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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2012
2015: Oyo ACN endorses Ajimobi as party standard bearer From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan
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ction Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State yesterday endorsed the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi as the standard bearer for 2015 general election. The State Deputy Chairman of the party, Alhaji Isiaka Alimi, stated this while
reading a communiqué at the end of the meetings of 11 local governments in Ibadanland, held at the South-West office of the party, Alakia, Ibadan. Alimi said that members of the party in the 11 local government in Ibadanland ,after series of meeting, passed vote of confidence on governor Abiola Ajimobi
following his good performance in the last one and half year. He further explained that the party decided to give the governor opportunity for continuity. The party also endorsed Ajimobi as the leader of the party after the demise of late former governor, Alhaji Lam
Adesina just as it maintained that there was no other person that could replace his position therefore members of the party decided to endorse the governor. Speaking on behalf of 11 local government caretaker chairmen in Ibadanland, Alhaji Abass Najimdeen from Ibadan South East local
government said the party decision was approved by all council chairmen and party members. He debunked the notion that such decision would raise tension within the party saying the earlier the better for the party to adopt its candidate for 2015 general election.
PDP sues for love and peace at Xmas By Lawrence Olaoye
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Participants at the INEC stakeholder validation of the Commission's Strategic Plan, recently in Abuja.
Photo: NAN
Sokoto denies harassing, intimidating Bafarawa By Sunday Ejike Benjamin
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he Sokoto State Government has denied media report that it is using the machinery of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to harass and intimidate former Governor of the State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa. Bafarawa is currently standing trial before a High Court of Sokoto State on a 144count charge bordering on m i s a p p r o p r i a t i o n , embezzlement and stealing of several millions of naira belonging to Sokoto State government while he was the State Governor. The Prosecuting counsel in
the on-going of the former Governor, Chief J. E. Ochidi in a letter dated December 17, 2012 and addressed to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption said, what Bafarawa stated in his petition to the Committee that was published on December 14, 2012 was not true. “Ordinarily, we would not like to respond or join issues with the former Governor as this matter is before the court, but seeing the manner, the former Governor leaked his petition to the press, we believe that there is a clear intention to bring politics into what is purely a legal matter in order to win cheap public sympathy and
mislead your committee”, Ochidi stated. According to him, it was Bafarawa that wrote to EFCC to investigate his activities when he was Governor of Sokoto State from 1999 to 200, pointing out that the anti-graft agency, in the course of its investigation discovered several acts of corrupt practices and embezzlement of public funds by Bafarawa and 18 other persons. He said: “In the course of the trial, Bafarawa and the 18 others have urged the trial court to quash the charge against them, an application the court refused holding that there is a prima facie case against them and they appealed to the Court of Appeal; which is
still pending. “That the trial of the case has now commenced in earnest, as the first prosecution witness, the Auditor General of Sokoto State has testified as the last hearing of the case on 26th November, 2012 and many documents have been tendered through him”, he added. Ochidi said it is a known established practice that the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly does not delve into issue that is a subject matter of litigation before the court of law and urged the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption not to depart from the practice in the instant case
Xmas: Pray for peaceful coexistence, Tambuwal urges Xtians By Lawrence Olaoye
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peaker of the House of Representatves, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has enjoined Nigerians to renew their faith in their country and work towards building a nation of their dreams. In a message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs,
Malam Imam Imam, to commemorate this year’s Christmas celebration, Tambuwal said with renewed faith, commitment and hardwork, the country will soon realise its full potentials. He said the Christmas period is a time for deep reflection to the teachings of Christianity and what Jesus Christ stands for, and urged
Nigerians, especially Christians, to pray for the peaceful coexistence and unity of the nation. Tambuwal urged leaders at all levels of governance to make the interest of the people their priority at all times, adding that despite the challenges of development confronting the country, progress is being made in some critical sectors. He said the House of
Representatives would continue to play its role in efforts to provide quality representation to the people of Nigeria. “I therefore congratulate Nigerian Christians who joined their colleagues the world over in celebrating this important occasion. May the blessing of the season shower on our homes and our nation,” the Speaker added.
he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday urged the people to celebrate this year’s Christmas with love and peaceful coexistence while equally urging Christians worldwide to pray for the country. The party in a goodwill message signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, also enjoined its members in various positions of authority to emulate the humble life of Christ. The party stated “It is our fervent prayer that Christians, indeed, all Nigerians learn from the abundant and perfect examples of Christ in love, kindness and peaceful coexistence. It is our wish that beyond the jingle bells and festivities, that moments of sober reflection be spared to illuminate and re-kindle national fervour against corruption, religious intolerance, ethnic suspicion and other ills that have kept the nation down for decades. “The Peoples Democratic Party is irrevocably committed to this cause as we make steady progress in actualising our vision for a country where things work better than they do at present. The lessons of Christmas, of Christ, though the Messiah but was born humble and humbly served and saved mankind will guide and further fire our zeal to place the people first. We shall commit more effort s in ensuring that all our members, elected and appointed into positions of authority shall like Christ, be servants and not masters. We must warn however that he that decides otherwise shall be forced by this new resolve, intended as no respecter of persons, to ship out. The statement further said that the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Bamanga Tukur on behalf of the National Working Committee of the Party wished that “ as the birth of Christ brought joy to the Shepherds of Bethlehem, it shall bring warm spirit to our country men and women .”