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Compromise, endorsement as President Buhari’s candidate, Abdullahi Adamu emerges Chairman of Nigeria’s APC

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After months of back and forth, Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) held its national convention in Abuja on Saturday with Abdullahi Adamu emerging National Chairman and other leaders are chosen in different capacities to lead the party, particularly as the 2023 general elections in Nigeria draw closer.

Interestingly, the party once again chose the instrument of compromise, negotiation, and consensus to arrive at the desired end in its internal politicking as almost all of its leadership positions were filled by candidates stepping downing and groups’ endorsement with no actual party delegate elections.

Early on Saturday, after a series of persuasions and negotiations by governors and other leaders of the party, six other aspirants for the office of the national chairman; George Akume, Tanko Al-makura, Abdul’Aziz Yari, Sani Musa, Saliu Mustapha, and Etsu Muhammed reportedly agreed to step down for Abdullahi Adamu, who is President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice for the job.

With the convention now concluded, a unity list has of a National Working Committee for Nigeria’s ruling party, the APC has emerged.

According to the list, a former governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu would be the national chairman of the party while former deputy governor of Osun State, Iyiola Omisore would serve as its national secretary. The new NWC members include:

  1. Abdullahi Adamu – National Chairman
  2. Abubakar Kyari – Deputy National Chairman (North)
  3. Ema Enaukwu – Deputy National Chairman (South)
  4. Otunba Omisore – National Secretary
  5. Festus Fuanter – Deputy National Secretary
  6. Muhazu Rijau – National Vice Chairman (North Central)
  7. Mustapha Salihu – National Vice Chairman (North East)
  8. Salihu Lukman – National Vice Chairman (North West)
  9.  Ijeoma Arodiogwu – National Vice Chairman (South East)
  10. Victor Giadom – National Vice Chairman (South South)
  11. Isaac Kekemeke – National Vice Chairman (South West)
  12. Ahmed El-Marzuk – National Legal Adviser
  13. Uguru Ofoke – National Treasurer
  14. Bashir Gumel – National Financial Secretary
  15. Suleiman Argungun – National Organising Secretary.

Also endorsed are; Ahmed El-Marzuk, National Legal Adviser; Beta Edu, National Woman Leader; Abdulahi Israel, National Youth Leader; Tolu Bankole, Special Persons Leader; Uguru Ofoke, National Treasurer; F.N Nwosu, National Welfare Secretary; Felix Morka, National Publicity Secretary; Abubakar Maikafi, National Auditor; Bashir Gumel, National Financial Secretary; Suleiman Argungun, National Organising Secretary; Ibrahim Salawu, Deputy National Legal Adviser and Omorede Osifo, Deputy National Treasurer.

The emergence of the new National Working Committee of the APC has brought up the conversation regarding the need for ideological-driven political parties and political players in Nigeria and Africa at large. With many recent court rulings regarding party defection or cross carpeting in Nigeria, the argument that politicians are the same and only divided by current personal interest appears true.

For instance, APC’s new party Chairman was a founding member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and actually started politics as a member of the ‘conservative’ National Party of Nigeria (NPN), he is now to chair a supposed ‘Progressive’ party. Such can also be said of the party’s new National Secretary – Senator Iyiola Omisore who is another ex-PDP chieftain.

Anyway, with the uncertainty regarding APC’s leadership now out of the way, Nigerians would hope it’s a launch into better political leadership also.

Politics

Algeria, Sierra Leone get non-permanent seat at UN Security Council

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Algeria and Sierra Leone, have been elected as non-permanent members of the the United Nations’ Security Council for 2024-2025.

The two countries are part of the ten countries elected for two years in the Council outside the five power bloc countries— the United States, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom.

The countries replace Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates and will join Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland who were elected last year.

For Sierra Leone, it’s a return to the council after 53 years. Its Foreign Minister, David Francis said it was “a great day for this small, progressive and confident country…which has successfully transitioned from war to peace.”

Guyana and South Korea were also elected unchallenged while Slovenia handily beat Belarus for the only contested seat.

An official of rights agency, Human Rights Watch, Louis Charbonneau remarked that “the vote in the General Assembly shows why a competition for UN elections is essential” after Slovenia edged Belarus for the seat going to Eastern Europe and obtained 153 votes, against 38 in Belarus.

“UN member states have undoubtedly decided that Belarus’ grave human rights violations at home and attempts to cover up Russian atrocities in Ukraine disqualify it from serving on the Security Council, a crucial body for ensuring human rights. humans,” he added.

Algeria got 184 votes, South Korea 180 votes, Sierra Leone 188 votes and Guyana 191 in a single candidate votes for four seat reserved for Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America/Caribbean.

There has been a long debate about the place of Africa in international relations. At the inception of the United Nations, only four independent African countries represented the continent when 50 representatives of different countries met in San Francisco, California, in 1945 to complete the Charter of the United Nations.

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Politics

South Africa: Opposition, DA want findings on alleged arms supply to Russia public

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South African opposition party, the Democratic Alliance has vowed to challenge the decision by the presidency to keep from the public, findings from recent arm supply allegations.

The follows allegations by United States Ambassador, Reuben Brigety that South Africa provided ammunition to Russia by ship. Brigety said the US was sure that contrary to its public claim of being non-aligned in the Russia/Ukraine crisis, South Africa supplied arms to Vladimir Putin’s army in December.

Following the allegation, President Ramaphosa launched an investigation to be conducted by an independent body which will be led by retired Deputy Justice Phineas Mojapelo, advocate Leah Gcabashe, and former justice minister Enver Surty. Meanwhile, his spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya said the government would withhold the panel’s findings.

Magwenya said the terms of reference for the inquiry would not be gazetted or published.

“The investigation covers issues of national security and classified information, which is protected from disclosure,” he said.

“This inquiry has been instituted in a similar manner to the inquiry that investigated the July 2021 riots in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng and the value of its report remains unchallenged.

“The panel will be supported in gathering the information that is necessary to fulfil its mandate by letters from the president instructing all relevant government entities as identified by the panel to cooperate fully with the panel or face disciplinary sanction,” he said.

“The work of the panel will not be public, nor will its report be made public. The president will speak to any actions that may result with respect to national security. This is provided for within our secrecy laws as per the nature of this matter,” he added.

In a statement, the DA said it would not ” leave this secrecy unchallenged. We have already submitted an application under the Promotion of Access to Information Act to obtain a copy of the panel’s terms of reference. And we are obtaining legal advice to challenge Ramaphosa’s plan to hide the report once it is complete.”

The party leader, John Steenhuisen argued that keeping the report private “undermines the ability of prosecutors and the public to hold guilty parties accountable for any such violations of the law”.

“Hiding this report from public view will rob the people of South Africa – and of the world – of the opportunity to see the full facts of this matter.

“Refusing to disclose the complete picture of how the ANC-led government allegedly smuggled weapons to arm Russia’s war in Ukraine and various parts of Africa will also undermine the very purpose of the investigation.”

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