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Could Ishiba Be Japan’s Next Prime Minister? Ex-Defence Minister Leads The Charge
Could Ishiba Be Japan’s Next Prime Minister? Ex-Defence Minister Leads The Charge....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Former defence minister, Shigeru Ishiba, will become Japan’s prime minister next week after winning the conservative ruling party’s leadership vote on Friday.
Ishiba had come close to the top job before, including in 2012 when he lost to nationalist Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving leader who was later assassinated.
The LDP has governed almost uninterrupted for decades and holds a majority, meaning Ishiba will be elected premier by parliament on Tuesday.
The military model-maker with an affinity for 1970s pop idols says his experience tackling tough issues, such as agriculture reforms, makes him qualified for the job.
– Yen surges –
As prime minister, Ishiba will need to face down regional security threats, from an increasingly assertive China and its deepening ties with Russia to North Korea’s banned missile tests.
His push to boost the military and call for the creation of an Asian NATO could rile Beijing, but he is careful with his words concerning China.
Following the result, China’s foreign ministry spokesman said the country wants to improve ties with Japan, because “the long-term, sound and steady development of China-Japan relations serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples”.
At home, Ishiba will be tasked with breathing life into the economy, as the central bank moves away from decades of monetary easing that has slashed the value of the yen.
The Japanese currency surged after Friday’s result, firming to 142.94 against the dollar from 146.49 yen when the head-to-head between Ishiba and Takaichi was announced.
Ishiba supports the Bank of Japan’s exit from its unorthodox ultra-loose policies and his win “will almost certainly be welcome news for policymakers” there, Capital Economics said.
He has also pledged to revitalise rural regions and proposes creating a government agency for disaster prevention.
In the first round of voting, a record nine candidates were in the running after the LDP’s long-powerful factions disbanded this year over a funding scandal.
Takaichi, the economic security minister, is a vocal nationalist popular with the LDP’s conservative wing. The 63-year-old was close to assassinating ex-premier Abe, whose supporters are still powerful.
In third place behind Ishiba and Takaichi was former environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi, a keen surfer whose father was prime minister in the 2000s.
– ‘Courage in his convictions’ –
LDP leaders are in office for three years and can serve up to three straight terms. Unpopular Prime Minister Fumio Kishida did not run for re-election.
“I have a good impression of Ishiba, because he seems to have courage in his convictions,” Junko Tominaga, a woman in her 50s, told AFP on the streets of Tokyo.
“I just don’t want Japan to tilt further to the right under Ishiba in terms of defence.”
Minoru Kitani, 46, said his “hopes for Ishiba aren’t so high.”
“But I agree with, and support, his belief that Japan needs to be protected better, made stronger and guarded against the threat of other countries,” he said.
While “a woman prime minister would’ve been good,” a win for Abe’s mentee Takaichi would not “have done much to herald a fresh start for Japan.”
The LDP has governed Japan almost uninterrupted for decades, with the main opposition parties rarely seen as viable alternatives.
During his term, Kishida has taken steps to double Japan’s defence spending, opening the door for military exports as the LDP seeks to revise the pacifist post-war constitution.
He welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to a G7 summit in Hiroshima and has strengthened Japan’s often testy ties with its neighbour South Korea.
But his rule was also tarnished by scandals, voter anger over rising prices and sliding poll ratings.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has urged voters across the South-East to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 general election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Uzodinma warned that ongoing development projects in the region could be discontinued if Tinubu fails to secure a second term in office.
He made the appeal on Monday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally held in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
The governor encouraged residents of the South-East to participate actively in the forthcoming election by obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and voting for Tinubu.
He stressed that their participation would play a significant role in determining the country’s political direction.
Uzodinma also referenced an address delivered by Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, during the rally, in which he presented a charter of needs outlining the expectations of the South-East and Nigerians generally.
According to the Imo governor, the demands and expectations highlighted by Nwifuru should guide the people’s decisions as they prepare for the 2027 presidential election.
He said, “I saw the governor of Ebonyi State in his address. He read what is called the Charter of Needs for the people, for South-East people, and indeed for Nigeria.
“Our responsibility will start from now to go and look for our PVC. That is the weapon, because if President Tinubu is not re-elected, all these ongoing projects will stop. So we have to sharpen our weapon, and our weapon is our voter card.”
The Super Eagles of Nigeria and Tanzania have encountered disruptions in their preparations for Friday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Uyo following reported changes to their flight schedules.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle arrived in Uyo in the early hours of Monday and was later joined by one of his assistants, Daniel Ogunmodede. However, the team was yet to commence full training as the invited players had not arrived at the camp.
Sources in Uyo told Punch that no Super Eagles player had arrived at the Victor Attah International Airport as of Monday evening, despite team officials waiting at the airport throughout the day.
One of the sources said: “We were at the airport from morning until evening on Monday, and none of the players arrived. When the last flight of the day landed, we checked the manifest, but no player was on board.”
Tanzania also experienced a delay in its travel arrangements. The Taifa Stars, who were initially expected to arrive in Uyo on Monday, were rescheduled to land on Tuesday following changes to their flight schedule.
The East African side have endured a difficult start to their Group L campaign, suffering a 2-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau before settling for a 1-1 draw against Madagascar.
However, Tanzania have already secured automatic qualification for the 2027 AFCON as co-hosts alongside Kenya and Uganda. This leaves only one available qualification spot in Group L.
Guinea-Bissau currently top the group, while Nigeria sit in second position with three points from two matches.
The Super Eagles began their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar in Uyo but suffered a disappointing 3-0 loss to Guinea-Bissau in Bissau.
Chelle will be hoping to assemble his squad as quickly as possible ahead of the double-header, with Nigeria needing maximum points to improve their chances of securing the group’s remaining qualification ticket.
The coach announced a 24-man squad on Saturday but will be without striker Victor Osimhen, who has been ruled out of the encounter due to injury. The Galatasaray forward also missed Nigeria’s previous two qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau in September.
Other players invited include goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Arthur Okonkwo; defenders Olaoluwa Aina and Benjamin Frederick; midfielders Tochukwu Nnadi and Samson Tijani; and forwards Moses Usor and Taiwo Awoniyi.
Turkey-based defender Chibuike Nwaiwu and Czechia-based wing-back Abdullahi Bewene are also part of the squad.
The campaign spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Kenneth Okonkwo, has expressed confidence that his principal will appear on the ballot in the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Okonkwo accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of making efforts to prevent Atiku from contesting the election, insisting that the party’s alleged attempts would ultimately fail.
He drew a comparison with the 2007 presidential election, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo reportedly made efforts to stop Atiku, who was then his vice president, from contesting the presidency.
Naija News reports that the actor-turned-politician maintained that the APC would suffer the same outcome as Obasanjo, who failed to prevent Atiku from participating in the 2007 election.
Okonkwo also predicted that Atiku would emerge as Nigeria’s next president.
In a post shared on X, he said the APC’s alleged attempts to frustrate Atiku’s ambition had strengthened his belief in the ADC candidate’s chances.
He wrote:
“The more the incompetent and corrupt APC tackles ADC, and the more they try to block Atiku Abubakar from contesting for the post of President in 2027, the more I am convinced that Atiku Abubakar is the next President of Nigeria because you do not cast a stone at a tree that is not bearing any fruit.
“APC should learn from history, and understand that Atiku is unstoppable. President Olusegun Obasanjo did everything possible, with all the powers of the security apparatus, to stop Atiku, his Vice President, from contesting the 2007 presidential election, but failed.
“Atiku succeeded through the rule of law by ventilating his agitation through the courts. This time around in 2027, Atiku will win again because God and the people of Nigeria are on his side.
“Let me reiterate, Atiku and ADC will be on the ballot in 2027 and will win the 2027 presidential election for the security and welfare of Nigerians.
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