Oyo Govt Seeks Stakeholders Inputs Into Next Year’s Budget

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September 23, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Oyo State Government has commenced the process of producing the 2025 State budget with holding stakeholders’ engagement with the people.

This is in line with its tradition of engaging residents of the state to seek their inputs in the preparation of the state annual budget.

Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Musbau Babatunde announced that the State Government will on Wednesday, kickstart the sixth consultative engagement with stakeholders across the state with a view to producing a people oriented 2025 budget.

Babatunde, noted that the meeting, which is the sixth in the series of the Town Hall meetings Organized by the state since the inception of Governor Makinde’s administration in 2019, was “designed to engage the citizenry in the preparation and implementation of the state’s Annual Budget for the year 2025.

“This year’s engagement is set to redefine the governance initiative of this administration. This programme is designed to align the state with the world best practices in the preparation of annual budgets, which support an all-inclusive and open approach to governance, rather than the top to bottom approach.

“The objectives of this approach are; to restructure our processes to establish a solid base for our development aspirations.

“The restructuring is still ongoing and will extend to all facets of state development and to prevent the state from overdependence on federal allocation by increasing the state IGR and make our budget as realistic and as achievable as possible.”

The commissioner added that the stakeholders’ meeting will also strengthen the bond between government and the people of the state by seeking their inputs into 2025 budget.

“Apart from ensuring that resource allocations are geared towards impactful projects and programmes implementation that will improve the welfare of the citizenry, this year Town Hall meeting will also seek to build people’s confidence in government.

“This engagement will improve the performance of the budget and sustain the developmental objectives of this administration.

Edo 2024: Governor Fintiri Faults Electoral Processes, Says He Weeps For Nigeria’s Democracy

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Akinwale Kasali

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September 23, 2024

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Ahmadu Fintiri - Governor of Adamawa State

By Akinwale Kasali

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has faulted the electoral process that led to the victory of All Progressives Congress, APC, Candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo as the Elected Governor of Edo State.

Fintiri said it was a show of shame, which made him weep for Nigeria’s democracy.

He described the exercise as shameful and a dent on the nation’s fledgling democratic rule

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governor condemned the activities of the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, who flew into Edo State with a Private Jet, defying movement restrictions by the Nigeria Police, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and other Security Agents.

Fintiri described it as a blatant disregard for democratic norms.

According to him, the reported vote-buying, disruption of collation processes, and suspicious results with more votes than accredited voters undermined trust in the nation’s democracy, stressing that democracy was indeed under attack.

He stressed that desperate attempt by the APC to discredit him would not distract him from addressing the real issue, adding that he shared results from INEC’s IREV portal, as collated by INEC from the various Local Government Areas.

“I weep for Nigeria’s democracy after witnessing the shameful Edo Gubernatorial poll. The APC’s desperate attempts to discredit me by falsely claiming I announced results won’t distract from the real issue.

“What’s truly shameful is APC’s National Chairman flying into Edo with a private jet on election day, defying movement restrictions, while their governors used armoured escorts to intimidate voters.

“This blatant disregard for democratic norms is the real brigandage. Nigerians are outraged, slamming INEC for compromising and favoring APC.

“We must condemn this rape of democracy and demand accountability. The world is watching, and Nigeria deserves better,” Fintiri said.

Abducted Students, Staff Of Federal University, Gusau, Regain Freedom After Seven Months In Captivity

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Ayodele Oni

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September 23, 2024

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Abducted Students and Staff Of Federal University Gusau

By Ayodele Oni

Some students and staff of the Federal University, Gusau, are expected to reunite with their family members after spending seven months in kidnappers’ den.

The affected persons were abducted in February, 2024, and had since been held in captivity by their abductors.

The report, which quoted one Zagazola Makama, a security analyst and counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, said the victims were kidnapped during a bandit attack in the Gusau area in February.

“All the abducted individuals have returned in good health after spending a long period in captivity,” he confirmed.

While the exact details of their release are still unclear, it is reported that security forces played a significant role in securing their freedom.

Edo Election: APC Victory Due To Trust In My Leadership, Ganduje Boasts

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James Orji

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September 23, 2024

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Abdullahi Gnaduje, All Progressives Congress, National Chairman, has described his party’s victory in the September election in Edo state as a testimony of his leadership quality.

Ganduje, the immediate past governor of Kano state made the remark following the declaration of Monday Okpebholo, the APC candidate in the election as the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

According to the results declared Sunday night by the INEC Okpebholo scored 291, 667 votes and won in 11 local government areas, to beat his main rival, Asue Ighodalo, of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who polled 247, 274 votes and won in seven local government areas.

The candidate of the Labour Party, Olumide Akpata, the INEC said came a distant third in the historic election after he failed to win any local government.

Reacting to Okpebholo’s victory, Ganduje said the confidence and trust the party reposed in his leadership gave APC the needed victory which analysts described as a make or mar election.

The APC chairman expressed confidence that Okpebholo will transform the state by providing good leadership, transparency when he gets into office.

According to the former governor, the state is set to witness unprecedented turn around with Okpebholo as governor, adding that democracy in the country has further been enhanced with the conduct of the election by INEC.

Ganduje said Okepebholo’s “victory reflects the trust and hope placed in his leadership, as well as the hard work and resilience of other party members and supporters who ensured a free, fair, and peaceful election.

“Ganduje expressed confidence that with Senator Okpebholo’s leadership, Edo State is poised to witness unprecedented growth, peace, and development that will transform the lives of its citizens.

“He promised that Okpebholo will continue to uphold the values of good governance, transparency, and service to the people which have been the bedrock of the APC’s vision for Nigeria”, the APC chairman said.

Edo Election: Okpebholo’s Victory Confirmation Of APC Popularity, Says Tinubu, Buhari

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James Orji

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September 23, 2024

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President Bola Tinubu and former president Muhammadu Buhari have congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate in Saturday’s Edo State governorship election, over his victory at the polls.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared Okpebholo winner after defeating the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Asue Ighodalo in the September 21, 2024 election.

According to the results declared Sunday night by the INEC Okpebholo scored 291, 667 votes and won in 11 local government areas, to beat his main rival, Ighodalo, who polled 247, 274 votes and won in seven local government areas.

The candidate of the Labour Party, Olumide Akpata did not win any of the 18 local government, making him to come a distant third, according to the results declared by the electoral umpire.

In his congratulatory message to the APC candidate, President Tinubu, in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga said the victory in an indication of the party’s popularity.

The president said the party had worked hard for the victory which he said did not come easy.

He said the successful conclusion of the election testify to the fact that Nigeria’s democracy has come to stay, urging the losers to seek appropriate and legal means to seek redress.

Tinubu said, “I commend the INEC and our security agencies for working round the clock to conduct a successful, peaceful and largely hitch-free exercise.

“INEC has once again demonstrated that it is committed to organising a free and fair election in our country.”

On his part, former President Buhari described the vicoty of Okpebholo as historic, urging the governor-elect to work for his people when he gets into office, he urged all stakeholders to strengthen democracy and maintain the growth and development of the state.

Amidst Controversial Congress, Kaduna PDP Gets New Leadership

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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September 22, 2024

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The newly elected Chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Edward Masha, on Sunday September 22, 2024, vowed to strengthen the party. He promised to carry everybody along.

This is just as the outgoing Chairman and former Minister for Aviation, Felix Hassan Hyet, canvassed maximum support for the new leadership to enable it achieve the goal of repositioning the party in Kaduna state.

Mr Masha, a former Commissioner for Water Resources in the State, at the PDP Kaduna State Congress held on Saturday ,September 21, garnered 2,123 votes to emerge chairman.

His opponent Danjuma Bello Sarki, at the Congress which held at the International Conference Hall of the Kaduna Trade and Investment Centre ,( Trade Fair Complex) polled 250 votes .

The election which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, was, however, conducted under a tight security situation,due earlier attempt by some forces to disrupt the event .

In the results which was announced on Sunday by the Returning Officer Barr, Tanko Beiji ,a former Commissioner for Information Saidu Adamu emerged unopposed as the state Secretary.

While a former member of the Kaduna state House of Assembly, Hon Mariya Dogo was elected as the Publicity Secretary, Godiya Ayuba Lolo emerged as the Women leader .

Speaking after his election, the Chairman assured that his administration will be anchored on the philosophy of inclusiveness and open door policy.

” We would reach out to our members, reconcile everybody and create an enabling environment for everybody to be carried along.

“We would accommodate. We are coming on board this time to ensure the success of our party at the Local Government Polls coming very soon,” Masha stated.

Hyet, the outgoing Chairman, emphasized the need for the party to use the forthcoming Local Council Election in the State as a launch pad towards returning to winning ways .

The Kaduna State Local Government polls will he conducted on October 19 2024.

The Source reports that the Congress almost frustrated by some forces who had on Saturday insisted that there was a court order stopping the exercise.

The development was, however, arrested following a statement issued by the outgoing Chairman Felix Hyet insisting there was nothing stopping the Congress.

Protests: DSS Releases Six Detained Protesters, Set To Arraign Three

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Akinwale Kasali

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September 22, 2024

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Department of State Services, DSS, have freed no fewer than six persons, who were held over their roles in the protests over “bad governance in Nigeria”.

It was gathered that the said six persons were freed in Kaduna on the orders of the Director General of the DSS, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi.

Three other suspects are, however, being processed by the agency for prosecution having been found to have, allegedly, committed criminal offences during the protest.

Sources within the DSS said: “The DG DSS is not interested in the incarceration of innocent citizens for expressing their constitutional rights.

“But is also not going to allow criminal elements take laws into their hands.

“There is incontrovertible evidence to press criminal charges against the three persons that are being held because we have a prima facie evidence against them.

“The DG DSS reiterates citizen’s right to peaceful protest as enshrined in the constitution and regard for the rule of law.

“However, he is resolute on upholding the mandate of the service to decisively investigate and bring to justice those who exploit such rights to perpetrate crime,” the source said.

The official disclosed that those released have commended the gesture of the DSS and expressed optimism on the humane face with which the service conducted the investigation that culminated in their unconditional release.

The protesters are however planning to take to the streets, again, come October 1, 2024, to protest against Bad Governance and hardship on Nigerians as a result of the economic downturn bedeviling the nation.

APC Group Urges President Tinubu To Call EFCC Boss, Olukayode To Order

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Akinwale Kasali

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September 22, 2024

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By Akinwale Kasali

Olanipekun Olukayode, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has come under criticism from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Support Group, the National Progressives Hub.

The Group petitioned President Bola Tinubu over what it described as the “unprofessional, shameful and unethical” operations of the Commission.

The Group said the violent action of the Commission during the invasion of Kogi State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja in a botched attempt to arrest the former governor, Yahaya Bello who had earlier presented himself to the anti-graft agency but was turned back by its officials was unprofessional.

The National Coordinator of the Hub, Hon. Bukkie Okangbe in a statement in Abuja said state actors and agencies are expected to carry out their roles and responsibilities in accordance with the laws of the land.

She said; “As a group of individuals who believe in the rule of law and the sanctity of the constitution, we know that while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC as an agency of government has a responsibility to discharge its duties, we also believe that such responsibility must be carried out within the ambit of the law. Our laws respect the dignity of every citizen and any agency behaving contrary to this must be called to order. There are anti crime agencies all over the world and they have not been seen misusing and abusing powers like the EFCC has continued to do.

“It is on record that the former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello was at the EFCC office in Abuja on Tuesday 17th September, 2024 to honour the agency’s call for interrogation. While the agency could have used the opportunity to ask the former governor any necessary questions of their choice for clarification, he was simply asked to go home only for the men of the agency to go later in the night to carry out an unlawful operation capable of throwing the nation into another security uproar.

“The action of the EFCC is not only shameful and unnecessary but totally unprofessional and unethical especially when the former Governor had made himself available to them earlier.

“This act clearly shows that the agency has nothing substantial or evidence-based against the former governor regarding its claim of corruption. All that EFCC is doing is a mere media trial just to gain public sympathy and portray itself as an agency working for the conscience of the nation. We reject and condemn this act of recklessness by the EFCC and wish this doesn’t repeat itself to any individual whatsoever.

“Having seen overtime such abuse of power and reckless invasion by the EFCC especially on prominent and respected personalities in the country, we call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the leadership of the agency to order and not allow the personal and selfish interest of the leaders of the agency to tarnish and rubbish the good image of his Renewed Hope Administration.

“We use the occasion of this press release to reiterate our support and commitment to the Renewed Hope Administration of the Federal Government and thus, call on the EFCC to support the administration and not incite the people against the Government through their unprofessional approach to issues”, she added.

PDP Calls For Revisit Of Collated Results In Edo Gov Election

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Ayodele Oni

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September 22, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

Dissatisfied with results so far collated in the Governorship Election in Edo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has petitioned the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, citing “massive irregularities” in the results from 16 local government areas already collated.

Chairman of the party in the State, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi made the demand in a protest letter addressed to the INEC Chairman.

The letter was titled: “Protest against manufactured vote entries and unjust deduction of PDP votes in the collation of results of Edo State governorship election”.

According to him, the Electoral Officers appointed by INEC for the election “made entries that are totally different from the actual results as uploaded on the INEC IREV, thereby unjustly inflating votes in favour of the APC and deducting the votes of the PDP.”

He alleged discrepancies in the votes recorded for his party in local government areas where the APC won with wide margins.

“A simple collation of all the votes recorded in the polling unit [Akoko-Edo] results uploaded on the IREV shows that the APC obtained 25,010 votes while 34,847 votes was recorded in the EC8C declared by the LGA Returning Officer.

“While for the PDP, a collation of the votes from the results uploaded on the IREV is 18,620 but 15,865 was returned on the EC8C declared by the LGA Returning Officer.

“It would interest you that in Ward 9 Akoko Edo LGA, from the 36 Polling Unit results uploaded on the IREV, the total votes obtained by APC is 2,350 while 9104 was entered into the EC8B result for APC. The total votes for PDP is 1359 while 633 was entered in the EC8B.

“Also, in Ward 6 Akoko Edo LGA, were elections did not hold in Ward 6 Units 12, 17, 15, 18, 14 and 16, results were returned for the said polling units in the Ward Result sheet (EC8B),” Aziegbemi

APC’s Call For State Of Emergency Disrespectful To Zamfara People – PDP

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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September 22, 2024

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Zamfara State chapter, has alleged that its main rival, the All Progressive Congress, APC, is bent on undermining the efforts of the Governor Dauda Lawal- administration in combating banditry and insurgency.

This is even as it insisted that APC’s demand for the declaration of a state of emergency, amounts to a gross disrespect to the sensibilities of the people.

The PDP’s accusation is coming in response to APC’s charge that the State Government is not comfortable with the Federal authorities renewed onslaught against criminal elements in Zamfara and neighbouring states of recent.

In a statement issued on Saturday September 21, 2024 by its Spokesman, Yusuf Idris, the state APC noted that the ongoing onslaught against bandits and other terrorist groups by the military in the North West Region has been recording an unprecedented positive result.

However, it regretted that the PDP-led administration in the State so far deliberately seeks to sabotage the efforts through orchestrated media campaigns.

“As a party, we have observed with dismay how the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, is trying to sabotage the ongoing onslaught against bandits, through media campaigns aimed at distracting the Federal Government’s efforts under the coordination of the Minister of State for Defence.

“The Governor has never in any way supported military operations in the State in terms of logistics. Instead, he has been confrontational to the point where the military had to warn him to steer clear of their efforts to flush out baby bandits from the state and the North West.

“He is now bent on distracting the operation through Media campaigns and propaganda, risking the security of lives and properties of innocent Zamfara citizens for political gains”, the APC stated .

Consequently the APC called for a declaration of a state of emergency to enable the operation proceed unhindered and without any further interference from the Governor.

But in a statement on Sunday, September 22, 2024, by its Publicity Secretary, Haliru Andi, the PDP vehemently rejected APC’s allegations, insisting that the call by the opposition party for a state of emergency is distractive and condemnable.

“The unfounded claims that Governor Dauda Lawal is sabotaging the fight against banditry in Zamfara is a political move to undermine our ongoing efforts to address insecurity in the state.

“The PDP administration is focused on rectifying the maladministration that characterized the years of APC governance, and it is evident that the APC feels the scorecard of Governor Lawal.

“Governor Lawal is the first in our State’s history to prioritize security with genuine commitment contrasting sharply with the previous APC administrations.

“Unlike the APC which politicized the serious issue of insecurity, the PDP administration is committed to the peace and stability of Zamfara state .

“APC Calling for a state of emergency was deeply disrespectful to the people of Zamfara ,and signify that APC was intimidated by Governor Lawal’s leadership”, the PDP noted