Daily Times Nigeria Monday, February 9, 2015
5 News
PDP to Jega: Probe your staff over PVC losses Lateef Ibrahim Abuja
ÏÏÏThe
People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the level of involvement of some of its staff on the lopsided distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). The party made the call in its reaction to the postponement of the general elections to March 28th. The party, in a statement Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh,
pointed out that it was in support of the reasons adduced by INEC in shifting the polls, which bother mainly on security concerns in the north east zone. The party stated that the timelag has provided ample opportunity for INEC to look inward and probe including the ad-hoc staff on their roles in the PVCs debacle. It would be recalled that Prof. Attahiru Jega had relied on powers of the Commission as provided by section 26 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), and an advisory from security forces over their inability to pro-
vide adequate security for the election, in postponing the election. “However, on account of the reasons adduced by the security forces and INEC, we believe that this shift, which is still within the constitutionally-allowed period, can be accommodated,” Metuh stated. He added: “INEC must also use this period to attend to our earlier call to address the issue of denial of PVCs to non-indigenes in select states. “This is especially as the INEC Chairman himself acknowledged that only 45,829,808 mil-
Jega
lion, representing 66.58 percent of the total number of registered voters have received their PVCs. “INEC itself has confirmed that as at last week, well over
PDP members in Share run into hiding for fear of attack Ola Yekeen Ilorin
ÏÏÏMembers
L-R: National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd); National Chairman APC, Chief John Oyegun and APC chieftain, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu at a press briefing on the postponement of Feb. 14th election in Abuja…on Sunday. PHOTO: TEMITOPE BALOGUN
Sharia police arrest street beggars in Kano
Yakubu Salisu Kano
ÏÏÏKano
State Sharia Board, popularly known as Hisbah, has arrested about 46 street beggars comprising 34 almajiris, eight female adults and four men within Kano metropolice. According to the board’s Public Relations Officer, Malam Muhammad Yola, said the Kano State Government has mandated them with the responsibility of keeping the city’s streets free from beggars as a law was enacted prohibiting the act within the ancient city. He further explained that two
Information mgt, a boost to peaceful elections
out of the men had been charged to court, while the remaining two and the eight females who were first time offenders would be released. For the Almajiris, he said what the board normaly does is to invite their Mallams and make them sign an undertaking that their students won’t go back to the street anymore. Furthermore, he stated that his officers won’t relent in getting rid of beggars who were in the habit of begging for alms on major roads in the state. This he said, poses great danger to their lives and others on the road. He
said people must know that begging is not Islamic although one is allowed to solicit for help should he be in a dire situation adding that Shari’a only permits him to ask for what he needs to solve that problem while insisting that if he must add a kobo on the amount he needs in case of money, that additional kobo is “haram”. “So people must learn to be hard working and useful to themselves and the society” Yola stated. He also called on their relations to take care of them and discourage them from going to the street as it is against the law of the state.
Chijioke Kingsley
of Plateau State that his office will ensure that politicians did not heat up the polity with words capable of throwing the state into unnecessary crisis. Hon. Abubakar was a grass root politician and he was Chairman of Wase Local Government Area
Jos
ÏÏÏThe
Commissioner for Information in Plateau State, Hon Muhammed Abubakar Badu, who took over from Bar. Olivia Dazeim, during the reshuffling of cabinet last year, has assured the people
of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Share, home town of Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, have run into hiding for fear of being attacked by the opposition. PDP chairman in Ifelodun Local Government Area, Alhaji Aliyu Salami, on Sunday, told our correspondent on phone that many PDP members have deserted the town due to threats of attack. Salami, a native of the town said he has left home with his family when hoodlums allegedly threatened to burn down his house and vandalise any property
Political parties sign peace accord Yakubu Salisu
ÏÏÏThe Nigerian Police Com-
mand, on Sunday, invited political parties in the state to sign a peace accord just as it was done in Abuja. The event during which the accord was signed, took place at the Nigerian Police
in Plateau State for three consecutive times. Given his background, he knows that politicians are capable of destroying the peace of the state and by extension the entire country if the information they spread are not properly managed.
two million voter cards were either not yet delivered to INEC by its contractors, lost or stolen. “For instance, we are aware that in Borno state, 90 percent of the PVCs were handed over to state government officials, who distributed them by proxy contrary to laid-down procedures. “Also in Owerri North Local Government of Imo state, the LGA of our National Woman Leader, only new registered voters have received their PVCs. Citizens with old voters card have not had any replacement and this scenario abounds in other places”, he said.
belonging to PDP members in the town. “As I am talking to you, my family members and I, as well as many PDP members and supporters are hiding in the bush awaiting security agents to rescue us,” he said. The chairman added that he had to take to his heels as the hoodlums threatened that the attack earlier visited on a PDP supporter from Share, Mallam Sikiru Ayesoro, would be a child’s play. He said that houses and properties belonging to PDP members in the town had been marked for attack as it was allegedly the case at Isapa, home town of PDP governorship candidate few days ago. Salami said though, he has contacted security agents and PDP hierarchy over their dilemma, members of the opposition party, APC led government should be held responsible for any untoward actions. Officer’s Mess, Milla road, Bompai. According to the Command, it was aimed at controlling what could happen if things are left unchecked. The outgoing Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aderinle Shinaba, who was recently promoted to the rank of AIG, said such agreement is necessary observing what happened in the state in recent times where lots of cars were set ablaze by thugs from opposing parties and cases of loss of lives. According to him, the Nigerian Police Force would not relent in bringing to book any person or group that causes a set back to fragile level of peace enjoyed in the state. He said politicians must not as a result of their selfish interests push the youths into violence. He said the Command would hence forth not tolerate inflammatory comments made by some politicians.