James Gardiner has expressed that he doesn’t mind losing followers or fans due to his political views.
He stated that he won’t be pressured into supporting causes he doesn’t believe in just to maintain his fan base.
Gardiner also mentioned that he might openly endorse a political party in the future, without worrying about how others perceive him for it.
“If someone stops being a fan because I don’t share their views, that’s fine. It just means they weren’t meant to be my fan anyway. Everyone is entitled to their own choices, and I can’t satisfy everyone. When the time comes, my stance will be clear,” Gardiner remarked in a report by myjoyonline.com.
The actor emphasized that while his celebrity status might influence some people, those who vote should make independent decisions.
“I might influence others with my choices, but I’m not forcing anyone to vote a certain way. If you’re voting, you should be mature enough to decide for yourself.”
He added, “My choices are my own. If I decide to publicly support a political party, that’s entirely up to me.”
In Uganda’s capital, Kampala, traffic police have taken measures to close several roads in the city to facilitate the transportation of VIPs to and from President Yoweri Museveni’s 79th birthday celebration scheduled for Friday.
This event has drawn an estimated crowd of 100,000 attendees, including individuals from both Kampala and other regions of Uganda.
Senior Superintendent Godwin Arinaitwe, the Kampala Metropolitan Traffic Police Commander, announced on Thursday that individuals unable to access the closed roads can make use of designated parking areas within Kampala and then cover the remaining distance to the event venue on foot.
He also assured that traffic police would guide those inconvenienced by the road closures to alternative routes.
It’s important to note that President Museveni’s actual birthday falls on September 15th. However, the festivities on Friday have been arranged by the youth belonging to Mr. Museveni’s ruling political party, the National Resistance Movement.
To prepare for this birthday celebration, city leaders initiated a clean-up operation of both Kampala and the Kololo Independence Grounds, the designated event location, on September 2nd.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, boldly asserted that he has not encountered any party leader who could suspend him from the party.
In an interview with Channels Television, Wike emphasized that governance transcends political party membership, addressing questions about his appointment in an APC-led government. He clarified that he assumed the role of FCT Minister to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration and not as a representative of any political party.
Wike expressed his commitment to the principles of fairness, equity, and justice, emphasizing that his loyalty lies with these principles rather than any particular party.
He stated, “I’m not here to work for a party. I’m here to support the president, who has confidence in me. I owe nobody an apology.”
When questioned about the possibility of the PDP suspending him, Wike questioned whether there was anyone within the party capable of suspending him, emphasizing that such a scenario was unlikely.
He also hinted at his role in advocating for discipline within the party for those who violated its constitution on office rotation.
The African Continental Unity Party (ACUP), a Pan-African global movement, has been given a provisional certificate by the Electoral Commission (EC), enabling them to establish a political party that can take part in future elections.
On July 12, 2023, the certificate was given to the ACUP Ghana leadership during a brief ceremony at the EC office in Accra by Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, Director of Electoral Services.
A global movement of Africans, led by ACUP, noted for its catchphrase “The Emerging Force,” seeks to create a new political order that upholds African ideals and beliefs and promotes prosperity for the continent’s citizens.
The provisional certificate, granted in accordance with Section 8(2) of the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574), signifies that the ACUP has been authorized to organize itself into a political party in compliance with the country’s electoral laws.
Following the presentation of the certificate, Christiana A. Agyare, the interim national women’s organizer of the ACUP, addressed the media and emphasized that the party is not just a “Nkrumahist Party” but also shares the ideals and perspectives of well-known Pan-Africanists like Marcus Garvey, Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba, and Thomas Sankara.
Agyare highlighted the ongoing relevance of the dream to achieve the complete liberation of Africans and stated that the party intends to mobilize Africans, including those in the diaspora, to bring about positive transformations in the lives and well-being of the people.
She continued by expressing the party’s ambition to gain full political recognition and spread its influence to other African countries. Politics, according to Agyare, should serve the general populace and not be a privilege reserved for a small group of people. The ACUP seeks to alter the conversation surrounding politics.
Dr. Quaicoe warned the ACUP leadership that the provisional certificate was not a definitive one and that the party should not engage in political campaigns as a result.
He instructed them to meet a number of requirements, such as identifying their founding members, creating district, regional, and national offices, and presenting annual audited finances if their application is granted.
Following the murder of Nahel, a French left-wing lawmaker has demanded that France’s gun laws be overturned.
Mathilde Panot, president of the left-wing political party La France Insoumise (France Unbowed), criticises the government for sending anti-terror police into working class areas and says President Emmanuel Macron “knows only repression”.
Writing on Twitter, she adds the government must repeal the law’s “licence to kill” and rebuild the police from the ground up.
The 2017 law, which allows police to shoot if a driver ignores orders to stop under some circumstances, is being widely blamed for the teenager’s death.
Kumawood actor Kwaku Manu, while initially declining to campaign for any political party, expressed his willingness to reconsider if offered a payment of $1 billion.
Perhaps, this is a message the host of Aggressive on Youtube is sending to the various political parties who hope to seek his services as the country prepares for next year’ general elections.
Kwaku Manu, who has acted alongside Agya Koo, Lil Win, Nana Ama McBrown, Vivian Jill, Akrobeto and Emelia Brobbey, among others, said no political party can pay him to campaign for them.
“I am not bragging, but no amount of money can influence me to campaign for any political party, whether NPP or NDC. Unless they are willing to pay me over $1 billion, which I know they wouldn’t.
“I vote every four years but I believe as a celebrity, it is good not to disclose the political party you support,” he said.
Kwaku Manu will definitely make the list when the list of Kumawood comic actors are called. He ‘reigned’ for about only three years in the movie industry, unlike colleague comic actors such as Lil Win, Agya Koo, etc.
He attributes it to a five-year ban slapped on him at the peak of his career.
“Till today, I can’t tell you the reason why I was banned from the movie industry. Maybe it was because I was rising so quickly and the movie producers did not like that. They thought that banning me will be the end of Kwaku Manu but God works in a way no one can understand. I am making it today and it is all the blessings of God.”
“There is so much hatred and backbiting in the movie industry and it is about time we stopped it because it doesn’t help in any way. We are supposed to be united and fight for a common goal, but here we are fighting each other all the time. How can we expect it to grow?” he queried.
Also, Kwaku Manu now wants to live a quiet life and one of the things he has done towards that is to stop posting his children on social media.
