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CUPP asks Tinubu to convene a National Confab over Economic Hardship
The Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to as a matter of priority convene a national conference where the nation’s critical stakeholders would gather to brainstorm on finding lasting solutions to the myraids of challenges bedevilling the country.
This is comming following the crises of insecurity and high cost of living in the country for which the government of day is looking overwhelmed
The Coalition made the call last Tuesday when some of its leaders paid a courtesy call on one of its patrons, Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, National Chairman of African Democratic Party, (ADC), at the party’s National secretariat in Abuja.
The team which was led by CUPP National Secretary, Chief Peter Ameh, consisted of Dr. Tanko Yunusa, Spokesperson Obi-datti Media, Barr Chukwudi Ezeobika, Chairman Media Committee, CUPP spokesperson Comrade Mark Adebayo, and others.
The group stated that it was time for the opposition united to speak up for the benefit of humanity, Nigerians, the country and safety and protection of the hard earned democracy.
Speaking on the necessity of the national conference, Chief Nwosu stated that is time to call for national conversation bringing all the political parties and other critical stakeholders, Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, on a roundtable so that they can all come up with a solution.
Chief Nwosu noted that the state of the nation today compared to 2014 when the last Confab was held can be described as more tragic and deadly.
He said: “The conversation should take multi-dimensional composition as we are going to talk about issue of national food security, political configuration and security in the country.
“The president is one who has been part of the struggle when we were fighting for the military to go, and this is the first time we are having one of the people who championed the effort to get the military out become the president but unfortunately this is the time that democracy has taken the biggest nosedive.
He said the removal of Fuel subsidy was rash, done with arrogance without weighing the implications.
“We looked around, we found that people around the president, people in the Villa, in the national assembly and corridors of power are not using public resources for the good of the public rather they’ve decided to convert public resources to their private pocket. This is what is killing the policy; we can still get it right if can do the right thing.
“Three years ago, Nigeria was described as the poverty capital of the world, but today the extent to which we have dived is threatening and this is just because of the carelessness of people who have taken over government but I believe that now that we outside government have started discussion and conversation on the process of rebuilding the country, we wish also that while we are doing this that people in government headed by the President will follow suit.
“There’s need for a national conversation that will bring all stakeholders on the table. That is part of the problem we are facing because once some people get elected, they see governance as business. And with that mentality we can’t go too far.”
In his submission, the National Secretary of CUPP, Chief Peter Ameh, decried the extent of poverty and insecurity in the land, while saying that those who have been elected have not acted in the best interest of Nigeria but rather have acted based on selfish reasons and at the end have pushed our people into abject and multidimensional poverty.
Chief Ameh said: “When you juxtapose the resources Nigeria has, Nigerians have no reason to be in this kind of situation. Nigeria has no reason for the common man not to have one meal a day, Nigeria has no reason not to have one of the highest record of out-of -school children in Africa.
“It is painful and disappointing to our founding fathers who fought for this democracy to come about, those who lost their lives . Unfortunately this democracy is being trampled upon by selfish leaders, leaders who are concerned about their pockets only, who are still using money meant for the citizens to buy exotic cars.
“Because of this multi-faceted criminality in our governance systems, we have now found ourselves in a situation where poverty and destruction of lives and property is the order of the day.
“The primary purpose of government is welfare and protection of the lives and propertyof the people. If we don’t stop this ownership and it’s my turn mentality in our electioneering process and allow the right people to win elections, we will continue to have this kind of problems.”
Also speaking, Dr. Yunusa Tanko submitted that democracy in Nigeria at the moment is in danger, stressing that there is a threat of annihilation, intimidation, and conspiracy against democracy, while stating that “as a collective, we stand firm in the defence of our democracy.
***Blames love for personal enrichment in public service for poverty. Insecurity in the region
A former National Health Insurance Scheme secretary, Usman Yusuf has expressed concern over the disparities in development and resource allocation between the north and south of Nigeria.
He lamented that while the south is investing in massive infrastructure projects like a 15.6 trillion naira highway, the north is struggling with poverty and insecurity
Yusuf criticised the prioritisation of personal enrichment in public service, citing examples of corrupt practices and the need for accountability.
He emphasised that holding public office is not an end in itself but rather a means to serve the people, and that true leadership requires dedication to the well-being of all citizens.
According to him, “Our people in the north are lining up like defeated people, while in the south, they’re building a 15.6 trillion highway. We in the north are not doing well. We are here in Abuja distributing money to themselves, Ningi Gate, you forgot. So the failure is ours; I’ve said it again and again: position means nothing; all these SUVs you’re going around in mean nothing because, all of you, we’ve had Chiefs of Army staff, Chiefs of Service, and Ministers; when they retire, nobody can go back home and spend the weekend without these big black guns.”
Usman Yusuf is a Nigerian professor of haematology-oncology and bone marrow transplantation and an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and has practiced medicine across three continents – Africa, Europe and North America – after his MBBS in 1982. He was appointed the executive secretary / chief executive officer of the National Helath Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in August 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
A faith-based Civil Society Organization, (CSO), that monitors and reports Hajj and Umrah activities Independent Hajj Reporters, (IHR) has called on the Federal and state governments to make adequate security arrangements for pilgrims at embarkation points across the country.
This is coming as the airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia begins on Wednesday this week.
In a statement on Monday signed by its national coordinator Ibrahim Mohammed the IHR indicated that over 65, 000 intending pilgrims from Nigeria will be leaving their homes to various Hajj camps for screening and onward transportation to about 15 airports within the next 30 days.
The Statement observed that such mass movement of people from one point to another creates serious security challenges that need a comprehensive and coordinated strategy by the various security agencies in the country.
“While we appreciate the efforts made by security agencies in previous operations, we call on the federal government to order and activate a high-level security surveillance system to monitor and protect the movement of pilgrims throughout the outbound and inbound airlift operations.
“We also urge State Muslim pilgrims’ welfare boards to advise intending pilgrims against coming to hajj camps with large escorts usually made up of family members as such increases the likelihood of security breaches especially
when airlift operations demand that pilgrims can be invited to hajj camps at any time of the day or night.
State governments should complement the federal security architecture by mobilizing local vigilantes and other volunteers to form a hajj security team and provide them with internal communication equipment with state hajj officials, airliners and other airlift stakeholders.
“As journalists who worked closely with security agencies during hajj operations, IHR had in the last few years honour security institutions during its annual hajj lectures and awards to appreciate and encourage them to improve on their daunting tasks of maintaining security of lives and properties across the country.”
IHR further appealed to Security forces to take necessary “measures to prevent evil-minded groups from exploiting the Hajj season to carry out acts of sabotage.
“Anticipating and preparing for potential security threats before they materialize will help in identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities and weaknesses ahead of time”. The statement said.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket as the candidate of the party for the forthcoming November 16 governorship election in the state by sefeating fifteen other aspirants in a landslide victory
The Chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee and Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, made the declaration on Monday morning in Akure, the state capital.
Ododo said Aiyedatiwa clinched the APC ticket with a total of 48,569 votes followed by his closest rival, Mayowa Akinfolarin, who trailed behind with 15,343 votes, while Chief Olusola Oke secured the third position with 14,865 votes.
Below is a breakdown of the final results of the election.
Total number of voters – 117922
Total number of accredited voters – 95,178
Total votes cast – 95178
Invalid – Nil
Jimi Odimayo – 490
Omogoroye Judith – 115
Lucky Aiyedatiwa – 48,569
Isaacs Kekemeke – 1045
Soji Ehinlanwo – 492
Olugbenga Edema – 395
Jimoh lbrahim – 9456
Adekojo Funmilayo – 529
Akinfolarin Samuel – – 15343
Wale Akinterinwa – 1952
Olusola Oke – 14,915
Olamide Ohunyeye – 424
Morayo Lebi – 290
Diran lyantan – 348
Prof Dayo Faduyile – 353
Ife Oyedele – 462
1: Ilaje LG
Lucky Aiyedatiwa 2,485
Wale Akinterinwa. 26
Olusola Oke. 2,511
Jimoh Ibrahim 589
2: Ile Oluji/Okeigbo
Jimoh Ibrahim: 282
AIYEDATIWA: 1225
WA: 474
3: Ondo West LG
Jimoh Ibrahim: 2668
Aiyedatiwa: 10610
4: Ese Odo LG
Aiyedatiwa – 298
Akinterinwa – 0
Oke – 147
Jimoh Ibrahim – 174
5: Owo LG
Aiyedatiwa – 2,123
Akinterinwa – 345
Oke – 225
Jimoh Ibrahim – 192
6: Idanre LG
Aiyedatiwa – 1, 579
Akinterinwa – 119
Oke – 225
Jimoh Ibrahim – 120
7: AKOKO NORTH EAST LG
Aiyedatiwa 1, 664
Akinterinwa 135
Oke 138
Jimoh Ibrahim 505
8: AKOKO NORTH WEST LG
Aiyedatiwa 5, 430
Akinterinwa 198
Oke 2, 721
Jimoh Ibrahim 728
9: AKOKO SOUTH EAST LG
Aiyedatiwa 2, 533
Akinterinwa 43
Oke 391
Jimoh Ibrahim 67
10: AKOKO SOUTH WEST LG
Aiyedatiwa – 2, 747
Akinterinwa – 272
Oke – 415
Jimoh Ibrahim – 466
11: No results for IFEDORE LGA due to alleged violence
12: OSE LGA
Aiyedatiwa 1, 091
Akinterinwa 39
Oke 800
Jimoh Ibrahim 267
13: IRELE LG
Aiyedatiwa 1, 203
Akinterinwa 15
Oke 93
Jimoh Ibrahim 139
14: ODIGBO LG
Aiyedatiwa 2, 631
Akinterinwa 114
Oke 138
Jimoh Ibrahim 845
15: AKURE NORTH LG
Aiyedatiwa 2, 860
Akinterinwa 177
Oke 1, 239
Jimoh Ibrahim 1, 606
16: AKURE SOUTH LG
Aiyedatiwa 3, 265
Akinterinwa 86
Oke 328
Jimoh Ibrahim 294
17 OKITIPUPA LG
Aiyedatiwa 1, 622
Akinterinwa 27
Oke 1, 571
Jimoh Ibrahim 109
18: ONDO EAST LG
Aiyedatiwa 4, 803
Akinterinwa 141
Oke 1, 171
Jimoh Ibrahim 406
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