Atiku Abubakar: More Nigerians Poorer, Miserable Than They Were In 2015

 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, has said many Nigerians have become poorer and miserable than they were before President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) took over in May 2015.

Atiku who said this at the Nigeria Economic Summit Group Presidential Dialogue on the Economy, at the Summit House, Ikoyi, Lagos enjoined Nigerians to join him in kicking the party out in the 2023 general elections.

He said between 2015 and 2020, the number of Nigerians who are gainfully employed by dropped by 54 percent from 68 million to 31 million.

"Under the current administration our people are not working. More than 23 million people are out of jobs. In just 5 years between 2015 and 2020, the number of fully employed people dropped by 54%, from 68 million to 31 million people. This is frightening in a country of 200 million people".

"And the majority of the unemployed are young men and women, who lack not only the means to survive but any hope for the future. The number of unemployed youths increased by 9 million from 4 million in 2015 to 13 million in 2020". 

"High youth unemployment and limited employment opportunities pose serious economic and security challenges. It is, therefore, an urgent matter to ensure that there are enough jobs for Nigeria’s youth".

"More Nigerians are poorer and more miserable today than in 2015". 

"Basic commodities are now beyond the reach of the average Nigerian. A price of a loaf of bread has risen by more 100% since 2020. Farmers now pay more than 200% more for a bag of fertilizer - if they see it - than they did in 2020".

Gunmen Attack INEC Office in Enugu South LGA, Kill police officer

 Nigeria’s electoral commission, INEC, has reported another attack on one of its facilities in Enugu South Local Government Area, Enugu State.

The commission said one of the policemen deployed to the location was also killed and another injured.

The attackers, who could not gain entry to the main building, razed the security gate house around 9 p.m last night (Sunday), said INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye.

He said, in a statement, that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Enugu State, Chukuwuemeka Chukwu reported that the attackers could not get entry into the main building as a result of the rapid response from the police and army personnel from 82 Division.

“Of the two policemen deployed to protect the facility, one of them lost his life while the other sustained injuries and is receiving treatment,” he said. “The commission prays for the repose of the soul of the deceased policeman and the speedy recovery of the injured.”

He said a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Enugu State co-chaired by the REC and the commissioner of police in the state has been convened to discuss the latest incident and design additional strategies for fortifying the offices and protecting the personnel and materials.

Although INEC facilities have been targets of attacks across the country in the past few years, attacks in the South East and South-south accounts for over 70 per cent of the total attacks.

The commission’s analysis of the incidents showed that between 2019 and 2022, it recorded 26 attacks in the South-east (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo), ten in the South-south (Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Cross River).

INEC also revealed that it recorded ten attacks in the South-west (Ogun, Lagos and Ondo), three attacks in the North-east (Taraba and Borno), one in the North-west (Kaduna), within the period.

According to the commission, 20 of the total of 50 incidents were by unknown gunmen and hoodlums, 18 during the EndSARS protest, six by political thugs during elections, four as a result of post-election violence and one each as a result of a bandit and Boko Haram attacks.

Peter Obi To Speaks At The Chatham House Today, Monday 16 January 2023

 I'll be speaking at the Chatham House, London tomorrow afternoon (Monday, 16th January), on the vision for policy change and the institutional reforms that Labour Party, Datti, and I have for Nigeria.

I look forward to an interactive exchange during the Question and Answer session. -PO

Buhari Is Campaigning Against Tinubu — Odinkalu

 A frontline Human Rights Lawyer in Africa and former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Chidi Odinkalu has claimed that President Buhari could be working against the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

Prof Odinkalu said President Buhari, at APC rallies, is asking Nigerians to vote for someone with attribute that actually does not reflect quite well on APC candidate.

In an interview with the SUNDAY TRIBUNE, the Human Rights Lawyer maintained that “the president is campaigning with Tinubu and telling the people ‘don’t vote for a fraudulent person.’

This, according to Prof Odinkalu, the president might be campaigning for another candidate not including Tinubu.

“The question for me is: does Tinubu want to continue presenting the president for him to keep saying the kind of things he is saying at the rallies, things that cut both ways and impossibly actually don’t reflect quite well on his candidate, it seems to me.

“That is up to the candidate to decide. I also don’t see how Buhari necessarily sells Bola Tinubu as a candidate.”

Don't Die For Politicians, Governor Finitri

 Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has said no Nigerian should die in pursuit of anybody’s interest in the course of the coming general elections.

Fintiri who spoke on Sunday as he joined other dignitaries in the state in laying wreaths at the Mahmud Ribadu Square, Yola, in honour of the nation’s fallen heroes, urged Nigerians to always pray and support the country.

Fintiri said: “We should continue to pray for our nation, we should support her to be in peace and support the widows of the fallen heroes who have died and sacrificed their lives in order to keep the nation one and united.

“And for us to be together, this election will only serve the country when we are in peace. The life of any Nigerian should not be lost because of an election. You can only rule and enjoy the leadership when we are alive and together.”

He appealed to all those who will take part in the conduct of the elections, particularly officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to be mindful of their responsibility and carry out their duties in such a manner that will ensure peace and progress of the country.

90% Of UNIMAID Students Can't Afford New Fees-NANS

 

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, says 90 percent of indigent students of University of Maiduguri, UNIMAID, cannot afford to pay the new increased registration fees and charges by the institution.

NANS made this known in a reaction to the new measure announced by the university registrar, Ahmad Lawan, that students finding it difficult to pay the fees in full can pay in two instalments.

But the students in a statement on Thursday signed by the chairman of Borno branch of the association, Mohammed Babagana, urged the university to reasoned with them and the current economic conditions.

UNIMAID is located in Borno state which is still trying to recover from the effect of the Boko Haram insurgency that has disrupted activities in the last decade.

With such increase, a lot of students would have no option, but to drop out of the university

Patrick Doyle Remarries

 Nollywood actor cum broadcaster, Patrick Doyle, has remarried years after parting ways with his wife, Ireti Doyle.

The couple went their separate ways about three years ago, however, the reasons for their separation were not stated.

The two kept their separation a secret until the actress stated that they were officially divorced in a recent interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo.

According to the actress, she had no business with marriage when she became a mother.

She also questioned her choice of spouse but didn’t hit the nail on the head as to what led to her divorce.

Barely a few hours after her interview, pictures of Doyle and his new wife where they were signing the dotted lines in a marriage registry also surfaced online.

In the video, the two stood together in a loved-up position while taking pictures.

The woman revealed they got married in March when Doyle celebrated his birthday.

She thanked God for the successful event while flaunting her engagement ring in the video.