Avoid declaring elections inconclusive, ex-Senate President, David Mark urges INEC

Former President of the Senate, Mr David Mark, has advised the
Independent National Electoral Commission to avoid declaring
elections inconclusive.

Mark disclosed this when he spoke with newsmen on Saturday in
Otukpo.

“The additional costs of conducting the supplementary elections
and the emotional and physical stress that politicians and voters
go through can be avoided if INEC do the right thing.

“The exercise is unhealthy for both politicians and the
electorate; it brings disillusionment to both parties,” he
said.

According to him, the concept of inconclusive election is
strange and unknown even to the Constitution.

He urged INEC to be upright and diligent in conducting elections
to avoid having to declare the elections inconclusive.

“If the declaration of inconclusive elections is allowed to
stay, it will rather encourage some politicians not to present
themselves to the electorate but wait to disrupt elections so that
it will be declared inconclusive.

“I advise people to go into elections devoid of violence. If you
win through the proper will of the electorate, you will earn their
respect.

“Politicians should strive to ensure that they win elections
through free, fair and credible means,” he said.

Meanwhile, collation of results in the state’s supplementary
governorship poll is ongoing in most polling units.

NAN reports the supplementary poll was conducted in 22 out of
the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

The supplementary election was also held in nine LGs for the
state House of Assembly poll.

NAN also reports that the poll was generally peaceful across the
state, however, complaints of vote buying by party agents could not
be substantiated.

(NAN)

NAF Decorates New Air Warrant Officers

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar,
has decorated 6 newly promoted Air Warrant Officers (AWOs) with
their new ranks.

The new AWOs are; Emmanuel Abochi, Kabiru Hassan, Muhammed
Abubakar, Sherrif Musa, Friday Bassey and Olaoluwa Olatunji. The
decoration ceremony took place at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force
(HQ NAF) today, 22 March 2019, as part of the CAS’ First Quarter
Meeting with AWOs and Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs).

The quarterly meeting provides a forum for interactions aimed at
consolidating on the existing smooth working relations between the
NAF leadership and all ranks within the Service for enhanced
operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Speaking during the decoration ceremony, the CAS congratulated
the newly promoted AWOs while noting that they had been selected
for promotion based on their invaluable contributions to the
development of the NAF over the years, both within their areas of
specialization and in the general operations of the Service.

He said that the promotion was also premised on the resolve of
the NAF to consistently reward excellence. The CAS urged the new
AWOs not to rest on their oars but to rather work even harder and
brace up for the challenges ahead, especially in the collective
resolve to reposition the NAF and secure Nigeria and Nigerians.

He urged them to continue to apply their skills, experience,
commitment and time when and wherever demanded. The CAS equally
applauded the spouses and family members of the newly decorated
AWOs, while imploring them to sustain the support which would
enable their spouses to excel in their new ranks and higher
responsibilities.

Air Marshal Abubakar also seized the opportunity to again thank
the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu
Buhari, for approving the new Harmonized Terms and Conditions of
Service for the Armed Forces which, he said, has tremendously
improved the prospects of personnel in retirement.

The rank of AWO is the pinnacle of the Non-Commissioned Officer
(NCO) cadre in the NAF, with only a select and deserving few being
able to attain the rank before retirement from the Service. The
rank comes with tremendous prestige and responsibility as well as
peculiar benefits while in Service as well as upon retirement.

Some of these benefits include the provision of a brand new
Toyota Hilux Utility Vehicle, along with a driver and an orderly,
while in Service. The AWOs retain the Vehicles upon retirement.
AWOs, along with RSMs, are the custodians of discipline and Service
traditions, as well as administrators of the welfare of NCOs in NAF
Formations and Units.

They are essentially the elders of the NCO cadre, who are
responsible for ensuring that the NAF’s high standards of
professionalism are maintained whilst inculcating the NAF’s Ethics
and Core Values into their subordinates.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force