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Edo Decides: Harassment, intimidation of voters, opposition should have no place in our democracy – Ekweremadu

As the people of Edo State go to the polls in the 2020 governorship election, former Deputy President of the Senate and member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Campaign Council for Edo State, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has called on the security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to play by the rules in order to revive faith in the nation’s electoral process.

Ekweremadu made the call in a short post on his social media handles Saturday morning.

The lawmaker, who is also on the PDP team in Edo State to monitor the election, insisted that voter and opposition intimidation should have no place in today’s election or at any other time in the nation’s democracy.
He said: “As Edo decides, history beckons on INEC to restore the sagging faith of Nigerians in the transparency, freeness, fairness, and peacefulness of our elections. The Edo 2020 election mustn’t only be free and fair, but must also be seen by all to be so.
“By so doing, INEC will be justifying the enormous resources appropriated to it by the National Assembly and the far reaching electoral reforms, which I was privileged to be a part of, to secure financial and administrative autonomy for the Election Management Body and to free it from political control.
“Security agencies must eschew partisanship, knowing that it is both in their own and the nation’s best and larger interest to preserve and grow our democracy. Therefore, the harassment and intimidation of voters and opposition should have no place in our democracy today or at any other time”.
Ekweremadu, who is also a Member of the Senate Committee on INEC, called on the people of Edo State to come out en masse to vote and also ensure that their voted count.
“Importantly, I call on Edo people to come out en masse to vote and ensure a violence-free environment. If you vote, you’re entitled to your vote counting; if you don’t, then your vote will certainly not count.
“Meanwhile, I’m also on ground here in Edo with other compatriots to monitor the election”, he concluded.

News
Governor Alia distances self from protest against Benue CJ

As protest rocks Benue State against the Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpembese for relocating the Benue Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal from Makurdi to Abuja, Governor Hyacinth Alia has distanced himself from the protest.

Protesters in their hundreds from Benue State took to the streets of Abuja on Monday, for a peaceful protest from the National Assembly to the Supreme Court to express their outrage over the Benue CJ’s decision.

Prior to Monday’s massive protest Justice Ikpembese raised security concerns and moved the Tribunal to Abuja, a development that triggered protest as they are saying the Tribunal would have remained in Makurdi for them to monitor proceedings.
The tribunal is currently handling disputes arising from the Benue State Local Government elections conducted on October 5, 2024.
Reports indicate that 93 petitioners, including aggrieved candidates from both the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, have filed cases at the tribunal since October 17, 2024.
The Benue State Government, through the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Mr. Fidelis Mnyim, had questioned the CJ’s unilateral decision, noting that neither the governor nor his office had been formally notified.

News
Shehu Sani debunks Governor Uba Sani’s alleged diversion of LG funds, challenges El-Rufai to publicly tender evidence

Civil Rights Activist and former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani has debunked the former Governor, Malamn Nasir El-Rufai’s allegation that Governor Uba Sani has diverted the Local Government Councils allocation to buy properties abroad.

Shehu Sani said El-Rufai’s allegation is “falsely crafted to smear the name of of the Governor because of the N420 billion investigation hanging on him like the sword of damocles.”

Reacting to the allegation on Monday, Shehu Sani challenged the former Governor to release proofs of purchases of properties in South Africa, Seychelles and London by Uba Sani publicly.
He said, Kaduna people would not forget in a hurry how Nasir El-Rufai plundered the State in eight years as Governor of the State, stressing that he should stop pushing falsehood into the public space.
He said: “As Kaduna indigenes, we are all living witnesses to how El-Rufai plundered the State and now investigation has indicted him and he should face it rather than pushing falsehood into the public domain.
El-Rufai should be bold enough to show proofs linking governor Uba Sani in the purchase of properties in South Africa, Seychelles and London, then we will take him serious.
“But he should be ready answer for the whereabouts of N420 billion because that money is substantial enough to develop Kaduna State to an extent”, Shehu Sani maintained.

News
Bill to establish National Cashew Production and Research Institute in Kogi passes first reading in Senate

The Nigerian Senate has passed for first reading a Bill to establish the National Cashew Production and Research Institute to be sited at Idah in Kogi East Senatorial District after it was laid on Wednesday last week.

The Bill which was sponsored by Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho representing Kogi East Senatorial District said, the propsed research institute will be situated at Idah, headquarters of Igala kingdom and the institute will be charged with the responsibilities of cashew research, processing and boosting production for local and export consumption.

According to the documents of the proposed bill made available on Monday, it pointed out that the Federal Government could leverage on the abundant cashew production in Kogi East and by extension Kogi State and other parts of the country to ensure that the quality of cashew is processed in line with the global standards, notwithstanding that the current quality of cashew from Kogi State is sought all over the world.
He said the legal framework of the Research Institute will identify the value chain and processing, ensuring that at each level, there is job creation for the teaming youths and not just for the raw nuts to be exported, stating that the current handling of cashew nuts was unacceptable as it tended to bypass the needed revenue that would been generated into government coffers.
Senator Isah said: “This will not only improve the quality of cashew products but also provide support to farmers and cashew business owners in Kogi State, particularly in Kogi East, which is known for its high cashew production.
“The institute will also attract investment, create jobs, and ensure better pricing for cashew farmers, thereby strengthening the local economy in Kogi East, Kogi State and Nigeria at large.”
DAILY POST recalled that a fortnight ago, Kogi State government was urged by the State House of Assembly to safeguard cashew and other economic trees in the State by putting in place stringent measures against abuse.
The regulatory measures which the State parliament said will be put in place, urged the State government to enforce the laws with serious sanction for any erring persons and to also stop foreigners from accessing cashew farms in the State.
The resolution was the outcome of a motion sponsored by Hon. Oluwaseyi Bello representing Kabba Bunu State Constituency in the House of Assembly, adding that the State Ministry of Agriculture should properly monitor and regulate the activities of exploitative foreign businessmen in the interest of revenue for the State and security of the people.
Kogi continues to be the leading State in cashew production in Nigeria which the State government attributed to robust and sound agricultural policies.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo once said: “Kogi State is the biggest producer of cashew in Nigeria because of our sound agricultural policies geared towards empowering farmers with improved seedlings, mechanization, agrochemicals as well as creating an enabling environment for the private sector to invest in cashew production.”

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