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Time Will Tell On My Position In APC, Says Saraki

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Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Saturday declared that time will determine his position in the affairs of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Saraki noted that although he does not want to dwell on the issue of whether he is still wanted in APC or not, he said “time will tell what happens.”

The Senate President made the declaration at a farewell dinner for delegates of the International Press Institute (IPI) World Congress which he hosted in Abuja.

The Senate President was responding to a comment by the Chairman, Daily TrustNewspapers, Kabiru Yusuf, who praised him for going to Saudi Arabia to perform the Lesser Hajj, went to Russia where he addressed the Russian parliament and returned home to attend the APC convention “a party to which he belongs but which increasingly does not belong to him.”

Saraki appeared to have been taken aback by the remark that he “belongs to APC but increasingly the party does not belong to him.”

He said, “Kabiru made a comment and said that he welcomes me as a member of the party and further said he is not sure if the party welcomes me as much as I welcome them.

“I am not going to comment on that because I will be here all night commenting on that. I won’t like to be the front page story but time will tell on that.

“Already, based on this comment, I know most newspapers headline would be time will tell. So I won’t be surprised if I check This Day newspapers and I see: The Senate President says time will tell.”

On the IPI World Congress in Africa, Saraki expressed hope that in the near future Africa will receive nod to host it again.

He also expressed pleasure that the world’s best journalists, editors and media executives converged in Nigeria to explore the theme – ‘Why Good Journalism Matters: Quality Media For Strong Societies’.

Saraki noted that he had no doubt, from the engaging sessions and enriching discussions over the last couple of days, many strategies should have been formulated that will take the practice of journalism to new heights around the world.

He welcomed IPI officials to Nigeria and called for more regular visits, and indeed annual congresses, in Africa.

“This, I believe, will make for better understanding of Nigerians and Africans in the eyes of the international media. When international journalists themselves come in our midst and get the right position about Africa, the image of our continent will start to improve in the eyes of the world out there,” Saraki said.

The visiting journalists, he said, will agree with him that “negative stereotypes of the so-called ‘dark continent’ have been bandied about for too long.

“This has had an unfortunate effect on the development of Africa, as well as the sense of pride and dignity of young Africans down the ages.”

The Senate President said that they know that “these negative notions of Africa are largely misconceptions.”

According to him, “in those cases where there may have been some truth in them, what we also know is that culture is not static. Some things that may have been true of Nigeria in the 1930s are no longer the case in the Nigeria of today. We can say much the same about America in many respects, or indeed of any place else.

“Culture is dynamic and refreshes itself; it evolves. It would therefore be appropriate for the larger world’s view of Africa to move apace, in line with the changing times. The media is key to achieving this.”

He added that “how we begin to redress the balance goes to the heart of responsible journalism itself.

“It starts with quality, accurate and objective reporting – the hallmarks of good journalism. Objectivity and impartiality, those time-honoured principles of responsible journalism, cannot be over-emphasised,” he said.

Saraki noted that “as Nigeria heads into the 2019 election year, we plead with the press – national and international – to maintain objectivity at all times in their reporting.”

“I say this because there can be no democracy without credible elections. If we get the election right, then we have a better chance of making a stronger society.

“We are living in times that call on the press to strive, more than ever, to defend freedoms. Events all over the world attest to the urgency of this.

“The media must be a defender of values; it must stand for rights, for openness – for the remaking of a world where the powerful will not oppress the weak.”

The Senate President I noted that “in the era of Fake News, especially with the fragmentation of the social contract as we are witnessing all over the world today, it is clear to me that the media cannot afford to be complacent.”

The media, he insisted, “cannot allow itself to be complicit” saying “when false claims are made, which could heat up the polity – or set different groups off against one another – it behoves the media to expose these by countering with verifiable facts.”

He recognised that the media is facing its own challenges, due in part to the internet and the rise of social media.

“So also, are the modes of relaying the news to an audience whose preference for receiving mass communication is also changing with each passing day.

“The media must adapt for this rapidly changing environment, in order that the journalist may fulfill his or her role, in the Lincolnian tradition, as a defender of democracy.”

Saraki who said that more than ever, the media must be proactive in defending the people’s right to know added that “in spite of the obstacles, the press must press on, because it is its responsibility to help society know itself better.”

He said that the media is a galvanising artery that holds the world together, a collective mirror to global conscience.

“We salute you, and thank you for your steadfastness and courage, despite the privations suffered in the journalist’s pursuit of the people’s right to know,” he said.

He assured of the continued support of the Senate, and indeed the entire 8th National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to ensuring a free and vibrant press capable of playing its part in strengthening democratic norms.

“We stand committed to upholding press freedom, and to come to the aid of journalists whenever the need arises.

“Our doors are open and will remain open to ideas, strategies and policies for improving the practice of journalism in Nigeria and the condition of the journalists themselves – in line with global standards,” he said.

Politics

2027 election: LP considers automatic tickets for Obi, Otti

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The Labour Party has reserved its 2027 presidential ticket for its candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi.

This was contained in a communiqué issued after the party’s national convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Wednesday.

The communiqué was signed by the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, and the party’s National Secretary, Umar Ibrahim.

“The convention in session, based on the antecedents of the presidential candidate before, during and after the 2023 general election, recommend that the 2027 presidential ticket of the party be solely reserved for His Excellency, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, the national leader of the party,” the communique read.

Obi, who was the party’s presidential candidate in 2023, came third behind President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The party also recommended that the governorship ticket of the party be reserved for the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti.

The convention was initially set to be held in Umuahia, Abia State, but was moved to Nnewi, Anambra State.

This is coming after the Nigeria Labour Congress described the convention as illegal.

The political wing of the NLC also called for Abure’s resignation as party chairman.

However, on Wednesday, Abure was re-elected as the party’s chair.

The communique further read, “The national convention reviewed the state of the nation and concluded that it is not grabbing power that matters but what you do with it.

“After the 2023 general election, the security situation of the nation has not improved as there is a geometrical increase in numbers of lives lost and the economy has worsened as the standard and conditions of living of the Nigerian populace has continue to deteriorate.

“Inflation is skyrocketing, unemployment rate is high, this has led to massive hunger and poverty in the land. This is a result of the continuous devaluation of the currency and increase in petroleum product prices.”

The convention called on President Bola Tinubu to quickly take drastic and proactive steps to save the economy from total collapse.

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Politics

Abure re-elected as LP National Chairman despite battle with NLC

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Julius Abure has been re-elected as the National Chairman of the Labour Party for a second term.

He was re-elected on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, during the party’s national convention in Anambra State.

Ikechukwu Emetu, the Chairman of the National Convention and Deputy Governor of Abia State declared him the winner at the convention.

Abure will steer the affairs of the Labour Party for another term despite his lingering battle with the NLC leadership led by Joe Ajaero.

Before the convention, the leadership of the NLC had called for Abure’s resignation.

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Politics

FG approves 30% youth representation in all government appointments

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The federal government has approved 30 percent youth representation in all government appointments.

Speaking on Monday after the federal executive council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, Jamila Ibrahim, minister of youth development, said the 30 percent quota will address issues of youth exclusion in decision-making processes in the country.

She said the council also approved the restructuring of the youth investment fund, adding that a technical committee has been established for its review.

“We have received council’s approval to institutionalise a 30% youth quota, representation of young people in all government appointments and equitable young women representation inclusive of this 30%,” she said.

“This will go a long way to address the long marginalisation and exclusion of young people in decision-making and it will also go a long way to encourage young people to participate in decision-making process and in civic engagement.

“This will in turn lead to young people contributing tremendously to the national development agenda.

“I am also pleased to announce the second council approval to restructure and institutionalise the Nigerian youth investment fund.

“This is a fund that was approved in 2020 and on assumption of office of this administration, we commissioned a technical committee to review the fund and restructure it with the aim of institutionalising it through a legal framework which will lead to the establishment of the Nigerian Youth Fund.”

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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