Senator Girei Denies Saying APC Zoned 2023 Presidency to South South

Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC) Registration and Revitalization Panel , Akwa Ibom State, Senator Abubakar Girei has denied reports that he said the 2023 Presidency has been zoned to the South South region.

According to the Senator in a rejoinder personally signed by him, “My attention has been drawn to a publication with a banner headline in national daily and lifted by some online medium where I was quoted albeit out of context that I said the All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential ticket come 2023 has been zoned to the South.

“I was also quoted that the decision enjoys the backing of President Muhammadu Buhari and the party leadership”

In setting the records straight according to him, “I spoke to our party supporters personally and was not represented as reported. That of a truth as the Chairman APC Registration and revitalization panel for Akwa Ibom State, I spoke during the kick off of the exercise at Senator Ita Inang’s Unit in Uyo, the State capital.

“That I called on the good people of Akwa Ibom State and the South South in general to support the ongoing Registration and Revitalization exercise and appealed to them to register en mass for the betterment of the region in political calculations.

“It is also true that I did say that the Presidency should come to the South in view of the fact that the North have had eight years at the centre BUT was not specific that it SHOULD OR MUST come from the SOUTH- SOUTH.

“It is not true as quoted that I said I have the authority of Mr President or the current party leadership to say that APC has zoned the presidency to the South South.

“That every other thing reported was correct except where it was quoted that I was represented, that the Presidency has been zoned to South South and that I said I have the authority of the President and party to say so”.

He therefore called on the general public that the said publication was a misinterpretation of what actually transpired.

“Any inconveniences such report may have caused my party, the APC, the Presidency and ardent supporters of the party is highly regretted” he stated.

Bomb Explosion Injures 7 Children in Kaduna

Security agencies have reported the accidental detonation of a substance at a residence in Ungwan Mangworo, Igabi local government area.

According to the report, children playing in the area picked up the material from a nearby farm and began to play with it, not knowing what it was. In the process, it was accidentally detonated as the children continued to fiddle with it near their home.

Seven of the children were injured by the explosion, and are now receiving treatment at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika. 

While expressing alarm at the incident, Governor Nasir El-Rufai stated his relief that the injured children were receiving treatment. 

In a statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, the Governor tasked security agencies to conduct a detailed investigation into the incident, and urged citizens to increase their vigilance towards the presence of such items around inhabited locations.

He said Security agencies have been duly informed of the incident for thorough investigations, to forestall future occurrences.

Citizens are advised to contact the Kaduna State Security Operations Room with information about dangerous or explosive materials found anywhere around the State, on 09034000060 and 08170189999.