APC March 26 Convention Date Stands – Atiku
Despite the pressure put on its activities by the recently released election timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will stick with the March 26 date.
Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) Atiku Bagudu gave this assurance after a meeting of the forum with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He also debunked reports of division among APC Governors.
There had been speculations that a section of the party was pushing for a postponement of the national convention so that it will hold on the same day as the presidential primaries.
He said the Governors met with the President to congratulate him for signing the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2022, and as well on the victory of the APC in some of the by-elections conducted over the weekend.
Apart from Bagudu, other APC Governors at the meeting were: Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Aminu Masari (Katsina); Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna); Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa); Yahaya Bello (Kogi); Hope Uzodinma (Imo); Gboyega Oyetola (Osun); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Sani Bello (Niger); Umar Ganduje (Kano) and out-going Anambra Deputy Governor Nkem Okeke.
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Burnley vs Leicester: Lookman, Iheanacho, Ndidi, Look Forward To Victory in FA Cup Showdown
The trio of Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman, would hope to help Leicester City end their poor run in the Premier League when they visit Burnley on Tuesday.
Going into today’s fixture Leicester are winless in their last five Premier League games, losing three and drawing two.
Leicester’s last win came on 28 December, 2021, when they edged Liverpool 1-0 at the King Power thanks to Lookman’s goal.
But they will have their work cut out when they face Burnley, as the Clarets have only lost once at home in the Premier League since the start of October.
Sean Dyche’s men have managed to put together a decent run of form lately as they are unbeaten in their last three games, winning two and drawing one.
Brendan Rodgers’ side currently occupy 13th position on 27 points in the league standing but have four games in hand.
And while Iheanacho will hope to score his first Premier League goal since December 2021, Lookman will be looking to net his fifth of the season in the English topflight.
On his part, Ndidi is yet to find the back of the net in the league after 16 games played.
And concerning injuries, Burnley attacker Matej Vydra is back training following his hernia operation but will not be ready for Tuesday’s game, and Johann Berg Gudmundsson will not be back anytime soon.
Charlie Taylor and Maxwel Cornet were both fit enough for places on the bench at Selhurst Park, and the former will expect to displace Erik Pieters after he left with an injured knee on the hour mark on Saturday, but Dale Stephens has picked up a minor strain.
Cornet is also a strong candidate to take Jay Rodriguez’s place in attack, and Jack Cork was another early substitution at the weekend, with Ashley Westwood now in the frame to start.
And for Leicester, Jamie Vardy is set to make the squad for the trip to Turf Moor, but the striker will certainly not start after a couple of months out, and James Justin will not be ready just yet.
Wesley Fofana, Timothy Castagne, Ryan Bertrand and Jonny Evans remain out for the long term, and Rodgers will need to assess the fitness of his entire squad after their European exertions.
Ricardo Pereira ought to be fine to return at right-back after his precautionary absence for the Randers second leg.
Senate Passes Bills On LGA Financial, Administrative Autonomy [VIDEO]
The Senate on Tuesday passed bills to grant financial and administrative autonomy to Local Governments Areas in the country.
While 92 senators voted to pass financial autonomy for Local Governments, 88 voted to pass administrative autonomy of LGAs.
House Of Reps Vote Autonomy For LG, State Legislature, Judiciary
The House of Representatives has voted for financial and administrative autonomy for local government councils across the Federation, ABN TV reports.
The House also voted to amend the Constitution to grant autonomy to State Legislature and Judiciary.
Two hundred and eighty-four members voted yes to the amendment.
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Ighalo Credits Watford For Career Success
Nigeria forward Odion Ighalo has explained how playing for Premier League club Watford has helped him in his career.
Ighalo linked up with Watford in 2014 and was integral in the club’s promotion to the Premier League in the 2014–15 season.
The 32-year-old scored 33 goals In 82 league appearances for the Hornets before moving to Chinese Super League outfit Changchun Yatai in 2017.
“If you want to talk about Odion Ighalo, my career, my success, and my life and career, you can’t take Watford away from it. Without Watford FC I don’t think I would be where I am today,” he told Watford website.
“What I did at Watford in the first season in the Premier League, is what I am still enjoying today. People remember what I did in the Premier League, and I really enjoyed my time at Watford. I’m grateful for the club, the fans still love me and I love the fans.
“I still follow Watford. I just hope things will change and the team stays up.” He also went on to compare the Saudi top-tier with some of the other leagues he played in.
“I’m enjoying my time here. It’s my second year here in Saudi Arabia with a different team and everything is going well. I’m scoring goals and the team is doing well, so I’m happy.”
Dolapo Osinbajo Attends Reps Plenary On Constitution Amendment
Wife of the Vice President Dolapo Osinbajo is currently attending plenary as the House of Representatives commences the Constitution Amendment.
The lawmakers had screamed “no” when a motion to admit Mrs Osinbajo into the chamber to witness proceedings was raised.
Subsequently, the matter was put to vote and the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, ruled to allow her into the chamber.
Last week, the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, was admitted into the chamber when the constitution amendment bills were laid.
Happy New Month Should Be Accompanied With Happy New Abia — Sir Udensi
A leading governorship aspirant in Abia State, Sir Chikwe Udensi has congratulated indigenes and residents of the state as they usher in the new month of March.
He however expressed regret that there is little for citizens to be happy about in the governance of the state.
In a chat with ABN TV on Tuesday, the APGA chieftain noted that the happy new month pleasantries should be accompanied with happy new Abia, insisting that that is what the people want.
“We have to focus on making Abia a better place. It’s not just a new month we need. We need a new Abia.
“We need a new phase of life in Abia. We need some level of changes. Let Abia get better, not just happy new month.
“We need to have a happy new Abia. Happy new month is not enough.
“In all we are grateful to God for the privilege to see the new month. But we should make good use of the new month for a happy new Abia,” he said.
Sir Udensi, an Interpol Systems Consultant has said he has capacity to take Abia to greater heights if elected as the governor.
His party, All Progressive Grand Alliance has claimed that it has no scandal, unlike the PDP and the APC, insisting that it is the party to make Abia great.
Reject Politicians Using Religion To Cause Tension, Conflict – Governor Ishaku Tells MURIC
Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku of Taraba State has called on the people of the State to reject politicians that indulge in using religion to cause tension and conflict in the State.
The Governor, who made the call on Tuesday via a press statement made available to media men in Jalingo, by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Bala Dan Abu, also accused the leadership of the Muslims Rights Concern (MURIC) of “working for selfish and unpatriotic politicians.”
Ishaku was reacting to the various allegations leveled against his administration by MURIC.
He believed that the organization was being used by some overzealous politicians whom he said: “would rather wish the State is set ablaze than for them to fail to win political power come 2023.”
MURIC, led by Professor Ishaq Akintola, had accused the government of Taraba of sidelining Muslims in the State, especially in the areas of appointments, promotion, and employment.
Ishaku, according to the statement “has always ensured that favors done to any religious group is replicated in the same quantum to the other.”
Viewing MURIC’s action as “both ridiculous and mischievous”, such move, he said are “unexpected of a person who claims to be a follower of Allah”, adding that “Prof Akintola’s diatribe has, expectedly, generated intense distaste among the people of the State because it is obvious that he is fronting for selfish politicians who are bent on taking overpower at all costs in 2023 riding on the wings of unhealthy religious sentiments.”
He said, “There is no doubt that some selfish politicians desperate to gain political power in 2023 have found a willing tool in Professor Ishaq Akintola and his Muslims Rights Concern, MURIC, over which he presides as director. The game plan is to use the pedestal, which MURIC offers, to cause religious disharmony in Taraba State for the politicians to gain political advantage.”
Passionately beckoning at the organization to cease from dividing the people along religious line, the Governor, the statement said, “has never and will never do anything that will undermine his legacy of peace that has won global acclaim.”
2023: APC Has Performed Badly, May Lose Next Election In Kogi – Akanle
A former Kogi West senatorial aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Toyin Akanle, says the ruling party in Kogi State has performed badly and has no hope of winning in the next governorship election come 2023.
Akanle, who is a retired Assistant Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS) disclosed this on Tuesday at a meeting of Team Akanle Political Movement held at Isanlu, headquarters of Yagba East Local Government Area.
He argued that the APC is yet to meet the promises made to the people of Kogi State and Nigerians at large, pointing out that, victory for the party is a hard nut to crack as the nation approaches the next general elections.
While noting that there are worse stories of the maladministration under the APC regime in Kogi State, h added that no amount of intimidation can silence him from speaking the truth about the government of Kogi State.
“That l am a member of the APC, will not close my eyes and mouth. We simply have not done well, period. So being the Party in power is not an automatic joker to in 2023. To win, we will have to import angelic canvassers.
“Let the truth be told. And for sure, the threats of their guns cannot shut me up. And for the efforts and attempts currently being made to silence some of us through the barrels of the gun, continue in your search for our location. Your intimidation can only silence cowards.
“Death is but once. Those who fear death die several times before the actual death comes. So that you may know that we know,” he said.
According to him, the people of Kogi State are currently in a state of dissolution and have never had it too bad in terms of infrastructure, the welfare of civil servants, and security among others.
He pointed out that local government staffers have suffered untold hardship in the current administration with the payment of percentage salary.
He stated that the payment of percentage salary to workers at the grassroots has paralyzed businesses at the rural areas which have the largest population.
Explaining that the APC electoral fortune is in jeopardy ahead of the 2023 general election, Dr Akanle, a founding member of APC in Kogi, maintained that the lack of genuine reconciliation in APC especially the fall out of the 2019 general elections and the last Ward and Local Government Congresses pose great danger to the party.
