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2019 Presidency: Why Atiku Can’t Beat Buhari – Tony Momoh

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A former minister of Information, Chief Tony Momoh, on Thursday said he was confident that President Muhammadu Buhari would win the 2019 presidential election.

Momoh told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that the president had done his best as a leader to deserve re-election.

He said the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, could not stop Buhari as he (Abubakar) was only popular with the elite and not the masses.

Momoh, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the Buhari administration has impacted on many ordinary Nigerians, and they would vote for him in 2019.

He, however, admitted that Buhari would lose some votes in the North because Atiku is from the region, but that the APC candidate would make up in other regions to be able to win.

“I don’t think Atiku can defeat Buhari. No, he can’t, Buhari has done well in the delivery of his electoral promises and he will get the support of the people.

“Look at the war against insurgency for instance, has he not done well? Is the situation in the North East as it used to be? Of course there is relative security in the region and the people will want to vote for an administration that made that possible.

“Again, the school feeding programme, the conditional cash transfers and the other social programmes of the government, tens of thousands of Nigerians have benefitted. You don’t expect them not to vote Buhari.

“These are the real people that will vote, not the people on Facebook or Twitter. The people who are moving against the president now are the elite, not the people, and the reasons are obvious.

“Yes, Atiku is popular with the elite, but how many are they? So I don’t see him winning, though, he will get votes in the North as he is from that region and he is a Fulani and a Muslim like Buhari.

“However, the president will make up for lost votes in other regions like South East and South-South where he has delivered many projects to win,’’ he said.

The former minister said the achievements of the president’s fight against corruption and the power of incumbency would work in Buhari’s favour in 2019.

Momoh said it was an illusion for the PDP to believe the selection of former governor, Peter Obi of Anambra State as Atiku’s running mate would deliver the region to the party.

He said the Igbo are politically sophisticated and it had never been easy predicting their direction in any election.

Momoh argued that Buhari picked running mates, late Chuba Okadigbo and late Ume Ezeoke on two occasions for elections, but still lost in the South East.

The former minister said the region was open to both candidates in 2019, based on large number of both the APC and PDP members in the area.

He urged Nigerians to participate in the electoral process and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, to vote leaders of their choice.

“The power to choose in 2019 belongs to the people. For that reason, I urge Nigerians to obtain their PVCs to participate in the process.

“It is only when we participate that we can vote people of our choice to help realise the development objectives of our nation,’’ Momoh said.

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Cross-River workers embark on warning strike over non-implementation of minimum wage

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Civil servants in Cross River state have commenced a strike over the non-implementation of the new minimum wage.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had slated November 25 and 26 for the warning strike.

They warned that the industrial action would be followed by a total strike should the government fail to do the needful before December 1.

Bassey Otu, governor of Cross River, appealed to the unions to shelve the plan and “support the government in its quest to improve the lot of our people”.

The governor made the appeal at the 5th edition of the state solemn assembly at U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

Otu said his administration is committed to the welfare of workers.

“I appeal to the leadership of organised labour and all affiliates of the NLC and TUC to suspend their planned strike,” he had said.

“I enjoin them to support the government in the quest to improve the lot of our people.”

On July 29, 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed the minimum wage bill into law. The legislation increased the country’s minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000.

On November 11, NLC announced November 30 as the deadline for all state governments to implement the new minimum wage.

The union ordered its members to embark on an indefinite strike in states where the new minimum wage is yet to be implemented.

However, several states have begun implementation of the new wage.

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Driver escapes death as 40ft container falls on car in Lagos

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A yet-to-be-identified driver luckily escaped death on Monday morning when a 40-foot-laden container fell onto a Toyota Camry, with registration number LSR 293 HJ, at Mile 2, en route to Apapa Ports, Lagos.

The accident, according to an eyewitness, happened at about 8 a.m.

Fortunately, the driver of the car was rescued by the prompt intervention and coordinated response of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other emergency services, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

The victim received immediate medical attention after being rushed to the hospital by the joint rescue team.

Security during the operation was effectively maintained by officers from the Kirikiri Police Division, who ensured a secure and orderly environment for the emergency responders.

Following the rescue, the Toyota Camry was successfully removed from beneath the container.

As of 9.30 am, efforts to evacuate the fallen container were in full swing, while LASTMA officers managed the scene to ease traffic congestion and restore normalcy.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, reiterated the critical importance of proper container securing by truck drivers and owners.

He stressed that negligence in this regard endangers lives and property, urging strict compliance with road safety protocols to avert such catastrophic occurrences.

“LASTMA remains unwavering in its commitment to ensuring the safety and efficiency of Lagos roadways and continues to work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders to uphold traffic laws and enhance public safety,” Bakare-Oki stated.

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Lagos state government removes illegal shop extensions blocking drainage channels in Lagos Island

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The Lagos State government has cleared illegal shop extensions obstructing drainage systems and a government-provided water tap in Lagos Island.

The exercise was conducted by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), led by its General Manager, Arc. Gbolahan Oki.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by Adu Ademuyiwa, Director of Public Affairs at LASBCA, via the agency’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday.

The enforcement operation focused on Idi-Oluwo Street, where shop extensions had blocked critical drainage channels and access to potable water, leaving the community without essential resources.

Arc. Gbolahan Oki highlighted the adverse impacts of these illegal structures on residents, noting that several shop owners had constructed extensions over public drains and a government-provided water tap, causing significant disruptions to the area.

“In a proactive effort to ensure public safety, orderliness, and the smooth flow of traffic, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has taken decisive action by removing illegal shop extensions obstructing drainage systems and community water supplies along Idi-Oluwo Street, Lagos Island.

“Leading the LASBCA Enforcement Team, the General Manager, Arc. Gbolahan Oki, highlighted the adverse impacts of these illegal structures on residents. He noted that several shop owners had built extensions over public drains and water tap, causing significant disruptions,” the statement read in part.

The statement revealed that one of the removed extensions had blocked access to a government-provided water tap, cutting off the entire community’s supply of potable water. The swift removal of these illegal structures restored water access to the affected area.

Arc. Gbolahan Oki emphasized the need for residents to respect public infrastructure and take collective responsibility for preserving community resources.

Furthermore, the statement noted that Arc. Gbolahan Oki issued a one-week ultimatum to traders at Idi-Oluwo, directing them to address the identified violations or face stringent legal consequences.

At Mankanra Market, the LASBCA team uncovered several environmental infractions, including shanties obstructing walkways, which compromised the market’s functionality and safety.

Additionally, the statement highlighted that Hon. Princess Lara Oyekan-Olumegbon, representing Lagos Island Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, praised LASBCA’s proactive efforts.

She urged market leaders to ensure their members adhere to state regulations on sanitation and structural integrity, warning that defaulters would face penalties as prescribed by law.

The LASBCA team also visited Bombata Market, where Arc. Oki advised market leaders to prioritize cleanliness and foster an orderly trading environment.

He assured them of a follow-up inspection within three months to confirm compliance with required standards and maintain the improvements.

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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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