The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

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  • 2023: Doyin Okupe, Oseloka Obaze, emerge DG, Deputy, of Labour Party campaign council, as party unveils 1,234-member campaign council

    2023: Doyin Okupe, Oseloka Obaze, emerge DG, Deputy, of Labour Party campaign council, as party unveils 1,234-member campaign council

    The opposition Labour Party (LP) has unveiled a 1,234-member campaign council ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

    A former member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ex-aide to Olusegun Obasanjo, Doyin Okupe, is the Director General of the campaign.

    Others are Oseloka Obaze, the Deputy Director General and General Manager of the campaign; Alhaji Yusuf Bello Maitama, the Deputy Director General (North), and Denzel Kentebe, the Deputy Director General (South).

    Addressing a press conference just before the unveiling, Okupe said there was no doubt that the ascendancy of the Labour Party presidential candidate to a “prime position in the hearts and minds of the Nigerian people, has been fuelled by the patriotic zeal, vibrancy, creativity and shining example, in discipline, character and decency of the Obidient movement.”

    He said because of the capacity of Obi, the Obidient movement has today rapidly evolved into the biggest voluntary political movement in Nigeria’s history.

    Okupe noted that empirical polls, from the hearts and minds of those who are publicly on the opposing side, placed Peter Obi, clearly and far ahead of the pack, as the right man for the transformational leadership Nigeria needs.

    He therefore assured Nigerians, that “as we commence the campaign for the 2023 elections, in earnest, our party and our candidates, will remain committed to honest, clean and issue-based engagements, with the Nigerian people, whose mandate we seek, in order to turn around the fortunes of this our great, but badly misgoverned country.”

    (Daily Trust)

  • FRONTIER DISCOURSE 2.0: Meet our Chief Guest of Honor- Sen. Ken Nnamani

    FRONTIER DISCOURSE 2.0: Meet our Chief Guest of Honor- Sen. Ken Nnamani

    The Host Organizing Committee of the Frontier Discourse Annual Public Lecture Series and Awards has announced the former president of the Nigerian senate and former APC presidential aspirant, His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Ken Nnamani, GCON, as the Chief Guest of Honor.

    The announcement was contained in a statement by the Chairman of the committee, Chijioke Ilegbune.

    Sen. Ken Nnamani was elected into the Senate in 2003. He was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Federal Character & Governmental Affairs and member of committees on Privatization, Federal Capital Territory and Appropriation & Finance, and became the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between 2005 – 2007.

    Before his foray into politics and public service, he held many commanding positions in the private sector and worked variously as a consultant in Du Pont De Nemours International SA, Geneva and Nova Chemicals International SA, Canada. On 6 May 2008, he founded the Ken Nnamani Centre for Leadership and Development: a foundation that promotes the essential values of ethical leadership and good governance, particularly among Nigerian youth leaders.

    As Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani recorded remarkable legacies and successfully primed the Nigerian Legislature to maturity, independence and development. He presided over the epic Senate debate rejecting the proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed a sitting president to serve a third term, thus contributing to the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria.

    As Chairman and founder of the Ken Nnamani Centre for Leadership and Development, he promotes the essential values of ethical leadership and good governance, particularly among Nigeria youth leaders.

    In 2007, his Alma mater, the Ohio University Athens, USA conferred on him a Doctor of Laws Degree, Honoris Causa for his civic leadership, vision and passion to ensure good governance for the people of Nigeria, his promotion of transparency in public affairs and adherence to constitutional and legislative due process. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka also rewarded his efforts on October 6, 2007 with another Honorary Doctor of Law Degree, Honoris Causa.

    Also, the New York-based Parliamentarians For Global Action (PGA) bestowed on him the 2007 Defender of Democracy Award, making him the first Nigerian to receive the coveted award. He also received the Role Model Award in the Fight Against Corruption conferred on him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in conjunction with the Code of Conduct Bureau, Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC), supported by other international agencies like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

    Mentioning the topic of the public lecture as “The Purpose of Power: Ambition for Common Good and Our Culture of Silence and Endurance”, Ilegbune stated that the choice of Nnamani was in line with the topic and his (Nnamani) robust contributions to the advancement of our democracy. He reiterated the magazine’s readiness to host all guests.

    He further noted that the Keynote speaker will be Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, mni, a Member of This Day Newspaper Editorial Board, Professor of Strategic Management and Human Capital Development and Executive Director, Development Specs Academy, while revealing that event would have other features besides the lecture and presentation of awards which will be made public soon.

    Major General Obi Abel Umahi (Rtd), a former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army and Rt. Hon. U.S.A Igwesi, Member, 5th National Assembly, are the Special Guests of Honor.

    The details of the event are:

    Date: November 12, 2022

    Venue: De Dome Event Center, Edward Nnaji Street, New Haven, Enugu

    Time: 11am (Red Carpet)

    Ilegbune listed and thanked corporate bodies, establishments and businesses who are official partners in the event: Selonnes Consult, Ingrace Group, Service Accord Initiative, Human Development Centre, Steve Oruruo Foundation, Wears Africana, Games By Summer, Anchor News, Journalist 101, Igbo Radio, Nani Boi Studios, CEO Media Agency and Skitech Media Agency, while calling on more corporate bodies willing to partner to reach out to the Magazine.

    Assuring that the event on November 12 will be streamed live across social media networks; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube, he asked interested attendees to reserve their seats through https://forms.gle/Vot1qCtw2neeeN1v7

     

  • Double registration: INEC removes names of over 2m voters

    Double registration: INEC removes names of over 2m voters

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said new Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) would be made available by November.

    At a National Endowment for Democracy event in Washington DC in the United States, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, said 2.7 million double registrations were weeded out of the last Continuous Voters Registration exercise conducted by the commission and about 50% of the new PVCs are ready but yet to be distributed to collection centres.

    He also raised concerns about the rising levels of insecurity across the country, saying the Commission has its fingers crossed.

    “It is a perennial issue because, at the end of the day, it is not new but the dimension of the insecurity is new in the sense that in the past, it was localised or confined to a particular part of the country, the North-East but now, it is more widespread.

    “We are keeping our eyes, particularly, on the North-West and the South-Eastern part of the country. Elections are conducted by human beings. We worry about the security of our officials, materials, and even the voters themselves. Without them, elections cannot be conducted,” he said.

    Yakubu said they have spoken to the security agencies and have been assured that the situation will improve before the elections.

    Last month, at a forum with members of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Yakubu said the commission is making preparations for around 95 million voters in next years’ general elections.

    He said, “For the 2023 general elections, INEC is making preparations for approximately 95 million voters. Yes, we have 84 million voters now; we have registered 12 million newly. None of the fresh registrants has been added to the register. We are cleaning up the register.

    “Some people said they discovered so many fictitious names on the register. When I heard that, I asked myself: ‘Which register?’ We have not even compiled it. We are cleaning up the data; so, how come that someone already knows the register, which is supposed to be compiled by the commission? It is a very serious matter for us, because it touches at the heart of credible elections.

    “So, some of the people, out of mischief, are talking about what they don’t know. But let me assure Nigerians that no name from the recent Continuous Voter Registration has been added to the register of voters. The law requires us to clean up the data, which we are doing. Thereafter, Section 19, subsection 1 of the Electoral Act says we should throw the register open for Nigerians for claims and objections, so that the citizens can also help the commission to clean the register further.

    “This will be done for at least one week in all the 8,809 wards in the 774 local councils in the country. We haven’t done so yet, but we will do that so that Nigerians will have the opportunity to look at the new registrants before we add them to the new register. So, there is no new register as such; we are still in the process of cleaning up.”

    (Sun)

  • FLOOD: Brace up for more, NiMet tells Nigerians

    FLOOD: Brace up for more, NiMet tells Nigerians

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) have said there is likelihood of more states experiencing floods in the coming days, especially in the North Central, South East and South Western States.

    Director-General, NiMet, Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, and Director-General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Mr Clement Nze, gave the indication at the opening ceremony of the workshop on Hydro-meteorological status and outlook system (HydroSOS).

    The NiMet DG said in the coming days, there would be high intensity rains and coupled with the dams being let open, there will be more floods.

    Benue and Kogi states are experiencing huge flooding, reminiscent of the 2012 floods. The latest floods has led to loss of lives and properties worth billions of naira.

    “Remember, we issued the forecast in February and we followed up with the monthly updates that we’re going to have above normal rainfall in most part of the country. So in terms of the rainfall induced floods, we’ve seen the peak but remember we told you that this rainwater gets collected into the reservoirs and dams, and whenever they are filled, it gets spilled. So, on the 13th of September, the Lagbo Dam was released. And also Kainji and Shiroro dams were also were released. So what we’re witnessing now is riverine flooding” Prof. Matazu explained.

    “And from the information we’re getting from NIHSA we’re going to see more floods. And now the rain is concentrating on the North Central and the southern states. So that will be a combination of short duration, high intensity rain, which riverine flooding. So we’re going to see more of these floods in the north central states as we are seeing in Kogi and also south eastern and southwestern states as we are beginning to see in a number of parts of South West.”

    He further noted that water-associated risks are going to intensify in the coming years as the full weight of climate change begin to bear on our earth.

    “In Africa, water-related hazards such as flood, drought etc has become a major cause of food insecurity, strains on livelihoods, health risks and conflicts in many parts of the continent.”

    The DG NIHSA said the flood that has happened was primarily caused by rainfall and not the released dams.

    He also noted that coupled with the fact that some people had built on flood plains, and with the rise in water levels in the River Niger and Benue, the floods became inevitable.

    Alan Jenkins, the Deputy Director of the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, commended NiMet for being first agency in the world to apply the HydroSOS.

    (Daily Trust)

  • 2023: Enugu APGA Governorship Candidate, Frank Nweke, to unveil manifesto on October 15

    2023: Enugu APGA Governorship Candidate, Frank Nweke, to unveil manifesto on October 15

    Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu

    As the ban on campaign activities for governorship elections is set to be lifted, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Frank Nweke Jr, has announced the unveiling of his campaign manifesto.

    In a statement sent to our Enugu correspondent by his campaign organization, the unveiling will hold on Saturday, October 15, 2022 by 11am, at the Kobb Civic Center, Polo Park Mall, GRA, Enugu.

    Part of the statement reads: “The All Progressives Grand Alliance and The Okeifufe Campaign Organization, on behalf of their gubernatorial candidate, Frank Nweke Jr, are pleased to invite the members of the press, the civil service, Civil Society Organizations and the people of Enugu to the unveiling of Frank’s Manifesto for Reigniting the Coal City.

    “Our Manifesto has been crafted to capture every sphere of life that affects Ndi Enugu while taking note of the priorities”.

    Nweke, a former Minister for Information, emerged the governorship candidate of APGA, after he defected to the party from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

    He has more than 15 years proven leadership experience at both State and Federal government levels and well over 20 years of same in the private sector of the economy.

    He was Chief of Staff to the Governor of Enugu State from 2001-2003. In 2003, he was appointed a Minster by President Olusegun Obasanjo in the Intergovernmental Affairs, Special Duties and Youth Affairs portfolio, making him one of the youngest members of the Nigerian Federal Cabinet in which he served. He was to be later appointed as a Minister for Information and Communications in 2005. Prior to being the Chief of Staff to the Governor he was the Resident Consultant on Economic Affairs.

    In February, 2009, Frank was appointed the Director-General of Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). In 2020, he was elected as the President of Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Association of Nigeria (HKSAAN).

  • IMF downgrades Nigeria’s 2022 growth prospect

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered Nigeria’s economic growth projection for 2022 from 3.4 percent to 3.2 percent.

    The downgrade is 0.2 percentage points lower than the 3.4 percent projected in its July 2022 report.

    The Washington-based institution disclosed this on Tuesday in its World Economic Outlook (WEO) for October 2022 titled, “Countering the Cost-of-Living Crisis”.

    The report also downgraded the economic growth projection for sub-Saharan Africa from 3.8 percent to 3.6 percent in October 2022, citing tighter financial and monetary conditions.

    “In sub-Saharan Africa, the growth outlook is slightly weaker than predicted in July, with a decline from 4.7 percent in 2021 to 3.6 percent and 3.7 percent in 2022 and 2023, respectively — downward revisions of 0.2 percentage points and 0.3 percentage points, respectively,” the report said.

    “This weaker outlook reflects lower trading partner growth, tighter financial and monetary conditions, and a negative shift in the commodity terms of trade.”

    Unlike sub-Saharan Africa, the report projected that growth in the Middle East and Central Asia would increase to 5.0 percent in 2022.

    According to IMF, the development reflects “a favourable outlook for the region’s oil exporters and an unexpectedly mild impact of the war in Ukraine on the Caucasus and Central Asia”.

    “In 2023, growth in the region is set to moderate to 3.6 percent as oil prices decline and the headwinds from the global slowdown and the war in Ukraine take hold,” it added.

    (Sun)

  • ASUU branches begin voting to decide on calling off strike

    Branches of the Academic Staff Union of Universities will commence traditional voting today (Tuesday)and tomorrow (Wednesday) over the ongoing strike by the union, The reporter gathered.

    The decision of the various branches will be transmitted to the National Executive Council for final decision.

    A highly-placed source within the NEC disclosed this in a chat with our correspondent in Abuja on Tuesday.

    “We got the directive after the meeting with the speaker yesterday(Monday). The intervention was timely. Branches will vote between today and tomorrow after which the decisions will be convened to the NEC,” the source said.

    It was reported that the new development comes on the heels of the meeting with the speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who called several meetings between the union and the side of the Federal Government.

    The lead counsel to ASUU, Femi Falana, SAN had also explained to The PUNCH that the strike would be over in a few days.

    ASUU had on Monday, February 14, 2022 embarked on a strike over what the union described as the failure of the government to meet lingering demands of the union.

    The minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige after what he described as “failed negotiations” dragged the striking lecturers to the National Industrial Court.

    The National Industrial Court had on 21 September ordered ASUU to call off the strike.

    The court granted the motion on notice filed by the federal government, directing the lecturers to return to classrooms.

    Ruling on the interlocutory injunction, the trial judge, Polycarp Hamman, restrained ASUU from continuing with the industrial action pending the determination of the suit filed against ASUU by the federal government.

    Displeased by the ruling, the union headed to the appeal court to appeal the ruling.

    It also filed a stay of execution of the ruling of the industrial court.

    The Court of Appeal ordered the striking lecturers to “immediately” call off the eight months strike, having struck out ASUU’s application for a stay of execution of the lower court’s order.

    It said it was within ASUU’s right to appeal the decision of the industrial court.

    Agreeing with the federal government’s argument that ASUU cannot approach the appellate court with “dirty hands”, the panel held, “should the applicant fail to obey the order (of the lower court), the leave granted shall be automatically vacated.”

  • Insecurity: Gunmen kill 4 soldiers in Enugu

    Insecurity: Gunmen kill 4 soldiers in Enugu

    Gunmen have reportedly shot four soldiers dead in Iyiachi community in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State.

    The attack is coming 24 hours after a police station was attacked and set ablaze in the same local government. Two people, including a policeman and a civilian who had gone to the station to lodge a complaint, were killed by the gunmen. Though details of the attack were still sketchy at press time, a viral video showed the dead bodies of the dead soldiers.

    In a related development, gunmen yesterday set ablaze a section of Ezza North Local Government Area Headquarters in Ebonyi State, destroying valuable items and documents worth millions.

    Chairman of the council, Chief Ogodo Ali Nomeh, confirmed the incident to journalists in Abakaliki. He said the arsonists, numbering over 20 people, stormed the area around 1am and proceeded to set the store of the local government ablaze. He said the arsonists were, however, resisted by the police who succeeded in inflicting bullet wounds on some of them before they made their escape.

    “The fire destroyed new air conditioners bought for the renovation of the council, some documents and a generating set and some furniture,” he said.

    He added that the community vigilance apparatus and security agencies were on the trail of the wounded arsonists. He expressed confidence that they will soon be nabbed to answer for the crime.

    On the reason for the attack and identity of their alleged sponsors, the chairman said they would be unearthed at the end of investigation by security agencies. He noted that security has been beefed up at the council area, to forestall a repeat of such incident.

    (Sun)

  • Ejike Eze condemns murder of APC youth leader in Enugu

    Ejike Eze condemns murder of APC youth leader in Enugu

    This act is condemnable in its entirety. Nothing can ever justify this cowardly and brutal behaviour.”

    Ejike Eze, Enugu North senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has expressed shock over the murder of Lucky Idoko, the APC youth leader in the Igboeze-South local government area.

    Mr Eze, in a statement issued on Monday, said Mr Idoko’s death was a huge blow to the party in the state and urged security agencies, especially the police, to fish out and prosecute perpetrators of the crime.

    “I condemn, in strong terms, the callous murder of Idoko, the youth leader of APC in Igboeze South LGA, on October 8 by gunmen. The security agencies should do everything humanly possible to ensure that perpetrators of that heinous and dastardly act are arrested and prosecuted,” Mr Ejike stated.

    The senatorial candidate added, “This act is condemnable in its entirety. Nothing can ever justify this cowardly and brutal behaviour. I am devastated. I am yet to recover from the psychological shock of the gruesome murder of Idoko on Saturday.”

    Mr Eze urged members of the APC in the district and especially in Igboeze-South to remain calm, peaceful, law-abiding and prayerful.

    “May the merciful God that we serve grant Idoko eternal rest till we meet on the resurrection morning,” the statement added.

    On Saturday, Mr Idoko was shot dead in his hometown, Unadu, by gunmen.

    The killing was confirmed on Sunday by the police via a statement.

    (NAN)

  • ASUU ready to call off strike – Falana

    A senior human rights lawyer and counsel for the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Femi Falana, on Monday stated that his clients were ready to call off its nearly eight-month strike. He revealed this at a book launch ‘Breaking Coconut With Your Head’ by Lanre Arogundade on Monday in Lagos.

    He hinted that the industrial action will be concluded outside the courtroom in his reaction to the appellate court’s order that the public universities’ lecturers should return to classrooms.

    In a terse message to our correspondent, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria also called on the Federal Government to fast track and finalise its negotiations with ASUU.

    He expressed confidence that the meeting between the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the presidency over the matter, would yield positive results.

    Responding to enquiry on the state of the ASUU strike, Falana said, “Our clients are ready to call off the strike. The Federal Government should fast track the and finalise the negotiations.

    The federal government and ASUU since February 14 have been at loggerheads over demands of proper funding of the university educational system to a global standard.

  • 2023: Muslim leaders adopt consensus candidate, vow to promote unity, inclusiveness of all

    2023: Muslim leaders adopt consensus candidate, vow to promote unity, inclusiveness of all

    The fight over the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took a twist, yesterday, as northern Christian leaders resolved to work with their Muslim counterparts in the north to adopt one of the presidential candidates .

    The group led by former Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal have stoutly resisted the APC same faith ticket insisting it does not reflect the religious plurality of the country and should not be allowed to fly.

    In recent weeks, the group has held series of consultations with key stakeholders in the party, the northern region and country demanding withdraw of support for the ticket.

    On Saturday, the group held a consultative meeting and dialogue with Northern APC Christian leaders and Northern Muslim political leaders at NAF Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja.

    A communique issued at the end of the meeting, yesterday, said those in attendance agreed not to support the Tinubu/Shettima ticket, but to work together and jointly adopt a pan-Nigerian political platform that would engender unity, inclusiveness and a sense of belonging among Nigerian citizens.

    The communique was jointly signed by former deputy governor of Sokoto State, Yakubu Dogara and former Minister of Water Resources, Mukhari Shagari.

    It read in parts: “Conscious of multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural configuration of Nigeria we believe a same faith ticket and voting along religious lines may trigger dangerous dimensions of negative consequences among our disparate peoples in ways that will hamper nation building.

    “Consequently, we have agreed to channel our energies on matter that unite us more as a people instead of encouraging attacks on sensitives issues bordering on religion in the name of politics. In view of the above, we have agreed to set up a committee with the mandate to fashion out strategies for advancing the objectives set forth in this resolution.”

    It listed tose present at the meeting to include Boni Haruna, Abdulfatah Ahmed, Yakubu Dogara, Lawal, Damishi Sango, Idris Ahmed Umar, Yomi Awoniyi and Simon Achuba.

    Others are Ummara Kumalia, Baba Shehu Agaie, Monday Morgan, Ishaya Bauka, Mohammed Sani Sidi, John Bawa, Iliya Stephen Msheliza, Sarah Allabeh-Nanpon, Shina Ibiyemi and Auwalu Anwar, among others.

    (Sun)

  • Gunmen kill 9 people in Enugu, Plateau

    Gunmen kill 9 people in Enugu, Plateau

    Gunmen yesterday attacked Inyi Divisional Police Headquarters in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.

    The attack led to the death of a police officer and a civilian who was said to have come to the station to lodge a complaint. The gunmen also set the station ablaze. A witness said the attackers were six in number and came in two vehicles.

    “The gunmen numbering six stormed the station and opened fire. The incident caused a serious pandemonium, but they (the gunmen) were telling the passers-by not to worry that they didn’t come for them.

    “After several minutes of heavy shooting, they set the one-storey building ablaze. As I’m talking to you now, the station is on fire. When they left the scene, we counted two dead bodies on the floor. They must have been hit by bullets because we know one of them and he is not a police officer. They came with two vehicles, silver and black coloured,” the witness narrated.

    Also, suspected bandits killed no fewer than seven people in three communities of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

    The attack left the community leader dead, while several households were displaced in Takai, Kunet and Kulias communities in the council area.

    Member representing Mangu/Bokkos Federal Constituency of Plateau State in the House of Representatives, Engr Solomon Bulus Maren, condemned the attack and called for re enforcement of security in the affected communities. He described the persistent attacks on innocent communities as crimes against humanity.

    Maren explained that three communities of Bokkos local government area were attacked within the week and seven people were gruesomely killed, including community leaders. He said unleashing terror on the poor people was another attempt by the wicked groups to set the state ablaze.

    He described the increasing waves of attack on citizens as barbaric and called on security agencies to swing into action and apprehend those behind the killings. He appealed to the state government, the police and Operation Safe Haven to step up security in Bokkos local government and bring the attackers to book.

    Maren said the citizens deserve to be protected by security agencies to enable them to survive and live a peaceful life. While sympathising with the families and victims of the attack at Takai, Kunet and Kulias, he called for the protection of the citizens.

    (Sun)