FIRST LADY OF OYO STATE, MRS. FLORENCE AJIMOBI
The London Metropolitan Police has not arrested the First Lady of Oyo State, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi. octtober 31-2012
Speculations concerning her alleged arrest in London for being in possession of 400, 000 British Pounds have been trending on the social media.
A Metropolitan Police information center personnel this morning told ACN IRELAND memeber during a phone query that there is no information on the alleged arrest of Ajimobi in the Metropolitan Police database.
Action Congress of Nigeria, Edo State chapter, has filed a preliminary objection against a petition by the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate for the July 14 governorship in the state, Maj.-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere at the Election Petitions Tribunal, Benin challenging Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s re-election.
Action Congress of Nigeria on Wednesday restated its call for President Goodluck Jonathan to sack his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe.
The party, in a statement in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, warned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against cover-up.
What’s your reaction to the allegation that the process which threw you up as the ACN candidate for the forthcoming governorship election in the state was not democratic.
Action Congress of Nigeria has condemned the legal tussle between Mrs. Patience Jonathan and her predecessor, Mrs. Turai Yar’Adua, over a plot of land in Abuja.
ACN said, “A study in despicable sycophancy, insider abuse, arbitrariness and manifestation of the culture of impunity all of which have become the hallmarks of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.”
The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has urged political office-holders to give back to the society that voted for them to ensure peace and security.
Members of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Ondo State said on Saturday that they had resolved to close ranks and work for the success of the party’s candidate, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, in the October 20 governorship election in the state.
Ahead of the July 14 governorship election in Edo State, Action Congress of Nigeria governors on Saturday stormed the state to register their support for the party’s candidate, Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
THE second and final debate among the major candidates in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo State was held last night with the incumbent, Adams Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP rival Charles Airhiavbere locked in a feisty debate that was characterized by personal attacks.
The Osun State, governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, has stressed that unless the value system is restored, Nigeria cannot move forward , just as he blamed the retrogression in the economy on the nonchalance attitude to the value system.
Action Congress of Nigeria has warned that any attempt to rig the July 14 Edo State governorship election will create chaos in the state.In a statement on Sunday by the ACN National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the warning became necessary in view of the alleged desperation of the PDP to win the election at all costs.
The Action Congress of Nigeria governorship aspirant in Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, has alleged that the plan of the opposition is to kill the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole.
The July 14 governorship election in Edo State will provide a platform for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) to test run their budding alliance with the presentation of a joint candidate for the election.
THE National Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr. Bisi Akande has said that there is nothing like internal democracy in the parties.Akande said this in Lagos yesterday at the Obafemi Awolowo Institute of Government and Public Policy public lecture titled, “Mushin in Lagos: the past in the present.
FORMER Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu yesterday picked his nomination form for the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo state under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and assured that the party would emerge victorious at the election.Akeredolu, who was accompanied to the party office in Abuja by some of his supporters, said he was propelled to join the race based on his belief that the major problem facing the country is the lack of good leadership and service.
The Secretary of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria in Ogun State, Alhaji Abimbola Awofeso, has alleged threats to his life.
The police in Edo State on Friday blamed the students of the Institute of Technology and Management, Usen, for Thursday night’s armed attack on Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s convoy in the town.
In the first of a two part debate ahead of the Edo State gubernatorial election, six of the seven candidates canvassed their ideas before a live audience.It was the first of a two part debate ahead of the July 14 gubernatorial election in Edo State. The six men with eyes on occupying the Dennis Osadebey Government House in Benin were grilled by a panel anchored by Lola Owoye-Wise (AIT) that also included Prof. Austin Asagba, former Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Benin and veteran NTA broadcaster, Phil Obanor.The debate at the Fairview Hotel, Benin was organized by the Nigerian Elections Debate Group, NEDG.CONTINUE
FORMER Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, has been given the 2012 President’s Award of the National Conference of Black Mayors in America.Tinubu received the association’s highest award recently at the 38th yearly convention of the mayors held recently in Atlanta Georgia, United States (U.S.)Presenting the award, Venessa Williams, Executive Director, National Conference of Black Mayors in America, said the choice of Tinubu was based on merit.Her words: “We searched for African leaders who had made great impact in linking African-Americans with Africans towards positive development and you emerged as one of such.Receiving the award, Tinubu thanked the National Conference of Black Mayors of America for the recognition.
He stressed that Nigeria has what it takes to become the renaissance beacon for African development if a dedicated leadership is in a place to lift the country out of the precarious situation it now finds itself.
Ekiti State is planning an Independent Power Project to boost electricity supply in the state.The Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure and Public Utility, Mr. Kayode Jegede.continue
COMRADE Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, the Governor of Edo State, who is seeking a second term in office as governor, in this interview spoke on various issues including why he wants a second term. The interview was monitored from African Independent Television, AIT
Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Chief Bisi Fayemi, has lauded the inauguration of the first family court in the state. She described it as a new accomplishment by the government in its efforts to ensure justice for women and children and promote peace in the family.CONTINUE
THE Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, on Thursday, disclosed that he would build no fewer than 10,000 housing units across the state before the completion of his tenure, even as he said his administration would never be vindictive in the handling of civil service matters.CONTINUE
LAGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has identified human investment as the necessary ingredient that can help bring about change, quality service delivery and spur speedy transformation of any government’s vision.CONTINUE
BENIN CITY-Top Nigerian football stars including Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha, Stephen Keshi, Peter Rufai among others are billed to showcase their skills at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on , July 1 in support of the second term bid of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State.CONTINUE
After weeks of deliberations and speculations, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday endorsed former President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, as its candidate for the October 22 governorship election in Ondo State.CONTINUE
CHIEF Donald Omotayo Alasoadura has been appointed as the National Director of Organisation and Strategy of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).A statement by the ACN’s National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said: “As a founding father of many political parties past and present, and the coordinator of the presidential campaign of Chief MKO Abiola, Chief Alasoadura is an experienced politician, organiser and strategist.
“Among numerous accomplishments, he served as the Commissioner for Finance in Ondo State for six years as well as the National Chairman of the Commissioner of Finance Forum for five years.“Chief Alasoadura is a Chartered Account, Consultant and Composite Administrator.”
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved a new visa regime in its renewed bid to secure the nation’s borders, boost tourism, attract foreign direct investments as well as open up the economy for more employment opportunities for Nigerians. CONTINUE
Last month, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State held a series of activities lined up to mark the first anniversary of the Action Congress of Nigeria-led administration in the state. Dare Adekanmbi writes on the scorecard of the governor.WHENEVER elected political office holders receive batons from the predecessors, they are also inheritors of the assets and liabilities in the balance sheets of the offices which leadership they assume. Therefore, for Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, who assumed the leadership of the pace-setter a year and some weeks ago, there has been no exception to the truism.CONTINUE
Proposed Oyo varsity will be multi-campus —Ajimobi - 21-june-2012
THE Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has said the proposed state university will have its campuses spread across all the geopolitical zones of the state.
The governor made the disclosure while fielding questions from the people of Saki West, Saki East and Atisbo local government areas of the state, during a town hall meeting held at the Saki Parapo Town Hall, Saki, on Tuesday.Governor Ajimobi, who was reacting to requests by people of the area for a higher institution which, they said, had been lacking in the zone, said establishing a tertiary institution was capital intensive, such that it would take nothing less than N5 billion.“Because we could not afford to put down such a huge sum of money, that is why we decided to convert The Polytechnic, Ibadan to a university, using the existing structure, so that we can save some money,” he said.Although the governor said the headquarters of the university would be in Ibadan, the state capital, he, however, said the institution would be multi-campus in nature, adding that each of the geopolitical zones would have a campus each, based on areas of comparative advantage.
“The in-thing now is for a university to have a base somewhere and have campuses spread across other areas, with the institution’s colleges located in areas where they have comparative advantage. This is what we plan to do concerning the state technical university we are proposing to establish,” he said.Governor Ajimobi also turned down the request for a full-fledged polytechnic in the area, saying that polytechnic education was no longer fashionable in the world.He said his administration had commenced moves to resuscitate the moribund Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme (OYSADEP), which has its headquarters in Saki.
I can drop governorship for regional integration – Aregbesola -20-june-2012
Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said the best way to ensure proper economic advancement in the country is by reverting to the regional structure.The governor also said he could drop his mandate as a governor to support the course of regional integration in the interest of development of the nation.Aregbesola spoke on Tuesday during the first sustainable development policy dialogue on ‘Regional integration and Nigeria development prospects’ organised by Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Ibadan.He said, “I’m ready to drop the governorship position for regional integration. It may surprise you, I can drop the mandate as governor in support of the region.
There are many states that cannot stand on their own at the moment. Any political entity that depends on handout from the Federal Government is mere possession.“There must be a platform for regional integration. There must be a progressive political platform for integration to be successful.“Progressive politics that is strong and popular is ideal for development plan. For regional integration to work, we must have a political ideology to drive it. The party is very important to integration efforts.The governor added, “It is sad that the military forced the states on us.
They didn’t ask from us. We were never consulted. Interestingly as a region, the South-West was moving on well.“If this nation refuses to develop it is a curse to the entire African continent. To make things work there is need to increase the Internally Generated Revenue radically through economic integration.“If you know how much the Indians in diaspora are contributing to national development you will understand the need for the diaspora to support the South-West integration. The little semblance of growth that we have in this nation is not due to oil but as a result of remittances from our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora.”
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s trip to Brazil for the United Nations’ “Conference on Sustainable Development” at a time Nigeria is facing bomb attacks in several cities has drawn criticism from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).The party described as insensitive the decision by the President to travel two days after dozens of innocent Nigerians, including women and children, were killed or maimed by suicide bombers in Kaduna State.In a statement in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the fact that the trip was announced by the Presidency as the Yobe State capital, Damaturu, was being terrorised by attackers, raised serious concerns about the Jonathan administration’s commitment to the security and welfare of the citizenry, which is the rason d’etre of any government.ACN said the President should have cancelled the trip as a symbolic act of a caring leadership and out of respect for “the souls that were lost - and are still being lost - within the space of a few days.”The party said: “Again, we are constrained to ask whether this President is getting quality advice from the myriad of aides surrounding him, or whether, like his benefactor, Olusegun Obasanjo, he has decided he may not even take any advice from his advisers.“In other climes, the usual thing is for leaders to cancel foreign trips or rush home from such trips when their countries suffer tragedies.“In April 2010, Chinese President, Hu Jintao, cut short his Latin American tour and returned home after a strong earthquake hit the west of China. This year, South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir, returned home early from his visit to China, due to the rising tension along the border of his country with Sudan, and even a phone-hacking scandal was enough for British Prime Minister, David Cameron, to cut short an African trade tour and return home in 2011.“Since our own President has not even left Nigeria when these latest tragedies broke out, it is inexplicable that he will still hop into a plane with a huge entourage and fly out. He should realise that he is attending the conference because he is the President of Nigeria, not because he is Dr. Jonathan. Therefore, Nigeria’s paramount interest dictates that he stays at home and oversees efforts to prevent the precarious situation in Kaduna from degenerating into an all-out religious war.”Meanwhile, ACN has expressed concern over the worsening terrorist attacks that have continued to take deadly tolls on human lives, after the latest attacks in Kaduna and Yobe states left many dead.The party said it may be time for the security agencies to look beyond Boko Haram and consider the possibility that some elements were hell-bent on triggering ethno-religious crisis in the country, thus making it ungovernable.“Are there elements within and outside the Jonathan administration who may be benefitting from this mindless killings? Is the recent escalation linked to the huge sum of money (almost a quarter of the budget) allocated to security in the current budget? Are there fifth columnists within the Jonathan administration who are fuelling this crisis, considering that the President himself has said his government has been infiltrated by Boko Haram? These and other questions must be answered by security agencies as part of efforts to end this festering crisis,” it said.
Fear grips Ondo aspirants as ACN shortlists candidates - 20-june-2012
There was apprehension in Ondo State on Tuesday following indications that the national leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria had shortlisted three aspirants for screening for the state governorship election scheduled for October.
Thirty aspirants are said to have delared their interest in the party’s candidacy for the poll.Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the aspirants were allegedly summoned to a meeting in Lagos on Sunday where the leadership of the party agreed to reduce their number to three for “effective screening”.Some of the aspirants were said to have protested the move, insisting that the party’s candidate for the election should emerge from the planned primary.
The leaders of the party were said to have stuck to their gun, saying the screening so far carried out had shown that only the zoning of the slot to Ondo North Senatorial District would be acceptable to the people.The development, according to one of the aspirants, Chief Felix Rawa, made him to quit the race and defect to the Labour Party.Rawa wondered why the parent body did not allow party leaders in the state to decide the ACN’s candidate for the election.However, unconfirmed reports said the national body had been considering the candidature of the ex-President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu; Mr. Segun Abraham and Mr. Saka Lawal.
TINUBU CALLS FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) national leader, has called for a collective response to the spate of bombings to stem the parlous security situation in the country.“Now that it is clear the present government cannot tackle it alone,” Tinubu said in reaction to the Kaduna and Zaria church bombings of Sunday, “it should not shy away from inviting peace-loving political and community leaders to brainstorm in search for solutions.”Describing the bombing of churches, the latest of which were the three blasts in Kaduna State on Sunday, as condemnable in its entirety, he warned that Nigeria was slipping, adding that the country needed every help it could get.“Nigeria is sliding and we must act now,” he declared.
“Our country is going through a trying period. We should all join hands to say no to religious violence. No one religion can eliminate the other.”Tinubu insisted the root cause of the crisis was mass poverty and pervasive injustice, which he added, the government needed to tackle with dispatch.“In the absence of justice, equity and fairness in all dealings and a lukewarm commitment to fighting poverty,” he explained, “serious security challenges arise; and discontent festers in the polity.”Even then, the former governor of Lagos suggested proactive, instead of current reactive, measures to stem the violence, suggesting a more effective detection system, akin to the system Europe and the United States had put together in the past decade.“Nigeria is at a critical juncture in terms of security and other challenges and the prognosis is not good,” he said. “We must get to the root cause of these incessant bombings and widespread insecurity. We must show zero tolerance for terrorism.” 19-JUNE-2012
‘PDP has no answer to national challenges’
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has no answer to insecurity and economic challenges confronting the country, a chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Adeniyi Adeagbo, has said. Adeagbo, a party leader from Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, said only the ACN can steer the ship of the country to progress. He said: “Having observed the almost dismal performance of the ruling party in the country, in the next dispensation, the People Democratic Party (PDP) will cave in as Nigerians are fed up with the high level of insecurity and economic challenges facing them and the PDP seems to have no answers to these vital issues in the country. “People are tired of PDP, if they have choice they would have forced them out of office. Since they are ruling us what is their achievement? They have failed Nigerians. They don’t have manifesto.
Now the ACN is prepared to assume control of the Federal Government in the next dispensation because we have the potential as a political party and because of the quality of people that the party has. Frankly, I think it is overdue. There is always alternative in life either good or bad, or either black or white, simple. I think Nigerians have had enough of PDP,we need to try something good, and we have gone beyond having something less than excellent governance. There are few Nigerians that are genuinely passionate about the terrible condition of this country. They are distinct, competent, vibrant, dedicated, selfless and passionate people always working to ensure the greatness of the country. I believe that come 2015, Nigerians will have a cause to smile when our flag bearer emerged as the president of this country.“Nigerians are a very intelligent and also appreciate what is good. They will never allow themselves to be governing by visionless set of people any more. I believe the time has come for Nigerians to rise up and revolt against the mismanagement of their wealth through corruption.“With the handwriting on the wall you can see that the time has come for us to put the right people in government. Look at the last elections, our people know that ACN will deliver them in the southwest and they voted for them. Now look at the southwest in just a year, our governors are seriously performing starting from Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Osun and Edo all is because the westerners have seen the truth and they had invested in it, that is why you see the rapid development in the region.“I know that soon Nigerians will see the reasons for the progressive to rule them. The ACN possesses the right stock of leaders equipped with the necessary tools needed to steer the destiny of this great nation towards the land of milk and honey”.Assessing the performance of the present administration in Oyo State in the last one year, he said:“I am aware that the general perception of people is that this administration lacks “action”, that means it is too slow. But you can’t blame our people because the past administration made them believe that plenty projects of any nature, no matter how inferior, uncoordinated or irrelevant, is tantamount to progress.
They had nothing to show for the good eight years they spent in Agodi. However, I believe that the last one year in Oyo State has been a time of re-organization and re-positioning of major sectors in the state that will enable governor Ajimobi to deliver his electioneering manifesto to the good people of Oyo state.“So, I want to urge our people to be more patient because Rome was not built in a day. All the underground work will soon start manifesting. In fact, if you look around you will see that work has commenced in all areas of development in the state especially roads construction that has been our problem for years.“Look at the ongoing fly-over at Mokola, another bridge at Bodija, Apete Bridge, and many other major ongoing bridges and drainages in the state, the governor had also seen to the welfare of the workers in the state by paying more than the agreed minimum wage among other major project he has embark upon. Am sure all these are just the tip of the iceberg. So, I want to give him a pass mark in all aspect because he just started”.
Adeagbo said as a party elder and community leader, he owed it a duty to advise the progressive government on how to fight the infrastructure battle in the state. He said he had embraced as pastime the career of building people and mentoring youths. He added: “Well, God used people to assist me and God has also used me to assist some people in many ways, I have been doing the little I can to help other people in my area. However, I want to do more. I will continue seeking the political platform that will enable me to make tangible contributions toward the development of my people, especially at the grassroots level. I hope that one day I will be given a chance. 19-JUNE-2012
Oshiomhole’s night of glory in Lagos
It was a night of glory for Edo State Adams Oshiomhole as encomiums and appreciation were heaped on him for quality leadership, uncanny administrative acumen, vision, passion and commitment for reversing the status of Edo State as a stagnant and decaying state.The atmosphere told the story, the narratives reinforced it and those present exuded the confidence that was evidently palpable. And the narrative is that the status of Edo State has changed in the last three and a half years in such a dramatic fashion under the Comrade Governor and everybody present, particularly, members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) could not but thumb their chests and blow their horns with pomp and mirth; confident that they have a sellable and of course unassailable candidate for the July 14 gubernatorial election. And the evening had been set aside to interact with the Comrade Governor and be part of the process of rebuilding Edo through commitment in cash and kind to the re-election of Oshiomhole.
A cultural group, beautifully decked in brightly coloured attire complete with coral beads at the gate entertained guests as they come. The event of the night started with an opening prayer by Apostle Hayford Alile, former DG Nigeria Stock Exchange and then introduction of Adesua Oyenekwe, one of the proud daughters of Edo as the master of ceremony for the night. It was followed by the national Anthem and recognition of dignitaries with the national Leader of the ACN, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the chairman of the occasion while Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola SAN as the chief host.In a welcome remark, Chairman, Finance Committee of the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation(CAOCO), Godwin Obaseki said the event was part of “a Mandate Tour for Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the Comrade Governor of Edo State , to interact with you and solicit your support as he embarks on his re-election campaign to continue in office for another four year term”.He added that “Since he assumed office in 2008, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has lived up to his promise and vision to champion a new course in governance and development in Nigeria . With uncommon courage and commitment, he has focused on installing good governance, rebuilding dilapidated infrastructure, improving the quality of education and consequently creating the enabling environment to attract investments into production in Edo State “.
That theme of good governance, infrastructure development, revamping of the educational sector, healthcare delivery, transportation and accountable government was to recur again and again throughout the night.When the chairman of the occasion, Tinubu, was called to the microphone thereafter, he made it clear that neither the party nor the people of Edo State would tolerate any hanky-panky game that would rob the electorate in the state like it happened in 2007 before the courts stepped in to restore the stolen mandate.He described Oshiomhole as a “phenomenon in leadership who has reversed the 10 years of decay and retrogression by the previous administrations in the state by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and replace it with less than four years of dynamic leadership with focus, vision, determination and commitment”.
Tinubu was particularly happy that ACN governors in their various states are performing well. “As a party, we are set on an irreversible course in all our states with radical transformation; and the great dedication being shown by all our governors is a matter of pride to all of us”.Convinced Comrade Oshiomhole, the party’s candidate will win the July 14 gubernatorial election, he warned those who are planning to rig the election or steal the mandate of the people to desist as the party will stop such people from achieving their goals.“We know that Adams Oshiomhole will win this election. What we are raising money for is by what margin; to defend the mandate because we are facing the experts in fixing. But we are ready to fix the fixer.“When you are looking for the masters of the art of electoral malpractices, go to the PDP. But what we want to do is to stop that by paying our agents very well and make them un-buyable.“I know you are here because you love Adams Oshiomhole, you love ACN and you are proud of what we are doing.
We have been asking for free and fair elections and we are still asking for it in Edo State . We know they are desperate, we know they will out spend us but we will outclass them”, Tinubu declared. The governors of the CAN that were present all expressed satisfaction with the job done so far by Comrade Oshiomhole and urged those present to support the return bid generously and also for the people of the state to vote the party and not waste them on a another party.First to speak was Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who in his short speech described Edo electorate as very discerning set of people who know the best candidate for them.‘I have been very impressed with what my brother has been doing in Edo State . And I am happy because the people of Edo State love him. They know those who did nothing in the state and the man who has been working for their best interest. They know those who love them and they know the pretenders in the state”, he said.In his speech, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN declared that Benin , the Edo State capital played very important role in his life having gone to the University of Benin where he read Law. He expressed joy that “after years of decay and neglect, the ancient city is once again bubbling with life, thanks to the efforts of Comrade Oshiomhole who has shown that governance is possible in Edo State.“On his part, Oshiomhole said the documentary which was shown to the guests eloquently testifies to what his administration has done and is doing.“We have demonstrated focus, courageous leadership and will to creatively apply the resources of the state to return it to the path of sustainable development.
In Edo State we have restored self confidence, that the state is ours. People had given up as at the time we came on board; their votes no longer count because some people impose their will on them. But today, we are happy to announce that they are now politically overcooked vegetables.“They have conceded that they don’t have what it takes to engage us, and that is why they are running to Abuja to seek external help, and that is why the election is important. We are here because there is still a lot to be done. If Lagos is working there is no reason why Edo should not work”, he declared.Among the dignitaries from all walks of life that we present at the occasion include the National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, governors of Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, Dr Kayode Fayemi and the Deputy Governor of the State of Osun, Mrs Laoye Tomori.Others are Chief Audu Ogbeh, Chief Tom Ikimi, national Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Senator Chris Ngige, Prof Pat Utomi, Lagos State Chairman of the party Chief Henry Ajomale, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Aremo Segun Osoba, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chief Niyi Akintola SAN, Ricky Tafa SAN, Mrs Sola David-Borha, MD/CEO of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Tee Mac, Commissioners from the ACN controlled states among others.An elated Oshiomhole beamed with smile all through and exuded the confidence of a man whose closest challenger in a race is 100 kilometres behind him. It has been for him a night of glory in Lagos , the state which prides itself as the Centre of Excellence. 19-JUNE-2012
Oshiomhole Deserves Second Term
The re-election bid of Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, received a boost, as a leader of the state chapter of Action Congress of Nigeria in Orhionmwon East constituency, Joe-Brown Idele-Ero, has declared that the governor deserves a second term in view of the development he has brought to bear in the state.An aspirant in the 2011 state House of Assembly election, Idele-Ero who is based in Texas, United States of America in a statement made available to THISDAY, said ‘’I am coming home now once again to join and boost the re-election campaign for our able comrade governor Adams Oshiomhole who has turned the state around from the terrible look to an incredible look.’’He said Oshiomhole came at the right time to rescue Edo State from sinking into a deep blue sea in the hands of the People’s Democratic Party and almost 10 years of drained economic situation.‘’ This is the first time in the history of the state that the state will witness a dramatic turnaround of physical development from road constructions, job creations, and educational development. The people of the state without doubt need him to continue his good works he has started’’ Idele- Ero said.In order to eradicate corruption and looting in Nigeria, the activist and social critic opined that the entire system must be overhauled.
“No matter how far you have gone on a wrong road, turn back because the road will continue to be wrong until you accept that it is wrong and shun your pride and turn back the wheels. Let us as Nigeria wake up from our slumber and put things right and reclaim and rebuild our nation and straighten the wheels to the right direction and put the nation in proper position with the rest of the world.‘’We must work hard to shun and eliminate corruption that has eaten so deep into us and come together in unity and renounce with total repentance to a great nation building, this I know we can do and it starts from the man in the mirror. God bless the people and the federal republic of Nigeria’’ Idele-Ero averred..He however hinted that he has dedicated his life and activism towards fighting for the oppressed, and the fight against corruption from the bottom to the highest level of government in Nigeria, Africa as a continent, and the world at large. 17 JUNE 2012
Comrade Adams Oshiomhole Distribute Milling-Machines PLUS Start-up Capital To Widows Selected from the 18 local government Councils Of Edo State. Today June 14th 2012 at the Government House
‘Don’t rig in Edo’
The Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation has warned political parties participating in the July 14 governorship election in Edo State to avoid rigging or face the wrath of the people.Campaign Director, Media and Publicity, Mr. Kassim Afegbua, gave the warning on Tuesday at a news conference, according to a statement on Wednesday.Afegbua said what should occupy the minds of the ordinary voters was how to exercise their franchise without let or hindrance.He said, “We have been inundated with series of calls and concerns being expressed by stakeholders on the forthcoming election and the thickening plot by the main opposition party to rig the election.“We are familiar with their stock in trade and we make bold to declare without equivocation that we will resist every attempt to shortchange the electorate. Anybody who tries to rig will get roasted right there on the spot.”Afegbua added that TOCO was aware of the alleged use of money to woo voters across the state.He said, “We are used to this money politics of the opposition party nationally and in Edo. We have told our people to collect their money because it belongs to them. It is their stolen money which is being given back to them. They know that the game is up and by July 14 the outcome will manifest glaringly.”
Lagos gets foster parents for crash victims’ children
Lagos State Government has concluded plans to hand over the three children that lost their parents in the Dana air crash in Iju, Ishaga, Lagos, to foster parents.The three children-Joel Okwuchukwu (11), Chisom Okwuchukwu (9), and Esther Okwuchukwu (7), were all residents of No. 12 Olaniyi Street, a two-storey building that was hit by Dana Airline plane on penultimate Sunday. They lost their parents, Jeremiah and Josephine in the mishap.The plight of the children attracted the attention of Lagos State Governor Babaunde Fashola and other people who visited the scene of the plane crash after they declared that they could not find their parents.The children had said they did not know the house of any of their parents’ relatives and claimed to know just one Uncle Tony Okechukwu that lived in Abuja.Fashola, who took the children to the Government House, had promised to give them an environment of love that would hasten their healing.
The state promised to take care of the children until their relatives were located.But sources close to the late Okwuchukwu told our correspondent on Wednesday that the state government had concluded arrangement with a couple who will act as foster parents to the children.The source, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on behalf of either the government or the family, said, “As at two days ago when we had a meeting with the deputy governor, she told us that the children would be handed over to their new parents anytime from now.’’According to the source, government had held a series of meetings with family members of the deceased and their pastor with a view to agreeing on the best way to rehabilitate the children. He said the younger brother of the children’s father was still young and couldn’t afford to take care of the children.“Other family members wanted to take the children but government was more concerned about getting the children settled in a family that has the means to take very good care of them.“But at our last meeting, the deputy governor told us that they’ve got a well-to-do family to take care of them,’’ he added.
Akande,Fashola, Tinubu and Musa at the June 12,1993 Presidential election Lecture
Oyo to prosecute sacked workers, retrieve illegal salaries:
There were indications emerged on Tuesday that the Oyo State Government might prosecute the 3,000 workers sacked in the state.If found guilty, they would be made to refund the salaries they were allegedly paid during the period.A top government official in the state, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the state government was compiling the list of those to be prosecuted.Our correspondent learnt that the decision to prosecute the “ghost workers” and those with fake certificates was in keeping with the administration’s pledge to restore sanity to civil and public service in the state.The PDP had said the present administration in the state “is hell-bent on frustrating the people of the state, especially the workforce.”However, the state government said it would not allow fraud and forgery in the system.
The official said, “This government is bent on ensuring that there is discipline and it has indicated that the culprits will not go free.”The state government in an earlier statement made available to journalists, had said, “The Oyo State Government is committed to improving the lot of workers in the state. It has done this in the last one year by paying more attention to workers’ welfare and promotion as and when due.“It will not continue to abet the service of workers who forged their certificates, ages or who violated their rules of engagement to stay a day longer.
It is like a cancer which, if not promptly checked, can eat up the whole of the system.”When contacted, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said he was aware that the list of those who forged their certificates and ages, as well as those found to have committed offences which included fraud, had been compiled.“But I cannot say whether the state government will institute criminal proceedings against them or retrieve salaries illegally collected by them,” he said.
President committed to transparent election – Oshiomhole
Ahead of the July 14 governorship election in Edo State, incumbent Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Tuesday, expressed confidence that President Goodluck Jonathan would not be party to the subversion of electoral process.Speaking in the state capital, Benin, the governor called on Jonathan not to pander to what he described as antics of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party.He said, “I believe President Jonathan on his own came up with his transformation agenda, so the sub-structure of that agenda must be on politics and how elections are conducted.
We wonder why the PDP candidate is going to Abuja for help, saying he doesn’t want to be disgraced.“I think the good thing is that the President knows that the Edo people voted him and he needs to be the President of all Nigerians and not allow personal ambition of a godfather ruin his electoral reform agenda which has been hailed by the international community and Nigerians.”Meanwhile, Nosa Omorodion, an aide to former Edo State Governor Oserheimen Osunbor and state coordinator of Restoration Project 2012, on Tuesday, carpeted the PDP over its handling of affairs in state.
Omorodion said, “We wish to put on record that the ‘winners’ of the primary and the party leadership have failed to sincerely engage all critical actors and structures within the party in the process of strategising and executing the campaign plans.“Our members across the state have come to the conclusion that the party seems not to consider us relevant to the success of the PDP in the forthcoming governorship election. It is rather unfortunate that the norm in the party has been that of exclusion and selective inclusion.”
Oshiomhole: Tinubu, ACN Govs Storm Benin
Comrade Adams OshiomholeFrom Benin CityA ction Congress of Nigeria national leader and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday led other ACN leaders from across the country, including the governors of Ogun and Ekiti States, Chief Ibikunle Amosun and Dr. Kayode Fayemi, respectively, on a huge campaign rally for Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, in Benin City. The rally, part of a campaign tour of Benin City mounted by Oshiomhole, the ACN candidate, to solicit votes ahead of the July 14 governorship election in the state, held at the Uwelu Spare Parts Market in Benin City.
It also had in attendance the party’s national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and former Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, who defected to ACN the day before.The ACN rally came a day after the PDP national leader and the party’s former Board of Trustees chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, told supporters at the flag off of the PDP governorship campaign rally for Edo North senatorial district that the party was poised to win the July 14 governorship election. Anenih, who praised Edo people for what he called a new wave of acceptance and enthusiasm for PDP, said that party was prepared for a victorious outing.
But addressing a mammoth crowd of ACN supporters in Benin City on Saturday, Tinubu called on the electorate in Edo State to remain with Oshiomhole whom he described as the “Moses of our time.” He told them to defend their votes against any rigging plots during the July 14 election. “We will fight to defend our mandate for the progressive liberation of Edo people.We have come to remind you of your responsibility because you are a marching army of freedom,” Tinubu said.
In apparent reference to the opposition PDP in the state, the ACN leader told the crowd, “They have been holding meetings on how to rig the elections and they are planning to use youth corps members who have already passed out. It is your responsibility to ask for the proper identification of the National Youth Service Corps deployed for the election. The worst and dangerous day of the election is at the polling booth where you must be vigilant.”Amosun asked the people of Edo State to identify with the good works of their governor by giving him their votes for a second term, while Fayemi appealed to the people to be vigilant at the poll, saying vigilance is the price they must pay if they are to continue to enjoy the good life they have enjoyed in the last three years.Ihonvbere, a former special adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on policy and strategy, said he came into ACN to be part of the historical development of Edo State under Oshiomhole.In his speech, Oshiomhole pledged to resolve the seemingly intractable problem of flooding in Uwelu. “We are not promising; we are already working on the dredging of the 14-kilometre primary drains.
We are dealing with the problem of flooding,” he said.The governor accused the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolimenmen, an indigene of the state, of deceiving President Goodluck Jonathan and the federal executive council into awarding a fake N2.6 billion road contract in Uromi.“I am inviting the president to come and flag off the construction of that road so he can see that the road does not exist. Our president has been misled by a Minister of Works who needs money to fund an election, but this time we will not keep quiet.“They have been doing it for a long time. Last year, they also invited the vice president to commission a water contract, but when the people of Uromi shouted that the contract was fraudulent and that they only pumped water into the overhead tank, the vice president cancelled the commissioning.” Oshiomhole said.He accused PDP in the state of buying voters’ cards ahead of the July 14 poll instead of campaigning.
Meanwhile, Anenih has said PDP was poised to win the July 14 governorship election. He said this on Friday in Igarra, headquarters of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, during the flag off of the PDP governorship campaign rally for Edo North senatorial district. Anenih said PDP national leaders, including Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, and the national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, would be in the state later this month to lend their support to the governorship bid of the party’s candidate, General Charles Airhiavbere.Among prominent PDP members in the state that attended the campaign flag off were presidential aide, Chief Mike Ogiahomhe, Mr. Ken Imansuagbon, and the party’s state chairman, Chief Dan Osi Orbih.
Bribe allegation can’t stall implementation of subsidy probe:
The Action Congress of Nigeria on Tuesday warned that the allegation of bribery involving the Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Management, Farouk Lawan, must not be allowed to scuttle the implementation of the committee’s report.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party
expressed deep concern at the timing of the allegation to coincide with the period that Nigerians expect the government to be dealing with the issues raised in the report.
It said Nigerians generally believe, going by published reactions to the report, that the committee carried out a thorough job in exposing the massive mismanagement and the sleaze involved in the fuel subsidy issue.
“Therefore, the allegation of bribery making the rounds should not be used as a reason not to allow all those indicted by the report to have their day in court,” ACN said.
The party said while the bribery allegation must be thoroughly investigated and anyone found culpable dealt with according to the laws of the land, any attempt to cast aspersion on the report, to say it has been tainted by the bribery allegation, should be resisted by the House of Representatives.
“We are concerned that this case is eerily similar to what happened after the House’s probe into the $16 billion reportedly spent in the power sector during the Obasanjo regime.
“Instead of implementing the report of the committee, the man who presided over the probe was slammed with corruption
charges.
“Till today, that report was never implemented and Nigeria remains in darkness,” it said. for any meaningful implemention of project in nigeria we need to combact coruption and bribery.
