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Ekiti Gov Election: SDP Candidate, Segun Oni, Invites Anti Graft Agencies To Prevent Vote Buying

By
Ayodele Oni
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Segun Oni

By Ayodele Oni

The Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the Saturday’s election in Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni, has emphasized that anti graft agencies should be on ground to arrest those that attempt to bribe electorate.

Oni who spoke to Journalists on Wednesday in Ado Ekiti also denied that he entered into a  deal with former Lagos State Governor and presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to step down ahead of the Saturday’s poll.

According to him, he and Tinubu were once intimate political bed-fellows, but clarified that the APC National leader’s emergence as a Presidential candidate won’t sway him to abandon his governorship aspiration or compromise it.

The former Governor’s picture with Tinubu dominated social media on Wednesday prompting insinuation that he struck a deal to step down for the candidate of APC Biodun Abayomi.

“Let me say that this is a lie, I have not seen Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for over a year now. I am here for the Ekiti people and I will not compromise the interest of Ekiti people for anything.

“I am not also desperate. I am a contented person and I am not a person that can be bought with money, I can’t be purchased. So, I did not meet anybody anywhere to compromise my candidacy.”

Oni assured that he won’t betray the confidence reposed in him by being steadfast and honest in the prosecution of the election adding that his entry into the Governorship contest was prompted by clarion call by the people of the state.

On vote buying, the SDP candidate condemned politicians planning to buy the conscience of the people in the election, describing vote-buying as an unpardonable criminal offence in the face of the law.

He also appreciated the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) for its resolve to work with the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) and Independent Corrupt and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to tackle the perpetrators of the criminal tendency.

“EFCC and ICPC operatives must clamp down on those who want to be in power at all cost, but as good as this is, our people must resist an unlawful arrest. Nobody should be arrested unlawfully while others are being protected. The clampdown must be total.

“If anyone commits an offence, let him be arrested lawfully through a warrant of arrest. We have seen a situation   position of the ballot box must be such that you drop your ballots before the prying eyes of the buyers saw where you voted.”

“This doesn’t mean some people will not be paid for rendering services for us, but for vote-buying, SDP is bluntly opposed to this.”

IGP Puts Smiles On Faces Of Relations Of Deceased Officers

By
Ayodele Oni
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Oyeyemi Oyediran disbursement to Police Officers Widow

By Ayodele Oni

As a morale booster to serving officers and relief for relations of policemen that lost their life in active service, relations of deceased policemen attached to Ondo State Police Command got a reprieve from the Inspector General of Police Alkali Usman Baba on Wednesday.

The State Commissioner of Police, Oyeyemi Oyediran, distributed the sum of N35 million to  widows of Police Officers who died while serving their fatherland in the state.

The CP, who presented the various cheques to the widows of the late Officers informed the beneficiaries of the Inspector-General of police, Alkali Usman Baba, magnanimity to ensure that the welfare of both late officers’ families and active police officers is paramount to him and has vowed to ensure that non of the family members of slain Officers will suffer or regret serving the nation.

He urged the families of the late Officers to make judicious use of the token of love extended to them by the Inspector General of Police to improve their family welfare especially the children of the deceased.

The representatives of the families appreciated the effort of the Inspector-General of Police in improving their lot despite the fact that their husbands were late and that the Police had proven to them and the world at large that the labour of their husbands were not in vain.

They promised to use the money to establish themselves for the betterment of their family.

Also at the ceremony, the Commissioner of Police, CP Oyediran decorated newly promoted officer in the command.

Amongst those newly promoted are the Commandant, Police Training School, Oyin Akoko and the Area Commander in charge of Owo Area Command, from the rank of an  Assistant Commissioner of Police to  Deputy Commissioner of Police.

The Divisional Police Officer, Ore Divisional headquarters and the Officer in charge of the Commissioner of Police Special Intervention Squad were also decorated as Assistant Commissioners of Police.

While other beneficiaries of the promotion were elevated from the rank of  Assistant Superintendent of Police to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Inspector to Assistant Superintendent of Police.

While congratulating them, the CP admonished them to redouble their efforts as to who much is given, much is expected.

He enjoined them to be role models to their subordinates and work hard to justify their new ranks and also appreciate the Inspector-General of Police effort in improving their welfare.

PDP VP Slot: Wike Adjudged Best Candidate – PDP; Says His Energy, Brilliance, Commitment Recommend Him

By
Uche Mbah
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Nyesom Wike

By Uche Mbah

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says that the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has been adjudged by the Party’s National Working Committee (NWC) as the most qualified for the position of its Vice Presidential candidate.

The Party made this clear in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba,  where it  denied that Ologunagba, spoke to Reporters on Wednesday and asked them to disregard the news that Wike has been chosen as the Party’s Vice Presidential candidate.

In the statement signed by Ologunagba late Wednesday, the PDP said its National Publicity Secretary never spoke to any Reporters on Wike.

It said that Ologunagba was in an interview session with Arise Television where he was  asked if the Party had concluded its choice of a VP candidate. It said that , “In response, the National Publicity Secretary stated that the PDP is a Party of process and that consultations and discussions were still ongoing in the selection process.”

The PDP, therefore, dismissed as “mischievous the claim that its National Publicity Secretary made any reference to Governor Wike. Any such claims the Party said is designed to destabilise the Party in the months leading to the 2023 General Elections.

In what seemed like a subtle confirmation that Wike has been endorsed as the VP candidate, the statement said: “In fact, Governor Wike’s energy, brilliance commitment and passion were acknowledged by the National Working Committee (NWC) of our party and he is adjudged as the foremost candidate in consideration for the position of the Vice Presidential candidate of the  PDP.”

Following is the full text of the statement.

V.P Candidate: Disregard Misrepresenting Report on Gov. Wike – PDP Tells Nigerians…Clarifies Position

“The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to misrepresenting reports in some section of the media purporting that it had dismissed the reported emergence of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike as its Vice-Presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections.

“The said misleading reports quoted the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP. Hon. Debo Ologunagba as stating such while addressing some journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, June 15, 2022.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the National Publicity Secretary did not at any time address journalists on the said subject matter as quoted in the misinforming reports.

“To set the records straight, the National Publicity Secretary was a guest on Arise TV Morning Show on Wednesday morning where he answered questions on PDP’s preparedness for the 2023 general elections as well as June 18, 2022 Ekiti State Governorship election

“In the course of the interview, the presenters requested some clarifications on reports in the media that the PDP had concluded its processes on its Vice-Presidential Candidate.

“In response the National Publicity Secretary stated that the PDP is a party of process and that consultations and discussions were still ongoing in the selection process.

“It is therefore mischievous to claim that the PDP National Publicity Secretary made any reference to Governor Wike. Clearly, such distorting claim in a section of the media is the design of mischief makers who are bent on destabilizing our Party ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“If anything, our Party reiterates its confidence in Governor Nyesom Wikes’s outstanding ability and commitment to the ideals and values of the PDP. His records of achievement as a Local Government Chairman, Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, Minister of State for Education, currently Governor of Rivers State and the runner-up in the PDP Presidential Primary stand him out as possessing requisite qualities, qualifications, capacity and wide acceptability for the position of the Vice-Presidential candidate of our Party.

“The various positions creditably held by Governor Nyesom Wike distinguished him as an excellent team player in public governance.

“In fact, Governor Wike’s energy, brilliance, commitment and passion were acknowledged by the National Working Committee (NWC) of our Party and he is adjudged as the foremost candidate in consideration for the position of the Vice-Presidential candidate of the PDP.

“While the PDP notes the interest of the media and the public in our Party’s choice of Vice-Presidential candidate it is imperative to state that as an organic Party, all our processes will be followed through in strict adherence to our procedures before any official announcements.

“The PDP urges Nigerians to disregard the mischievous reports aimed at undermining our Party’s unity at this critical time.”

Wike, a former Minister for State, Education, under the Government of President Goodluck Jonathan, was a Presidential aspirant in the just concluded PDP Presidential Primary.

He came a respectable second to the winner, former VP, Atiku Abubakar.

During the campaign for the Primary, Wike had consistently emphasised that he would never be the Vice Presidential candidate and was not campaigning for that.

Veteran Nollywood Actor, Yinka Ogundaisi Dead, Buried

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Yinka Ogundaisi

By Akinwale Kasali

Death has once again hit the Nigeria Movie Industry, Nollywood. It has lost one of its finest Actors and Filmmakers, Yinka Ogundaisi.

The Actor died Wednesday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital after  a protracted ill-health which resulted in the paralysis of his legs.

Disclosing the death of the seasoned Actor, Ropo Ewenla in a WhatsApp message to members of the Ibadan Film Circle (IFC), a group the late filmmaker/film marker belonged to in a Statement said, “Today, one phase of history came to an end. Erin ti wo. The elephant rises no more. Yinka Ogundaisi bid this world farewell at dawn. It was Kate Adepegba who dropped the bomb on my lap. I called Uncle Yinka’s number to confirm and rudely, it was so.”

After the legendary Late Chief Duro Ladipo, Ogundaisi was the next actor to play the legendary Sango in ‘Oba Koso’.

He resuscitated and repackaged the longest-running Yoruba TV programme, ‘FEYIKOGBON’, and was a member of the cast of ‘The Village Headmaster,’ he also authored a crime fiction titled ‘The Charmed Lock.’

His movie credits include; Give and Take, Destiny, Hostess, Ọmọge (Damsel), – Pardonable, Unforgivable, Happy Homes (a drama series once aired on DSTV among others.

Ogundaisi had suffered the paralysis of his legs, a condition for which he sought financial aid to undergo surgery.

It was gathered that he initially had complications of twisted intestines, hernia, and enlarged prostrate in 2013.

He was buried in Ibadan same Wednesday evening.

Tinubu: My VP Will Be Christian From North-East

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Bola Ahmed Tinubu

By Adesina Soyooye

Amidst the controversy over who the running mate to the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will be,  the candidate seems to have made up his mind on where his Vice President will come from, and of which Religion.

Since Tinubu, a Muslim from Southern Nigeria emerged as the candidate of the APC, speculations have been rife over who should be his running mate.

Some have advocated for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

For instance, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, in advocating for a Muslim-Muslim ticket said that Tinubu, being a minority Muslim from the South, cannot run with a Minority Christian from the North. He says it is a recipe for failure.

To allay the fears of Christians, Kalu pointed out that Tinubu’s wife of over  40 years is not only a Christian, but a Senior Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. As Tinubu’s wife, Kalu said, his wife. Senator Remy Tinubu, will be  the “de facto Deputy President” of Nigeria.

But a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, thinks otherwise. He says any Muslim-Muslim ticket will be a failure for the APC as Christians in the North will never support it.

Amidst stories that Tinubu had been given three names to choose from – Senator Kashim   Shettima, a former Governor  of Bornu State, Professor Babagana Zulum, incumbent Governor of Borno State, and Mrs Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, all Muslims,  Tinubu has said his running mate would be a Christian from the North-east.

He revealed this in Ekiti State on Wednesday, where he went to campaign for the APC candidate in upcoming  Governorship election on Saturday.

According to him, those spreading the story that he had picked a Muslim running mate are mischief makers, who are afraid of his candidacy and are doing everything to present him and the APC in bad light. He dismissed them as “undemocratic elements” who are afraid of his “imminent victory” at the polls.

Tinubu: “The VP slot belongs to the North Eastern Region, and particularly, the Christians. But consultations are yet ongoing as to who will be decided.”

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, is from the North-east. An APC VP from that zone, will surely eat into Atiku’s votes.

Uzodimma Never Advocated Muslim-Muslim Presidential Ticket, Says Imo Govt

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma

Imo State Government has debunked the claim by some media outlets that Governor Hope Uzodimma advocated a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, in a statement in Owerri on Wednesday (June 15) said at no time did the Governor canvass such a position.

He said rather, Uzodimma was emphatic that religion was not mentioned as a factor in the Constitution for the election of a President or his Vice, adding that what the country needed was a good government that will accommodate the religious and ethnic diversity of the country.

“How can this position amount to advocating for Muslim/ Muslim presidential ticket?” the Commissioner asked.

He regretted that mischief- makers twisted the answer given by Uzodimma to State House Correspondents.

Emelumba noted that the exact words of Uzodimma on the choice of a Vice Presidential candidate was that it was the prerogative of the presidential candidate alone to choose, not him or the governors.

“His Excellency made it clear that there is no part of the Constitution where religion is a factor in choosing the  president or his vice.”

“What we are looking for is good governance that will unite the country and take cognizance of every tribe, every religion and every denomination,” he quickly added.

He said Uzodimma was emphatic that APC was looking for a ticket that will face the issue of governance squarely and not to talk of divisive issues.

The Commissioner enjoined those in doubt of what the governor said to obtain a clip of the recording from channels television.

He deplored a situation where the governor will be deliberately misquoted for ulterior motives.

He further noted that the governor was clear that the choice of a running mate for the APC presidential candidate was not his to make.

He wondered: “How then can the same governor at the same time be advocating which religion or tribe that should be the running mate of the presidential candidate. It  just doesn’t add up.”

The case of who becomes the APC Vice Presidential candidate became controversial due to pressures and arguments for and against it.

Owo Attack: We Bleed, Says Mrs Akeredolu; Leads Women Groups On ‘Walk For Justice’

By
The Source
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Betty Akeredolu and Her Group

 Women Groups in Nigeria have demanded a total re-engineering of the Security architecture in the County.

In expressing their dissatisfaction, pains, and demands for justice over the massacre of worshippers at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, the women groups across Nigeria, led by the wife of the Ondo State Governor, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, on Wednesday, June 15, jointly cried for justice for the victims. They, also demanded a stop to such evil occurrence in Nigeria.

Speaking, the First Lady of Ondo State, who led Women groups in collaboration with Womanifesto, on a solidarity walk to the Governor’s office, described the gathering as painful, saying that it was a way for Mothers to express their grief and demand justice.

A statement by Mary Agidi,  Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Governor, First Lady’s Office, quoted the First Lady as saying: “A painful and doleful gathering this is; one that I truly wish we do not have to make, but which we are constrained to do because the carnage of Sunday June 5, 2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa street, Owo, put a bad razor on that bond that binds us to our own, hence we bleed.

“In mourning, we have chosen this way to express our grief, to say our sense of huge personal loss, and to demand that the beasts who frittered away the vast labour of mothers by slaughtering and maiming our own be made to answer for this heinous act.”

She stated that the condolence walk was also to identify with mothers who lost children and husbands to the incident and to tell the Governor that women are solidly behind him as he continues to prioritise the protection of lives of residents.

The First Lady who commended the great display of concern, compassion and courage by the Governor as a leader  prayed for the repose of the lost souls, strength for the affected families, quick recovery for the injured and unbridled peace for the State.

Earlier in her welcome address, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Mrs. Adebunmi Osadahun, while expressing how devastated women were about the sad incident, said women were proud of Governor Akeredolu’s steadfastness among his colleagues in Nigeria when it comes to security issue.

She noted that the horrendous act wasn’t just a crime against humanity but sin against God, that women groups deemed it proper to show solidarity as mothers and appealed to the Olowo of Owo and all Yoruba leaders to rise to the challenge and do something in defence of the people they’re leading.

The Convener of Womanifesto group, Dr. Abiola Akinyode-Afolabi who presented a statement of demands signed by about 500 women groups in Nigeria to the Governor, said all they wanted was justice for the victims, saying enough is enough of these cruel acts against our people.

Akinyode-Afolabi who affirmed that Governor Akeredolu has a distinct voice on security in Nigeria, called for the reengineering of the security architecture of the country, noting that until it’s done we can’t have peace.

She charged President Muhammad Buhari to take steps beyond mere condemnation of these cruel acts and provide a comprehensive restructuring of the security architecture through National discourse.

She reeled out the women groups’ demands to include the publication of the identities of the victims and memorial for the dead, and an explicit investigation that will lead to the arrest of the culprits.

Other demands include constant updates about the state of security of the nation, while calling on UN to support the country in respect of the insecurity situation, and announced July 5th ultimatum to get responses to their demands.

In his response, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu ordered that a website containing the list of the victims should be created before the burial mass, while commending the women for doing a yeoman’s job.

The women groups were later led to Olowo’s Palace by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Seun Aiyedatiwa, where HRM Oba Gbadegesi Ogunoye described the perpetrators of the dastardly act as beasts in human form.

He commended the women organisations for the move to call on the President to secure citizens’ lives at all cost, as he advocated federalism as a solution to the nation’s insecurity woes.

They ended the solidarity event at FMC Owo, where they checked on those undergoing treatment.

PDP Says Atiku Has No Running Mate Yet; Denies Endorsing Wike

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has debunked the viral story that it has endorsed the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, as its Vice Presidential candidate against 2023.

In a statement on Wednesday following the Wike story, the National Publicity Secretary of

PDP, Debo Ologunagba, said there is nothing like that. He said that it was at best, speculative.

The PDP spokesman maintained that its   Selection Committee, had Tuesday, met to fulfill its mandate of recommending a running mate for the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and had made no recommendations yet.

Another report had it that Wike has the ears of  members of the Committee to facilitate his emergence over another serving Governor Okowa of Delta state. But the Rivers State Governor, who was a Presidential aspirant, had vehemently insisted, all through his campaign to be the Candidate, that he would never accept the position of a Vice Presidential candidate.

Speaking on the development in Abuja, Wednesday, Ologunagba said reports in the media that the PDP has picked Wike could only be in the realm of rumour.

He said the National Working Committee is currently looking into the matter and consulting, in order to consider the best Vice Presidential candidate for the party in the 2023 elections.

“We have a process as a party, because we are organic. We follow through the processes. We recognize the importance of participatory democracy, ensuring that every stakeholder and organ of the party is involved in our decision-making process.

“This is the beginning of the process, consideration and advisory body need to get to the level where, in consultation with the presidential candidate, they will deliberate on who is most suitable.

“That process is ongoing, so any report of a particular candidate at this point is probably premature.”

Ologunagba, who emphasized that PDP has kickstarted its process, informed that the NWC will meet, saying that it is expected that the advisory board will be considered.

“We do our things in processes, the process doesn’t just come like you press a computer and get an answer.

“We follow the process, because human elements are involved, with interests and concerns. We have considered all interests of the country, particularly in terms of unity and capacity.”

How FG Borrowed To Pay Federal Workers- AGoF

By
James Orji
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Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed,minister of finance

By James Orji

The acting Accountant General of the Federation, Anamekwe Nwabuoku, has disclosed that the federal government has bee borrowing to pay workers salary. He did not disclose how much the government has borrowed to pay its workforce.

Nwabuoku, was last month appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari to supervise the Office following the suspension of former AGF, Ahmed Idris for allegedly stealing over N80 billion belonging to the government.

The Debt Management Office, DMO has recently, revealed, that the federal government total debt totaled over N41 trillion by the end of April this year.

The Debt Office also revealed on Monday that administration has borrowed over N19 trillion from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN through the Ways and Means, W&M window.

The President Buhari’s administration has complained of paucity of funds, insisting that it will continue to borrow to fund critical infrastructure in the country.

As part of the plan, the administration, has included over N6 trillion in the 2020 Budget for deficit financing.

The AGoF spoke yesterday at a retreat organised by the office for members of the technical sub-committee on cash management, TSCM in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

He said there is need for government to borrow in the face of rising expenditure, particularly in the areas of security and social needs of Nigerians.

The AGoF said the federal government “have to borrow” to augment payment of salaries and wages.

This shows we are in very difficult times. Government income is highly challenged. The theme and objective of the retreat couldn’t have been better captioned, given the fiscal challenges at the moment.

“Records available indicate that due to dwindling revenues, the treasury had to resort to other sources to augment the payment of federal government public servants.

“There is an increase in government expenditure due to increasing security challenges and social needs of the citizenry.”

He advised the Buhari administration to embark on revenue drive through export promotion.

“Therefore, we must all, at this retreat, strive towards identifying the challenges to revenue generation and other means of enhancing inflow into federal government cash box; ensuring the cutting down the cost of governance in the most acceptable way and ensuring synergy amongst and within stakeholders in the sub-committee,” he said.

Tinubu’s Wife, Remy, Will Be De Facto Deputy President – Orji Kalu

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0

By Adesina Soyooye

If the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is elected the President of Nigeria in 2023, he and his wife, Senator Remy Tinubu will govern Nigeria together irrespective of who the  Vice President is. His wife will be the “de facto Deputy President.”

This elevation of Mrs Tinubu to the office of the Deputy President if her husband becomes the President, was made by the Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, a former Governor of Abia State.

He said this when he spoke to Reporters at the National Assembly in support of a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the APC.

Many people, especially, Christians, are against a Muslim-Muslim ticket because of the polarisation of religion in the country. The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has strongly warned against such a ticket. It said it portends danger.

But Kalu pointed out that such fears should not be entertained as Tinubu’s wife, who is a Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, will be Nigeria’s de facto Deputy President.

He posited that APC would be politically naive to pick a Christian minority in the North to run with Tinubu, a Muslim minority in the South. It will be tough for two minorities to win the 2023 Presidential election for the APC Kalu insisted.

Mrs Tinubu, politically-savvy, is a third-time Senator. She is an Itshekiri from Delta State.

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