Odunlami Seun - Abeokuta, Ogun State
Taiwo Taiwo Foundation is set to host an extraordinary event for children in Abeokuta on the occasion of Children's Day. This year's celebration, themed "Heroes of Tomorrow, Adventure Awaits You," promises to be a memorable experience with the Annual Children Jamboree and Treasure Hunt.

The foundation, known for its commitment to uplifting the less privileged, aims to bring children from all walks of life together in a day filled with fun, laughter, and learning. The event is particularly focused on providing an inclusive atmosphere where the less privileged children can feel valued and celebrated.

The jamboree will take place at the scenic Olokuta Estate in Idi Aba, offering a safe and vibrant environment for the children to explore and enjoy. The highlight of the day is expected to be the Treasure Hunt, an adventure that will not only entertain but also inspire the young minds to discover their potential and dream big.

The event will start by 12 noon, and the foundation invites all children to join in the festivities. The Taiwo Taiwo Foundation believes that every child is a hero in the making and this event is a step towards nurturing the leaders of tomorrow starting from today.

According to the founder of the foundation, Mr. Taiwo Ahmed, Taiwo Taiwo Foundation was established in 2010, aims to provide basic amenities and education to underprivileged children in order to give them a chance at a better future, according to the organization's founder, Mr. Taiwo Ahmed.

Mr. Taiwo explained that the foundation was created after he saw a child walking to school without proper clothing or supplies. This experience inspired him to help children from low-income communities access education, food, and other necessities.

Taiwo Taiwo Foundation runs several initiatives focused on Children's welfare, including donating school supplies and uniforms. They also organize community food drives to feed hungry families.

In addition, the organization empowers women through skills training and microloans. Recently, the foundation donated 2 million million naira to support women's entrepreneurship programs.

Mr. Taiwo emphasized the importance of giving children and women the tools to build self-sufficiency and dignity. By improving lives today, the Taiwo Taiwo Foundation hopes to create a better tomorrow for the community.


The foundation website is https://www.ttfoundation.org


Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/people/Taiwo-Taiwo-Foundations/61553712363474/


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ttfoundationss/

Okay.

Laughing.

It's well.

Afostic

The appeal court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, 16th August 2023 delivered its ruling on the appeal filed by Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu and the Peoples Democratic Party on a ruling delivered by Justice H. N Kanuza of the Ogun State Governorship Tribunal on Monday, 19th June 2023 on vote buying during the March 18th Governorship Election in Ogun State.

The Ogun State Governorship Tribunal Chairman, Justice H. N Kunaza delivered his ruling on a motion filed by the 2nd respondent, Dapo Abiodun seeking the Tribunal to strike out the Petitioners’ reply to the 2nd Respondent’s Reply to the petition on the ground that the Petitioners (Ladi Adebutu & PDP) cannot raise new issue in their response to the reply of the 2nd respondent.

At the tribunal, the Counsel to the Petitioners, Chief Gordy Uche, SAN argued that the petitioners did not raise any new issue in their reply but gave a response to the new issue raised by the 2nd respondent in his reply which was not part of the issues raised in the petition. After the submission of the 2nd respondent’s Counsel, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, SAN, the Tribunal ruled in favour of the 2nd respondent and struck out the petitioner’s reply to the 2nd respondent’s reply to the petition.

The Appeal No. CA/IB/EPT/ GOV/OG/03/2023 filed by Oladipupo Adebutu and PDP on the 6th of July 2023 was heard on 3rd August 2023 in Abuja and judgement delivered on Wednesday, 16th August, 2023.

In the judgement written by Justice M. B Idris and read by Justice Aliyu Waziri, the Appeal Court sustained paragraphs 2, 4,5,6,10,11,14,15,16 and 18 of the petitioners’ reply to the 2nd respondent’s reply to the petition.

The sustained paragraphs of the petitioners’ reply bother on the submission of forged certificate to the 1𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 (𝙄𝙉𝙀𝘾) 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 2𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 (𝘿𝙖𝙥𝙤 𝘼𝙗𝙞𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙣), 𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙧𝙪𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙗𝙮 𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 2𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙫𝙤𝙩𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 2𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 (𝘿𝙖𝙥𝙤 𝘼𝙗𝙞𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙣).

The sustained paragraphs also include the petitioners' defense on the allegation of vote buying raised by the 2nd respondent in his reply to the petition.

Details of the sustained paragraphs are as follow:

𝐏𝟐. The Petitioners deny paragraph 4 of the 2nd Respondent's Reply and state that the submission of a forged certificate to the 1St Respondent by the 2nd Respondent along with his Form EC9 can be lawfully challenged before this Honourable Tribunal under
Section 134 (1) (a) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Petitioners and the said complaint is not statute barred.


𝐏𝟒. The Petitioners in specific response to the above paragraphs state that it was rather the 2nd and 3rd Respondents, whose agents were captured on tape recording before and during the election, distributing cash in Ogun State Government envelopes to entice voters to vote for the 2nd and 3rd Respondents. The tape recording was widely distributed on social media and was publicly aired on Arise News Channel on February 19, 2023, and can be accessed via https//yout.be/CN19pKa3DVg. The Petitioners hereby plead and shall at the trial rely on the video clips and media reports of the 2nd and 3rd Respondents' vote buying.


𝗣𝟓. The 2nd and 3rd Respondents took advantage of the Naira redesign controversy and the prevailing cash crunch to offer Naira in cash to the electorate. The 2nd and 3rd Respondents shared old Naira notes and when some beneficiaries were worried that they were being given old notes, the agents of the 2nd Respondent assured them that the 2nd Respondent, who is the Governor, would compel the banks to accept them. The Petitioners plead and shall rely on photographs and video recordings where the agents of the 2nd Respondent were caught on tape distributing Naira cash notes to the electorate.

𝐏𝟔. Again, on March 18, 2023, when the Governorship and House of Assembly Elections were held across Ogun State, the 2nd and 3rd Respondents caused to be distributed to the electorate preloaded top-up gift cards of A5, 000 and N10, 000 to buy their votes to financially influence the 2nd Respondent to win the governorship election. These Top up gift cards with PINS and Serial Numbers could either be used to buy airtime by dialing *𝟗𝟕𝟗*𝙋𝙄𝙉# 𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙬 𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙛𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙝 𝙗𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 *𝟗𝟕𝟗*𝙎𝙋𝙄𝘿* 𝘼𝘾𝘾𝙊𝙐𝙉𝙏 𝙉𝙐𝙈𝘽𝙀𝙍* 𝙋𝙄𝙉#. These were deployed massively and widely on Election Day to buy votes. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙀𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙮 𝘼𝙋𝘾 𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙋𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙚 (𝙋𝙊𝙎) 𝙈𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙪𝙮 𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙖, 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙝, 𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙫𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨' 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙨. The Petitioners plead and shall rely on these preloaded cards at the hearing of this petition.


𝐏𝟕. The Petitioners state that the 1st Petitioner's Family only shared endowment cards at the burial ceremonies as burial ceremonial souvenirs of his philanthropic and benevolent mother, late Chief Mrs. Caroline Oladunni Adebutu, through her Endowment Schemes which were in existence in her lifetime and which she had utilized in mass empowerment programs. The 2nd Respondent is aware of this fact as he was personally in attendance during the said burial as a guest of the 1st Petitioner's father, Chief Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu. The said cards had nothing whatsoever to do with vote buying or inducement of voters to vote for the Petitioners, and had nothing to do with the election.

𝐏𝟏𝟏. The election in the polling units listed in paragraph 9 of the 2nd Respondent's Reply to the Petition were cancelled due to violent disruptions by the agents of the 2nd and 3rd Respondents when the envisaged that the 2nd Respondent was not likely to win in those polling units and also due to over voting and not as a result of willful disruption of election materials and resistance to the use of BVAS nor any act of the Petitioners. The Petitioners state that the allegation of willful disruption of election materials and resistance to the use of BVAS by the voters is false and an afterthought of the Respondents.


𝐏𝟏𝟒. The Petitioners deny paragraph 30 of the 2nd Respondent's Reply and state that neither the Petitioners nor their agents were involved in the procurement or distribution of customized pre-paid Verve ATM Cards neither was any of the Petitioners' agents apprehended by law enforcement agents for any offenses whatsoever during or after the conduct of the election. The Petitioners categorically state that none of the Petitioners' agents could have made any statement to law enforcement agents that the Petitioners instructed, knew or consented to any act of vote buying as mischievously claimed by the 2nd Respondent.

𝐏𝟏𝟓. The Petitioners further state that no voter could have benefited from any act of vote buying from the Petitioners as the Petitioners never engaged in such an act, neither could any voter have admitted to any law enforcement agency that the Petitioners instructed, knew and consented to any vote buying scheme.


𝐏𝟏𝟔. The Petitioners contend that any purported statements made to law enforcement agents by individuals purporting to be agents of the Petitioners or voters were concocted and were procured by the 2nd Respondent, for the purposes of defending this petition. The Petitioners shall at the trial put the 2nd Respondent to the strictest proof of the said allegation and the existence of such statements.

𝐏𝟏𝟖. The Petitioners deny paragraph 40 of the 2nd Respondent's Reply and state that the list of PVCs collected, though not utilized for accreditation and voting on election day, contains the total number of PVCs collected by voters in each polling unit of Ogun State and is very vital in determining whether individuals without PVCs were allowed to vote in a polling unit. The said list clearly shows the maximum number of eligible voters per polling unit.

With the Appeal Court judgement, 𝙞𝙩 𝘾𝙧ystal 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 2𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 3𝙧𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙫𝙤𝙩𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧.

The Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and governor Dapo Abiodun have been indicted by the police of alleged electoral violence and ballot box snatching during the March 18 governorship election in the State

The report, dated Wednesday, August 2 which was obtained by our correspondent also indicted APC and Abiodun of alleged breach of the electoral act 2022.

Recall that the PDP and its governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu had petitioned the Inspector General of Police to investigate Abiodun and APC of alleged vote buying, electoral violence and voters' intimidation during the March 18 governorship election.

The petitioners also accused Abiodun of using N3billion of State fund to induce voters and thugs to disrupt elections in several parts of the State.

However, the police in its report after investigation said it arrested some of the suspected thugs allegedly hired by the APC to cause chaos and disrupt elections at polling units were the party was not doing well.

The police in the 35-page report, titled: "Police Investigation Report on Case of Breach of Electoral Act 2022 Through Vote Buying, Snatching And Destruction of Ballot Papers and Boxes, Thuggery And Causing Harm To Voters In Ogun State" said, the suspects confessed their roles in the disruption of the election.

According to the report, one of the suspected thugs, identified as Sanu Jamiu confessed to the police that, he and 15 others were employed by one Efuje, an ally of governor Abiodun from Iperu-Remo area of the State to cause mayhem during the election.

The report further revealed that Jamiu and his gangs were paid N50,000 to disrupt the election.

The police also arrested another suspect, identified as Seun Samuel who also confessed that he was hired by Hon. Damilola Kayode Soneye representing Obafemi Owode Federal constituency to work for APC as a ballot box snatcher during the governorship election.

The police report quoted Jamiu saying: "In the month of February, 2023, one EFUJE a.k.a Alhaji who was once a councilor in ward 5, Iperu-Remo and an APC member, invited him to work as a political thug for Prince (DR) Dapo Abiodun for the period of election and promised a handsome compensation. In addition, he states that he was in a group of about sixteen thugs contracted by the said EFUJE and they were all given fifty thousand naira (#50,000:00k) to share before the presidential elections when he first met with EFUJE.

"The group of 16 was led by one Kehinde a.k.a ALARA. During the 2023 presidential elections, Efuje, on behalf of Governor Dapo Abiodun instructed the thugs that each polling nit should be manned by three thugs such that there will be no incidence of ballot box snatching.

"However, on 18th March 2023, during the Gubernatorial elections, Efuje called at about 7am and instructed the thugs to move around all the polling units and observe the trend of elections.

"At about 3pm of same day, Efuje called back stating that the PDP was winning elections at St. John primary school ward 5 and instructed that they should move there and cause mayhem, snatch the ballot boxes and destroy them which they did immediately.

"He states that they arrived the aforementioned polling unit on motorcycle, caused violence, snatched the ballot box and took it to Ansarudeen primary school, Powerline area of Iperu-Remo where they emptied the ballot papers from the box and also destroyed the ballot box before they left.

"Lastly, Sanu Jamiu states clearly that he knows that Efuje takes directives directly from Governor Dapo Abiodun before passing same to the thugs to act", the report quoted Jamiu to have said.

However, the report quoted the APC Chairman to have denied allegations of violence, saying he did not know any of the thugs mentioned in the petition.

"Being the Chairman of the party and also mentioned in the petition, he stated that having perused the petition against his person, he doesn't know anything about the allegations leveled against him by the petitioner. That he voted at Alagbaa village, Orile-ilugun, Odeda local Government Area where he did not give anyone money, there was no ballot box snatching nor were there crises in all the local governments," it quoted Sanusi as saying.

On alleged vote-buying, the report said "The APC presented witnesses and beneficiaries who received the top-up cards prior to the 2023 General elections as part of the Social Investment Programme, thereby confirming that the top-up cards were utilised for the Ogun State Social Investment program, the PDP in its own strength as well, presented witnesses who claimed that the top-up cards were given to them to canvass for their votes."

Hmmmmm

Tell us what you know about Governor Dapo Abiodun

Some members of Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was attacked by hoodlums on Monday, June 5, 2023. The party supporters were at the premises of the Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal for a peaceful assembly when the attackers struck. The Concerned Democrats and Defender of Popular Mandate (CDDPM) has condemned the attack and called for a thorough investigation.

The CDDPM has accused the Ogun State Police Command of attempting to cover up the incident by denying that hoodlums were allowed into the court hearing. The group has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to intervene and restore confidence in the Ogun State Police Command.

The group also called on the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN) and the President, Court of Appeal (PCA) to relocate the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition to a safer location outside Ogun State to ensure the safety of all stakeholders and unimpeded proceedings.

The CDDPM has demanded proactive and effective protection for opposition leaders and supporters in Ogun State. The group raised concerns about the deep-seated interest and apprehension already elicited by the ongoing proceedings of the Ogun State Governorship Tribunal.

The group has reiterated the importance of adhering strictly to judicial integrity and the sanctity of the rule of law in determining the outcome of the election petition.

The Ogun State Police Command's press release denying the attacks has raised serious doubts about their sincerity and impartiality in enforcing the rule of law. The CDDPM has called for urgent action to be taken to guarantee the safety of all citizens.

The attack is seen as an attempt by undemocratic forces to undermine the popular outcome of the March 18, 2023 Governorship Poll in Ogun State. The CDDPM has unequivocally condemned the attack and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

The group has expressed concern about the safety of PDP supporters and opposition leaders and has called for urgent action to be taken to ensure their safety.

The CDDPM has emphasized the importance of adhering to the democratic process and ensuring that justice prevails in the ongoing governorship election petition in Ogun State.

Hmmmmm

PDP Ward Chairman Refutes Existence of Israel Jolaosho in Open Letter to Sir Adebutu, Hails Him as "Father for All Ogun State"



The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ward 3 in Remo North Local Government of Ogun State has been drawn to an open letter written by one unknown Israel Jolaosho in which he claimed to be a member of our party and addressed to our revered elder stateman, Sir Kensington Adebutu.

While we are not in the attitude of stooping low to engage faceless individuals, it is necessary to react for the sake of the undiscerning members of the public.

I write as the Chairman of the PDP Ward 3, Remo North Local Government and as a member of the same ward for over fifteen years and I can categorically say that there is no member of our party in Ward 3, Remo North Local Government who bears the fictitious name “Israel Jolaosho”. Such name is only a creation of mischief makers who are only bent on cooking lies and making folly of themselves.

I am privy to the recent cyber-bullying, media trial and name calling exhibited by the APC under the command of its Publicity Secretary, Tunde Oladunjoye and the recently dissolved SF Ojo of the Governor's media team. It is however no gainsaying that this is another of their failed antics.

As much as I am not surprised that these set of individuals could display their level of uncultured attitude, it is however surprising that they could take it to the extent of attacking the revered Sir Kensington Adebutu whose impact in the education, health and other sectors of human endeavor within and outside of Ogun State is unquantifiable.

As the Yorubas would say in their popular adage, "eni ti o ni iru eni, ko le mo iyi eni" literally meaning that you can not appreciate what you don't have, the likes of Tunde Oladunjoye, SF Ojo and their paymaster, Mr Dapo Abiodun have proven that they do not have an elder as revered as Sir Adebutu in their lineage which is why they do not have any remorse towards attacking this great philanthropist in disguise.

It is also on record how Sir Adebutu has been of immense support to Mr yellow governor before and after he became governor and such an ungrateful individual could, under his watch, allow his foot soldiers to attack the personality of Sir Adebutu.

Mr Abiodun’s actions in recent days can be likened to a pig in the mud looking for who to drag along. With his dwindling reputation since he was accused of credit card fraud which he could not defend till today, he has continued in his kleptomaniac nature by allegedly stealing Local Government funds, enmeshed in electoral malpractice, engaging in voters intimidation and harassment.

Mr Abiodun and his cohorts should bear in mind that their days are numbered and their various atrocities in the March 18th gubernatorial election will be revealed to the public as soon as the Election Petition Tribunal begins its trial.

I will advise Mr Abiodun to get himself prepared for the shock that will befall him after the mandate he illegally stole will be restored to the people who voted lawfully for our party.

Signed
Mr Sunday Taiwo,
PDP Chairman, Ward 3,
Remo North Local Government.

Let's watch as everything unfolds.