Kogi Govt Writes US Over Visa Ban, Says Action Is Unacceptable

 

The Kogi State Government has written a letter to the United States Government, protesting against the recent visa ban imposed on politicians suspected to have rigged the November 2019 election in the state. 

 The US had on Monday imposed a visa restriction on some individuals for allegedly rigging the November 2019 governorship polls in Kogi and Bayelsa States as well as in the run-up to the September and October 2020 Edo and Ondo governorship polls. 

“We find this unacceptable, and we protest your presumption. The least you could have done if indeed this is about democracy and human right as claimed is create a room, no matter how slim, for a fair hearing,” the letter issued by the State Government, Folashade Arike Ayoade, partly read.

The letter addressed to the Ambassador of the United States of America was dated September 16. According to the SSG, Governor Yahaya Bello argued that the US should have created room no matter how slim for a fair hearing.

 “As it is now, partisan speculation as to who is indicted, who is not and for what has become cudgels, furiously swung in the media space by all comers. “Your action has therefore added abundant grist to the rumour mills and electrified the merchants of fake news.”

 Although the state government admitted that there were some challenges with the governorship poll conducted last year, it, however, noted that subsequent elections would be improved upon.

WTO DG: Okonjo Iweala, Four Others Scale First Round Screening

Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is still in the race of becoming the next Director-General World Trade Organisation (WTO) even after the international body reduced the number of candidates to five. WTO in a Tweet on its official handle @wto on Friday announced that the five “candidates will be moving on for members’ further consideration in the next round of consultations, which resume on 24 September.”

EDO GUBER ELECTION: IGP ORDERS RESTRICTION OF VEHICULAR MOVEMENT · Assures Citizens of safety

 In line with concerted efforts at ensuring public order and safety, during the forthcoming Edo Gubernatorial election slated to hold on Saturday, 19th September, 2020, the Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has ordered the restriction of vehicular movement from 11:59PM on Friday, 18th September, 2020 – 6pm on Saturday, 19th September, 2020.

 

The IGP notes that the restriction order is informed by the need to prevent the free flow, circulation and use of illicit arms and hard drugs and checkmate the movement of political thugs and touts and other criminally-minded individuals especially from contiguous States from hijacking and disrupting the electoral processes. He enjoins citizens to go out en-masse on the day of the election and vote, noting that the Police and other security agencies have been sufficiently mobilized to provide a safe, secure and conducive environment for the election.

 

While regretting any inconveniences the restriction order may cause the citizens, the IGP enjoins the citizens to see the restriction as part of necessary sacrifices towards the enthronement of democracy. He however warns that the Force will not sit idly-by and watch citizens who may want to engage in any criminal act - violent and destructive acts, snatching of ballot boxes, vote buying, vote selling, hate speeches, and other act(s) capable of compromising the electoral processes.

       

 

                                        DCP FRANK MBA

                    FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

                                FORCE HEADQUARTERS

                                                ABUJA​