Blog - Page 1557 of 3315 - Voice of Nigeria Broadcasting Service

2023 Elections: Ebonyi State Welcomes New Commissioner Of Police

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February 18, 2023

Ebonyi State Government, Southeast Nigeria has received a new commissioner of Police, Mr. Faleye Olaleye ahead of the 25th February and March 11th, 2023 General election.

The Governor of the State, Engr. David Umahi alongside all the Executive Council members, organized the warm reception for the CP in conjunction with other Service Chiefs who were not received at the time of their posting to the State.

The reception took place at the new Executive Council Chambers of the New Government House in Abakaliki, the State capital.

Umahi assured them of a safe environment to do their job.

“Let me first of all, thank the new CP and the Director, State Security Services. You are welcomed in our dear state. Feel free and discharge your duties without fear or favor”. Umahi added.

Umahi also approved that all political parties in the State are free to hold their rallies provided that such rallies are in line with laid down rules and executive orders of the State.

“All political gladiators are free to hold their rallies without any form of molestation or infringement on their rights. Anybody caught disrupting a peaceful political activities should be arrested and prosecuted”. Umahi warned.

The new Commissioner of Police Mr. Olaleye Faleye promised to ensure adequate security in the State.

“My plan in Ebonyi State is to ensure maximum security to all and sundry at all times. We shall also ensure that the forthcoming election is is hitch free”. Olaleye assured.

He said the police belonged to everyone irrespective of your political and religious affiliation.

Olusola Akintonde

Benue State To Upgrade Stadium Facilities

Sports

Emmanuel Ukoh

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February 18, 2023

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The Government of Benue State in North Central Nigeria has approved the upgrading of facilities, particularly the re-turfing of the Aper Aku Stadium to meet international standards.

The State government announced the decision after an emergency executive council meeting held at the government house, in Makurdi, the State capital.

VON gathered that the State Government is worried by the security risk surrounding Lobi Stars players who play their home league matches in Jos, Plateau State after the pitch at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi fell below standard to host league matches.

Benue State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mr Michael Inalegwu informed newsmen that the sum of 243 million had been earmarked for the renovation of the playing turf at the Aper Aku stadium.

”We also agreed to give a facelift to other facilities and structures at the Aper Aku stadium. So, we had two-way contractual obligations; one to Momimichelle Sporting Facility Construction LTD which laid the astroturf and so was chosen because of their expertise. For the other renovation on the stadium which will be done by direct labour, the sum of 65 million was approved by the Ministry of Youths and Sports”.

Inalegwu explained that apart from Aper Aku stadium, contract had also been approved to improve the standard of facilities at McCarthy Stadium, the training ground for Lobi Stars Football Club.

“For the complete renovation of the MarCarthy Stadium and make provisions for offices of the club official and accommodation for players, the council approved 73 million. We are giving the contractors not less than two and a half months to finish work on the playing turf. So, whatever is the case between now and April, the whole work should have been completed” Inalegwu said.

Emmanuel Ukoh

Benue State University Convocates 23,060 Students, Amidst Prominent Dignitaries

Nigeria

Oluwasola Akintonde

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February 18, 2023

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Not less than 23,060 graduates of the Benue State University, Makurdi in North Central Nigeria will be awarded various Degrees, Post Graduate diplomas, masters and Ph.D. Degrees at its convocation ceremony which is slated for Saturday, 18th February, 2023.

Similarly, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State in South-South Nigeria and the founder of Dunamis Gospel Church, Evangelist Paul Enenche are also among the personalities to be conferred Honorary Doctorate Degrees by the University.

The Vice Chancellor of Benue State University, Makurdi, Professor Tor Iorapuu who disclosed this at the pre-convocation press briefing, said about 63 of the graduands earned First Class grades in their Bachelor’s degree programs.

The combined convocation ceremony which covers graduates between 2018 and 2021 sessions will also mark the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the University’s establishment.

Giving a breakdown of activities lined up for the convocation ceremony, the Vice Chancellor stated that about 20,815 Bachelor’s Degrees and 494 Post Graduate Diploma Certificates would be awarded to the graduands.

The list of Master’s Degree graduates is put at 1,605 while about 146 graduands would be conferred with Ph.D Degrees .

“At this occasion, Honorary Doctorate Degrees of the University will also be conferred on the following distinguished Nigerians.

“The Chancellor, His Gracious Majesty, King Disreal Bob-Manuel II – Doctor of Laws (D. LL), Honoris Causa, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike, CON – Doctor of Laws (D. LL), Honoris Causa, Dr. Paul Idoko Enenche – Doctor of Divinity (D. Div), Honoris Causa.

“Others are Chief Christopher Chuka Edordu, OON – Doctor of Commerce (D. Com), Honoris Causa and Prince Engr. Arthur Eze, OFR – Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Honoris Causa”.

Professor Iorapuu also disclosed that the University had secured approval from the National Universities Commission, (NUC) and other relevant bodies to commence the Bachelor’s Degree Program in Pharmacy in the 2022/2023 academic session.

According to him, plans are equally underway with necessary approvals being sought by the University to also commence the Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Architecture, Geology, Building and Special Education within the shortest possible time.

With the humble beginning in 1992/93 academic session, and a population of 308 students and 149 academic staff, four faculties namely: Arts, Education, Science and Social Science, we have grown into 10 faculties (Arts, Education, Science, Social Science, Law, Environmental Science, Management Science, Basic Medical Sciences, Basic Clinical Science and Clinical Sciences; and Post-graduate School); a huge population of over 23,000 students and over 2000 teaching and non teaching staff.

He particularly lamented the killing of a 400 level Chemistry student by bandits in Gwer West Local Government and expressed concern over the increased wave of insecurity in the state which he said had taken a negative toll on the University by scaring some partners and scholars away from the Institution.

Professor Iorapuu expressed the hope that upon the Completion of work on the ongoing Research and Innovation Hub Centre, the University would become more active, competitive, and visible in research and innovation.

The Vice Chancellor said the staff of the University have continued to excel in receiving grants through the Center for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER), DAAD-Germany and TETFUND.

“Only recently, BSU Academic Staff were invited to defend their research work for the TETFUND National Research Fund. The visibility of the University has increased through CEFTER in terms of collaboration with local and international community as CEFTER now has contacts and community based groups with farmers in the 23 Local Governments of the state”. He said.

He said the University has established a strong relationship with the University of Zagreb, Croatia and would soon begin to reap the benefits of this relationship in terms of equipment, exchange of staff and training.

Olusola Akintonde

Benue State’s Joseph Tarka University Gets New Vice Chancellor

Nigeria

Confidence Okwuchi

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February 18, 2023

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The Governing Council of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, in Makurdi has appointed Professor Isaac Nathaniel Itodo as the 7th Vice Chancellor with effect from 17th April 2023.

He succeeds Professor Richard Kimbir, whose tenure as VC ended on the 19th of November, 2022.

Announcing the appointment, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Edith Uwajumogwu, said the new VC, a world-class Agricultural engineer, was the first alumnus of the University to be appointed as Vice Chancellor since the University was established in 1988.

Professor Itodo’s appointment makes it the first time in 28 years that a non TIV is appointed the Vice Chancellor of the university.

Uwajumogwu noted that Professor Itodo emerged as the winner among 16 candidates through a credible and open process.

She stated that 18 applications were received in response to the advertisement, and the applicants were screened, and a short list of 16 candidates emerged.

“The choice of Prof. Itodo was unanimous after he emerged with the highest score from the three candidates that the selection committee recommended,” she said.

The Chairman noted that in the process, the university’s interest was put first, emphasising that nobody was under any pressure that was not controllable.

She says, “I hope other Universities will learn from the University. We went for merit and took the best for the University to take its pride of place in the Nigerian University system.”

Born 58 years ago, Professor Isaac Itodo joined the services of the University in 1987. He rose through the ranks and was elevated to the rank of Professor in 2003.

He has served the University in various capacities, including Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Dean of the College of Engineering and Director of Linkages.

Speaking on the development, the Secretary General of Committee of Vice Chancellors of universities in Nigeria, Professor Yakubu Ochefu said Professor Itodo was an outstanding scholar, administrator and a good resource manager who would undoubtedly contribute to the University’s development.

Confidence Okwuchi

INEC Promises To Conduct Credible Elections In Niger State

Politics

Confidence Okwuchi

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February 18, 2023

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The Independent Electoral Commission, INEC has recruited over 21,000 personnel in its preparation to conduct the forthcoming general election in Niger State, North Central Nigeria.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner In charge of the state, Alhaji Ahmed Yusha’u Garki stated this during a stakeholders meeting in Minna Niger State Capital.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner said meeting with the Stakeholders was in continuation of its series of consultation towards a successful election.

Alhaji Yusha’u Garki further said, already 95 percent of non sensitive materials for the conduct of the elections in the state have been moved to the 25 local government areas of the State.

“25 Out of the 479 candidates contesting for various elective positions in the state are females representing 5.2 percent”.added Alhaji Garki

“Niger state presently has about 2 7 Million registered voters out of which 42 .7 percent are females while 57.3 percent are males,afer the Continuous Voter Registration exercise,” he stated.

He said the commission was making arrangements to conduct elections in identified IDPs voting centre so that such persons would not be disenfranchised.

He also mentioned that it would not conduct elections in 10 polling units across 3 local government councils of the State as a result of absence of voters in the units.

He says, “The affected polling units are in Kontagora,Magama and Mashegu local government area councils”.

Representatives of The Christains Association Of Nigeria,CAN, Jama’atul Nasril Islam, JNI, Political parties and NGOs that attended the stakeholders meeting emphasised on peace and security during the conduct of the General election.

Security For Youth Corp Members

The National Youth Service Corp, NYSC Coordinator in the State, Alhaji Mohammed Taura urged the INEC and security agencies to provide adequate security for corps members that would participate in the election exercise.

Representative of the Commissioner of Police in Niger State, CP Ogundele Ayodeji, who pointed out that the command had already dispatched the intelligent teams to various local council areas where the elections would be conducted, reiterated that the command had put in place necessary measures that would ensure that 2023 general election in the state was free and fair.

Confidence Okwuchi

Mikel Claims A Rob On 2013 CAF Award

Sports

vonsports

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February 18, 2023

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Former Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi says he was robbed of the 2013 African Player of the Year award.

Mikel was outstanding for Nigeria during the year under review as he helped the Eagles clinch the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

There has been no Nigerian winner of the African Player of the Year award since 1999, when Nwankwo Kanu beat Ghanaian defender Samuel Kuffour to the accolade following his goalscoring performance for Arsenal.

Since then, no Nigerian made a podium finish but in last two decades only Austin Okocha (twice, in 2003 and 2004) and Mikel Obi (in 2013) made it to the final three losing to eventual winners Samuel Eto’o and Yaya Toure.

“I was robbed.” Mikel said in a YouTube interview with Dubai Eye 103.8.

“Before I went, I was told that I won it. I was at the airport flying to Nigeria, because the ceremony was in Nigeria, and guess what happened? Manchester City was playing, and Yaya scored a hat-trick or two goals.”

He also revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson still snubs him after he opted out of a move to join Manchester United in 2005.

Ferguson thought he had won the race for the talented Nigerian midfielder after he signed for United from Lyn Oslo in April 2005, but the move was never finalised after Mikel claimed that he was ‘bullied’ into the deal and wished to join Chelsea instead.

“Fergie blanked me for years,” Mikel continued.

“First time we played in the FA Cup he shunned me walking out of the tunnel. I stumbled and almost fell. Each time we met he blanked me but I have no regrets signing for Chelsea.

“Obviously, I signed a pre-contract with Manchester United, but before that I was playing for Lyn Oslo in Norway. Chelsea actually sent me to Lyn Oslo and nobody knew this.

“Chelsea was looking after me, and my family, giving me bits here and there and they were paying my school fees when I was in Norway.

“I had my trials at Manchester United before I went to Chelsea. Sir Alex Ferguson loved me and all the players loved me. Roy Keane was my biggest fan. He told Ferguson he needed to sign me. He was my protector in training.

“Whenever I got tackles in training from the likes of Paul Scholes and Nikky Butt in training, Keane was ready to get in with them.

“They heard I joined Chelsea and Fergie flew into Norway and handed me a pre-contract to sign and I could not say no. And the whole thing went viral.”

Also read: Mikel Obi retires from Football

Punch/Samuel Isaiah

Sassuolo 0-2 Napoli: Osimhen Scores 18th Serie A goal

Sports

vonsports

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February 18, 2023

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Striker, Victor Osimhen, has set new personal benchmark in goal scoring excellence with a virtuoso display in Napoli’s 2-0 win over Sassuolo on Saturday.

Osimhen making his 197th appearance for both club and country scored his 100th career goal in the 33rd minute to double Napoli’s lead after a wonderful solo effort from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had shot the Naples based club into the lead after 12 minutes as Napoli’s relentless charge to the Scudetto continues.

The Nigerian brilliantly held off two defenders before catching Andrea Consigli off guard with a ferocious effort hit early from a tight angle.

Osimhen also spurned a one-on-one opportunity early in the second half, and Andrea Pinamonti nodded agonisingly wide at the other end.

Victory at Mapei Stadium made it seven Serie A wins in a row since a 1-0 defeat to Inter in their first game back after the World Cup, extending the Partenopei’s lead at the summit to 18 points.

The defeat to Inter was a mere blip and their response to that has been astonishing. The Nerazzurri can reduce the deficit again on Saturday, though if they lose to Udinese then Napoli’s incredible 18-point lead will remain intact for another week

The Nigerian’s stunning record surpasses the achievements of the quartet of seven time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, Didier Drogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi reached the 100th goal mark after 210 appearances for both club and country while Drogba (236), Ibrahimovic (245) and Ronaldo (301).

The goal was his 18th Serie A goal of the season in 19 games .

Napoli are on 62 points from 23 games while second place Inter Milan have 44 points from 22 games.

His strike also saw him become the first player to score in seven consecutive Serie A games for Napoli.

Osimhen who was replaced in the 83rd minute by Giovanni Simeone now hold the third best min-per-goal ratio in Serie A since the 1994/95 season scoring a goal in every 124 minutes.

The Nigerian marksman is behind Ronaldo and Ronaldo de Lima.

The Portuguese captain averages a goal every 104 minuntes while the Brazilian Ronaldo scores after every 117 minutes.

Since the beginning of 2023 only Osimhen (10 — nine goals and one assist) has played a part in more goals than Kvaratskhelia (eight — four goals and four assists) in Europe’s top five leagues.

Napoli face Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, before going to Empoli in Serie A four days later.

Punch/Samuel Isaiah

Woods To Play Weekend Despite 74 At Riviera

Sports

vonsports

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February 18, 2023

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Tiger Woods blamed poor putting for a disappointing 74 on Friday, but looked like a lock to play the weekend when darkness halted play at the Genesis Invitational, his first US PGA Tour start in seven months.

It was a disappointing day for the 15-time major champion, who is teeing it up for the first time since the British Open in July as he continues to wrestle with the serious leg injuries suffered in a February 2021 car accident.Woods’s one-over-par total of 143 put him one stroke outside the cut line as he walked off the course.

After a tense afternoon saw the line fluctuate, the day ended with the projected cut line including those at one-over and few players left on the course who could shift it when the round resumed on Saturday morning.

Woods, who was 11 shots off the lead held by American Max Homa, had five bogeys, including two to cap his round at the eighth and ninth.

But he said his troubles on the Riviera Country Club greens began much earlier.

“I did not putt well today, I blocked a lot of putts early and this is probably the highest score I could have shot today Woods said.”

“Probably should have shot five or six better than this, easily.

“I could have easily got off to a very hot start and I did not, and then middle part of the round I could have turned it around a little bit and I did not,” added Woods, who had a birdie chance from within 10 feet at his opening hole, the 10th, and one from less than five feet at the 11th.

After failing to convert those he dropped a shot at the 12th, where he was unable to salvage par from a greenside bunker.

He bogeyed 13, where he needed three shots to reach the green and missed a five-footer to save par.

Birdies at 14 and 17 moved him back to even for the day, but he ran into trouble coming home.

At the par-three sixth his tee shot rolled back to the front of the sloped green, 71 feet from the pin. His putt up was pulled into the pot bunker in the middle of the green and he wound up with a bogey.

He was in a fairway bunker at the eight, his shot out barely advancing him and his third shot rolling through the green.

At the ninth he missed the fairway and came up in a greenside bunker. His shot out ran through the green and his chip to remain on the projected cut line lipped out.

Everything a moving target

At the sixth, Woods said, he opted not to chip because there was “a chance it could actually come back to the front part of the green.

“The hill caught it more than I thought it would and ended up in a bunker, I mean, I was trying to give myself a chance at making par and at worst bogey.” he said.

“So realistically I had two bad calls on the wind on six and nine and end up costing me two shots there.”

Woods, who reiterated this week that he’s hoping to play all four major championships and a few other tournaments this year as his leg issues continue to limit him, said his injury history means he makes constant adjustments to his mechanics.

“I’ve had so many surgeries that the ankle just keeps changing, the leg keeps changing,” he said.

“The shoes keep changing, the socks keep changing. Everything’s a moving target. How much I’m on my feet, how much I’m not, how active I am, how not active, the muscles that are on, they’re off. It’s a moving target all the time.”

Punch/Samuel Isaiah

Alcaraz Sweeps Into Argentina Open Semi Fnals

Sports

vonsports

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February 18, 2023

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Top seed Carlos Alcaraz shrugged off damp, cold conditions to sweep into the semi-finals of the Argentina Open with a straight sets victory over Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic.

The Spanish world number two, who is making his return to tennis at this week’s event in Buenos Aires after a four-month injury layoff, eased into the last four with a 6-4, 6-2 victory in 1hr 33min.Friday’s quarter-finals took place in chilly conditions after a week of wild weather swings in Buenos Aires which saw temperatures go from 38.1 C (100.6 degrees Fahrenheit) last Sunday to 7.9C (46.2F) on Thursday.

Nevertheless the weather did not deter around 5,000 fans from packing the Guillermo Vilas court at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club to watch Alcaraz march into the last four.

Alcaraz, who had looked rusty in his opening match of the tournament on Wednesday, made a solid start to take a 3-0 lead before surrendering the initiative to allow Lajovic to level at 4-4.

The 19-year-old then held and broke Lajovic to take the first set.

Alcaraz was stronger in the second, swiftly opening up a big lead before clinching victory with a trademark forehand winner.

“Everything was very different from what we have been used to — there was rain and it was cold,” Alcaraz said of the conditions.

“Bu the tennis player’s day-to-day job is to adapt to the conditions, and I think a great match came out.

“I have competed very well, I have played at a great level, but I want to continue improving in the semi-finals.”

Alcaraz will face either Argentinian fifth seed Francisco Cerundolo or Spain’s Bernabe Zapata Miralles in the last four.

In the other side of the draw, Peruvian qualifier Juan Pablo Varillas will play Britain’s Cameron Norrie for a place in the final.

Varillas upset third-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-4 in their quarter-final.

Second seed Norrie meanwhile beat Argentina’s Tomas Etcheverry 5-7, 6-0, 6-3 to book his semi-final berth.

Punch/Samuel Isaiah

Naira Redesign Policy: People’s Redemption Party Calls for Reversal

Politics

Amaka Nliam

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February 17, 2023

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With the countdown to Nigeria’s presidential election, the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) has called on the Federal Government to reverse its Naira Redesign Policy to ameliorate the hardship being experienced by Nigerians.

(The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had on 26 October, 2022 announced its intention to redesign the 200, 500 and 1,000 naira notes to tackle corruption and counterfeiting. However, since the unveiling of the notes, Nigerians across different parts of the country have been struggling to access them from banks and ATM cash points).

The party also urged the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to resign from office.

The PRP’s National Chairman, Alhaji Falalu Bello, stated this in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, at the presentation of the party’s manifesto titled “Compact with the People.”

Bello said the withdrawal of over N2 trillion from circulation and printing of N300 billion by the CBN is the reason for the present crisis in Nigeria.

‘Any policy that denies citizens access to their money is not good and is not a good policy.

‘It (the Naira redesign policy) is a man-made crisis that is avoidable.

‘For the failure of this policy, which made and still makes Nigerians suffer, we ask that the CBN governor honourably resign, failing which the president should fire him.

‘As a registered political party in Nigeria and a juristic person, the PRP has been denied access to its credit balances in banks on supposed order of the CBN that has disallowed withdrawal beyond twenty thousand naira (N20, 000) across the counter.

‘This order, we must say, is an illegal one and we are testing the powers of both the banks and the CBN from denying us access to our credit in court and will ask for punitive damages,’ he added.

The PRP chairman, Alhaji Falalu Bello, thereafter presented a 34-page manifesto which, he said, if given a chance to rule Nigeria will bring security to the nation, make Agriculture an economically viable activity, stop the hemorrhage in the nation’s economy and grow it for the benefit of the Nigerian people rather than the Nigerian elite.

It promised to also improve the educational and human development needs of the nation and address the over 10 million out-of-school children that can not be wished away.

‘The manifesto would also make Nigeria a truly federal nation and grow the extraction industry to benefit all Nigerians. It would be pursued vigorously by all PRP government at all levels.

‘It would address the problems the country is presently passing through under the government of the All Progressives Congress,’ the manifesto further revealed.

According to the PRP’s national chairman, the party’s manifesto, a six-point agenda, will also address the infrastructural development and health of the nation.

‘It will enhance national security and revamp the oil, gas and solid minerals sector,’ he noted.

He lamented that the last eight years of the APC-led administration had witnessed continuous growth in petroleum subsidy which, according to him, the president himself had tagged as a fraud.

‘President Muhammadu Buhari should address the alleged fraud going on in the oil sector before leaving office in three months’ time.

‘The continuous wastage of the nation’s resources on Warri, Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries upon which the government spent over N4. 15 trillion without the refineries producing must not be allowed to continue,’ stressed the PRP national chairman.

For his part, the PRP presidential candidate, Kola Abiola, said the party would be accountable to people, adding that ‘a lot of things you see in this manifesto is something we would do, if we are elected by the grace of God.

‘We are here because we want to serve the interest of the common man, mentor the next generation and also correct the wrongs in the past.

‘In the next four years, Nigerians would see a different Nigeria. We live and stand by our manifesto.’

Edited by Amaka E. Nliam

Everything a moving target

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