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How Dino Melaye Lost Out In Kogi West Senatorial Primary Election

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Dino Melaye has lost out in the Primary election of Kogi west Senatorial Seat.

The Primary election was inconclusive on Monday as the two leading contestants, Melaye and T.Y. Yusuf scored same votes cast by delegates.

Melaye, in a rerun lost to TJ Yusuf, at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election  to elect a candidate who will slug it out at the general election in 2023 for Kogi West senatorial district.

In the rerun held on Tuesday,  Yusuf polled 163, Dino polled 99 votes.

The Kogi West Senatorial Primary election of the PDP on Monday, had ended in a deadlock as former Senator Dino Melaye polled a total of 88 votes while his opponent, Hon. TJ Yusuf also scored the same number of votes.

TJ Yusuf is presently a member of the House of Representatives representing the Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency.

In his reaction Melaye, a member of the 8th national assembly said ‘The Primary has been fought and won.

“I congratulate Hon. T.J YUSUF and thank all those who voted in the first and second ballot for me. The Gang up is unimaginable but l give God praise. God bless you all.”

Ondo Govt Plans To Destroy My People’s Means Of Livelihood – Monarch Cries Out

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Oba Aroloye - Owa of Idanre

By Ayodele Oni

As equipments are being moved in by Ondo State Government to commence destruction of cocoa plantations, at Idanre forest reserve, following allocation of the land to investors, the Idanre Monarch has cautioned Government against the move which he described as anti-people.

A portion of the forest reserve in Idanre has been reportedly demarcated and allocated by the State Government to some investors for industrial purpose.

Some farmers, who already have cocoa plantations on the land spanning several years, have kicked against the planned move, which they believe will destroy their means of livelihood.

Following mounting tension over Government recalcitrant, the Owa of Idanre, Oba Fredrick Aroloye has written to the state Government pleading that “I wish to appeal to your Excellency for a stay of further action on the planned destruction of cocoa farmland in preparation for the take-over of the area by investors.

“I will suggest to you, to call for a meeting between the government and ldanre community representatives and the farmers to work out an arrangement that will douse tension in the area.

“The community is willing to cooperate with you to ensure a crisis free forest area.

“Your Excellency, the truth is that the ongoing exercise of destroying Cocoa plantations in the reserved area, is an unpopular exercise with the people of my community.

“We do not need to embark on a voyage that will generate dastardly chains of reactions of sinister activities from displaced persons, who will in their quest to make ends meet, resort to illegal activities.

“Such reactions could further worsen the already fragile security condition across the land and become a serious distraction to the Government and the public.

“I hope that your Excellency will find time to reflect on my position and rescind the decision to completely remove Cocoa plantations from the Forest Reserve area. lt will save the state from unnecessary security and economic Pressures.

Thank you very much for your time spent in reading and reasoning with me.”

The monarch also protested against Government refusal to carry him along by seeking his views before a decision was taken on the forest reserve.

“I consider it expedient to convey my view based on my people’s reactions to the proposed exercise in respect of the subject matter of the letter from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’ dated May 2O22. In the said letter, I was invited to a meeting on l0th May 2022.

“Foremost, I feel slighted on the fact that tractors have started moving into the area to carry out the removal of Cocoa plantations before I got the belated invitation letter to the meeting on the above subject matter.

“You will agree with me that IDANRE people are predominantly farmers, having no other means of livelihood than Agriculture, farming precisely.

“On my part, I acknowledge and understand the need for re-afforestation in other to combat the menace of climate change and other environmental hazards, which are outcomes of man’s activities in the environment.

“Your Excellency, while there is no doubt that ldanre submitted the area to the then government for protection and forestry purpose, its important to remind the state government that this was subject to certain conditions.

“One of the conditions is that the forest was to be managed in the interest of the government and ldanre people. The gazette equally provides for regular carving out of enclaves and farm settlements to accommodate farming and related activities of the growing population of the ldanre people.

“lt is, therefore, laudable that when your government came on board it started a policy of integration of the farmers in the area, from records, it’s clear that my people have been meeting all the conditions laid down by your good government in the Agro – forestry arrangement.”

2023: INEC Set; Trains Gender Desk Officers; Planning Workshop And Data Disaggregation

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Independent National Electoral Commission

By Akinwale Kasali

As the 2023 General Election draws closer, electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is set to organize a free, fair and credible election, by training its Staff for optimal performance during the election.

The Commission has organized a Three-Day Implementation Planning Workshop and Data Disaggregation training for gender desk officers in all the 36 States at Radisson Blu Hotel, Lagos.

Prof. Kunle Ajayi, an INEC Commissioner and Chairman Operation & Partner Committee, in his Opening remarks said women in Nigeria and in other parts of the world continue to be largely marginalised political through participation due to discriminatory laws attitude and gender stereotypes.

He added that the low level of education, lack of access to health,and promotional effect of poverty on women have been the causes of the marginalization women have suffered in recent times.

INEC adopted the gender policy in November 2014 to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable inclusive participation by all irrespective of gender both with commission and in the wider political space.

The development of INEC gender policy since 2014 has witnessed remarkable progress both at the headquarters and the state offices, part of which are the appointments of gender vocal persons at the headquarters and gender desk officers in all the 36 states and fet to enhance gender mainstreaming at INEC offices.

The Commission also created gender and inclusitivity department in April 2021,the creation of the department is to properly enhance the visibility and accessibility of marginalise groups in electoral process and increase their political participation and representation just enhancing the integrity of the commission. The training is expected to expose the participation to the tools required to drive the policy implementation process effectively and efficiently in their various states.

The Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Olusegun Agbaje represented by the Admin General Secretary, James Popoola said the Commission is passionate about inclusiveness in the electoral process,and has been on the frontburner of the commission’s activities in the preparation for the gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states this year as well as the 2023 General election.

In his words, “The participation of women in the electoral process is very essential in every democratic setup which means democracy can’t have its full meaning unless every group is actively visible in the political space,this group includes women and person living with disability”.

Agbaje added that he believes that the outcome of the workshop will feed into other reviews that the commission’s has carried out most of which has been productive.

He, also, advised the participants to handle the seminar with the seriousness it deserves and relent on fresh ideas that can progressively enhance the execution of the provision of the revised document.

The Deputy Country Director of the International Foundation For Electoral System, IFES, Obaje Ukeh said IFES is glad to have supported the review of the gender policy and similarly the workshop.

He said the workshop bring together gender desk officers across the country to engage on the revised policy with clear intention in uniform understanding among key implementers of the plan to ensure the policy implementation.

IFES however recognises the inclusion in election and most specifically the increase of  women in participation in electoral process.

Breaking: CBN Dumps Old Interest Rate, CRR Remains 27 Per cent

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Godwin Emefiele

By Tosin Olatokunbo

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has increased the Monetary Policy Rate, MPR also known as interest rate to 13 per cent.

The MPR is the benchmark interest rate for determining other interest rates in the economy.

It was was first time, in two years, that the Monetary Policy Committee, MPC under the leadership of CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele has raised the rate, which before now stood at 11.5 per cent.

The apex bank Governor announced this on Tuesday while speaking to reporters at the end of the monthly MPC meeting, in Abuja.

Emefiele said the rate was raised in line with recent global trends, explaining that the new 13 per cent interest rate will checkmate inflation in the country.

According to him, “The sharp rise in inflation across both the advanced and emerging market economies has generated growing concerns among central banks as the progressive rise in inflation driven by rising aggregate demands and wage growth has put sustainable pressure on price levels,” said Emefiele.

“Consequently, the major central banks such as the U.S. Fed, the Bank of England, European Central Bank, and Bank of Canada have provided strong guidance of a progressive shift away from monetary policy accommodation to drive market interest rate which may ultimately impact capital flows away from emerging market economies.”

Breaking down how the committee members voted, Emefiele disclosed that six out of the 11 members of the committee voted to raise the key rate.h

The committee, he explained, also voted to retain the asymmetric corridor at +100 and -700 basis points around the MPR, as well as Cash Reserved Ratio, CRR at 27 per cent.

 

Wike Sacks Cabinet, Aides

By
Uche Mbah
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0
Nyesom Wike

By Uche Mbah

Presidential aspirant under the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and  Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, Tuesday dissolved the State Executive Council.

In a release signed by Wike’s Special Assistant on Media, Kevin Ebiri, the Governor also announced the sack of his chief of staff, Emeka Woke, and his Senior Special Assistant on Protocol.

Wike gave no reason why he relieved the senior officials of their duties.

In the official ststement, the Governor thanked the former cabinet members for their diilligence and for rendering service to the state.

“Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has dissolved the State Executive Council with effect from Tuesday, May 24, 2022.”, the statement read.

“The Chief of Staff to the Governor and Senior Special Assistant (Protocol), have also been relieved of their office.

“His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, commends the members the Rivers State Executive Council for their service and contribution to the development of the State.

“He has, also, wished them the best in all their future endeavours.”

All the former members of the State Executive Council are to hand over to the most senior officers in their respective Ministries.

Akeredolu’s Banters Which Set Him On War Path With VP Osinbajo

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Rotimi Akeredolu and Yemi Osinbajo

By Ayodele Oni

Bad blood is becoming part of the fallouts of some presidential aspirants of the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) and some Governors of the party.

With a few days to the Presidential Primaries, aspirants numbering 25 including the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, and some serving Governors have been cruising the nooks and crannies of the country to canvass support for their asprantion.

The visit took the Vice President to Ondo state last week during which he interracted with delegates and took time off to meet with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who is also Chairman, Southern Governors Forum in Akure.

Reports after the meeting quoted Akeredolu as telling the Vice President that “When we were running around to ensure Buhari won the primaries in 2014, I sprained my ankle. My VP, Sir, you were not around. You were at the Holy Ghost night that day. You just moved from Holy Ghost Night to Aso Rock.”

The statement is reported to be generating negative reaction from the Vice President and his followers.

Governor Akeredolu had however reacted to douse the ill feeling, stating that his remark was not intended to slight the Vice President.

A statement by his Senior Special Assistant, Special Duties, Dr Doyin Odebowale in Akure on Tuesday, states that “Our attention has just been drawn to a statement widely credited to the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, but twisted and presented as a snide remark made to cast aspersion on the suitability of the Vice President and Presidential Aspirant in the forthcoming Presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON.

“This statement, credited to the Governor, is being circulated on social media to disparage his person. It reads: “When we were running around to ensure Buhari won the primaries in 2014, I sprained my ankle. My VP, Sir, you were not around. You were at the Holy Ghost night that day. You just moved from Holy Ghost Night to Aso Rock”.

“Putting what transpired during the visit of the VP, within the context of the convivial atmosphere, exposes the mischief in the deliberate slant put to the statement published to satisfy partisan interest.

“The Governor of Ondo State is not only the Chairman of the South West Governors’ Forum, his colleagues in the whole of Southern Region defer to him as their spokesperson, mainly because of his principled stance on important issues affecting the country.

“Aketi’s position on succession pattern in the current politics is public knowledge. While he is not the one to hide behind a finger in taking a decision and making same known without equivocation, he will not be as brash as the statement purports.

“A situation which would have warranted the Governor to engage in a needless diatribe against a most respected professional colleague, friend and the number two citizen in the country would have been most unwarranted, uncharitable and disrespectful.

“The VP addressed the delegates of the State in his characteristic erudition and candour. The message delivered was well received. The aspirant stated the purpose of his visit in a most brilliant and jocular manner, regaling the audience with his signature brilliance and elocution.

“It would have been most unfortunate for anyone, let alone the host, to use this occasion to utter a statement that did not reflect the mood of the moment.

“The Governor acknowledged the contributions of Professor Yemi Osinbajo to the study and practice of Law and nation-building. He cited his case as typical of those who have benefited from uncommon divine munificence.

“He admonished politicians to always remember the role of the Almighty in the affairs of human beings. He expressed deep conviction on providence, that the Supreme Being gives power to anyone regardless of the scheming of people.

“He stated that if it was the will of Almighty that he would succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, nobody would stop it from coming to pass.

“The Governor did not deride or belittle the Vice President. That would have been a most unconscionable, brash and indecent way to play politics while welcoming any visitor to Ondo State, reputed for hospitality, how much more the sitting Vice President. Aketi is the quintessential gentleman of the Bar. He enjoys the confidence and respect of Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.”

Governor Akeredoku is reported to be one of the Governors that signed the nomination form of the APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu.

PDP Members Petition Ayu, Say No Primary Election Held In Ekiti

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Iyorcha Ayu

By Ayodele Oni

As candidates for the 2023 election emerge in the primary election by the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) which was held on Monday nationwide, there are indications that no election took place in Ekiti State.

PDP had held primary elections to pick candidates for Senate, House of Representatives and State Assemblies.

Rather than primary election in Ekiti state, members of PDP in the State have forwarded series of petitions to the National Secretariat of the PDP to intimate the leadership about what happened in Ekiti state.

In one of the petitions by some PDP members in Ikole Local Government, they claimed that election officials and materials were diverted to unknown place.

“As necessitated by the happenings today Sunday 22nd May 2022 we wish to bring to the attention of the Party at the National level, State and Local Government level, and the Independent National Electoral Commission that the Ikole Constituency 2 House Assembly primary that was supposed to be conducted at Headquarters of the Constituency Ward 10 in the Local Government Area, and in line with the stipulated provisions in the Party Constitution which emphases states that the primary election for House of Assembly, Ikole Constituency 2 should be conducted at the headquarters of the Constituency,  the primary election today was not held.

“As the Electoral Officers appointed by the Party at the State level rather than following the due process was insisting on applying wisdom by adopting open balloting as against the open-secret that is provided for in the Constitution of the Party or using a foreign material rather than the materials supplied by the Headquarters Office of the Party.

“The Electoral Officers insisting on using his discretion rather than following the constitutional provision of the Party generated reactions as the leaders in the constituency insisted on due process.

“It is unusual as the Electoral Officers chose to disobey the laid down rules of the Party(no electoral material – no presentation of certified /verifiable or authenticated list of elected delegates in the constituency was presented, no ballot and nothing to identify himself as electoral officers when questioned).”

Another one by PDP Rebirth Group states that “Let it be noted and documented that there was no primary election conducted in Ekit North and Ekiti Central Senatorial District today Monday,  23rd of May 2022, with the rumour heard that Ekiti South was stepped down till tomorrow.

“As noted earlier, Fayose disallowed the party officials from Abuja from leaving his NTS hotel to any of the election centres for the purpose of the functions for which they were sent by the party in the first instance.

“The North Senatorial District has its headquarter at Ido Ekiti in Ido Osi LG while the central Senatorial District has its headquarter at Aramoko in Ekiti West LG of Ekiti State.

“None of the party officials from Abuja went to these locations at all and hence no election was conducted in these Senatorial headquarters as listed above.

“It was even hilarious that Fayose sent his Cousin Hon Babade Ige to De Xambra Hotel, Ado Ekiti to gather hoodlums and conjured results, while the party delegates were waiting in the sun at the party headquarter in Aramoko Ekiti.

“It was also an abysmal level of comedy that Chief Tunde Ogunleye of Ikole Ekiti, unknown and never selected by the party for any function, took flight with the election materials in company of Hon Akinbode, another criminal interloper and the acting Chairman, Hon Omolase to an unknown location, where they also conjured results for election not done anywhere.

“The National Chairman should note that there is no primary election for the purpose of nominating Senatorial candidates for the North and Central Districts of Ekiti State due to the usual shenanigans of an unpopular irredentist called Fayose.

“It is shameful that the party, PDP through the National Chairman will subject Ekiti State into this odium all the time, especially 3 weeks to our gubernatorial election.

“We call on the National Chairman to organise our primary election, latest by tomorrow lest the whole process will be concluded in the Court of Law.”

CBN: Sacked Bank Workers To Get N5.7bn Compensation

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0
CBN Gov Emefiele

By Tosin Olatokunbo

At last, bank workers who lost their jobs in 2006 due to the Bank Recapitalisation exercise have a reason to jubilate. They got a reprieve, yesterday after the National Industrial Court, NIC ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and National Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC to pay the workers N5.7 billion for making them lose their jobs.

In 2018, over 1000 workers who lost their jobs took the two government agencies to court for wrongful termination of their appointment, arguing that they should not be made to suffer because their banks could not recapitalise.

In 2006, the then Governor of the CBN, Charles Soludo directed commercial banks in the country to raise their working capital to N25 billion from N2 billion. Many banks which failed to meet the deadline, were stopped from doing business while others merged with bigger banks.

This led to massive job losses in the sector. At least, over 1000 employees were believed to have been sent home after their respective banks stopped operation. The aggrieved workers, under their respective unions later took the CBN and NDIC to court.

Ruling on the matter brought by 1,116 workers on Monday, Justice Paul Bassi said the claimants were sacked unjustly, eventhough, the Consolidation was carried out in public interest, he said.
He ordered that the workers should be paid the amount as damages, within three months after the judgment, failure which the two agencies will also pay 10 per cent of the amount monthly until the judgment amount has been fully liquidated by CBN and NDIC.

The two defendants had raised several objections, among which is that they were not the employers of the workers and the suit disclosed no cause of action against them.

Justice Bassi, however, dismissed the preliminary objections of the defendants and held that they may have acted in the general good by raising the capital base of banks in the country, but added that the workers interests were not considered.

According to him, the CBN interfered with the employment contact of the claimants by withdrawing the licenses of the banks who failed to re-capitalise, leading to the workers losing their benefits to their former employers.

Speaking to The Source magazine,  on Tuesday, some jubilant workers said they were happy that they have finally received justice after 16 years. “It was a long and difficult  journey, ” said one of them, who simply identified herself  as Tolani, adding that ” our families  have really suffered but thank God we have received  justice for wrongful termination  of our appointments”.

Winning A Delegates’ Election

By
The Source
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0

By Doyin Okupe

Those who have won delegate elections in Nigeria over the last 2 decades fall into the following categories:

  1. Those backed by an incumbent government at national or state levels.
  2. In the absence of a incumbent FG; those who are supported by a majority of “Super Stakeholders”. These include sitting state governors, fmr governors & leaders in states where no sitting governors exist.
  3. Aspirants who are able to dispense stupendous financial resources.

In the absence of an incumbent FG, a very rich aspirant can prevail against scenario 2 above.

Delegate elections are devoid of conscience, rational thinking, patriotism or the principle of right or wrong.

From my many years of experience, 70 to 80% of delegates vote along with the dictates of their leaders. It has nothing to do most often with their personal convictions.

 

WHY IS THIS SO?

It is so because at the end of the convention everyone returns to his state. If at the convention you refused to toe the line, most assuredly you are likely to pay for it and certainly you will not be a delegate in the next election …and so will many perks and privileges elude you in your state.

This is not restricted to ordinary delegates alone. Even if you were a former minister or senator or whatever, once you fail to align with party directives, be ready for sanctions from the powers that be within the party in your state.

 

INFLUENCE OF MONEY

This is a very interesting and intricate matter. Money in some cases may be the ultimate deciding factor. And in other situations where group or regional interest is crucial and compelling, it may be of little consequence.

But without money or with an offer considerably much lower than the leading contender financially, the poorer aspirant irrespective of pedigree, competence or suitability, may have no chance of winning at all.

Mischievously, and quite treacherously, the new trend is that each state delegation collects monies from all the aspirants and thereafter do one of to things.

  1. They still vote for the aspirant they had decided on from home based on several considerations.

Or:

  1. Divide their votes pro rata in accordance to how the aspirants have faired financially.

In the last PDP convention in Port Harcourt in 2019, most delegates went home with between $8000 & $10,000.

This year, the figures are bound to be higher. The big spenders are prepared to go as far as $10,000 per delegate.

As I write this piece, a delegate election to elect the State Assembly Member for my Local council is underway.

Information reaching me from the venue is that one of the two contestant is offering N200,000 per delegate while the other has offered N150,000.

We have 10 wards and 3 delegates per ward. That is, each aspirant will today dispense N6m for this delegate election!!!

Let no one fool you. This is what goes on nationwide and in all parties. Only the stakes differ.

THIS PRACTICE IS NOT SUSTAINABLE AND IS INCONSISTENT WITH A PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENTAL GROWTH.

Okupe, a Medical Doctor-turned Politician, was Spokesperson for both Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan

Diesel Explosion Claims One Life, Causes Traffic Gridlock in Calabar

By
The Source
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0
Diesel Explosion in Calabar

By Stanley Ekpenyong, Calabar

The ever-busy Murtala Muhammed Highway, Calabar was Monday thrown into a bedlam following the explosion of a mini-van carrying drums of diesel suspected to be adulterated.

The explosion claimed the life of the driver of the van while other occupants managed to escape with injuries.

The incident caused rare traffic gridlock on the Highway which is the only land corridor for entrance into and exit from the Cross River state capital.

The Source Magazine gathered that the driver was on top speed and did not notice a speed bump around the Bebobsco bus stop on time prompting him to apply the brake suddenly leading to a spark and the subsequent explosion.

Motorists and commuters frantically tried to help put out the raging inferno to no avail.

The arrival of the men of Federal Fire Service Operations with their fire fighting truck could not do much to salvage the situation as both the driver and his van had already completely burnt into ashes before their arrival.

At the time of filing, this report carcass of the victim and the van were still blocking a section of the Highway.

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