News
Breaking: Atiku Announces Okowa As Running Mate
Atiku made the announcement at a meeting attended by PDP executives at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.
PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, said a 17-member committee had been set up by the party to pick a running mate.
He said the committee had submitted three names to Atiku to choose from.
The final decision however, Ayu said, was Atiku’s.
Speaking at the announcement event, Atiku said making a choice between the three names had been a difficult decision.
He also noted that some of the qualities he looked out for include someone who understands the enormity of the challenges facing the country and one who has demonstrated, from experience, that he can proffer some solutions.
He said he looked out for one who has the qualities of a president, who can stand in for him when he’s not around.
According to him, while all the three names submitted were qualified, he had to settle for just one: Okowa.
‘Congratulations’
Okowa had arrived the PDP headquarters in a celebratory mood.
Some party members welcomed him into the building with the words ‘congratulations’.
Okowa and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, were among names being mentioned as prospective running mates to the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
‘Distinguished’ Wike
Earlier, the PDP had denied reports that it had ruled out Wike from the Vice Presidential race.
“If anything, our Party reiterates its confidence in Governor Nyesom Wikes’s outstanding ability and commitment to the ideals and values of the PDP,” a statement signed by spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba, said.
“His records of achievement as a Local Government Chairman, Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, Minister of State for Education, currently Governor of Rivers State and the runner-up in the PDP Presidential Primary stand him out as possessing requisite qualities, qualifications, capacity and wide acceptability for the position of the Vice-Presidential candidate of our Party.
“The various positions creditably held by Governor Nyesom Wike distinguished him as an excellent team player in public governance.
“In fact, Governor Wike’s energy, brilliance, commitment and passion were acknowledged by the National Working Committee (NWC) of our Party and he is adjudged as the foremost candidate in consideration for the position of the Vice-Presidential candidate of the PDP.
“While the PDP notes the interest of the media and the public in our Party’s choice of Vice-Presidential candidate it is imperative to state that as an organic Party, all our processes will be followed through in strict adherence to our procedures before any official announcements.
“The PDP urges Nigerians to disregard the mischievous reports aimed at undermining our Party’s unity at this critical time.”
News
Okuama killing highly demoralising, slain soldiers left behind pregnant widows, 21 orphans – COAS
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, says the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army who were gruesomely murdered in Okuama Community in Delta on March 14, left behind 10 widows three of whom are pregnant and 21 orphans.
“While commiserating with the families of these gallant soldiers, I assure them that the Nigerian army and the good people of this country will not leave them in the cold.
“We shall do all within our power to provide succour to them and preserve the memories of their departed loved ones,” he said.
Lagbaja said he considered his toughest job to be putting fine men and women in harm’s way, sometimes knowing that they might not return to their families and loved ones.
He added that his men, correspondingly and intriguingly know that in spite of the equipment, training, and other forms of preparations, sometimes some may not make it back alive, while some may return handicapped.
According to him, “when soldiers die in the hands of the enemies of the State, we take it as dying for what the nation has considered a just cause; we celebrate them as gallant heroes.
“But when they are gruesomely murdered by the very people they are trained, equipped, and took an oath to protect, it is highly demoralizing.
“It is no longer news that 17 of the Nigerian Army’s finest men, whom we have come to bury, were murdered in a reprehensible manner on March 14 in the Okuama community of Delta State while they went on a legitimate peace-making mission.
“It grieves my heart that it took our search and recovery effort over 72 hours to recover some vital organs of the decapitated and disembowelled bodies of my men that were scattered all over the Okuama community by the community youths and their friends.
“I consider it the most barbaric act any citizen or community can commit against the authority of the state, and I must place on record that a lot of restraints have been exercised so far in our search and recovery efforts for missing arms, ammunition, other equipment, and body parts.
“I assure Mr President and all Nigerians that the Nigerian Army remains committed to its constitutional responsibilities and will not be deterred by setbacks such as witnessed in the Okuama community.
“As tasked by Mr President and Commander-In-Chief of our Armed Forces, the Nigerian Army, with the assistance of its sister services and other security agencies, is committed to bringing the perpetrators of the Okuama murder to book and recover all service and personal belongings taken from the murdered troops.
“The Nigerian Army will continue to seek the cooperation of all well-meaning Nigerians, particularly in the affected area, towards swift and successful conduct of our search and recovery operations,” he said.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, said the fallen heroes exemplified the very best of service to nation and love for country.
Musa said they were the vanguards of peace, the guardians of freedom, and the sentinels of security, adding that their selflessness and unwavering dedication to duty would forever be etched in their hearts and memories.
He assure the families of the deceased officers of the support of the nation and the armed forces in every way possible, urging them to find solace in the knowledge that their loved ones made an indelible mark on the nation’s history.
The defence chief said the military would honour their memory by continuing the fight against those who sought to undermine the peace and security of the nation.
“We will remain steadfast in our resolve to build a nation worthy of your sacrifice.
“The loss we feel today is immeasurable, but we must not allow it to dim the light of hope within us.
“Instead, let us use this moment as a rallying cry to come together as a nation, to support our armed forces, and to work tirelessly towards a Nigeria free from the grip of violence and insecurity.
“We owe it to these fallen heroes to honour their memory by redoubling our efforts to create a safer and more prosperous nation for all.
“Let us build a nation where every citizen can live without fear, where communities can thrive, and where our children can grow up knowing the true meaning of security and stability.
“To the men and women who continue to serve in the armed forces, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your dedication to duty.
“Your commitment to defending our nation, even in the face of great peril, is truly commendable,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Bola Tinubu, Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and governors of Delta, Bayelsa, Kano, Kogi and Imo states, were in attendance.
The president announced the award of posthumous national honours on the slain soldiers as well as houses and scholarship for their children. (NAN)
News
Tinubu congratulates Senegalese President-elect, Faye
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Mr Bassirou Faye on his election as the President of the Republic of Senegal.
Tinubu said that the election of Faye comes with great promise and a sterling record, wishing him success as he takes on the job of leading the people of Senegal.
The President also congratulated President Macky Sall for overseeing an election that has been widely adjudged as peaceful and transparent.
Tinubu noted the success of the presidential election in Senegal and the successful conduct of the general election in Liberia a few months ago.
He said that the two events affirmed his long-held conviction that democracy would be established in West Africa and grow stronger through good governance, justice and fairness to all.
As the Chairman of ECOWAS, the President said that the successful conduct of the Senegal election was a boost to the sub-regional organisation in its efforts to promote peace and constitutional order, as well as strengthen ties among member states.
Tinubu congratulated the people of Senegal and assured them of Nigeria’s best wishes and support.
Forty-four year old Faye, a former tax inspector, has pledged to weed out corruption, restore stability and prioritise economic sovereignty.
The Senegal president-elect says he will drop the much-criticised CFA franc currency, which is pegged to the euro and replace it with a new Senegalese, or regional West African, currency.
News
Two brothers docked for stealing gold necklace
Two brothers were on Wednesday docked in a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Badagry, Lagos State for stealing one gold necklace worth N880,000.
They pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecution Counsel, Insp Edet Ekpo, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on March 9 at about 3 p.m., in Igborosun Iyana-Ilogbo, Badagry area of Lagos .
Ekpo said that the Afinjuomo brothers also assaulted the complainant, Bakare Ganiu and also stole his reading glasses.
The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 411, 172 and 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2015,” he said.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr N A Layeni, admitted the Afinjuomo brothers to bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum.
He adjourned the case until April 17, for mention.
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