Politicians Already Buying PVCs, Bribing Voters, INEC Cries Out

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December 13, 2022

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promised to wipe out bandits and terrorists in Kaduna and other parts of the northern region if elected as president.

Tinubu gave the assurance on Monday during a visit to Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State to sympathise with the people on the incessant bandits’ attacks in the area.

Speaking at the palace of the Emir of Birnin Gwari, Mallam Zubairu Maigwari, Tinubu condoled with the people of the Emirate over the loss of lives and property as a result of years of attacks by bandits.

He explained that the visit to Birnin Gwari was to have first-hand knowledge of the area and its peculiar security and socioeconomic challenges, promising to wipe out banditry from the area when he is elected into office as president.

“I stand before you, sir, to say that there is a good opportunity coming. The election is near,” he said, adding that “we serve them notice again that we will not relent in our efforts to eliminate banditry. I can assure you, that will be our priority.”

On his part, the Emir of Birnin Gwari commended the APC presidential candidate for braving the odds to visit the volatile community, a gesture he described as uncommon.

In appreciation, the Emir bestowed the chieftaincy title of Dakare of Birnin Gwari on Tinubu for being the first presidential candidate to visit the bandits-ravaged community.

Tinubu travelled to Birnin Gwari by road amidst tight security.

The APC presidential candidate was accompanied by his running mate, Kashim Shettima; Governor Nasir El-Rufai; the Director General of the APC presidential campaign and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, the governors of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje; Jigawa, Abubakar Badaru; Kebbi, Atiku Bagudu, and the APC governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani.

Bishop Ukpong Ordains 18 New Deacons With A Charge On Diligence (Photos)

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December 12, 2022

Bishop Ukpong Ordains 18 New Deacons With A Charge On Diligence (Photos)

Eighteen young men were on Saturday, December 10, 2022 elevated to the first degree of Holy Orders by the Bishop of Umuahia Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Michael Kalu Ukpong on Saturday presided over the elevation of 18 members of the church to the first degree of Holy Orders as deacons.

In his sermon, Bishop Ukpong reminded the new Deacons of their duties and urged them to be diligent and exemplary at all times.

He noted that their assignments are rooted in the old and new testament as well as the present day, which among other things include assisting Bishops and Priests during marriages, funerals and extending the hand of charity to the people.

Eleven out of the eighteen newly ordained Deacons are of the Diocese of Umuahia, one for the Order of the Mother of God, while six were for the Congregation of the Sons of Mary, Mother of God.

The ceremony was attended by many Priests, Religious, Family and Friends of the newly ordained Deacons.

Bad Governance Responsible For Insecurity In Imo State, PDP Replies Uzodinma

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December 12, 2022

The Peoples Democratic Party in Imo State on Monday differed with the state governor, Hope Uzodimma, on his claims that insecurity in the state is politically motivated.

PDP in a statement issued by its publicity secretary in the state, Collins Opurozor, said that Uzodimma’s bad governance had made insecurity to persist in the state.

The main opposition party was reacting to the governor’s statement on Monday that the attack at the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission was “politically contrived by those who are desperate to win elections by all means” in the state.

The statement read “The Peoples Democratic Party in Imo State has reviewed the statement made by the Governor of the State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, in the aftermath of last night’s attack on INEC Office in Owerri. According to him, the attack was politically contrived by those who are desperate to win elections by all means.

“To say the very least, this jaundiced and false excuse has once again betrayed Senator Uzodimma’s abiding failure to keep Imo people safe. This governor can no longer defend his inability to deliver on the primary expectation of political governance, which is the security of lives and property.

“By the way, what else defines political desperation better than a man who came fourth in an election but usurped the people’s mandate through a judicial heist, and now sees himself as their feudal lord?

“From the first week of January this year to the second week of December, Senator Uzodinma has continued to tell Imo people that his enemies are behind the carnage and ravages going on in the state. He has failed to name who are the enemies. He has also failed to bring them to book. Instead, he repeats the same thing day after day with the intention of hiding his failures and getting sympathisers.

“Imo PDP regrets that, in view of Senator Uzodimma’s lack of sincerity and genuine commitment to addressing the festering insecurity in the state, the valleys of Orsu, the forests of Orlu and the rocky hills of Okigwe have now become safe havens for terrorists, bandits and kidnappers who now make life a misery for Imo people.

“Our party holds that the insecurity in Imo is simply and squarely a direct consequence of the catastrophic failure of governance in the State under the unpopular regime of Senator Uzodimma.

“Our party deems it very important to remind Imo people and Nigerians that, before this latest attack on INEC Office in the state, there had been some other desperate efforts by those who came to power through the back door to undermine the capacity of INEC to conduct free, fair and credible elections in the State.

“First, INEC came under a very brutal legal attack through a secret court action instituted in the State by those same usurpers. They had sought to stop the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), a technology they fear would frustrate their plot to manipulate the forthcoming elections.

“Second, INEC database was attacked and the voter register massively compromised, particularly for Omuma Ward, where tens of thousands of fake, alien and non-existent names and photographs were smuggled into the register. That is what Nigerians now refer to as the Omuma Magic!

“It is telling, not just that Omuma is the hometown of Senator Hope Uzodinma, but also that the regime in Imo quickly arrested and arbitrarily detained the INEC officials who were accused of bringing to public knowledge the monumental voter register fraud in Omuma.

“Our party, therefore, continues to condemn these legal, cyber and physical attacks on INEC, and asks security agencies to probe beneath the surface to establish possible links which the secret court action against INEC and earlier attack on INEC voter register might have with the recent attack on INEC Office in Owerri. Those found guilty of one cannot file a disclaimer over the others.

“Our party enjoins Imo people to turn out en mass on Saturday, December 17, to receive our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who will be in Imo for the flag-off of our presidential campaign. So far as God is on the throne, the enemies of democracy who want the 2023 general elections not to hold in Imo State will definitely come to grief, and the wishes of Imo people will prevail.”

World Cup: Stay Strong – Pele Tells Man Utd Star

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December 12, 2022

World Cup: Stay Strong – Pele Tells Man Utd Star — Pele

Brazil legend Pele has sent a message to Manchester United star, Antony, following the country’s World Cup exit.

Brazil, tipped as one of the World Cup’s favourites, crashed out of the competition at the quarter-final stage on Friday.

Croatia had the upper hand during a penalty shoot-out that ended 4-2 in favour of the Luka Modric-led Europeans.

Antony had regretted Brazil’s exit from the tournament, expressing sadness over the premature exit but promised that the Selecao would come back even stronger.

Pele reminded the 22-year-old his story is “just beginning.”

“You are part of the upcoming generation,” Pele’s account wrote. “Don’t give up and stay strong. The story is just beginning.”

83-Year-Old Deacon Chukwu Okoroafor For Burial In Bende Dec. 14 [SEE POSTER]

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December 12, 2022

83-Year-Old Deacon Chukwu Okoroafor For Burial In Bende Dec. 14 [SEE POSTER]

All is now set for the final burial of late Deacon Chukwu Eke Okoroafor of Ndi Ego Amuta Isiala/Amaelu Autonomous Community Ezeukwu Bende LGA Abia State.

He passed away at the age of 83.

A burial arrangement released on behalf of the family by Mr. Vincent Chukwu said the octogenarian will be laid to rest on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.

On Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022 a Christian wake keep will be held in his honour in his compound at 5pm.

A funeral service will hold at Community Primary School, Ezeukwu Bende at 10am after which he will be laid to rest in his compound.

‘2023 Is Your Last Chance At Presidency, Liar’ – Tinubu Blasts Atiku

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December 12, 2022

Atiku Has Filed Case Against Tinubu In US – Aide — President Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar

The All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, has described his counterpart from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as a “liar.”

Tinubu accused Atiku of selling false narratives and lies because 2023 is his last chance of contesting for the presidency.

He cautioned Nigerians to be wary of Atiku’s promises which he claimed were lies.

Tinubu spoke through his campaign director, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday.

He stressed that Atiku’s remark during his campaign in Abuja that Nigeria was not secured for trading and farming was a lie.

Onanuga said Atiku’s views on Nigeria’s insecurity challenges are exaggerated.

“Aware that this is his last shot at the elusive presidency, Atiku, while on the hustings, has been spewing a series of lies, making empty promises, and presenting a false narrative about our present reality and the legacy of the 16-year ignoble era of the PDP administration, of which he was a principal actor.

“We believe in his private moment that Atiku will concede that his view about insecurity is exaggerated,” the statement reads.

Defence Headquarters Abuja Gutted By Fire

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December 12, 2022

Defence Headquarters Abuja Gutted By Fire

There was a fire incident at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

The inferno, whose cause was yet to be ascertained, was said to have occurred on the second floor of the DHQ.

It was gathered that personnel of the Federal Fire Service and military personnel were battling the fire.

The Director, Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, confirmed the incident.

He added that the fire had been brought under control, adding that all staff had been evacuated.

He said, “A minor fire incident occurred on the second floor of the Defence Headquarters, Garki Abuja this afternoon 12 December 2022. The cause of the fire outbreak is unknown at this moment.

“However, the incident has been brought under control with the combined effort of the military and Federal Fire Service personnel and resources. All personnel and civilian staff were also evacuated without injury or loss of life.

“Accordingly, normalcy has returned. Investigation to determine the cause of the fire incident commenced immediately.

“We thank the Federal Fire Service and the entire public for the continued support and goodwill to the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”

INEC Says No Critical Election Material Destroyed In Imo Headquarters Attack

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December 12, 2022

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that none of the critical election materials was destroyed in the attack on its State Headquarters office in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Monday.

The Commission in a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Card Education Committee Chairman, Festus Okoye also confirmed that there were no casualties involving staff of the Commission in the incident which he said occurred at about 3.00 am on Monday.

However, the statement said the attack affected the part of the building occupied by the Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) Department and one official utility vehicle (a Toyota Hilux pickup van) was burnt.

INEC confirmed that this is the third attack on the Commission’s facilities in Imo State in less than two weeks following the earlier attacks on our Orlu LGA office on Thursday 1st December 2022 and Oru West LGA office on Sunday 4th December 2022.

The Commission described the incident as yet another systematic attack targeted at its assets across the country, more so on the day that the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) commences nationwide ahead of the 2023 General Election.

Four persons including one policeman had been killed in an attack that was repelled by the police on the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) along Port Harcourt Road in Owerri, the Imo State capital in the early hours of Monday.

According to the Spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, Mike Abattam, the gunmen numbering over 10 came around 3:00 am with petrol bombs and dynamite.

He, however, said the hoodlums were confronted by security operatives who repelled the attack and killed three of the attackers.

Abattam also said one of the attackers was arrested by the police and three vehicles used by hoodlums were recovered.

Buhari Salutes Moroccan Soccer Team For Making Africa Proud

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December 12, 2022