News
NCFront charges Nigerians in diaspora to inspire Revolution at home
The Chairman of the NCFront and leader of the Shadow Cabinet of a coalition of political parties and Civil society organizations, Prof. Pat Utomi, has urged Nigerians living abroad to see it as their duty to ensure new leadership and progress.
He said Nigeria needs a leadership that will remove the shame of Nigeria’s current failing status brought about by pervasive poverty, insecurity, state capture, atrocious health care, declining quality of education, and corruption.
This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by head public affairs bureau of the NCFront Dr. Tanko Yunusa.
He quoted Prof Utomi who spoke at a Christmas dinner in his honor and his wife, Prof. Ifeoma Utomi, in Chicago, by a group of Nigerian professionals in Chicago and Northern Indiana.
Utomi recalled that he could not wait to jump on the plane to go home and change the World when he finished his PhD ‘’down the road from here’, in Blooington, Indiana, as Chicago battled the Tylenol poisoning scare of 1982’ He said the Nigerian Diaspora ought to consciously engage for change in Nigeria as their Indian colleagues did in the electoral putsch that broke up old style Indian politics and brought Prime Minister Nehindra Modi to power..
Utomi said Nigerians must demand an accounting from politicians who have severely damaged their country since 1999, making it the poverty capital of the world, situating it at the bottom of almost all MDG and SDG indicators.
He urged that ‘we must face the future and not allow the wrongs of yesterday distract us, he said ‘we cannot but work to ensure that all who made yesterday a horror story should not be allowed to pollute the future’’
He said he understood why many intellectuals are calling for a ban on all who have held elective positions since 1999, and are asking they be excluded from participating in the 2023 elections, but he would prefer that the people in street protests and in polling booths ‘outlaw’ the politics of self love and nauseating narcissism which has characterized our politics since 1999 and held back the hands of the clock.
Speaking further, he said that any politician who could not explain any significant asset traceable to him, in the way Afenifere leader Chief Ayo Adebanjo has done, should stay away from politics or risk street uprisings as an instrument of consequence management.
They may think they have looted the Treasury enough and abused Security votes enough to have a war chest to buy the streets but they will soon see what is coming to them, he promised his audience.
Prof Utomi who explained the introduction of a Shadow government team as a practical venting of the ideals of democracy said the priority of the alternative government platform was poverty eradication through making Nigeria the world’s next great factory and a focus on education and healthcare in a way unprecedent in human history while allowing Markets to stimulate a prosperity paradox that will generate a massive infrastructure boom that would relegate the China and Dubai experiences as examplars.
The Political Economist of note and public policy scholar and entrepreneur said the shadow team favored a Development strategy anchored on driving dominance of global value chains built around our factor endowments and the latent comparative advantage accruing there from.
The academic, social entrepreneur and champion of many start up ventures said the Shadow government is to animate accountability to the people on a continuous and continuing basis. He disclosed that the already functional shadow teams which are coordinated from his office cover the economy, finance, health education and Agriculture.
I am here, Prof Pat Utomi said to his excited audience, to put you on notice that your skills, networks of contacts and love for the mother country will be required to get our country to where it must be going in a big hurry.
Utomi rounded up his remarks with his personal theme song of 20 years, Nigeria will rise up again, God will heal our-land and Nigeria will rise up again.
Utomi whose current tour of the Americas will include a talk at the New York area African Economic Group monthly session for January and presentations at the New York Stock Exchange on prospects of an African economic surge as a result of AFcFTA, plans to meet several Nigerian groups in the US Midwest and NorthEast..
Prof. Utomi who is also Chairman of PAFTRAC, the African Union’s private sector Think Tank on Trade and Investments with its Secretariat at the Afrexim Bank in Cairo, plans to showcase how AFcFTA can be the path to Nigeria becoming the next factory of the world, as he invites power companies into the Nigerian market to generate the powering of that expected growth surge that will actualize that prosperity paradox of private funding of infrastructure he has repeatedly pointed to, using Australia as example.
Utomi also spoke to his Christmas message to Nigerians that hope is in the Air and on the way because the spirit of Christmas elevates the triumph of the human Spirit.
In response to a question by one of the Doctors at the dinner, Utomi said the people can reclaim their country easily by ensuring that stolen money from corrupt politicians are kept out of elections by a combination of the work of INEC and zCivil Society and making debates central to the electoral process. He said it was regrettable that President Buhari was setting back the hands of the clock by failing to accent to the proposed electoral reforms passed by the National Assembly.
It is hypocritical, Utomi said, to on one hand join US President Biden in a summit on Democracy and promise Eldorado in 2023 elections and with another hand subvert what can make those elections less subject to rigging.
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
KOGI State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) has flagged off renovation work on the 75-year-old Leprosarium, now known as Holey Memorial Hospital, Ochadamu.
Chief Dauda Momoh, General Manager of the Agency presented a cheque for the first stanche of the N15 million intervention on Wednesday at Ocharamu, Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi.
He said the intervention was part of the 16 micro project interventions under the Basic Services Infrastructure of the Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme.
Represented by Engr. Bayode Oladipo, Operations Manager of the Agency, the General Manager hinted that the Leprosarium which was established 1948 as a leprosy and rehabilitation centre with a twin male and female colony now enjoys support from Kogi State NG-CARES Programme.
Chief Dauda Momoh said the renovation work entailed renovation of Ward, Toilets, Pharmacy building with Supply of drugs and equipment and was expected to cost ₦11,193,546.00
He said that renovation of classroom s and furnishing would take ₦3,803,887.50 bringing the total projects cost to
N14,997,433.50.
He said that the projects would reinvigorate the leprosarium with healthcare and sanitation facilities.
Momoh added that the Group Development Plan (GrDP) had revealed that the intervention also aimed to revamp the educational facilities provided for the children of the affected persons.
The General Manager explained that the GrDP would be implemented through the Group Project Management Committee of the Association of Persons Affected by Leprosy in Ochadamu.
He charged the group to ensure quality and timely completion of the intervention projects as he assured them that quality delivery would attract further intervention especially, in the area of termite eradication, to the hospital.
The Holey Memorial Hospital Administrator, Rev. Uduak H. Mmah who resumed duty barely a month ago, pledged seamless collaboration and support of the management with the implementing team and the Agency.
Mr Mark Abu, Finance and Administration Manager of the Agency, tasked the Community Projects Monitoring Committee (CPMC) on proper book keeping saying that various monitoring teams would be coming to monitor the projects from time to time.
Mr Akpa Adaji, Chairman of the Community Projects Implementation Committee assured of due diligence in the project implementation as he pledged the committee’s resolve to deliver within the stipulated time frame.
In his vote of thanks, the Hospital Secretary, Mr Daniel Ameh thanked God for the intervention and commended the CSDA, management of the hospital and the CPMC for making it a reality.
Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of a cheque of of N3.274 million to the committee as first tranche of the total project sum of N14,997,433.50. (Ends)
***Says, Nigerian workers have shown enough patience, understanding
The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has declared its support and solidarity with Nigerian workers over its planned industrial action to press for better welfare and equitable remuneration under the yoke of bitting economic down turn
The party reiterated the position that it is in support of any legitimate means deployed by Nigerian workers to press for better condition.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh said the party fully supports the resolution of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to embark on an industrial action slated to commence as of Tuesday, October 3rd.
“We have followed with keen interest, in the last four months, various meetings between Organized Labour and various government bodies including the President of the Senate, the presidency, and the ministers of Labour as well as all the efforts made by the Labour leadership to get the government to understand the magnitude of the hardship government policies have thrown Nigerian Workers and the entire populace into since the enthronement of this administration.
“Labour Party is not in any way surprised at the government’s apparent indifference, insensitivity, intransigence, and recalcitrant posture towards the genuine demands of the Labour bodies because their usurpation of power was not sanctioned by both the workers and generality of Nigerians.
“Nigerians went to the polls with clear conviction of the government they wanted but this was denied them through institutional conspiracy.
“Today, Nigerian workers are being punished for taking a stand during the February 25 Presidential Election.
“Labour Party is also aware of the sordid conditions which workers, the majority of them being our members, are subjected to, whereby many of them go to the office on a Monday and are forced by the prevailing economic challenges, to sleep in their offices all through to Friday before they return home.
“Labour Party is surprised that the government claimed that it has removed subsidies on Petroleum products and that it now generates over a trillion naira monthly, yet it finds it difficult to address workers’ demands.
“Daily, Nigerians are subjected to harsh economic realities where the inflation rate is nearing 30 percent, where a dollar is sold above N1000, and where par-capital income has depreciated. Many families are withdrawing their wards from schools over a hike in school fees, while criminal activities are surging daily.
“We think that the Nigerian workers have shown enough patience and understanding.
“We are also using this medium to inform all our members and supporters to stock their homes with their necessary needs ahead of a long-drawn mass action until victory is ascertained.”
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Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2023 17:05:33 +0100
Subject: LP says it is in full solidarity with Nigerian workers over indefinite industrial action ***Says, Nigerian workers have shown enough patience, understanding
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has indicated that it would conduct a mock accreditation on October 14, 2023 in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states, ahead of the off-cycle governorship elections.
The Commission had scheduled the off-cycle elections for November 11, 2023.
INEC, in a statement signed by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, indicated that the mock accreditation would include using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and upload of polling units results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal.
The statement reads, “The Commission met today Monday 25th September 2023 and, among other issues, reviewed the preparations for the forthcoming off-cycle Governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States scheduled for Saturday 11th November 2023.
“As was the case in recent off-cycle Governorship elections, the Commission will conduct a mock accreditation using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and upload polling units results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal.
“The test run will take place simultaneously in the three States on Saturday 14th October 2023 from 8.30am to 2.30pm.
“A maximum of three polling units in each Senatorial District have been identified across each of the three States, covering a total of nine Senatorial Districts and 27 polling units.”
It further stated that lessons learnt from the exercise would be taken into consideration in ensuring a seamless process on election day.
“Full details of the polling units, including their locations by Local Government Area, Registration Area/Ward, Delimitation Code and number of registered voters have been uploaded to our website and social media platforms.
“The Commission appeals to registered voters in the selected polling units to turn up with their Permanent Voters’ Cards for the exercise.
“The public is advised that this is strictly a test accreditation exercise and not the actual election,” INEC added
The collection of Permanent Voter Cards commenced on September 11, 2023, and will end October 9, 2023.
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