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Participants at a women political Summit pay tributes to slain Kogi PDP women leader

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Participants at a One-Day Women’s Political Summit have paid tributes to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s women leader, the late Salome Acheju Abu who was gruesomely murdered after the 2019 Kogi Gubernatorial election in November 2019.
The participants were drawn from Kogi Women in Local Government councils, women in Politics and Officials of Kogi Women Empowermwnt Coalition (KWEC).
The summit was Organized by Center for Women Studies and Intervention(CWSI) Supported by CAFOD Nigeria held on 19th June 2023 in Lokoja, Kogi State.
These were contained in a Communique which captured the outcome of the One-Day Political Summit and was made available to the NationalUpdate in Abuja on Tuesday.
The participants in the Communique made a clarion call for peaceful gubernatorial election in November 2023 election adding that they have noticed that the political atmosphere as the gubernatorial election in the State scheduled for the month of November approaches there abound clear warning signs of impending violence.

“As mothers, wives, sisters, aunts and nieces we are beneficiaries of peace and harmony; We pay tribute to Mrs. Salome who was gruesomely murdered during the 2019 general election by political thugs in Kogi East senatorial District as result of her participation in politics.”
Accordingly they said they are deeply concerned that the present peace is fragile and if not carefully managed will lead to violence in the on-coming election.
“We therefore call on all relevant security agencies at the State and Federal levels to closely monitor activities in Kogi State to ensure proactive measures that will guarantee a peaceful, credible, free and fair election taking place on 11th November 2023.
“On this platform we stand and demand for our rights to peacefully exist as co-stewards of a better Kogi State, better Nigeria and a better world.

“We re-echo the imperative and importance of women inclusive governance as enunciated in the United Nation’s Beijing conference of 1995.
“On this premise; we state that exclusion of women from democratic governance impedes the growth and prosperity of Kogi State and Nigeria at large.*

They expressed appreciation to the executive Governor of Kogi State Alhaji Yahaya Bello for his deliberate effort in ensuring that Women in Kogi State are elected in to the Local Government Coucils as vice chairpersons and legislative Council Leaders.
According to them Bello has applied the principle of affirmative action by which an unprecedented number of forty-two (42) women were included in all 21 Local Government Councils of Kogi State as Vice Chairman and Legislative Council Leaders.
“We appreciate his Excellency’s contribution to elevating the political status of women through his action on women inclusive governance.
“We commend his Excellency for positive response to the multi-sectoral advocacy programs implemented by Community Based Organization, Kogi Women Empowerment Coalition (KWEC) with support from Centre for Women Studies and Intervention (CWSI) for actualization of inclusive development and equal opportunity in Kogi State.”
They raised concern that unlike Governor Bello, the male executives of the Local councils and Councilors have been marginalising the women in councils.
“We have noticed with deep concern that even though the Executive Governor of Kogi State has taken the step to create new platform of governmental visibility for women, Male Executives holding the offices of Chairman of Local Government Councils and Councilors in Local Government Areas have marginalized female members of the Councils since their inclusion in Local Government Administration.

“This practice discourages women’s aspiration for political self-actualization and opportunity to contribute to local government development. “Therefore, we call on the Chairmen and Councilors in all the Local government councils of Kogi State to emulate Governor Yahaya Bello’s recognition of women.
“They should promote cultural re-orientation, elimination of all gender biased practices in administration of public offices which produce inequalities, suppression and politically motivated violence against women.”
They celebrated the successes of the two women who contested for the Kogi State House of Assembly in the 2023 general election.
“These are Honorable Mrs. Comfort Nwuchola. She is representing Ibaji constituency and Honorable Omotayo Adeleye-Ishaya who is also currently representing Ijumu constituency.
“We recognize them as Political Amazons and commend their determination to break the jinx of total absence of female legislators from Kogi State House of Assembly since the year 2003.”
They made a passionate appeal
to all male representatives in the Assembly to give their cooperation to the elected women by creating an enabling environment for them to effectively fulfill their mandates.
“Furthermore, we applaud all the members of the Civil Society Organizations including CWSI who advocated and contributed to this. We call on all female persons in Kogi State to use the legislation as shield to defend their rights and dignity.

“We commend the executive Governor of Kogi State for signing into law The Kogi State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law

“Furthermore, we applaud all the members of the Civil Society Organizations including CWSI who advocated and contributed to this.”
They therefore called on all female persons in Kogi State to use the legislation as shield to defend their rights and dignity.

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Politics

Peter Obi in solidarity with Ondo LP candidate, stands firm on democracy

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Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party(LP) in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi has once again pledged his commitment to democracy in Nigeria, despite ongoing challenges with the electoral process.

Obi traveled to Ondo State on Monday to campaign alongside LP’s governorship candidate, Hon. Sola Ebiseni, describing him as a capable leader with the necessary competence to effectively govern the state.
Obi highlighted Ebiseni’s work as the Secretary of Afenifere, where he has consistently advocated for fairness, equity, and justice.

Obi urged the people of Ondo to reject transactional politics, which he believes has contributed to misgovernance and poor leadership.
He stressed the importance of choosing leaders who are focused on long-term solutions for the state and the nation.

He concluded with a message of hope: “A new Nigeria is POssible!”

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Kogi State PDP applauds Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s milestone in office

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Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State has celebrated the achievements of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as she marks her one-year anniversary in office. The party praised her dedication to transformative leadership and her efforts to uplift the lives of her constituents.

In a statement issued by the State Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Tijani Umoru, the PDP highlighted Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s commitment to good governance and the delivery of democratic dividends.

“Senator Natasha exemplifies the values of the PDP through her dedication to the welfare and development of her people,” said Tijani. “In just one year, her work has shown how effective representation can positively impact the lives of her constituents.”

Tijani described her as a “distinguished leader” who has brought meaningful changes to the Kogi Senatorial Zone. He noted that her service has reaffirmed the PDP’s role as a driver of progress and prosperity in Kogi State, adding that her leadership promises a new era of development for the entire state.

The party also expressed its confidence that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s efforts will continue to foster hope and progress across communities, reinforcing the party’s vision for a brighter future.

The PDP concluded its statement by reaffirming its commitment to democratic values and good governance, as well as its belief in a prosperous future for Kogi State under its leadership.

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Atiku Abubakar outlines what he would have done for Nigeria’s Economic Reforms

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Atiku Abubakar

***Calls for Strategic Planning and Empathy

Former Vice President of Nigeria and 2023 Presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Atiku Abubakar has shared his vision for a reformed Nigerian economy, detailing what he would have done differently to address the country’s current economic challenges.
Responding to public interest in his approach, Abubakar outlined a detailed strategy focused on economic stability, institutional reforms, and social protection for vulnerable Nigerians.

Speaking through his chief spokesperson Mr. Paul Ibe, the former vice President emphasized the need for better planning and strategic reform implementation.
“Rather than focusing on me, Nigerians should be asking what President Tinubu can do now to alleviate the pain caused by his economic policies,” he stated. However, he expressed hope that some of his ideas might inspire solutions for Nigeria’s economic struggles.
Reeling out his strategy that included Comprehensive Economic Planning and Sequencing of Reforms, Abubakar underscored the importance of a well-coordinated reform strategy.
He argued that implementing major fiscal changes, such as fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate adjustments, all at once was too abrupt for Nigeria’s economic environment. “We would have sequenced our reforms to achieve fiscal and monetary alignment and avoid overwhelming the economy,” he explained.
He also dwelled on the need for transparent communication and public engagement highlighting the need for open communication with the public, stressing that public trust is essential for successful reforms. “Transparent communication with the public is essential to build public trust, which is important to ensure that citizens understand what the government is doing,” he said.

“One of Abubakar’s priorities would have been to establish robust social protection programs to shield low-income Nigerians from the impact of economic reforms. “Our reforms would have a human face,” he stated, outlining plans for a social safety net that would provide financial support and economic opportunities for the most vulnerable.
On specific Measures to Boost Economic Development Abubakar proposed the creation of $10b Economic Stimulus Fund to support small businesses across Nigeria.
The fund, he said, would empower MSMEs and support youth employment through targeted skills-to-job programs.
Abubakar’s plan included creation of an Infrastructure Development Unit directly under the presidency to coordinate infrastructure projects across the country.
“The IDU would work with ministries to oversee a $25 billion Infrastructure Development Fund to speed up projects in transportation, energy, and communication.
“To address Nigeria’s currency challenges, Abubakar advocated for a managed-floating exchange rate, rather than a fully flexible rate.
He argued that such an approach would help maintain currency stability while avoiding the pitfalls of a fixed rate system.

Abubakar reiterated his stance on subsidy removal, arguing for a gradual, phased approach that would allow the economy to adjust. He proposed reinvesting the funds saved into healthcare, education, and rural infrastructure, while increasing domestic refining capacity to reduce dependency on fuel imports.

In conclusion, Abubakar expressed hope that President Tinubu’s administration would consider some of these ideas to address the nation’s economic issues, emphasizing that Nigerians deserve leadership that prioritizes their well-being. “I believe that our sacrificial investments today will form the foundation for tomorrow’s development strides,” he said, affirming his commitment to a vision of “a New Nigeria.”

Culled from Everyday.ng

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