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We Never Agreed To Vote Wike’s Choice Guber Candidate -APC Campaign
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (APCPCC) and the Tinubu-Shettima Grassroot Independent Campaign Council (TSGICC) in Rivers State, have declared that they never agreed to vote for the preferred gubernatorial candidate of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in the March 11 elections in the state.A top member of the two groups, Chief Tony Okocha, had while addressing journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday, urged members and supporters of the party in the state, to vote for the governor’s preferred choice in the March 11, 2023 governorship election in appreciation of his support towards the emergence of APC’s Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu as President-elect.But, in a swift reaction, the APCPCC and the TSGICC, in a statement signed by the state coordinator, Sir Augustine Nwokocha and two others, said Okocha spoke for himself and not for the two groups and APC members in the state.The statement reads in part: “Our attention has been drawn to a press conference held by Chief Anthony C. Okocha and the statement made therein, purportedly for and on behalf of APC PCC/TSGICC Rivers State. “While we join Chief Okocha to congratulate our President elect Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his Vice, Senator Kashim Shetima and our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), for this historic victory against a very distractive and vehemently divisive campaign hinged basically on religion, ethnicity and the natural vagaries of our humanity (age and ill-health).”We state that the victory of our president-elect was a natural cause of event given his phenomenal pedigree as an astute politician per excellence, administrator with an unmatchable track record of achievements, foresight and bold visions. A man reputed as a Mason of Men.”It is important however to state that the credit for the victory of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC in Rivers State belongs to all Rivers persons who turned out to vote for the candidate of our party and to the dynamic campaign structure that carried the message of Renewed Hope to all the ‘nooks and crannies’ of Rivers State.”We are not unmindful of the forces that coalesced to hand our President-elect this pan Nigeria victory at the polls and we trust in the incoming administration to fully demonstrate to every Nigerian that this vote of confidence shall never be misplaced or taken for granted. It is, however, insidious for any individual to appropriate the performance of APC in Rivers State during the just concluded presidential elections. “Furthermore, it is important to state that every opinion, expressed by Chief Tony Okocha in his aforesaid Press Conference, is his personal opinion as he neither spoke for the PCC, nor for the TSG/ICC led by my humble self, Sir Augustine Wokocha in Rivers State. “It is further important to state that at no time did the PCC/ICC meet to authorize Chief Tony Okocha to express the opinion and sentiments so expressed. PCC/ICC Nigeria, headquartered in Abuja and the President Elect, have not authorized any statement/sentiments such as those expressed by Chief Tony Okocha.”We therefore implore all Rivers residents who are eligible voters to turnup enmasse and reject the invitation of Chief Tony Okocha to support the extension of the rascality that the Rivers State Government of today represents and to massively come out, vote and insist that their votes count on the 11th of March, 2023 for a better Rivers State. “This election of 25th February, 2023 was a special one, it was special to the extent that victory was attained through the votes of under 36% of the total votes cast which in itself was under 11% of the population of Nigeria. “It therefore means that close to 90% of Nigerians for whatsoever reasons did not speak and of the under 11% of the populace that voted, over 60% had a contrary opinion as to by whom and how this country should be governed.”
The Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has engaged in a high-level security meeting with a leading Chinese manufacturer of advanced anti-terrorism and high-tech defence equipment, aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s defence capabilities.
The meeting, which took place in China, underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising the nation’s security apparatus to combat insurgency and other threats.
According to a statement signed by the minister’s Personal Assistant (Media), Ahmad Dan-Wudil, and made available to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the engagement focused on formalising a strategic partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Chinese firm and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
The collaboration is expected to play a pivotal role in advancing Nigeria’s security sector, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s defence framework.
The MoU outlines a robust partnership, with the Chinese company committing to significant investments in Nigeria’s defence infrastructure.
According to the statement, Key components of the agreement include the transfer of cutting-edge defence technology, the establishment of local manufacturing capabilities for advanced military equipment, and capacity-building initiatives to enhance the technical skills of Nigerian personnel.
“This move is seen as a step towards building a self-reliant and globally competitive military-industrial base.
Dr. Matawalle emphasised that the partnership represents a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s defence modernisation agenda.
“This collaboration will not only strengthen our fight against terrorism but also position Nigeria as a regional leader in defence technology,” he stated.
The minister highlighted the government’s determination to leverage international partnerships to address the nation’s evolving security challenges.
Under the terms of the agreement, new production lines will be established for various ammunition types, including 7.62x51mm ball cartridges, 7.62x51mm blank cartridges, 9x19mm pistol cartridges, and machine gun ammunition.
Additionally, manufacturing workshops and facilities will be set up in Kaduna and Kachia, Kaduna State, to produce essential defence components such as brass casings and bullet jackets.
The partnership extends beyond production, encompassing the maintenance and upgrading of existing military hardware, servicing of battle tanks, and the provision of military engineering services.
These efforts are expected to enhance the operational readiness of the Nigerian Armed Forces, enabling them to respond more effectively to security threats within the country and across the region.
The minister’s visit to China follows a series of engagements with international partners, including the United States and Saudi Arabia, as part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to strengthen bilateral defence ties.
In a recent meeting with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), Dr. Matawalle called for increased support in intelligence sharing and counterterrorism efforts, underscoring the need for global cooperation to tackle insecurity.
The agreement with the Chinese firm has been hailed as a critical step towards achieving President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises security, economic development, and private-sector involvement.
The minister reiterated the government’s openness to foreign investment in critical sectors such as defence, steel, and energy to drive technological advancement and job creation.
Gamblers are staking millions of dollars to predict who will emerge as new pope as betting sites place odds on the candidates as the Catholic Church cardinals sweat to pick a new pontiff.
Polymarket, an American cryptocurrency-based betting site, has placed odds on candidates who will emerge.
Similarly, Kalshi, another American betting site, is coordinating predictions on who emerges as the new Catholic pope.
On Polymarket, over $21 million worth of bets have been staked in the conclave election, in which Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle are considered the leading candidates.
Mr Parolin leads with 27 per cent odds, while Mr Tagle comes second with 23 per cent odds. Matteo Zuppi, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and Peter Erdo came third, fourth and fifth with 11, 10 and 7 per cent odds, respectively.
On Kalshi, where over $8milliom has been staked, Mr Parolin leads with 29 per cent odds, followed by Mr Tagle’s 22 per cent odds and Mr Pizzaballa’s 10 per cent odds.
This comes as 133 cardinals from across the globe commenced a conclave to decide who would emerge as the new pope on Thursday.
Though conclave elections have been highly unpredictable for years, gamblers throw in thousands of dollars for a possible kill should their candidate emerge.
In 2013, contrary to projections on the possible emergence of Cardinal Angelo Scola, who was then regarded as the favourite, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio emerged as Pope Francis.
On Wednesday, thick black smoke billows from the Sistine Chapel chimney at the end of the first meeting of the cardinals, signalling that no pope has been elected.
The election of the 267th pope, which commenced on Wednesday. A new pope will poll a two-thirds majority to emerge during the election process.
Then, white smoke will be released from the Sistine Chapel chimney.
President Bola Tinubu has mandated the formation of a Presidential Task Force aimed at eliminating numerous checkpoints that impede free movement.
Ambassador Musa Nuhu, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, revealed this initiative during a visit to the Nigeria-Benin Republic border in Seme on Wednesday.
“We are commencing with the Seme-Badagry Corridor. A committee has been established under the auspices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and we will soon begin addressing this matter.
“We have taken note of all the concerns raised, and I assure you that the Nigerian government will tackle the other issues mentioned subsequently.”
Numerous complaints have surfaced regarding the excessive checkpoints along the Badagry-Seme corridor, which adversely affect the seamless movement of individuals and goods between Nigeria and the Benin Republic.
Ambassador Nuhu emphasized, “This is the most trafficked border in West Africa regarding the flow of goods, people, and services. If free movement is to be effectively implemented in West Africa, it will be evident at this border.”
Motorists attending the meeting expressed their frustrations about the numerous checkpoints and the extortion practices by security personnel along the route.
In response, Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, stated that any fees paid by motorists should be accompanied by official receipts.
He expressed concern that the proliferation of checkpoints and the extortion of citizens within member states undermine ECOWAS’s goal of fostering a more integrated region.
“While we must inspect passengers and road users, we should move beyond arbitrary charges that lack receipts. If payments are necessary, they should be properly documented.
“It is one thing to request that someone open their bags for inspection, but it is entirely different to demand payment that is not receipted.”