₦airaland Forum

The Federal Government and the Government of India are working on ways to enhance the $12bn annual bilateral trade between both countries in a way that will focus on investment.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah, said the partnership had become imperative as a result of the economic potential of both countries.
A statement from the minister revealed that Enelamah spoke during a meeting with the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Shri Abhav Thakur, in his office.

He commended the level of relationship between Nigeria and India but said it had become necessary to expand it beyond trade for increased investment.

The minister welcomed the envoy’s interest in Project Made in Nigeria for Export, a new initiative by Nigeria to develop world-class special economic zones to position Nigeria as the pre-eminent manufacturing hub in sub-Saharan Africa, and a major exporter of made in Nigeria goods and services regionally and globally.

Last month, the Federal Government signed investment agreements with three Development Finance Institutions: Afreximbank, Bank of Industry and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority for the project.

Thakur, who expressed interest in the project, stated that Nigeria and India were important trade partners, noting that there was the need to grow the partnership.

ONDO State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has approved the constitution of a five – man committee of Inquiry to look into the remote and immediate causes of the violence that engulfed Oba Akoko community in Akoko South West Local Government Area during the House of Assembly election.

Akeredolu, during his visit to the town on Monday, vowed to set up a panel of inquiry to find out the immediate and remote causes of the incidence and determine the cost implication of damages done to public and private property.

In a memo by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Gbenga Ale, the committee is to be chaired by Dr. Femi Awani. Mr. J. T Olayeye will serve as the Secretary. Other members include Mr. Isaac Orimoloye, Mr. Tade Ijagbemi and Victor Olatoyegun.

The committee has two weeks to submit its report to the governor.

The terms of reference of the co1mmittee include: “To look into the remote and immediate causes of the crisis in Oba – Akoko during the Saturday, March 9, 2019 House of Assembly election.

“To determine the extent of damage done to public and private properties and place cost on them, to determine the role of any individual, group and corporate body in the crisis and to recommend appropriate disciplinary actions against all culprits and to make such other recommendations which the committee may find necessary. “

Some political thugs invaded the police station in the town, set up born fires on the streets and destroyed vehicles and houses of opposition after voting ended last Saturday.

Members of the senate committee on minimum wage bill held their first sitting on Wednesday with an assurance that they would submit their report by Tuesday next week.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had appointed the Deputy Majority Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena, as acting head of the panel, following the voluntary withdrawal of the chairman, Senator Olusola Adeyeye, on health grounds.

Alimikhena assured Nigerians that the committee would hasten the process of putting the report together and submit it at plenary next week Tuesday.

A member of the panel, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West), called for the review of revenue allocation formula by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation as a way of effectively implementing the recommended N30,000 minimum wage across all tiers of government.

Adeola supported the recommended N30,000 contained in the National Minimum Wage Bill, adding however that the law, when passed, must be implemented by all the three tiers of government.

He said, “I am in support of the recommended minimum wage as it will go a long way in cushioning the challenges faced by workers. However, there must be no excuse for non-implementation by any tiers of government across the federation.

“It is in this wise that I call on the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission to begin a process that will lead to the review of the Revenue Allocation Formula for all tiers of government to be able to pay the minimum wage when passed into law.”

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Aisha Abubakar, says the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari was a proof of support for his administration’s policies by Nigerians.

Abubakar made the remark at a high-level interactive dialogue on ‘Building Alliances for Social Protection Systems, Access to Public Services and Sustainable Infrastructure and the Empowerment of Women and Girls’ in New York.

President Buhari Abubakar is leading the Nigerian delegation to the 63rd Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the UN headquarters in New York.

The minister said the session’s theme was in tandem with the social protection and development strategies being currently implemented in Nigeria by Buhari’s administration.

Abubakar said: “President Buhari’s recent re-election for a second term has demonstrated the support of Nigerians for his administration and their unwavering interest in the social protection systems and economic development strategies being implemented in the country.

Public procurement in depressed economy: Emerging issues and challenge “These social protection strategies, founded on sound, sustainable and predictable development framework and economic structures, are designed to meet the overall objectives of eradicating poverty in all its ramifications as encapsulated in the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

According to her, these strategies are designed to harness and provide social protection for the Nigeria’s estimated 99 million female population.

She said the Nigerian Economic Recovery and Growth Plan identified human capital investment, restoring growth, and building a competitive economy for women and girls as key pillars to national development.

The minister explained that the Federal Government-led social protection policy had three main programmes, namely: the conditional cash transfer in Care of the People, the health fee waiver for pregnant women and children under five, and the community-based health insurance scheme.

She said “the Government Enterprise and Empowerment programme, a loan scheme for local artisans, traders and market women, has benefitted about 57,962 Nigerians with 56 per cent women beneficiaries”.

“Similarly, the ‘Anchor Borrowers Programme’ has produced over 300,000 rice farmers, majority of whom are women in rural areas.

To further enhance access to public services and sustainable infrastructure, Abubakar said Nigeria was implementing the several measures to drive all-inclusive social empowerment strategies.

She explained that the ‘N-Power Volunteer Corps has employed not less than 200,000 people with target to hire over 350,000 graduates and non-graduates yearly.

Another measure, she said, was the establishment of the Development Bank of Nigeria to provide sustainable financial support to small and medium scale enterprises.

“The ‘Market Moni’ provides loans at single digit for market women, artisans, enterprising youths, small-scale farmers and agric workers nationwide with about 2.5million beneficiaries,” she said.

According to her, the ‘Home-Grown School Feeding Programme’ provides one free, nutritious daily meal for children in public primary schools.

“The ‘Agricultural Revolutionary Policy 2016 to 2020’ has boosted agriculture activities and created five million dignified jobs with decent pay for women and youths.

“With support from the World Bank, the Nigeria for Women Project is established to directly impact 324,000 women beneficiaries,” the minister explained.

She said a summit on ‘Keeping Girls in School’ was convened to bring together influential traditional and religious leaders from across the African continent to discuss the critical issue of ‘keeping girls’ in school to complete primary and secondary education.

Abubakar added that a National Strategy to End Child Marriage 2016 to 2021 was launched to highlight the multi-sectoral and multi-faceted measures to halt harmful practices against girls and strengthen coordination.

“At the 2018 World Technovation Challenge in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, U.S, five Nigerian girls won Gold Medals in the contest.

“The World Champions won the Challenge with a mobile application called the FDDETECTOR, which they developed to help tackle the challenge of fake Pharmaceutical products in Nigeria.

“This was one of several innovations by the Nigerian girls,” the minister said.

President Muhammadu Buhari has declined assent to the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency Act (Amendment) Bill passed by the National Assembly.

Buhari, in a letter, addressed to Senate President Bukola Saraki and read at plenary on Wednesday, the President said his decision was pursuant to Section 58 (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).



Specifically, the President said the bill undermines the powers of the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the functions of the ministry.

Buhari is the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

The letter read, “I am declining assent to the bill because in a number of important sections, the bill undermines the powers of the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the functions and responsibilities of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.”

Buhari also rejected the imposition of 0.5 per cent of Operation Funds on oil companies, explaining that this will create an additional tax burden on oil firms operating in the country.

He listed the contentious areas in the bill to include Section 3, 6 (1a), 7 (a) and (b), 8, 9 and 11.

“Section 8 of the bill imposes a new charge and the industry of 0.5 percent of Operation Funds of oil companies for the enforcement of the environmental legislation in the petroleum sector.

“This imposition is an additional burden on the industry, particularly given that it is unclear what operation funds mean for the purpose of applying the provisions of the bill,” It added.

February 18, 2019 Samuel Ogundipe

President Muhammadu Buhari has warned potential troublemakers to stay away from ballot boxes on February 23.

At an emergency caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja on Monday morning, the president warned that anyone who foments trouble, especially by carrying ballot boxes, would be doing so at the “expense of his life”.

Mr Buhari made the statement after reprimanding the Independent National Electoral Commission for postponing the general elections from February 16 to 23.

The president repeated that he gave INEC all necessary support to ensure a smooth exercise, but the electoral body still displayed “incompetence” and failed to let Nigerians go to the poll as originally scheduled.

Electoral chiefs cited widespread logistics mishaps for the “painful” postponement, and promised everything would be in order before the new date of February 23 for presidential and federal parliamentary elections. Statewide elections would now hold on March 9, from the initial March 2.

Mr Buhari also threatened consequences against INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu, agreeing with the submission of party chairman Adams Oshiomhole that the electoral chief had compromised and was in purported collusion with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

The national caucus meeting, which was initially televised for about 30 minutes, was cut off live broadcast after the president’s remarks.

Journalists were also asked to leave the venue to allow for a closed-door session.

February 18, 2019Samuel Ogundipe

President Muhammadu Buhari has warned potential troublemakers to stay away from ballot boxes on February 23.

At an emergency caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja on Monday morning, the president warned that anyone who foments trouble, especially by carrying ballot boxes, would be doing so at the “expense of his life”.

Mr Buhari made the statement after reprimanding the Independent National Electoral Commission for postponing the general elections from February 16 to 23.

The president repeated that he gave INEC all necessary support to ensure a smooth exercise, but the electoral body still displayed “incompetence” and failed to let Nigerians go to the poll as originally scheduled.

Electoral chiefs cited widespread logistics mishaps for the “painful” postponement, and promised everything would be in order before the new date of February 23 for presidential and federal parliamentary elections. Statewide elections would now hold on March 9, from the initial March 2.

Mr Buhari also threatened consequences against INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu, agreeing with the submission of party chairman Adams Oshiomhole that the electoral chief had compromised and was in purported collusion with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

The national caucus meeting, which was initially televised for about 30 minutes, was cut off live broadcast after the president’s remarks.

Journalists were also asked to leave the venue to allow for a closed-door session.

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.

Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has called on the people of the state to remain calm and get prepared to exercise their civic responsibility on February 23.

Speaking at his countryhome, Owo, Akeredolu said the postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections by INEC was painful.

The governor, however, said the postponement must be taken with calmness and renewed determination to turnout better for the elections on the new dates.

He said: “We have suffered a lot of inconveniences, let us turn it to weekend of rest particularly with our family.”

While regretting that citizens were already set to have the elections held on the earlier dates, Akeredolu said the electoral body must have been overwhelmed by unforeseen circumstances, such as its inability to deliver electoral materials to all the needed places and replacement of damaged essentials materials and equipment in its offices burnt in parts of the country.

“It is not an election that can be staggered, It is a national election, it has to be held on one day. If there are areas where all needed election materials are not available, INEC has no option than to postpone until it is sure the materials are there”, he said.

Akeredolu said he had no reason to doubt the electoral body on its reasons for shifting forward the dates of the elections which it announced after it had carefully reviewed the implementation of its logistics and operational plans for the elections but urged the people to get prepared to troop out en-masse next week to exercise their franchise.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the weekend urged lawyers, traditional rulers and the church to step up mechanism capable of curbing corruption and illegally acquired wealth as the nation prepared for elections.

Osinbajo, who lamented that corruption which had been the country’s biggest problem, causing multitude of child deaths yearly, warned that Christians and members of wig and gown profession would fail to positively influence the country unless they committed themselves to living like the biblical salt of the earth. Osinbajo was the guest minister at a special service of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)’s The Open Door Parish, Odogunyan, Ikorodu, Lagos.

The Vice President’s longtime friend, Aina Ololade Salami, is the Pastor-in-charge of the parish. Speaking on “The church and the destiny of the nation”, Osinbajo berated Church leaders who, through their teachings “sometimes give the impression that there is no need for hard work.” Osinbajo said: “I do not hear very often that the church criticizes corruption and corrupt people. I don’t hear very often that there is condemnation, because when you look at it, the greatest problem that our country has is corruption. “People stealing directly from the treasury is what exposed in so many cases that there is so much poverty in the land, the leadership stealing directly from the treasury.

“The greatest cause of death is corruption, because when you look at the number of children who die between the ages of zero and five, who should have been provided with medical care and the money has been stolen, some people say oh there are many kidnappings, many this and that, but the greatest cause of death in our country is corruption. “If you look at poverty from 2012, almost 110,000 children die of diarrhoea-related illness yearly.

Why? The resources that should be used for medical care is stolen. So, if the church does not stand up and condemn corruption, if the church doesn’t say, ‘if we suspect that you this man, you are a public officer but you have money that you shouldn’t have we’ll ostracise you’, then it’ll be difficult for us to play our role.”

He advised Christians worried by the idea of an Islamist agenda not to be afraid but to dutifully obey the great commission found in Matthew 28:16-20, where Jesus instructed his disciples to spread his teachings to all the nations of the world. Osinbajo said: “I was saying to a group of Christian leaders the other day that I as a pastor, long before I was appointed Vice President, I attended the (RCCG) Holy Ghost Service regularly, as a matter of fact, before I became Vice President I never missed the Holy Ghost Service once in 15 years, not once.

I’ve missed the Holy Ghost Service now maybe once or twice. “As Vice President I attend, even in Abuja, all of the (Christian) gatherings, and these are big gatherings at the Abuja National Stadium. Even look at the Holy Ghost Night, it’s televised all over the world, I as Vice President am standing there everybody sees me all over the world. I said to the leaders, can you imagine a situation where President Muhammadu Buhari every month, gathers in Sokoto, with hundreds of thousands of Mullahs, what would we say? What would the leaders say? They would be panicking.”

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, Sunday in Gusau, Zamfara State, charged traditional rulers to do more in curbing banditry and kidnapping in their communities, saying that he felt disappointed that people close to some of them were found to have a hand in such criminality.
President Muhammadu Buhari We’ll field candidates in Zamfara, Rivers, APC vows President Buhari in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, also explained the reason behind heavy security presence in the area which he said was not a good news. He however, said that the presence of heavy security was to secure the environment.
Speaking at a meeting with the royal fathers in the Government House, as part of the ongoing campaigns, the President expressed the determination of his administration to defend the country from criminals and insurgents.
According to him, “We are determined to defend the nation and its people. We are disappointed with some of the things going on. You are responsible for the security of your neighbourhood. Being close to your people, you know them. You are still relevant. I am sorry this has extended to some of your families.”
Referring to the deployment of a large number of security personnel to the state, President Buhari said that security is also the business of the traditional rulers, not that of the police and other security agencies alone.
“More security is not good news, but we must do something to secure our environment,” he noted.
The President commended the gallantry of the security agencies in battling kidnapping and banditry, saying “you know what we have achieved. You had one who styled himself as Buharin Daji, the Buhari of the forests, claiming to be in charge and not I at the centre. He is no more, and by my surviving him, you now know who is stronger.”
President Buhari said he was contesting this election as his fifth and the last, because, as he noted, “a second term is what the constitution allows, and I will not abuse the constitution.”
He thanked the royal fathers for the support he enjoyed so far and appealed to them to back his re-election.
The Chairman of the council of traditional rulers and Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmed and the Governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, praised the efforts of the President in changing the unwanted security situation in the state.
According to the governor, “From the presence of an ammunition depot manned by just 30 men when you took office in 2015, Zamfara State today boasts of the presence of 4,700 combined security personnel who are assisted by 8,500 State Joint Task Force, SJTF members. We also have the 223 Battalion, the 607 Quick Response Battalion and the 1 Brigade in Gusau.”
The council of traditional rulers also endorsed President Buhari’s bid for a second term.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/banditry-royal-fathers-know-those-behind-killings-buhari/

I'm for free, fair polls says Akeredolu

Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Monday expressed his avowed committment to free, fair, credible and violence free polls in the forthcoming General elections.

Akeredolu also promised to give the necessary support to all security agencies to enable eligible voters to exercise their franchise on the election day.

The Governor stated this while receiving the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge Training and Development, Yakubu Jubril at the Governor's office in Akure, the state capital.

The DIG was accompanied by the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) zone 11 in charge of Ondo, Oyo and Osun States, Leye Oyebade and the new Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Undie Adie.

Jubril is the supervising DIG in charge of General elections for the South West States.

Akeredolu, represented by the Deputy Governor of the State, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, said "we are committed to free and fair election not only in Ondo State but in all south west states.

"We won't compromise but we will give all necessary supports to our security agencies that will enable us to guarantee safety of the voters before, during and after elections.

"Ondo State is a peaceful state and that is why there is no report of political killings in this state.

"There is no cause for alarm. We will continue to tell our party supporters and the people of Ondo State that we don't have any other state except Ondo state.

"We are keen to ensure peace in state ondo. It is our pray that the experience of 1983 won't re-occur again in Ondo State".

Jubril said his mission was to ensure elections in Ondo State and other south west states are conducted peacefully.

The DIG, who claimed to be familiar with Ondo State, said he did his NYSC in Owo between 1983/1984.

He promised that the police will give all voters the enabling environment to go out and cast their votes for candidates of their choice on election day.

End
� Olawale Abolade

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)

BREAKING NEWS!!!
INEC extends deadline for collection of PVCs from Friday 8th February to Monday 11th February 2019. This will include Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 6pm.

INEC Chair, Prof Mahmood Yakubu made the announcement at today’s meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners

To further enhance its communication to members of the public and promote the giant strides of its administration, the Ondo State government on Wednesday organised a one day training for members of its New Media Team on Social media management.

The workshop which was tagged "Understanding and Optimising Your Social Media Platforms" was held at the State's Public Service Training Institute, Ilara Mokin.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Yemi Olowolabi who declared the training opened charged members of the New Media Team to promote government activities and also market themselves to the entire world by dishing out good content.

Olowolabi said since the world has become a global viallge through the Internet, the social media influences have become more important in the field of media operations.

According to him, the social media is great platform to pursue and inform the general public on the government policies and programs. He added that the New Media Team is reloaded.

He said "Most of the things you will be doing are basically by passion. We are only here to add values to that passion and let you express yourself the more."

� Timilehin Ogunsulire

Less than 10 days to the 2019 general elections, a total of 398,958 prospective voters are yet to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in Ondo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has revealed.



The commission further revealed that, a total of One million, four hundred and twenty nine thousand, two hundred and sixty one (1,429,261) PVCs have been distributed out of One million, eight hundred and twenty eight thousand two hundred and nineteen (1,828, 219) registered voters in the state as at January 2, 2019.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner REC in Ondo state, Dr. Rufus Akeju, disclosed this at a press briefing held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Alagbaka, Akure on the state of preparedness of the commission for the upcoming general elections in the country.

He explained that claims raised by stakeholders during the display of preliminary register of voters exercise, by the commission in the last quarter of 2018 were treated, as the names of dead persons that were still in the register as at then were identified for deletion.

Akeju disclosed that the presidential and National Assembly elections and that of the House of Assembly will hold in 3,007 polling units of the state on February 16 and March 2 respectively.

The Commissioner informed that the recruitment of all Ad-hoc staff to participate in the elections is almost completed

According to him, ” Serving Corp members constitute the bulk of Ad-hoc staff for the elections based on the existing MoU between INEC and the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC”.

He disclosed further that other categories of staff were sourced from the pool of Federal Tertiary Institutions and Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies among others.

The commission, he said has been meeting regularly with security agencies to formulate strategies to identify and mitigate all potential triggers of violence and insecurity during and after the elections.

He said various measures are being adopted by the commission to mitigate the challenge of vote buying in the forthcoming elections through restriction of the use of smart phones and other photographic equipment in the voting cubicles among others.

Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi, on Thursday said there was no truth in the allegation that he is planning to use ex-militants to rig the forthcoming general elections in the riverine areas of the state.

The Peoples Democratic Party had alleged on a social media platform that the deputy governor was planning to disrupt the conduct of elections.

But Ajayi, in a statement by the Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, Mr Leke Akeredolu, described the allegation as false and mischievous.

According to the statement, Ajayi, who is the Chairman of the Amnesty Programme in the state, met leaders of the ex-militants on Monday to resolve a misconception over their inclusion in the Federal Government’s amnesty programme.

He said the meeting had nothing to do with the forthcoming elections.

The statement read, “This allegation is both distasteful and regretful. It is also a shame that a national party like the PDP would throw caution to the wind and deliberately embark on peddling complete falsehood in a desperate attempt to discredit an election that is yet to hold.

“It is no longer news that the PDP and all its candidates have been rejected by the people after a 16-year period that was characterised by looting and destruction of the unity of the country.

“Kindly note that Ajayi has been playing intermediary roles between the Federal Government and the ex-militants. He also played a very important role in the discussions that led to the laying down of weapons by the ex-militants.

“The said Monday meeting was not different from the previous meetings that government representatives have had with leaders of the ex-militants and the discussion centered basically on their inclusion in the amnesty programme, and not elections matter.”

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State said, yesterday, that the state belongs to President Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari-Ortom Hold FG responsible if anything untoward happens to me – Ortom

This is even as the president announced that Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, will soon commence drilling for a deeper search for oil and gas in the Benue trough.

The governor, who stated this while receiving the president who was on a campaign in the state at Nigerian Airforce Base, Makurdi, also said the president could do whatever he wished in the state, being the President of Nigeria. He said: “He is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and whatever he is doing, it is our responsibility to give him adequate protocol. “He is our President, and this is beyond party… so I am doing all the needful.

There is no special thing in what I am doing, it is what I am supposed to do as governor of Benue State, irrespective of party because he remains my President and I respect him. “I have no personal issues with him; we talk about policies and issues, there is no personal grudge. So, I am here to receive him, and I have made adequate arrangement.

This state belongs to Mr President. So he has access, he can be here and do whatever he wants.” Ortom defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in July, having fallen out with the Federal Government. Speaking while addressing traditional rulers at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi, President Buhari announced that NNPC will soon commence drilling for a deeper search for oil and gas in the Benue Trough.

He said the oil and gas drilling search in the Benue Tough will be the next after commencement of drilling in Kolmani River area, located within Bauchi and Gombe states. He recalled that as Minister of Petroleum in the 70s, he had seen “very interesting seismic surveys” that revealed discovery of oil and gas from the Chad Basin through the Benue Trough down to the Delta region.

According to him, for mostly commercial reasons, investment was directed to Niger Delta, given the promise of quicker results. He narrated past efforts by him as Military Head of State to diversify the country’s sources of oil to strengthen its unity, promising that his administration will intensify efforts in this direction.

Buhari welcomed the observation by the Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Professor James Ayatse, that peace had been restored to Benue State and the fact that he had so far conducted a decent and a peaceful campaign. The President promised to look at requests for more roads, bridges and tertiary institutions made by the royal father. Earlier, the Tor Tiv had expressed appreciation to Buhari for the manner he had conducted a peaceful campaign, without riots, violence, stressing that the president had set good example. “We had a challenging time in 2016.

Thanks for your intervention, for accepting our appeal to step up security. Operation Whirl Strike has succeeded in chasing away violent herders.” He also called for a closer look at the border to stop “criminals and bandits” from crossing into Nigeria.

There used to be a myth around Oke-Alabojuto, the hilly portion of Ikare-Akoko township road. No native believed the famished and destructive rocky hill could be leveled.

But the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu government has shattered the myth. The hill could be leveled, after all. Oke-Alabojuto has now become Isale-Alabojuto.

Before it was leveled, the hilly road had consumed several lives and destroyed uncountable valuable properties through auto-crashes, making residents to live in fear for decades.

The age-long nightmare has now ended for the people of Ikare and users of the road. Kudos to the government of Akeredolu.

Electorates in Imo State have been advised to exercise their civic responsibility of voting during election appropriately in order to usher in a people-oriented government in the state.

Wife of the Ondo State Governor, Her Excellency, Chief Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu gave this advice during an emergency meeting held at the Comprehensive Secondary School Emeabiam with party leaders in her area.

Mrs Akeredolu reminded the people that election period is the period to take action against politicians characterized by greed, impunity, bitterness, selfishness and corruption through their votes, and urged them to rise up and speak through their votes.

The Imo-born Ondo First Lady decried the level of marginalization the area has suffered under the successive governments in the state till date and encouraged them to take a bold step in the right direction to end the era of bad roads infrastructure, untapped abundant natural resources, absence of basic primary healthcare delivery, and unemployment in the area.

In a related development, the sunshine state First Lady has called on women and youths to participate fully in the forthcoming elections as they constitute a greater percentage of the populace and are major stakeholders in the society.

Mrs Akeredolu made this call while addressing Emeabiam Women Union in her compound recently.

Mrs Akeredolu urged them to get their PVCs ready for action in the right direction, as it is the way to eliminate bad government, alleviate poverty and end hunger in the society.

President Muhammadu Buhari threw a jibe at former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday. He said he was only seeking a second term and not a third term.

The former president is believed to have sought the elongation of his tenure in the twilight of his administration in 2017.

What became the “Third Term Agenda” collapsed when the National Assembly threw out the Constitutional Amendment into which it was inserted.

Speaking at the MKO Abiola Democracy Park in Akure, the Ondo State capital, venue of the APC campaign rally for his re-election, President Buhari, who did not mention Obasanjo’s or anybody’s name, said:

“We have just finished one term and are seeking a second one, and after that, the constitution doesn’t permit anymore,” Tolu Ogunlesi, a Special Assistant to the President on Digital Communications, quoted him as saying.

He went on: “There are some who tried looking for more but they did not succeed. We should learn from their mistakes.”

”We have just finished one term and are seeking a second one, and after that the constitution doesn’t permit anymore. There are some who tried looking for more but they did not succeed. We should learn from their mistakes,” the special assistant tweeted on tolu ogunlesi (@toluogunlesi) February 5, 2019.

Between 2006 and 2007, the former president was reported to have attempted ruling for a third term, after the expiration of his two-term tenure, permitted by the constitution.

A bill was sponsored at the National Assembly to extend term limits by another four years, but the lawmakers, who were said to have been “bribed”, did not ratify the bill.

Obasanjo, who supported Buhari in 2015, is backing Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to unseat the incumbent president.

APC stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who also addressed a crowd of supporters, berated the opposition party for raising rigging allegations.

He said the PDP was only afraid of APC shadow because it introduced rigging into the electoral process.

According to Tinubu, the PDP has admitted failure even before the election by its allegation that APC and Buhari planned to rig the February 16 general elections.

He said: “The PDP claimed that the APC was planning to rig election. How can you rig an election that has not been conducted? This is a clear fact that the PDP was preparing for failure. The PDP has admitted its loss of the election even before the election is conducted.”

Also, APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole said the PDP ruined the nation’s economy in 16 years, stressing that the current economic problems being experienced were caused by the PDP.

He said: “Both Obasanjo and Jonathan did not remember the poor when they were in government, but Buhari places the poor above the rich through his people-oriented programmes.”

The APC chair alleged that the PDP believed that the government should be used as an avenue to enrich individuals, hence the claim by its presidential candidate, Atiku, that he will privatise the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu assured Buhari and the leadership of the APC that the state will vote APC.

He said: “In 2015 when the state was not under the control of the APC, we won; how much more now that we are in control of the state. President Buhari should go and sleep as he is winning the election by the grace of God.”

Other leaders at the rally were: Governors Gboyega Oyetola (Osun); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Godwin Obaseki (Edo); APC Deputy National Chairman (South) Niyi Adebayo; Chief Bisi Akande and Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, among others.

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 on Monday reiterated his commitment towards the fight against corruption, saying “if we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.”

Buhari made the remark during the swearing in of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, Board members at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President stated that “unbridled corruption” has inflicted major damage on Nigeria’s development aspirations.

He also declared that his administration was determined to ensure that every agency of government account for public revenue generated or expended.

According to Buhari: “Let me congratulate you, Mr. Chairman and Members of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission Board for being found worthy to serve our country on this important assignment. Your appointment is a call to service in an important sector and segment critical in our government’s agenda.

“Today’s occasion is the continuation of this Administration’s fight against corruption. It is a cardinal programme in the three point agenda that I promised to pursue and will continue to pursue as I seek the mandate of Nigerians for a second term.

“The fight against corruption is very crucial in our national development. This is why I have often said – if we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.

“We are all witnesses to the damage that unbridled corruption has inflicted on our development aspirations. Apart from deliberate and wanton looting of our national wealth and common patrimony, corruption has eroded our values and ethical foundation as a nation.

“Corruption has negatively affected our political, economic and social life. Those opposed to our fight against corruption berate us for our focus, determination and single mindedness. They pretend that they do not know what corruption is. But Nigerians know what corruption is. Ordinary people know what corruption is and they support our effort and determination to fight it.

“The abuse of public office for private gain represents corruption in its worst form. The circumvention of public policies and processes for competitive advantage and profit is another form of corruption.

“The abuse of public office for personal benefit even if no bribery occurs is also corruption. The diversion of State revenue or miss-application of budgeted funds falls into the same category.

“I am particularly delighted that the ICPC law under which you will operate is robust enough to assist government to sanitize the public sector of corruption in service delivery, public procurement, diversion of public revenue, deliberate misuse of public funds, and so on.

“As I have noted in recent times, despite our anti-corruption drive, some agencies of government still divert or refuse to fully account for revenue generated. Rather than obey constitutional provisions and extant rules and regulations, such agencies continue as if nothing has changed.

“We are determined to ensure that every agency of government account for public revenue generated or expended. I am looking forward to ICPC’s support both for enforcement of anti-corruption laws and submission of policy measures and directives to prevent revenue leakage and diversion.

“In this regard, I urge you to collaborate with other government agencies such as the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation towards mitigating wrong-doing in public expenditure. Furthermore, I look forward to receiving anti-corruption recommendations linked to e-Government standards and principles.

“As the old saying goes – “Prevention is better than cure”. Your statutory mandate recognizes this principle. Therefore, I encourage you to come up with strong preventive policy measures and strategies for government’s endorsement to take us to the NEXT LEVEL in the fight against corruption. I am aware that the ICPC laws empowers you to make proposals to assist government in this fight.

“Just about a month ago, I opened your Corruption Risk Assessment training for anti-corruption agencies in Africa. That initiative, in support of my role as the AU anti-corruption champion is welcome, and I Iook forward to seeing ICPC distinguish itself as a leading institution in Africa in building capacity to conduct and implement corruption risk assessments.

“But charity must begin at home. Therefore, your skills and expertise must be demonstrated in identifying MDAs highly prone to corruption and what must be done to bring about better governance.

“I am also aware that you have set up Anti-Corruption Transparency Unit in Ministries, Departments and Agencies. This is an important step towards corruption prevention and ensuring full compliance with government’s anti-corruption measures and our laws.

“I encourage you to make effective use of our ACTU in MDAs by receiving reports directly from such Units and taking enforcement measures to assist government realize its objectives of a cleaner public service.

“Once again, I congratulate you on your appointment. My resolve to fight corruption remains unshaken. I assure you of my full support in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.”

The Muhammadu Buhari Presidential Campaign Council has allayed fears about the health of the president, saying he remained fit and even stronger than many Nigerian men. President Buhari flags Off The Spud-In of Kolmani River II Well Drilling in Bauchi State on 2nd Feb 2019 Deputy

Director General of the Council, Arch Waziri Bulama disclosed this at the weekend while speaking with journalists in Abuja. “I think the President from the way he works in this campaign has shown that he is stronger than many average men in this country.

This is a man at that age, flying from city to city and at least two cities every day of the week, commissioning projects, meeting traditional rulers, stakeholders and still returning to attend to other state functions and other groups in the Aso Villa. He again flies out the following morning, showing no sign of stress, no sign of weakness.

President Buhari is healthy, very strong and alive to the task and proudly giving the kind of leadership and presence we need in this campaign”, he stated. Tinubu not sidelined from Campaigns “The presidential campaign council is organised and structured in such a manner that all our leaders are part of the campaign organisation.

For you understand the role assigned to Asiwaju Tinubu, the campaign is structured to suit every member. “You can recall that the reason Mr President said that Tinubu should co-chair the campaign is because he would not want to allow the state duty to suffers during the campaign. Therefore, on issues that require his attention but will not available because of state duties, we should reach out and refer to Tinubu.

Organising the campaign has many issues around it and we must know that organising a campaign is an ad-hoc exercise and a temporary arrangement with the main of mobilising and sensitising to bring out as many Nigerians as possible to participate in this election.

“We have issues of campaign message, issues of logistics and many other activities involved in carrying out the campaign. So, it is because of these that the president said that where we don’t have access to him or is not available to take certain decisions in respect of the campaign, we should get across to Asiwaju.

“We have so far done that successfully, we have carried out a very seamless exercise and Asiwaju has appeared in many cities and made interventions as the leader of our party and as statesman. If there are issues that require his message to Nigerians, he appears and made those states. He was in Maiduguri two weeks ago where he made a long appearance addressing the crowd. He also appears wherever necessary.

He was in most other outings across the country. I want to say that our campaign is cohesive, focused and united. Our leaders are one and committed to the success of President Buhari, success our party and the success of all the candidates contesting on the platform of our party”, Bulama added.

President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday wrote a personal letter to vice President Yemi Osinbajo. In the letter, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, commended his running mate for his services, patriotism, tenacious spirit and unalloyed loyalty, noting that he (Buhari) is proud to have somebody like Osinbajo by his side. President Muhammadu Buhari Read the letter below:

Dear Yemi,

We give glory to Almighty God for sparing your life. I’m impressed by your tenacious spirit which enabled you to continue on your campaign engagement, despite the shock of the crash. It takes tenacious spirit and amazing spiritual strength to survive a helicopter crash without being paralyzed by its impact. I’m proud of our partnership and your unalloyed loyalty and your commitment to the service of Nigeria. How VP Osinbajo, Minister, 10 others survived helicopter crash That you proceeded with your engagements, despite the accident, is a testimony of your passion for service to country and a reflection of your admirable spiritual fervor.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN May God continue to protect you and all those on board with you, bless your lives and grant you more good health and long life to serve our country even more.

During the weekend, the Governor of Ondo state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and Top Ondo state political appointees visited the Ondo state Muslim welfare Board Alagbaka, Akure for the empowerment of less privileged Muslim Umah in Ondo state.

Chairman, Ondo state Muslim Welfare Board Alhaji Khaleel Fawehinmi, was present at the event to receive the Governor, his entourage and the empowerment materials.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu expressed that his administration is concerned about the welfare of every citizen of Ondo state and that is why he has decided to put smiles on faces through this event.

He further expressed his heart felt concerns for less privileged people in the state and advised that his administration will always ensure that people are well catered for in enjoying the dividends of democracy.

Empowerment materials like Grinding machines, sewing machines, amongst others was donated to the board for support.

Alhaji Khaleel Fawehinmi thanked the Governor and his administration for his kind gesture and expressed his sincere appreciation.

Some of the beneficiaries were present to receive empowerment materials from the Governor and they expressed their appreciation.

A national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, on Sunday said that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos would no longer be removed from office.

Tinubu, who spoke after a peace meeting was brokered by the APC leadership in the state, said the State House of Assembly had agreed to sheathe its sword.



The former governor said the executive and the legislative arms of government in the state had resolved to work together in the interest of the state.

“In the last one week, there was noise about the conflict between the executive and the House of Assembly. It is of great concern to all of us and particularly, what Lagos represents across the country.

“We have been able to look into the source of the various conflicts, which is not uncommon in politics. What is the genesis of those problems? We are one big family and as a big family, you will have some disagreement.

“As leaders of the party, we have looked into that. We have looked into areas where we have to compromise, discuss, build the institutions and encourage them to really do what is right.

“We have resolved that there would be no question of impeachment in Lagos State. Let the two arms of government communicate and continue to respect one another and build consensus and understanding. That is all about politics,” Tinubu said.

The APC leader said that allowing the conflict to fester would have dire consequences not just for the state, but also the entire country.

The Assembly had last Monday threatened to remove Ambode from office for alleged gross misconduct, as regards the 2019 budget.

The lawmakers had given the governor seven days to defend himself, failing which, he would be removed.



The announcement had been greeted with protests by some civil rights groups, some of which threatened to shut down the Assembly if Ambode was removed.

The peace talk, which held at the Lagos House, Marina, was attended by Ambode; his deputy, Dr Idiat Adebule; the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa; Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Eshinlokun; Majority Leader, Sinai Agunbiade; Chief Whip, Rotimi Abiru, among other principal officers of the Assembly.

Others in attendance were all the members of the Governors’ Advisory Council, the highest decision making organ of the APC in the state; the governorship candidate of the party in the state, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Femi Hamzat, among others.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, has said history will punish former President Olusegun Obasanjo for ceding Bakassi to Cameroon.
He said this while addressing party supporters during the  APC’s presidential campaign rally in Calabar on Wednesday.  President Muhammadu Buhari was on the occasion.

Oshiomhole said the people of Cross River State should “never forget Obasanjo because he handed over Nigeria to Cameroon because he wanted to win the  Nobel Peace Prize.

“Nigeria can never forgive him. History will punish him if we are too weak to punish him.

“He separated fathers from mothers, brothers from sisters. The Nobel Peace Prize is not given to traitors.”

Buhari said, “Those within and outside the country who have honestly assessed our administration can attest to the fact that our administration has done well. We have also improved security in the North-East and the anti-corruption fight is ongoing.
“Our economy has been improving since 2018. The government has helped farmers with soft loans. We are working hard to make the country better.”

The President presented the party’s flag to the APC governorship candidate in the state Senator John Owan-Enoh.

Owan-Enoh said, “Buhari will win. The revolution that started in 2015 will berth in Cross River in 2019. The hunger for change is very palpable in Cross River. Cross Riverians expect that change.”

The acting chairman of the party in the state John Ochala called on Buhari to caution the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Usani Usani,  claiming he was causing distraction for the party in the state.

He also said there was poor governance in the state, with the collapse of the local government system, relocation of investors from the state, phantom projects, plundering of forest resources in the guise of constructing super highway.

He added,  “Our people are clamouring for change,  which the APC governorship candidate Senator John Owan-Enoh and his running mate, Ekpo Okon will provide.”

The Presidency on Wednesday gave reasons why President Muhammadu Buhari did not seek support for the All Progressives Congress candidates during the party’s rally held in Owerri, Imo State, on Tuesday.

It said the President addressed a mixed crowd of voters across political parties, who were united in endorsing his re-election, despite having their local candidates for other positions.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, while speaking to journalists, explained that in such a mixed crowd, the President could not speak of support for the APC candidates alone but must talk about all the parties.

Shehu noted that this did not mean that the President did not want the APC candidates to win elections in Imo State, saying that Buhari was solidly behind his party’s candidates.

“The massive crowd that gathered to welcome President Buhari in Imo State was made up of not only supporters of the APC in the state, but also supporters of other parties who are united by their love for the President and their desire to see him re-elected, despite the local candidates they support,” Shehu told reporters.
The Presidency added that in the circumstances he found himself in Imo, the President could only advise the people who turned out to receive him to vote according to their conscience.

“While President Buhari is fully behind the APC, he welcomes endorsements from those who do not belong to the ruling party but is also sensitive to their support for non-APC candidates at the local level.

“It would have been insensitive of him to offend his non-APC supporters by ignoring their local affiliations,” Shehu stated.

He said by raising the hand of Senator Hope Uzodinma, the APC governorship candidate in Imo State, at the rally, Buhari had shown where his preference was and this did not call for a debate.

Shehu added, “President Buhari is for the APC in every state and there is no doubt about that, despite the immense cross-party support he is enjoying.”

Recall that while addressing the rally, Buhari did not mince word in urging the crowd to “vote for candidates of your choice across parties” to the chagrin of the APC members.
The people reacted by cheering and clapping for the President.

Governor Rochas Okorocha, who does not support Uzodinma’s governorship bid, joined in the cheering.

When the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, realised the President’s error, he was seen trying to whisper to Buhari to make a correction.

The President then responded by telling the crowd again to vote for the APC candidates.
There is a big crack in the Imo APC, threatening its electoral fortunes next month.

While Okorocha wanted his son in-law, Uche Nwosu, to be the APC governorship candidate, the National Working Committee of the party endorsed the primaries conducted by the Uzodinma faction.

In December 2018, Nwosu, with the support of Okorocha, defected to the Action Alliance and became the party’s governorship candidate.

However, both the Okorocha group and the Uzodinma faction said they would vote for Buhari on February 16.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/why-buhari-didnt-ask-voters-to-back-apc-candidates-in-imo-presidency/amp/

BREAKING NEWS!!!
The inauguration of Ondo State 18 Local Government Grassroot Mobilization coordinators, today 30th January 2019 by Akeredolu Campaign Organization (TCC)

President Buhari takes APC Campaign train to Ebonyi State on 30th Jan 2019

The members are as listed below:

*CAMPAIGN COUNCIL*
1. GOVERNOR - CHAIRMAN
2. DEPUTY GOVERNOR
3. APC STATE CHAIRMAN
4. SECRETARY TO THE SATE GGVOT
5. NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS
6. DEPUTY CAHIRMAN
7. IFE OYEDELE - SECRETARY
8. 3 SENATORIAL VICE CHAIRMEN
9. STATE WOMAN LEADER
10. CHIEF OLUSOLA OKE (SAN)
11. AMBASSADOR ‘SOLAIJI
12. ALL FORMER SPEAKERS
13. THE SPEAKER
14. DEPUTY SPEAKER
15. YOUTH LEADER
16. ORGANISING SECRETARY
17. PUBLICITY SECRETARY
18. WALE AKINTERINWA
19. HON. LOLA FAGBEMI
20. ALABA ISIJOLA
21. MRS. OLADUNNI ODU
22. DR. PIUS OSUNYIKANMI
23. HON. GBENGA ELEGBELEYE
24. PRINCE SOLAGBADE AMODENI
25. MR. LUCKY AYEDATIWA
26. MR. ROTIMI FASAKIN
27. RT. HON. VICTOR OLABIMTAN
28. HON. SHEBA ABAYOMI
29. MR. DIRAN IYANTAN
30. TUNJI FABIYI
31. LAWAL KOLADE


*MOBILISATION COMMITTEE*
1. HON. TAYO OLUWATUYI (TUKANA) AK/S – CHAIRMAN
2. CHARLES FAGBOHUNKA (OD/EAST) – SECRETARY
3. NIRAN AKINNIYI (ILE-OLUJI/ OKE-IGBO)
4. YETUNDE ADEYANJU (ODIGBO)
5. BUNMI ADEMOSU (AKURE SOUTH)
6. HON. OLA OGUNTIMEHIN (OKITIPUPA
7. RT. HON. AYO AGBOMUSERIN (IFEDORE)
8. RT. HON. KENNETH OLAWALE (AKURE NORTH)
9. NIYI OSENI (AKOKO NORTH EAST)
10. BENSON AGHONI (ESE-ODO)
11. BANJI AJAKA (ILAJE)
12. FEMI IDRIS (OWO)
13. OLATAYO ARIBO (OSE)
14. OTUNBA GBOYEGA ADEFARATI (AKOKO SOUTH WEST)
15. AKIN AIBINUOMO (AKOKO SOUTH EAST)
16. ARCH. MORAKINYO AJAYI (AKOKO NORTH WEST)
17. VALENTINE IKUSIKA (ONDO WEST)
18. MORIN OLANIPEKUN (IRELE)
19. ADERONKE AKINDOLIE (IDANRE)
20. OLUTAYO BABALAYO (AKURE SOUTH)
21. WITHERSPOON MORENIKE (OWO)
22. ADENIKE OLAWOYE
23. ALABA ISIJOLA
24. OKAFOR ARINZE (IGBO COMMUNITY)
25. BALA UMAR (HAUSA COMMUNITY)
26. ALHAJI AHETE HASSAN (EGBIRA COMMUNITY)
27. MRS. RONKE OLADUN (ODIGBO)


*PROTOCOL & TRANSPORT*
1. WALE FASAKIN
2. MRS FALANA
3. HON. FEBI ADEYEMI
4. TOLA WEWE
5. TOSIN OGUNBODEDE – SECRETARY
6. LANRE OYELADE
7. OLAITAN AYENI
8. RASAK ISIJOLA
9. SERAH ESEKUMO
10. DR. WUNMI EGBEAYELO – CHAIRMAN
11. FUNKE KUMUYI
12. OLASUNBO OJOMO
13. BOSEDE SAPAIYE
14. MEDINAT BUSARI
15. MRS. IYABO AKINKUNMI


*VENUE COMMITTEE*
1. PASTOR FEMI AGAGU (OKITIPUPA) – CHAIRMAN
2. BABAJIDE AKEREDOLU – SECRETARY
3. RT. HON. VICTOR OLABIMTAN (AK/SW)
4. MR.FESTUS AREGBESOLA (AK/S)
5. ENGR. SOGO AJIKIOLA (IFEDORE)
6. ODUNAYO AKINRINSOLA (ILE-OLUJI/ OKE-IGBO)
7. HON. AFOLABI ADESOJI (IDANRE)
8. HON. GBENGA EDEMA (ILAJE)
9. TOYIN ALLEN (ESE-ODO)
10. AMODENI SOLAGBADE (AK/S/E)
11. F.B. OMOTAYO (ONDO WEST)
12. RAFIU AKINKUOLIE (ONDO EAST)
13. ALHAJI OMOTOSHO (AK/N/E)
14. OLUDASA (SEGRO) (IRELE)
15. DOTUN OWANIKIN (OSE)
16. CYRIL OGUNLAYI (AK/N/W)
17. ISIAKA YUSUF (OWO)
18. ALHAJI OSO (ODIGBO)


*ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE*
1. MRS. MORENIKE WITHERSPOON – CHAIRMAN
2. MRS. MORENIKE ALAKA – SECRETARY
3. MRS. LOLA FAGBEMI
4. HON ADENUSI OMOBOYOWA
5. DR (MRS) OSADAHUN
6. MRS. RONKE OJO
7. PRINCESS RONKE EHUWA
8. MRS. A. ADETUTU
9. NORTH SENATORIAL WOMAN LEADER
10. SOUTH SENATORIAL WOMAN LEADER
11. CENTRAL SENATORIAL WOMAN LEADER


*MEDIA COMMITTEE*
1. HON. YEMI OLOWOLABI – CHAIRMAN
2. ME. ALEX KALEJAYE – SECRETARY
3. MR. STEVE OTALORO
4. MR. ROTIMI OGUNLEYE
5. PRINCESS DUPE ADETUWO
6. MRS. FOLAWE SIPASI
7. MR. DAMILOLA ABE
8. AKINWANDE AKINRODOYE
9. JIMOH IBRAHIM


*MEDICAL COMMITTEE*
1. DR. WAHAB ADEGBENRO – CHAIRMAN
2. DR. BOLU ADEBOYE
3. DR. AKEREDOLU – SECRETARY
4. DR. ENIOLA. F


MEMBERS OF THE STATE CAMPAIGN COUNCIL WILL BE FORMALLY INAUGURATED ON WEDNESDAY, 30TH JANUARY, 2019.
VENUE: COCOA CONFERENCE HALL, GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, ALAGBAKA, AKURE
TIME: 8.00pm

MEMEBERS ARE EXPECTED TO BE SEATED BY 7:00PM

SIGNED
ENGR. ADE ADETIMEHIN,
ONDO STATE CHAIRMAN,
ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC)
SOURCE: