Politics
Claudia Sheinbaum Makes History As Mexico’s First Woman President
Claudia Sheinbaum was elected Mexico’s first woman president by a landslide Sunday, preliminary official results showed, making history in a country plagued by rampant criminal and gender-based violence.
Crowds of flag-waving supporters sang and danced to mariachi music in Mexico City’s main square celebrating the ruling party candidate’s victory.
The 61-year-old former Mexico City mayor, a scientist by training, won around 58-60 percent of votes, the National Electoral Institute announced after a quick count.
That was more than 30 percentage points ahead of her main opposition rival Xochitl Galvez, and some 50 percentage points ahead of the only man running, long-shot centrist Jorge Alvarez Maynez.
Voters had flocked to polling stations across the Latin American nation, despite sporadic violence in areas terrorized by ultra-violent drug cartels.
Thousands of troops were deployed to protect voters, following a particularly bloody electoral process that has seen more than two dozen aspiring local politicians murdered.
Earlier, Sheinbaum hailed what she called a “historic” election day.
After casting her ballot, she revealed she had not voted for herself but for a 93-year-old veteran leftist, Ifigenia Martinez, in recognition of her struggle.
“Long live democracy!” Sheinbaum declared.
After the polls closed, Galvez urged her followers to closely monitor the count.
“We are competing against authoritarianism and power and they are capable of anything,” said the 61-year-old senator and businesswoman with Indigenous roots.
– ‘Transformation’ –
Mexican women going to the polls had cheered the prospect of a woman breaking the highest political glass ceiling in a country where around 10 women or girls are murdered every day.
“A female president will be a transformation for this country, and we hope that she does more for women,” said Clemencia Hernandez, a 55-year-old cleaner in Mexico City.
“Many women are subjugated by their partners. They’re not allowed to leave home to work,” she said.
Daniela Perez, 30, said that having a woman president would be “something historic,” even though neither of the two main candidates was “totally feminist” in her view.
“We’ll have to see their positions on improving women’s rights, resolving the issue of femicides — which have gone crazy — supporting women more,” added the logistics company manager.
Nearly 100 million people were registered to vote in the world’s most populous Spanish-speaking country, home to 129 million people.
Sheinbaum owes much of her popularity to outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a fellow leftist and mentor who has an approval rating of more than 60 percent but is only allowed to serve one term.
Reina Balbuena, a 50-year-old street food seller, said she voted for Sheinbaum because the ruling Morena party “has given a lot of support to older adults, to children.”
– ‘Hugs not bullets’ –
In a nation where politics, crime and corruption are closely entangled, drug cartels went to extreme lengths to ensure that their preferred candidates win.
Hours before polls opened, a local candidate was murdered in a violent western state, authorities said, joining at least 25 other political hopefuls killed this election season, according to official figures.
In the central Mexican state of Puebla, two people died after unknown persons attacked polling stations to steal papers, a local government security source told AFP.
Voting was suspended in two municipalities in the southern state of Chiapas because of violence.
Sheinbaum has pledged to continue the outgoing president’s controversial “hugs not bullets” strategy of tackling crime at its roots.
Galvez vowed a tougher approach to cartel-related violence, declaring “hugs for criminals are over.”
More than 450,000 people have been murdered and tens of thousands have gone missing since the government deployed the army to fight drug trafficking in 2006.
The next president will also have to manage delicate relations with the neighboring United States, in particular the vexed issues of cross-border drug smuggling and migration.
As well as choosing a new president, Mexicans voted for members of Congress, several state governors and myriad local officials — a total of more than 20,000 positions.
– AFP
Edo State’s Governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo has presented his certificates of return to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Special Adviser, Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga made the disclosure in a statement on his verified handle on micro-blogging site, X.
According to Onanuga, it was a family thing as Senator Okpebholo and his deputy governor-elect Rep. Dennis Idahosa were joined by leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to present the certificate of return to President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Onanuga in a photo statement on his X handle wrote, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, along with APC governors and APC officials, receives Edo State governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo and the deputy governor-elect Rep. Dennis Idahosa during the presentation of their certificates of return at the Presidential Villa Abuja.”
he gave the photo credit to Taiwo Okanlawon.
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke on Tuesday hosted fellow citizens of Osun State in Abuja and delivered an extensive brief on his stewardship in a mini – ‘Ipade Imole’ hosted by the Ministry of Federal Affairs in Abuja.
The event attended by leaders of various towns and professional associations witnessed advice, suggestions and questions on governance issues to which the Governor responded in detail.
ALSO READ: Adeleke On How To Strengthen Democracy, Good Governance
Leaders of the Association of Osun State Indigenes in the Civil and Public Service, Osun State National Assembly Staff Association and Osun Indigenes Association commended the Governor for his unprecedented records of achievements since assuming office.
According to the leaders, the Abuja event is the first of its kind by any Governor since the creation of Osun State, declaring their being proud of the records of achievements of the Governor under two years in office.
Question from the participants range from agriculture, workers’ welfare, technical education, airport project, yuletide transportation, and good governance to which the Governor responded in details to the applause of the audience.
Gov Adeleke expressed appreciation for the unwavering support from the citizenry at the inception of his administration as well as the commendation on his performance in office from leaders present at the occasion.
The Governor said the peoples’ trust and confidence in his five-point agenda has been a driving force behind the concerted efforts to reposition Osun State, asserting that “Osun state is undergoing a remarkable transition from well-known civil service state to a vibrant industrial hub which is open to investors worldwide.
“We just concluded an industrial investment summit in Osun. We hosted investors from far and near. Osun is open to investment in agriculture, mining, digital economy as well as tourism and entertainment industry.”
Tasking Osun diaspora to become investment agents for the state, the Governor reaffirmed his determination to extend dividend of democracy to Osun in the diaspora to the wide applause of the audience.
“As a token of our appreciation, we shall be presenting cooperative loan cheques to registered Osun associations that are resident here in Abuja. This gesture mirrors the benefits that our cooperative societies have received back in Osun State.
“Our Government recognises the importance of expanding opportunities, hence our resolve to ensure that our indigenes, regardless of location, partake in service delivery.
“As great ambassadors of Osun State, I urge you to continue to showcase good conduct wherever you reside and keep spreading the word about the investment opportunities that are ever available in Osun State.
“It will also be pleasant to let your friends, associates and networks know that Osun is open for business. Our state boasts of vast potentials and we welcome partnerships that foster growth and development”, the Governor told the cheering crowd.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Federal Affairs, Hon Adenike Adeleke commended the Governor for embracing the idea of inclusiveness for Osun indigenes in state governance space, noting that “the Governor has demonstrated unparalleled administrative effectiveness amidst commitment to infrastructural development, healthcare, education, and tourism reforms.
“As you approach two years in office, your current achievements are monumental. We are grateful for your dedication to the people of Osun State. Your leadership has earned recognition from esteemed individuals, including Former President Obasanjo, who praised your joy and work ethic, and commended your developmental projects.
“Recently, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations ranked Your Excellency amongst the top nine performing governors in Nigeria for the Reputation Perception index Governance Report.
“The rating by NIPR indicated that Governor Adeleke secured the high ratings because of his visionary and tremendous strides in transforming the state since assuming office through implementation of various initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure, education, healthcare, tourism, and youth development”, the Commissioner stated.
In the same vein, the Commissioner for Cooperatives and Empowerment, Prince Bayo Ogungbangbe narrated how the Adeleke administration has disbursed over N4 billion-naira cooperative revolving loans to strengthen small businesses while also commending the Governor for extending the gesture to Osun residents in Abuja.
The major highlights of the occasion include the presentation of multi-million-naira cooperative business loan cheques to the three associations representing Osun indigenes in the federal capital territory.
The Governor was accompanied to the event by the three senators, six members of the House of Representatives, the House Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, several state lawmakers including some members of the State Executive Council.
In the aftermath of the offseason Edo State gubernatorial election, Prof Pat Utomi has declared that “The news is not good”.
Prof Utomi’s assessment, shared in a statement on his verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, painted a bleak future fordemocracy because “the people think their votes don’t count”.
ALSO READ: #EdoDecides2024: Wailers Increase Volume, As APC Takes Prize
He cautioned that “those who have power and are deploying it, … without conscience saw Kaplan’s projections in the coming Anarchy.”
Utomi wrote, “As the people of Edo state were going to the polls I was reflecting on a privileged sneak preview I had the day before of the most recent Afrobarometer surveys that provide longitudinal tracking of how people feel about Democracy in Africa.
“The news is not good. If the people think their votes don’t count and that Kakistocracies are well in place, with capture of institutions draining elections of legitimacy, what can be expected in Edo state and elsewhere on the continent?
“I hope those who have power and are deploying it so without conscience saw Kaplan’s projections in the coming Anarchy.
“Whatever one may say of Goodluck Jonathan recognizing, as Biden did in the US, that the collective good trumps our temporary personal valor, his decision separated the really strong from those that pretend to be in crude abuse of those powers.
“History shows that the ‘reward’ eventually comes”
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