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Maintain Peace FG Tells Nigerians
The National Information Centre has called on Nigerians to maintain the peace and cooperate with the security agencies now that the Presidential and National Assembly elections are over.
The information is contained in a statement issued by the Coordinator of the centre, Mr Mike Omeri, in Abuja yesterday.
Omeri said the successful conclusion of Saturday’s election would go a long way to prove to the world that the country “is stable where democracy works’’.
He described the high voter turnout, dedication and patience exhibited by voters as a triumph of the nation’s democracy.
Omeri said the high voter turnout, especially in areas previously under Boko Haram control like Maiduguri, was a clear testimony of the Nigerian military’s successes in securing the country.
“The strikingly long lines of voters who turned out to cast their ballots in Maiduguri is a testament to the atmosphere of security and sense of safety that this government has delivered to the people.
“Our military and security agencies’ commitment and brave service has made this election possible.
“Giving our soldiers more time to make the necessary headway against Boko Haram has ensured that Nigerians in the conflict areas participate in the election.’’
Meanwhile, residents of Abuja and Nigerians in general are waiting anxiously for the release of the results of the Presidential and National Assembly elections conducted on Saturday in most parts of the country.
However, INEC endorsed the continuation of voting on Sunday in some states where the elections could not hold due to logistics challenges.
Worshippers in various churches in Abuja, discussed in smalls groups the possible outcome of the elections adjudged to have been generally peaceful and well organised.
They were particularly happy that the uncertainty and tension that pervaded the air over the elections was wearing off.
Some residents who spoke with our correspondent, expressed satisfaction with the improved electoral process that attended the conduct of the election, the fifth in Nigeria’s democratic dispensation since 1999.
They expressed the hope that only contestants who have the interest of the nation and its people at heart would eventually be declared winners.
The Hakimi of Jikwoyi, Hakimi Nocholas Machi, confirmed that this election was the most orderly and peaceful he had witnessed in recent times.
“I believe that the election will be credible given the peaceful atmosphere that we witnessed on Saturday.
“Earlier, I had urged my people to be peaceful as election is not about violence, but it’s about choosing a good leader that can take us to greater heights.”
In his comment, an Abuja resident, Mr Ola Olumide, also expressed joy over the conduct of the elections, which he described as peaceful and orderly.
“As we await the election results, I pray that only those who genuinely want to take this nation to the next level should emerge winners.
“I must say that in my unit at Jikwoyi, we had a very calm atmosphere with voters waiting patiently for voting materials to arrive.
“This shows that Nigerians are actually more politically conscious; they want to choose their leaders; they want to take part in moving their country forward and it is quite interesting,” Olumide said.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, said the appointment is to fill existing vacancies and strengthen the board’s capacity.
The statement said the approved nominees are Mr. Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria.
Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Sam Onyechi, who represents the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The President encouraged the new members to leverage their expertise and dedication to enhance local content development within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It added, “The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.
“The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, comprises representatives from key institutions.
“These include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, and the National Insurance Commission.”
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to construct additional hostels, rehabilitate roads, and enhance power supply in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday by a delegation from the UNIPORT’s Governing Council.
Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had committed to upgrading facilities at UNIPORT as part of efforts to foster partnership with educational institutions across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the implementation of additional projects at the university forms part of a broader strategy to improve education standards in the region.
“Aside from the construction of new hostel blocks and installation of a 300 KVA solar inverter system, the NDDC will also facilitate more projects in the university.
“The commission will also deploy its engineers to assess the condition of UNIPORT’s roads and hostels for potential rehabilitation,” he said.
Ogbuku noted that upon completion, the projects would add to various initiatives previously undertaken by the commission at the university.
“These and other projects reflect our commitment to actualising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region,” he added.
He reaffirmed the NDDC’s dedication to fostering development and strengthening partnerships across the region.
Earlier, Sen. Mao Ohuanbunwa, Chairman of UNIPORT’s Governing Council, who led the delegation commended the current leadership of the NDDC for its achievements in accelerating development in the Niger Delta.
He highlighted the university’s infrastructural challenges, noting that it lacked adequate facilities to accommodate its growing student population, and appealed for the NDDC’s support in addressing the shortfall.
“Currently, UNIPORT has a total student population of about 50,000, while its hostel accommodation capacity can only cater for 5,000 students.
“We therefore urge the NDDC to assist in the construction of additional hostels, improve transportation facilities, and facilitate the acquisition of gas turbines to enhance power supply for our students,” Ohuanbunwa pleaded.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended NDDC for its impactful projects across the Niger Delta and extended an invitation to the commission to participate in the institution’s forthcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.
The Senate has rejected a motion to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu presided over the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was truncated by the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
The election which was won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, was adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the electoral history of Nigeria.
The motion to rename INEC after Nwosu was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe yesterday after lawmakers threw it out last Wednesday.
Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.
Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.
He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”
Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.
On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.
“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.
Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.
“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.
After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.
They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.