Some presidential aspirants in the ruling All Progressives Congress APC have turned the Eagle Square venue of the ongoing national convention of the party in Abuja into a campaign ground.
APC National Convention
Chairman of the Convention Sub-committee on Venue and Governor of Ebonyi state, Engr. Dave Umahi who went round the square apparently in continuation of inspection of the venue, however, used the opportunity to meet with delegates from several states.
Following in his trail was a former Governor of Imo state, Senator Rochas Okorocha who also went round the pavilions, “greeting” delegates from across the states.
Then came the youthful Adamu Garba who also went round the pavilions and engaged mostly with the younger delegates, who he gave his campaign handbills.
There was chaos at the entrance of Eagle Square, Abuja, on Saturday as security agents fired several rounds of teargas at delegates as well as officials finding their way into the venue of the 2022 All Progressives Congress national convention.
APC National Convention
Our correspondent who was on the ground observed that with over 1000 security agents deployed to ensure decorum at the venue, the sights at the entrance of Eagle Square were far from organized.
Several security agents were seen wielding whips, teargas canisters, and stun guns which they deployed as they deemed fit.
Amidst the tussle, some individuals reportedly got injured and lost their valuables such as mobile phones and cameras.
According to the schedule of events released on Thursday by the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Sub-Committee for the APC 2022 National Convention, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, accredited national delegates, Caretaker Committee members and Chairman, APC State Governors, lawmakers, the President and Vice President would arrive between 10:00 am until 03:30 pm, when the Convention begins proper.
The Super Eagles will start preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup playoffs second leg tie against the Black Stars of Ghana later today in Abuja, reports says.
Super Eagles in Abuja
The training which will hold at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja will start at 6pm.
The players and their officials returned to Abuja on Saturday morning after holding the Black Stars to a 0-0 draw at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi on Friday night.
The second leg clash is billed for the Moshood Abiola Stadium next week Tuesday.
US President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “butcher” after visiting with Ukrainian refugees in Warsaw, Poland, on Saturday.
Biden Meets With Refugees in Poland
Asked by reporters traveling with the President what seeing the refugees made him think as he deals with Putin every day, Biden responded, “he’s a butcher.”
During the brief question-and-answer session at Stadion Narodowy, Biden recounted how he had been to places like this in his life, but said he is always surprised by “the depth and strength of the human spirit.”
“It’s incredible, it’s incredible. See all those little children. Just want to hug, just want to say thanks. I mean, it’s, just makes you so damn proud,” he said.
He added: “Each one of those children said something to the effect, ‘Say a prayer for my dad or my grandfather or my brother who’s back there fighting.’ And I remember what it’s like when you have someone in a war zone. Every morning you get up and you wonder. You just wonder. And you pray you don’t get that phone call.”
President Joe Biden participates in an arrival ceremony with Polish President Andrzej Duda at the Presidential Palace on March 26 in Warsaw, Poland.
US President Joe Biden is wrapping up his high-stakes foreign trip in Poland, where he met with Ukrainian officials and the Polish president.
President Joe Biden participates in an arrival ceremony with Polish President Andrzej Duda at the Presidential Palace on March 26 in Warsaw, Poland.
Biden is meeting with Ukrainian refugees before delivering what the White House is billing as a “major address” this afternoon.
The US President, while holding talks with Polish President Andrzej Duda, said that peace in Europe is directly related to stability in the United States, adding that lack of some actions in two world wars “has come back to haunt us.” Biden also called NATO’s Article 5 “a sacred commitment.”
Earlier, Biden stopped into a meeting between Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov and their American counterparts, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Reznikov said he feels cautiously optimistic after the meeting.
The United States has made assurances that there will be additional defense support for Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.
Biden’s trip comes off the heels of a series of emergency summits this week in Brussels.
After those summits, Biden said he supported ejecting Russia from another summit, the Group of 20, which is scheduled to convene in November, though other members of that grouping would have to sign on. And he issued a vague warning that the United States would respond to potential chemical weapons use on the battlefield.
But he maintained his view that direct US military intervention in Ukraine would result in catastrophe and defended a sanctions regime that so far has not stopped Russian President Vladimir Putin from intensifying his assault.
The Abia State chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has finally zoned its 2023 governorship ticket to Abia North and Abia Central senatorial districts, ABN TV reports.
Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Fabian Nwankwo disclosed this Saturday, during a press briefing at the party secretariat Umuahia.
US President Joe Biden (L) together with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin (2ndL) attends a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda (R) and Polish Foregin Minister Zbigniew Rau (2ndR) at the presidential palace in Warsaw on March 26, 2022.
US President Joe Biden, while holding talks with Polish President Andrzej Duda, said that peace in Europe is directly related to stability in the United States, adding that lack of action in two world wars “has come back to haunt us.”
US President Joe Biden (L) together with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin (2ndL) attends a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda (R) and Polish Foregin Minister Zbigniew Rau (2ndR) at the presidential palace in Warsaw on March 26, 2022.
“America’s ability to meet its role in other parts of the world rests upon a united Europe, a secure Europe. We’ve learned from sad experience in two world wars, when we’ve stayed out of and not been involved in stability in Europe, it always comes back to haunt us, the United States,” Biden said.
“So I’ve been saying for a long time, as a senator who visited here, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, as vice president for eight years, now as President, that stability in Europe is critically important to the United States in terms of our interest. Not only in Europe, but around the world,” he continued.
Biden also said that he and US leaders see NATO’s Article 5 as “a sacred commitment.”
Article 5 is the principle that an attack on one member of NATO is an attack on all members.
Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin thought he’d be able to divide NATO countries with his invasion of Ukraine.
“The single most important criterion in this time-changing world … is that NATO stay absolutely, completely, thoroughly united. There be no separation in our points of view. That whatever we do, we do in unison, and everyone — everyone — comes along,” he said.
The US President also acknowledged the strain of Ukrainian refugees upon Poland, referencing the situation at the US-Mexico border.
Supporters of the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu have stormed Eagle Square, the venue of the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The supporters most of whom came from across the 36 states of the country, were seen with branded t-shirts, fliers, wrappers and cars bearing the face of the former Abia state governor.
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Orji Kalu says he will consider contesting for president if the All Progressives Congress (APC) zones its presidential ticket to the South-East region.
Before now, many pro-democracy groups have endorsed Kalu and expressed their readiness to see that he emerges as the flag bearer of the APC in the 2023 presidential election.
Also the presidential campaign posters , banners and billboards of the former Abia State governor have been spotted in major cities in the country.
While commending the groups drumming support for him to vie for president in 2023, Kalu said they found him worthy to deliver good governance to the nation.
He had also reacted to his posters flooding major cities in Nigeria and said he is looking up to the party to zone the Presidency to the South East .
“I want to continue to thank people who are putting up my posters and billboards all over Nigeria. As a party man , I am looking and hoping that the party does the right thing by zoning the Presidency to the South East .
“Even though the party is yet to make that decision, I am confident that the party will bring a president who will work for the unity of the country which is more important,’’ Kalu said.
Ambulance That Was Donated And Blessed By Pope Francis
An ambulance that was donated and blessed by Pope Francis is on its way to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, according to the Holy See press office.
Ambulance That Was Donated And Blessed By Pope Francis
Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner, on Saturday left for Lviv with the vehicle, which will be given to authorities in Lviv in an effort to provide relief to the city. Lviv has seen a stream of internally displaced Ukrainians arriving from the east.
On Thursday, the Pope issued strong criticism against countries for increasing military spending as Russia’s onslaught of Ukraine continues, branding it “madness.”
Speaking to an audience with the Italian Women’s Center in Rome, Pope Francis blamed the “shameful” war in Ukraine on the “old logic of power that still dominates the so-called geopolitics.”
On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelsenky appealed to the Pope to visit the country, thanking the Pontiff for his “clear and strong position against the war” during an address Tuesday that was posted on the Ukrainian government’s Facebook page.
Hon. Kingsley Ononogbu, the Abia State APC chairman on Saturday led a delegation of the party stalwarts in the Saturday convention of the party that is about now taking place in Abuja.
Speaking with ABN TV, Hon. Ononogbu insisted that there is no faction in the state chapter of the party.
The chairman who had earlier welcomed Hon. Acho, the factional chairman of the party said the assumed faction only exists in the press.
While stating that the leader of the party in Abia and Chief Whip of the Senate, Dr. Orji Kalu has congratulated him in his victory as well as member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, he expressed his readiness to work with all members of Abia APC as the 2023 election draws nearer.
“I kept saying that there are no two APCs in Abia State. We have one APC and we are family. I have spoken to our brothers from the other side and I have been maintaining that.
“Anybody that intends to destroy our party or make it impossible for the wrath in the state to go based on personal interest does not love Abia State and its people.
“We should come together and build a better place for our children and children’s children. I have said that for anybody that feels genuinely offended, I am ready to offer apology.
“We need to come together as brothers irrespective of our personal interest and look at the good of the people,” he said.
As at the moment of this report, top leaders in Abia APC, including Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Uchechukwu Samson Ogah, Member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Hon. Benjamin Kalu and others were yet to arrive.
Abia State governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu, has expressed concern over what he described...
