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Ihedioha Congratulates Adeleke, Governor-elect, Osun State

By
The Source
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Emeka Ihedioha, Imo State

By Adesina Soyooye

The immediate past Governor of Imo State, the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, has congratulated Senator Ademola Adeleke, the Governor-elect of Osun State.

Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had on Saturday, July 16, scaled all obstacles, and defeated over 10 other candidates, including, the incumbent Governor, Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, APC. He won, outrightly, in 17 of the State’s 30 Local Government Areas, and left Oyetola 13 as  consolation prize. Other candidates went home empty-handed.

In his congratulatory letter to Adeleke, Ihedioha described  him as “a man of history and destiny.”

He told the Governor-elect: “You are, indeed, a man of history and destiny. Your remarkable victory which culminated in the defeat of an incumbent bears eloquent testimony to the open secret that you were robbed of victory four years ago, when you first contested the Governorship election.”

Following the full text of the congratulatory letter.

SENATOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE: MESSAGE OF FELICITATION

“My dear brother, I followed with studious interest, your well-deserved victory in the Osun State governorship election on Saturday, July 16, 2022.

“Your emergence as the Governor-Elect is, no doubt, a confirmation of the people’s confidence in your leadership capabilities and a proof of the unbreakable bond of friendship and solidarity between you and them. That is the hallmark of leadership.

“You are, indeed, a man of history and destiny. Your remarkable victory which culminated in the defeat of an incumbent bears eloquent testimony to the open secret that you were robbed of victory four years ago, when you first contested the governorship election.

“It is also a proof of your sterling attributes – hard work, political sagacity, perseverance and tenacity. The fact that you are imbued with these traits and yet remain humble is what makes you a consummate politician and leader of the people, whose cause you champion unreservedly.

“I also congratulate our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the good people of Osun State whose steadfastness, courage and vigilance made this sweet victory possible.

“The quest by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to reinvent itself and ensure that the sanctity of the WILL of the people, expressed through the ballot box remains an article of faith is quite commendable.

“The determination by the electoral umpire to ensure that votes not only count but is the sole basis for determining the outcome of elections has further boosted the confidence of Nigerians in our Democracy.

“Given the misgovernance that has persisted in your State, I urge you  to immediately focus on taking the necessary steps as you prepare to run a government that will satisfy the huge expectations of the people of Osun State.”

Adeleke first contested for the Governorship seat in 2018, but was inexplicably denied of the victory after a rerun which was adjudged “corrupted.”

Gale Of Defections Hit Rivers APC, As Georgewill, Governorship Candidate’s Campaign DG, Exits Party

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Tonye Cole DG Resign

By Akinwale Kasali

The defection tsunami hitting the Rivers State All Progressives Congress, APC, has continued. And the Party seems to be dying slowly.

Theodore Georgewill,  the Campaign Director General to APC’s Governorship Candidate in the 2019 Election, Toney Cole, has tendered his resignation letter to the Party.

Georgewill, in a letter dated 18th July, 2022, formally resigned from the Party based on “Personal Reasons”, thanking the Party for its support during his stay in the opposition Party in the State.

This is another loyalists of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, who has left the Party, following the footsteps of Ibim Semenitari, the former Commissioner for Information and Communication of Rivers State.

Others, who announced resignation  from the APC in their letters to their respective wards chairmen were Dawari George,

Marvin Yobana (former Africa’s Representative at the World Youth Assembly), Nkemka Amadi and Robinson Elechi.

Semenitari, a former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in her resignation letter wrote: “I write to resign my membership of the All Progressives Congress with effect from today.

“I appreciate the friendship, camaraderie and opportunities that this platform has provided me to serve my state, region and country even as I wish the party well.”

George, former Commissioner  for Youths under Amaechi’s administration, on his part  lauded the party for the support he got to serve it.

He, however, did not state the reason for his decision. The letter was addressed to the Chairman of APC Ward One in the Asari Tori Local Government Area.

Meanwhile, Yobana  in his resignation letter cited certain actions of the party which  conflict with his personal interest and political ideology as reasons for quitting the party.

Senator Magnus Abe,  former  Secretary to the State under Amaechi, also, left the Party..

It would be recalled also that an ally of Senator Magnus Abe and factional Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Hon. Golden Chioma, also resigned from the party.

Chioma, a former member of the State House of Assembly, announced his resignation and defected to the Social Democratic Party, SDP. He said he could not remain in a party where “one man employs the governor for the benefit of one man.”

Chioma stressed further that he dumped the APC because of the failure of the Party to reward handwork, describing the reward system as appalling.

“All those who sacrificed their political future for the good of the party have been abandoned. People, who are not worth being mentioned are nominated and given appointments.

“But those who merit the offices are sidelined for obvious reasons. For me the reward system is appalling. For now I have left the party,” he stated.

As the 2023 Election gathers momentum, APC is gradually losing its strong chieftains in Rivers State, as the fortunes of the Party seems to be dwindling and losing prominence in the State.

Oyo: End Of Road For Deputy Governor, Olaniyan

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Oyo Deputy Gov Rauf-Olaniyan

By Akinwale Kasali

The Deputy Governor of Oyo state Rauf Olaniyan has been impeached by the state house of Assembly.

He was removed from office during plenary by the assembly on Monday.

His removal followed a protracted crisis of confidence between him and Governor Seyi Makinde.

The feud came to a head after the deputy governor defected to the APC from PDP the ruling party in the Pacesetter’s state.

The Assembly had issued him an impeachment notice earlier last month for gross misconduct and abuse of office.

Olaniyan later went to the state high court challenging the assembly’s power to impeach him.

The court turned him down. On June 7, the court gave the Assembly  the green light by rejecting the deputy governor’s plea to stop the impeachment.

It was on the basis of the ruling that the Assembly directed the state Chief judge to set up a committee to probe  him of  allegations of gross misconduct.

At the Plenary today Monday, the lawmakers  unanimously removed Olaniyan after the adoption of the report of the seven-man panel constituted by the chief judge to investigate him.

Olaniyan came into office on a joint ticket with  Governor Makinde in 2019 on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP.

Not long after, the duo parted ways over the control of the soul of the party in the state.

Just few days ago, a source in Agodi Government House, told the magazine that the duo was involved in a hot confrontation, where the Deputy Governor accused Makinde of orchestrating his impeachment.

“The  confrontation was so much that the Deputy Governor described Makinde as an oil bunkerer  who’s doing everything he wants with government funds,” he said.

He later told the magazine after the impeachment that ” with the impeachment peace will now return to the State Executive Council, SEC.”

The majority leader of the Assembly, Honourable Sanjo Adedoyin, said the deputy governor was found culpable of all allegations levelled against him.

The Assembly approved Olaniyan’s removal from office leaning on section 188(9) of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

Meanwhile, the magazine learnt that Governor Makinde has already forwarded the name of Bayo Lawal, a commissioner in the state to the Assembly for approval to become the next Deputy Governor.

How Actress, Ada Ameh  Died In NNPC Hospital After Battling Depression

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Ada Ameh - Enu dies

By Akinwale Kasali

Nollywood Actress, Ada Ameh, aka Mrs Emu in popular television series ‘The Johnsons’, has succumbed to the grim ripper, death.

She died late Sunday night, sources close to her family said.

Ameh was said to have collapsed and died around 11 pm on Sunday night.

It was gathered that the late Ameh was a guest of an oil company topshot and his family when she suddenly collapsed.

She was immediately rushed to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s, NNPC hospital but passed on before they arrived the facility.

Ameh, aged 48, had shortly before her death said she battled depression, to the extent that she, at a point failed to meet up with an ambassadorial contract she signed with a firm.

According to the actress, the company did not understand what she was going through and, as such, filed a lawsuit against her.

She lamented that the company sued her for a staggering amount, which she was unable to afford.

The actress who started her career 27 years ago and admitted that the lawsuit had taken a great toll on her.

She said: “I have an issue right now that can take my life, but I won’t die. We would get over it. I was given a job but didn’t do it because I have mental health issues. Will people understand it if you have mental issues? No, they wouldn’t. They are slamming me with a bill, suing me. It’s okay”.

The magazine could not however say what let to her death.

In November, the Nollywood actress, in an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, explained how she gave birth at 13 to her only daughter, Aladi which she later lost in 2020.

Aladi  died after an unsuccessful surgery in Abuja.

The actress said that life had not remained the same since her daughter’s death.

Ameh, who played the role of Anita in the movie ‘Domitilla’ in 1996, is famous for her comic characters especially in the series The Johnsons.

She was born on May 15, 1974 in Ajegunle, Lagos.

Few hours before she succumbed to the cold hands of death, the popular actress had shared a video of her eating with her family around 12:53pm on her official Instagram page.

Zenith Bank: Dangote, CBN Gov To Attend 7th Trade Seminar On Non-Oil Export

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Ebenezer Onyeagwu - Zenith Bank PLC MD

The 7th Annual Edition of the Zenith Bank International Trade Seminar will be held on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, and virtually by 9.00 am. The seminar, themed “Unlocking Opportunities in Nigeria’s Non-Oil Export Business”, is part of Zenith Bank’s efforts to support the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) initiatives to grow the country’s non-oil export sector.

The seminar will draw participation from trade practitioners, local and foreign exporters, manufacturers, financial institutions, and government agencies. This forum would provide an opportunity for all participants, including relevant government agencies, to explore ways to unlock the immense opportunities in Nigeria’s Non-Oil Export Sector.

The Export Seminar will feature a welcome address by the Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, while the Keynote Speaker is Aliko Dangote, GCON, President & Chief Executive of Dangote Group. Goodwill messages will be delivered by very eminent individuals, including the Founder and Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CON; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, CON; Secretary General, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), His Excellency, Wamkele Mene; and President/Chairman, African Export-Import Bank, Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah.

There will be three panel discussions during the seminar. The first panel, titled “Unlocking Opportunities in Nigeria’s Non-Oil Export Business: Operators/Practitioners’ Perspectives”, will focus on the value chain and prospects of the non-oil export sector and has five discussants, including the Managing Director, GACON Ltd, HRM Adaku Chidume Okoro; Managing Director, WACOT, Bibhu Nanda; Group Managing Director, Tulip Cocoa, Johan Van Der Merwe; Managing Director, First Patriot, Santosh Phenany; and Managing Director, Starlink Global & Ideal Ltd, Alhaji Adeyemi M. Adeniji.

The second panel, titled “Funding/Logistics/Government Support for the Non-Oil Export Sector”, will explore the availability of long-term funds, insurance & reinsurance, and risk-sharing mechanism for the non-oil export sector. The panel has five discussants, including the Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Industry, Mr Olukayode Pitan; Director, Development Finance of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Yusuf Philip Yila; Managing Director, West Africa Container Terminal, Naved Zafar; Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko; and the Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Ibrahim Hameed Ali (Rtd).

The third panel discussion, titled “The ABC of Non-Oil Export”, will focus on the pitfalls in the non-oil export business, standardisation and grading of primary export products, as well as the export of services, especially the burgeoning Nigerian creative industry. The panel also has five discussants, including a well-respected trade expert, Mr Olusegun Awolowo; Founder/CEO, Flutterwave, Agboola Olugbenga; Chairman/CEO, Colossus Investment, Mr Babatola Faseru; President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Segun Ajayi; and Senior Consultant, 3T Impex Trade Centre, Mr Bamidele Ayemibo.

The seminar will be live on Zoom and YouTube. To connect on Zoom, simply visit www.zenithbank/exportsem to register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email. You can also watch live on YouTube via the link: https://bit.ly/ZBTradeSeminarLive.

More Tributes As Buhari, Obasa Mourn Death Of APC Women Leader

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Kemi Nelson

By Akinwale Kasali

President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the Nelson family on the demise of frontline politician and advocate of the womenfolk, Chief Kemi Nelson.

The president, in a statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, on Sunday in Abuja condoled with the government and people of Lagos State, Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, and the Lagos APC family on the loss of the frontline politician.

Buhari described the deceased as “a consistent and faithful party member who devoted so much to the evolution, development, sustenance and relevance of the party in Lagos and around the country.”

He noted the contributions of Nelson as a former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Lagos State, the  State  Women Leader, National Deputy Women Leader of APC, and former Executive Director of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund.

The president further remarked that the deceased was such a grassroots mobiliser and an achiever who left her footprints wherever she served.

“As the only female member of the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Kemi Nelson continued to be part of the governance structure that led to the transformation of Lagos State into the Centre of Excellence it has become,” he said.

The president prayed for the repose of her soul, that almighty God would grant the husband, Adeyemi Nelson and the family, friends and associates of the deceased, the fortitude to bear the loss.

Similarly, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, said that Lagos State has lost an icon and women champion.

The Late former South-West Women Leader of the APC, died on Sunday at the age of 66 after a brief illness.

Obasa, in a statement on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Eromosele  Ebhomele, described the death of the politician as a huge loss to Lagos state, the party she served with so much passion and enthusiasm, members of the party and Nigeria.

“The shock is indescribable. It is so huge and painful, one that will be difficult to heal for a long time. Indeed, we lost a very bright light that had always brought the desired radiance to our party.

“Chief Kemi Nelson was a coordinator of women and she carried out her tasks with so much ease, enthusiasm and effectiveness to the admiration of everyone of us.

“She never hid her passion for a better Lagos and Nigeria through democratic governance. She was dilligent and excelled in every position or committee she found herself.

“While I, like many others she held in high esteem, will personally miss her, I pray that God would strengthen every member of her family, her friends, associates, those she mentored, the GAC and our party,” Obasa prayed.

Chief Kemi Nelson, former Executive Director of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF and influential politician, was a senatorial candidate in 1992. She lost to Tinubu, now presidential candidate of the APC ahead of the 2023 election.

In 1999, she pitched tents with the Alliance for Democracy, AD and served in the administration of Asiwaju Tinubu as Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

NIMASA: Senate Orders Arrest Of DG Over $5m fraud

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Bashir Jamoh
The Nigerian Senate has issued a warrant of arrest for the Director General of the  Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA over a $5 million fraud.
The upper legislative body is accusing Jamoh of paying the sum as a professional fee to a firm which helped in the recovery of $9.3 billion for the agency.

The $5 million was paid for the intelligence-based tracking of a global movement of Nigerian hydrocarbon and recovery of loss by the Federal Government of Nigeria in the sum of $9.3bn between 2013 and 2014, the Senate committee investigating the matter said.

Matthew Urhogbide, the chairman of the committee, said it ordered Jamoh’s arrest after he failed to appear before the committee to testify.

Urhogbide while briefing journalists on Sunday, said the warrant became necessary after the NIMASA boss Ignored the committee’s invitation to appear before it.

According to him, “We have invited NIMASA up to three times, but they have failed to honour our invitations. This committee has no other option than to issue a warrant of arrest against the Director General of the agency.

“They can come to the National Assembly for fund appropriation, but when it is time to give account they will be nowhere to be found.

“The committee had invited NIMASA up to three times for the explanation on the payment of $5 million as professional fee and details of $9.3bn loss by the Federal government, but the agency declined the invitation.”

Recall that the Auditor General’s report had revealed before the committee, a query issued to the agency to give details about the $9.3 billion.

NIMASA failed to respond to the query, the Auditor General’s office told the Senate.

The query read, “Audit observed that the agency engaged the service of a legal firm through a letter with reference number NIMASA/DG/KP/2014/001, dated 24th January 2014 for the intelligence-based tracking of a global movement of Nigerian Hydro-Carbon and recovery of loss by the Federal Government of Nigeria in the sum of $9.3bn between 2013 and 2014, with a start-off cost of $5m and five per cent of all sums recovered.

“Payment instruction with reference number NIMASA/2007/DFS/WJ/5.500/VOL.11/341 dated April 2014 showed that the firm was paid the sum of $4,523,809.52 (Four million five hundred and twenty-three thousand eight hundred and nine dollars fifty-two cents only) net as professional fees from Zenith Bank (UK) Dollar account.

“The naira equivalent of this amount was N741,904,761.28 at an exchange rate of N164 to a dollar as of that date.

“No evidence of recovery of either part or the entire sum of the 9.3 Billion US Dollars was presented at the time of the periodic check-in in February 2018, despite the huge amount of money already paid to this effect.

“It is instructive to note that details of the transaction leading to the loss of $9.3bn to the Federal Government which only came to audit attention through the review of the letter from the agency to the legal firm so as to ascertain what could have transpired, resulting in such a huge loss were not presented for audit.”

Sanwo Olu Mourns Death Of APC Women Leader, Kemi Nelson

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Kemi Nelson

By Akinwale Kasali

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the passage of Chief (Mrs) Kemi Nelson, a member of the Governance Advisory Council GAC.

Nelson, a former Executive Director of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF and ex-South-West Zonal Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress, died on Sunday at the age of 66.

Governor Sanwo-Olu in a statement issued on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, described the death of Chief Kemi Nelson as a great loss to Lagos State, especially the ruling party, considering her unique position as one of the great mobilisers in the party.

The Governor described the late Lagos APC Women Leader as a “passionate, trustworthy, committed, extremely loyal politician, leader, women advocate and an invaluable asset to APC and Lagos State.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu said “The death of Chief (Mrs) Kemi Nelson is a painful and big loss to me personally. It is also a great loss to the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), our party, APC, the deceased family and friends.

“I am saddened by the passage of this indefatigable, devoted, loyal, committed, progressive democrat and team player who played remarkable roles in the success of our party at the state, zonal and national levels during her lifetime.

“Chief Kemi Nelson as a consummate politician and committed leader of her people, especially women, contributed immensely to the growth and development of our great party as APC Women Leader in Lagos and South-West. She also did her best for our dear Lagos State during her tenure as Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

“She will be missed dearly by her family, friends and the entire political class, particularly GAC, chieftains and members of the ruling party across Lagos State and Nigeria.

“I pray that God would grant the soul of our beloved GAC member, Chief Kemi Nelson, eternal rest and comfort to the immediate and political family she left behind.”

Peter Obi Congratulates Adeleke, Governor-elect Osun State; Tells OBIdients There’s Much Work To Do

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the upcoming 2023 elections, Mr Peter Obi, has congratulated the winner of the Osun State Governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke on his victory at the polls.

Adeleke, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had dusted all, including the incumbent Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, by winning, outrightly, 17 out of Osun State’s 30 Local Government Areas. The Governor won in 13. None of the other candidates, including that of the LP, won a single LGA, and made little  or no impact.

But in a congratulatory message to Adeleke, Obi extended his warmest personal congratulations to the Governor-elect.

He, also, congratulated the candidate of LP, Lasun Sulaimon Yusuff and running mate, Adeola Adekunle Atanda, “for a hard fought battle and their spirit of resolve and sportsmanship, despite the outcome.”

To the OBIdient Movement Family, he has some words of consolation. “The outcome of this particular election is not a verdict on our exponentially growing strength,  especially, when viewed against the fact that we are barely one month old in the Party and so had to contend with forces that have been entrenched in the State for the last two decades.”

The full text follows:

“I extend my warmest personal congratulations to Sen. Ademola Adeleke on wining the Osun State Gubernatorial elections.

“I also congratulate the candidate of our Labour Party Rt. Hon Lasun Sulaimon Yusuff and his running mate,  Adeola Adekunle Atanda, for a hard fought battle and their spirit of reslove and sportsmanship, despite the outcome.

“To our the Obidient Movement  Family and our  supporters nationwide, the outcome of this particular election is not a verdict on our exponentially growing srtength nationwide especially when viewed against the fact that we are barely one month old in the party and we had to contend with forces that have been entrenched in the state for the last two decades.

“However, within this very short period of only a few weeks, the Labour  Party has made its presence  and political impact felt nationally.

“We must strengthen our collective resolve not relent in our noble march to take back our country.

“Much work remains to be done, hence we must focus the totality of our efforts now on the forthcoming 2023 General elections.  In the fullness of time, our message of rescue and recovery will resonate through out the length and breath of the Nation and most Nigerian electorate will buy in into our mission  to take back Nigeria, for the purpose of rescuing it from continued decline , shift the National psyche from consumption to production and from sharing dwindling resources to creating wealth and frontally combating poverty.”

The Osun election was held on Saturday, July 16, 2022.

Viewpoint: Osun Election: Ige’s Voice

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

By Professor Wole Soyinka

The voice of Ajibola Ige, slain Minister of Justice, resounds from beyond the grave. Those who conspired to catapult his destroyers to unmerited national prominence, to insult the memories of the living, and jettison basic ethical constraints, have been justly served.
It is a lesson that speaks to other zones of rightful public expectations, equity, and just entitlements.
One despairs but continues to hope that there are still receptive minds in which such lessons will germinate.
If we may adapt a wise saying from the ancients: the beast of burden, nicknamed Equity, ambles its mined course to destination but, sooner or later, that donkey arrives.

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