Headlines
Insensitive! Peter Obi Knocks Borno Lawmaker over Request of New Aircraft for VP
The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has criticized Borno State House of Assembly Speaker Abdulkareem Lawan for requesting a new aircraft for Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Lawan had expressed concern about the Vice President’s safety due to the continued use of a “faulty” presidential aircraft for international duties, a situation highlighted by Shettima’s recent cancellation of his planned attendance at the Commonwealth Summit in Samoa.
In a statement on X, Obi labeled the demand for a new aircraft as insensitive, suggesting that the Speaker is disconnected from the serious economic challenges currently facing the nation. He emphasized that leaders should focus on issues that benefit the public instead of indulging in selfish desires for unnecessary luxuries that come at the people’s expense.
Obi remarked: “I came across a troubling statement attributed to a political leader who claims that the Vice President’s life is at risk due to issues with his official aircraft. The leader even urged the Federal Government to acquire a new plane for the Vice President. Such comments at this time reveal a lack of sensitivity and concern for the ongoing economic crisis in our country. It is widely known that Nigerians are enduring severe hardship.
“This provocative request comes from someone who seems oblivious to the fact that Nigeria is exhibiting all the signs of a failed state. Over the past decade, we rank among the eleven worst-governed countries in Africa and are among the 20 hungriest nations globally, facing escalating mass poverty, extreme hunger, and starvation.
“Nigeria remains the poverty capital of the world, with our per capita income plummeting from $1,700 in 2023 to $1,109 this year. Shouldn’t these critical issues be the priority for responsible leaders?
“Our national electricity grid has collapsed eight times this year alone and 105 times in the past decade, leading to significant losses for small businesses and leaving households in darkness. Over the last 15 months, many businesses have shut down or faced distress due to the harsh economic conditions. Shouldn’t these challenges be what we focus on as leaders instead of catering to our selfish desires for unnecessary luxury at the expense of the people we serve?
“What does the Vice President truly need a new jet for, and what real benefits are all the trips by the President and Vice President providing given our current circumstances?
“Indonesia, for example, only purchased a Presidential jet in 2014 after experiencing sustainable economic growth of over 6% annually for the past decade, which significantly boosted its GDP and GDP per capita. The Vice President primarily travels on the national airline, Garuda Indonesia. Given that we have recently acquired a new aircraft, it should be reserved for essential trips by the President and Vice President.
“I urge the President, Vice President, and all public office holders to recognize that our current precarious situation calls for minimal, yet impactful, travel. Now is the time to come together to find solutions to our myriad challenges for the welfare of our people and the development of our nation. Nigeria can rise again if our leaders commit to selfless service.”
By Eric Elezuo
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been declared winner of the presidential primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The declaration was made at the Trascorp Hilton Hotel, where the final collation of results was made.
The former Vice President polled a total of 1, 846, 370 votes to defeat his closest rival, former Governor of Rivers State, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, who scored just over 500 thousand votes. Alhaji Muhammed Hayatu-Deen came third.
Headlines
ADC Presidential Primary: Hayatu-Deen Alleges Rigging, Withdraws from Results Announcement
One of the presidential aspirants of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, says he will not attend the announcement of the party’s presidential primary election results, citing allegations of widespread vote rigging.
In a statement on his X handle on Tuesday, Hayatu-Deen expressed concern over reports of electoral irregularities from across the country.
The ADC aspirant noted that he witnessed some of the incidents.
“I will not be attending the announcement of the ADC Presidential Election Results today. I am concerned by reports from across the country of widespread vote rigging, some of which I myself observed, and will therefore be taking advice on my next steps,” the statement read.
The development comes amid keen competition for the ADC presidential ticket involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation and former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and Hayatu-Deen.
The ADC presidential primary election collation exercise will take place in Abuja. Results are expected from across the nation.
Ahead of the nationwide presidential primary held on Monday, the ADC had urged aspirants, party leaders, delegates, and members to conduct themselves peacefully and uphold party unity.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the exercise as a defining moment for both the ADC and Nigerians seeking a credible political alternative.
According to him, the party remained committed to internal democracy and a transparent leadership selection process.
“The ADC remains proud to stand today as the only truly democratic party in Nigeria because it is the only political party whose choice of presidential candidate is determined through open primaries,” Abdullahi stated.
The party also stressed that the conduct of aspirants and party members during the exercise would reflect the leadership culture the ADC seeks to promote.
Headlines
You’re Not Different from APC, INEC, Amaechi Slams ADC, Rejects Presidential Primary Results
A former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has rejected the results of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primaries, alleging widespread voter disenfranchisement and electoral malpractice.
Amaechi, in a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, described the outcome of the exercise as “concocted results.”
He said he had earlier made it clear that he would only accept the outcome of the primaries if the process was free, fair and transparent.
“I will not accept results from a process that does not reflect the values that the ADC had pledged to uphold,” he said.
Amaechi alleged that about 80 percent of party members across the country were prevented from voting during the exercise.
“There’s no way that about eighty percent of members of the party were not allowed to vote, and you expect me to accept such results,” he stated.
The former Governor of Rivers State accused the party of engaging in practices it had previously condemned in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to him, the ADC cannot criticize vote buying, rigging and manipulation of election results by others while allegedly engaging in similar acts during its own primary.
Amaechi added that the development was unacceptable and contrary to the ideals upon which the party was founded.
