Tag: Abe

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INTERNATIONAL

Japan’s ruling party to decide leadership race after Abe’s resignation

Japan’s ruling party to decide leadership race after Abe resignation
Ailing Japanese PM, Shinzo Abe

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is set to decide on Tuesday the schedule of a leadership race to succeed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has announced his resignation due to health issues.

The party is expected to hold its leadership election on Sept. 14 with votes cast by lawmakers of the national parliament and delegates from its local chapters, Kyodo News reported.

Japan’s government spokesman Yoshihide Suga, who is reportedly expected to announce his candidacy for the job, was gaining wide support among LDP lawmakers, local media reported.

Suga, who has been in the position since Abe took office in December 2012, will declare his candidacy in the race on Wednesday, Kyodo reported, citing an unnamed LDP source.

Both former foreign minister Fumio Kishida and former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba are expected to follow suit later on Tuesday, the report said.

Abe announced his resignation on Friday after he was diagnosed with a recurrence of an intestinal illness, called ulcerative colitis, earlier in August following repeated hospital visits.

In July 2007, the disease forced Abe to abruptly quit as prime minister, only one year into the job.

Abe’s sudden announcement comes amid a historic recession and a new wave of the novel coronavirus.

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NEWS & LIFE SPORTS

3SC, Crown FC lament death of NFF staff Abe

NFF appoints Media Officers for Super Eagles, Super Falcons teams
NFF

The management of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) and Crown Football Club on Sunday expressed their pains at the death of Tolu Abe, a staff of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

In separate statements released in Ibadan, both clubs while commiserating with the NFF noted that Abe’s death had created a vacuum difficult to fill in the operations of the federation.

Abe, a computer analyst and Head of NFF’s ICT Unit, died on Saturday at the National Hospital in Abuja.

In its statement signed by its Media Officer, Tosin Omojola, the Ibadan-based 3SC commiserated with NFF and the family of the deceased.

It expressed deep shock at the death of the NFF staff, saying the demise has created a vacuum in the football governing body.

“We are deeply touched by the sudden death of Tolu Abe, a vibrant, hardworking and active gentleman who was always passionate about his job.

“We commiserate with the NFF over the death of the industrious and easy-going Tolu, who will be greatly missed by all.

“May God rest his soul and console the family he left behind,” the club said.
Also, the Ogbomoso-based Crown FC in statement signed by its Media Officer, Tunji Alabi, commiserated with NFF and the deceased family.

It stated that the club’s Acting General Manager, Oyeleye Oyekunle, described the sudden demise of the NFF staff as shocking and painful.

“I did not believe the news until I made certain contacts. Very painful, but who are we to blame God? He giveth and taketh. In all, we thank God.

“I have known Tolu Abe over a decade to be a dedicated, a core professional, and a principled and God-fearing person. His death is a great loss to the football fraternity.

“On behalf of Crown FC, I commiserate with the NFF and condole with the family of the deceased. The Lord will uphold the family he left behind,” he said.

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INTERNATIONAL

S. Korea regrets Abe’s resignation, wishes him speedy recovery

Japanese prime minister, Abe’s India visit postponed amid violent protests
Japanese prime minister, Abe

South Korea has expressed regret over the sudden decision of Shinzo Abe to step down as the Japanese prime minister, saying he greatly contributed to the development of Japanese-South Korean relations.

South Korean presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok, who made this known on Friday, wished him speedy recovery.

Abe officially announced earlier in the day his plan to step down, citing health issues.

He has already informed the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, of which he is the leader, and Natsuo Yamaguchi, the leader of the Komeito party, which is a part of the ruling coalition.

“We regret the sudden resignation of prime minister Shinzo Abe.

“He was the longest-serving (prime minister) in office in the history of constitutional rule in Japan and left behind a number of significant achievements.

“He, especially for a long time, actively promoted the development of Japan-South Korea relations. We wish prime minister Abe a speedy recovery.
The South Korean government will continue to work with the new prime minister and cabinet to promote friendly relations and cooperation between Japan and South Korea,” Kang said.

The outgoing prime minister is leaving office due to ulcerative colitis, a chronic disease that already caused him to abandon the premiership in 2007.

In the face of those circumstances, he once again assumed the prime minister’s chair in 2012 and went on to become the longest-serving Japanese head of government.

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INTERNATIONAL

Boris praises Japan’s Abe for strengthening relations between London, Tokyo

UK hopes to ease lockdown from March
Boris Johnson

Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has greatly contributed to strengthening the relations between London and Tokyo, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday as Abe announced his resignation.
Earlier in the day, Abe officially announced his plan to step down, citing health issues.

He has already informed the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, of which he is the leader, and Natsuo Yamaguchi, the leader of the Komeito party, which is a part of the ruling coalition.
“@AbeShinzo has achieved great things as PM of Japan – for his country and the world. Under his stewardship the UK-Japan relationship has gone from strength to strength in trade, defence and our cultural links.

“Thank you for all your years of service and I wish you good health,” Johnson wrote on Twitter.
The retiring prime minister is leaving office due to ulcerative colitis, a chronic disease that already caused him to abandon the premiership in 2007.

Despite those circumstances, he once again assumed the prime minister’s chair in 2012 and went on to become the longest-serving Japanese head of government.

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INTERNATIONAL

5 possible successors to ailing Japanese PM, Abe emerge

Japan’s ruling party to decide leadership race after Abe resignation
Ailing Japanese PM, Shinzo Abe

Five possible successors within Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party have emerged following his announcement on Friday that he would step aside due to health issues.

They are, not surprisingly, all men, with the first being Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso.

Aso, 79, who also serves as finance minister, is expected to succeed Abe as interim premier.

The gaffe-prone Aso, who is known as a manga buff, acts as interim prime minister and that could galvanise the opposition camp.

In 2009, when Aso was prime minister, sinking popularity for his Cabinet helped the main opposition Democratic Party to oust his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

The victory ended more than a half century of almost unbroken rule by the LDP.

Another possible successor is Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.

Since Abe was inaugurated in December 2012, Suga has been the country’s government spokesperson, officially known as the chief cabinet secretary.

Only Aso and Suga, 71, have retained their respective positions since the start of Abe’s Cabinet.

Defence Minister Taro Kono, 57, is another possible successor.

Kono had served as foreign minister for a little more than one year, before taking the current post.

Unlike many Japanese politicians, Kono, a graduate of the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University in the U.S., is an outspoken lawmaker who has opposed nuclear power generation.

His father Yohei Kono was a long-time speaker of the House of Representatives.

Then there is former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba, 63, who the Japanese media have for long named as a possible successor to Abe.

Ishiba, a railroad enthusiast, took the party’s leading posts such as secretary general and chairman of the party’s policy research council.

Last but not the least of possible successors to the ailing Abe is former foreign minister Fumio Kishida

Kishida served as foreign minister more than four and a half years and he leads one of the LDP’s biggest factions.

The 63-year-old chairs the party’s policy research council.

He remains a surprisingly obscure figure.

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HEADLINES INTERNATIONAL NEWS & LIFE

Japanese Prime Minister, Abe resigns due to poor health

Japanese Prime Minister , Abe to resign due to poor health
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wearing a protective face mask arrives at his official residence, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan Aug. 28, 2020. (Reuters photo)

Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe has decided to step down due to health issues, Kyodo News reported on Friday, citing an unnamed source from the premier’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Abe will make the announcement at a news conference later in the day, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported.

The premier visited the hospital twice this month and found his intestinal illness, called ulcerative colitis, has deteriorated, according to NHK.

The sudden resignation would come amid a historic recession and a resurgence of the coronavirus.

On Monday, when Abe officially became Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, he had to revisit the hospital for additional tests, a week after a regular check-up there.

In July 2007, the disease forced Abe to abruptly quit as prime minister, only one year into the job.

Abe returned to power in December 2012.

Despite few significant accomplishments, he marked 2,799 consecutive days in office as prime minister on Monday.

He surpassed the previous record, set by his great-uncle Eisaku Sato, who served from November 1964 to July 1972 – a period of high economic growth in Japan.

Japan is struggling with a massive spike in coronavirus cases.

In August, the number of daily new infections exceeded 1,000 cases 15 times, including a record 1,601 on August 7, according to the Health Ministry.

Additionally, Japan’s economy – the world’s third-largest – in the second quarter shrank a record annualised 27.8 per cent, marking the third straight quarterly contraction, due both to the pandemic and a consumption tax hike last year.

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