership.

    “All those things will start reversing themselves when the leadership problem is sorted. I and Datti will talk with all agitators.

    “We are going to apply the carrot and stick in dealing with the agitators. But in the end there can only be one government and we will be in charge.

    “Our military once secured Africa and they should secure Nigeria and we will provide the needed leadership and political will,” he said.

    I will declare war in the power sector – Peter Obi

    The Labour Party presidential candidate also vowed to declare war in the power sector if elected president in the 2023 presidential election scheduled to hold in February.

    Peter Obi stressed that he will dismantle the “structure” holding Nigeria captive and preventing the nation from advancement and progressive development.

    According to the presidential candidate, the “structure” currently in Nigeria is that of criminality, adding that it has impoverished the nation.

    “You have heard them say we don’t have structure; that is the structure we are trying to destroy – structure of criminality that Nigeria is being held captive.

    “That structure is the structure that has impoverished Nigeria. We’ll dismantle it. It will not be there. I assure you of that.

    “We are going to turn around the power sector. South Africa in the past three months has declared an emergency in their power sector.

    “I am going to declare war on power and I will solve it. Anybody who stands in the way, so be it,” Peter Obi said.

    The Labour Party presidential candidate also vowed to end oil theft, ease ethnic tension, and increase Nigeria’s electricity generation and distribution capacity.

    He also vowed to bring back foreign investors, service Nigeria’s mounting debt, and solve youth unemployment, amongst others.

  • Revealed! Why INEC Chairman Yakubu, Obi, Kwankwaso are travelling to the UK

    Revealed! Why INEC Chairman Yakubu, Obi, Kwankwaso are travelling to the UK

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC)  Prof. Mahmood Yakubu,  Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) counterpart Rabiu Kwankwaso will be jetting out to the United Kingdom next week.

    The three of them have been booked to speak at the  Chatham House over important issues on the forthcoming 2023 general elections in the country.

    However, they will appear before the house on separate days to address it.

    The think tank group said the event is part of a series examining the general polls and political developments.

    Obi, a former Anambra governor, will on January 16 discuss his vision for policy and governance reforms in Nigeria.

    He will also speak on priorities for tackling insecurity and corruption, and measures to promote social and political mobility for citizens.

    Yakubu will on January 17 provide insights to preparations and priorities for ensuring electoral integrity and inclusivity.

    The electoral chief will also discuss challenges and plans for the conduct of the elections, security and the use of new technological systems.

    The Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) and Biometric Voter Accountability System (BVAS) were deployed for the Anambra, Ekiti and Osun governorship polls.

    However, Kwankwaso will on January 18 discuss his policy ideas for improving systems and services in Nigeria.

    The ex-Kano governor will speak on the country’s education sector and the wider priorities for ensuring secure and inclusive service delivery.

  • Major events that will define Nigeria in 2023

    Major events that will define Nigeria in 2023

    As 2022 comes to a close, Nigerians are already looking forward to what the new year 2023 holds. Here we take a peep into some major events that are likely to define Nigeria in the new year.

    Redesigned Naira notes

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) redesigned the N200, N500 and N1000 denominations of the Naira in 2022 to phase out old the old banknotes from circulation in 2023. The apex bank pegged the deadline for January 31st.

    This is even as the CBN took the cashless policy in the country some giant steps forward by announcing withdrawal limits for individuals and corporate entities. According to the CBN, from January 9, 2023, the amounts individuals and corporate organisations could withdraw per week would not exceed N500,000 and N5 million for individuals and corporate accounts respectively.

    Redesigning the Naira notes and the cash withdrawal limits generated a buzz in the country and many have said the policies will no doubt have an impact on the 2023 general election and on businesses in the country, going forward.

    While, the Senate has urged the apex bank to urgently extend the withdrawal date of old currency notes from January 31, 2023 to June 31, the CBN’s Naira redesign and cash withdrawal limits will definitely continue to make wave in 2023.

    2023 General Election

    The General Election will be the major defining moment in Nigeria in 2023. Federal and States elections would be held.

    The presidential election will be held on 25 February 2023 to elect the President and Vice President. Incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari is ineligible to run, being term-limited.

    The President of Nigeria is elected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive a majority of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least 24 of the 36 states. If no candidate passes this threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of states.

    Based on polls so far published on the 2023 presidential election, a rerun is likely. Even the election management body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed preparedness for a second round.

    The top candidates for the election are Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

    Meanwhile, elections to the Senate and the House of Representatives will also be held on the same date. The 109 members of the Senate are elected from 109 single-seat constituencies, three in each state and one for the Federal Capital Territory, by first-past-the-post voting. The 360 members of the House of Representatives are also elected by first-past-the-post voting in single-member constituencies.

    Meanwhile, state elections to elect governors and members of the State Houses of Assembly will be held two weeks after the federal elections on 11 March.

    Aside from the general election, governorship elections would be held differently for Bayelsa and Kogi States.

    Immediately following the elections, would be the setting up of election petitions tribunals.

    Chatham House Interview of Peter Obi, Atiku, Kwankwaso

    Prior to the 2023 elections, the candidate of the Labour Party for the presidential election, Mr Peter Obi will speak at Chatham House on the 2023 elections and political developments in the country.

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and also the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso have also been scheduled to take their turns to speak at Chatham House.

    Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Bola Tinubu has had his turn at Chatham House in a series of meetings leading up to the 2023 general election.

    Also, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu has been scheduled to speak at Chatham House.

    These events will take place in January 2023.

    Handover/Inauguration of New Government

    By May 2023, following the General Election, all heads of Ministries, Department and Agencies would have concluded their handover notes. The winners of the elections will be inaugurated on 29 May 2023, the former date of Democracy Day.

    New governments are inaugurated in Nigeria on May 29 every four years since the restoration of democracy in the country in 1999.

    National Population Census

    For the first time in over 15 years, Nigeria will conduct a National Population Census in 2023.

    The 2023 Census is expected to be a detailed enumeration of the Nigerian population that will be the fifth national census in the country since its Independence. It will be the first national census held since the 2006 census.

    Over N190 billion have been allocated for the exercise.

    Executive Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Alhaji Nasir Kwarra has expressed the commitment of NPC to conduct a qualitative, credible and reliable digital Population and Housing Census for 2023.

    The planned 2023 population and housing census, which will be conducted in April 2023, will also measure the level of development in the country.

    Independence Day

    No matter who wins the 2023 presidential election, Nigeria will celebrate Independence Day for the first time in 8 years without President Muhammadu Buhari at the helm of affairs.

    Nigeria became a British protectorate in 1901. However, the country gained Independence in 1960 and since then the country has celebrated Independence Day every year on the 1st of October, the day Nigeria proclaimed independence.

    Salary increment for civil servants

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige recently disclosed that the Federal Government will make a pronouncement on salary increases for civil servants in 2023.

    Ngige hinted that the government would adjust workers’ salaries to cushion the effect of rising costs of living in the country.

    The minister said already the Presidential Committee on Salaries had embarked on a review of the salaries of workers in the country. According to him, the committee is expected to come up with salary adjustment in 2023.

    On whether a timeline has been fixed for the implementation of the new salary increase, Ngige said: “As we enter the new year government will make some pronouncements in that direction”.

    Fuel subsidy removal

    The federal government has earmarked 2023 as the year for fuel subsidy removal. The government had planned to remove fuel subsidy payments in 2022 but suspended the plan when the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) threatened a national protest for February 1, 2022.

    The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed had disclosed the FG only made provision for fuel subsidy in the 2022 Budget from January to June. According to her, all payments on fuel subsidy ordinarily would have ceased from July 2022.

    Announcing a new date for the total removal of fuel subsidy payments, Ahmed said the federal government will do away with the payments by June 2023.

    Fuel subsidy payments gulped N2.565 trillion between January and August 2022. In the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, the Federal Government proposed to spend N3.3 trillion on fuel subsidy payments between January and June 2023.

    In recommending the removal of fuel subsidy payments, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stressed Nigeria can conserve funds for critical investments in health, education and infrastructure, etc.

    Conversation on the payments will take centre stage as Nigerians enter the new year.

    Coronation of King Charles III

    After reigning for 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, died in Scotland at the age of 96 in 2022. The passing of Queen Elizabeth II was felt all around the world.

    The Queen ascended the throne in 1952 after the death of her father King George VI and reigned through significant eras.

    Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles assumed the kingship. Prince Charles was proclaimed King Charles III during an elaborate ceremony at St James’ Palace, London.

    King Charles III would be officially crowned king on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Westminster Abbey. The Ceremony will see His Majesty King Charles III crowned alongside The Queen Consort

    Queen Elizabeth II succeeded to the throne in February 1952, but was not crowned until June 1953.

    Major tech events of 2023

    Nigerians are tech-savvy and would be looking forward to some major tech events in 2023.

    The Mobile World Congress (MWC), Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX), the International Consumer Electronics Show, the Web Summit, Africa Tech Summit and Social Media Week are some of the major tech events Nigerians look forward to every year. 2023 will be no exception.

    Some other tech events Nigerians look forward to in the year are the eNigeria Conference, Smart Cities West Africa, Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, Google I/O and Google Developer Day.

  • A Chatham House of Horror – By Pedro Obaseki

    A Chatham House of Horror – By Pedro Obaseki

    By Don Pedro Obaseki

    Chatham House, while trying to repackage and market Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ended up de-marketing itself. While trying, albeit strenuously, to rebrand Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chatham House ended up eroding its own brand personae. Its brand equity went bearish like a bad stock cascading down the index on a bad day on the FTSE or the New York Stock Exchange. Tinubu’s handlers not only rubbished Chatham House, but also ridiculed the Nigeria nation and her peoples before the global community. At best, Tinubu’s Chatham House odyssey was a PR disaster! His legendary gaffes got amplified before a global audience who either watched the horrid display of Tinubu on Television or via LIVE streaming on the internet. Tinubu’s infamous, yet half-expected comedy of errors turned an otherwise revered platform into a “Chatham House of Horror” or (to bring the adjective nearer home), it was the “Chatham House of Commotion”.

    One good thing though; while millions of Nigerians awaited another “bullaba blablabloo” verbal misadventure, the APC’s flag bearer (who is now more like a “flag stainer”) added more “words” (if you can call his trademark ramblings and incoherent, inchoate verbal defecations “words”) to an already swelling lexicon. Some of the new words were so incoherent that they cannot even be written down.

    Tinubu on the Chatham house stage was like a caged pigeon that has been slammed by a pick axe. Was there a physician close by? Nobody needed an MRI scan to diagnose a man suffering from acute dementia. This is no exaggeration. Tinubu has consistently and persistently displayed signs of Amnesia, and Dementia: maybe a case of a progressively deteriorating Alzheimer’s (a degenerative brain disease that causes dementia). As defined by medical experts, Dementia often includes memory loss. It also often involves problems with thinking that leads to a decline in daily functioning. These problems include having trouble with language, judgment and visual-spatial skills. All these have been displayed in no little measure by Tinubu, day in and week out!

    A few friends sat in my living room to watch yet another episode in Tinubu’s unedifying soap opera series. A handful of those who watched with me fell into fits of hard-to-control laughter each time Tinubu hits a new chord in his rhythm of mental and verbal misadventure. It was like watching a badly scripted “B”-rated movie or a sad melodrama. From all indications, Tinubu will compete well for comic ratings with Mr. Bean!

    “Na Tinubu be dis? Jesu! Make dem save this man from himself na, I beg”, a friend quipped close by. As the audience jeered, and laughed, I could not join the laughter. I could barely watch the sad melancholic display of a man who, like ‘Elesin Oba’ in Wole Soyinka’s classic “Death and the King’s Horseman” , was too far gone in his hubristic decline. I watched a man who, in his self-effacing “emi lokan”, is now a husk. His aged shell is now a sad reminder of a man who once rode princely on a king’s horse. Sadly today, Tinubu now holds tenaciously to the horse’s tail, covered in the stench and smell of the horse’s faeces.

    At the Chatham House of Commotion, the APC candidate repeatedly punted himself. He was the butt of his own comic satire. The Guest Speaker morphed into the Moderator, albeit to the embarrassing chagrin of a global audience. When Tinubu wasn’t parrying questions, he was delegating the task of answering them to subordinates and minions who are NOT on the presidential ballot! The Mephistophelean bunch of El Rufai, Dele Alake, Kayode Fayemi and their co-journeymen suddenly became presidential candidates by Tinubu’s singular substitution! And when he deferred to answer himself, he had to read his answers (including his date of birth) from hurriedly scribbled notes which were handed to him by another subordinate. All in the full glare of a global audience! What excuse do APC’s litany of propagandists and spinners have to explain away the actions of a man who had to read his own Date of Birth from a slip of paper handed to him! Such was Tinubu’s.

    Age is not a crime. To age and grow old is the last curve on life’s graph. We all, if God grants, shall grow old.  Unfortunately, the All Progressives Congress (APC) are not a God-fearing bunch. With Tinubu, APC mocks God daily on the campaign trail. In Tinubu, APC challenges God. Daily, and agonizingly, APC brandishes the limitations that age forces on us all. They continue to “package” an octogenarian whose mental state and physical wellbeing are in obvious decline; whose gaffes and vituperations have become comic relief in a nation many have declared a failed state. They window-dress and wall-paper his thwacks as the messianic vituperations of a saviour. This is the worst disservice APC can mete out on a hapless fragile old man. Tinubu’s body is gone, his mental acuity eroded daily, wracked and ravaged by acute dementia.

    For how long shall the APC dwell in its throes of monumental deceit? For how long shall the men (and Women) of the APC lie to Nigerians? As the Bible admonishes “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 12:22). God may forgive Tinubu, but God may never forgive Tinubu’s handlers, his battalion of cronies and army of liars.

    The Chatham House scam highlights in no little measure one incontrovertible fact: Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not fit to occupy the exalted office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As clearly stated in our Constitution, we cannot elect anyone adjudged… “or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind”. Evidentially, Tinubu has consistently displayed this unfortunate condition. If Buhari was bad, Tinubu is worse. To borrow the viral parlance on social media, “Tinubu is Buhari Pro Max”!

    The February 2023 Presidential Elections will be a watershed moment for Nigeria and her peoples. For on that day, Nigerians shall, in a universal shout, confine the APC to the dung-heap of our collective yesterday.

    May God help Nigeria and her people.

     

    Obaseki, Director, Research, Strategy and Documentation (PDP Presidential Campaign Council), writes from Benin.