TheNewsGuru

Tag: Politicians

  • Politicians listen to my suggestions every time -KWAM 1

    Politicians listen to my suggestions every time -KWAM 1

    Fuji music maestro, Chief Wasiu Ayinde Marshal better known as KWAM 1 has averred that politicians listen to his suggestions.

    The revered Fuji musician made this known at the maiden edition of ‘Fuji: A Opera’.

    In his words: “They (politicians) are ready to listen to me at any time. They (politicians) listen to my suggestion, and they let my suggestion work nicely for them. And anyone that does so, has something good at the end of the tunnel for them because I didn’t go to them for primary reasons of collecting money.

    “So I got sincere with my suggestion to them every time and they do listen. Unfortunately, in every society, we have a good one and the bad one. My concern is do to people what is necessary, Nigerians don’t need too much from a politician. Somebody wants to leave work at 5 pm from Victoria Island and go to Mowe Ibafo and within a time travel of 30 minutes, you are back to forgetting that you’ve gone for work. So that is my concern. That’s why I want to advise the government, why there must be an effective railway system where it is not necessarily everybody must own a car and stuff. You can imagine somebody living in New Jersey and works in New York. So those are the things and we’re using it as we use it.”

    ‘Fuji: A Opera,’ a week-long program that focused on revitalising and reimagining the Fuji musical genre for a new audience, paraded a VIP preview of the exhibition doubled as a celebration of the life of Fuji Music’s legend, the late Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. The date coincided with the 10th year remembrance of the Fuji Icon.

     

  • Some disgruntled politicians planning to paint Buhari like he’s not in charge – Presidency

    Some disgruntled politicians planning to paint Buhari like he’s not in charge – Presidency

    The Presidency has alerted the public to a smear campaign in the works against Mr President and his office by disgruntled political elements in the country.

    Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

    He said that the disgruntled elements had been shopping for pliant online media that would serve as accomplices in their nefarious act.

    According to him, the game plan is to launch orchestrated campaign of calumny in the days ahead, in which the president will be portrayed as not being in charge of the country.

    He said already this narrative had started from a procured offshore medium by the instigators.

    He said: “Money and other attractive inducements are being dangled before the online media, and some of them are already complicit, cooking up stories with jejune (simplistic) and unsubstantiated allegations, all to sow seeds of discord and discontent in the country.

    “Nigerians are urged to be wary and discerning in what they consume as news and special reports from such online media, as they are in cahoots with agents of destabilization, seeking ultimate political gains.’’

    Adesina, however, reassured Nigerians that the president would continue to be focused and single-minded in his determination to serve the country to the best of his ability, bringing change to different facets of our national life.

    “This is already evident in infrastructure as seen in roads, rail, bridges, airports, and many other strides round the country. Agriculture is another worthy testimonial.

    “The fight against corruption, insecurity, and retooling of the economy also proceed apace, and the Buhari Administration will not be distracted, and will continue to serve with heart and might, irrespective of all shenanigans,’’ he added.

  • Insecurity: Nigeria will be safe when politicians stop using criminals for elections – Yahaya Bello

    Insecurity: Nigeria will be safe when politicians stop using criminals for elections – Yahaya Bello

    Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, says Nigeria will be safer and more secure when politicians stop the use of thugs and criminals during elections.

    Bello made this on Wednesday during a monitored programme on Channels Television.

    “When politicians begin to stop the use of thugs, touts, or some group of criminal that is when we will begin to have safety and security,” Bello said.

    The governor also stressed that he won the November 16, 2019 Governorship Poll without the use of ‘boys’ or thugs.

    According to him, political thuggery and use of ‘boys’ during elections was the order of the day in Kogi before he came into power but he “refused to play that kind of dangerous politics.”

    “When I came on board, I inherited a state that was largely divided along several lines. For you to aspire to be anything politically in Kogi State then, you must have what we call ‘boys’ or thugs or touts and then use it to intimidate people during political dispensations.

    “Once the political exercise is over, the so-called boys or thugs or foot soldiers would be abandoned and left to themselves and by that, they breed into something else or a hydra-headed monster that you will not be able to curb at the end of the day. There are several histories, records, and intelligence to that effect across the country.

    “But I refused to play that kind of dangerous or unnecessary politics when I came on board. My ascension to the office is known to everybody across the world. I chose my path immediately and decided to deal with criminals irrespective of political affiliations by simply utilising the laws passed by the Kogi State House of Assembly and the existing security architecture,” he said.

    He boasted that Kogi State “run an open-door policy,” widely embraced by the residents.

    Speaking further on how he was re-elected governor on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019, Bello said evidence abound to show that he won the election freely

    “I won my election free and square. The police, the DSS, the military, and all law enforcement agencies have their facts. Don’t listen to the lies they peddle out there. When I see those things, I simply laugh and say how I wished they come to Kogi State to see for themselves.

    “There was no time in my campaign that any of my supporters or followers goes into the destruction of billboards, signposts, or installations of the state government, before, during, and after the election. I can say this boldly.”

  • ASUU: Children of politicians should be banned from studying abroad– Lecturer

    ASUU: Children of politicians should be banned from studying abroad– Lecturer

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has called for a law placing restriction on public office holders from sending their children to foreign countries to study.

    The Akure zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Olufayo Olu-Olu said such ban would put an end the persistent strike in Nigeria’s education sector.

    Olu-Olu explained that if such a law is promulgated, it would help to restructure Nigeria’s education sector.

    A statement by Olu-Olu reads partly: “Members of the ruling class and their cohorts have their wards schooling abroad, so they do not commit to ending ASUU strike since the political office has become occupational rather than public service.

    “Until we domesticate two very important practices as laws in Nigeria, we may not get out of this doldrums -first, an act to compel all public office holders and government appointees to have their wards educated in Nigeria public schools from primary to tertiary level.

    “When this law is enacted, perhaps we will gradually see the end of needless ASUU strikes in the country.”

    TheNewsGuru recalls that ASUU has been on strike for about eight months, following federal government’s failure to meet its demands.

    Despite a meeting with government reps last week, ASUU had vowed to continue with the strike until all demands are met.

    However, there are speculations that ASUU zonal branches would meet by Friday to decide if they would call off or continue the strike.

     

  • Stop criticizing politicians, my colleagues are more corrupt-Brymo

    Stop criticizing politicians, my colleagues are more corrupt-Brymo

    Singer, Brymo has urged Nigerians to stop criticizing politicians for corruption, stating that they are less “dangerous” than his colleagues.

    In a post on his Twitter page on Friday, Brymo alleged that politicians are not the most corrupt people in the country.

    To further reinforce his point, the ‘Fe mi’ crooner noted that his “colleagues” are more “dangerous and corrupt” than the political class.

    “Stop pointing fingers at the Nigerian politician… My colleagues are more dangerous and corrupt than our political class,” he wrote.

    His statement has since ignited a flurry of opinions with many expressing their diverse views.

    “Politicians where elected to serve & provide our basic needs & infrastructure. That is their job. Musicians are private business owners & are free to be savvy & perhaps lobby to serve their personal interest. Don’t put them in the same category. Swallow pride and network,” another user countered.

    “So we should stop pointing fingers at public officials we elected into public offices and start pointing them towards people running their private lives? Wahala for your colleagues…,” a user replied.

    See other reactions to the singer’s post:

  • Stop decorating politicians with awards, challenge us to perform better, Wike charges journalists

    Stop decorating politicians with awards, challenge us to perform better, Wike charges journalists

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has challenged journalists to hold government officials accountable, rather than give them awards on the basis of “friendship”.

    The governor stated this on Friday when the national leadership of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) paid him a courtesy visit at the government house in Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital.

    Wike, according to a statement by Kelvin Ebiri, special assistant to to the governor on media, said there was a need for journalists to put in more efforts as the “strong voice and conscience of the society”. “What I have seen of you is that you praise us and give us award because of relationship or friendship. That’s not the way it should be. Challenge us — the people in authority — and we will sit up to our responsibilities. We will have no choice than to perform and serve the people as it should be,” he said.

    “My support for you has to do with the fact that you are supposed to tell the truth of what is happening in Nigeria. “There was a time you were exposing the ills of society. If not for you, certain things will not be known. Assume your role, grow strong again and speak out.”

    He also commented on the #EndSARS protests, stating that the youth were able to organise themselves without having leaders.

    “If when I castigated the operations of SARS you added your voice, who knows what good that would have achieved,” the governor said. “Now look at what has happened. There was EndSARS protest across the country. Nobody knows how the youth were able to organise themselves without a leader. “Up until now, intelligence can’t even know how they did it and who’s behind them. Without good intelligence, how can Nigeria even defeat Boko Haram?”

  • You embezzle billions of naira meant for COVID-19 relief funds- Orezi tackle Nigerian politicians

    You embezzle billions of naira meant for COVID-19 relief funds- Orezi tackle Nigerian politicians

    Popular singer, Orezi has thrown a jab at Nigerian politicians, saying they embezzle billions of naira meant for COVID-19 relief funds.

    The ‘Cooking Pot’ singer made this known in reaction to the discovery of COVID-19 palliatives in warehouses across the country amid the turbulence trailing the #EndSARS protest in a post on Sunday.

    In the past few days, Lagos, Edo, Plateau, Osun and Kwara have had their COVID-19 palliatives warehouses raided by hoodlums.

    Orezi joined a myriad of Nigerians who have slammed governments of the various states affected so far, accusing them of keeping palliatives meant for the people.

    He wrote on instagram:“You embezzle billions of naira meant for COVID-19 relief funds for your personal aggrandizement. Like that was not enough, then you also go ahead to deny the people foodstuffs and items that are meant for them!!

    “Items that were freely donated to be shared for the people, the height of wickedness. When the Bible says wickedness in high places, it was definitely referring to Nigerian politicians. Nigerian leaders constantly leave my heartbroken. Bunch of wicked leaders with no human feelings whatsoever.

    “The only reason politicians do this and have the nerve to sleep well at night is because they are not sleeping in Kirikiri yet. They commit all sort of crimes against the same people who put them in power.

    “I repeat until our politicians start going to jail for all these broad daylight crimes with evidence staring at us in the eye, Nigeria will never be great.”

     

  • Ondo poll: Again, US warns Nigerian politicians, reinstates visa ban for violators

    Ondo poll: Again, US warns Nigerian politicians, reinstates visa ban for violators

    The United States of America has again reiterated its commitment to a free, fair and inclusive election in Saturday’s (tomorrow) governorship election in Ondo State.

    The US also extended its commitment to violent free elections to Africa at large.

    Recall that the President Donald Trump led country issued similar warning to politicians in the build up to the Edo governorship election which held September 19.

    In a statement released by the US government and signed by Secretary of State, Michael R. Pompeo, the US said it would watch closely the actions of individuals who interfered in the democratic process and would not hesitate to consider consequences.

    It also stated that Visa restriction would be placed on those responsible for election-related violence.

    Furthermore, the statement explained that elections were not only important in Africa but for defenders of democracy around the world.

    “We believe all sides should participate peacefully in the democratic process. Repression and intimidation have no place in democracies,” it said.

    The US said rights of electorate should be respected during elections as they were pivotal to democracy.

    “The right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression and association were at the heart of a functioning democracy.

    As partners to nations in Africa, the statement explained that US cared about democracy in Africa and would work with international and regional partners.

    Read the US full statement here.

  • Celebrities have a wider reach than politicians-Tiwa Savage

    Celebrities have a wider reach than politicians-Tiwa Savage

    Afropop singer, Tiwa Savage has said that celebrities have a wider reach than politicians and religious leader.

    The ‘Koroba’ singer urged celebrities to use their platforms to impact others.

    Savage made this statement in an interview with NME.

     

    In her words “As celebrities we have a wider reach, sometimes, more than politicians and religious leaders because the youth would prefer to listen to a celebrity than another figure. They have more trust in their idols, therefore we’ve got to use our platform to be the voice of the voiceless

    “The bigger you get, the more organizations want you for your platform to elevate what they’re doing. So as I got more involved in charity work… as a human you can’t not be touched by it. You hear certain stories or see how others live, and you appreciate what you have. That makes you know that you have to do more to help people”.

     

    Speaking further, Tiwa noted that she puts pressure on herself to better.

     

    “I put pressure on myself to do better than my last [album], but having that title… it’s sweet that there are fans who think that of me – although there’s not just one queen. There’s a load of kings and queens doing this.”

     

     

     

  • Edo poll: Buhari warns against ‘do-or-die’ politics

    Edo poll: Buhari warns against ‘do-or-die’ politics

    President Muhammadu Buhari has advised political parties, candidates, and security agents to behave responsibly in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo.

    The president, in a message to voters, political parties, election officials and security personnel, also warned against what he described as “the do-or-die mentality to politics.”

    The president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, quoted Buhari to have said:

    “I am passionately committed to free and fair elections, but my own commitment is not enough if other actors at ground zero refuse to abide by the rules.

    ”I want to see democratic standards in the country raised higher at every level, but these cannot be achieved when politicians resort to do-or-die methods to gain power by any means or machinations.

    “The do-or-die mentality to politics is a threat to free and fair elections because the actors are more focused on winning than caring about a fair outcome that reflects the will of the people.”

    The president appealed to all political parties and their candidates to respect law and order.

    He also advised election officials and security agents “to remain neutral to ensure free and fair elections and avoid any action(s) capable of compromising the integrity of the elections.”

    ” Conducting free and fair elections is one of my main concerns for our democracy, and I want this commitment to be one of the legacies I will leave behind when I depart office,” the statement quoted the president as saying.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed Saturday for the Edo governorship election.

    Recall the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and that of the Peoples Democratic Party, Godwin Obaseki, who are the main contenders, had since signed a peace accord.