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Katsina State Reiterates Its Stand On Non-Negotiation With Criminals

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

The Governor Dikko Umar Radda-led Katsina State Government has reiterated its stand on not negotiating with criminals, bandits,  terrorists or any group related to causing unrest in the State.

Governor Radda stated that his Government is committed to protecting the lives and properties of its people, and is ready to do anything humanly possible to bring this to fulfillment.

Nasiru Muazu-Danmusa, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, who spoke on behalf of the Governor in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Wednesday reiterated the determination of the State Government to bring an end to banditry and other security challenges in the State.

Muazu-Danmusa also said that the State Government was taking the necessary measures to enable the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state to return to their respective communities.

He said that the inauguration of the Community Security Watch Corps (KCSWC) by Gov. Dikko Radda on October 10 was an indicator of the commitment and determination to restore lasting peace in the state.

The Commissioner said, ”I think Katsina State has the highest number of IDPs in the North-West as a result of insecurity.

“However, we are making efforts to reverse the negative narrative by putting in place excellent strategies that will address the problem.”

Muazu-Danmusa said that the Government has benchmarked the salaries of the agency’s operatives on the basis of the National Minimum Wage.

“We are constructing their offices, providing them with patrol vehicles, motorcycles, weapons, and gadgets, among others, for their effective operations.

“So, we are going in tandem with the provisions of the constitution in providing them with all these things,” he said.

He added that the corps was committed to the call to sacrifice their best for their people and communities.

“The members of the corps are indigenes of their respective communities; they have been at the forefront of the fight against the terrorists; they are familiar with the terrain and have agreed to protect their people.”

He expressed optimism that, with the fervent prayers of the people, the operation would be successful.

Muazu-Danmusa also urged the public to intensify efforts to provide credible intelligence information to security agents to enable them to effectively nip crimes in the bud.

Sacked Senator Abbo Apologises To Akpabio Over Claims He Plotted His Sack By Court

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

Senator Elisha Abbo who was sacked by the Court of Appeal on Monday has apologized to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, for  alleging Akpabio plotted his removal from the Senate.

In a shocking reaction to his  sack, Abbo alleged that Akpabio was behind his sack by the  Court of Appeal  Panel. He said Akpabio targeted him because he was against him when he, Akpabio was running for the office of the Senate President. He, also, alleged that four other Senators, whose names he  didn’t mention, except that of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, are, also, in line to be sacked, no thanks to Akpabio.

Akpabio, in a statement signed by his Media Aide strongly denied Abbo’s allegation.

But Abbo while speaking in an interview on Arise Television during a Live Programme on Wednesday, apologized to the Senate President over his allegation.

He said, “ I have to say this with all sense of humility and responsibility that the press release we issued yesterday (Tuesday), was premature and based on the available information at our disposal yesterday.

“As of today, we have discovered a lot of things, and yesterday night I had a discussion with the Senate President, and I am convinced that he is not involved. He quoted Akpabio   to have told him: “I swear by my mother’s grave that I’m not involved; I don’t even know that you’re in court,” he said.

Abbo supported Senator Abdulaziz Yari, former Governor of Zamfara State for the office of the President.

He  described the judgment which sacked him as a coup against democracy. He insisted that even though the Court declared Peoples Democratic Party’s Amos Yohanna as the winner of the February 25, 2023 election, he won the exercise by polling 11,000 votes more than Yohanna, and would certainly be back to the Senate in 2027.

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices, led by the Honourable Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, vacated the Election Tribunal’s judgement which earlier affirmed Abbo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the valid winner of the Senatorial seat.

It held that there is merit in the appeal that was lodged by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the election, Amos Yohanna.

Ministers To Face Quarterly Test, As Criticisms Trail Their Competence

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Bola Ahmed Tinubu

By Ayodele Oni

Apparently mindful of criticisms which trail the competence of some of its appointees, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has announced that it will commence  quarterly assessments of the performance of the 48 Ministers in January.

This will commence when Ministries will have received the budget for the 2024 fiscal year.

Nigerians have been lamenting that some of the appointees were guests of anti graft agencies before their appointment, while some have little or no knowledge of their places of their assignment.

The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Usman, explained that the annual scorecard would be reviewed during periodic retreats, where performances would be assessed against key performance indicators.

Speaking in an interview on TVC television, Usman stated, “We’re looking to commence an assessment of the respective ministries in January 2024. We’re going to have a quarterly assessment of performance which would culminate into an annual scorecard.”

The presidential aide said the Federal Executive Council members would participate in a retreat in early November where the key performance index would be defined and the ministers would sign a performance bond.

“We’re going to have a cabinet retreat in the first week of November where the final details will be hashed with the full cabinet in place with Mr President.

“At the end of it, we’re going to culminate with the performance bond. They’ll be signed by each ministry, every minister, and the Permanent Secretary will sign a performance board with Mr. President.

“The bond will detail the deliverables each ministry plans to achieve within the one-year 2024 budget cycle. That performance bond is what we’re going to use to track the performance of that minister.”

She noted that the Federal Government would prioritize citizens’ engagement to ensure that Nigerians were part of the assessment.

Babachir Lawal Says  Cardoso And Matawalle Unfit As CBN Governor And Minister Of State Defence Respectively

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Federal Government under the President Muhammadu Buhari, has criticized some of the appointees of President Bola Tinubu into high profile offices.

In a statement he issued on Tuesday,  Lawal said “the band of appointees that Bola is assembling into his Government don’t care about Nigeria at all.”

He pointed out that Mr President had talked highly about competence while he was campaigning for the office but insisted that his appointments do not reflect competence.

He specifically pointed out the President’s appointment of Yemi Cardoso as the CBN Governor and that of former Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle as the Minister of State, Defence and described both as unfit. He said that Cardoso was just a one-time Chairman of “a little-known bank employing 300 people in less than 12 branches clustered in the South-South and South-East regions.” As for Matawalle, Lawal asked what an accountant was doing as Minister of Defence. “Was he not that one who was Governor while Bello Turji et al freely terrorized Zamfara State?”

He said nobody trusts the President and his appointees as such appointments were made as a reward for their relationship with the President.

His words: “Confusion and despondency is now all over the nation as no one trusts the government to do what it says it will do. No one trusts the leader; and no one trusts appointees who are appointed as rewards for their roles in the election or who had in the past helped him in his life.

“Bola, the President, and his group are now in government and are in full control of Nigeria’s vast resources and opportunities. They are enjoying their offices while Nigerians languish in insecurity, poverty and hopelessness.

“During the campaign, Bola mouthed some platitudes about competence; but we are so far yet to see it reflected in his political appointments. It seems more like he is rewarding people who supported him to get the Presidency at all cost.

“This band of appointees that Bola is assembling into his government don’t care about Nigeria at all.

“Fuel prices will continue to gallop upwards until only they can afford it; the Naira will continue to race downhill in a free-fall until only they can afford anything in the market; insecurity will continue its escalation until every community in the nation is consumed by it.

“Just to mention a few of these appointees: take insecurity for example; what do you expect an accountant to do as Minister of Defence?

“Was he not that one who was governor while Bello Turji et al freely terrorized Zamfara State?

“What about his CBN Governor with a CV; a one-time Chairman of a little-known bank employing 300 people in less than 12 branches clustered in the South-South and South-East regions?

“Is there any doubt left as to his lack of qualification and experience for the job than that his first policy statement was to remove foreign exchange restrictions for the importation of 43 agricultural and related products?

“Certainly, Nigerians are in for a short thrift. The people running the government do not care a hoot about the Nigerian people; their cronies are the petroleum industry players while some are the banking system players, so a free fall of the Naira and an unregulated upward movement of oil prices both work for more profits for them.”

Tinubu and Lawal were close friends and political allies before they parted ways over Tinubu’s choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate. Lawal was vocally against the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Tinubu  Shames Falana, Appoints Aliyu, Fmr Jigawa Attorney General  New ICPC Chairman

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

President Bola Tinubu has put a lie to the claim made by Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, over the President’s appointee to the office of the Chairman of the  Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Falana had, in an interview on Channels Television Monday, claimed that the President has appointed Bolaji Owasanoye as the Chairman of the ICPC.

He criticized the President for appointing both the Chairmen of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and that of ICPC from same geo-political zones – South-west. The President had earlier appointed Ola Olukoyode the Chairman of the EFCC.

Said Falana: ” If you are going to have the EFCC and the ICPC, the heads cannot come from same Zone. If there are two positions in the Public Service, one must go to the North, and one must go to the South. That is the law in Nigeria today.

“So, I am not comfortable with the fact that the heads of the EFCC and the ICPC are from the same Zone. We have in this country, the Federal Character Commission Act and also by virtue of Section 14 of the Constitution, appointments must reflect Federal Character.”

But on Tuesday, the President put a lie to Falana’s claim of Owasanoye’s appointment as ICPC Chairman by appointing Musa Adamu Aliyu, a former Attorney General of Jigawa State as the Chairman.

While Aliyu’s name has been sent to the Senate for confirmation, that of the Secretary, Clifford Okwudiri, appointed same Monday as Aliyu, does not need Senate’s confirmation, and so is with immediate effect.

Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement on Tuesday stated that the appointments are  “In exercise of powers conferred on the President as established in Section 3(6) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and in furtherance of the Renewed Hope mandate to reform key institutions and invigorate Nigeria’s war on corruption.

According to the statement, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer-designate is Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu while Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu, will serve as Secretary to the Commission.

It added that “The new Chairman of the ICPC is nominated for confirmation by the Nigerian Senate, following the President’s approval of the outgoing Chairman’s request to proceed on pre-end of tenure leave beginning on November 4, 2023, ahead of the expiration of his tenure on February 3, 2024.

“The position of Secretary to the Commission does not require Senate confirmation and, therefore, by the directive of the President, the appointment of Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu as Secretary of the Commission takes immediate effect.

“Musa Adamu Aliyu has embarked upon many far-reaching reforms as the Attorney General of Jigawa State since September 2019 and holds Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degrees in Law. He was also named as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria-designate in October 2023.

“Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu is a lawyer with over 30 years of experience and has served meritoriously in the public service as a Member of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission and Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of Port Harcourt City Local Government Council.

“The President implores the new management team of the ICPC to always be above board as they discharge their duties without fear or favour concerning all matters before them.”

Presidential Election: “Tinubu Came A Distant Third” – Lawal, Former SGF, “Take Path Of Honour”,  He Tells The President

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, has said that President Bola Tinubu came a distant third in the February 25, 2023, Presidential election.

In the election, Tinubu was the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

But Lawal, a former strong Tinubu ally, insists that the man declared winner by INEC won no election. He said Tinubu came a distant third behind the Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, who. Lawal said came first, and the Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, who Lawal said came second.

Lawal and Tinubu parted ways over the choice of Vice President Kashim Shettima as the President’s running mate. The choice of  Shettima, a former two-time Governor of Borno State and, at the time of his choice by Tinubu, a serving Senator, rankled and shocked not a few Nigerians, including Lawal.

Like those who argued against Shettima’s choice, Lawal said it was insensitive and evil for Tinubu, a Muslim, to choose Shettima, another Muslim, as his running mate in a country like Nigeria with a strong Christian population which could not be ignored. Long before Shettima’s choice, Lawal said he had discussed with Tinubu, and advised him against a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

However, his advice was in vain, prompting him to publicly declare his support for LP’s Peter Obi.

In the very strongly statement Lawal issued on Monday, his first since the election and Tinubu’s swearing-in as President on May 29, 2023, Lawal lamented that Nigerians face a bleak future, contrary to the rosy future Tinubu promised during his campaign for the office. He, also, insists that Tinubu is not qualified for the office of the President.

Lawal: “Leadership is all about integrity – sound pedigree, trustworthiness and the ability to unite and instil hope and confidence in the people one seeks to lead. In these qualities, most Nigerians are in total agreement that Bola has them in very, very short supply indeed.

“…six months down the line, the chicken has come home to roost as Nigerians have come to the realization that we have not got what we deserved politically.

“Confusion and despondency are now all over the nation as no one trusts the Government to do what it says it will do. No one trusts the Leader; and no one trusts appointees who are appointed as rewards for their roles in the election or who had in the past helped him in his life.”

Following is, in part, Babachir Lawal’s statement.

“I have resisted the temptation to engage in the contemporary political discourse since the February 2023 election faux pas.

“I did this for two reasons; the first being that as an active player in the drama, I needed time to analyze and digest the data that led to the outcome(s) so I could arrive at an informed decision; the second being that the rainy season had just set in and it was necessary that I focused my attention on my farms which are the mainstay of my livelihood.

“The current topical issues for political discourse and inquiry are whether or not Bola Tinubu won the presidential election and/or that he was, apriori, qualified to participate in the election given his murky bio-data as is now being publicly unveiled daily in an avalanche.

“My answer to the first inquiry is that regardless of whatever INEC or Appeal Court said or did, Bola did not win the election.

“Right from the start of the campaigns, Bola Tinubu knew he was not going to win the election in a free and fair contest, so he decided to go by all means.

“Available factual data as aggregated from several independent sources indicate that Obi got the majority votes while Atiku came second. Bola came a distant third in the number of votes scored.

“My answer to the second inquiry is that given the now unfolding deluge of uncomplimentary information about who or what he actually is, ordinarily, sound ethics and morality should have convinced him to voluntarily excuse himself from participation in the election.

“But this notwithstanding, I believe he still has time and opportunity to save himself this public humiliation and embarrassment to his person, both locally and internationally by resigning so that he can give more attention to his health.

“After all, no one knows about the truism of these severely embarrassing and humiliating exposures about his person than the man himself.

“Leadership is all about integrity — sound pedigree, trustworthiness and the ability to unite and instil hope and confidence in the people one seeks to lead. In these qualities, most Nigerians are in total agreement that Bola has them in very, very short supply indeed.

“But now, six months down the line, the chicken has come home to roost as Nigerians have come to the realization that we have not got what we deserved politically.

“Confusion and despondency is now all over the nation as no one trusts the government to do what it says it will do. No one trusts the leader; and no one trusts appointees who are appointed as rewards for their roles in the election or who had in the past helped him in his life.

“Bola the President and his group are now in government and are in full control of Nigeria’s vast resources and opportunities. They are enjoying their offices while Nigerians languish in insecurity, poverty and hopelessness.

“During the campaign, Bola mouthed some platitudes about competence; but we are so far yet to see it reflected in his political appointments. It seems more like he is rewarding people who supported him to get the Presidency at all cost.

“This band of appointees that Bola is assembling into his government don’t care about Nigeria at all.

“Fuel prices will continue to gallop upwards until only they can afford it; the Naira will continue to race downhill in a free-fall until only they can afford anything in the market; insecurity will continue its escalation until every community in the nation is consumed by it.

“Just to mention a few of these appointees: take insecurity for example; what do you expect an accountant to do as Minister of Defence?

“Was he not that one who was governor while Bello Turji et al freely terrorized Zamfara State? What about his CBN Governor with a CV; a one-time Chairman of a little-known bank employing 300 people in less than 12 branches clustered in the South-South and South-East regions?

“Is there any doubt left as to his lack of qualification and experience for the job than that his first policy statement was to remove foreign exchange restrictions for the importation of 43 agricultural and related products?

“Certainly, Nigerians are in for a short thrift. The people running the government do not care a hoot about the Nigerian people; their cronies are the petroleum industry players while some are the banking system players, so a free fall of the Naira and an unregulated upward movement of oil prices both work for more profits for them.

“By the way, has anyone noticed the intolerance for free speech and the dictatorship that is creeping upon us? Has anyone noticed the actions of the National Broadcasting Commission of late?”

Lawal was the SGF during the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari. But was removed from office under controversial circumstances

ICPC: How Tinubu Bowed To Pressure; Appoints Jigawa AG Chairman

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

With the appointment of Dr Musa Aliyu as the Executive Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appears to have bowed to pressure to appoint the agency boss from the northern part of the country.

Aliyu, a lawyer is from Jigawa state, and the current Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of the state.

Following the appointment of Ola Olukoyede as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Executive Chairman last week, not a few Nigerians insisted that the president must adhere to the federal character principle by ensuring that a northerner is appointed ICPC boss.

Instructively, President Tinubu has been accused by his critics of appointing his kinsmen from the south into key government positions.

They demanded the removal of Prof. Bolaji Owosanoye, to pave the way for a candidate from another zone, saying it would be wrong for the heads of the two agencies to come from the same zone.

Both Olukoyede and Owosanoye are from the southern part of the country.

For instance, Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, said government appointments must be in compliance with the FCC provision.

“If you are going to have the EFCC and the ICPC, the heads cannot come from same zone. If there are two positions in the public service, one must go to the North, one must go to the South. If there are four, two must go to the South, two must go to the North. If there are six, one must go to each geopolitical zone. That is the law in Nigeria today,” the rights activist said.

Sources informed the magazine that Owosanoye was to be reappointed as EFCC Chairman safe for a last-minute change of mind by the president due to the feedback from Nigerians over the issue.

“Some aides of the president urged him to drop Owosanoye for a new ICPC Chairman from the north in order to balance the appointments across the zones in the country,” a Presidency source said on Monday after the appointment of Dr Aliyu.

A statement signed On Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said the appointment of Dr Aliyu is “In exercise of powers conferred on the President as established in Section 3(6) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

The statement, titled ‘President Tinubu appoints new ICPC management team; approves 90-day pre-end-of-tenure leave for outgoing ICPC Chairman,’ further stated that Clifford Oparaodu has been appointed as the Secretary of the commission.

Prof. Owosanoye has been directed to proceed on leave from November 4. 2023.

CBN To Sanction Banks Issuing Substandard Cheques

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has directed commercial banks in the country to work with check printers and personalizers over the surge in substandard ‘Magnetic Ink Character Recognition line’ (MICR Line) in their cheques.

This will reduce the rising number of MICR Line rejects during cheque-related transactions, the apex bank said in a recent circular dated October 9, 2023.

MICR Line are numbers printed on a cheque whi which may include the bank routing number, account number, cheque number, cheque amount, and other information, that are printed near the bottom of a cheque in magnetic ink in accordance with the Nigeria Cheque Standards.

In the circular signed by Sam Okejere, Director, Banking Services department, the CBN said it has noticed the surge in MICR rejects, warning banks to comply with the circular from November 1, 2023, or face sanctions.

According to the apex bank, “It has come to our notice that MICR rejects have been on the increase and in furtherance of the Bank’s effort to reduce the number, Deposit Money Bank (DMBs) are hereby directed to contact their personalizers and reiterate the need to revalidate the MICR code-line details for correctness in accordance with the NCS and NICPAS version 2.0.

“Furthermore, both the presenting and receiving banks should also thoroughly examine their in-house cheque processing equipment to ensure that they are properly calibrated and supervised to eliminate distortion of image and data being transmitted during the cheque truncation process.

“Please note that the bank will monitor compliance with the provision of this circular and any bank with MICR reject starting from November 1, 2023, would be penalized in accordance with the Sanctions Grid.”

SUV Cars For House Of Reps Members: “You Are Wasting Our Resources” – LP

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Labour Party, (LP) has observed that N169million vehicle for each member of the House of Representatives at think time amounts to insensitivity on the part of federal government.

The party however did not advise its members at the green chamber to reject it, but called on them to kick against the gesture.

The party in a statement on Tuesday, said “We are calling on the Labour Party legislators in the 10th Assembly to kick against this unnecessary wastage of resources in line with the ideology of the party which is social justice and equal opportunity  for all.

“A few days ago, the news filtered that 360 members of the House of Assembly are to be gifted with vehicles worth about N160 million each. The Labour Party is indeed shocked, saddened and disappointed at the level of insensitivity being displayed by the executive and the legislative arms of the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress administration.

“It is saddening that with deepening poverty among Nigerians the administration has decided to increase its appetite for a life of opulence to mock hardworking but underprivileged Nigerian.”

A statement signed by Barrister Julius Abure, National Chairman

Labour Party added that “How else can any Government justify the bloated Federal Executive Council of 48 cabinet ministers, with each of them given three luxurious four-wheel drive vehicles on the first day in office, paid for and fueled by taxpayers?

“This is notwithstanding hundreds of presidential and ministerial aides, as well as numerous aides to the aides which are being funded by the government.

“These vehicles will be costing Nigerians about N57.6 billion and this is happening at a time when government claims it cannot afford to increase the minimum wage of N30,000 monthly to workers.

“A bag of 50 kg rice is today N50,000 and most families can’t afford two square meals a day, how insensitive can a Government become? This same government is still going round the world cap in hand seeking for loan, what a shame!

“As things stand today, inflation is likely to hit 30 per cent by December, 2023, yet all they are concerned about is the comfort of a privileged few who found themselves in public office.

“Why spend so much money on the import of and purchase of vehicles from other nations amidst the scarcity of needed foreign exchange for manufacturing?

“Why not empower local manufacturers such as Innoson Motor in Anambra and Peugeot Automobiles in Kaduna to save forex and boost our local economy?

“When our Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, said we in the Labour Party want to move the economy from consumption to production, this is what we mean – Nigeria first!

“We implore this government to in the interest of our dear nation retrace its step and give priority to revamping the economy instead of its current obsession with luxury living.

“We are also calling on the Labour Party legislators in the 10th Assembly to kick against this unnecessary wastage of resources in line with the ideology of the party which is social justice and equal opportunity  for all.

“Nigerians will hold them responsible if they fail to live above board or give proper account of the electoral investment reposed in them. Nigerians are fed up with the status quo and they crave for a different leadership that must factor the interest of the suffering masses. The poor must be allowed to breath again in this country.

Ondo: Government Not Showbiz, Governor Can’t Embark On Showbiz -Ondo Government

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Rotimi Akeredolu Resumes

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Government has doused tension over the rumoured return of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to Germany, over his continued deteriorating health.

Government, in a statement, insisted that “governance is not a showbiz where the governor embarks on fashion parades at the market square to announce his presence in the state.”

It added that “We understand the importance of development as the major driver of peaceful, thriving and egalitarian society.”

A statement on Tuesday, signed by Richard Olatunde, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor added that “The report making the rounds that the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON is set to return to Germany for medical vacation is wicked and misleading.

“The report is concocted and planted by drowning politicians who are still nursing the pains of defeated expectations.

“While the good people of the state are happy over the safe return of the Governor from his medical vacation, these set of embattled politicians have been having sleepless nights gnashing their teeth in regrets of their failed evil plans.

“The story making the rounds is baseless, unfounded and only a figment of the imagination of evil-minded politicians. For us, we are committed to addressing the genuine concerns of the people of the state. This is why development is prioritized under the Akeredolu administration.

“Governance is not about showbiz where the governor embarks on fashion parades at the market square to announce his presence in the state. We understand the importance of development as the major driver of peaceful, thriving and egalitarian society.

“Governor Akeredolu’s administration has consistently demonstrated its dedication to the state’s progress.

“Recently, he approved the recruitment of medical professionals and healthcare workers in demonstration of our commitment to enhancing the state’s healthcare system.

“The governor has also signed the 2023 Appropriation bill for the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) into law, following its passage by the state House of Assembly. This is a significant step towards advancing the development of the Oil producing Area.

“Furthermore, we are proud to report that work is progressing rapidly on the construction of a 250-bed University of Medical Science Teaching Hospital in Akure and Ondo Town.

“The construction of the Akure flyover at Onyarubulem/Shagari Junction is also ongoing and we are making steady progress.

“To boost revenue generation, Governor Akeredolu has approved the fresh recruitment of 150 staff for the state Internal Revenue Service.

“Additionally, modern tax stations are being constructed in Ondo and Ikare, along with a Revenue court in Akure. These projects are already in progress.

“We value the welfare of our workers, and as such, Governor Akeredolu recently approved the payment of outstanding leave bonuses. Salaries for workers in the state have been paid up to date.

“Contrary to the claims made by the opposition, Governor Akeredolu is diligently fulfilling his duties. Activities are ongoing in various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and the governor is actively engaged in addressing state matters.

“We urge members of the public to dismiss this false news and not be swayed by the lied and misleading information spread by those with ulterior motives. Governor Akeredolu remains dedicated to serving the people of Ondo State and driving progress in our great state.”

The statement however remains silent on the whereabout of the governor with his official functions now delegated to aides.

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