Dons EzeLP CANDIDATE, AKPATA, OUT OF EDO GUBER RACE
LP CANDIDATE, AKPATA, OUT OF EDO GUBER RACE The results from the INEC Viewing Portal (iRev) indicated the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Edo Olumide Akpata is out of the race. Akpata lost his polling unit to his People’s Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Asue Ighodalo. According to results declared at his Polling Unit 11, Ward 6, Oredo Local Government Area, Ighodalo polled 41 votes while Akpata trailed with 32 votes. Checks on the website also revealed that over 89.93 per cent of the results have been uploaded, covering 3,895 results out of 4,519 polling units. From the results, the APC is leading in its stronghold in Edo North while the PDP is leading in Edo South. In Etsako West local government Area, Igbira Camp Booth, APC had 90 votes, LP 13 and PDP 85 while in Owan West, APC got 90 to LP’s 13 and PDP’s 75. For Uhunmwonde Uvbenisi-Uvbenisi primary school, APC scored 83, LP 06 and PDP 47. In Egor local government area, Paramount Nursery and Primary School Uselu II – IV, APC had 17, PDP 22 In Oredo local government area, New Benin, Unit 27, New Benin III/Payne primary school, APC scored 36 votes, LP 5 and PDP 56. In Ikpoba-Okha Ward 7 Unit 17, which is the voting place of the Deputy Governorship candidate of the PDP, Osarodion Ogie Esq. PDP scored 216 while the APC scored 29.The Nation reports that Senator Monday Okpehbolo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won his polling unit 001, Uwessan 1, Esan Central Local Government Area of the state with 102 votes. He defeated his opponent Ighodalo and Akpata including 14 other candidates scoring102 votes. Okpebholo had said the ruling PDP would not get any vote in his polling unit while declaring that he has nothing to fear because his people love him.
EDO 2024: APC IN EARLY LEAD, PROJECTED TO WIN 13 LGAS
EDO 2024: APC IN EARLY LEAD, PROJECTED TO WIN 13 LGAS In what is shaping up to be a historic victory, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is on the verge of a decisive win in the Edo State Gubernatorial Election. Early projections show that the APC has secured a commanding lead, winning in 13 out of the 18 Local Government Areas across the state. According to verified reports, the APC has swept all 11 LGAs in Edo North and Central, reinforcing their stronghold in these regions. Additionally, the party has triumphed in the highly contested Ovia South West and Ovia North East Local Government Areas, bringing their total to 13 LGAs. Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has managed to claim just 5 LGAs, struggling to keep up with the APC’s momentum as the votes continue to be counted. The massive support for APC’s candidate, Monday Okpebholo, underscores a growing desire for change across Edo State, with the electorate favoring his plans for development and progress. Stay tuned as more updates unfold on this dramatic and closely watched electoral race!
HOUSE OF REPS MEMBER, NNAJI, COMMENDS ENSIEC FOR ORGANISING FREE, FAIR ELECTION
HOUSE OF REPS MEMBER, NNAJI, COMMENDS ENSIEC FOR ORGANISING FREE, FAIR ELECTION.A member of the House of Representatives representing Nkanu East and Nkanu West Federal Constituency, Rt Hon Nnolim Nnajji, has applauded the Enugu state Independent Electoral Commission ( ENSIEC) for organising what he described as free, fair and credible Local Government elections. Addressing journalists shortly after casting his vote at his Akpugo ward, Hon. NNAJI said “everything was very orderly and it was very peaceful, well organized and people came out to vote.I cast my votes. it was quite impressive. On his part, the PDP chairmanship candidate, for Nkanu West Local Government, Mr. John Chukwu, said the exercise was cordial, very peaceful “You can see , it has been peaceful in every ward, people are rejoicing, people are happy. On his expectations, Chukwu said if he wins, he will work for his people .He will key into the system of the Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah. ”You can see, our Governor is working. He is building 260 Smart Schools, across the state. He is building Type Two Primary health care. He is doing a lot. So, I will key into his system. On his areas of focus, the Chairmanship Candidate said , he will tackle insecurity, work on health and agriculture “We have security challenges here, we are going to tackle them We are going to work on health, , schools, roads infrastructure, agriculture. We are going to work to improve on what we have ” he said He added that if he wins, he will , hands of fellowship to his rivals, nothing, ” they did not campaign. We will plead them to come and join the PDP. Let them come and join us. We don’t discriminate. PDP is a big umbrella. It can accommodate us “, he said.
ENUGU LG ELECTION MOST PEACEFUL GOV MBAH
ENUGU LG ELECTION MOST PEACEFUL – GOV MBAH Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State says the local government polls in the state remains the most peaceful in recent times. Mbah said this on Saturday shortly after casting his vote at polling unit 007 Mbaguzo Ashishi Owo in Nkanu East Local Government Area. The accreditation and voting commenced at about 12 noon with people showing their enthusiasm to vote for candidates of their choice. The governor said that “this exerciseis democracy in action.” Mbah, who waited patiently in the queue to cast his vote, expressed his administration’s readiness to support those who would emerge winners irrespective of political party affiliation. Speaking, the President General of Owo Town Union, Chief John Ogbu-Okeke, commended the people for coming out en masse to exercise their franchise. Ogbu-Okeke expressed optimism that their choice of candidate would emulate the footsteps of the governor in his developmental strides. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Matters, Chief Paul Nnajiofor, attributed the peaceful process of the election to the good leadership of the governor. The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) had fixed Saturday, Sept. 21, as election day for the 17 chairmanship and 260 ward councilorship positions in the state. It was observed that voting was done manually as ENSIEC did not plan to use technological devices. Seventh political parties are participating in the election and the state have over two million eligible voters expected to participate in the election. The election would cover 4,145 polling units; while 12,800 ad hoc electoral staff, hundreds of electoral staff and 17 electoral officers were trained and deployed for the election. A total of 4,145 security personnel had been deployed for the election as well.
ENUGU LG ELECTION: PDP LEADS IN ENUGU NORTH LGA
ENUGU LG ELECTION: PDP LEADS IN ENUGU NORTH LGA The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is comfortably leading in Enugu North Local Government Area as the vote counting approaches its conclusion. With voting now completed and counting nearly finished, the PDP is maintaining a strong lead across all 13 wards in both the chairmanship and councilorship elections in Enugu North LGA. Meanwhile the PDP candidate for Chairmanship of the local government, DrIbekaku Onoh, has expressed gratitude to the people of Enugu North for coming out in large numbers to exercise their right to vote. Hon Onoh also thanked the election officials of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) for their efforts in ensuring a smooth and fair election process as well as the security agencies. He also urged everyone to remain peaceful throughout the voting period and expressed confidence that the election would reflect the people’s choice. Dr Onoh promised to continue working for the betterment of the community if given the mandate.
BABANGIDA, ABACHA, BUHARI, TINUBU SAME FATHER, DIFFERENT MOTHERS – RAMATU YUSUF
BABANGIDA, ABACHA, BUHARI, TINUBU: SAME FATHER, DIFFERENT MOTHERS – RAMATU YUSUFWith the exception of Abacha, these rulers oversaw the legalised plundering of Nigeria’s commonwealth in the guise of ‘privatisation’. They also handed over the country to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB). In fact, Obasanjo and Babangida dressed these Western financial institutions in colourful Nigerian attires, and handed over the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria, amongst others, to their staff. Tinubu handed over Nigeria’s brain to them.Generals Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, and Muhammadu Buhari are Nigeria’s most anti-democratic, anti-federalism, and anti-people rulers since independence. The addition to that roll is President Bola Ahmed TinubuObasanjo, as military head of state, standardised the tradition of wastage, the destruction of the public service, the pillaging of the economy, the mass killing of students, and the imposition of a anti-democracy and anti-federal constitution on Nigerians.With the exception of Abacha, these rulers oversaw the legalised plundering of Nigeria’s commonwealth in the guise of ‘privatisation’. They also handed over the country to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB). In fact, Obasanjo and Babangida dressed these Western financial institutions in colourful Nigerian attires, and handed over the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria, amongst others, to their staff. Tinubu handed over Nigeria’s brain to them.These rulers inherited the DNA of their father, who invaded and colonised Nigeria. With independence, their father indigenised himself as a Nigerian, married different women, and gave birth to different children. Like their father, they are extremely deceptive, divisive, unforgiving, domineering, and parasitic. They are also anti-democracy, anti-federalism, and anti-development.Dangote RefineryJust as their father shot his way to power, so did Obasanjo, Babangida, and Abacha. Tinubu ‘shot’ his way to power with ‘his’ money, in an election rigging match refereed by the Independent National Electoral Commission.They all claim affinity with democracy but practiced or are practising authoritarianism. They strive to lure the hungry Nigerian mass to sleep by administering on them anaesthetics called palliatives. This soon wears off and the pains return. Maybe the only exception was Abacha, who has been described as: “a man of few words and deadly action”!Babangida imposed the destructive and deadly International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank’s neoliberalism, even after the society had rejected it. Students, in fact, demonstrated their desire to sacrifice for the development of Nigeria, when they sang: “We like amm (two times)/We we like Nigeria/We like am pass IMF/We like am pass World Bank/n Everything dey for Nigeria/Make we join hands to make Nigeria better/Make we join hands to make Nigeria greater!”The Babangida action set Nigeria on the path of never-ending crises. Nevertheless, he created, amongst others, the National Directorate of Employment in 1986, to advance vocational training and skills acquisition, rural empowerment and, by extension, employment generation. He also established the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure in 1986, aimed at mobilising, supporting, and developing rural communities to promote food production, and raise the standard of living of the rural dwellers.
TINUBU BELIEVES HE KNOWS IT ALL, HE TAKES NO ADVICE – BUCKNOR-AKERELE
TINUBU BELIEVES HE KNOWS IT ALL, HE TAKES NO ADVICE – BUCKNOR-AKERELEChief (Mrs) Kofowola Bucknor-Akerele, a former member of the Senate, was the deputy governor from 1999 to 2002 when Senator Bola Tinubu was the governor of Lagos State. She speaks, in this interview by Deputy Editor, BOLA BADMUS, on her relationship with President Tinubu and on the state of the nation.In the 1990s, you were very active as part of NADECO and other pro-democracy groups. How did you get into politics? How did you become the deputy governor to former Governor Bola Tinubu who is now the president?Politics runs in my family. I came into politics because my father, too, was a politician. He contested on the platform of the Action Group and lost to the late Joseph Modupe Johnson (JMJ), but he and JMJ remained friends until their deaths.In fact, my father’s clinic on Apapa Road was in one of JMJ’s houses. So, you see how the politics of that time was. My father encouraged me to go into politics. He felt that women were not represented enough.You got along fine with Tinubu when he was governor of Lagos State and you were his deputy until things went sour between the two of you. How did the relationship get frosty?We were on cordial terms at the start. When we were campaigning, all the food we were eating and everything was from my house in Victoria Island. So, as you said, it started okay. Where things went wrong was when Tinubu wanted to take over the Alliance for Democracy from the leaders and elders of the party. He wanted me to join him in the quest but I refused. That was when we fell apart. I felt the leaders and elders of the party were the ones who supported us to get to where we were. They also were the founders of the party on whose platform we contested. I said it was wrong; that we should not plot to take over the party from them.Have you spoken to Senator Tinubu since he assumed office as the president?No, I haven’t. I have no reason to speak to him. We are not in the same party; I am in the PDP and a member of the party’s Board of Trustees. I have no reason to speak to him.So, you two have not spoken to each other for a very long time?It’s been several years.Have things remained like this since you were removed as his deputy in 2002?Well, we spoke, I think, when we met at one occasion when the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium was being dedicated. He greeted me and I greeted him.That was all? No conversation?That was all; no conversation, none, at all.The prevailing economic situation is bad and Nigerians are complaining bitterly. What consolation would you offer the suffering citizens at this time?Well, I don’t know whether I would go for consolation. There is no consolation I can give them because I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. The situation is bad. In fact, it is appalling. People cannot eat. Even I have to watch my finances now because there are so many people that I have to help. When my phone rings in the morning, it is somebody asking for financial assistance. When the situation is like this, it is really terrible.I will give you an example: Yesterday, I had cause to buy some medicine for one of my relatives. I usually buy his medicine. Two weeks ago, the medicine cost N14,000, but when I went to buy it yesterday, it was N20,000. You see, the price of items goes up by the day. Any day you go to the market, you find that the price of…
TINUBU NOT A LAGOS INDIGENE, HE WANTS TO PUT NON-INDIGENES IN POWER – BUCKNOR-AKERELE
TINUBU NOT A LAGOS INDIGENE, HE WANTS TO PUT NON-INDIGENES IN POWER – BUCKNOR-AKERELE A former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Chief (Mrs) Kofowola Bucknor-Akerele,, has expressed concern over the growing political dominance of non-indigenous individuals in Lagos. Bucknor-Akerele, who served under the then Governor Bola Tinubu, shared her thoughts on the issue, attributing the situation to deliberate actions aimed at sidelining indigenous Lagosians. She believes that the exclusion of indigenes from key political positions is part of a long-term strategy that has evolved since her time in office. During her tenure as deputy governor, Bucknor-Akerele observed the gradual rise of non-indigenous politicians in Lagos. She stated that this trend began during the administration she was part of, pointing to Tinubu’s leadership as a critical factor. According to her, despite Tinubu’s prominent role in Lagos politics, he himself is not an indigenous Lagosian, a fact that she believes influenced his approach to governance in the state. She suggested that Tinubu’s actions during his time as governor were aimed at surrounding himself with loyalists, many of whom were not from Lagos. The former deputy governor went on to imply that Tinubu’s background played a significant role in shaping his political strategy. She asserted that Tinubu, aware of his non-indigenous status, worked to promote other non-Lagosians into positions of power. This, according to Bucknor-Akerele, was a way for him to secure support and control over the political landscape of the state. By elevating non-indigenous politicians, she believes Tinubu ensured that his influence would remain unchallenged, particularly by indigenous Lagosians who might have resisted his policies. The controversy surrounding the political representation of indigenous Lagosians has continued to stir debate in the state. Many Lagosians feel that their rights and opportunities are being eroded by individuals who do not have deep-rooted ties to the area. Bucknor-Akerele’s remarks have reignited discussions on the issue, particularly among those who feel marginalized by the current political dynamics in Lagos. Bucknor-Akerele’s comments reflect a growing sentiment among some indigenous Lagosians who feel excluded from key leadership roles in their state. As Lagos remains Nigeria’s economic hub, the struggle for political control has intensified, with both indigenes and non-indigenes vying for influence. The former deputy governor’s statements suggest that this power struggle has historical roots, dating back to the early 2000s when non-indigenes began gaining prominence in the state’s political hierarchy. She said: “I am an indigenous Lagosian and, therefore, I feel very strongly about it because I think it is being purposely done. It is being purposely done that non-Lagosians should take over the most important positions from indigenes of Lagos State. “We started noticing it when Tinubu and I were in power. Let’s face it. Whatever anybody says, Tinubu is not a Lagosian and I feel because of that, he wanted to put non-Lagosians in power to support him. “I think he knew that with his background and antecedents, it would be difficult for him to do maneuvers in Lagos State and so he started promoting non-Lagosians into positions of power.
YOU’RE LIGHT GUIDING ME THROUGH CHALLENGES – TINUBU EULOGISES WIFE, OLUREMI AT 64
YOU’RE LIGHT GUIDING ME THROUGH CHALLENGES – TINUBU EULOGISES WIFE, OLUREMI AT 64 President Bola Tinubu on Saturday, September 21, penned down a heartwarming birthday message for First Lady Oluremi as she turns 64 years old. In a post made on X, the president addressed the First Lady as “My Dearest Oluremi”. He said that his heart is full of gratitude and love for the kind of incredible woman she has become over time. Describing the First Lady as his rock, the president said in every step, Oluremi has shown unwavering strength, grace, and love to not just him but their family and Nigeria at large. He also commended for for guiding him through the most difficult challenges and her dedication to inspire several Nigerians. He said, “You are the heart of our home, the light guiding me through the most challenging days, and the embodiment of kindness and wisdom. “Your compassion, generosity, and dedication inspire millions of Nigerians and me, especially our young women, who look up to you as their First Lady,” he wrote. He added that as she turns 64, he wishes her nothing but boundless joy, peace, and happiness. He said, “May this year unfold with blessings, laughter, and cherished moments you so richly deserve. I look forward to all the moments we will create together in the years to come. “With all my love and appreciation, now and always, “Yours Bola,” the president concluded.
OBASANJO CARPETS CORRUPT PUBLIC OFFICERS, SAYS THIEVES CAN’T PROVIDE GOOD GOVERNANCE
OBASANJO CARPETS CORRUPT PUBLIC OFFICERS, SAYS THIEVES CAN’T PROVIDE GOOD GOVERNANCE Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said corrupt politicians cannot provide good governance. He spoke virtually at the memorial lecture of Denis Joseph Slattery on “the imperative for moral rectitude in governance”, held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The memorial lecture, organised by the Old Boys’ Association of St. Finbarr’s College, was in remembrance of the late Irish-born missionary who sojourned to Ilawe-Ekiti, Nigeria in 1941. The former president who referred to corrupt political leaders and politicians as “thieves”, said such people cannot provide just governance. He said they should be jailed for their misconduct, adding that the most important demand of anybody involved in governance at any level is “accountability”. According to the 87-year-old statesman, government officials with “questionable” integrity cannot make fair decisions for the greater good. “If you look clinically at the people in government today at both executive and legislative levels, some of them should be permanently behind bars for their past misdemeanour and criminal misconduct.” “You cannot expect thieves to give good judgement in favour of the owner of the property,” he said. The Abeokuta-born politician and one time Head of State further recalled his shocking experience with corruption, citing how a government official normalised criminal behaviour when confronted. “The first thing that shocked me when I went into politics was the level of corruption of election officials which was taken as normal”. “The second was the level of general and criminal misbehaviour which was taken with levity and impunity. We were at a meeting and a man lied and I confronted him, and the next thing he said is ‘It is all politics, Sir’. “Every bad thing they do is passed on as politics which means politics has no room for morality, principles, rectitude, ethics, good character and attributes.” Obasanjo added that Nigeria needs “transformational leaders rather than transactional leaders, truth instead of lies, honesty instead of dishonesty, integrity instead of disintegrity, hope instead of despair, production instead of deduction, inclusion instead of exclusion and marginalisation”. The late Iris clergy in 1943 was posted to St. Gregory’s College, Obalende, Lagos, as a teacher and games master. Slattery founded St. Finbarr’s College in January 1956 as part of his mission in Nigeria He was also the pioneer chairman of the Nigerian Football Association and a founding member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ). He was honoured with the Order of the Niger (OON) by Obasanjo in 2001. He died in July 2003. The memorial was attended by notable persons including Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River, ex-footballer Segun Odegbami, music producer ID Cabasa, and actor Patrick Doyle.