₦airaland Forum

he Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has announced the deadline for result declaration of the 2019 Presidential Election.



The commission assured that the results would not take longer than the 2015 elections in spite of the sheer number of presidential candidates, size of the result sheets and increased voter population.

The commission also stated that it had achieved a 100 per cent reconfiguration of its 180, 000 smart card readers to be used during the elections.

These, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said today in Abuja while briefing journalists on the state of preparedness of the commission for the polls.

“At yesterday’s briefing, we reported that we achieved 95% configuration of the Smart Card Readers SCR nationwide. The Card Readers were introduced in the 2015 general elections to facilitate the accreditation of voters using the PVCs. They are configured to specific polling units and only open for use at 8am on Election Day. They automatically shut down by 10 pm in order to forestall any illegal use before the appointed time of elections. I am pleased to report that we have now achieved 100% completion of the configuration. We are good to go on this score.

“Similarly, I briefed you yesterday that our State offices had commenced the process of inviting stakeholders to the Central Bank of Nigeria to examine the retrieved materials deployed last week and to witness the batching of materials according to Local Government Areas (LGAs). Reports from the States indicate full compliance.



“I briefed you yesterday that having moved the sensitive materials to the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the forward deployment to the 774 LGAs nationwide will commence today Wednesday 20th February 2019 and be concluded tomorrow Thursday 21st February 2019. Already, Adamawa, Anambra, Benue, Ekiti, Jigawa, Katsina, Osun, Ogun, Oyo and Taraba States have commenced the movement of materials to LGAs today. Other States will do so and conclude tomorrow. We will give a full rendition of movement to LGAs across all States of the Federation tomorrow.

“We have been making good progress on logistics. Similarly, all other arrangements for the movement of personnel from the LGAs to the Wards are on course. We will fully brief you tomorrow at 3pm”, he stated.

Yakubu said the commission was working to ensure that it does not keep Nigerians waiting for days without declaring the results, saying the time limit would not exceed what obtained in 2015.

n 2015, while the Presidential Election held on a Saturday, a winner was not declared until the following Wednesday.

“Even though this time around we have more presidential candidates than in 2015, we have more registered voters than we had in 2015, the size of the result sheet is bigger than we had in 2015, but we are committed to concluding the process for the Presidential elections roughly about the same time that we concluded the 2015 general elections. We will do whatever we can to ensure that we speedily conclude the process but we won’t sacrifice accuracy for speed”, he declared.

The INEC boss also stated that the fate of the All Progressives Congress APC in Rivers state was already sealed by the Supreme Court, adding that there has to be an end to litigation.

The campaign fortunes of the 26 candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Ondo State House of Assembly in the forthcoming elections have received a major boost as the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, presented branded Ondo for buhari Seinna Spacewagon bus to each of the 26 candidates.

Addressing the candidates at the Buhari/Osinbajo Situation Office in Akure, Governor Akeredolu said the victory of all the candidates of APC, beginning with that of President Muhammadu Buhari, through the National Assembly to the State Legislature must be resounding.

While saying that the candidates must not allow for any laxity as an excuse for electoral loss, Arakunrin Akeredolu charged the candidates to redouble their efforts in their respective constituencies by winning handsomely for the APC.

The governor said the House of Assembly candidates must justify their closeness to the grassroots to mobilise every legible voter to ensure that the President and candidates of the party win in the rescheduled elections so as to make their elections on the 9th March a total triumph for APC.

The governor enjoined the candidates to work with the party leadership and report any slightest threat to the success of the party at the polls to the Election room for appropriately legitimate actions.

In his remarks, the State Chairman of APC, Engineer Ade Adetimehin appreciated Arakunrin Akeredolu for his unequalled support for candidates of the APC in the state.

The APC State Chairman who advised all candidates of the party not to keep to themselves any potential areas of challenge to the success of the party in the election said with the all-round support made available to them ahead of the election by Governor Akeredolu, the candidates have no reason not to secure a landslide victory for APC in their respective constituencies in all the elections.

To demonstrate their joy and appreciation to the governor, the highly elated candidates sang different political songs to hail the party and the governor.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ondo State have commenced the audit of sensitive materials returned across the 18 local government areas of the state to the Central Bank in Akure.

Investigation conducted by The Hope indicated that the step was taken to forestall any loss of the sensitive materials for Saturday’s election.

A visit to the CBN office in Akure by our reporters discovered that various vehicles were conveying the election materials from the various local governments back to the CBN from the early hours of yesterday.

Security men were seen at the CBN subjecting the vehicles to a thorough screening as well as the people coming into the bank to prevent any crisis.

Visits to the CBN and INEC offices on Sunday showed that stern looking mobile policemen, regular police and soldiers were keeping vigil at the two offices.

At the INEC office in Alagbaka, Armored Personal Career (APC), was stationed to condone off the road leading to the office, no vehicle was allowed to pass through the road and none coming in except those transacting business with the commission.

The entrance of INEC was manned by fierce looking mobile policemen, so also was the entrance of the CBN where motorists were quizzed.

Speaking on the development, Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Femi Joseph confirmed the development and said that it was done to forestall breaking down of law and order.

According to him, INEC offices in some states had been attacked by hoodlums and sensitive materials burnt, but to prevent such in Ondo State, reason why men of the police condoned off the road leading to INEC.

His words:” This Ondo Police Command shall embark upon from now till Saturday when the postponed election shall be held. We shall also do it at all INEC offices statewide, make sure that all the sensitive materials distributed last Saturday are escorted back to CBN and then distribute safely to all the locations before the coming elections.”

“What we are doing now is to escort back all the materials distributed last Saturday, take stock of all sensitive materials with INEC officials and make sure that nothing happens to the materials.

“We are to guard all INEC offices in the state from now till coming Saturday and any threat to security will be curtailed.”

Femi Joseph therefore called on all the policemen to continue with the patrol of the state, while the people of the State should not panic.


Also, INEC Public Relations Officers, Mr. Assa Sadiqe said that the commission was expecting some electoral consignments from Ibadan, but assured that the electoral body was ready for Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

He added that the tight security at the entrance of INEC office in Akure and other offices in the state would not be relaxed.

“When you see what hoodlums are doing to sabotage INEC’s commitment to hold a free, fair and acceptable elections in the country and some believed that they should attack our offices and vehicles, then there is the need to take precautions to forestall the attacks.”

He assured that the commission would be ready for the coming Saturday’s elections.

Addressing Journalists, Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Rufus Akeju, said the postponement of the general elections earlier scheduled to hold last Saturday was to ensure free, fair, credible and transparent electoral process.

According to him, following a careful review of the implementation of its logistics and operational plans and the determination to conduct free, fair and credible elections, the Commission came to the conclusion that going forward with the elections as scheduled was no longer feasible.

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN has denied ever supporting any other candidate in Ondo Central Senatorial District rather than the incumbent, Senator Tayo Alasoadura.

The Governor said it was enough if a man has been Commissioner, Secretary to the State Government, Minister and most importantly governor for eight years.

"They have moved from People's Democratic Party to Labour Party. From Labour Party to Zenith Labour Party and they're moving to "Extinct Labour Party ", he said.

The Governor said Senator Tayo Alasoadura has been a steadfast and staunch supporter of his administration in the State, hence it's time to reward his steadfastness.

The governor had earlier held a rally in his home town, Owo for the Northern Senatorial district where he urged the massive crowd to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates.

At the Central Senatorial district mega rally which was held at Akure City Town Hall, Akeredolu urged the people of Akure South, Akure North, Idanre, Ifedore, Ondo East and Ondo West to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The governor also enjoined the people of the senatorial district to cast their votes for Senator Tayo Alasoadura and Afe Olowokere for the Akure South/North Federal constituency.

One after the other, the candidates took turn to address the people.

The Chairman of the party in the state, Engr. Ade Adetimehin said the party has only spent two years in office but with massive developmental strides across the state.

He said :" We have only spent two years in Office, we have constructed more roads than the previous government who spent eight years. We have delivered on our electoral promises. We inherited seven months salary arrears, we have offset six. Akeredolu has employed doctors and nurses . We are putting smiles on the faces of our people

"These are part of the reasons you must go out on Saturday and vote for President Muhammadu Buhari. We must continue to enjoy the goddies in the state."

Less than 10 days to the presidential election, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has pledged to support the candidature of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its consensus candidate.

In a statement in Abuja on Thursday, it said the decision was part of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party.

The statement, signed by the party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Yemi Akinbode, said the party also suspended its National Publicity Secretary, Alfa Muhammad.

“The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has resolved to adopt President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as candidates of our party for the 2019 presidential election.

“Members of the SDP are enjoined to vote for President Buhari at the presidential level only, ” he said.

Akinbode said that the party was not going into merger with the APC but explained the party’s decision was due to its inability to present a candidate.

This, he explained, was due to a “lingering legal battle” between Donald Duke, the winner of the SDP presidential primaries and his major challenger, Prof. Jerry Gana.

“We, therefore, feel that it is imperative to technically withdraw from the presidential election and focus on the National Assembly, governorship and state assembly elections, for which we have fielded candidates across the country.”

The party also suspended its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad, for allegedly breaching
All attempts to speak with the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae, proved abortive as his line was switched off.

When contacted, the Ondo state chairman of the party, Chief Korede Duyile neither affirm the party’s adoption of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term nor did he deny it.

In a telephone interview, Duyile simply said “I’m still away in Abuja and by tomorrow I will be able to confirm it with you fully. I can’t confirm anything now, I’m in a meeting”.

Mrs Olubisi Osinbajo, Mother of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday said that President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration had done enough and deserved another term.
Mrs Osinbajo, an 85 -year-old widow, disclosed this when his son, Prof. Osinbajo, visited her during the vice resident’s house-to-house campaign in Somolu area of Lagos State.
“They have tried. If anybody says they have not done anything, then you can say that man or woman is not in this world, such is in another world because they have tried.
“What they (Buhari/Osinbajo) did in three years, people couldn’t do it for 16 years. We are praising God and we shall praise God after the elections.
Mrs Osinbajo thanked God for sparing the life of his son, following the helicopter crash in Kogi on Saturday.
“I am overwhelmed with this visit and I must thank God for everything that He is doing in my life.
“Do you know that on Thursday (Jan. 31), I was busy thanking God and praising God. I didn’t know what was going to happen on Saturday (When Osinbajo Helicopter crashed in Kogi).
” I, have been praising God and I told my people I wanted to praise God on that Thursday until evening of that day not knowing that something would happen on Saturday.
“That gift was given to me by Jesus Christ that I should be praising Him and that I will never be sorrowful. That was what God told me,” Mrs Osinbajo said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osinbajo on Thursday moved his house-to-house campaign to Somolu to feel the pulse of the residents and seek support of the people for Buhari’s re-election.
The Vice President, who visited some houses in Gbagada, Igi Olugbin and Ladi Lak areas of Solmolu, also engaged in “Road Show” on some streets to seek support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates.
Osinbajo was companied by APC chieftains, including Sen. Anthony Adefuye, Ademorin Kuye, APC candidate for Somolu Federal Constituency and Rotimi Abiru, APC candidate for Lagos State House of Assembly, Somolu Constituency II.
The team also visited the Palace of Oba of Somolu, Oba H.O.A Kassim-Bashua (Odu I).(NAN)

Trade Fair complex in Ojo Area of Lagos State was agog, yesterday, as traders trooped out en masse to endorse the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari, for a second tenure.

The traders, who, during the rally, sensitised the people on the need to vote for credible candidates, also endorsed the APC governorship candidate in the state, Babajide Sanwo-olu.

Executive Director/CEO, Lagos International Trade Fair, Lucy Ajayi, said the traders and the people of Amuwo-Odufin have good reasons to support the second coming of president Buhari.

“He is the only person who is capable of leading this country. Before he came in 2015, there was a government in power and the government made mess of things which Buhari’ s administration is repairing gradually.

“You’ll agree with me that corruption was the in thing then, but, under Buhari’s administration, this has reduced drastically. Even, in this complex, the past executives were not remitting money to the government coffers. When I was appointed, Buhari gave me a mandate to transform the place, which I’ve done.

The good thing is that I’m given freedom to work. This is not the first rally we’ve embarked upon, to sensitise the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, in support of president Buhari’s re-election.

We want them to know that Buhari has done so well and deserves to be re-elected. We are doing this because, when you don’t sensitise people, they will assume he may not want to come back.

“We’ve reasons to vote for Buhari because he has done so well. It is during this administration that we did the facelift of the place. Truck carrying containers used to fall down because of bad road, but, I’ve put some palliative measures in place and trucks no longer fall.

There was no government presence in this complex, until Buhari came in. We are feeling the Federal Government’s presence now. There used to be security challenges, but, when I was posted here, the people stopped fighting, as I gave many of the jobless youths jobs. The jobs were created by Buhari’s administration and more jobs will be created in his second coming.

“People should come out to vote for Buhari, who has brought sanity in the country. He has also brought respect to the country. One of the most important reasons we should vote for him is that he encourages indigenous production. He has been advocating self-reliance, and if we depend on importation, the country will not move forward .

“He has recovered stolen wealth kept in foreign banks. All the recovered stolen money will be put back into the economy. What we are pleading with the people is to exercise patience with him. The past administration caused a lot of havoc and as you all know, Rome was not built in one day.

“We are not only appealing to traders, we are appealing to the public to join hands to vote for Buhari and Sanwo-olu. You should come out to vote for APC candidates. You will not regret it,” she said.

A leader in the market, Pascal Udeh, called on those who have not collected their permanent voter cards (PVCs) to go and collect theirs, so as not to be disenfranchised.

“PVC is the key to election. If you don’t have it, you are not qualified to vote. I’m speaking on behalf of all the traders, we are in support of Buhari. He has done well in the market through Ajayi, the great woman who has spoken to us. We had never had it so good since Buhari came on board. He has done so well. We are appealing to you to come and vote for Buhari and Sanwo-Olu as president and governor respectively. We are fully in support of the two candidates.”

Akure, the Ondo State capital literarily stood still for President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday as the popular Moshood Kasimaawoo Abiola (MKO) Abiola Democracy Park in Akure, was yesterday filled to its capacity.



The crowd, majority of whom were supporters of President Buhari were in Akure to welcome the President who was in the state seeking for votes for his re-election bid.

The broom-wielding crowd, decked in various APC branded outfits, thronged the ever-busy and popular Oba Adesida Road shouting “Sai Baba, sai Baba”.



Addressing the party supporters, President Buhari assured Nigerians of the resolve of the present administration to secure the country, and continue tackling all security challenges.

He explained that Boko Haram used to hold substantial parts of the North East, but the situation was no longer so.

“They are now indoctrinating youths especially girls and arming them with explosives for soft targets like churches and mosques, even that has become rare.

“ln 2015, our campaign was based on tackling security challenges, fighting corruption and rejuvenating the battered economy and I believe we have not failed you.

“I can assure you all that we will continue to secure this country and make it corruption-free” he said.

The President further said Nigerian was virtually self sufficient in food security, while importation of rice had reduced by 95 percent.

Buhari further explained that the government was buying fertilizers and making them available to farmers at half price in a bid to improve the economy.

According to him, the most significant part of the campaign was fighting corruption, which was developed into the culture of the country and it could not be gotten rid of rapidly under this system.

He urged people of the state to ensure that all candidates of the APC win every elective position in the February 16 general election both at the state and National Assembly.

Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of APC, said the difference between the candidates of APC and PDP was very clear.

He said the APC candidate cared for the poor and down trodden, and remembered their children with the school feeding programme.

“In a country that exports so much crude oil, the child of the poor should have at least one meal a day.

“We have also given every state government money so that workers can be paid. He has stopped importation, and we must stop exporting our jobs to Europe and importing unemployment into Nigeria,” he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday arrived in Akure, the Ondo State capital, amidst heavy security on a campaign visit to Ondo and Ekiti states for the 2019 general elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Buhari and Vice President started their campaign from Ekiti to seek re-election to their offices as candidates of the All Progressives Congress.

Buhari was received by Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, his Deputy, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, and Chief Olusola Oke, Director of Buhari Campaign Organisation in the South West.

Others include Sen. Tayo Alasoadura, representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, Sen. Ajayi Boroffice, representing Ondo North Senatorial District and Mr Olaide Adelami, State Coordinator, Presidential Support Committee in Ondo State.

Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transport, Chief Bola Tinubu, the Head of the Presidential Campaign and Adams Oshiomhole, the party’s National Chairman, also arrived after the president and vice president.

NAN also reports that the men of the Nigerian Police were led by Mr Gbenga Adeyanju, Commissioner of Police in the state.

Other security agencies include men of the Nigerian Immigration Services, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), among others.

President Muhammadu Buhari visits Ondo State today, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has urged the President to approval the State Deep Sea Port project.

The party described the project “as key to the economic transformation of the State.” In a statement by the party’s state chairman, Mr. Ade Adetimehin said: “The project has suffered undue stagnation because of the handlers’ inability to secure the necessary go ahead by the appreciate agent of the Federal Government.

APC’s spokesperson, Alex Kalejaye said: “The visit of the President State today will further encourage and boost the morale of the State chapter ahead of the general elections.”

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has called on Nigerians not to be deceived by the electoral promises of opposition political parties, describing them as lies.

Osinbajo made the call on Monday at the palace of the Olota of Ota, Oba Abdulkabir Obalanlege, in continuation of the Buhari/Osinbajo presidential campaign tour.



He urged Nigerians to cast their votes for President Muhammadu Buhari, saying, “Even the enemies of President Muhammadu Buhari know that he is not corrupt.”

Osinbajo was accompanied by the Ogun State All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Dapo Abiodun; his running mate, Mrs Noimot Oyedele; Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters to the President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu; and Chief Tolu Odebiyi, a former chief of staff to the state Governor, Ibikunle Amosun.

He said, “It is not that we don’t have budgetary allocations for all projects, but the problem we have is corruption.

“If you look at our budgets in the last ten years, the government had made provisions for them. For instance, Lagos/Ibadan road and Lagos/Kano railway projects were awarded ten years ago and yet nothing was done. The contractors that handled them collected money and did nothing.

“So, let us cast our votes for Buhari for re-election. Even the enemies of President Muhammadu Buhari know he is not corrupt.”

While responding to the requests of the Olota of Ota, Osinbajo appealed to the monarch, Council of Obas in Aworiland and the people to cast their votes for all the candidates of the APC in the forthcoming general elections.

Osinbajo decried the low level of development in Aworiland, describing it as an act of “injustice.”

He said, “We are promising you that we will look into all these problems when we have Dapo Abiodun, the Ogun State All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, elected in the forthcoming March 2 election, and the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari/Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on February 16.”


In his remarks, Abiodun promised to fulfil his electoral promises if he is elected.


The APC governorship candidate said he was sad to see the deplorable conditions of the road in the community, which hosts multi-national companies that generate substantial amount in internal revenue to the coffers of the state government.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Oba Obalanlege presented the vice-president and his entourage with the problems facing the Aworiland.

The monarch said, “Aworiland is accommodating and we are in both Lagos and Ogun states.

“I want to seize this occasion to tell you we have been relegated and which should not be. We have massive votes in Aworiland and which ought to translate to political power but rather, we have been marginalised. We are neither Yewa nor Egba. Funny enough, we have been merged with Yewa and Egba traditional councils.

Now, we are like the biblical Israelites without route. Please, help us to look into this issue,” the monarch said.

Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Monday donated another set of brand new vehicles to security agencies in the state as part of the effort of his administration to fight crime and criminals in the state.

It would be recalled that the Governor had sometimes in 2017 donated ten speed boats to the Naval base in Igbokoda for policing of the riverine area of the state. Akeredolu also presented five hilux vans to the state Police command in 2018.

The Governor on Monday presented 17 vehincles to the security agencies in the state. The state Police command got five out of the seventeen while the 32 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army got three and the State Security Service was given two.

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ondo State command, got three cars, while the Special Protection Unit and the Naval base in Igbokoda, got one car each.

Similarly, the Governor had presented one Vehincle to the legionnaire and one for the Anti-Kidnapping Squad.

Governor Akeredolu explained that some petty things could be resolved with patrols, and urged the security agencies to increase patrols in the state.

"Somebody came to me that people are defacing other people's posters, not necessarily All Progressives Congress (APC) posters. You can arrest them. If they know that your patrol is on the road, they will be afraid," he said.

The governor further commended security agencies in the state for reduction of crime, especially kidnapping.

He was received at the Akure Airport by the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN and members of Ondo All Progressive Congress (APC)

#PMBInOndo
#Ondo4Buhari[b][/b][sup][/sup]

THE Sani Abacha Stadium in the heart of the commercial nerve centre of the ancient city of Kano, Kano State, yesterday witnessed an unprecedented turnout of residents and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Supporters of the party from the 44 Local Government Areas of the state converged on the stadium, as the campaign train of President Muhammadu Buahari berthed in the state ahead of the February 16 presidential poll.

President Buhari, who arrived at the stadium at about 3.55pm, said he would continue to work relentlessly to make Nigeria a great and peaceful country if given a freh mandate to serve.

Buhari, who was all smiles as party leaders took turns to address the crowd, said: “With the demonstration (massive turnout) witnessed here, I will tell you that I will continue to fulfill the promises I made to you in 2015, which bordered on security, corruption and economy.

“We have promised Nigerians three major issues concerning our survival as a nation. They are fight against corruption, security and economic revitalisation.

“In these areas, I will like to boldly say that we have delivered our promises to the electorate, he said, adding: “If you like you can asked those that came from the Northeast since they use to come to Kano to do business, most them have since returned to their houses and we see that as a significant development.

“I want to remind you that the promise I made to you Nigerians to enhance security has been fulfilled and you can confirm this from the people of the Northeast, since you people have business relations and they will confirm to you that they have returned to their homes. This shows that we have achieved security as promised.

“On the side of development, we have had two successful rainy seasons during which the government provided fertiliser at subsidised rates to farmers in the country, during which we had a bumper harvest.

“We have banned the importation of rice to enhance local production because as a country we have the capacity to feed ourselves and that is a great achievement.

“We want to assure you that we made a promise that we will never fail you. The truth of the matter is that I have been a governor, minister of Petroleum, I have been a Head of State and now a politician.

“There is nothing I want to achieve beyond ensuring that our Nigeria becomes a peaceful and economically developing country. I therefore call on you on election day to vote for us and we assure you of victory and because of that we are going to the next level.”

The President said a lot had been done to make Nigeria stand on its feet agriculturally. He said: “It is a thing of pride that today Nigeria is cultivating rice to feed itself locally. We have subsidised the price of fertiliser for our farmers who embarked on mass production of food to sustain growth and development throughout the country.”

On the economy, Buhari said that the government, under his watch, had done a lot in blocking leakages and introducing the Single Treasury Account policy to put the resources in one basket.


The governor said the President had done a lot in the state, citing, the Lagos- Kaduna-Kano rail being constructed as an example.

“When he came to Kano, we asked him to construct Kano -Kaduna-Suleja road. And, as you can see, work has since reached advanced stage,” Dr. Ganduje said

Ondo State Government has declared that plansre in top gear to begin bitumen exploitation in the state.

The State Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Prof. Bayonle Ademodi made this known yesterday in Akure, while fielding questions from Journalists shortly after interactive session with Licensee Bitumen companies operating in the state.

According to him, it is now very clear that the companies are very committed to begin operations soon.

“Getting to the level of operation is demanding, and they are getting there, we are happy about the development, and I am sure the Governor of the state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu will be happy.

“I can assure you that in two years time, the state will be on the world map in terms of bitumen exploitation.The present government has placed the project in the front burner since inception”, he stated.

The commissioner who maintained that the ministry has prepared the ground for the successful development of the project, affirmed that the state had held series of meetings with the host communities with the assurance to ensure smooth operations.

Representative of one of the Companies, The Project Director of Kebara Mining Company, Mr Anet Wiener while speaking at the interactive session, said his company is ready to spend 80 million dollars on bitumen development in the state.

He informed that his company is now at the stage of getting minning lease to start exploiting the bitumen this year.

The Director added that his company has developed new technology with different equipment to ensure friendly environment during operation.

As the nation continues the steady march towards the February 16 Presidential Election, one big question that has been agitating the minds of the people of the Southwest geopolitical zone of the country is what they stand to benefit by voting for either of the two main contending parties – the APC and the PDP. This is a question that falls within the purview of analysts to examine and present an overview of what to expect from the zone in the coming election.

One of the main grouses of the people of the Southwest against the PDP is the way the party treated the people of the zone during the Jonathan administration of 2009 to 2015. The people believe and rightly so, that they had been shortchanged not only in the siling of infrastructural projects in the zone but also in appointments to public offices.

Hardly can one point to any major project started and completed in the Southwest during the rule of Goodluck Jonathan or that of his predecessor, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Instead many projects initiated by the two PDP leaders have been abandoned halfway only to be taken over by the Buhari administration. Many of such projects have either been completed by now or nearing completion by the current APC government of President Buhari.

For example, the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway construction was to be done through a concessionary arrangement that flopped. That all important project very vital to the socio-economic well-being of the South westerners has now been taken over by Buhari and is getting near completion stage and more interestingly, this big undertaking is now being executed through direct government funding.

Similarly, one of the busiest roads in Nigeria, the Ibadan/Oyo/Ogbomosho Expressway which was started by the PDP government of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was abandoned at Oyo leaving the Oyo/Ogbomosho section uncompleted since the past 16years. It is Buhari government that is now working towards the completion of the project.

One other major project that has continued to gladden the hearts of the Yoruba people is the standard gauge railway project directly linking Lagos with Ibadan, the political Capital of the Southwest. This project was started by Jonathan but nothing was done on it until Buhari came on board. While on a state visit to China, Buhari renegotiated the project with the Chinese authorities. Work is progressing at a high speed right now on the project.

You can just imagine a rail journey from Lagos to Ibadan taking only 30minutes. And what about haulage of goods between the two great metropolis? Why will the Southwest then choose to show ingratitude to a party, APC that is doing much at the same time in the geopolitical zone?

Right now Atiku is dangling the bait of restructuring to the region. But where are the details of his restructuring proposal? Will he do it, can he do it and is it going to be a project that will favour the people in that zone? Atiku came to Ibadan to canvass for the people’s support but merely touched the issue of restructuring on the surface. He merely browsed the issue and made no promise to complete ongoing projects that are of immense socio-economic value to the South westerners.

Today, Alhaji Atiku’s most vociferous backer is Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a former President who had once declared the PDP candidate as unfit to rule Nigeria because of what he described as his insatiable greed and corruption. But even then, the pertinent question is, does Obasanjo possess the moral or political compass by which he can direct the course of events in Yorubaland?

Only recently, one of the most highly respected leaders of the Yoruba nation, General Alani Akinrinade, former Chief of Defense Staff, took a swipe at Chief Obasanjo and described his call on South westerners to vote for Atiku as “an insult to our collective intelligence”. He also blamed the media for according the ex-president undue attention, adding that they (the media) owe Nigerians the responsibility of “keeping this irritable man where he belongs – the waste bin of history”.

The retired general then advised his comrade-in-arms to “allow Nigerians choose who they want and stop goading the citizenry for his own selfish interests”. Alani Akinrinade has spoken the minds of most Nigerians, especially people of the Southwest. General Akinrinade is seen and regarded as a highly influential and respected leader whose views on any issues are usually taken as representing the collective interests of the Yoruba.

Now, if Atiku thinks he can rely on Obasanjo’s support to win Southwest votes, then he has missed the point. He must be living under a great illusion that Obasanjo’s political clout in the zone is sufficient enough for him to withstand PMB’s rabbit punch in the February 16 election. The Yoruba people have never regarded Obasanjo as a true son of theirs and many PDP leaders and supporters in the zone regard his much orchestrated support for Atiku as constituting a big albatross on the neck of his former vice.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has sent relief packages to the families and victims of the accident involving a truck which rammed into a market at Iworoko Ekiti and killed 15 persons a fortnight ago. Osinbajo had last week pledged N3 million to the victims and their families during a condolence visit to the community which lost its monarch, the late Oba Oluwafemi Aladejana, five days after the accident.

He, however, sent N5 million to the victims. The community, led by the regent of Alaworoko Ekiti, Bolanle Ogundana, and President of Iworoko Progressives Union (IPU), Tajudeen Olayinka, while sharing the relief to the families and victims, expressed gratitude to the vice president for “the milk of human kindness”. Recipients on the occasion included representatives of the 15 dead persons, 14 injured persons and 28 others whose property were damaged.

Ogundana, who expressed the people’s gratitude to Osinbajo, told the gathering: “I want you to know that what you are being given today is a relief and not compensation for the victims. It is on this note that I want to humbly remind the Federal and state governments of their promises to the people of Iworoko-Ekiti in order to forestall the reoccurrence of this incident.”

Expressing satisfaction with the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari in the past three years in office, the people of Idanre have thrown their weight behind his re-in the February 16 general polls.

The people made their intention known during Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s visit to the Palace of Owa of Idanre, Oba Frederick Aroloye in continuation of APC’s House-to-House campaign for the re-election of Buhari in Ondo State.

The shout of ‘Next Level’ and other pro-Buhari slogans rented the air by residents of the ancient town who were conspicuously elated by the arrival of the Vice President in company of Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and other APC stalwarts.

Speaking with The Hope, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Yemi Olowolabi, an indigene of Idanre, expressed happiness over the outstanding achievements of the APC-led government at all levels.

“Our people are prepared, charged and excited because they have a government that has performed, both at the local, state and at the federal level.

“In our local government, we have witnessed unprecedented development in every aspect of our lives. Even when the people saw the VP today, their excitement trippled because they know that wherever Buhari, Osinbajo and APC go, it is development all-through.

“He has come here today to visit our community and our people are excited. We have no doubt that in Idanre Local Government, we are prepared to vote massively for APC”, he said.

Also speaking with The Hope, Chairman of APC in Ondo State who is also from the town, Engr Ade Adetimehin, expressed gratitude over the Vice President’s first visit to the town.

He explained that Idanre was noted to be a progressive town right from the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Pa Akindeko among other notable leaders.

“Before the present administration came on board, Idanre has only one road linking it with Akure, but the Akeredolu’s government has added one, in addition to many township roads constructed with asphalt overlay.

“It is indeed, the moment of APC and Akeredolu and the people of Idanre are ever ready to reward Akeredolu’s developmental strides by voting for Buhari’s continuity in office”, he said.

Earlier, the Owa of Idanre, Oba Frederick Aroloye described Prof Osinbajo as a worthy ambassador of the Yoruba race and expressed happiness over his visit, saying the people were eager to have him in their midst.

He appealed for the construction of the Idanre-Ofosun-Benin Federal Road within the ancient town to improve the commercial activities in the area.

The Monarch also requested that a Higher Institution be sited in Idanre Local Government as well as federal appointments given to citizens of the town.

Oba Aroloye, however commended Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for his unrivalled achievements within two years in office especially in the area of infrastructural development across the state including the ongoing Idanre-Akure road construction.

Responding, Prof Osinbajo thanked the Monarch and the people of the community who trooped out in their large numbers to welcome him, saying it’s a good sign of acceptance.

The Vice President also visited the palace of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi where he enjoined people of the state to re-elect President Muhammadu Buhari whom he described as a trustworthy and honest man who would always ensure that Nigeria’s money is not stolen.

The Monarch, Oba Aladetoyinbo said the house-to-house campaign embarked upon, showed that Osinbajo did not take his success at the 2019 general elections for granted.

He further asked for a representative of Akure indigene at the federal level, a Medical School and a Teaching Hospital in the town, saying they were long-overdue.

Among other places visited by the Vice President were the Oja-Oba and Isinkan markets in Akure where he assured market women of the Federal Government’s Tradermoni to boost their businesses.

Fayemi dedicates victory to Ekiti people …..Urges PDP candidate to join in efforts to take Ekiti to next level of development

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has declared that Monday’s judgement of the Ekiti State Election Tribunal affirming his election as the validly elected Governor of the State is a re- affirmation of the wishes of the vast majority of Ekiti people.

Governor Fayemi who hailed the judgement as another proof that the wishes of the people will always prevail, said he is forever grateful to Ekiti people for electing him as governor for a second term and by standing by his government.

” It is a victory for all Ekiti people. This is democracy at work. This is a reflection of the wishes of our people and i dedicate the victory to our people” said Fayemi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary. Mr Yinka Oyebode.

The Governor also urged his main challenger, the PDP candidate, Prof Olusola Eleka, to join hands with him and the rest of Ekitis in taking the State to the next level of development and prosperity.

“It is a great day for democracy. And the judiciary has proven again that it is the last hope of the common man.

“We shall now continue with the task of rebuilding our state and restoring the core values of our people without any iota of distraction” he said.

Dr Fayemi also urged his supporters to be magnanimous in victory and celebrate in moderation, saying that he remains the Governor of all Ekitis regardless of party affiliation.

“It is a victory for all of us and together we shall restore the state’s lost glory.

” Our desire is to bring back peace, progress and prosperity to Ekiti State. The journey has just begun.

” I call on the PDP candidate, Prof Olusola Kolapo, who is an illustrious son of the state, to join us in the efforts to take the State to the next level of development and prosperity” , the statement added.

AHEAD of the forthcoming elections, President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday tasked the security agencies to work closely with the traditional rulers in the country to ensure a peaceful and credible election.

President Buhari who was speaking at the 10th General Assembly of the National Council of Traditional Rulers in Nigeria, NCTRN, in Abuja Monday warned that the government will not tolerate reckless speeches designed to provoke disturbances by what he described as activities of unscrupulous individuals that use election to cause crisis in the polity.

He challenged traditional rulers in the country to bring their positions to bear on peace and security in their domains during the 2019 general election in the country.

According to him, “Given the activities of unscrupulous individuals who use the election season to foment trouble and disturb the electoral process, the role of security agencies is particularly crucial.

“But the backbone of effective security is quality intelligence and the most trusted repository of local intelligence is of course the royal father in his domain, and we encourage the security agencies to work closely with you in this enormous task.

“As a nation with diverse norms, cultures, traditions, ethnic nationalities and religions we have witnessed various degrees of conflicts and violence during elections in the past borne out of irresponsible utterances, hate speech, designed to incite and provoke disturbances.

“We must not tolerate this dangerous behavior. Your positions as traditional heads of your communities accord you considerable influence and the respect of your subjects.”

President Buhari, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said the general assembly of the traditional rulers came at the right time when Nigerians are preparing to vote in new leaders.

He urged the royal fathers to build synergies important in assuring free, fair and peaceful elections to enable them to contribute to voter education.

According to him this would ensure that the electorate understands the processes to undergo during the election.

He said, “Coming at this time, this annual gathering of the royal heads of our traditional institutions is indeed a blessing and the theme most appropriate.

“This is because the role of your royal majesties and traditional institutions are crucial for connecting the people of your kingdoms and domains to the federal and state agencies responsible for the conduct of elections.

“The major purpose of establishing that link is to educate the local electorate or reinforce information that they may have about electoral processes as laid down by INEC.

“For example, INEC has said that in the forthcoming polls, voters will be accredited and then vote immediately after accreditation.

“This is different from the old method of accreditation first and then coming back hours later to vote. This must be well disseminated to all.

“Similarly, the use of card readers, the role of party agents and other electoral actors will require some explanation and some dissemination, especially where the rules have changed.

“And we expect that INEC will be working in close collaboration with all of our royal fathers in your various domains to ensure that not are you adequately informed but also that your people are also adequately informed.”

The president restated the commitment of the Nigerian government to deliver a transparent, free and fair, credible and peaceful election this year.

He said the security agencies have been directed to maintain peace and order and provide security during elections, warning that “any attempt to cause mayhem and undermine the electoral process would be met with the full force of the law.”

According to the president, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is properly equipped and free to conduct the election.

AHEAD of the forthcoming elections, President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday tasked the security agencies to work closely with the traditional rulers in the country to ensure a peaceful and credible election.

President Buhari who was speaking at the 10th General Assembly of the National Council of Traditional Rulers in Nigeria, NCTRN, in Abuja Monday warned that the government will not tolerate reckless speeches designed to provoke disturbances by what he described as activities of unscrupulous individuals that use election to cause crisis in the polity.

He challenged traditional rulers in the country to bring their positions to bear on peace and security in their domains during the 2019 general election in the country.

According to him, “Given the activities of unscrupulous individuals who use the election season to foment trouble and disturb the electoral process, the role of security agencies is particularly crucial.

“But the backbone of effective security is quality intelligence and the most trusted repository of local intelligence is of course the royal father in his domain, and we encourage the security agencies to work closely with you in this enormous task.

“As a nation with diverse norms, cultures, traditions, ethnic nationalities and religions we have witnessed various degrees of conflicts and violence during elections in the past borne out of irresponsible utterances, hate speech, designed to incite and provoke disturbances.

“We must not tolerate this dangerous behavior. Your positions as traditional heads of your communities accord you considerable influence and the respect of your subjects.”

President Buhari, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said the general assembly of the traditional rulers came at the right time when Nigerians are preparing to vote in new leaders.

He urged the royal fathers to build synergies important in assuring free, fair and peaceful elections to enable them to contribute to voter education.

According to him this would ensure that the electorate understands the processes to undergo during the election.

He said, “Coming at this time, this annual gathering of the royal heads of our traditional institutions is indeed a blessing and the theme most appropriate.

“This is because the role of your royal majesties and traditional institutions are crucial for connecting the people of your kingdoms and domains to the federal and state agencies responsible for the conduct of elections.

“The major purpose of establishing that link is to educate the local electorate or reinforce information that they may have about electoral processes as laid down by INEC.

“For example, INEC has said that in the forthcoming polls, voters will be accredited and then vote immediately after accreditation.

“This is different from the old method of accreditation first and then coming back hours later to vote. This must be well disseminated to all.

“Similarly, the use of card readers, the role of party agents and other electoral actors will require some explanation and some dissemination, especially where the rules have changed.

“And we expect that INEC will be working in close collaboration with all of our royal fathers in your various domains to ensure that not are you adequately informed but also that your people are also adequately informed.”

The president restated the commitment of the Nigerian government to deliver a transparent, free and fair, credible and peaceful election this year.

He said the security agencies have been directed to maintain peace and order and provide security during elections, warning that “any attempt to cause mayhem and undermine the electoral process would be met with the full force of the law.”

According to the president, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is properly equipped and free to conduct the election.

The family of Mr. & Mrs. Ogwuche parents of the Triplet born on 19th January, 2019 yesterday received three envelopes each containing N50,000 totalling N150,000, 3 packs of Pampers and 3 cartons of NAN baby food.

Chairperson of Owo Local government; Mrs. Folashade Adebayo presented the gifts on behalf of Her Excellency, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu.


Present at the presentation of gift are the HOD information dept, Owo local govt, well wishers from the neighborhood and Hon. Aderibigbe Alexander Supervising Councillor representing Isaipen Ward 8 where the triplets were delivered.


Speaking on behalf of the family of the Ogwuche, Mr Ogwuche Peter thanked Her Excellency for the cash gift. Saying its an uncommon thing for a government to remember the non-indigene, he further expressd his appreciation to Arakunrin and Arabinrin Akeredolu.

Ondo State governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu has said that the proposed $ 1.3 billion Multipurpose Deep Sea Port in the state would create job opportunities for 20,000 people in the Ilaje coastal areas of the state.

Akeredolu He said the feasibility study has been completed and forwarded to the Nigeria Port Authority ,NPA.

He said these in Akure during the presentation of the report of the consultants to the state Executive Council and stakeholders of the coastal communities.

He said: “The port will offer between 7000 to 10,000 job opportunities while the Free Trade Zone FTD will offer between 9,500 to 10,000 employment opportunities.

“We are doing things for the generation to come. I have always believed that there should be a beginning. We have started, there is no going back. “I was privileged to travel with President Buhari to the Netherlands. We went on a boat and visited the ports. I told him, if anything like this must happen in Nigeria, it must be in Ondo State. Not only that, the President has said it most of the times that he knows that Ondo is the right place for a deep-sea port.

“We should not play politics with everything. It is not our making but providence has put us where we are today. Where we are today, is the best place to have a deep-sea port.

“Ours, as a state, is to prepare the ground and show the feasibility and bankability. Can Ondo State do it? No, Ondo State cannot build or own a port. But there are many people who are willing to invest.

“The Chinese, Dutch, and others are interested because this will be a West African port not just for the country. It is not that we are looking for money to build a port but we are looking for investors and they will invest here.’’

According to the feasibility study, the 75-kilometre shoreline is a challenge for the development of a deep-sea port and is characterised by wetland and mud sedimentation.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/1-3bn-deep-sea-port-in-ondoll-create-20000-jobs-akeredolu

WIFE of the President Mrs. Aisha Buhari yesterday denied issuing any statement condemning the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

According to a statement by her Director of Information Suleiman Haruna, the alleged statement credited to Mrs. Buhari where she was said to have condemned the suspension of Justice Onnoghen was fake and untrue.

The statement reads: “The attention of the wife of the President has been drawn to a post on social media to the effect that she condemned the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

“It is important to inform Nigerians that wife of the President has not made any public statements on the matter and therefore the commentary is untrue and fake.

“This is highly condemnable and we therefore advise the purveyors of such news to recant and desist henceforth.”

There has been a report on social media with the title: “Breaking bombshell”, alleging that the President’s wife has condemned the husband’s action for suspending the CJN.

The report which had been feasted on by the social media quoted Mrs. Buhari as saying: “I totally condemn the illegal suspension of Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Walter Onnoghen. That desperate move is not just SHAMEFUL but UNWISE.

“We have a constitution that is supreme and it must be unsentimentally respected. I implore Nigerians, especially our teeming youths to rise up and defend Nigeria before some very selfish individuals destroy us all.”

The Federal Government has welcomed the statements from the United States and the United Kingdom demanding credible and peaceful election in Nigeria and threatening punitive measures against election riggers and perpetrators of electoral violence.

In a statement issued in Ilorin on Friday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the Federal Government is particular delighted that the statements came after it alerted the nation to the machinations of some opposition elements who are working to scuttle the 2019 polls through widespread violence.

”A few days ago, we alerted the nation to the plot by the opposition to orchestrate widespread violence in the country, using insurgents and criminal elements within and outside the country. Their plan is to scuttle the election and then push for an interim government, having realized they can’t win a free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.

”The fact that those statements came after we issued our red alert, which is based on credible intelligence, shows that the international community is closely monitoring events ahead of the election. We urge them to keep a close tab on the desperate opposition, whose language, actions and undisguised threats are antithetical to the conduct of peaceful polls,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said Nigerians and the international community should take seriously the assurance of a credible and violence-free election that has been consistently given by President Muhammadu Buhari, a tried-and-tested democrat and a globally-acclaimed man of integrity.

He said the APC-led Administration is very confident of victory in the forthcoming elections, adding that a party that was not so desperate as to rig election while in opposition had no business rigging election or perpetrating violence now that it is in power and is enjoying massive support from the citizenry.

The Minister called on the international community to keep a close eye on those who are spending more time on a dubious strategy of scuttling the polls than campaigning to win in a free, fair, transparent and peaceful election.

”As their campaign flounders and their strategies collapse, they have resorted to seeking power by subterfuge. That’s why they are doing everything possible to discredit an election that has yet to be held by unleashing their attack dogs on INEC, the police and the entire
electoral process.

”On our part, we have confidence in the electoral process and the institutions saddled with organizing and securing the election. That’s why we have been busy campaigning vigorously across the country, attracting unprecedented, organic crowds everywhere we go.

”The party that has a history of rigging polls is well known to Nigerians. The party that has a history of using security forces to unleash violence in order to steal the people’s votes is well known to Nigerians. The party that organized an election that was later described as flawed by its own ‘winning’ presidential candidate is well known to Nigerians. That party is not the All Progressives Congress (APC),” he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he had, in 2015, promised Nigerians three cardinal things which include transformation of the economy, booting of security and fighting corruption to a stop in the country. He said he has been able to deliver creditably well in all areas of his promise to Nigerians, saying even the people of Borno state have confirmed that the dreaded Boko Haram terrorist sect has been fully decimated.

President Buhari made the statement while addressing supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during his presidential campaign in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday. According to him, his government has been able to subsidise fertilisers to the country’s teeming farmers, thereby resulting in bumper agricultural harvest in the country. The president however urged the people not to relent in farming, saying Nigerians should go back to farms so as to help the country move away from over-dependence on oil to agriculture. According to him, ” I was in Kebbi in 2015, during my campaigns and I made three promises: To transform the economy, boost security, as well as fight corruption, head long,” the APC presidential candidate said. “On security , the people of Borno have yesterday confirmed that Boko Haram have been fully decimated. ” On agriculture, the last two rainy seasons had recorded bumper harvests, as such , food security is highly guaranteed in the county as we have reduced the importation of rice by 90 per cent, and we have also provided subsidised fertilisers to our teeming farmers. ” While hoping that similar bumper harvests would be recorded this year, I am appealing to Nigerians to go back to farm for subsistence and for sale and they should not relent in efforts to achieve that,”he said.

All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has said former President Olusegun Obasanjo has no moral right to accuse anybody of rigging.

Obasanjo accused President Muhammadu Buhari of planning to rig the February 16 election.

Tinubu, in a statement yesterday, said: “By hook, crook or utter fantasy, Obasanjo seeks to return to Aso Villa, not as an irritating, importuning guest but as a long-term resident. He wants to be back in control. If he cannot be president, then the president better carve from his office a special room for Obasanjo.

“Obasanjo thinks he is more than the greatest Nigerian. He thinks himself greater than Nigeria itself. Unless he is allowed to lead the procession, he will groan, grouse and grit. However, neither President Buhari nor the progressive APC have much use for his reactionary policies and his megalomaniac ways.

“Thus, we shall be forced to endure more of his letters. But enduring such missives is vastly superior and small price to pay for not having to endure a repeat of his unenlightened misgovernance.”

To Tinubu, the former leader is at war against his deeds and the least qualified to complain about rigging.

According to him, Obasanjo is unrivalled in the history of election manipulation; a record he said was confirmed by the former president, the late Umaru Yar’Adua, who succeeded him in 2007.

Obasanjo had in a 16-page statement on Sunday alleged that Buhari was manipulating the electoral process to perpetrate himself in office like the late Head of State Gen. Sani Abacha.

Tinubu, who is the Co-Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, said the former president was projecting on to the APC the misconduct he would have perpetrated if still in power.

“Yet, the ways of Obasanjo are not those of the APC. And this difference has meant the better for Nigeria,” Tinubu said yesterday in his strongly-worded response in which he described the former president as an election rigger without peer.

He said: “There is no election which occurred under Obasanjo’s watch or in which he participated that did not involve cheating on his part. Even, the late President Umaru Musa Yar‘Adua admitted he was the beneficiary of a flawed election engineered by none other than today’s vociferous complainant.”

The riposte, personally signed by the former Lagos State governor, has its title as: “Chief Obasanjo – At war against his own deeds”.

Tinubu’s statement reads: “Former President Obasanjo is many things to many people; but he is all things unto himself. His recent contribution to our political discourse wherein he alleges plots to steer the coming elections shows he benefits from an exceedingly faulty memory, is purely shameless or has a most wicked sense of humor. Perhaps all three are facets of his makeup and were equally on display in his latest prosaic display.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday arrived Sokoto State to resume his nationwide political campaign for the general elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the president on January 22 presided over the meeting of the National Council of State at the State House, Abuja.

The council of state took major decisions on national issues including that on the National Minimum Wage.




The National Council of State had approved N27,000 as the new national minimum wage and lauded the preparations of the Independent National Electoral Commission for the conduct of the forthcoming general elections.

Buhari is also expected to take his campaign train to Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State later in the day.

The Presidential Amnesty Programme on Friday commissioned oil and gas vocational training centre at Agadagba -Obon Ese -Odo Local Government Area – the Niger Delta region of Ondo State.

Prof. Charles Dokubo,Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme at the event in Ese-Odo thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for making the Amnesty Programme stronger in recent times.

Dokubo said his office had refocussed the training of ex-agitators,revealing that the centre was partnering the Petroleum Training Institute,Effurun for training and certification.

He said it did not take him much time after assuming office to figure out the reason why about 9000 out of 30000 enlisted agitators have remained untrained and not integrated into the society properly.

“I realised that so much money was being expended on the felicitation of vocational training for our delegates in privately owned vocational training centres and managed by individuals.

I made it clear that during my time, as chief executive of the programme, approval will not be given to training of any of our delegates at vocational training facilities outside this country,” he said.

He reiterated that the president loves Niger-Delta region, thanking the national assembly for the support given to them so far.

In an interview with newsmen after inaugurating the project, the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Agboola Ajayi thanked the president for provision of such massive facility in the state.

Ajayi urged the people of the state to make good use of the facility and guide it like their personal property.

“Gigantic project like this is in my local government?, honestly I must commend President Muhammadu Buhari and also the initiator of the presidential amnesty programme.

My assessment! our people should exploit this opportunity, we should not play with it, we should guide it and take it as our project so that we will take over the oil industry as already planned by Mr Dokubo,honestly, it’s a wonderful thing,” he said.

Published by Princess Eigbokhan Orih
Edited by Seyi Fasegha

Agriculture, manufacturing, commerce and navigation are the four pillars of Arakunrin Akeredolu‘s administration. These four pillars are the most thriving points of any economy in the world and also the freest to individual enterprise.The present youth unemployment, illegal immigration and youth restlessness is as a result of long neglect of agriculture.

Agriculture does not only make a nation proud but it adds valve to wealth creation, culture, and happiness of the people.
Governor ARAKUNRI ROTIMI AKEREDOLU has said the Ondo State Government in Collaboration with the FEDERAL MINSTRY OF AGRICULTURE has designed a scheme tagged NATIONAL EGG PRODUCTION SCHEME NEGPRO a public private partnership initiative put in place in Aaya a community near Ijare in Ondo State to create employment for the youths in Nigeria.

According to Governor Akeredolu the scheme affirms the Federal Government's commitment to ending hunger and unemployment in Nigeria through agriculture.

Governor Akeredolu said the present government has taken giant steps in reviving and improving various areas of agriculture in the State, this include the 42 billion Naira Egg Powder Factory in Emure, the Chocolate Factory which the current Administration inherited from the immediate past government, the Youth on the Ridges project which is aimed at engaging 18,000 youths in Ondo State, which five secondary schools in each Local Government Area of the State, has been selected for the program.

Arakunrin who reiterated his commitment in the areas of both human and capital development advised the indigenes especially the youths to key into the programme as it would help reduce the dangling weight of discord and violence caused by idleness in some youth in the country.
He charged the people to take Agriculture seriously saying agriculture is the major tool that can replace the jobs lost and create entrepreneurs and great leaders In Nigeria.

He however described the Federal Government's effort towards agricultural rejuvenation in the country as a welcome development, stating that his administration was fully prepared to partner with the Ministry of Agriculture in every possible way to ensure adequate implementation of the programme.

Meanwhile the Governor said his Administration has taken proactive steps in ensuring that the problem of insecurity facing agriculture in the State is tackled.

He said the menace of herdsmen invading farm lands and destructing farm produce across Ondo State has become a thing of the past.

Arakunrin warned that this administration will not tolerate any act of criminality and promised to defend the right of the people to engage in farming without any fear of attack or hindrance of any sort.
The Governor added that the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on criminals who think they can perpetrate evil in Ondo State.

The Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, led top politicians from within and outside the state to welcome the president and his entourage at the airport.

A former governor of Borno State, Ali Sheriff, was also at the airport to welcome the president.

The head of the presidential campaign, Bola Tinubu, the party’s national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and other members of the campaign team who arrived the state earlier, were also at the airport to receive the president.

Mr Buhari was accompanied by the minister of transport, Rotimi Amaechi; the minister of states for works, Mustapha Babashehuri, the national security adviser, Muhammed Monguno among others.

The president’s motorcade is currently pulling through a crowd of supporters as he is being conveyed to Ramat square, the venue of the event.

The president is expected to fly to Damaturu, the Yobe State capital after he is done in Maiduguri.

As the ten-day medical mission of the visiting Sharing Hope Foundation from the University of California, San Diego comes to an end, the people of Ondo state have showered praises on the team for their tremendous impact in the state within their short stay in the state, particularly in the health sector.

Speaking at the dinner organized for the US-based medical team by the office of the wife of the Governor, at the State House in Alagbaka Akure, Ondo state, First Lady, Chief Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, commended the team for touching the lives of the people of the state through their capacity building programs for health personnel, donation of drugs, consumables and equipment to hospitals, and described the mission as fruitful.


In his vote of thanks at the dinner, Ondo state honourable commissioner for health, Dr Wahab Adegbenro, said the visit is a plus to the health sector in Ondo State and thanked them for their donations and trainings.
Dr Adegbenro also thanked Ondo State First Lady for attracting what he called “huge gesture”, and appealed to the team to assist the state in tackling some of the health issues facing the state.

Speaking after the “Train The Trainers Summit” organized by Sharing Hope and the office of the wife of the Governor, held at Ondo State University of Medical Science and Health Technology, Ondo (UNIMEDTH), the chief medical director, Dr Oluwole Ige, appreciated Sharing Hope for strengthening their facilities with capacity building and material aids, and prayed God to bless them richly.

In a smiliar development, parents of the members of Arabinrin Junior Tennis Club have commended the visiting Sharing Hope Foundation of University of California, San Diego for donating sports foot wears, footballs and some other sports items to the club.

This commendation came during an exhibition match between Barthram Okoro -Junior Tennis Club of Ibadan- and Arabinrin Junior Tennis Club of Akure, at the Akure Recreation Club.

The parents who spoke through Mrs Lulu said that the gesture will compliment the efforts of the Ondo State First Lady, who is also the founder of the club, in promoting and developing sporting activities in the state, particularly for the young people.

They also thanked Mrs Akeredolu for making them proud parents of future champions.
Sharing Hope Foundation earlier made a donation of sports items to the club.