News

CAN challenges political office holders to provide dividends of democracy

Published

2 months ago

April 8, 2023

Enugu State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Saturday challenged political office holders to execute policies and programmes that would touch the lives of the less-privileged.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu, its chairman, Rev. Emmanuel Edeh noted in his Easter message that electoral victory was not for particular people, but for all residents of the state.

He urged the governor-elect, Mr Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), national and state assembly members to ensure proper deployment of their constituency projects for the benefit of the masses.

He condemned the attitude of politicians who diverted social welfare packages meant for the masses like scholarships, fertiliser and other benefits to personal and selfish uses.

Edeh noted that constituents were now more awake to happenings in the polity and governance would no longer be business as usual.

People are aware of constituency project funds that were never used for pubic good by many lawmakers, he said.

He advised politicians to engage organisations like CAN and its leaders in the 206 wards in Enugu State to spread the dividends of democracy to ensure that they percolated to the masses.

Edeh lamented that the just-concluded governorship election in Enugu State was marred with unprecedented violence.

He challenged security agencies not forget that in the build-up to the election, someone in the state declared that the exercise would be a “do-or-die’’ affair.

While expressing joy that no death was recorded, the CAN chairman enjoined the winner to carry everybody along while the losers should embrace peace to enable the state to move forward.

Edeh described Easter as a time for sober reflection; a time that genuine believers commemorate the suffering of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary that brought salvation to mankind.

The chairman encouraged Christians to hope in genuine promises of God adding that when Christ was crucified, it was as if all hopes were lost, but He resurrected and came back to life.

Edeh charged people to shun violence, avoid criminality and corruption, which he said were capable of destroying the nation.

Headline

No Going Back On Proposed Nationwide Strike – NLC

Published

6 hours ago

June 4, 2023

Fellow Press

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has debunked speculations that it might back down on its proposed industrial action slated nationwide for Wednesday.

It said the only reason it would shelve the strike is when the Federal Government and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited NNPCL did the needful by returning to status quo on the fuel subsidy removal issue.

NLC declared the position in a statement by Benson Upah, Head of Information and Public Affairs on Sunday.

The workers’ body was reacting to a story in a national newspaper on Sunday.

It described the report as laughable and desperate attempt by enemies of the people to polarise Nigeria Labour Congress along ethnic or regional lines on an issue with a national spread.

According to Upah, “this scenario only plays in their imagination as Nigeria Labour Congress continues to be the biggest pan-Nigerian organisation united by a common vision/ mission and shared national values.”

“On the looming strike, we want to assure that all the affiliate unions of the Congress stand together with an unshakeable resolve to prosecute, come Wednesday, except the NNPC and Government do the needful.

“Whereas, primordial sentiments such as religion, region or ethnicity may be refuge for some, at the Nigeria Labour Congress, they have no place. What counts for us are issues such as the mindless and criminal increase in the pump price of pms whose burden will be borne by the already impoverished communities of the poor across Nigeria,” it stated.

NLC said the burden of the malevolent policy would not be borne by other segments of the country to the exclusion of the North or South-West, hence, there is no reason for those regions to back out of the strike.”

Recall that the President, Bola Tinubu had during his inaugural speech declared that the era of subsidy for petroleum products was gone, a development that has had ripple effect on the Nigerian polity since May 29, 2023.

News

Daniel Bwala List Positions Tinubu Should Not Appoint Politicians To Occupy

Published

6 hours ago

June 4, 2023

Fellow Press

Daniel Bwala, a spokesman for Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has advised President Bola Tinubu ahead of the constitution of his cabinet.

Bwala listed five offices Tinubu should not appoint politicians to occupy.

Tweeting, Bwala wrote: “No 16th biggest test would the appointment of these;

Atiku’s aide list positions Tinubu should not appoint politicians to occupy

Daniel Bwala, a spokesman for Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has advised President Bola Tinubu ahead of the constitution of his cabinet.

Bwala listed five offices Tinubu should not appoint politicians to occupy.

Tweeting, Bwala wrote: “No 16th biggest test would the appointment of these;

1. National Security Adviser

2. Minister of the economy

3. Director General of SSS and NIA

4. Minister of Petroleum

5. Central Bank Governor

“He must not appoint a politician or quasi-politician for any of these roles, or else he will repeat history.”

Tinubu was inaugurated on May 29 in Abuja.

This was after he won the 2023 presidential election. He defeated Atiku, Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

However, Atiku and Obi are contesting Tinubu’s victory in court because they claim the election was flawed.