Former Governor of Plateau State, Fidelis Tapgun said that the emergence of the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, as the People’s Democratic Party’s flag bearer in the 2023 presidential election is a perfect match for President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress.
Tapgun said only Atiku can wrestle power from the APC because of the ruling party’s resolve to remain in power perpetually.
The former governor stated this in Jos, in a chat with some newsmen on the outcome of the just concluded PDP presidential election.
He said the party decided to throw the contest open so that the best candidate could emerge, adding that the party took the decision because they were in the opposition.
“If we don’t unite and bring out the best candidate that will deal with the APC, we might end up not seizing power from them in 2023”, he said.
According to Tapgun, “Atiku has the means to tackle the APC, he has been in government for a very long time and in PDP right from the start, even though he crisscrossed once in a while.
“Atiku has structures in all parts of the country. There is nowhere you go in this country and you won’t find Atiku’s person there.
“All the aspirants that contested the primaries were qualified but we wanted someone that can stand Buhari and his APC and when we seize power from them we can now decide where next to zone the presidency.”
“What we want now is to rally everybody behind Atiku and make sure that we take power from the APC.”
When asked if the PDP would be able to still wrestle power from the APC should the ruling party zone power to Southern Nigeria, Tapgun said: “My prayer is for the APC to zone power to the South and Nigerians can be rest assured that the PDP will defeat them hands down”.
He continued: “Before now, there was a lot of wrangling, agitation, people think the party will break because of zoning, but the party in its wisdom decided for now that every eligible candidate can contest and we are all witnesses how the primaries went, and the party rather than breaking as expected by some people is, however, waxing stronger.
“I am a proud member of the PDP because we are showing people how to be organised and how to bring Nigerians together”.
Tapgun served as Governor of Plateau State on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1992.
The Arewa Consultative Forum( ACF) has hail the 50% reduction of school fees for indigent students by the incumbent Governor, of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf as exemplary and worthy to emulate by other governor’s.
Gov. Yusuf has recently cut down 50% reduction in the registration fee for the 2023/2024 academic session for all Kano State indigenes studying regular courses at the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Yusuf Maitama Sule University Kano, Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education, Kumbotso, Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Dambatta and other state owned tertiary institutions accross the state to cushion the worsening economic situation people have been going through.
While reacting to the governor’s initiative, the Chairman of the forum, Dr. Goni Farouk Umar described the decision as both revolutionary and a hallmark of visionary leadership.
He noted with delight the Kano State government’s resolve to restore its foreign scholarship programme designed to sponsor 1001 best graduates which demonstrates the government compassion that resulted in the payment of N700million registration fees for 700 Kano State students at the Bayero University Kano.
The ACF leader noted that both the slashing of the fees in state owned institutions, and the off-setting of the BUK fees would go along way to ease the burden on parents and the students occasioned by the current economic hardship.
Dr Umar who describe education as power, and pivot in society’s advancement, prayed for the successful implementation of the government’s pro-poor education policies.
He also appealed to all sections of the community to support educational development in all facets.
President of Nigeria, Mr Ahmed Bola Tinubu will honour Zamfara pilgrim Hajiya A’ishatu ‘Yan Guru Nahuce who found $80,000 in Saudi Arabia during the last Hajj exercise and return the money to it’s rightful owner. Chairman Zamfara State Hajj Commission, Alhaji Musa Mallaha has revealed.
Mallaha disclosed that the president is overwhelmed by the act of honesty exhibited by the female pilgrim hence he directed the National Hajj Commission to organize a national press conference to interview the woman for record keeping while in Saudi.
When the directives was given by the president according to Mallaha, the woman was already airlifted back to Nigeria adding that arrangements are in top gear to ensure the presidential directives is implemented as soon as possible.
Mr. Mallaha who revealed that president Tinubu expressed delight and pointed out that Hajiya Nahuce has brought respect and honour to her country Nigeria said the commission’s preparation towards the national press conference in Nigeria now will include the State governor, Dauda Lawan keying into the activities.
Mallaha further said that her honesty is a pride to all Muslims accross the globe.
The woman during the last excise stumbled into the money while performing Tawaff at the Ka’abah, she said that she kick the bag of the money to a distance for fear of been trample upon if she bow down to pick it up because of the large crowd. An Arab Pilgrim who saw her action pick the bag and gave it to her thinking that it was hers.
Mrs. Nahuce who was sponsored to Hajj by her son’s revealed that it was her first trip to the holy land.
She further revealed in an interview that, she took the money to the officials of her local government Hajj commission and handed it over. The officials met Saudi Authorities and within few days the owner was found and the money was returned to him.
She commented that she was not aware of the magnitude of her action until she was back home to Nigeria where she understands that the news went viral before her arrival
Nigerian Army neutralized seven Armed Bandits while several others flee with gunshots wounds in the late hours of Monday.
The bandits in large number according to reliable source attempted to infiltrate and attack the troops at Kango Sabuwa. The gallant troops of Sector 1 Operation Hadarin Daji in conjunction with troops deployed at Forward Operating Base Wanke were steps ahead of them.
This was achieved by the troops in an ambush operation along the route suspected to be used by the Bandits.
The troops Shortly after the encounter proceeds in pursuit of other fleeing wounded bandits, recovered 1 Machine Gun, ammunition and 6 Motorcycles from the armed bandits.
The Commander Joint Task Force Northwest Operation Hadarin Daji, Major General Godwin Mutkut commends the troops for their bravery and resilience in dealing with the Armed Bandits.