By IBRAHIM QUADRI
Over five thousand women on Thursday took to Lagos streets to demonstrate their support for a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon.Bayo Osinowo who is seeking a Senatorial seat from Lagos East.
This was disclosed by the Director of Women Affairs, Honourable Bayo Osinowo Campaign Organization, Alhaja Kafila Ogbara.
The women dressed in pink T-shirt were seen in a long train of vehicular movement displaying funfair. The rally started from Jibowu and terminated in Ikorodu Town.
Osinowo who is popularly referred to as ‘Pepperito’ has been in the Lagos Assembly since 2003 is contesting the Senatorial seat under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ogbara explained that the lawmaker had influenced a number of projects for his constituents, saying with such laudable achievements had convince them that he would represent their interest well at the Senate.
She said, “What he has done is what has encouraged our leaders including Asiwaju Tinubu and leaders of GAC to endorse him.”
She also disclosed that “Over five thousand women are in the political train drawn from Lagos East Senatorial district.
“We are having a road show, we are sensitizing, educating and mobilizing women for Honourable Bayo Osinowo for Lagos East Senatorial election on Saturday 16, 2019.
“There is a very vital role for women in politics. Policies that the political class make, plays a major role in our daily lives, either directly or indirectly.
“It affects our children and the society at large, so it is important for every woman to be part of the process. We must play our role and as mothers, what we do, is what we inculcate in our children.
“We are also warning our children to avoid any violent activities in this coming elections. We are also calling on them to get their PVC, the distribution will last even till Saturday and Sunday.
“We are also appealing to them to be patient on election day when they see a long queue, they should not be discpiraged or scared. They should make sure that they are not disenfranchised,” she said.
Ogbara charged the people irrespective of their professions to participate in political process, adding that “they must be politically relevent.”
Responding to a question on the strength of Osinowo in Lagos East, Ogbara boasted, “Honourable Osinowo’s capacity is evident. He has been in the House in the last sixteen years. That is why the people in the Lagos East especially the leadership have endorsed him.”
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Elections: NCC suspends ban on unsolicited text messaging
The Nigerian Communications Commission has announced the temporary suspension of the Do-Not-Disturb facility on mobile networks.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, the regulatory commission said that it suspended the DND to enable mobile operators to disseminate information on the 2019 General Elections which begins on February 16.
The DND enable subscribers to choose what kind of text messages they can receive from operators or even opt out completely from receiving unsolicited text messages from mobile operators.
The commission explained that the suspension was necessary to enable Mobile Network Operators to disseminate specific information on voter education on behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
According to NCC, in implementing the suspension, MNOs are to be mindful of existing directives regarding the timing and regularity of such messages and the fact that the temporary suspension is only with regards to the specific messages on voters’ education.
The NCC had issued Guidance to all MNOs and Value Added Service Providers to the effect that:
“MNOs should ensure that their facilities are not used to disseminate political or religious contents which are abusive, insulting, intimidating and harassing, and/or which incite violence, hatred or discrimination against any person or group of persons.
“MNOs shall provide service to participants in the political process, only to the extent that their licence and the regulatory process permits.
“MNOs shall maintain the principle of neutrality in all their dealings regarding all the political process
“MNOs shall at all times seek and obtain the approval of the Commission at all times.”
The commission also expressed its readiness to strictly monitor the activities of the MNOs for the duration of the temporary suspension.
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2019: Don’t miss senate president’s seat, APC chieftain tells southeast
The Senatorial candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the Southeast zone, have been urged not to allow the senate president position elude them.
A chieftain of APC, in Imo state, Livinus Okwara, yesterday said that failure to achieve that would have a negative impact on the zone politically.
He added that the pursuit for the Southeast zone to produce the Senate President has been made easier since the APC, had zoned the position to the zone.
Okwara said that the drama, which took place in the 2015 election, became an impediment to getting the Senate President position for the Igbo.
He called on the Igbo to support the APC, for them to realise the agenda of making an Igbo man Senate president in 2019.
He reasoned that “I want to say this before it is late. I am calling on all the Senatorial candidates in the Southeast zone who are contesting under the APC to please work hard and win their election.
“This is important because the APC, the ruling party has zoned the Senate president position to the Southeast zone and it is left to us to clinch that position by making sure that we support and encourage our brothers in APC, including those who are of the APC, to support the APC.
“If the Southeast zone gets this position it will not be very difficult for them to produce the next president of this country is 2023. Please, my brothers and sisters, this is the time to make a difference. We have to move our zone forward and make way for development to take place in our land.
“All of us will enjoy it. Our region will grow politically as well as economically. It is time that we see this from the point of view of the general interest of the people of the Southeast zone.”
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INEC seeks improved participation of women in electoral process
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC yesterday expressed concern over low participation of women in the electoral process in the country.
The Residents Electoral Commissioner, REC, Enugu, Dr Emeka Ononamadu, who made this known during a one-day meeting with Initiative for Gender and Social Development, IGSD, at Top Rank Hotel, Enugu, urged women to fully participate in 2019 general elections
Ononamadu who was represented by INEC Administrative Secretary, Mr Enyinnaya Onyekwere, urged women to come out en mass to vote saying that women participation in the electoral process would foster progress in Nigeria.
He advised participants to mobilise other women to use their voters’ cards as a weapon to bring about positive change in the country.
“Election is at the very critical stage and as a commission, we are gender sensitive. We are passionate about fostering women’s participation and political visibility in Nigeria. We created a Gender desk office in INEC to accommodate everybody in elections.
“We had met with the security agency and they have guarantied the security of everyone. Urge your children to avoid violence before, during and after the election.
“I urge you to go back to your various zone and educate others and come out en- masse to vote for their choice of candidates”,
He said. In her address, the Gender Desk Officer, INEC, Enugu, Mrs. Edna Nnolum, commended women for their participation during the Continuous Voters Register, CVR which yielded a good result and urged them to do same during voting proper.
Mrs. Nnolum disclosed that the implementation meeting would put women Civil Society Organisations, CSO’s action in context to facilitate good outing for women at the polls in their zones.
She encouraged women to get their Permanent Voters Card, PVCs, ready and also understand Election Day procedure as outlined by INEC to avoid voidable votes, vote selling and other electoral offences.
Edna who urged women and men to come out en- mass and exercise their franchise during the election, assured women of the preparedness of the INEC in collaboration with security agencies to ensure a free, fair and credible election.
“As at today, the Presidential and National Assembly election is only nine days away, while the governorship and state assembly poll will take place two weeks afterwards. This implementation meeting is now taking place to put CSO’s action in context to facilitate good outing for women at the polls.
” We shall concentrate on Election Day as well as post-election activities and ensure that women’s participation in the election is well supported,” she said.
The National President of Initiative for Gender and Social development, IGSD, Mr Christian Mmadu, disclosed that the implementation meeting was to sensitise women on the need to fully participate in the forthcoming election and the preparedness of INEC to ensure a free, fair and credible election.
He charged women CSOs who participated in the seminar to go back to the grassroots to sensitize others on the need to participate in the electoral process.
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Be Safety Conscious During Elections Coverage – NUJ Ex-Secretary
As the general elections draw nearer, journalists have been advised to be conscious, as no story or photograph was worth losing their lives.
Mrs. Rafat Salami, former Secretary, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory Council, said on Thursday during a 3-day workshop on Gender Sensitive Reporting, Equity and Safety, organized for female journalists in Kaduna.
“No story is worth the life of any journalist. This programme is to equip journalists with skills that will make them do their job safely, as a lot of journalists are injured, or killed on the line of duty.
“As we do our jobs, we will try to reduce the incidence of injuries by equipping journalists with the right skills.
“This programme is in partnerships with International Federation of Journalists and the Federation of African Journalists sponsored by the Norwegians Union of Journalists.
“Please in doing your job, give voice to women, let women be represented and in doing so, highlight issues that affect women much more than we are talking about now.
“Insecurity and crises affect women more. We need to highlight them in our reportage,’’ she said.
Salami noted that the workshop which had been on since 2017, would continue until all states benefit, and advised women to always take themselves seriously so that others would do so.
“Women should not be afraid to bring themselves forward and air their views. Women should also strive to keep their children safe during and after the elections,” she added.
Earlier, the Kaduna State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Adamu Yusuf stressed the need for journalists to abide by the ethics of the profession before, during and after the forthcoming election.
Yusuf commended the National Executive of NAWOJ for organizing the workshop, which he noted was an opportunity to give female journalists the opportunity to improve on their skills for effective coverage of the general election.
In her welcome address, the Chairperson, Kaduna chapter of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Hajiya Fatima Aliyu, said the workshop would address thorny issues on gender sensitive reports, equity and justice for women.
“I hope that this workshop will undoubtedly engender robust deliberations as we rub minds to chart desired course for the role of the womenfolk in journalism,’’ she added.
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EFCC Secures Conviction of Three for Land Scam
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Maiduguri Zonal Office, Thursday secured the convictionof Bulama Yahaya, Wakil Bukar and Umar Bukar Gaji for a N1.5 million land scam.
They were arraigned before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High court sitting in Maiduguri on an amended two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and cheating.
The prosecuting counsel, Halima Shehu, informed the court of the amended two-count charge, which was necessitated by the disappearance of the prime suspect in the case, and a plea bargain agreement dated February 5, 2019.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Bulama Yahaya, Wakil Bukar and Umar Bukar Gaji, sometimes in June 2017, in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N 1,500,000 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) only from one Mohammed Abatcha to whom you sold Plot No 305 to him instead of Plot No 902 situated at Polo on BOTP/159 Extension Layout behind Federal High Court Maiduguri under the false pretence that the said Plot No 902 belongs to Umar Bukar Gaji, which pretence you knew to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 (a) of the Borno State Penal Code Laws CAP. 102 and punishable under section 322 of the same Law.”
She prayed the court to substitute and read the charges earlier filed on November 19, 2018 with the amended one dated February 7, 2019 “to enable them take their pleas”.
The defendants pleaded “guilty” to the amended charges.
Justice Kumaliya, thereafter, convicted them and sentenced them to six months in prison with an option of N20,000 as fine.
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Only righteousness will elevate Nigeria – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the Church to continue to stand for righteousness and truth, and preach against all forms of corruption.
Mr Buhari made the appeal on Thursday in Makurdi at the 15th Biennial Conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). He was represented at the event by Vice President Yemi Osibanjo.
He said it is important for the Church to always stand on the side of righteousness and truth, as”it is only righteousness that can elevate our country.”
He lamented the recurring crises in Benue since 2011 and called on herders and farmers to sheath their swords and live in peace.
”It happens without exceptions. In fact, without exceptions. But with your prayers, there is peace and your meeting here is in peace. With your prayers, it has been put under control.
”If it were before now your families would have discouraged you from visiting Benue because of the clashes. God will make Benue a point of contact to all nations,” the president said.
On the forthcoming general election, Mr Buhari said its outcome was in the hands of God and urged all Nigerians to play their part within the confines of the law.
Earlier, National President, PFN, Felix Omobude, assured that the Church would continue to pray for the president and his administration.
Mr Omobude pledged that the Church would not leave the country’s leaders out of its prayers.
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