Agency Report

By Muhammad Tijjani

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Barnawa Branch in Kaduna, in collaboration with lndependent National Electoral Comission (INEC) and Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has sensitised Kaduna residents on the need for free, fair and credible elections in 2023.

The sensitisation which began with a two kilometers road walk within Kaduna metropolis on Saturday, was also done in collaboration with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and other Civil Society Organisations.

The Chairman of NBA, Barnawa Branch, Barr. Vitus Ewuzie, said the campaign was to educate the public on their political and legal right to have free, fair and credible election.

He said the awareness was also to inform them that elections has consequences.

"Which ever way they vote, there is consequences; if they vote right, they get it right and if they vote wrongly, they face the consequences,"he said.

He noted that the excercise was also crucial to enjoy the people of Kaduna state who have reached voting age to come out in mass to excercise their franchise on election days.

Also, Mr. Umar Buhari, INEC's Head of ICT Department in Kaduna, said to ensure a safe, free, fair and credible elections in 2023, the Comission has been preparing since 2019.

He said they began the Continous Voters Registration (CVR) excercise for almost a year which was to enable Nigerians who did not registered to do so and get their permanent voters card.

He added that ample time was given by the Comission for those who wanted to make corrections or transfer their cards.

"We have began distributing the cards, and another round of the card distribution will begin on Monday till 22nd of January 2023.

"We will continue to distribute the cards at our LGA offices and from January 6th to 15th we will move down to registration area level so as to enable Nigerians have more access to collect their cards,"he said.

Buhari further said that all in preparation for the election, they have put in place their Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, where in Kaduna it would be deployed to the 8,012 pulling units in the state.

He said all the advancement achieved by the Comission was to ensure maximum turn out of voters to excercise their franchise in a free, fair and credible manner.

"In line with our motto, this time around, peoples vote will count,"Buhari said.

On his part, Dr. Patrick Katuka, Deputy Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) Kaduna Chapter, said they are not in doubt of INEC's credibility to conduct a free and fair election.

He said the forum, as a major stakeholder in the nation at large, had the responsibility to partner with the NBA to sensitise the public on the need to excercise their fundamental human right to vote once they have attain the age.

Katuka called on all the people who have attained voting age and yet to collect their Permanent Voters Card to do so and ensure they excercise their voting right in the coming 2023 elections.

Earlier, the Chairman, Human Right Committee, NBA Barnawa Branch, Ehizogie Imadojemu, said the sensitisation, being a political right advocacy programme, was organised by the committee.

Imadojemu, who is also the Vice Chairman of the NBA, Barnawa Branch, said it is the right of people to have a free, fair and credible elections in a democracy.

"We are trying to tell the people of Kaduna that it is their right to vote and it is not negotiable. They should also vote right by eshewing sentiments that had accompanied voting over the years.

"Where the candidates come from, their religion, tribe or ethic group will not help get the right people into position, this time around we are telling the electorates to consider competence because elections has consequences.

"If you are going to collect money to vote, remember issue of Insecurity, inflation and many other problems, vote competence by casting away sentiments," he advised.

Imadojemu further said that voters are the employers, not political parties or their candidates.

He therefore advised the public to vote right and not to compromise in any way.(NAN)

News Local

Shekau had 83 concubines before his death - Ex-Boko Haram commanders

NURUDEEN SHOTAYO

December 10, 2022 11:06 PM

The repentant terrorists also said Shekau is now in hell because he committed suicide during a fight with another terror group.

Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau.

According to some repentant Boko Haram commanders, the deceased leader of the group, Abubakar Shekau, had a whopping 83 concubines before his death.

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Recall that Shekau was reportedly killed during a supremacy battle with another faction of the insurgent group in Sambisa Forest, Borno State back in May 2021.

But, the surrendered fighters have now confirmed that the late terrorists' leader actually committed suicide during the deadly encounter, an act they described as a contradiction to his preaching.

This was disclosed by the Special Adviser to Borno State governor on Security, Brig Gen. Abdullahi Ishaq (rtd), who spoke in Maiduguri on Saturday, December 10, 2022.

Ishaq said some associates of the late Shekau, who have surrendered and embraced peace, told him about his concubines.

Ishaq's words: “We started this non-kinetic approach 16th months ago, the model started shortly after the death of Abubakar Shekau and the state government didn’t want Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) to continue using the Shekau’s fighters; we know it would be deadly.

“So, the first of fighter that I received in Bama told me that Shekau had 83 concubines, just imagine he left behind 83 concubines.

“They said he is now in hell because he committed suicide during his clash with other fraction. He always told them go out and fights, if they die in the process several virgins are waiting for them,” he said.

He further added that many fighters regretted their actions and blamed Shekau for misleading them.

Ishaq's words: “Let me say this, many of his commanders were bitter after he committed suicide because that act contradict what he preached. I can tell you that many of these fighters don’t know how to perform simple ablution not to talk of how to do prayers. We had to start teaching them after we brought them to Maiduguri.”