FORMER LABOUR PARTY PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANT CALLS ON THE PARTY TO GIVE ACCOUNT OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS

In an open letter to the leadership of Labour Party on the 2023 Election, Comrade Faduri Joseph, a former presidential aspirant under Labour Party has called the party to account for the campaign funds received during the 2023 presidential election as a sign of good leadership, which will be an indication that if given power, transparency and accountability will be the watchword.

Addressing the Labour Party leadership, executives, honourables, and his fellow compatriots, he observed that, “no doubt our party ran a laudable election and the support we got from Nigerians, showed that power belongs to the people, and it reflected in the contention that trailed the election of 2023 that we almost won.

“Having said this, I would like to use this medium to thank the people of Nigeria who believed that ‘YES WE CAN’ and inspite of many people thinking Labour Party had no structure to make a statement, we made a landmark and kudos to all of us and the good people of Nigeria.

“After election, our flag bearer and party went to court to challenge the outcome of the election; to fight for true democracy and we came back short.

The activist also popularly called Fadojoe, added that, beside all these came so many trouble waters that the party went through from suspension of key leadership executives to the leadership cracking into three (3) factions as at today. He further stressed on issue of money mismanagement, corruption within the party that according to him are just to mention but a few.

“We are no doubt suppose to be a formidable and positive opposition to this govt that has come to sink our nation the more with never thought through policies that has crumbled our nation in every areas of the economy.

“Having said all this. It is also worthy of note that if we must be a party of choice for Nigerians then we must show leadership and show to the good people of Nigeria that the New Nigeria we talk about is possible and achievable through our party, then we must first and foremost come together and resolve all issues and cracks within the party for ‘a house divided against itself can not stand’. We must drop the hatchet and bring both warring parties in our party to a round table and resolve all our internal issues before we can say to be an opposition. We can not operate the same style of political mess we see in the ruling party we claim we are better than and yet doing worse, then we will become laughing stock to Nigerians, who want nothing more than just a nation where they can survive and live as citizens. Not a situation where they live like slaves in their own country.

He thus noted that since many Nigerians all around the world supported Labour Party and her presidential candidate financially, by now one would have expected the party and most importantly the presidential candidate in person of Mr. Peter Obi to release report of the support the party got from many Nigerians both home and abroad. “How much we received, spent, and what we have left; if any, to plan ahead for next election.

“Thirdly, it is imperative to sit down and look through the lenses of 2023 and see what we did wrong. Where we lack strength and how to work on these lapses for future elections, because if we don’t look and examine inwardly, how we got it wrong in 2023 election then we will repeat the same mistakes in future elections get same result.

“Our Candidate cannot claim to be an alternative to corruption, but refused to come out clean to Nigerians and the party of how much kindhearted Nigerians donated, both home and abroad to support the movement and the new Nigeria agenda for the world to trust and believe us next time. So I am calling on His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi to give account of money donated to his campaign from both home and abroad; for Nigerians to see through, then we can criticize the present government in power for corruption and flaws in administration.

“You can not question the government in power for accountability when we lack such. We can not talk of corruption about this government when we can not explain millions of dollars, pounds sterling, and other foreign currencies giving to our party in 2023. We can not chide this administration of APC of failed policies when we as a party failed in just governing our own party.

Concluding he stressed that, “the New Nigeria project must start now, we in Labour Party must not just see ourselves as just fortunate and a better or choiced alternative without starting to sell a new agenda to Nigerians now, not to wait till when election is few months away before we put our party together and position it for take over.

CSOs Establish Group to Ensure Monitor PHCs in Nigeria 

…Emphasis  on need for Accessible, Affordable Healthcare 

In an effort  to support the development of an improved Healthcare services across the the country, Civil Society Organisations under aegis of CSO-PHC Engagement Forum (CPEF) met in Kaduna and resolved to establish a group to monitor the activities of Primary Healthcare Centres in Nigeria. 

According to the CSOs, the aim of aim of setting up the monitoring unit is to ensure that the ordinary citizens can access good medical healthcare that is  affordable , especially at the rural areas. 

In a Statement jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the newly created CSO-PHC Engagement Forum; Comrade Bala Ahmad Mohammad and Comrade Peter Ibrahim Amfani , the  decision to create  the monitoring was informed by the decay in the healthcare system and lack of proper management of healthcare facilities , especially at local government areas. 

The statement further reads: ” At the Kaduna meeting held at Arewa House,  ,We discussed extensively  some of the problems  facing healthcare delivery services , especially in the rural areas and resolved to work out a functional modalities to inspect and monitor PHCs as a way of check on the personnel and management of the facilities. 

“We discovered that Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructures across the country remain severely underdeveloped, lacking the modern medical facilities that are essential for quality care with the country’s healthcare indicators rank among the worst in Africa.

“Considering the rate of deprivation , poverty and death rates, the need to  monitor the functionality of medical healthcare facilities, equipment and personnel efficiency has become a thing of paramount importance in order to ensure quality healthcare for the deprived citizens. “

While acknowledging that the decay further exacerbated by a series of critical issues, thus  our decision to concentrate on monitoring   of  the PHCs to compliment National healthcare development agencies with emphasis  for the ordinary citizens to enjoy affordable and accessible without any for bureaucratic bottleneck. 

“We also discovered that the country has several barriers that limit delivery of PHCs: amongst them the internal conflict in parts of the country, crime and corruption, multiplicity of governmental and donor agencies, vertical programmes, low political commitment to implementation of approved health policies, differences in remuneration between levels of care. 

“Our study  also revealed that inadequate referral services, inadequate number of staff, high cost of drugs and services, availability of healthcare for 24 hours were some of the factors with high frequency that influence the utilization of healthcare services.”

However, it which urged the federal government to improve funding of the  health sector,  expressed  worry that the health system is relatively weak, and there is yet a coordinated response across the country with a number of health workforce crises have been reported due to poor welfare, lack of appropriate health facilities and emerging factions among health workers. “

ANA Spearheads Strategic Advocacy for Hajj 2024 Accessibility Amid High Cost Concerns

A concerted effort led by Sen. Ahmad Abubakar MoAllahyidi under the Arewa New Agenda (ANA) banner has launched a far-reaching advocacy campaign aimed at enhancing access to Hajj 2024 for Nigerian Muslims. This initiative highlights critical issues surrounding the cost and accessibility of the sacred pilgrimage, advocating for measures to ease financial burdens faced by intending pilgrims.

ANA’s effort according the group’s leadership, was fully endorsed and supported by the leadership of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), from concept to finish.

The ANA’s campaign was marked by strategic engagements across key regions—North West, North East, North Central, and FCT—bringing together religious leaders, stakeholders, and state pilgrims’ boards to address pressing concerns ahead of the looming December 31st payment deadline for Hajj 2024.

ANA’s advocacy encompassed multifaceted challenges impacting the affordability of Hajj, including accommodation near Haram, feeding schemes, royalties, airfares, and service charges, all contributing to the overall high cost incurred by intending pilgrims.

Stakeholders voiced concerns during the engagements, notably about fraudulent activities targeting pilgrims, delayed information dissemination, and inadequate awareness within rural communities regarding the new regulations and payment deadlines for the 2024 Hajj.

Regional observations revealed promising trends in some states meeting their Hajj quotas, while others faced challenges due to pending court decisions and delayed commitments. The need for deadline extensions and subsidies emerged as key recommendations to make Hajj more accessible.

The North Central region particularly highlighted a lack of comprehensive information and suggested intensive educational campaigns to bridge the awareness gap among intending pilgrims and rural communities.

Stakeholders advocated for intensified enlightenment drives, closer collaboration with financial institutions to alleviate payment hurdles, and a call for governments to subsidize Hajj fares, addressing concerns about fraud, improved management, and early savings schemes.

Encouragingly, government officials in various states, including Kano, Kebbi, FCT, Zamfara, Kwara, and Nasarawa, expressed confidence in their governments’ interventions to ensure a successful Hajj 2024, affirming their commitment to addressing affordability challenges.

Sen. MoAllahyidi conveyed gratitude for the support extended by the National Hajj Commission and various state pilgrims’ boards, acknowledging their collaborative efforts to advance the cause of making Hajj 2024 more accessible for Nigerian Muslims.