Politics

Confusion as Nigeria’s ruling party chairman, announces Senate President Lawan as consensus candidate. NWC disagrees

Published

3 years ago

June 6, 2022

The drama surrounding who becomes the presidential flag bearer of Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressive Congress has a new plot as the party Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, has reportedly announced Senate President, Ahmad Lawan as the consensus presidential candidate.

The party chairman reportedly made the decision known at the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) on Monday in Abuja ahead of the party primaries meant to begin on Monday.

President Muhammadu Buhari last week met with governors under the party platform and asked to be allowed to choose his successor as a consensus candidate for the party. The president later adjusted his position at a meeting with the presidential aspirants on Saturday, when he asked them to produce a consensus candidate between themselves.

This new development is likely to divide the party as many believed that the ticket to contest as Nigeria’s next president under the APC should be reserved for an aspirant from the Southern part of the country since President Buhari who is due to leave office on May 29 next year after an eight years’ reign is from the Northern part of the country.

Nigeria is due for another general election in 2023 when President Muhammadu Buhari, who has been in office since 2015 will be completing his second term of four years.

More than 23 aspirants joined the APC presidential race. Meanwhile, the party has received lots of condemnation for pegging the price for the Nomination Form for the presidency at ₦100 million.

that Adamu informed members of the NWC that he arrived at the choice of Lawan after consultation with President Buhari.

Meanwhile, the National Working Committee of the party disagrees with the move and insisted that other Presidential aspirants which include Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Engr. David Umahi must be allowed to contest the primary election at tomorrow’s convention scheduled at The Eagle Square, Abuja.

Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

3 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

4 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.