Bekasi, Indonesia - Soldiers are guarding a half-built Catholic Church in Bekasi, near Indonesia's capital, Jakarta.

The church has become a symbol of the election campaign of Rahmat Effendi, the mayor of Bekasi, a city of 2.7 million people, two million of whom are Muslim.

Despite strong local opposition against the building of the church, the Muslim mayor went ahead and issued a permit for it.

His decision came after church leaders lobbied his predecessors for 17 years without a result, forcing them to hold services in private homes.

"We have 340,000 non-Muslims in Bekasi, they need houses of worship. This does not mean they want to spread their religion. They simply want to pray," the mayor said.

Effendi is one of the candidates in Indonesia's regional elections on Wednesday.

Overall, more than 150 million Indonesians will head to the polls to elect 17 governors, 39 mayors and 115 regents, in what is seen as a major exercise in democracy in advance of next year's presidential polls and a test for President Joko Widodo's chances to be re-elected.

After the election loss and jailing of Jakarta's Christian Governor-elect Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaya Purnama in 2017, who was found guilty of blasphemy against Islam, there were concerns that religious and ethnic sentiments would dominate the polls.

But in Bekasi, a city tainted by religious violence for nearly a decade, the situation has remained quiet.

"There were rumours and fake stories spreading from mosque to mosque that I would build 500 churches and that a crusade was about to happen," said Effendi. "But we have acted quickly together with police to arrest those responsible for spreading lies."

Latifah, who sells household goods at a market near the guarded church, said she has Christian friends but added that the mayor should have "listened to the majority, who is Muslim".

"Why did they need to build it so close to the homes of Muslim clerics," she said, adding that even though the mayor did some good for the city she will not vote for him.

'If people are happy, religious sentiments don't play a role'

Still, Effendi is leading in the polls because of his free healthcare and education policies.

These policies have also boosted Widodo's popularity, who enjoys approval ratings of around 70 percent.

The president's candidates seem to be heading for victory even in provinces where his main rival, former General Prabowo Subianto, won in the 2014 elections - like in West Java, the province which Bekasi is a part of.

"If all is well and people are happy, religious sentiments don't play a role," said pollster Djayadi Hanan. "But if people start to feel the impact of a slowing economy, these are the first issues to pop up."

This means that despite his popularity, Widodo is not unbeatable. Hanan predicts that if prices continue to be high and people keep finding hard to get jobs, Widodo might face a tough and nasty campaign.

"The economy has not improved as he promised and if a political scandal comes up, all the issues are thrown at him: that he is a communist, a non-Muslim, secretly a Singaporean and Chinese, will be used during the campaign.

"These identity politics have become more important now, not only in Indonesia but worldwide."

Widodo and Subianto will be watching Wednesday's "festival of democracy" very carefully before deciding on their next moves.</s>JEFFERSON CITY (AP) - Governors across the country have been packing their bags for trade missions abroad, spending taxpayer dollars on costly trips that have an uneven track record of yielding any tangible benefits for their states.

Last week alone, governors of 10 states were jetting across Europe, many converging at an air show in Paris. Others traveled to Canada, South America and Asia. At the beginning of last week, more than a quarter of the nation's governors were out of the country.

An Associated Press analysis of gubernatorial trade trips since the start of 2014 shows that governors have taken or scheduled more than 80 trips to 30 countries.

The results are mixed, with some governors striking multimillion-dollar business deals and others achieving little to show for their travels.</s>The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has disclosed how a National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu and some state governors betrayed the South West region in 2005.

Yinka Odumakin, National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere said Tinubu and some state governors betrayed the South West region during the 2005 constitutional conference.

Odumakin said Tinubu rejected the Yoruba agenda during the constitutional conference.

Speaking with Daily Independent, Odumakin said, “The President of Ohanaeze, Chief John Nwodo, said to Chief Bisi Akande at the 10th memorial of Senator Abraham Adesanya that if elders like him can no longer speak the truth because of APC card, Nigeria is in deep trouble.

“In like manner, I will say if an elder statesman and veteran journalist whose words people should swear with like Prince Momoh begins to deal in low-quality rumours and fake lies, Project Nigeria is doomed.

“We were all in this country in 2005 when the political conference took place.

“All delegates to that conference were handpicked by the government.

“The leaders of the regions were not allowed to pick their delegates as governors did the picking.

“Leaders of Yoruba tried to influence the governors as PDP controlled five states then, except Lagos.

“We had a meeting with the PDP governors in Ladoja’s office in Ibadan. Gen Alani Akinrinade, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, and some of us were there.

“The governors agreed to set up a Technical Committee headed by Chief Richard Akinjide, myself, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Mr. Remi Olatubora, and about 10 others.

“We met for three days at the University of Ibadan and got our report ready, mirroring the agreed positions of Yoruba for the conference.

“We went back to the governors in Ibadan and met a totally hostile bunch who rejected all key ingredients of Yoruba agenda and they would not consider anybody who would not toe their line as a delegate.

“We left them realizing they were not going to follow the Yoruba agenda.

“Otunba Gbenga Daniel offered to keep the Technical Committee to keep the pressure on delegates in Abuja.

“But those of us who were independent of the governors declined further participation as our chairman had already openly disowned our report and the governors were going to play their game.

“Leaders of Yoruba retreated and empowered a committee to launch the Yoruba agenda rejected by the governors.

“Our Committee, headed by Ambassador Olu Otunla, launched the document at Okokan Stadium with Yoruba leaders in attendance to let the world know our stand.

“Aside from the PDP governors who frustrated the agenda, Afenifere also accused Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who was the only governor then in the opposition, of moving against the agenda by producing a Lagos agenda.

“The Lagos State which was not under PDP which should have at least been a fall back was not there as Tinubu also rejected all main planks of Yoruba agenda and produced a Lagos agenda.

“Yoruba participation at the conference was therefore governmental, and I challenge our revisionist Prince to name those Yoruba leaders who betrayed an agenda that did not get to Abuja.”</s>Abuja – Members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have resolved to meet with security chiefs to evolve a holistic solution to insecurity challenges confronting the country.

 

 Gov. Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara, who is also Chairman of the Forum, made this known while briefing newsmen after their meeting which ended in the early hours of Thursday in Abuja.

Yari said that the governors also condemned Sunday’s attacks in Plateau State and called for the prosecution of the perpetrators.

“The forum strongly condemned recent attacks in Plateau State and the spate of insecurity in the country.

“Members commiserated with the government and people of Plateau and other states, including victims who were caught in transit travelling to and from neighbouring states.

“Governors unanimously called for the prosecution of the perpetrators of the attacks and resolved to find a quick and common solution to the security crises.

“The forum resolved to pay a condolence visit to Plateau State to commiserate with the government and people of the state.’’

According to Yari, the governors commended President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbanjo for their quick response and visit to Plateau, to sympathise with the people of the state.

He equally commended Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau for the way he handled the situation.

Yari added that the governors would continue to engage with the Federal Government, leadership of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other relevant agencies to safeguard Nigeria’s energy security.

“We will continue to engage with the Federal Government, the leadership of NNPC, Director of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the NCS, and other security agencies to curb hoarding, diversion, smuggling and illegal hike in ex-depot or retail pump price, to safeguard Nigeria’s energy security,’’ he said.

He also reiterated the resolution of the governors to implement the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) supply and distribution monitoring system in each state.

Yari explained that the concern of the governors was not majorly on subsidies but to know the actual number of litres being exported or imported daily.

“The governors acknowledged the importance of broadband deployment for both economic development and revenue generation.

“The governors also pledged to work closely with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and infrastructure companies to remove the impediments to broadband deployment, including unifying right of way charges and addressing multiple regulations and multiple taxation,’’ Yari said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum received briefing on “Energy Security and Cross-Border Leakages; effects on Remittances to the Federation Account’’ by the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru, and the Director of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Henry Ikem Obi.

Baru, according Yari, was represented by the Chief Executive, Downstream, NNPC, while Mr Idris Abdulraham, Team Leader, Terminal Operation, DPR, stood in for Obi.

The Forum also received presentations from the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, on broadband deployment in Nigeria. (NAN)</s>A Senate committee will force defiant governors to appear before it to shed light on audit queries.

Members of the County Public Accounts and Investment Committee are furious at the 12 governors for failing to heed summons to respond to questions raised by Auditor General Edward Ouko on expenditure during the 2014/2015 financial year.

ALSO READ: Why your governor’s expensive mansion should bother you

Governors Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Mwangi wa Iria (Murang’a), Salim Mvurya (Kwale), Cornel Rasanga (Siaya), Patrick Khaemba (Trans-Nzoia) and Martin Wambora (Embu) are expected to answer queries touching on spending during their first term in office.

First-term county bosses Moses Lenolkulal (Samburu), Granton Samboja (Taita Taveta), Francis Kimemia (Nyandarua), Abdi Mahamud (Wajir), Mohamud Ali (Marsabit) and Ali Korane (Garissa) are expected to respond to queries touching on their predecessors' actions.

Yesterday, committee chairperson Moses Kajwang' said they would be forced to compel the county chiefs to appear before them, noting that the governors were complicating their work by refusing to co-operate.

"The non-appearance by the governors, without giving us notice, is slowing down our work as a committee. We have taken a decision to summon the 12 county chiefs who have failed to appear before us,” said Mr Kajwang'.

According to the Homa Bay senator, only six of the 18 governors the committee had invited had turned up.

“We shall review all the reasons given by the country chiefs and if we find out that the excuse was not sufficient, we will be compelled to drag them before our House team. Governors come to us when they need money and refuse to be held accountable."

Kajwang' spoke yesterday during a meeting where Governor Muthomi Njuki of Tharaka Nithi was questioned by senators over spending by the county administration during the regime of his predecessor Samwel Ragwa.

ALSO READ: Marriage on the rocks: Troubled Jubilee Party

Last week, Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso was grilled by the committee after she honoured an invite. Other county bosses who have appeared before the Senate team this year include Kiraitu Murungi (Meru), Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni), Cyprian Awiti (Homa Bay) and Mohamed Kuti (Isiolo).

Mr Njuki faced questions regarding Sh1.3 billion the county paid as compensation to employees three years ago. In his 2014/2015 report, the Auditor General had questioned why the administration had not provided documents to prove that the payments had been made.

The governor said the county had been paying ghost workers at the time, but was quick to point out that they had put measures in place to prevent a recurrence. This included migrating from a manual employees' register to a digital platform as well as installing a bio-metric identification system.</s>An All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Ibrahim Ali Ningi has stated that most of the governors elected under the party’s platform and have second term ambition will lose their seats in the 2019 elections for working against President Muhammadu Buhari.

He stated that this political permutation will apply to both federal and states legislatures in the country.

Ningi made this known to DAILY POST in an exclusive interview in Bauchi, stressing that there was no room for enemies of democracy to win elections in 2019.

He explained that this followed alleged plots by APC governors and the lawmakers to take the party structures from President Muhammadu Buhari during the recently-concluded APC congresses across the country.

“Let me tell you categorically that APC governors and lawmakers’ decision to have hijacked the party’s recent Congresses is a pointer that they want to unseat President Buhari towards the 2019 elections. However most of them will lose their second term bid, because they won 2015 elections through Buhari’s popularity,” Ningi said.

Ningi attributed problems in the party’s congresses to governors’ conspiracy against Buhari and blamed National Assembly members for deliberately refusing to cooperate with the President over the 2018 Budget.

He alleged that the National Assembly members are by-products of corruption and were bent on frustrating the signing of the 2018 budget so to scuttle Buhari’s positive vision for Nigerians.

“Most of them rode on his political popularity to win 2015 elections despite that they are corrupt and I assure you that Nigerians will not vote for corrupt politicians in future,” he added.

The APC stalwart maintained that the success of the party’s national convention in Abuja has vindicated Buhari, as against the failed congresses in some states where governors smuggled in their loyalists as executives.

He however assured that the President will win his second term bid on the strength of the successes recorded by the APC administration.</s>Lieutenant governors from around US meeting in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Lieutenant governors from around the United States are gathering in New Orleans for a three-day meeting.

Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser will welcome the 2018 annual meeting of the National Lieutenant Governors Association with opening remarks Wednesday morning. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell also will greet the group.

The group's website says it was organized in 1962 as a professional association for elected officials who are first in line of succession to the governors of 50 states and five U.S. territories.

The agenda for the meeting that begins Wednesday includes panel discussions on tourism and best practices in emergency management. A discussion also is set on the importance of Louisiana's five Mississippi River ports and its seafood industry to other parts of the nation.</s>The Imo State governor and Chairman, Progressive Governors’ Forum, Rochas Okorocha, has disclosed that the governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress will be in Plateau State on Friday over the killings in the State.

Okorocha said that the governors would assess the situation, and interact with the governor of the State, Mr. Simon Lalong on solutions to stop further killings in the State and other parts of the country.

Okorocha disclosed this on Tuesday, at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport on arrival from Abuja after the National Convention of the APC.

He noted that the crisis was not a religious one.

He said “I, with the rest of the governors of APC condemn in its entirety these unwarranted killings of innocent souls, and shedding of blood. We have called them insurgents, we’ve called them Boko Haram, we have called them all kinds of baptismal names and because the situation is not properly defined, most people hide under the cloak of religion of Christianity or Islam to create harm.

“No religion on earth, not even Christianity or Islam would warrant anyone to take anyone’s life. So this is not indeed a religious issue.

“Nigerians must come together now and fight this war properly because nationalism and religious differences have been the loophole with which these criminals operate.”</s>PIERRE, S.D. – The Western Governors’ Association released its report on workforce development today detailing steps states can take to address the skills gap. Gov. Dennis Daugaard shared the report during a roundtable at the group’s annual meeting which is being held in Rapid City this week. “The job market has changed dramatically in the last few decades. This report is an insightful collection of ideas that can help states enhance career opportunities for students, graduates and displaced workers,” said Gov. Daugaard. The report is the result of Gov. Daugaard’s initiative as chair of the Western Governors’ Association. The recommendations were compiled based on webinars and workshops held throughout the region over the last year. The findings of the report include:
• None How governors can better integrate state efforts to address workforce development;
• None The importance of highlighting postsecondary credentials other than four-year degrees;
• None Ensuring that educators, students and parents can find information that increases career readiness;
• None How to increase the availability of training and education for underemployed adults to transition to higher skilled, better paying jobs; and
• None The need to expand broadband access in rural communities to help better align the skills of the available workforce to the needs of those communities. U.S. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta joined the governors today for the roundtable discussion. Secretary Acosta shared updates on the U.S. Department of Labor’s efforts to address workforce challenges, including the implementation of the recommendations from the President’s Apprenticeship Task Force, which Gov. Daugaard served on. Acosta also shared that USDOL is committed to streamlining the H2A agricultural visa process and providing states greater flexibility to implement WIOA workforce programs. The Western Governors’ Association was established in 1984 to represent the governors of 19 western states and 3 U.S.-flag islands. The association is an instrument of the governors for bipartisan policy development, information exchange and collective action on issues of importance to the Western United States.</s>The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Wednesday night met in Abuja to discuss issues of minimum wage, insecurity and other matters of interests for the development of the country.



While the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is proposing a minimum wage of N65,000 for workers, the governors have been insisting on the staggering of the implementation of the new wage, if approved.

Also on the meeting agenda was discussion on the issue of insecurity, especially the killings in Jos.

The governors were also expected to meet with the Postmaster-General of the Nigerian Postal Service and the Attorneys General from 36 states of the federation on the contentious issue of Stamp duty.

Part of the agenda was to discuss the face up between the executive and legislative arms of government.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) expected to make representation on the actual oil revenue generation and remittance from the corporation, did not come.

The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) was also expected to make presentation to the governors. (NAN)
Local elections take place across Indonesia, including races for 17 governors.