News
PDP Concludes Campaign in the South West with Promises of Restructuring and Industrialisation
The People’s Democratic Party concluded the campaign in the South West region today, Thursday, 19th January 2023, with an astounding turnout of party supporters in Ibadan, the third most populous city in the country. The venue, Mapo Hall on Bere road has over the better part of the last century, hosted major political and social events. Indeed, it was on the very spot where Nnamdi Azikiwe delivered his presidential address and Chief Obafemi Awolowo held his campaign rally several decades ago, that the PDP presidential candidate made yet another contribution to history when he addressed the teeming crowd of Oyo indigenes who turned up for the rally.
After receiving a certificate of endorsement presented by the National Coordinator of Nigerian students on behalf of the students of South West Nigeria, HE Atiku Abubakar thanked all present at the rally for their support and loyalty. He also expressed his gratitude to Governor Seyi Makinde for ensuring that the rally was well organised and orchestrated. In his speech, he noted that the South West has always agitated for restructuring which is one of the five pillars of the PDP agenda. Granting them fiscal autonomy, he explained, would ensure that states and local governments develop their infrastructure more rapidly.
Furthermore, he promised an end to student strikes as lecturers would be paid promptly. The Presidential Candidate stated that the South West is a renowned business centre and consequently the PDP’s economic programme is committed to ensuring that the industrialisation of the South West is achieved. The incoming government, he said, will also promote unity by ensuring the inclusion of every part of the country, unlike the current APC government. He reiterated his commitment to take control of the security situation so that law and order will prevail in every geo-political zone. Finally, he assured his supporters that his promises will be kept unlike the present government that made several promises which they failed to honour.
Other speakers like Senator Dino Melaye and Senator Iyorchia Ayu, Chairman of the PDP party also commended Governor Seyi Makinde for creating an enabling environment for the campaign to take place. According to Senator Dino, the participation of all the stakeholders in Oyo, including the voters, was clear proof that indeed HE Atiku Abubakar will become the next president. Senator Adeleke, Governor of Osun state also exhibited similar confidence of certain victory when he assured the crowd that once the formula with which he defeated APC in the gubernatorial election is applied, they would stand no chance in the presidential election.
The Director General of the campaign, Honorable Tambuwal, expressed his delight at being present in Mapo Hall “at the beginning of a new dawn of the history of Nigeria.” He also commended Governor Makinde for his democratic spirit. “This is the last state in the South West. PDP has a great presence here and is determined to win. Unlike another candidate that went to Kano with absolutely no message offered other than dancing, the Unifier has a strong message for all Nigerians from the vintage position of the historic Mapo Hall,” he said.
Governor Emmanuel Udom, Chairman of the Campaign Council directed his main message to the youths and students. “It is one of the largest turnouts and shows that Ibadan is still the largest city. Amongst all the candidates that want to be president, there is only one candidate who is talking about restructuring. The implication of that to Oyo state is that it will be given an opportunity to regain its pride of place. The only candidate that understands industrialisation and appreciates the fact that Oyo deserves an inland port, is PDP’s candidate. A viable port in Oyo state will ensure rapid development. People from all over Nigeria will no longer need to go to Lagos as they can clear their goods in Oyo state. This will empower the youth, students and women. Under his industrialisation policy, he has promised to establish an inland port in Oyo state,” he said.
Speaking on the division in the party, the Chairman of the Party, Senator Iyochia Ayu pledged his commitment to reunite all members of the PDP. “Sometimes in a family, you have people who are unhappy but as the father of the party, I will bring all aggrieved members back home.”
A federal judge on Friday blocked President Donald Trump’s attempt to overhaul elections in the U.S., siding with a group of Democratic state attorneys general who challenged the effort as unconstitutional.
The Republican president’s March 25 executive order sought to compel officials to require documentary proof of citizenship for everyone registering to vote for federal elections, accept only mailed ballots received by Election Day and condition federal election grant funding on states adhering to the new ballot deadline.
The attorneys general said the directive “usurps the States’ constitutional power and seeks to amend election law by fiat.” The White House defended the order as “standing up for free, fair and honest elections” and called proof of citizenship a “commonsense” requirement.
Judge Denise J. Casper of the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts said in Friday’s order that the states had a likelihood of success as to their legal challenges.
“The Constitution does not grant the President any specific powers over elections,” Casper wrote.
Casper also noted that, when it comes to citizenship, “there is no dispute (nor could there be) that U.S. citizenship is required to vote in federal elections and the federal voter registration forms require attestation of citizenship.”
Casper cited arguments made by the states that the requirements would “burden the States with significant efforts and substantial costs” to update procedures.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel launched a blistering attack on the heart of Iran’s nuclear and military structure Friday, deploying warplanes and drones smuggled into the country to target key facilities and kill top generals and scientists — a barrage it said was necessary before its adversary got any closer to building an atomic weapon.
The operation raised the potential for all-out war between the countries and propelled the region, already on edge, into even greater upheaval.
Iran quickly retaliated, sending a swarm of drones at Israel as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of “severe punishment.” Iran had been censured by the U.N.’s atomic watchdog a day earlier for not complying with obligations meant to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon.
Israel had long threatened such a strike, and successive American administrations had sought to prevent it, fearing it would ignite a wider conflict across the Middle East and possibly be ineffective at destroying Iran’s dispersed and hardened nuclear program.
But a confluence of developments triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack and the election of President Donald Trump created the conditions that allowed Israel to finally follow through on its threats.
Israel had told the Trump administration that the large-scale attacks were coming, officials in the U.S. and Israel said on condition of anonymity to describe private diplomatic discussions.
On Wednesday, the U.S. pulled some American diplomats from Iraq’s capital and offered voluntary evacuations for the families of U.S. troops in the wider Middle East. On Friday, the U.S. began shifting military resources, including ships, in the region as Israel prepared for more retaliation, two U.S. officials said.
Countries in the region condemned Israel’s attack, while leaders around the globe called for immediate deescalation from both sides. Iran asked for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council.
Israel’s military said about 200 aircraft were involved in the initial attack on about 100 targets. Its Mossad spy agency positioned explosive drones and precision weapons inside Iran ahead of time, and used them to target Iranian air defenses and missile launchers near Tehran, according to two security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
It was not possible to independently confirm the officials’ claims.
Among the key sites Israel attacked was Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz, where black smoke could be seen rising into the air. Israel also said it destroyed dozens of radar installations and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran.
Israel military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said the Natanz facility was “significantly damaged” and that the operation was “still in the beginning.”
Among those killed were three of Iran’s top military leaders: one who oversaw the entire armed forces, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri; one who led the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Gen. Hossein Salami; and the head of the Guard’s ballistic missile program, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh.
Iran confirmed all three deaths, significant blows its governing theocracy that will complicate efforts to retaliate. Khamenei said other top military officials and scientists were also killed.
The U.S. military is set to temporarily deploy about 700 Marines to Los Angeles while additional National Guard troops arrive in the city, a U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters on Monday. The deployment comes as the city enters its fourth day of protests over President Donald Trump‘s immigration enforcement policies.
The Trump administration has pledged to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history and has conducted numerous Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, some of which have swept up individuals with proper documentation.
Trump announced on Saturday evening that he had authorized the mobilization of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles after reported violence against law enforcement, specifically, ICE agents carrying out deportation raids in the city.
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