Headlines
Atiku Will Unite Nigeria, Support Group Replies Ortom
A support group of the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Support Organisation, said Atiku Abubakar would unite Nigeria and be President for all Nigerians if voted for in the 2023 elections.
The ASO made this assertion in response to Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom’s comment that Atiku is an agent of Miyetti Allah.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Victor Moses, the ASO stated that Ortom’s comment was “to say the least, most unfortunate, disappointing, and a misinformation.”
The statement, which was titled, ‘Atiku will be President for all Nigerians – Atiku Support Organisation – ASO tells Gov Samuel Ortom’, added that Ortom had in the past said kind words about the former vice president and his vision to build Nigeria and asserted that Ortom’s latest comment “only suggest(s) a deliberate act of campaign of calumny, misinformation, and misrepresentation of the important values of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.”
“It is on record that Gov Samuel Ortom had, in the past, said a lot of great and kind words about Alh. Atiku Abubakar and his vision to rebuild Nigeria. Due to Atiku Abubakar’s love and commitment to the Tiv nation, he was crowned the Zege Mule U Tiv. To hear Gov Ortom speaking from the other side of his mouth due to a post-primary conundrum only suggest a deliberate act of campaign of calumny, misinformation, and misrepresentation of the important values of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
“If there is any Nigerian politician in the 21st century who values Nigerians beyond our ethnic and religious fault lines, it’s Atiku Abubakar.
“If there is any who has built bridges across the divide, it’s the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alh. Atiku Abubakar.
“If there is any whose chief mission is to unite Nigeria and give every religion and tribe a sense of belonging for national rebirth and development, it’s Alh. Atiku Abubakar.
“His plans to revamp the national security system for effectiveness and efficiency have been clearly stated in his covenant with the people of this country. He has made it clear that there won’t be a sacred cow in his fight against insecurity.”
The ASO, therefore, asked Governor Ortom to withdraw his statement and disengage from campaign of calumny, while asking the Benue governor to support Atiku in the general election.
It stated, “We call on our respected Gov Samuel Ortom to rescind his statement, disengage from the campaign of calumny and misinformation against the presidential candidate of his own party, the PDP and support the son of the Tiv land, the Zege Mule U Tiv in the forthcoming elections in February.”
The Punch
The first hostages freed from Gaza under a long-awaited ceasefire agreement are back in Israel. The news sparked jubilant scenes in Tel Aviv where large crowds gathered ahead of their release.
The three freed Israeli hostages – the first of 33 to be released over the next six weeks – are Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari. They are said to be in good health and are receiving treatment at a medical center in Tel Aviv.
In exchange, 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released by Israel from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli military withdrew from several locations in southern and northern Gaza after the truce began earlier on Sunday, an Israeli military official told CNN.
Displaced Gazans have started returning to their homes, while the aid trucks laden with much-needed supplies have crossed into Gaza. Here’s what we know about how the ceasefire deal will work.
Hamas, despite suffering devastating losses, is framing the Gaza ceasefire agreement as a victory for itself, and a failure for Israel.
One of Hamas’ main goals for taking some 250 people during its brazen October 7, 2023, attack on Israel was to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. As Israel pounded Gaza in response, Hamas vowed not to return the hostages until Israel withdrew its forces from the enclave, permanently ended the war, and allowed for rebuilding.
Source: CNN
The leader of UK’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has said she doesn’t want Britain to be like Nigeria that is plagued by “terrible governments.”
Speaking on Thursday at an event organised by Onward, a British think tank producing research on economic and social issues, Badenoch expressed fears that Britain may become like Nigeria if the system is not reformed.
“And why does this matter so much to me? It’s because I know what it is like to have something and then to lose it,” Badenoch told the audience.
“I don’t want Britain to lose what it has.
“I grew up in a poor country and watched my relatively wealthy family become poorer and poorer, despite working harder and harder as their money disappeared with inflation.
“I came back to the UK aged 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life.
“So I have lived with the consequences of terrible governments that destroy lives, and I never, ever want it to happen here.”
Badenoch has been in the news of late after she dissociated herself from Nigeria, saying she has nothing to do with the Islamic northern region.
She also accused the Nigeria Police of robbing citizens instead of protecting them.
She said: “My experience with the Nigeria Police was very negative. Coming to the UK, my experience with the British Police was very positive.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us (laughter). When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m black, I say well…I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.”
