Sanwo-Olu Appoints Alawiye King, Dayo Israel As SUBEB Chairman, Member

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September 15, 2019

By Akinwale Kasali

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has swung into action in the educational sector of the State, by appointing Wahab Olawale Alawiye-King as the Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB.

During the electioneering campaign of Sanwo-Olu, he had promised to change the face of education in the State, by leveraging on the educational commitments of his predecessor.

Fulfilling his promise, thus, he appointed Alawiye, as Sopeyin bowed out on Friday, September 13, 2019.

Also appointed alongside Alawiye King is Dayo Israel, as a member of the SUBEB board.

Israel was a former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Children Parliament at the United Nations, and was also an All Progressive Congress, APC, Chairmanship aspirant in Mainland Ebutte Metta Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The appointed Chairman of SUBEB, Alawiye-King, was a member of Concerned Committee of Lagos Islanders (CCLI) which worked for the development of youths and women in Lagos through various empowerment programmes.

He led members of the CCLI to join the Alliance for Democracy (AD) on which he contested for the Chairmanship of Lagos Island Local Government.

Despite losing the party’s ticket to then Mrs Aderinsola Braithwaite-Ogedengbe later Mrs Derin Disu, Alawiye-King did not waiver in his commitment and loyalty, which later culminated in his winning the Action Congress (AC) ticket to run for the Lagos State House of Assembly to represent Lagos Island State Constituency 1 for the 6th Assembly In 2007.

He won and was appointed the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Science and Technology.

He was re-elected in 2011 this time around to represent Lagos Island State Constituency 2 in the 7th Assembly and was appointed the Chairman of the House Committee on Education.

He was the Deputy Director General of Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Campaign Organisation (BOSCO) as well as the Director- General of Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s Campaign Organization in 2019 general elections.

His appointment has been described as putting a round peg in a round hole by some education analysts in the State.

PDP Accuses Yahaya Bello Of Purchasing PVCs Ahead Of Election

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The Source

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September 15, 2019

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Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State — Yahaya Bello

By Akinwale Kasali

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate in the November 16, Governorship election in Kogi, Musa Wada, are accusing Governor Yahaya Bello of purchasing Permanent Voters Card, PVCs, from prospective voters for the sum of N5,000.

The PDP and the Musa Wada Campaign Organization raised this alarm through its spokesperson, Farouk Adejoh-Audu.

Adejoh-Audu alleged that the APC led government of Bello have been traversing villages and communities offering registered voters N5,000 in exchange for their PVC.

He stressed that the N5,000 inducement is being given to the poor and indigent communities as ‘loan’, just like the ‘Tradermoni initiative’ of the president Muhammadu Buhari administration before the 2019 general election, in exchange for their PVCs as “collateral”.

Adejoh-Audu added that, “Right now, we are informed the agents have been unleashed across the state particularly in rural areas to offer the said cash to poor and indigent people willing to submit their PVC as collateral for the scam.

“These agents are said to be targeting communities with large voter population across the state and were sighted in many areas of Kogi East Senatorial District to execute the agenda of disenfranchising as many persons as possible. Reports from the other senatorial districts equally indicate a similar ongoing fraudulent scheme.

“Our findings indicate that this evil con is designed by the outgoing government as one last impetuous chicanery to stop as many people as possible from besieging the polling units on November 16 to massively evict it from the seat of power it has abused and desecrated for close to four years.

“The PVC stolen from the people using this decoy will be given to rogue elements to use in voting or to compromised ad-hoc electoral staff to use in hiking accreditation figures in polling units with the ultimate aim of writing results”, the campaign organisation stated.

The campaign organisation has however call on concerned bodies to look into the allegation of bribery and manipulation of voters by the APC.

“This Campaign organisation hereby demands that the Directorate of State Services(DSS), the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) immediately commence an investigation into this evil plot which is clearly a treasonable crime against the people and the state.

“We hereby call on the good people of Kogi State, the labour unions, religious organisations, market women, youth groups, students, community associations and all lovers of the liberty of our dear state to immediately alarm the masses of the ongoing scam using Five Thousand Naira (N5,000) as decoy to rob them of their right to vote.

“People should be enlightened to immediately raise alarm and call in the police or community leaders if anyone approaches them to submit their PVCs for any reasons whatsoever.

“The task of liberating Kogi State from the grip of hunger, lack of development, an unfocused and cluelessness government, thuggery and violence belongs to all. We must all rise to defeat this desperate scam”, Adejoh-Audu said.

CACOL Calls On ICPC, EFCC To Probe Ajimobi

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The Source

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September 15, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Executive Director of Center For Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, Comrade Debo Adeniran has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Commission, ICPC, to probe former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, on allegation of corrupt practices levelled against him by his successor, Governor Seyi Makinde.

Adeniran said that following series of allegations against Ajimobi by Makinde that the ex-governor carted away Government vehicles, funds and other government owned properties, he should be probed by the EFCC and ICPC.

In a letter addressed to the ICPC and the EFCC with copies made available to media houses, the activist said “These vehicles were illegally taken away and were not paid for by those involved. Also, many of the vehicles were never bought by officials of the past administration. There is nowhere in the public service that a governor is allowed to gift public property to cronies like a Santa Claus”.

The letter reads further that; “The Governor also made a claim about his predecessor on the money meant for project which was diverted, what he met on ground was a situation where a project for which money was allocated, got only about 10% of the total funds for execution.

“We also have it on record the statements of governor Makinde’s revelations on how public funds that belonged to the good people of Oyo state were looted and shared by Ajimobi and others: 50% goes back to the Governor, 30% to the appointee who allocated the project out of which 10% goes to the Governor’s wife. His vow to not allow a repeat of such official heist gives cause for support.

“In his resolve to not allow those who looted the treasury of the state go scot free, the incumbent Oyo state governor has vowed to probe the alleged corrupt practice, adding that he would soon establish an anti-graft agency to address mismanagement of public funds. In giving full vent to this, governor Makinde informed on how he has sent a bill to the state assembly to establish an anti-graft agency that will probe the corrupt practices of the past administration.

“It is instructive to note that, Section 7 (1) a and b of the EFCC Establishment Act vested the power in your Commission to, “cause investigations to be conducted as to whether any person, corporate body or organization has committed an offence under this Act or other law relating to economic and financial crimes or cause investigation to be conducted into the properties of any person if it appears to the Commission that the person’s lifestyle and extent of the properties are not justified by his source of income. We are therefore requesting that the ICPC should cause an investigation of Senator Abiola Ajimobi on the said allegations in line with the power vested in the Commission.

“We therefore have reasons to believe that the matter raised by Oyo state incumbent governor is weighty enough to attract the interest and concern of the two major anti-corruption agencies in the country (the ICPC and EFCC) to warrant a complete investigation and eventual invitation of ex-governor Ajimobi for questioning and made to have his days in court, if he is found culpable as alleged, without any hints of bias.”

Okonjo-Iweala: The King Is Dead; Long Live The King

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Uche Mbah

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September 14, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

There was a change of guard in Ogwashiukwu kingdom where the traditional ruler of the ancient kingdom, Professor Chukwuka Okonjo, transited to the beyond just as his son, Ifechukwude Chukwuka stepped into his thrown as the next Igwe.

He is to be addressed as Igwe Chukwuka Okonjo II.

Recall that the former Minster of Finance under President Goodluck Jonathan announced the passing on of her father, who she said passed away as simply as she lived.

“He died in Lagos soon after he arrived from a trip to the United States of America and Ghana. We are immensely grateful that his last moments were peaceful and that he died the same way he lived his life – with quiet dignity”, Okonjo-Iweala said.

“Daddy was an accomplished man on so many levels – a highly respected academic, international public servant, university administrator, intellectual and traditional ruler. My father touched so many lives personally and professionally,” she said.

The former World Bank Chief added: “It is a tribute to the kind of life that Daddy lived that on his 90th birthday last year, a delegation of old students of Ibadan Boys High School presented him with a letter of commendation written in 1953 in which a colonial education administrator praised him highly for the all-round improvements he achieved in the school within a short period of time. He was only 25 then.

“Daddy was a passionate intellectual and prolific writer whose last book was published at the age of 90. He touched so many lives personally and professionally and was an unrelenting believer and practitioner in the power of education to transform lives.

“In pursuit of this commitment, Daddy sponsored the education of at least 19 students up to university level in addition to his own seven children. He inspired and motivated so many more.

“Having witnessed the ravages of war, he was committed to unity and peaceful coexistence of all. From his marriage of 66 years to our mother, Prof. Kamene Okonjo to his dedication to duty, he was exceptional”, she concluded.

On On the crown prince that became the king, she said through her spokesperson, Paul Nwabuikwu, she said her brother, an erudite scholar, is still pursuing his Doctorate in Business administration from a University in Paris.

“Please join me in gratitude as we rejoice in the installation of my brother as the Obi of Ogwashiuku, His Royal Majesty Obi Ifechukwude Chukuka Okonjo II”, she said.
“A Financial Management Expert and the CEO of Chevy Chase Consulting he attended Federal Government College Enugu and obtained his A levels as an external student of the University of London
“HRM has two Bachelors Degrees in Economics and History from the University of Maryland at College Park and an MBA from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland
“He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration from The University of Paris in France
“A transformational minded leader with s deep abiding love for his people, HRM focus is to be a forward looking and inclusive traditional ruler who will elevate his people serving as a champion of translating progressive and practical ideas into action”, she said.

Quoting M.D. Arnold, she said: “A good leader leads the people from above them. A great leader leads the people from within them”.
“To God be The Glory”, she concluded.

Tribunal Blocking Our Appeal to Supreme Court, Says PDP

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Uche Mbah

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September 14, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

The last has not been heard about the election tribunal verdict as the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, cries foul over what they described as the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal’s refusal to release the record of judgment to enable them file their appeal at the Supreme Court.

The Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja has declared that President Muhammadu Buhari was validly elected, a ruling that has become the butt of jokes in the social media due to the reasons adduced for coming to that conclusion. PDP and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, have decided to appeal to the supreme court.

But in a release by Kola Ologbondiyan, their spokesperson, the party claimed that the Tribunal is delaying because they now the party have fourteen days to file the appeal, and the delay might make it difficult for them to beat the deadline.

Below is the copy of the release.

100 Days In Office: Save Lagos Group Carpets Sanwo-Olu, Berates His Performance

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The Source

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September 14, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Save Lagos Group, SLG, a non-governmental organisation, has described the 100 days celebration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as mere jamboree.

Carpeting the governor of the State, SLG, through its convener, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman, said there was nothing to celebrate on Sanwo-Olu’s 100 days in office. It scored the administration low in terms of laying a solid and good foundation for infrastructural development of the State.

The group disclosed that the present administration in the State was more of cosmetics than real governance, tagging the celebration as just a mere political jamboree which was unnecessary, laughable, unacceptable and tantamounts to wastage of the meager resources of the State.

This was contained in a signed statement by Sulaiman, with copies made available to newsmen.

Sulaiman insisted that Governor Sanwo-Olu has nothing to celebrate than political propaganda.

Speaking further, Comrade Sulaiman stated that the State has witnessed landslide backwardness since assumption of office by Mr. Sanwo-Olu on May 29, 2019.

He maintained that Sanwo-Olu’s government has abandoned all the ongoing major infrastructural projects put in place by his predecessor, Akinwumi Ambode, in the length and breadth of the State and this action has made life unbearable for the good people of the State, now wallowing in abject poverty.

Sulaiman, who is also Executive Chairman, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), listed road projects in Ikorodu, Agege Pen-Cinema axis and other axis of the State, maintained that the groups had written many letters to the Lagos State government to draw its attention to these projects.

Sulaiman pegged Sanwo-Olu’s performance in 100 days at 15 percent, urging the governor to stop all the political jamborees and propaganda that has characterised his government, and hit the ground running for effective positive development.

“It is now clear that the immediate past governor of the State, Ambode, is far better than Sanwo-Olu in terms of providing good governance to the people of the State. The first 100 days of Ambode in office in 2015 recorded landmark achievements in the nooks and crannies of the State.

“Since the emergence of Sanwo-Olu, Lagosians have been wallowing in abject poverty due to loss of jobs in agencies of the State”.

LAUTECH: Group Backs Makinde, Tells Oyetola To Toe The Path Of Honour

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The Source

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September 14, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

The brickbat between Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State over the non payment of staff salaries at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho has taken a new twist.

A Group, the Ogbomoso Development Frontiers, ODF, has called on the government of Osun State to live up to its responsibilities to LAUTECH, or hand it over to Oyo State.

The group, in a statement signed by its president, Adebayo Ayandele, asked Osun state government to stop giving frivolous excuses, and conflicting statistics to explain its perennial failure.

According to the ODF, the statements recently signed by a political appointee in Osun State, Adelani Baderinwa, and the Secretary to the State Government, Wole Oyebamiji, suggesting that Governor Makinde was wrongly briefed on LAUTECH, were not only unfounded, but a mere attempt at hiding behind the figures.

The statement described Osun’s submissions as misguided, infantile and diversionary, adding that the state was again out to sabotage the smooth running of LAUTECH.

Ayanbadele stressed that rather than embark on rigmarole by churning out unfounded, unhelpful and unverifiable claims, the government should have done the needful by paying the salaries it owes.

The statement reads: “The truth of the matter is that the statement credited to Governor Makinde was clear and unambiguous. There was an agreement reached by Oyo and Osun states to the effect that each of the states will shoulder the responsibilities of LAUTECH on a six month basis. Oyo State has played its part by paying from January to June of 2019. It is now the turn of Osun and it has started defaulting.

“Where is the place of a 29-year-old unverifiable history in this?”

The group noted that it was apt for Makinde, as the host governor, to cry out on the situation, which would have led to another strike action, but for his honest disposition.

The group urged the Osun State government to toe the path of honour by coming to a roundtable with Oyo State on how to amicably hands off the joint ownership of the university instead of selling itself by sabotaging the smooth running of the institution and the economy of Ogbomoso people.

The statement further reads:

“We note with all sense of modesty that the statement credited to Lani Baderinwa, which he shoddily and mischievously tried to withdraw after he had done the damage, was misguided and needless, while advising the gentleman-governor of Osun State, Chief Gboyega Oyetola, to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis affecting LAUTECH with his brother, the Oyo State governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde.

“We restate that we, and other well-meaning indigenes of Ogbomoso, stand solidly behind Governor Makinde and we are in support of his determination to ensure that LAUTECH becomes truly free of ownership challenges.”

Uproar Over Government Increase Of VAT

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Uche Mbah

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September 13, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

There have been anger and frustration in Nigeria when, as the Atiku/Buhari case was being ruled on at the Presidential Election tribunal, government raised the Value Added Tax, VAT, from 5% to 7.2%, an increase of 2.5%. Government, however, put no palliative in place to cushion the effect on poor Nigerians.

Nigeria has recently been classified as the poverty capital of the world. In recent times, also, Government has closed Southern borders of the Country leaving the North open, generating inflation. A bag of rice has risen from 14,000 to 22,000 within two weeks.

But the new policy has elicited so much backlash that government is making frantic efforts to defend the action, more so as the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party is insisting that the presidency is gloating over the suffering of the masses.

Part of the argument was that VAT is targeted at only luxury products that will not effect the poor. They also say the VAT is meant to facilitate states’ ability to pay the minimum wage. The states and local government take 85% of VAT proceeds.

After signing the minimum wage before the elections, the Federal government started negotiations on a downward review of the same signed agreement with the labor unions.

Poverty Alleviation: Osinbajo Contradicts Buhari

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The Source

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September 13, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo’s statements at Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, to the Emir of Gwandu, Muhammadu Bashar, has contradicted that of his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari.

Osinbajo said the All Progressive Party, APC, will lift at least 10 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2029. He authoritatively made this statement to the amazement of Nigerians.

The Professor of Law added that President Buhari has made the promise that in the next 10 years, 10 million Nigerians will be taken out of poverty.

This disclosure, however, runs contrary to what President Buhari said on Democracy day that 100 million Nigerians would be taken out of poverty in the next 10 years.

The contradiction between both men has brought about mixed feelings from Nigerians who are now confused as to who to believe, and, wondering if there is synergy between both men as regards policy statements.

“90 million is a huge gap. When a vice president says 10 million and his principal says 100 million, which one are we to believe? Though one in unrealistic, this shows that there is a communication gap between the duo”, Damilola Towobola, a political analyst told the magazine.

Another political analyst, Chinonso Echegbulam, said, “This is a big joke. The reality is that Osinbajo and Buhari are not on the same page. Well, he can only make that statement in the North. If he makes it

in the West, he will be qestioned and scrutinized by the people on its feasibility.

NGIJ Assesses Gov. Dickson, Commends Police

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The Source

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September 13, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists, NGIJ, has concluded its Governance Assessment Investigations on the eight years administration of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson in Bayelsa State.

NGIJ, in a statement issued in Yenagoa on Friday by its President, Wale Abydeen, said the Guild embarked on the tour to carry out its watchdog role and assess the impact of Dickson’s administration on the people on the state.

Abydeen explained that the Guild, while in Bayelsa, visited the eight local government areas, and administered 10,000 questionnaires to gauge public opinion on the programmes, policies and projects of the, almost, eight years that Governor Dickson’s administration of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, state.

He said the NGIJ team met critical stakeholders, including Security agencies, traditional rulers, Labour unions, political parties, Civil liberty organizations, civil servants, artisans, market women/men and others.

But the Bayelsa State Government failed to meet with the Guild to take them on a tour of its Achievements so far in the State. They promised to, but failed to do so at the time the guild rounded off its assessment tour.

The NGIJ President applauded the Police for their cooperation during the one-week long tour, and appreciates the Bayelsa State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, for the warm reception given to the guild in Yenagoa.

He hinted that the Governance Assessment Report on Bayelsa State which contains firsthand information from the field work will be unveiled before the end of September.