Skip to content

Daudupress

SDP Supporters Stage Solidarity Walk For Adebayo, Other Candidates

Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Monday embarked on a road walk in Lagos State to canvass votes for their presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo and other candidates of the party.

The supporters initially converged at the SDP Secretariat in Yaba at around 8 am from where they moved to Ebute Meta, Obalende, Iyana-Oworo, Maryland, Ikorodu Road then to Computer Village in Ikeja, soliciting votes for their candidates.

Addressing the residents in Obalende and other areas, the vice-presidential candidate of the party Mr. Yusuf Buhari, urged those who were yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to take advantage of the deadline extension by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do so.

Buhari said the party chose ‘Walk for Democracy’ as part of the Lagos presidential campaign rally to reach out to the grassroots and educate voters on why they need to vote for SDP as the best alternative that would transform Nigeria.

Speaking with journalists, the Deputy Director General for SDP presidential campaign council, Mrs. Khadija Okunnu-Lamidi, said the party is one of the oldest political parties in the country, urging Nigerians to vote for Adebayo as the next president.

Okunnu-Lamidi said “This is the party that gives mandate to Late MKO Abiola. The democracy at that period was truncated. This is thirty years later, poverty is getting worse, insecurity now has a grandchild called kidnapping, and all metrics you can use to measure poverty have increased. The number of people and the level of poverty itself also increased.

”We are here to eradicate poverty and insecurity. These things, once we take care of them, solve the whole issue, solve healthcare problems, and give dignity back to the citizens. Where there is dignity of lives, our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will increase. We have the number, we just need to get productivity out of them. A hungry man can’t work and strategize and these are the things to fix in order to boost productivity and boost the economic status of everyone.

”I urge Nigerians not to sell their votes but vote their conscience and presidential candidate that would assist in reposing confidence in Nigerians”.

She added “We expect Nigerians to make a choice devoid of money, as you know the money that is being spent in politics, most of the politicians are not spending their money, rather they spend your money to campaign to you, to continue doing the same things. I expect Nigerians to listen to issues and stop getting swayed by the theatre they are bringing into it.

The walk was led by the Presidential candidate of SDP, Prince Adewole Adebayo, running mate, Mr. Yusuf Buhari, the Deputy Director-General of SDP Presidential Campaign Council, Mrs. Khadija Okunu- Lamidi and other Chieftains.

The presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on 25th February while the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections will be held on 11th March

Adewole Adebayo, presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has faulted the currency redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Adebayo opined while speaking on Channels Television in an interview on Sunday.

Recall, on October 26, 2022, Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor, announced the plan to redesign the biggest denominations of the country’s currency to control the money supply and aid security agencies in tackling illicit financial flows.

Emefiele had said the new notes (N200, N500, and N1000) would be effective from mid-December 2022, advising customers to deposit their old notes before January 31, 2023, when they would cease to be legal tender.

The January 31 deadline sparked controversies as many Nigerians could not access the new naira notes.

On Sunday, Emefiele said President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the extension of the phase-out to February 10.

“Based on the foregoing, we have sought and obtained Mr President’s approval for the following: a 10-day extension of the deadline from January 31, 2023, to February 10, 2023; to allow for the collection of more old notes legitimately held by Nigerians and achieve more success in cash swap in our rural communities after which all old notes outside the CBN loses their Legal Tender Status,” the CBN governor had said.

Speaking during the interview, the SDP presidential candidate said there were no policy or project management parameters behind the currency redesign initiative.

He said the process of currency swap should not be “chaotic”, noting that the currency is central to the economy.

“There is no policy behind it. There was no planning, definition of stakeholders, or project management parameters. No timeline and simulation done,” he said.

“The process is not supposed to be chaotic. The economy is a sensitive thing. Currency is so central to the economy because it is the means of exchange.”

Adebayo criticised the CBN governor for seeking the approval of the president for a one-week extension, adding that the apex bank should not be “subject to political interpretation”.

The SDP presidential candidate said Emefiele should have consulted with the board of the apex bank on the currency redesign rather than the president, who he said is a “political leader”.

“The CBN is not supposed to be allowing itself to be subject to political interpretation,” he said.

“Even this idea of going to the president to take permission for a one-week extension, none of that is …there is a board of governors for the CBN that is supposed to deal with the internal business of the CBN.

“With all due respect, for every ailment of this election, there is INEC, DSS, and police. You don’t want to give the CBN a role to play in the management of the election.

“To say, I have gone to take instruction and permission from the president to add more 10 days, that is not how to run the CBN with all due respect.

“The idea is not something that the changing of currency is emanating from a political person, which is the president.

“The idea is that the CBN belongs to all of us whether there is a change of government, party, or person.

“It looks like the governor of the CBN should rather be working in the presidency as a special adviser or something.

“I don’t want the CBN to look like an extension of the politics of Nigeria”.

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has  been thrown into mourning following the death of its only female Director ,  Mrs Nkechi Onwukwe.

According to SA Media to the minister,Nneka Ikem Anibeze, in a press release on the
29-01-2023, the Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq expressed shock at her sudden demise when she paid a condolence visit to the family in Kado, Abuja at the weekend.

The Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo mni. NPOM led the management staff of the ministry, including Directors, the National Cordinator-National Social  Investment Programmes NSIP , Cluster Heads, Special and Technical Assistants to the Minister   as well as union members to commiserate with the family.

Umar Farouq stated that the untimely and unforeseen death was a rude shock having held a management meeting with the deceased on Thursday.

“Indeed, we received the sad news with great shock. This is somebody who is our family member and we always pride ourselves in the ministry that we work as a family.

“Madam Nkechi Onwukwe was a strong family member and will remain a family member even in absentia. Her death has touched all of us. She was a very nice and amiable person. We enjoyed our working relationship with her and with all the good memories she left behind, we will continue to celebrate her.

“On behalf of all of us in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, we condole with the Onwukwe family and we pray that God will console and provide for the family she left behind “

In his remarks, the National Cordinator -National Social Investment Programme Dr Umar Bindir eulogized the late director, describing her as a natural  civil servant  who went about her work diligently.

“She was a professional who worked so hard and  diligently without crossing anybody’s path. I hope
you, the children of the late Mrs Onwukwe will imbibe the character of your  mother. She will be sorely missed”.

Mrs Onwukwe  who died on Friday January 27, 2023 was the Director Special Needs of the ministry. She started her career at the Ministry of Women Affairs in 1992 before joining the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs in 2019. She is survived by three children and was aged 56 years.

…Suspend Membership Admission Till Further Notice

Membership admission into the nascent professional Association of all Online Publishers in the nation’s capital, Abuja has been suspended to allow the forum focus on the all important task of nation building weeks to the General Elections.

According to a press release e-signed on the 28th January, 2023 by the acting secretary, Sola Akingboye, the position was reached by the Steering Committee after the Association reached fifty-member milestone barely a week after its inauguration.

The Steering Committee unanimously resolved to temporarily suspend membership admission to allow us concentrate on the onerous task of Nation Building weeks to the General Elections. During this window, we will perfect our incorporation and compile our digital register for reference purposes.

Also, the various adhoc committees are working assiduously to meet their timelines. The Finance Committee had turned in its recommendation, the draft constitution will be out next week as well as our logo which will be ratified in a General Meeting to be announced soon.

Overwhelmed by the wide acceptance of the association by all online Publishers, the Acting Chairman of the Association, Martins Odiete thanked all members for hearing the calls and heeding with their presence.

“On behalf of the Steering Committee, I would like to extend my utmost gratitude to you and your hard work.
Your dedication helped us reach our goals. I deeply appreciate every member of this team for showing relentless effort for this project.

“This progress would not be possible without your contributions. I value your commitment to this vision and look forward to achieving all our milestones together” he said.

Four weeks to the polls, we will devote our far reaching platforms to educate, inform and sensitize Nigerians and the global community about the activities of all stakeholders as we count down to the general elections with a view to reporting: fair, balance and accurate updates.

Abuja Online Publishers is an association of all online media with the aim of advocating the invaluable place of verifiable  and trusted online news media in a democratic society, encourage diversity, inclusion and to be a reference point for high editorial standards.