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Presidential Candidate plans subsidy review, massive military, police recruitments
The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Tuesday said he would examine and review all subsidy regimes from the 1970s till date.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He also promised to ensure that all entrance examinations into tertiary institutions were free for Nigerians.
Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, highlighted these in his 160-page manifesto and policy document titled, “My pledges to you. The RMK2023 Blueprint” which was unveiled and obtained by our corespondent in Abuja.
Specifically, he said his administration, if elected in 2023, would ensure that parents do not pay a dime as registration fees for the West African Examination Council, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and National Examination Council.
Kwankwaso said apart from ensuring free examination forms, JAMB/UTME results under his government would have a lifespan of four years.
Although there was silence on whether his administration would end the controversial petrol subsidy gulping trillions of Naira annually, Kwankwaso said Nigeria had lost billions to subsidies. Hence, if elected, his administration would assess the past subsidy regime in the overall interest of Nigeria.
Subsidies were first introduced in Nigeria in the 1970s as a response to the oil price shock of 1973. The NNPP presidential candidate also pledged to mop up the 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria in the next four years.
He said this would be achieved through the launch of a half-million classroom initiative in his first few weeks in office by building 40 blocks of classrooms per local government per annum for the first four years.
Kwankwaso, in the document, maintained that examination agencies are not revenue-generating agencies and must not operate as such.
Concerning security, the NNPP presidential candidate stated that an additional 750,000 personnel would be recruited into the armed forces and that the Nigerian Police Force would be expanded to one million active service men and women.
Speaking further at the event, Kwankwaso said the release of the manifesto was delayed deliberately because his ideas could easily be picked by other candidates to forge their own arrangements.
He said, “We are happy that at least the three parties have already released their own blueprints. We have seen them and anybody looking at our own would agree with me that there are original ideas that we have been nursing over the years to have an opportunity to bring them to Nigeria.”
He said, “The country has never been so divided as it is now with massive mistrust amongst the people; the level of insecurity has never been this bad with everywhere being unsafe and everyone feeling threatened; the economic woes resulting in abject poverty for the majority have never been this biting with avoidable inflation and the freefall of the Naira.
“The unemployment crisis is so concerning, and it appears that no effort is being made to create opportunities for the thousands of unemployed youth, resulting in despondency, hopelessness, and an increase in crime.”
He, however, assured that the NNPP would right the wrongs of past administrations.
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“May Your Curses Return To You” – Saidi Balogun Fires Back At Critics Over Tinubu Support.
Nollywood actor Saidi Balogun has responded to the backlash he received from social media users over his decision to support President Bola Tinubu.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The veteran actor recently shared videos of himself attending and hosting campaign rallies in different parts of the country in support of Tinubu, who is seeking re-election for another term in office.
His posts triggered reactions from Nigerians, with several social media users criticising him for backing the President.
Reacting to the criticism in a post on his Instagram page, Balogun urged his critics to respect differing opinions and allow people to make their own choices.
The actor also offered prayers for those attacking him, asking God to heal them and return their prayers and curses to them.
He wrote: “Rest! Live and let live. Oluwa wa pelu yin! May God heal you and may all your prayers and curses return to you. God bless Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, veteran Nollywood actor Yinka Quadri has explained why he and other Yoruba actors and entertainers are supporting Tinubu’s bid for a second term.
Quadri said his decision to support the President was influenced by his personal experiences and the assistance Tinubu had rendered to members of the entertainment industry over the years.
He noted that Tinubu’s relationship with entertainers predates his presidency, tracing it back to his time as governor of Lagos State.
Speaking during an interview on the African A-List programme, Quadri recalled that Tinubu reportedly paid the medical bills of late Nollywood actor Babatunde Omidina, popularly known as Baba Suwe, while he was battling an illness.
According to Quadri, the President had consistently provided financial assistance to entertainers in need, making him a familiar figure within the industry.
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‘Nobody Can Take My Ticket’ – Uzodimma Speaks Amid Court Ruling.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has maintained that he remains the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District, despite a court judgment recognising former governor Rochas Okorocha as the party’s flagbearer.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Addressing worshippers after Sunday Mass at the Government House Chapel in Owerri, Uzodimma urged his supporters to disregard reports suggesting that he could lose the senatorial ticket.
“If they tell you that I will hold this ticket and somebody will collect it and give it to another, tell the person it is a lie,” he said.
The governor also called on residents to support the APC in all forthcoming elections, ruling out any political alliance with other parties.
“There is no other political party we are going with,” he declared.
Uzodimma identified Patrick Ndubueze as the party’s senatorial candidate for Okigwe, himself as the candidate for Orlu, and Alex Mbata as the flagbearer for Owerri.
He urged voters to support APC candidates contesting both state and federal legislative seats.
The governor’s remarks came days after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove his name as the APC candidate for Imo West and replace it with that of Okorocha.
In his judgment, Justice Obiora Egwuatu ruled that Okorocha won the party’s May 18 primary election. The judge also faulted INEC for accepting Uzodimma’s nomination despite what he described as “overwhelming documentary evidence that the governor did not win the primary.”
Okorocha had instituted the suit in August to challenge INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the party’s candidate.
Reacting to the judgment, Okorocha, who governed Imo State between 2011 and 2019, described the ruling as a victory for the people of Imo West.
He thanked President Bola Tinubu, claiming that the Presidency was no longer comfortable with the situation in the state.
The former governor also commended the judiciary, saying the judgment demonstrated that “justice is no longer for sale to the highest bidder.”
Meanwhile, the Imo State Government has announced its intention to appeal the ruling.
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Dana White Breaks Silence On Tyson Fury’s Injury Rumours Ahead Of Joshua Showdown.
UFC and Zuffa Boxing chief, Dana White, has dismissed reports suggesting that Tyson Fury could pull out of his December 11 heavyweight clash with Anthony Joshua due to an injury.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The two British boxing stars are scheduled to face each other at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in a highly anticipated contest expected to attract more than 70,000 spectators.
Speculation surrounding Fury’s fitness emerged after former heavyweight champion Frank Bruno claimed he had heard that the 38-year-old boxer was dealing with an injury that could put the fight in jeopardy.
Speaking on Fight Your Corner with Tony Bellew, Bruno expressed concern that Fury might be forced to withdraw from the encounter.
“I looked at him the other day, and I think someone was talking to me in the gym that he’s got some injury, which may stop him from going into the fight with Anthony Joshua? And having that on your head ain’t nice,” Bruno said.
However, White told Sky Sports that he had not received any information suggesting that Fury was carrying an injury serious enough to prevent him from facing Joshua.
“That’s the first time I heard it. I would certainly like to think that I would know that if it was true,” he said.
“I haven’t even heard the rumour, let alone the fact that it’s true. It’s all part of the fun as it gets closer and closer to the fight. But yeah, I hope that one is not true, but I’m pretty sure I would have heard by now.”
The rumours gained further attention after Fury posted a video on Friday showing a noticeable mark on the left side of his face.
The former heavyweight champion, who is currently training in Miami, shared the footage to wish his friend and sparring partner, Kevin Lerena, success ahead of his Saturday fight against Scotland’s Scott Forrest.
Although reports suggested that Fury had sustained a black eye, there has been no confirmation that the mark was caused by an injury capable of ruling him out of the Joshua showdown.
Former world champion Tony Bellew also dismissed concerns about Fury’s condition, suggesting that the boxer could be engaging in psychological games ahead of the fight.
“He plays up to the camera, Frank… I do think Tyson Fury is the master of the mind games,” Bellew said.
Fury returned to professional boxing earlier this year after announcing another retirement. He secured a points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in London in April before stopping Poland’s Mariusz Wach in July.
Meanwhile, White has indicated that an immediate rematch could be arranged regardless of the outcome of the December 11 encounter.
“Anything is possible; if that fight ends up like the Fury Wilder fight, who the hell didn’t want to see that again after it happened? So we will see how this thing plays out, and anything is possible,” he said.
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