A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Nasir El-Rufai, has said that religion would not determine the party’s choice of presidential candidate.
According to him, individual competence must be considered rather than religious affiliation.
“APC will present an integrity-competence ticket, not religion. Politics and governance are not to be mixed or dictated to by any religion,” he said.
“The APC will present to Nigerians the best persons with the integrity, capacity and competence to create jobs, fight corruption and rebuild our nation without discrimination.”
His comment is in response to a statement by another party chieftain, Femi Fani-Kayode, who advised the party leadership against contemplating a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
“I have said it privately in countless political meetings and I will say it publicly today. Please mark it – the biggest mistake that my party, the APC, can make is to field a Muslim/Muslim ticket in the 2015 Presidential election. If we do that we will not only offend the Christian community, but we will also lose the election woefully,” Fani-Kayode said.
“Our party must have both a Christian and a Muslim on the ticket if we want to be taken seriously in the Presidential election. I implore those that think otherwise to sit down and think this through properly.”
But responding, El-Rufai stated that “How these persons worship the Almighty God is private to them and does not matter to discerning Nigerians, particularly young people who suffer most from bad governance, unemployment and the Jonathanian culture of impunity,”.
“The PDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) has no record to show other than escalation in corruption, grand larceny, trillions missing, private jets and deaths of innocent people.
“The PDP’s only “winning strategy” is built around promoting and financing regional and religious division, and using the proceeds of corruption to buy the military, police and INEC officials. Torig the next elections.
“They will be defeated, no matter what they think because Nigerians are wiser and will not be taken for a ride any longer,” Mr. El-Rufai said.
1.
It was tragedy in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital when a 70-year-old
man, Baba Ijemo allegedly committed suicide by hanging. Baba hung
himself inside his bedroom in his residence at Olorombo
2.Nigerian women have said that for Nigeria to meet its set target in 2050, and to become one of the leading economies in the world, its governments at both the state and Federal levels must create room for women participation in governance. This was made known by the President, Institute of Directors, IoD, Chief Eniola Fadayomi, at the 3rd edition of Women Directors’ Conference tagged “Women As Leaders: Discovering Authentic Leadership” yesterday in Lagos.
3.
Former Abia state Governor and Publisher of the Sun Newspaper, Orji
Uzor Kalu has condemned the action of the Abia state Commissioner of
Police who recently arrested his Associated Editor, Mr. Ebere
Wabara,acting on the orders of the state governor, Theodore Orji.
Speaking at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, shortly
on return from the United Kingdom, Kalu waned President Jonathan to do
something about the situation before another Mbu regime starts in Abia
state.
4. The Oyo state Police Command has said that 2 of the lunatics who were arrested in connection with ritual killings in the state have confessed to the crime. This confirmation was made by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Indabawa, at the end of the state security meeting.
5. The 37 defected members of the PDP in the House of Representatives who left for the APC and have been asked to vacate their seats are adamant over the court’s ruling. They have said their seats cannot be declared vacant, arguing that no such law has been stipulated in the House of Representatives. They described the ruling as a miscarriage of justice. The aggrieved members have equally filled an appeal over the court ruling.
6.Two Christian delegates representing Christian Leaders, Bishop of Kafanchan Catholic Diocese, Joseph Bagobiri and Pastor Emmanuel Bosun (Ogun State), raised an issue of religious imbalance as represented in the nation’s constitution. The duo had described as unfair, the fact that Christianity was not mentioned anywhere in the constitution. They equally advocated for the creation of Christian court just like the Sharia Court. It was the intervention of the the Conference Chairman that the controversy on the matter was resolved.
7. Attempts by Boko Haram bombers to destroy a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation facility along the Maiduguri-Damboa Road, Mulai in Borno State was foiled on Tuesday as the Military quickly intercepted the vehicle heading for the mission. Report says the vehicles conveying some explosive devices to the terrorists target were bombed leading to the death of 4 of the suicide bombers, two other suspected terrorists and 15 civilians. Five soldiers, and 17 others were equally injured.
8. Camerounian security forces have seized a large number of arms and ammunition from some suspected Boko Haram insurgents. About 288 rifles, 35 rocket propelled grenades and several other Improvised Explosive Devices were recovered from the suspects.Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, disclosed this in an electronic mail on Tuesday.
9. Speaking on issues of importance regarding the ongoing National Confab, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has said that the current federal arrangement in the country should be restructured at the end of the national conference. Atiku said the Federal Government in the current arrangement was too powerful and needed restructuring. He urged delegate to look into the current structure.
10. Finally, Taxi drivers in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital have advised the Federal Road Safety Commission to forget about appealing the current ruling on the new number plate. The Drivers said that even with the appeal, they will remain adamant, as they are not willing to change their old number plate.
