The Nation Newspaper

Category: Election

  • ‘Go and vote for Akeredolu’

    The Abia State Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Egwuatu Egbulefu, has urged Ondo State indigenes in the state and other states to return home and vote for the party’s governorship candidate in Ondo State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) on Saturday.

    Egbulefu said Akeredolu has the pedigree and experience to transform Ondo State, if voted to power.

    He said all ACN states are developing, adding that Ondo State residents would regret if they fail to vote for Akeredolu in the Saturday’s election.

    He advised Ondo State indigenes to “go home and participate truly to elect Akeredolu as the governor”.

    Egbulefu added: “Let Ondo State join other states governed by the ACN in the Southwest. All of Western states, except Ondo, are governed by the ACN. How can you, therefore, leave this state in the hands of the Labour Party (LP), when the people are not deriving anything from the Olusegun Mimiko-led administration? The time has come to send away the LP and plant Akeredolu of the ACN for good governance.”

    Through the party’s Organising Secretary, Mr Paul Chukwuezi, the ACN Chairman advised Ondo State residents that no sacrifice is too much to have a progressive administration in the state.

  • Falae is anti-Yoruba, says ACO

    The Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) has described the utterances of Chief Olu Falae at the Labour Party (LP) rally in Akure yesterday as a disappointment and unbecoming of someone who pretends to be an elder statesman.

    A statement by the Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy of the organisation, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, described Falae as a man who has enjoyed goodwill from the Yoruba nation with nothing to show for it.

    He said: “The question one needs to ask Chief Falae is: Why would he in his old age stoop to tell lies in the name of canvassing for Governor Olusegun Mimiko? Why would Falae forget so soon that at the formal declaration of Mimiko, he confirmed that he had failed to provide jobs for youths in Ondo State? Why would an old man like Falae be in concert with Mimiko to celebrate markets, a fountain at a roundabout and boreholes as achievements by an oil-producing state in the 21st century?

    “One may find answers to Falae’s outburst by taking a look at his antecedent, which shows that he is a military apologist who joined in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) struggle by accident. He was the apostle of General Ibrahim Babangida’s Structural Adjustment Progaramme(SAP), which impoverished our people and enriched him and his cohorts. He is a neocolonialist and imperialists’ agent whose stock in trade is to enrich foreigners at the expense of citizens.

    “Today, Chief Falae has exposed himself as one of the greatest anti-Yoruba elements by his statement on Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in which he claimed that the Alliance for Democracy (AD) would have given the governorship ticket of Lagos State to the late Funsho Williams instead of Tinubu. How could AD have preferred Funsho Williams, who was a key figure in the late General Sani Abacha’s transition programme, being a governorship aspirant of the defunct United National Congress Party (UNCP), one of the five parties described by the late Chief Bola Ige as the five fingers of a leprous hand? A man who killed Kudirat Abiola, Alfred Rewane, shot at the late Abraham Adesanya and chased many Yoruba leaders into exile. It is a fact that Asiwaju Tinubu won the primaries fair and square.

    “Falae should point to one contribution he has made to the Yoruba race, apart from his opportunistic ride on the product of our collective struggle. Even in Ilu-abo Falae’s country home where he claims to be the Olu, he had no footmark until recently when Mimiko built a block of classrooms for the pupils of a primary school located on an expressway. The pupils used to study, in the full glare of Falae, in a shed fit for goats and he could do nothing about it.

    “The Akure people know their enemies and they would want to ask Falae to point to one man he has helped to achieve anything in life.

    “It should be noted that Falae brought bad luck when he unsuccessfully contested 1999 presidential election on the joint platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the All People’s Party (APP) against Chief Olusegun Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “He has never attained any political significance, and his party, the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA), could not win a seat in his home town in the last election.

    “For us at ACO, we know that Falae can not at this time in our history be a clog in the wheel of the progress of the Yoruba nation. Ondo people are wiser, they can not be hoodwinked by the people who have fed fat on their wealth for so long. The D-day between reactionary forces and the progressives, between light and darkness, between tokenism and an enduring development is October 20. The great people of Ondo State will vote for progress, light and an enduring development, which ACN represents.”

  • Lawyer to Mimiko: beg Tinubu

    AN Akure lawyer, Mr. Morakinyo Ogele, yesterday urged Governor Olusegun Mimiko to apologise to former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    He added that he should ask for forgiveness for lying that he did not receive moral and financial assistance from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader.

    Ogele enjoined Mimiko to visit the graves of the late Chiefs Adekunle Ajasin and Adebayo Adefarati in company with those he described as “credible Yoruba leaders” to seek forgiveness for betraying them during their time.

    He said it was obvious that Asiwaju Tinubu spent a fortune to assist Mimiko reclaim his mandate from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The lawyer, who spoke with The Nation in Akure, said Mimiko has a culture of deceit and betrayal.

    He said: “The news credited to Governor Mimiko that Asiwaju Tinubu did not give him any money shows that he is an ungrateful person. It is an open secret that Asiwaju Tinubu raised a team of lawyers to prosecute election petitions in Osun, Ekiti and Edo states. The same legal team stood for Mimiko to reclaim his undeserved mandate.

    “There is no doubt that Tinubu must have paid the professional fees for the legal team he raised.”

    He also brought a forensic expert to support the prosecution of election petitions in the four states.

    “Asiwaju Tinubu must have paid the forensic expert a professional fee worth millions and must have been responsible for his hotel accommodation, transportation and other logistics.

    “Apart from this, Tinubu gave him a bullet-proof Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) worth millions of naira when he lamented that some people attempted to assassinate him in Ondo State.

    “During the inauguration of his administration at the Sports Stadium, Akure, Asiwaju Tinubu led a team of Yoruba leaders to the ceremony. He equally sponsored the inauguration with millions of naira.

    “Any river that forgets its source will become dry.

    “If Papa Ajasin and Adefarati were alive today, they would have told the whole world about their experience with Governor Mimiko.

    “Adaba FM became the mouthpiece of Mimiko during his trying period. He placed adverts without paying a kobo. He now sees the radio station as his number one enemy.

    “Mimiko should seek the assistance of the likes of Chief Reuben Fasoranti and Agbi to apologise to Tinubu.”

  • Agbekoya warns political thugs

    Agbekoya warns political thugs

    Nigeria’s frontline farmers group,

    Agbekoya Farmers Association has

    embarked on aggressive mobilisation of farmers in Ondo State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

    It also vowed not to allow political thuggery to avoid rigging at the poll as efforts were in place by the group to join hands with security agencies to ensure a peaceful, free and fair election.

    According to a release made available yesterday to The Nation by the group’s National Publicity Security, Chief Olatunji Bandele, the President General of the Association, High Chief Kamorudeen Aremu Okikiola was quoted as saying Agbekoya Farmers Association is a big stakeholder in the agricultural sector of Nigeria and Ondo State and therefore, the group’s position is to support an agriculture-friendly government who genuinely has the love of farmers at heart.

    “We are currently mobilising farmers and educating them on the candidate to vote for in the Saturday election in Ondo State,” the release stated, adding that Agbekoya Farmers Association “has no political afflation with any political party, but we are ready to support any government or governor that supports Agbekoya Farmers Association and our agri-business project.”

    It further said: “In Ondo State, Agbekoya Farmers Association has about 22,000 members spread across all the 18 local government areas of the state, with majority of them languishing in poverty in the rural areas without any financial and technical support from government.

    “On our own we have gone to the financial market to access fund for our agri-business projects. Our mission is to feed the nation and turn Ondo State to the food basket of Nigeria.”

    The release further hinted that the group had put machinery in place to monitor the governorship election. “Agbekoya hereby warns political thugs and hoodlums to steer clear of the polling booths across the state because we are on ground to monitor the election, protect our votes and also to assist security operatives to maintain peace.”

    “We don’t belong to any political party. All we are interested in is to ensure that the man who is genuinely interested in real governance is voted for. We believe it is hightime we get involved in who govern us because as farmers, we are stakeholders,” Bandele added.

     

     

  • PDP: why we expelled Agbi, Adegoroye, Adegoke, others

    THE Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday alerted the public to the activities of some politicians recently expelled for anti-party activities.

    They include: Olu Agbi, Ademola Adegoroye, Segun Adegoke, Kunle Agunbiade and Akin Olowokere.

    The Deputy Director of Publicity of the Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation (OOCO), Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye, said in a statement that the politicians were reprimanded several times for anti-party activities and surreptitious romance with the Labour Party (LP) before they were expelled.

    He said PDP expelled them because they have become a liability.

    Ogunleye said: “A few of them have contested and failed repeatedly, while one of them served as a mole even while contesting the governorship seat in the state.

    “We know a Professor of Diplomatic History among them who has refused to be guided by a sense of history. We equally know an old lawyer who has inherited the ill-luck of electoral failure.

    “We are surprised that instead of showing remorse after their expulsion, these supposed gentlemen engaged in criminal activities by parading themselves as members of the PDP.

    “In their usual manner, they were paid by Dr. Olusegun Mimiko to do a hatchet job. Part of the assignment, for which they have been paid, was to wear our vests, parade themselves as members of the PDP and declare for the outgoing Ondo State Governor.”

     

     

     

     

  • Costal areas back Akeredolu

    About 3,000 youths in the coastal areas of Ondo State under the aegis of the Ilaje/Ese-Odo Peoples Mandate Group (IEPMG) have pledged their support for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Saturday’s poll.

    The group, the highest decision-making body that champions the cause of the youth in the coastal areas, in a statement said it has decided to work for the ACN because it is the only party that has an ideology that will boost the development of the areas.

    IEPMG, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Omojugha Soye, Secretary, Mr. Akinbulejo Malon, Ijaw Arogbo Coordinator, Miss Ajama Opokio and Ijaw/Apoi Coordinator, Mr. Oloko Ayo, said the performance of the governors in ACN-controlled states is an evidence that better days await Ondo State indigenes if Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu is voted into power.

     

     

     

  • Ex-ACN aspirant alleges assassination bid

    A  former governorship aspirant on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State, Olayato Aribo, yesterday narrowly escaped being assassinated by suspected Labour Party (LP) thugs.

    Sources told The Nation that seven assailants stormed his home at Imoru in Ose Local Government about 5:30pm.

    Aribo, a prominent industrialist, has written a petition to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIGP), Zone 11, Osogbo, Osun State.

    The petition reads: “A gang of eight LP thugs at Imoru… scaled the fence of my house with the aim of assassinating me, my family and political associates.

    “Fortunately, we had left for Ifon to attend a rally.

    “Because they did not meet me at home, they damaged my property.”

    The ex-ACN governorship aspirant said: “The suspected LP thugs told my neighbours that my name is on their assassination list and they will ensure I am eliminated.”

    He said the suspects were armed with guns, axes, cutlasses and other weapons.

    Aribo said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ifon Division and his men prevented the hoodlums from torching his house.

    Aribo, who urged the security operatives to save his life, added that the AIGP should investigate the matter and bring the culprits to book.

     

  • Mimiko to Jega: INEC must make our votes count in Ondo

    Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko yesterday appealed to the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, to ensure that votes count in Saturday’s election.

    He said the people would not allow the manipulation of the poll, to avert the scenario of the 1983 election when attempts were made to subvert the will of people.

    Mimiko, who spoke at a rally in Akure, hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for assuring that there would be free and fair election.

    He said: “We want to thank Mr. President for giving Nigeria a free and fair election in Edo State. He promised and delivered. We believe he is a man of his words. He has promised that there will be a free and fair poll in Ondo State and we also believe him.

    “We appeal to INEC to, for the sake of our nation, for the sake of peace in our land, ensure that election on Saturday is not manipulated. I appeal to Prof. Jega that it is not enough for you to be a man of integrity; you must also ensure that all officers under you are not unduly influenced.”

     

  • Workers decry order to attend LP rally

    •ACN slams forceful attendance

    Civil servants in Ondo State yesterday criticised the manner the government forced them to attend the Labour Party (LP) rally held in Akure.

    One of the workers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, accused the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) of compromising the professionalism of labour unions.

    He said: “It is forbidden for civil servants to be publicly partisan. We can belong to any party we want. We should not be coerced to support a particular party.”

    The civil servant said the government “through our union leaders mandated us not to go to office today (yesterday) to partake in the LP rally held at the Democracy Park, Akure.”

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has condemned the deceptive plan of the Mimiko administration to hoodwink the people of the state, especially public servants.

    A statement signed by the party’s publicity secretary, Mr. Rotimi Agbede, said the latest act of the LP would not yield any dividend as the people are determined to effect a change on Saturday and install a focused and purposeful government.

    ACN said: “The decision of the people cannot be induced by material gains or subdued by threats by the government and its satanic agents.

    “The people, having seen the ongoing transformation in the Southwest states and Edo, are eager to join their kith and kin in the regional integration agenda of the ACN.”

    The party flayed the despicable act perpetrated by the LP government to force civil servants to attend its rally.

    It said: “Information reaching us from the state secretariat has it that a special task force stationed at the secretariat has been moving from one office to another, forcing the workers to abandon their offices for onward mobilisation to the venue of the rally.

    “The task force members make this illegal act more effective. Civil servants were asked to write their names as they boarded vehicles parked in front of the secretariat.

    “ACN views this as the height of desperation by the LP government and willful breach of the constitutional rights of the workers to exercise their discretion in supporting a candidate of their choice.”

    The party said it is ironic that a government which claims to enjoy the support and confidence of the people has to resort to forceful mobilisation of workers to its rally to present to the public a semblance of popular support.

    ACN stressed that the government has to resort to the crude act, having failed this time round to persuade the workers with the N2, 000 it offered during the last rally.

    “It is not surprising that the LP administration has to go this far because it cannot comprehend the unprecedented massive support being enjoyed by the ACN as manifested by the large turnout at the various redemption rallies and show of open support by the people of the state,” the party said.

     

     

     

     

  • LP chiefs accused of possessing voter cards

    LP chiefs accused of possessing voter cards

    Labour Party (LP) chairmanship aspirant in Ese-Odo Local Government, Mr.Festus Dabo, his brother, Peter Dabo and two others have been reportedly arrested by the police at Igbekebo riverine area for allegedly printing voter cards.

    It was learnt that the suspects were apprehended at a cyber café owned by another LP bigwig.

    Sources said they were caught with over 5,000 voter cards.

    When contacted for confirmation, police spokesman Adeniran Aremu directed our reporter to the Commissioner of Police. Efforts to reach him proved abortive.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Igbekebo confirmed the arrest, but declined further comment.

    The case has been reportedly transferred to the State Command in Akure, for further investigation.

    A few weeks ago, a chieftain of LP in Ondo West Local Government, Mr. Olaolu Oladapo and a security guard with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Omolade Raphael, were arrested and remanded in prison for allegedly being in possession of over 1,000 unclaimed voter cards.