₦airaland Forum

‘APC dominance ‘ll accelerate devt’


Following the unprecedented victory of candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just concluded House of Assembly elections in Ondo State, chieftains of the party have affirmed that their dominance of the Hallow Chamber will further accelerate the development of the State.

The Party chieftains, in separate interviews with The Hope, said the ruling APC, with the majority of members of the Hallowed Chamber, enjoined the lawmakers to work hand-in-glove with the governor in the overall interest of their constituents and the state at large.

Their election would no doubt, improve the socio-economic development under the present administration led by Arakunrin Akeredolu when the 9th Assembly is inaugurated.

The party leaders expressed optimism, that the electoral victory for the government of the day is also a sweet story for people of the state, as more dividends of good governance would come their ways following the support the present administration would receive from the new Lawmakers.

According to them, having an Executive and Legislative arms of government on the same page will go a long way in assisting the administration to implement its visions for thorough smooth passage of Bills without rancour.

Sharing his views, Ondo State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Kola Olawoye (SAN), said the anticipated symbiotic relationship between the two arms of government, would go a long way in helping the governor to transfer his lofty aims on paper to tangible programmes and projects.

He commended the Akeredolu-led administration for what it had been able to achieve, especially in the area of infrastructural development even with the little the state had.

Also, a former Lawmaker, Senator Titus Olupitan noted that the House, when dominated by majority of a political party, would eliminate unnecessary delay and squabble between the government and members of the hallowed chamber and would guarantee delivery of more dividends of democracy.

In the same vein, other party leaders, Mr Olaide Adelami and Alex Ajipe, while encouraging the lawmakers to come up with well researched bills that will benefit both the government and citizens, urged both arms to uphold the principle of separation of powers.

They expressed optimism, that the 9th Assembly will breath in legislative business with a call to the lawmakers to ensure proper checks and balances through dialogue.

They admonished the incoming Assembly members to see themselves as one united family with the Executives and collaborate for effective service delivery.

The 9th Assembly is expected to be inaugurated in June with the APC occupying the majority seats with 23 members, PDP 2 members, while Zenith Labour Party has one.

Vote buying has been described as an attribute of poverty and hunger which will not take Nigeria to anywhere but total destruction.

This is the submission of Chief Sehinde Arogbofa in an exclusive chat with The Hope on the electioneering process in Nigeria.

Enhancing Food Production In Ondo state

A major selling point of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s administration from inception is the readiness to put in place a strategic plan for agricultural transformation that revolves round activities which have potential to boost food production as a prelude to food security in the state.

THE resolve to promote food production by the state government was precipitated on recognition that food security is the backbone of any economy. Food security according to the United Nations’ is a state where people have unrestricted economic, social and physical access to nutritious and safe food that can satisfy their dietary needs, for leading a healthy and active life.

AS long as there is food security, the economy has a potential to grow. A nation or community that fails to provide food for its people is at the mercy of those who can.

ACKNOWLEDGING that the only sustainable way to reclaim economic momentum and drive prosperity is to go back to the land and develop agricultural production, Akeredolu’s government has for the umpteenth time restated its commitment to continue making and implementing policies targeted at boosting the agricultural sector. Truth, no amount of fund invested in such endeavour can be a waste as it will pay off in the long run.

AMONG the programmes recently initiated by the government to boost agricultural sector include YOUTH on Ridges, a programme designed for youths to embrace agriculture and create employment through its value chain.

AT the flagg-off of the programme, the governor, assured that they will be trained by experts in various fields of agriculture, while describing the initiative as a veritable opportunity on completion of their trainings, successful participants would be grouped into cooperatives to be able to access finances for their ventures.

THE governor further informed that the “Youth on the Ridges”, was designed to empower youths in agricultural business and engage in agricultural value chain development stressing The programme said to be a deliberate way to create awareness on improved food production, is also expected to arouse the interest of youths in agriculture and promote youth employment by engaging no fewer than 18,000 youths across the state.

IT is heart warming that the Akeredolu administration has created enabling environments for youths and women to take up career in modern agriculture through some interventions which include opening of modern Agricultural Villages and establishment of Cocoa farm to be plotted on hectare basis for youth empowerment to boost cocoa production in the state.

OTHER interventions include training of no fewer than 2,500 youths on Cassava Value Addition, Agri-Business Empowerment Centre, OSAEC, provision of credit facilities for youth and women under FADAMA III among others, not to mention a joint Venture with NNPC for the establishment of Cassava-Ethanol factory at Okeluse, and the CBN/NIRSAL accelerated National Egg production where the state was selected as the pilot state among others.

WHILE we applaud Ondo state’s programmes towards food security we call on government to look into land use tenure and land allocation system such that local governments are apportioned land for agriculture.

WE equally want school farming to be encouraged with government supporting the programmes with facilities and security, and resources.

MORE importantly The Hope advocates cooperation and strong partnership among stakeholders to ensure all categories of food items are available round the year.

THAT way the state will not only be free from hunger but also be playing a leading role in liberating the nation from food crisis.

HE. Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, First Lady of Ondo State Live @ UN CSW63/SIDE EVENT: Topic - Leveraging on media and technology to achieve gender equality goals.

Day 3 @ UN CSW63./SIDE EVENT: Photonews. Arabinrin speaks. Topic: Leveraging on media and technology to achieve gender equality goals. In attendance were many Nigerians living in the US. I thank you o for coming. ��

U ASKED ME WHAT HAS HE DONE? Confidently I replied;

Akeredolu’s unprecedented two-year success on road Construction/Rehabilitation in Ondo.

In less than two years in office, the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu administration in Ondo State has recorded unprecedented success in road constructions and rehabilitations.

Like no other administration before it, Akeredolu has kept to his promise to make both the people’s welfare and infrastructural development of the state a priority of his administration.

The Akeredolu’s magic touch on roads rehabilitation and construction does not discriminate against federal, state or local government roads. That is the case on the Owo-Ikare road and several other roads spread across the three senatorial districts of the Sunshine State.

THE FACTS:
1. Rehabilitation of selected road in Ifon (2.063km)

2. Rehabilitation of Oke Afa Road in Supare (1.448km)

3. Rehabilitation of Lennon Jubile-Solaco Road, Ugbe Road (2.358km)

4. Rehabilitation of failed portion along Iwaro-Oka-Isua Road (900m) and (21.8km)

5. Installation of street light along Owo Dualised Road

6. Construction of GRA roads (2.5km) to Owo dualisation

7. Construction of Iyere/Igbe Road, Owo

8. Construction of Iyere/Ipele Road, Owo (Phase 2)

9. Construction of Melege Junction-Ute township road (9km)

10. Dualisation of road from Emure junction (4.273km) -AUD and from Ministry of Works to Iyere junction (2.963), Owo

11. Construction of Iyere/Ipele Road, Owo (3.50km) Phase 1

12. Dualisation of Ikare Township Road Phase 11

13. Rehabilitation of Owo-Ikare Road (35km)

14. Dualisation of Oke Alabojuto Road, Ikare Phase 1 (0.5km)

15. Construction of 3 No box culverts at Ikare

16. Construction of box culvert and a bridge along Oba-Akoko-Ikun Road

17. Construction of box culvert at Aralepo, Owo

18. 5km pilot scheme RAAMP Project Molege Ute Road

19. Construction of selected roads in I danre (2.76km)

20. Construction of Iwalewa-Alafiaatayo, Iwalewa-Oshinle, Iwalewa-Hospital Road and Abusoro Road, Ijoka Phase 1

21. Construction of Alagbaka SIB-Appeal Court Road (6.02km)

22. Rehabilitation of Igbara-Oke-Isharun and Isharun Township Road (3.1km)

23. Rehabilitation of Igbara-Oke-Ibuji Road (8.1km)

24. Rehabilitation/construction of Oke-Ogba community road (5.412km)

25. Construction of Gaga community township road (5.569km)

26. Reconstruction of Bolorunduro to Fagbo Road (8.50km), Ondo

27. Construction of Ijoka to Idanre Road (15km)

28. Construction of dual carriageway from Oba Adesida (A Division) Oba Osupa (Hospital) Road-Oluwatuyi-Ijoka (8.135km)

29. Rehabilitation of Ondo dual carriage Road Phase 11 (4.3km)

30. Lighting/rehabiitation of Mobil Fiwasaye-Airport Road (8.950km)

31. Rehabilitation of selected roads in Ondo town (7.11km)

32. Dualisation of Ondo township Road ohase 1 (5.5km)

33. Rehabilitation of Access Road Royal Birds Motel/Kayode, Adinlewa Alagbaka, Akure (1.89km)

34. Construction of Army Barracks Network Rods, Akure

35. Construction/Rehabilitation of Ijapo Housing Estate Road (2.817km)

36. Construction of terminal building access road/parking lot at Akure Airport

37. Patching of selected roads in Akure township

38. Construction of Sabomi-Ajagba Road (2.3km)

39. Rehabilitation of Ore township (Mobil-Sabo Juntion (0.5km)

40. Rehabilitation/Construction of Ile-Oluji township Road (5.25km)

41. Construction of Okitipupa Igbokoda Bypass Road phase 1 (10km)

42. Construction of Flyover across Benin/Ore expressway

43. Construction of box culvert, channels, drains and approaches at Ore.

Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Yemi Olowolabi said excellent performances of Ondo State Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was the secrets behind the party’s remarkable outing in last Saturday’s State Assembly elections.

Olowolabi who said this while featuring on Adaba FM 88.9 special programme monitored by The Hope said the excellent performances of the Arakunrin Akeredolu’s Administration in road where it is currently working on 50 road projects all over the state and the “Operation One kilometre” mandate for each local

He said the government had renovated 800 schools in the state as well as the prompt payment of salaries to the civil servants were rewarded with the votes of the Ondo State people.

Olowolabi said that it wasn’t surprising that even Engr. Clement Faboyede, Chairman of PDP in the state acknowledged the remarkable road reconstruction zeal of Arakunrin Akeredolu administration within just two years of its being in place

He said no other administration had performed so well in Ondo State before.

The commissioner who said Ondo State people had expressed their appreciation to Arakunrin Akeredolu by giving APC twenty three seats out of the twenty six available and said oppositions that had been coming to buy radio airtime to make false claims and twist facts.

He used the occasion to reveal that at least eight new industries will soon start operation in Ondo State before the end of the year as five of them are already installing their equipments at the Industrial Park while various water projects in different parts of the state will continue to receive more government attention.

The Management of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba

Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, has concluded arrangements to put up an online repository where research works and papers, and other academic activities would be stored and made available to a global audience.

When operational, the system would put an end to the wastage of intellectual and research works caused by improper and manual storage of such high-value academic activities of both students and other researchers.

The University Librarian, Dr. Rotimi Egunjobi, made the disclosure in his office while speaking with journalists.

“Meant to complement the e-library service of the University, the Repository would be available online round-the-clock, and would enhance the global webometric ranking of the University. It would also expose researchers from the University’s various Centres and Units to the outside world,” the Librarian said.

Egunjobi listed advantages of the Repository to include a permanent and safe storage of University records, as well as serving as a veritable platform to showcase research and other academic activities of the University to the outside world.

He added that researchers and students from across the world would be able to access such data and make appropriate use of them.He explained further that the system would have a solar power back-up to ensure it remains open 24 hours daily.

Uphold right to quality education, Minister urges Nigerians

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, has said every Nigerian child should be assisted to have access to quality education.

Adamu spoke in Abuja, at a news conference to mark the 2019 Commonwealth Day.

The theme of the 2019 Commonwealth Day is: “A Connected Commonwealth.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the day is celebrated annually on the second Monday in March.

The Commonwealth, a voluntary association of independent sovereign states, most countries under the defunct British Empire, has 53 members with about 2.4 billion people.

This year’s celebration marks the 70th anniversary of the formation of the Commonwealth.\

Adamu said that the coming together of the countries under the Commonwealth, contributed to the provision of high-quality education and training, through the sharing of resources and facilities.

According to him, the Commonwealth nations have been cooperating in the pursuit of their common goals and shared values in the areas of education, trade, security, and governance.

“The theme for this year’s celebration emphasizes the need to work together to protect our natural environment and the ocean that we share.

“The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP), was instituted in 1959 to give practical expression to the declared intention of Commonwealth countries to contribute to the provision of high-level education.

“Since its inception, Nigeria has been operating as an awarding country. She maintains scholarship awards to other countries of the Commonwealth such as Sierra Leone.

“As a receiving/nominating country, Nigeria receives awards from other Commonwealth member countries such as UK, New Zealand, and Australia.”

Like a torrent, congratulatory messages poured into Alagbaka Government House yesterday as news filtered in that the Supreme Court has upheld the gubernatorial primary which produced Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as valid.

The news which spread like fire was received with wild jubilation by party chieftains who popped wine to congratulate the governor.

A former speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Victor Olabimtan hailed the judgement which established “One fact that Akeredolu won the primary and by the grace of God is the governor of Ondo State today.”

However, he described the victory as no victor, no vanquished as everybody would work together to move the state forward.

Olabimtan disclosed that Akeredolu would extend his hand of fellowship to “his brother and my own elder brother, Segun Abraham” in the interest of peace and progress and everybody would come together as brothers and sisters in the interest of the party and development of the state.

He added that the judgement would further strengthen the peace and unity in the party as everybody would come and work together to move the party forward.

“What people should learn from this judgement is that, we should not take law into our hands. Segun Abraham did not take law into his hand, but he decided to go to court to ventilate his grievances. Judgement has been given, and to me, no victor, no vanquished. No loser, we are all winners as far as this case is concerned. What are we fighting for? All of us want to make Ondo State a state that all of us can be proud of. To me, we will move forward from here”, Olabimtan emphasised.

He equally said the judgement would make all members to work together to ensure victory for the APC in the Saturday House of Assembly election in the state.

In a related development, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Mobilisation and Political Matters, Mr. Olatunji Ifabiyi has described the Supreme Court judgement in favour of the governor over the legal battle between him and the All Progressives Congress (APC) member, Mr. Segun Abraham as a good omen and victory for democracy.

He said the victory of the governor over the long battle on governorship primary election that produced him as the candidate of the party is a welcome development

Ifabiyi said with the judgement, the judiciary has proved itself as the last hope of the common man.

According to him,” right from the beginning of the case, it was realised that the case lacked merit, and it was clear that we had transparent governorship primary election that produced the governor as the candidate of the party.

He thanked God for vindicating the governor and giving him opportunity to pursue the case patiently in a civil way.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday in Abuja struck out the suit filed by Abraham challenging Akeredolu’s victory at the 2016 APC governorship primary in the state.

An Address by Her Excellency, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu at the Ondo State 2019 International Women’s Day Lecture on the 6th of March, 2019.


Salutation…
Today we dedicate all we have to our common struggle, we expend all available resources to air our common voice. Today we speak in unison, we march in one accord. Today we mark the International Women’s Day, a day dedicated to advancing gender equality all over the world. Every year today, we reestablish our unrelenting and dogged commitment to ensuring that every woman’s right is protected, every woman’s potentials are harnessed and every woman’s independence is assured.

Since the inception of the International Women’s day in 1975, the world has made appreciable progress in closing the gender parity gap, unfortunately, gender based inequality remains a challenge in many parts of the African continent. This year’s International Women’s Day, themed balance for better, tells us that the world becomes a better place when there is gender balance across the socio-economic spectrum.


We know that gender inequality in virtually all spheres of life still persists. The gender parity gap is even worse in developing countries where cultural norms and traditions evidently spell out well constructed gender biased system. For many years of promoting gender equality, not much gain has been made so far.

Although gender equality is a great catalyst for sustainable development, women continue to live as second class citizens in a male dominated Nigeria. Little wonder the country has not made substantial progress in national development. To change this undesirable narrative, conscientious effort must be made towards empowering women.
The empowerment of our women cannot be left to chance. As Ester Duflor (a gender issues expert) puts it “achieving gender equality throughout the socio-economic spectrum will not automatically follow development, there is a need to carryout deliberate actions targeted at improving women’s decision making power at both the household and societal level.”
In the wake of the gender parity realities in Ondo state and its daunting effect on family health and wellbeing, the forum of wives of Ondo state officials and female political appointees typically known as FOWOSO, has been working tirelessly to improve the socio-economic status of women in Ondo state. Thousands of women across the 18 LGAs of the state have been empowered with skill acquisition, empowerment items and health information. These women are now leading better lives.

Young girls are not left out as we strive to bridge gender gap in science and technology. The BEMORE Summer boot camp, an initiative of the First Lady of Ondo state, has successfully trained over 700 girls to become proficient in ICT and solar technology. In addition, the partnership between the Office of the First Lady of Ondo state, Ministry of Women Affairs and FOWOSO as led to the launching of the Solayo initiative.

Today, through the SOLAYO initiative, we demonstrate our commitment to promoting safe motherhood in Ondo state by distributing birth kits to all needy pregnant women across the 18 LGAs of Ondo state.
The uniqueness of this year’s international women’s day in Ondo state is not just the launching of SOLAYO, it is also the fact that wives of the local government chairmen will serve as hosts at their various local government areas thereby promoting participation and raising awareness of international women’s day as an annual event among women at the grassroots.

Although FOWOSO has been the major group galvanizing actions for the elevation of status of women in Ondo state, it should be clear to all that the quest for gender equality is not the responsibility of women alone. All individuals and institutions must work unanimously to create a gender balanced society.

We must all take our stand against traditions and norms that discriminate against women. We must all draw our swords against all forms of abuse against women. We must never relent on our pursuit for a gender balanced society.
Thank you. God bless the women of Ondo state.

An Address by Her Excellency, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu at the Ondo State 2019 International Women’s Day Lecture on the 6th of March, 2019.


Salutation…
Today we dedicate all we have to our common struggle, we expend all available resources to air our common voice. Today we speak in unison, we march in one accord. Today we mark the International Women’s Day, a day dedicated to advancing gender equality all over the world. Every year today, we reestablish our unrelenting and dogged commitment to ensuring that every woman’s right is protected, every woman’s potentials are harnessed and every woman’s independence is assured.

Since the inception of the International Women’s day in 1975, the world has made appreciable progress in closing the gender parity gap, unfortunately, gender based inequality remains a challenge in many parts of the African continent. This year’s International Women’s Day, themed balance for better, tells us that the world becomes a better place when there is gender balance across the socio-economic spectrum.


We know that gender inequality in virtually all spheres of life still persists. The gender parity gap is even worse in developing countries where cultural norms and traditions evidently spell out well constructed gender biased system. For many years of promoting gender equality, not much gain has been made so far.

Although gender equality is a great catalyst for sustainable development, women continue to live as second class citizens in a male dominated Nigeria. Little wonder the country has not made substantial progress in national development. To change this undesirable narrative, conscientious effort must be made towards empowering women.
The empowerment of our women cannot be left to chance. As Ester Duflor (a gender issues expert) puts it “achieving gender equality throughout the socio-economic spectrum will not automatically follow development, there is a need to carryout deliberate actions targeted at improving women’s decision making power at both the household and societal level.”
In the wake of the gender parity realities in Ondo state and its daunting effect on family health and wellbeing, the forum of wives of Ondo state officials and female political appointees typically known as FOWOSO, has been working tirelessly to improve the socio-economic status of women in Ondo state. Thousands of women across the 18 LGAs of the state have been empowered with skill acquisition, empowerment items and health information. These women are now leading better lives.

Young girls are not left out as we strive to bridge gender gap in science and technology. The BEMORE Summer boot camp, an initiative of the First Lady of Ondo state, has successfully trained over 700 girls to become proficient in ICT and solar technology. In addition, the partnership between the Office of the First Lady of Ondo state, Ministry of Women Affairs and FOWOSO as led to the launching of the Solayo initiative.

Today, through the SOLAYO initiative, we demonstrate our commitment to promoting safe motherhood in Ondo state by distributing birth kits to all needy pregnant women across the 18 LGAs of Ondo state.
The uniqueness of this year’s international women’s day in Ondo state is not just the launching of SOLAYO, it is also the fact that wives of the local government chairmen will serve as hosts at their various local government areas thereby promoting participation and raising awareness of international women’s day as an annual event among women at the grassroots.

Although FOWOSO has been the major group galvanizing actions for the elevation of status of women in Ondo state, it should be clear to all that the quest for gender equality is not the responsibility of women alone. All individuals and institutions must work unanimously to create a gender balanced society.

We must all take our stand against traditions and norms that discriminate against women. We must all draw our swords against all forms of abuse against women. We must never relent on our pursuit for a gender balanced society.
Thank you. God bless the women of Ondo state.

Mrs Akeredolu exchanges pleasantries with distinguished guests at the ongoing Women's Day celebration mapped out to acknowledge and appreciate the social economic, cultural and political achievement for women. As they make call for action on acceleration of gender balance.
Anyone here?

The wife of the Governor of Ondo State, Her Excellency, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu is now addressing the celebrants of the 2019 International Women's Day celebration #BalanceforBetter

Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu will be launching the "Kasolayo" scheme for pregnant women. #BalanceforBetter

The two year legal tussle to unseat Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) by a member of his party, Chief Segun Abraham has crashed like a pack of cards at the Supreme Court.

In a unanimous verdict yesterday, the highest court threw out the case for lack of competence and being statue barred.

The court held that Abraham failed to file his case within the stipulated 14 days after the cause of action.

According to the court, Abraham approached the court 28 days after the primary election he was challenging instead of the stipulated 14 days.

One of the counsel to Governor Akeredolu, Olumide Olujinmi explained that “there is an interlocutory appeal to the court of Appeal and the appeal Court said by virtues of the court operations, nobody has the right to interlocutory appeal

“It’s that complain we took to the Supreme Court that we have a right to interlocutory appeal and the Supreme Court, said that the case that is pending at the Federal High Court was not competent. So, there is no need for argument and therefore struck out the case.”

Meanwhile, Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has described his over two year legal battle victory at the Supreme Court with a party member, Mr Segun Abraham as a victory for the entire progressive family of the Sunshine State including his challenger, Mr Abraham.

His reaction was contained in a press statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Yemi Olowolabi, a copy which was made available to The Hope.

The Supreme Court had on Tuesday in Abuja thrashed the suit filed by Segun Abraham in which he challenged Akeredolu’s victory at the 2016 APC governorship primary in Ondo State.

The Apex court held that, in line with the provision of the fourth alteration especially Section 285(11) of the 1999 constitution, that Segun Abraham failed to file his case within the stipulated 14 days after the cause of action, thus statute barred.

According to the statement, the Governor expressed his appreciation to the people of State and the All Progressives Congress (APC), for standing by him and his government during the legal battle between himself and a party member, Mr. Segun Abraham.

“The victory is for all Nigerians who believe in the rule of law and democracy, adding that there is no victor or vanquished in the ruling.

He further described as victory for democracy, the judgement of the Supreme Court, which struck out the case instituted against him by Olusegun Abraham, who came second in the keenly contested September 3, 2016 All Progressives Congress, APC, Governorship primary election in Ondo State.

While appreciating the people of Ondo State and members of the, APC, for their steadfastness throughout the period of the needless litigation, Akeredolu called on Mr. Segun Abraham to join hands with him in the patriotic task of building a new Ondo State.

The Governor says “there is no victor, no vanquished. The victory is for everyone who wants the best for Ondo State and Segun Abraham is one of us. In other words, we are all winners”, he said.

Arakunrin Akeredolu, therefore, dedicates the victory to the people of Ondo State, who he described as democrats to the core.

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday told Nigerians to see the peaceful conduct of the February 23 presidential election as a victory for the nation.

Noting that an election should not be seen as a war, the President said the “victory is enough cause for joy without deriding those in the opposition now that election is over.”

The President’s message was contained in his remarks at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja, after receiving the Certificate of Return as the president-elect from the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

Buhari’s deputy and running mate Prof Yemi Osinbajo also got the Certificate of Return as vice president-elect.

Besides, the President urged Nigerians to stand in brotherhood for a bright and fulfilling future, assuring that his administration will be inclusive and open.

Buhari, whose second term in office will begin on May 29, also assured Nigerians of seeing the country moving to the “Next Level”.

The ICC, which was being used as the Collation Office for the presidential election, also hosted governors, ministers, members of the private sector and supporters of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The President also reached out to his opponents at the poll, urging them to join him to build the country that will be a pride to all.

He said: “I am grateful to God for sparing our lives to witness another milestone in Nigeria’s democratic development, namely conclusion of the presidential election in an overwhelmingly peaceful manner.

“I wish, Mr Chairman, to congratulate all the presidential candidates and their teams on a hard-fought campaign. We may have had different views during the campaign, but the one thing most of us have in common is love of our country and our desire to improve conditions for Nigerians.

“From the comments of several observers both local and foreign, it is obvious that the elections were both free and fair.

“Now that the elections are over, and a winner declared, we must all see it as a victory for Nigeria, our dear country. That was why I encouraged my teeming supporters, in a speech I read earlier today, not to gloat.

“Our God-given victory is enough cause for joy, without deriding those who were in the opposition. All Nigerians, going forward, must stand in brotherhood, for a bright and fulfilling future.



“I, therefore, want to assure that we will continue to engage all parties that have the best interest of Nigerians at heart. Our government will remain inclusive and our doors will remain open.

“That is the way to build the country of our dream; safe, secure, prosperous and free of impunity and primitive accumulation by those entrusted with public offices.

“The hard work to deliver a better Nigeria continues, building on the foundations of peace, rule of law and opportunities for all. We will roll up our sleeves afresh, and give it our all.

MEMBERS and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the three senatorial districts of Ondo State trooped out on Wednesday to celebrate the victory of the party and President Muhammadu Buhari.

The celebration took place simultaneously at the state Secretariat of the party at Oyemekun road, Akure in the Central Senatorial district while the celebration was also held in Owo in the Northern Senatorial District of the state, while members of the party in the South Senatorial district converged on Igbokoda, in Ilaje local government area of the state to celebrate the President’s victory.
Although the APC lost the election in the state, the people said they are committed to the success of the Buhari’s administration

They explained that the state has shown commitment by kicking all odds and local sentiments to secure the result the party recorded.

The Chairman of the party in the state Hon Ade Adetimehin said the party has learnt its lesson from the loss recorded in the last Saturday’s elections, saying the party in the state must celebrate the President’s victory being the victory of the party and the people of Nigeria.

He said: ” We have learnt our lessons, we will bounce back better after we must have put our house in order. We are for Buhari here and we can’t change overnight. That notwithstanding, we have shown so much commitment to the re-election of Mr President
.“Our story is simple, though unfortunate, we are ready to go back to the drawing table. Our commitment is unshakable, our loyalty is unalloyed. Under the leadership of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, we are core Buharists.

“Our painful lost in the last Saturday’s elections has been rubbed off by the victory of President Buhari.”

Adetimehin explained that the NPower scheme, trader moni and all other life touching intervention of the President will be taken into the next level with maximum attention to touching more lives.

He said the state will soon benefit from the massive infrastructural development which will see to the passing of a railway through Akure, the state capital and other areas.

In Owo, the party leaders and supporters trooped to the street, singing victory songs across the street of the town. Owo is the home town of Governor Akeredolu. The party won the local government for President Buhari in the last election.

One of the prominent leaders of the party, Alex Ajipe said: “We are celebrating here today in Owo because our voices merged with that of our people across the federation. Don’t forget that Buhari won in this local government. We are not unmindful of the unfortunate result recorded in the state where Buhari lost.

“But, our people must understand the underlying factors that led to the loss of Mr President in Ondo State. Apart from the fact that last Saturday’s elections were full of surprises across the country, the post-primary issue was a big factor.


https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/193332/

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI ON THE OUTCOME OF FEBRUARY 23, 2019 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

My Dear Nigerians,

First and foremost, I give thanks to Almighty God Who has spared our lives to witness another victory for Nigerian democracy and victory for our party APC.

2. I thank the millions of Nigerians who voted to re-elect me as your president for the next four years. I am deeply humbled and profoundly grateful to you for judging me worthy of continuing to serve you and for your peaceful conduct.

3. In particular, I would like to thank Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for his masterful leadership as Co-chair of the Campaign Council. I would like to also thank the Party Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, the Director General of the Campaign Council Rotimi Amaechi, all members of the Presidential Campaign Council and other various Support Groups.

4. My grateful thanks to all those who contributed to the logistical expenses of the campaign in such a vast country like Nigeria.

5. I also thank the millions of volunteers, self-appointed overseers, canvassers, agents, escorts and sentries who sacrificed so much of their time and resources to ensure the success of these elections. I do not have the words adequate to thank them.

6. Although Saturday’s elections were relatively peaceful, troublemakers in a handful of states attempted to disrupt an otherwise orderly process. Security agencies will bring to justice all those arrested in the process.

7. I am very sad at the grievous loss of lives during these elections. Security agencies will step up their efforts to protect voters in the forthcoming State elections.

8. I would like to commend our security agencies, as severely overstretched as they are, for handling the difficult task of securing the country during the election period.

9. I will like to make a special appeal to my supporters not to gloat or humiliate the opposition. Victory is enough reward for your efforts.

10. We give thanks also to our Domestic and International observers for contributing to the success of our elections and for their interest in our country and our developing democracy.

11. The new Administration will intensify its efforts in Security, Restructuring the Economy and Fighting Corruption. We have laid down the foundation and we are committed to seeing matters to the end. We will strive to strengthen our unity and inclusiveness so that no section or group will feel left behind or left out.


http://thenationonlineng.net/full-text-of-buharis-acceptance-speech/

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has struck out the case seeking to disqualify President Muhammadu Buhari from the 2019 elections over circumstances surrounding his school certificate.

BUHARI A lawyer, Lezina Amegua, had prayed the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to disqualify the President, but the trial judge, Justice Ishaq Sani, struck out the case for lack of merit. Also joined as respondents in the suit were All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Amegua had sought an order of the court for the President to produce his original school certificate or its equivalent and master sheet of the said results before the court and for INEC to also tender receipt of its record of same documents or its equivalent submitted to it by the President. Justice Sani, in his ruling, said the plaintiff from the facts deposed to in his affidavit in support, did not show how production of the first defendant’s original school certificate or its equivalent affects his interest as an individual.

The court further held that the plaintiff did not contest any electoral position in 2015, neither was he a presidential candidate nor a political party to protest the participation and qualification of the President in 2015 and the 2019 general election.

According to Justice Sani, “the concept of locus standi focuses not on the merit of the case, but of the person seeking to approach the court. “The essence is to protect the court from being used as playground by professional litigants, busy bodies, meddlesome interlopers and cranks that have no real stake or interest in the subject matter of the litigation they seek to pursue.

“I agree with learned counsel for the fourth defendant that the plaintiff has no relationship with the reliefs in this suit and to grant same as rightly submitted would amount to opening the floodgates for the institution of actions, whether or not it affects the right of the plaintiff.

“There must be a dispute between a person who makes a claim and the one against whom the claim is made and the action must be justiciable.

“Plaintiff must show that the act complained of affects rights and obliga-tions peculiar or personal thereto. He must also show that his private rights have been infringed upon or there is a threat of such infringement or injury.”

WITH 60 seats won by its candidates at last Saturday’s National Assembly election, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to maintain dominance in the Ninth Senate.

The number will give the APC numerical strength in the Red Chamber. It will also enjoy a simple majority.

It will, however, not afford the APC the luxury of a two-third majority in the upper chamber.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won 34 of the seats announced as at the close of yesterday. The Young Progressive Party (YPP) won a senatorial seat in Anambra State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the election in four senatorial districts inconclusive. It was yet to announce the results from 11 senatorial zones as at the time of going to press last night.

There are 109 seats in the upper chamber of the National Assembly. They are made up of three senators from each of the 36 states. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has one slot.

The APC won all the 20 of the 21 slots from the Northwest which has 21 slots. The result of the remaining zone was yet to be declared as at yesterday.

It won in 13 of the 18 slots in the Southwest. The PDP clinched three seats and the election in the other two senatorial zones was declared inconclusive by the electoral umpire.

Also in the Northeast, the APC clinched 13 slots. The PDP won three. One was inconclusive.

In the Southsouth, the PDP won 15 of the 18 senatorial seats, leaving two to the APC. One was yet to be declared.

The PDP won seven seats in the Southeast. The APC took two. The results from four were yet to be declared and one inconclusive. The YPP won one slot.

WHO IS WHO in the RACE FOR Senate

SOUTH WEST

LAGOS
Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Central) – APC

Senator Adeola Solomon (West) – APC

Bayo Oshinowo (East) – APC

EKITI
Prince Dayo Adeyeye (South) – APC

Opeyemi Bamidele (Central) – APC

Bunmi Adetunbi (North) – APC

OYO
Kolawole Balogun (South) – PDP

Teslim Folarin (Central) – APC

Abdulfatah Buhari (North) – APC

OSUN
Ajibolan Bashiru (Osun) – APC

Adelere Orilowo (West) – APC

Francis Fadahunsi (East) – PDP

ONDO
Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice (North) APC

(South) – Incoclusive

Ayo Akinyelure (Central) PDP

OGUN
Ibikunle Amosun (Central) – APC

Tolu Odebiyi (West) – APC

Lekan Mustapha (East) – APC



NORTHWEST

KANO
Malam lbrahim Shekarau (Central) APC

Alhaji Kabuki lbrahim Gaya (South) APC

Mallam Barau Jibrin (North) APC

KADUNA
Uba Sani (Central) APC

Suleiman Abdu Kwari (North) APC

Danjuma La’ah (South) APC

KATSINA
Kabir Barkiya (Central) APC

Bello Mandiya (South) APC

Ahmed Baba-Kaita (North) APC

GOMBE
Danjuma Goje (Central) APC

Saidu Alkali (North) APC

Amos Bunus (South) APC

JIGAWA
Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia (Northeast) APC

Danladi Sankara (Northwest) APC

Senator Muhammed Sabo Naku (Central) APC

SOKOTO
Aliyu Wamakko (North) APC

Abdulahi Ibrahim Gobir (East) APC

Abubakar Shehu Tambuwal (South) APC

ZAMFARA
Abdulaziz Yari (West) APC

Tijani Yahaya Kawa (North) APC

Yet-to-be (announced) Central

KEBBI
Ibn Na’Allah (South) APC

Adamu Aliero (Central) APC

Yaya Abdulahi (North) APC



NORTH EAST:

ADAMAWA
Aishatu Dairu Binani (Central) APC

Ishaku Cliff (North) PDP

Bino Yero (South) PDP

BAUCHI
Haliru Jiga (Central) APC

Lawal Yahya (South) APC

Court to decide candidate (North) APC

BORNO
Kashim Shettima (Central) APC

Ali Ndume (South) APC

Abubakar Kyari (North) APC

TARABA
Emmanuel Bwacha (South) PDP

Two yet to be announced

YOBE
Ibrahim Gaidam (East) APC

Ibrahim Bomoi (South) APC

Ahmed Lawan (North) APC



SOUTH EAST:

ABIA
Theodore Orji (Central) PDP

Orji Uzor Kalu (North) APC

Yet to be declared (South)

ANAMBRA
Ifeanyi Uba (South) YPP

Two others yet to be declared

EBONYI
Sam Egwu (North) PDP

Michael Ama Nnachi (South) PDP

Obinna Ogba (Central) PDP

ENUGU
Ike Ekweremadu (West) PDP

Chimaroke Nnamani (East) PDP

Chuka Utazi (North) PDP

IMO
Rochas Okorocha (West) APC

North (inconclusive)

East (yet to be declared)



SOUTHSOUTH

AKWA IBOM
Bassey Albert (North East) PDP

Christopher Ekpeyong (Northwest) PDP

Akon Eyak (South) PDP

BAYELSA
Donye Diri (Central) PDP

Lawrence Ewrujakpor (West) PDP

East (yet to be announced)

CROSS RIVER
Dr Sandy Onor (Central) PDP

Senator Rose Oko (North) PDP

Senator Gershom Bassey (South) PDP

RIVERS
Thompson George Sekibo (East) PDP

Betty Apiafi (West) PDP

Parry Mpigi (South-East) PDP

DELTA
James Manager (South) PDP

Ovie Omo-Agege (Central) APC

Peter Nwaobochi (North) PDP

EDO
Mathew Urhoghide (South) PDP

Clifford Ordia (Central) PDP

Framcis Alimikkhena (North) APC



NORTH CENTRAL

BENUE
Orker Jev (Northwest) PDP

Abba Moro( ) PDP

Gabriel Suswam ( ) PDP

KOGI
Oseni Yakubu (Central) APC

East (inconclusive)

Dino Melaye (West) PDP

KWARA
Oloriegbe Yahya Ibrahim (Central) APC

Lola Ashiru (South) APC

Umar Sadiq (North) APC

NASARAWA
Umaru Tanko Al-Makura (South) APC

Senator Abdullahi Adamu (West) APC

Godiya Akwashiki (North) APC

NIGER
Aliyu Shabi Abdullah (North) APC

Mohammed Bima (South) APC

Mohammed Sani Musa (East) APC

PLATEAU
Not yet announced



FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY
Philip Aduda (PDP)

http://thenationonlineng.net/how-they-stand-in-the-race-for-senate-apc-60-pdp-34-ypp-1/

Experts in the agricultural sector have called on Ondo State Government to ensure there is restriction of movement of birds to the state to prevent the outbreak of Avian Influenza.

These experts who spoke with The Hope in Akure said the effect of the disease can be devastating since it is transmittable and has no cure for it.
A veterinary consultant, Dr Idowu Akingbade who is also a public health consultant said the most active thing to do is to mount a preventive measure so that it will not affect the poultry industry in the state through awareness of both the farmers and the general public.

“Government should mount a preventive measure so that it does not affect the poultry industry in the state. Should it affect it, that means a collapse of the industry and that can affect the economy of the state.

“In the same way, it will also affect the food value chain because the egg producers will not be able to produce and that can lead to food scarcity particularly meat from poultry.

“It should also be noted that there is no cure for the disease once it has started the expression of the symptoms and we have called on farmers not to vaccinate their bird if they notice the symptoms becuase the vaccines are not effective and can bring a different chain of the virus leading to a severe outbreak. Sensitisation is already going on particularly those farmers that are being covered by veterinary doctors.

“We have been telling them to step up there biosecurity measures, that is the upgrade of their sanitary measures, high personal hygiene practice among workers and in the farm to prevent the spread,” he advised.

Akingbade who called on the state government to resuscitate the moribund hatchery centers in both the state ministry of agriculture and ADP said there is no single hatchery center in the state which is why farmers go to neighbouring states to buy day old chicks.

“Egg sellers and chicken sellers should not go to states where there is outbreak already so that they will not import the disease to the state”.

He called on the media to sensitise the public to maintain high personal hygiene and advised that there is regular washing of hands adding that dead bird should not be eaten.

He also called on people who don’t have business in poultry farms should not go there and not touch birds and in case they do, they should follow the laid down hygiene standard.

Also, a general agriculturist and farm supervisor of Luhare Laboratory, Akure, Mr Oladapo Ewete said the normal thing to do when animals are being moved from one location to another is to quarantine them to check if the animals are diseased or not.

According to him, if they are diseased, they should be kept from other flock to prevent the spread of the disease.

Ewete also called on the state government to do public awareness through extension agents. According to him, farmers should be educated on how to identify the viral infection, how to diagnose, prevent and control it.

THE administration of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu is two years. The political implication of this fact is that the administration has come to the middle of its tenure in the governance of Ondo State. There remains therefore, all things being equal, less than two more years for the administration to deliver on its promises to the Ondo State inhabitants before the onset of another election in the State.

ARAKUNRIN Rotimi Akeredolu has hit the ground running, giving the impression that as he is one of the people, he was there to listen and to act on their behalf, thus changing the nomenclature and address of the Governor of the State, to my fellow man, Arakunrin. However, while some political cohorts in the State have seen this change of salutation as a ruse, many of the commoners in the State have perceived the name ‘Arakunrin’ as being a nomenclature in creed, truth, and deed. To the former, the Governor has its own agenda, aside party aspirations, while the latter see the Governor as a listener who does what he promises to do for his people.

THE administration came in at a time, when the economy of the state and the nation loosened very grim. Workers were groaning under the yoke of unpaid six months’ salary and contractors could not deliver on their promises due to lack of funds, In addition to these, several building of educational institutions in the state wore sorry sights, and roads in Ondo State were nothing but death traps. In addition to this, the cries of workers who were unjustly relieved of the jobs at the State owned tertiary institutions were hopeful at the inauguration of their new government.

WITHIN a space of two years, this administration has touched the lives of people. Those who fell under the sledge hammer of unjust retrenchment were reinstated to work with benefits; Civil servants smiled to the bank every month for their salaries, while only one month arrears of the owed salaries is yet to be cleared. Several primary schools have a new look, and the environment is such that encourages learning. Specifically, the administration had embarked on development programs in the agricultural sector through distribution of cocoa and cashew seedlings; establishment of rice production projects and fertilizer blending plants, amongst several other projects. Added to this are several road projects in all the Senatorial districts and the pursuit of the establishment of a Dock in Ondo State, as well as the relentless pursuit of the profitable exploitation of Bitumen in the State. Thus, the rural areas are being opened up through road construction and rehabilitation and efforts are ongoing to provide potable water to the citizens of the State. In other words, the people are having a feel of government in their local areas.

HOWEVER, THE HOPE observes that contrary to the promises of the administration, the people are being alienated from local governance by the continual use of local government caretaker committees

The 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 President in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said he was overwhelmed with the show of love and support by the Presidential Candidates.

He said while receiving them in Abuja that “I am overwhelmed by your patriotism. The least you could do was to deny me votes in your immediate constituencies. However much your people loved me, they would have voted for their own first.

“I am really overwhelmed by your support”.

President Buhari said he was glad that Nigerians understood the three fundamentals on which the administration was anchored namely; securing the country, reviving the economy, and fighting corruption.

He accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of mismanagement of funds for 16 years while in government.

“There is a compelling need for historians and economists to document the 16 years squander-mania and mismanagement by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), so that future generation would not repeat the same mistakes”

The President listed many achievements in the three focal areas and declared.

“We lost unimaginable revenue in the 16 years of mismanagement of the country by the previous PDP administrations. Look at the state of roads, rail, power, and infrastructure generally, as of 2015, when we came into office. The roads were not done, neither were they even maintained.

“The number of lives and property lost on Lagos/Ibadan Expressway on a daily basis, for instance, was very sad and tragic. And many other roads like that in the country. If the various administrations had a fixed infrastructure, Nigerians would have simply minded their businesses.

“They wouldn’t bother about who even governs them. But the mismanagement was unparalleled. Our historians and economists should help document it, so that future generations would take note, and not repeat the mistakes.”

President Buhari said after contesting four times, “before God agreed with me in 2015, I had a clear plan of what I wanted to do, and people are now seeing the progress we are making.”

Chairman of the Forum, Shitu Mohammed Kabir, (MON), of Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), said they decided to throw in their lots with President Buhari because of advances made in security, economy, fighting corruption, infrastructural development, agricultural revolution, and many others.

According to Kabir, “Nigerian political landscape is taking a new dimension…As a group of political parties committed to the realization of a new Nigeria, we identify with these laudable feats of the President, which are in proximity with ours, as exemplified in our manifestoes.

“We, therefore, wish to support President Buhari’s candidacy in the coming election, and direct all our teeming members across the length and breadth of Nigeria to go out in their numbers, to vote for APC candidates, Muhammadu Buhari/Yemi Osinbajo, in the coming election.”

Other members of the Forum that acquiesced to the endorsement include Hon Edozie Madu, Independent Democrats; Danjuma Mohammed, Movement for Restoration & Defence of Democracy; Yusuf Nadabo Dantalle, Allied Peoples Movement; Ahmed Buhari, Save Nigeria Party; and Alhaji Isah B. Dansarki, Mass Movement of Nigeria.

Ikechukwu Nwaokafor, Advance Congress of Democrats; Alista Soyode, Yes Party; Barrister Charles Ogbali, Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party; Kenneth Ibe Kalu, United Peoples Congress; Comrade Isiyaka Paul Femili, Nigeria Element Progressive Party; and Robinson Akpu, National Democratic Liberty Party.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari would congratulate anybody who emerges as the winner, in a free, fair and credible Presidential election that comes up tomorrow, even as the President is sure of winning

Bulama said its pertinent for the Campaign Council to thank the APC supporters and volunteers who carried out the campaign free of violence. According to him, minimal or insignificant violence was recorded with APC supporters. According to him, this was possible because of the charge given to them by the President on the Campaign Council inauguration day that he would not accept a violent campaign.

Asked what would be the reaction of the President should he lose, the Presidential Campaign Council Deputy Director General said, “The outcome of this election, if free, fair and credible would be accepted by President Muhammad Buhari and by the party. “If we win, which is very, very likely we will congratulate Nigerians for having participated in a free, fair and peaceful election.

That is number one. Number two, we are not even going to celebrate or over-celebrate because an election success of President Muhammadu Buhari is another burden on him and this man would want to do more than he has done.

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.

Akeredolu inspects Igbara Oke /Isarun /Ibuji roads, says the people deserve dividend of governance

Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Tuesday inspected the ongoing road construction in Igbara Oke / Isarun and Ibuji in Ifedore Local Government Area of the state.

The Akeredolu's administration is constructing 3.1km road in Igbara Oke /Isarun road while another 8.1km road is ongoing at the Igbara Oke /Ibuji road.

The Governor said the people of the state deserve dividend of governance . He assured the people that the state has just started witnessing massive infrastructural development.

The governor described the Igbara Oke road as an important route which connects the State with other neighbouring states of Osun and Ekiti.

psucc:
Traditional rulers to end banditry? Then government ends development, I guess

is Buhari only the government.

All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole yesterday warned state chairmen, secretaries and governorship candidates of the party against complacency in the coming elections.

He said the party must win in a free and fair manner.

Oshiomhole spoke at a crucial meeting with state critical stakeholders ahead of the presidential election scheduled for the weekend.

The meeting, which started at about 8.30pm also have in attendance, party’s governorship candidates with the exemption of siting governors who are seeking re-election.

The Nation gathered that the state chairmen, secretaries and governorship candidates were briefed on preparation for the elections and what is expected them.

The chairmen and the candidates reportedly briefed the NWC on their preparation for the election and the challenges.

Senatorial candidates who were supposed to be part of the meeting were later excluded.

A statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu was silent on the details of what they discussed.

Oshiomhole said the meeting became imperative to review and deliberate on the party’s preparation and general issues ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

Isa-Onilu said in the statement: “Oshiomhole stated the party’s national leadership identified the state executives represented at the meeting by their respective chairmen and secretaries as an important grassroots base that will work and ensure the party’s victory in the presidential, governorship, National and State Houses of Assembly elections.

“The National Chairman who hailed the huge turnout of party supporters in the presidential campaign rallies held so far, charged the state executives to work cordially with APC governors and stakeholders in their respective states to ensure the election of all APC candidates.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/oshiomhole-warns-apc-chairmen-secretaries-against-complacency/

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has urged traditional rulers to do more in curbing banditry and kidnapping in their communities.

According to him, he felt disappointed that people who were allegedly close to some of them were found to have a hand in such criminality.

The President spoke yesterday at a meeting with the royal fathers in the Government House in Gusau, Zamfara State, as part of the ongoing campaigns.

In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President expressed the determination of his administration to defend the country from criminals and insurgents.

“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,” he said.

Referring to the deployment of a large number of security personnel to the state, Buhari said 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 hailed the gallantry of the security agencies in battling kidnapping and banditry.

Buhari said: “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.”

He 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.”

Council of Traditional Rulers Chairman and Emir of Anka Alhaji Attahiru Ahmed and Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar hailed the President’s efforts in changing the state’s security situation.

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.

http://thenationonlineng.net/buhari-uges-traditional-rulers-to-end-banditry/

Seven Hundred Youths and Women from the eighteen local government areas of Ondo state are to commence skills acquisition programme today across the state.

They had earlier attended an orientation program last month for the commencement of the training.

The Special Adviser to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Public and Intergovernmental Relations, Mrs Olubunmi Ademosu said beneficiaries in the northern part of the state should report at either of the council secretariats in Ikare Akoko and Owo while those in the south are billed to have their trainings at the council secretariats in Igbokoda and Okitipupa council secretariats

Trainees from the central senatorial district would be trained at the Skill Acqisition Center at Oke Ijebu in Akure and Ondo West council secretariat.

Mrs Ademosu advised that the trainees should register at the centre nearest to them.

https://orangefm.com.ng/seven-hundred-youths-women-to-benefit-from-ondo-state-skill-acquisition-today/

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)

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

398,958 PVCs yet to be collected – Ondo INEC

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.

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.

Not fewer than one thousand clerics across major faiths in Nigeria today, Thursday stormed Abuja at a “grand finale” rally to endorse President Muhammadu Buhari for second term. According to the various clerics, President Buhari was anointed to lead the country for eight years, and as such, should be given the necessary support for him to fulfill the prophecy, the National Inter-Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace (NIFROP) has said.

The inter-father group, therefore, called on Nigerians not to disrupt the flow of God’s blessing to the land, rather support the reelection bid of President Buhari, so he could continue running the errand God has sent him.

Bishop Sunday Garuba, gave this charge on Wednesday in Abuja at the grand rally of 1,000 clerics for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari According to the cleric, the Buhari-led government has been winning the war against insurgency and should be allowed to continue the task for another four years.

Parts of his address read: Before the National Inter-Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace [NIFROP] announced today’s rally sometimes last week, we had been led by the spirit to hold forty days of fasting and prayer.

In the course of this exercise, undertaken on behalf of the nation, it was revealed to us that President Buhari is God’s anointed to lead Nigeria to greater heights. The message we got included the one from the Book of Isaiah 32 “Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice.

2 Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.

3 Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention.

4 The heart of the hasty will understand and know, and the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak distinctly.

5 The fool will no more be called noble, nor the scoundrel said to be honourable.” The Lord revealed to us concerning Nigeria that “(Philippians 1:6) being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” It is in a similar fashion that we came to the realization that President Buhari, who began many good things in the interest of Nigeria, will continue to improve on the good things he is doing for the country during his second term in office as ordained by God.

We consequently relayed the message to Nigerians not to disrupt the flow of God’s blessing to the land, which requires that the person already anointed to lead the country, in the person of President Buhari, is allowed to continue running the errand God has sent him. At the end of the forty days of fasting and prayers, we relayed this message to Nigerians so that they will be guided when the time comes to cast their votes. But we have seen that the devil is hard at work trying to get Nigerians to violate the instruction given unto them as to who to elect.