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Buhari Hails CACOVID for Raising his Profile among Comity of Nations

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Leaders of CACOVID, Governor of Central Bank (CBN), Godwin Emefiele; Group Managing Director of Access Holding, Herbert Wigwe; and the Chairman of Aliko Dangote Foundation, (ADF), Alhaji Aliko Dangote making a symbolic presentation of the 130 security vehicles to President Muhammadu Buhari by CACOVID.

 

As the private sector-led Coalition Against Covid-19 (CACOVID) winds down, President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the initiative of private sector operators, saying the contributions he has received from the Coalition so far has elevated his status among other Presidents of the world.

 

The President, who spoke in Abuja yesterday while receiving a parting donation of N12 billion security equipment for the Military and the Nigeria Police from the leadership of CACOVID said his government had received so much support from the private sector in addressing social ills in the country.

 

Items handed over to the President by the Coalition members included 100 Tata 14 ton Troop carriers, 100 Tata 12 ton Troop carriers, 86 Toyota pick-up trucks, 64 Nissan Navara pick-up trucks with their spare parts, 13,000 helmets as well as 13,000 bullet proof vests.

 

It would be recalled that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had also rated CACOVID as the third largest contributor in the world to the fight against Covid-19 virus, the outbreak of which in 2020 brought the world to its knees.

 

An excited President Buhari while thanking the CACOVID on behalf of the Military and the Police said: “Today is indeed a very happy day for all Nigerians, and I can happily say that I am the envy of many Presidents in the world. I am exceedingly honoured to be the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, at this time.

 

“I am gratified to have the honour of leading a country whose private sector willingly galvanises itself to raise funds to enthusiastically support government in resolving social ills. I am proud to say that there is nowhere in the entire world, except in Nigeria, where the private sector has voluntarily come together to assist government efforts.

 

“Thank you for supporting our Administration’s efforts to strengthen the Police and Military as we face the security challenges that all modern nations face”, Buhari added, noting that such a patriotic gesture was proof that nationalistic determination is still alive in Nigeria, in the face of enormous challenges pervading the world and the country.

 

Speaking while handing over the items, Chairman of the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), Aliko Dangote, a foremost industrialist who initiated the Coalition with the Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, explained that the Coalition was winding down with the latest donation.

 

He listed other business leaders brought together under CACOVID to include Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, Tony Elumelu, Jim Ovia, Segun Agbaje, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Femi Otedola, Adesola Adedotun, Karl Toriola, Haresh Aswani, Raj Gupta, and John Coumantaros, all of who contributed several billions of Naira each and supported the CACOVID effort with advocacy. In all, according to him, over 100 organisations and private individuals contributed to CACOVID.

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Mr. Dangote gave reason for the donation saying that as the worst of the Covid crisis waned in Nigeria, the security situation deteriorated, partly due to economic disruptions caused by the shutdown of the global and national economy.

 

Therefore, to provide additional response support to the Government, the ADF Chairman said CACOVID embarked on another fundraising effort, which enabled it to purchase the items for the Police and the Military.

 

Recalling the birth of CACOVID, Dangote explained that the Coalition as a timely response to the outbreak of the deadly covid-19 virus was borne out of the previous experience with Ebola elsewhere in West Africa, which made him to recognise the fact that the potential crisis looming was very serious

 

“And so together with Herbert Wigwe, we set up CACOVID and drafted our peers in the private sector to join our efforts. The CBN Governor joined our efforts very early and chaired the group. We knew straight away that we had a responsibility to act and support the efforts of Government as quickly as possible to avert disaster”, Dangote noted.

 

Dangote continued; “In addition to the leadership team, we set up a technical committee to guide our purchasing decisions, which was critical, given the prevailing confusion around testing and treatment options, and the lack of successful models anywhere in the world. Members of that committee included leading Nigerian scientists and public health professionals, the DG of NCDC, DG of the Presidential Task force on Covid-19, representatives of WHO, BMGF and the UN.

 

“In addition, a core team of select staff members from our organisations manned the initiative’s operations Centre 7 days a week for several months planning, coordinating, and delivering on the various activities of the coalition.”

 

While enumerating all the supports the Coalition has offered the nation in the last two years, Dangote disclosed that the group mobilised its members and raised N62 billion to provide 39 fully kitted isolation centers in all 36 States and FCT; Testing Supplies for almost 1 million tests; Food for 10 million vulnerable individuals across the country; Oxygen and tanks to the most affected states; Support for vaccines delivery and distribution across the Nation; Support to re-open the economy (Travel Portal, IT, airport scanners/PPE and other support) with communications and advocacy campaigns around prevention and against disinformation.

 

According to Dangote, the donationthe donation marks the end of the CACOVID initiative “as we wind down what has been deemed an example of patriotism, solidarity and efficiency in terms of partnership between the public and private sectors. This is a lesson in the power of collaboration for a worthy cause.

 

“Thank you to my partners on this CACOVID journey. I would like to especially thank the Presidential Covid-19 team led by SGF Mr. Boss Mustapha for their excellent collaboration.  My gratitude goes to Mr. President for your unwavering support and that of your entire Government.”

 

Also speaking on the activities of CACOVID, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Central Bank Governor, who led the CACOVID Committee told the President he was proud to be part of the Coalition that supported government in its fight against insecurity.

 

“I am immensely gratified by what CACOVID has achieved in its few years of existence. The nationalist and patriotic drive of my colleagues therein is unmatched anywhere in the world and must be applauded. The Coalition is a good example of what Nigeria must become:  a nation of patriotic solidarity of individuals and corporations, and effective collaboration of the public and private sectors,” he said.

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ADC Crisis Deepens as Party Loyalists Reject Claims of Candidate Imposition in Kano

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Comrade Adnan Tudunwada

 

Fresh controversy has emerged within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kano State following allegations by some party stakeholders that the leadership imposed a governorship candidate ahead of the next election cycle.

Reacting to the allegations in a statement, Adnan Mukhtar Tudun Wada said reports from a recent press conference by some individuals claiming to be ADC stakeholders were misleading and did not reflect the position of the party leadership.

According to Tudun Wada, the individual who presented himself as the chairman of the party in Kano was no longer recognized in that capacity following a judgment of the Federal High Court. He stated that the party would constitute a caretaker committee after concluding ongoing efforts to address issues relating to aspirants seeking various political offices across the country.

Tudun Wada further dismissed claims made by a self-acclaimed chairman of an elders committee, insisting that the ADC never endorsed or appointed anyone to such a position. He alleged that the actions of the individual were driven by personal interests and a quest for political relevance.

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The party loyalist argued that those making the claims were attempting to create confusion within the party at a critical period when consultations and consensus-building efforts were ongoing. He maintained that such actions could undermine the party’s internal processes and unity.

Providing details of recent consultations, Tudun Wada said the party organized a consensus meeting involving two leading governorship aspirants, Alhaji Ibrahim Ali Amin Little and Ibrahim Khalil. According to him, both aspirants agreed to work together and accept whichever decision the party eventually reaches regarding its governorship flag bearer in Kano State.

He explained that while party members were awaiting the final report of the consensus committee, they were surprised to learn of a press conference where a particular aspirant was allegedly endorsed and claims were made that an election had already taken place.

Questioning the credibility of such claims, Tudun Wada asked why Ibrahim Khalil would have signed a consensus agreement in Abuja if he genuinely believed that a valid election had already been conducted to determine the party’s governorship candidate.

Tudun Wada emphasized that he and other supporters remained loyal members of the ADC and would not engage in any activity capable of undermining the integrity of the consensus committee or the party’s democratic processes. He noted that they would continue to await the final decision of the national leadership.

Expressing confidence in one of the aspirants, Tudun Wada said Ibrahim Ali Amin Little remained committed to the growth and development of the ADC. He added that party supporters were optimistic that Amin Little would eventually emerge as the party’s governorship candidate.

According to Tudun Wada, supporters of Amin Little are prepared to mobilize across Kano State to celebrate his emergence should the party leadership eventually choose him as its standard-bearer for the governorship election.

 

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UK Prime Minister Officially Resigns

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday after less than two years in office, in a term characterised by policy U-turns and deep public unpopularity.

“Every decision I have taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party,” Starmer said as he choked up in an emotional speech outside 10 Downing Street.

Starmer said the process of picking a new leader for the centre-left party would be launched in July, and he would remain as prime minister until his successor is chosen, to be in place before parliament returns from the summer recess in September.

Starmer’s main rival, veteran politician Andy Burnham, is due to be sworn in as a member of parliament on Monday after winning a crucial special election on Thursday, allowing him to return to parliament and clearing his path to run for party leader.

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“I will remain in post as prime minister until the contest is complete, and I will do everything I can to ensure an orderly handover of power,” Starmer added.

Until the weekend, Starmer had insisted he was going to fight on and remain as prime minister as he fought off challenges and calls to step down.

He has clung to that position for months after multiple scandals and high-profile resignations that piled the pressure on him and his Labour Party.

But Britain is now set to get its seventh prime minister in a decade.

Starmer’s widely anticipated announcement comes a day before the 10-year anniversary of the Brexit referendum, which triggered the UK’s exit from the European Union and an unprecedented churn of prime ministers.

Starmer has been credited with reshaping Labour into an election-winning party, which clinched a decisive victory in 2024, ending 14 years of Conservative rule.

But his term was derailed by missteps ranging from benefit cuts to criticism over defence spending plans.

He was nearly ousted in March over his ill-fated decision to appoint Peter Mandelson, a known associate of the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as the UK’s ambassador to Washington.

He has also struggled to fight off the rapid rise of the far-right, anti-immigration Reform UK party — which defeated Labour in local elections in May, further weakening Starmer’s position.

“I will also give my successor my full and unequivocal support, knowing that they will inherit a Britain that is far stronger and fairer than the one I inherited two years ago,” Starmer said in his resignation speech.

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2027: PRP Raises Alarm Over Alleged Hijack of Party Nomination Forms by Kwankwaso

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The Chairman of the PRP Northwest Stakeholders Forum, Abdulkadir Musa Guza, has accused Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of attempting to take control of the nomination tickets of several political parties ahead of 2027 general elections.

Speaking at a press conference in Kano, Guza alleged that nomination forms for all 69 elective positions under the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) had been purchased by an individual who is not a member of the party.

He claimed that similar actions had also been carried out in more than seven other political parties, describing the development as a threat to democratic practice and internal party democracy.

Guza said the forum was particularly concerned by reports linking Kwankwaso to the exercise, questioning why the former Kano State governor would seek to have the nomination tickets of several political parties under his influence.

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According to him, such actions amount to political deception and could deny genuine party members the opportunity to contest elections on their preferred platforms.

The PRP chieftain described the development as “political robbery” capable of creating confusion, disputes and disorder in the electoral process if left unchecked.

He maintained that the PRP is a party founded on principles and democratic values and would not tolerate any attempt to hijack its internal processes

Guza said the party has many loyal members interested in contesting various elective positions and insisted that their rights must be protected.

He appealed to Kwankwaso to allow political parties to operate independently and democratically, adding that the PRP should be spared from what he described as interference in its affairs.

The chairman warned that the forum would have no option but to seek legal redress should the alleged actions continue.

 

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