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INEC charges political parties to respect court orders, electoral guidelines ahead of 2023

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INEC charges political parties to respect court orders, electoral guidelines ahead of 2023

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission has urged political parties and their stakeholders to obey court orders and statutory guidelines in their conduct ahead of 2023.

 

INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran Anthony said this while receiving a letter from the Guardian of Democracy and Rule of law who were a solidarity rally to the commission over the recently signed 2022 electoral law.

The secretary who received the letter on behalf of the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu assured the activists that INEC as a law abiding Commission will continue to  respect the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the judiciary in particular in all her undertakings.

She promised that all the contents of the letter will be strictly adhered to.

The Convener of the group, Chris Ukpai who presented the letter said events that culminated in the signing into law of the 2022 Electoral Act, signals a beautiful beginning for Nigerians towards entrenching and sustaining its nascent democracy.

He said the implication of the coming on board of the new electoral act signifies that moving forward, Nigeria’s democratic institutions would be strengthened, and elections would be credible, free and fair.

Ukpai said the peaceful march to INEC is intended to drive home the point that Nigeria and Nigerians are deserving of credible leadership, and this could only be achieved if the electoral umpire stays true to its name by ensuring that the votes of the people count in selecting leaders that would drive its quest towards sustainable growth and development.

He said, “at this point, we have realized that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is central to achieving this objective hence our peaceful march to its national headquarters to deliver a strong message about the implementation of the 2022 electoral act, which by all intent and purpose should not confer undue advantages to groups or individuals.

“We all know the tendencies of political parties in the country to want to bend the rules. We all know how in some instances, their first point of call is usually to INEC staff and officials. And we all know that once that is achieved, the rest becomes history as we would be subjected to the whims and caprices of selfish and greedy people who are bent on denying Nigerians the dividends of democracy.

“However, we are glad that with the coming of the 2022 electoral act, the message from INEC so far has been impressive and noteworthy. We are also pleased that INEC, under the chairmanship of Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, has displayed an uncompromising stance in the conduct of elections across the country. We believe the 2023 general elections would follow the same pattern that would deliver one of the country’s best elections in our history.

“We are using this medium to support and encourage Professor Mahmud Yakubu to lead INEC for a job well done so far, as evident in the recently released electoral timetable. It is our firm belief that a free, fair and credible election starts with the implementation of the electoral act and how the various stakeholders subsequently react to it.

“We wish to say that INEC has displayed an unalloyed commitment towards implementing the 2022 electoral act to the latter, which remains a strong indication that the 2023 general elections shall be devoid of compromise on the part of the electoral umpire.

“However, this is not to say that INEC would not come under intense pressure. But we are assured that the staffers and officials of INEC would stand on the side of democracy and the interest of the generality of all Nigerians” he said

Ukpai further urged staff of INEC to feel assured that the civil society will continue to defend them and speak for them, hence the need for them not to entertain any form of fear or intimidation in the discharge of their duties.

ASUU denies failure of UTAS integrity test

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ASUU denies failure of UTAS integrity test

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has denied the National Information Technology Development Agency’s (NITDA) claim that the integrity test on the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) failed (NITDA).

Mr. Emmanuel Osodeke, the President of ASUU, said this in a statement released to the media on Sunday in Abuja.

Osodeke was responding to recent statements claiming that UTAS had failed the integrity test, which were attributed to both the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and the Director-General of NITDA.

“The need for ASUU to set the record straight on the grounds already covered in our patriotic struggle to get the government to deploy UTAS as a suitable solution for salary payment in our university system necessitates this press statement.

“Let us state for the record that NITDA conducted an integrity test on August 10, 2021 in NUC, in which all relevant government agencies and end-users from the University system were present.

“At the conclusion of the exercise, everyone expressed satisfaction with UTAS as a suitable solution for salary payment in our universities, without exception.”

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“This was supported by a report from NITDA at the time, which stated that UTAS scored 85 percent in the User Acceptance Test (UAT),” he said.

According to him, after conducting a comprehensive functionality test, the NITDA Technical Team concluded that 529 of the 687 test cases were satisfactory, 156 cases were queried, and two cases were cautioned.

He went on to say that if you take this report at face value, the percentage score is 77 percent.

“The question that arises from this is: Can 77 percent be classified as failure in any known fair evaluation system?”

“Suffice it to say that NITDA has made some observations and questions about which the UTAS technical team must respond. Our discussions with NITDA about the second round of testing are still ongoing.

“The union is concerned that, while this exercise is taking place, the Minister and the DG of NITDA went to press after the FEC meeting on March 9, 2022, to mislead the nation into believing that UTAS had failed the integrity test.”

“We would like to draw your attention to the fact that NITDA reported that UTAS performed well in both the integrity test and the user acceptability verification.”

“Clearly, in any known evaluation system, 85 percent and 77% are high class grades.”

“In their desperation to justify their false assertions, they raised issues like data center and UTAS software hosting, which are clearly outside the scope of ASUU’s responsibilities in the UTAS deployment,” he said.

ASUU and NITDA were still involved in the testing process, according to Osodeke, and it’s worth noting that one of NITDA’s core mandates is to encourage local content development.

As a result, he stated that NITDA was responsible for ensuring that the solution developed by Nigerian academics was implemented.

He went on to say that in doing so, the principles of transparency should be followed by making the set of criteria or benchmarks for certification of information technology applications in the country available to the public.

He also urged NITDA’s DG to refrain from making comments that could jeopardize the NITDA Technical Team’s ongoing UTAS testing with its counterparts.

“However, if this behavior continues, we will have no choice but to demand that the NITDA Technical Report on UTAS be made public, along with our Union’s response, in order to shed more light on the ongoing controversies without wasting any more time.”

“For the benefit of our students, union members, and the Nigerian public in general, the DG, NITDA, and the minister supervising the agency are challenged to a public discussion on any national media to put all matters to rest,” he said.

He went on to say that during the strike, the union had been in talks with the government about the underlying issues that prompted it in the first place.

Read Also:  Breaking: ASUU extends eight-week strike -Officials

According to the Nigerian News Agency (NAN), the union began a nationwide warning strike on February 14 to press home its members’ demands.

Funding for the Revitalisation of Public Universities, Earned Academic Allowances, University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS), and promotion arrears are among the demands of the lecturers.

Renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FG Agreement and inconsistency in the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System are among the others (IPPIS).

COVID-19 And New Marketing World

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COVID-19 And New Marketing World

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the long-standing foundation on which marketing and business are conducted. There have been changes to life as we know it since the emergence and spread of the disease with deadly consequences seen all over the world. Unpleasant experiences in various forms, such as social isolation, restricted travel, business decline, food shortages, border closures, and a high mortality rate, to name a few, have been the norm.

COVID-19 has clearly influenced not only how businesses are run, but also how they grow and maintain their brands and customer bases, as well as how they attract customers and promote their products and services. These changes have caused them to rethink their marketing strategies in order to reach a larger audience while maintaining a consistent revenue stream.
When the coronavirus is mentioned, thoughts immediately turn to the pandemic’s negative consequences, with little mention of the obvious benefits, particularly in the marketing and promotion of businesses and their brands. What advantages are you looking for? Here are some of the advantages of marketing in the age of the coronavirus.

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To begin with, brands have been pressed to engage in strategic marketing. Businesses have been forced to engage in innovative marketing campaigns to promote their brands as a result of the pandemic, resulting in some of the most amazing campaigns.
Nike’s “Play inside, play for the world” marketing campaign is a good example. While encouraging consumers to observe social distancing during workouts, the campaign also encouraged them to buy and wear their products. During this time, brands are now considering and demonstrating a sense of community and health consciousness in addition to profit.

Second, there has been a significant shift in consumer behavior. People have re-evaluated their priorities as a result of the COVID-19 effect. Changing the focus of purchasing power from the mundane to the critical. This has resulted in shifts in consumer behavior across product categories, as well as new values and spending criteria. These changes are likely to become the new standard. People are no longer hesitant to spend on their families, themselves, or their health.
Finally, while most brands have been forced to reduce their advertising budgets, businesses and brands in the health, self-care, and family categories have understandably increased their advertising budgets in order to reach a larger audience with their products and services. As a result, an increase in advertising spending is a big win for marketing. Unilever, for example, has committed to investing approximately N7 billion (£6 billion) in marketing in the coming year. This was to ensure that its most important brands were properly supported and given a Top of Mind (TOMA) rating in the face of rising inflation and price hikes.

In the end, things have yet to return to normal, and I daresay they will never do so. Market change, increased competition, and demand for creative and aggressive marketing practices will force businesses and brands to find new ways to adapt and function.

Read Also:  PDP Isn’t Your Personal Property, Edo Cannot Be Procured – Obaseki To Wike

While COVID-19 has provided opportunities for businesses and brands to market their products and services, it is important to note that in order to thrive in these changing times, brands must focus on sustainability and good business practices. Even after COVID-19 is over, purposeful brands are likely to go the extra mile in terms of customer preference.

In Osun, Oyetola moves to review Chiefs Law

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In Osun, Oyetola moves to review Chiefs Law

Gboyega Oyetola, the Governor of Osun State, has established a tripartite committee to review the state’s existing Chiefs Law.

Members of the State Executive Council, Legislature, and Traditional Council would be represented on the committee.

“It would further strengthen the traditional institution, which has been our vision as a government,” Oyetola said of the review of the Chiefs’ law.

Read Also:  Breaking: ASUU extends eight-week strike -Officials

He said this while receiving a proposed letter from members of the State Traditional Council of Obas on Sunday at Government House, Osogbo, aimed at influencing the review of the State Chiefs’ Law.

According to Oyetola, the existing law has its own set of problems and has resulted in a slew of crises involving monarchy enthronement and other chieftaincy-related issues.

“We understand the minor crisis in some towns,” Oyetola said, “but we hope that with this move and the Federal Government’s support, it will be a thing of the past.”

Oyetola praised the traditional rulers’ initiative, saying it would go a long way toward finding a permanent solution to some of the problems associated with kingship and chieftaincy in the State.

Read Also:  PDP Isn’t Your Personal Property, Edo Cannot Be Procured – Obaseki To Wike

“Most of these laws are obsolete,” the Governor says, “and we welcome the idea of the tripartite committee that you have proposed.” Our hope is that this will strengthen the traditional institution, which has been our government’s vision.”

This Brutality Must Stop – Blinken reacts to Russia’s latest missile attacks

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This Brutality Must Stop – Blinken reacts to Russia’s latest missile attacks

Secretary of State Antony Blinken of the United States has condemned Russia’s attack near Ukraine’s border with Poland.

Remember that 35 people were killed and 134 were injured when more than 30 missiles were fired at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center near Ukraine’s border with Poland early Sunday morning.

The International Peacekeeping and Security Center is a massive military base that houses US and NATO forces and includes a training center for soldiers.

Read Also:  Russia-Ukraine war: Macron stated three key conversations between Biden

As the war draws closer to NATO’s doorstep, Blinken reacted by calling for an end to the “brutality.”

Blinken wrote on Twitter, “We condemn the Russian Federation’s missile attack on the International Center for Peacekeeping and Security in Yavoriv, near Ukraine’s border with Poland.”

“Brutality must come to an end.”

Last week, Blinken stated that the Ukrainians have a plan in place to ensure “continuity of government in some way” if their President, Volodymyr Zelensky, is killed in the conflict with Russia.

PDP Isn’t Your Personal Property, Edo Cannot Be Procured – Obaseki To Wike

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PDP Isn’t Your Personal Property, Edo Cannot Be Procured – Obaseki To Wike

Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State, has asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership to summon his counterpart in Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, to order. Accusing the governor of using his cronies to destabilize the state’s political party.

Obaseki’s comments followed the governor of Rivers State’s recent verbal attacks on his deputy, Philip Shaibu, who threatened Shuaibu with disciplinary action.
Obaseki warned that political bullies and overlords in any disguise will not be tolerated in Edo, accusing Wike of hatching a plan to secure delegates in order to realize his alleged personal ambition to run for president in 2023.

Read Also:  Abe: Our judicial system is one of the best

“His Excellency, Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Nyesom Wike’s recent personal attacks against my Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, is to say the least, most unfortunate and totally uncalled for,” he said.

“If Governor Wike didn’t respect and courtesy his fellow governors, he would have reached out to me to express his concerns about the views expressed by my deputy governor, rather than launching this unwarranted public attack.”

“My deputy governor was a former National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and his comment encapsulates the spirit of the country’s youth, who are willing to speak out and challenge the status quo. How can Governor Wike aspire to lead the Nigerian youth if he doesn’t understand and respond appropriately to their style and character? Governor Wike should have learned from the manner in which our party’s National Chairman, Sen. Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, responded to my deputy’s remarks, as a conscientious leader capable of showing empathy and consideration.

“My deputy governor’s concerns bordered on pertinent issues affecting the PDP in Edo State, which has been able to register over 500,000 members since the September 19th 2020 elections, and these new members have not been properly integrated into our party after two years.”

Also, the leaders, executives, and members who joined the party with me have yet to be accepted, integrated, or harmonised.

“More concerning is the fact that old Edo PDP members who are open to inclusion and supportive of the party’s growth are being vilified and ostracized by a cabal purportedly led by Chief Dan Orbih, who is your perpetual guest in Port Harcourt and is remotely used to orchestrate the party’s destabilization in Edo State.”

“A political solution led to the emergence of Chief Dan Orbih, first as Acting National Vice Chairman, South South, and then as Substantive National Vice Chairman, South South, of our party, when Chief Emma Odidi resigned to allow Chief Orbih to ascend.

Read Also:  Buhari returns Buni as APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, denies Adamu

“It’s therefore perplexing why this type of political solution is no longer viable in resolving the Edo State PDP’s political impasse.”

We can categorically state that the deputy governor never threatened the party in his remarks, as Governor Wike claims. Governor Wike, on the other hand, has threatened the PDP on several occasions. The following are a few examples:

1. On September 16, 2018, Governor Wike warned the party that relocating the National Convention from Port Harcourt in the run-up to the 2019 presidential election would result in dire consequences.
2. On September 12, 2019, Governor Wike threatened to destabilize the party by appointing Hon. Ndudi Elumelu as the House of Representatives Minority Leader.

Governor Wike, like others, has undoubtedly contributed to the party’s advancement since 1999.

“No one is opposed to him running for president; however, his ambition should not be pursued in such a way that it causes disruption at various levels, such as the PDP Governors’ Forum and various chapters of the party across the country.”

“It clearly amounts to arrogance to believe that any one man owns or has a greater stake in the PDP, and that everyone should pander to him.”

“We are all equal stakeholders in the party, and the party’s position should be formed by the sum of the ideas, opinions, and contributions of all leaders and members, not by the viewpoint of one individual or a select few.”

“While Governor Wike is free to use his resources as he sees fit in pursuit of his ambition, he should avoid cowing, intimidating, cajoling, or threatening others into doing his bidding.” Edo State cannot and will not be obtained for the sake of any individual’s personal ambition.

“What Nigeria needs now are strong democratic institutions, not strong men; that is why we will join our party’s great leaders across the country in building PDP into a strong, large, and indestructible party that will win the presidential election next year.”

“Governor Wike and his Edo State collaborators, led by Chief Dan Orbih, will not succeed in destabilizing the PDP in Edo State, as they did in other states such as Cross River, in order to secure delegates for his alleged personal ambition to run for president in 2023.”

Read Also:  Breaking: ASUU extends eight-week strike -Officials

“We don’t accept political bullies and overlords in Edo, and we’ve demonstrated our ability to free ourselves and dethrone bullies and highhanded leaders throughout history.”

“I implore all well-intentioned leaders of our great party to summon Governor Wike and order him to cease and desist from his current rash and disruptive behavior. According to all indications, the PDP is on track to take over Nigeria’s leadership if we can rein in the self-interest of a few leaders and force them to prioritize the task of rescuing Nigeria over their personal ambitions.”

Breaking: ASUU extends eight-week strike -Officials

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Breaking: ASUU extends eight-week strike -Officials

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced an eight-week extension to its ongoing strike, accusing the Nigerian government of insensitivity and spreading lies.

The decision was reached during a lengthy meeting of ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) that began on Sunday and ended early Monday morning.

The union’s national secretariat at the University of Abuja hosted the NEC meeting.

A member of the NEC who did not want to be identified in order to avoid being sanctioned by the union said that the ASUU leadership is currently drafting a statement, which will be distributed as soon as it is ready.

Read Also:  Buhari returns Buni as APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, denies Adamu

“Yes, we have extended the strike by eight weeks pending when the Nigerian government deems the university system worthy of the attention it deserves,” the source said. A statement to that effect is currently being drafted. We’ll make it available as soon as possible.”

ASUU had issued a statement earlier on Sunday in response to the controversy surrounding the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), which its technical team developed to replace the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS), which is currently used to pay its members’ salaries.

It was enraged by the claim of Kashifu Inuwa, the director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), who said on Wednesday at the State House that UTAS failed three integrity tests conducted by his agency, including user acceptance, vulnerability, and stress.

“We ran all three tests with them, and the system failed all three.” We completed the reports and returned them to the minister, who forwarded them to all relevant institutions, including ASUU. ASUU is currently working to resolve all of the issues we identified with the system, and we will revisit it. But that’s only half of the story, according to Mr Inuwa.

ASUU, on the other hand, claimed that UTAS received 85 and 77 percent, which it described as “high class grades in any known evaluation system.”

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If NITDA continues to insist that UTAS failed the integrity tests, ASUU has threatened to demand that the initial NITDA Technical Report on UTAS, in which it scored 85 percent in the User Acceptance Test (UAT), be made public.

Buhari returns Buni as APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, denies Adamu

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Buhari returns Buni as APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, denies Adamu

In an unexpected turn of events, President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that Mai Mala Buni, the governor of Yobe, will lead the All Progressives Congress (APC) to its national convention on March 26.

Sani Bello, the governor of Niger state, took over the APC national headquarters two weeks ago, announcing his replacement for Buni, who had led the Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) since 2020.

This upsetting development sparked rivalry among APC governors and key stakeholders, with many accusing Yobe Governor of plotting against the convention’s organization and declaring support for Bello.

While some cheered Buni’s alleged demise, the National Electoral Commission (INEC) turned down a letter inviting it to an emergency meeting of the ruling party’s National Executive Committee, where Bello’s chairmanship was to be approved.

In a letter dated March 9, 2022, INEC informed the CECPC that the letter of invitation had not been signed by Buni and Dr John Akpanudoedehe, the CECPC’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

This, among other things, prompted some members of the Presidency’s inner caucus to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently in the United Kingdom for a routine medical checkup.

On Saturday, a group of ministers led by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, paid a visit to the President’s Lodge, which included the Ministers of Education and Aviation, Mallam Adamu Adamu and Hadi Sirika, respectively.

President Buhari decided at the meeting that Governor Buni should be allowed to run the national convention as a face-saving measure.

According to sources familiar with the meeting’s details, the President flatly denied endorsing former Nasarawa state governor Abdullahi Adamu for the APC national chairmanship.

While the helmsman and his close confidants discussed the internal wrangling in the APC and the upcoming March 26 national convention, the conversation also shifted to who will succeed Adams Oshiomhole as party Chairman among the contestants who have registered their interest, according to this newspaper.

“At first, it was about the INEC letters and the possibility of the opposition gaining all elective seats if nothing is done to avert the impending political doom.” They also discussed the legal implications of the Senate’s rejection of the amendments to the Electoral Law. But somewhere along the way, the Chairman’s speech, which will lead the party to the polls in 2023, came up,” said a source who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak.

The ministers specifically inquired if President Muhammadu Buhari was truly supporting former Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Adamu, according to the source, a rumor that surfaced in the media a few weeks ago. The President stated that he was unaware of such an endorsement.

The ministers also expressed serious reservations about Adamu’s candidacy, citing his affiliation with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and labeling him a “stranger” who cannot be trusted.

Read also: Russia-Ukraine war: Macron stated three key conversations between Biden

Adamu was a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under which he won the Nasarawa State gubernatorial election in 1999 and was re-elected in 2003. Adamu was also named Secretary, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the party at the end of his two-term governorship, making him a major decision maker.

One of the ministers went on to say that it would be a major setback and act of betrayal for Senator Tanko Al-Makura, who remained a governor under the defunct Congress for Progressive Change despite overwhelming opposition (CPC).

“The minister warned them that their decision would throw the Nasarawa APC into disarray because the incumbent Governor publicly endorsed Al-Makura,” the source said.

Meanwhile, the ministers have decided that supporting a member of the now-defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), from which the President joined the APC in 2014, will benefit the caucus.

Russia-Ukraine war: Macron stated three key conversations between Biden

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Russia-Ukraine war: Macron stated three key conversations between Biden

During the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, three key conversations between US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, have been revealed.

According to the White House, Biden spoke with Macron over the weekend about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Biden and Macron discussed recent diplomatic engagements, reaffirmed their commitment to hold Russia accountable for its actions, and expressed support for Ukraine’s government and people, according to a White House summary of the call.

“President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron today about Russia’s war in Ukraine. They discussed recent diplomatic engagements and reaffirmed their commitment to hold Russia accountable for its actions while also supporting the Ukrainian government and people, according to the readout.

Read also: Erdogan Tells Putin Of Readiness To Help Solve Russia-Ukraine War By ‘Peaceful Means’

In February 2022, Russia and Ukraine declared war on each other.

Today marks the eighteenth day of the war, which has already claimed a large number of lives.

Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, had ordered the invasion of Ukraine over political differences.

Putin had also outlined a set of conditions for ending the conflict.

Abe: Our judicial system is one of the best

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Abe: Our judicial system is one of the best

Despite challenges, our judiciary remains one of the best, according to Magnus Abe, a former senator who represented Rivers Southeast District.

He spoke at an interactive session with youths and young professionals in Port Harcourt, River State’s capital, over the weekend.

Read also: 2023: Osinbajo informs Buhari of his presidential aspirations in 2023

Abe claimed that the Nigerian judiciary had produced eminent jurists throughout Africa, and that Nigerian court judgments were cited all over the world.

The former lawmaker emphasized the importance of leaders being accountable to their constituents, stating that it was unethical for a leader to claim that there was no money while living in luxury.
He also emphasized the importance of members of society being ready for change by doing the right thing.

He believes that a society cannot keep doing the same thing year after year and expect a different outcome.

Abe claimed that the new Electoral Act had given people in villages and towns the opportunity to elect the right people to govern them.

He claimed that the government should create investment opportunities for youths in order to create jobs, and he blamed the massive exodus of investors from the state on too much disruption.

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