Category: Ondo 2020

By Osagie Otabor, Akure

The seven suspected political thugs arrested last week with firearms, have been remanded at the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service Centre, Olokuta, Akure.

They were remanded by an Akure Magistrates’ Court presided over by Tope Aladejana.

The suspects were nabbed by security agents on Ikaro road, Ifon, the headquarters of Ose Local Government, on September 19 while parading the town with a branded campaign vehicle of Eyitayo Jegede, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Ondo governorship election.

Jegede has since disowned them, saying they are part of the ruling All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) plot to cause mayhem in the state and attribute same to him.

Director of Public Prosecutions Grace Olowoporoku told the court that the suspects were caught with seven locally-made single and double barrel guns with live cartridges and thereby committed an offence of felony, contrary to and punishable under Section 3 (1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap R11 Vol. 14 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

She prayed the court to remand the suspects at the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service Centre, since it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case.

The magistrate ordered that the suspects be remanded to enable the police conclude investigation.

Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Adekola Olawoye said prosecution of the suspects was part of the duty of any responsible government to protect its citizens under the law.

He queried the intentions of the suspects parading the quiet town of Ifon with unlawful firearms and other dangerous weapons on the pretext of attending a political rally.

Hearing in the matter has been adjourned till October 22.

By Osagie Otabor, Akure

Son of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Babajide, has threatened to sue Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi over an allegation that he (Babajide) collected N433million as consultancy fees from the N4.3billion found stashed in a commercial bank.

Ajayi, the governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in the October 10 election, made the allegation at the party’s launching of its campaign at Ore in Odigbo Local Government.

Babajide said in a statement that the unsubstantiated allegation, designed to mislead the public and calculated to malign his person for clear political gain, was not only wicked, treacherous and false, but also defamatory.

Akeredolu’s son said he does not hold any political office, adding that the allegation existed in the mind of Ajayi.

He denied collecting N403million as consultancy fees.

Babajide said: “The statement by Hon. Ajayi was calculated to disparage my person and credibility. It has caused severe damage to my reputation and professional interests.

“In light of the above, I have instructed my lawyers to institute legal action against him to claim full damages for the harm the false and malicious statement he made has done to my reputation. He must prove this allegation in the court of law.

“If there is any modicum of honesty in the ZLP candidate, I expect that he shows clear willingness to do the honourable thing by stripping himself of his immunity, accepting the court process and proving his claims in court.”

By Osagie Otabor, Akure

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has promised to engage more Persons with Disability (PWDs) as ad hoc officials for the October 10 governorship election in Ondo State, if they meet requirements.

It said there was need to sustain and interrogate issue of participation of PWDs in Nigeria’s electoral processes and proffer solutions that would ensure greater inclusion.

The electoral body, however, said it was working hard towards accomplishment of success in the Ondo poll.

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Rufus Akeju, who spoke in Akure when he hosted the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), said inclusive elections would not be achieved without the accurate data of PWDs disaggregated by type.

He said unavailability of disaggregated data of PWDs limited the commission’s plan for inclusive and effective participation of PWDs in the electoral process.

Akeju noted that data on size, location, type, literacy level and gender of PWDs was needed to provide the required services effectively and efficiently.

IFA Executive Director Grace Jerry said Nigerians with disabilities want to participate in the electoral and political processes of the country, as indicated in the previous elections.

She called for removal of barriers to PWDs’ participation during the Ondo governorship elections, so that the country could witness a truly inclusive election.

Grace said polling units should be made accessible to PWDs by using flat surface venues, adding that priority voting should also be made available to them and availability of Braille ballot guide among others.

By Osagie Otabor, Akure

Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Eyitayo Jegede has promised to end clashes between farmers and herders in communities in Akure North Local Government.

He made the promise when he campaigned at Aiyede/Ogbese, Ilu Abo, Bolorunduro, Alayere and Eleyeowo communities.

The PDP standard-bearer said it was regrettable that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) did nothing to broker a lasting truce between herders and farmers across the state.

He said the deplorable condition of roads linking the communities was worrisome and promised to build befitting road networks as well as provide soft loans for farmers to procure agricultural implements.

“We know you all have been neglected in the face of frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers. If you vote for us, we will bring in a crisis-resolution mechanism that will make everybody happy.

“We will also provide other social amenities such as pipe-borne water and health centres that are currently lacking in the areas.”

At Sango Market, Jegede said he would relocate the market to a more conducive environment.

He said: “A cattle market is not supposed to be within the town, for hygienic reasons; hence, the need for its immediate relocation.”

The PDP candidate urged the people to come out en masses and vote for him.

Youth coordinator at Sango Cattle Market Alhaji Jiddah Mohammed hailed Jegede’s plan to relocate the market.

He said it would end crisis between farmers and cattle rearers.

By Osagie Otabor, Akure

Ondo State Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has told residents of Akoko in Ondo North that water will flow from the Awara dam within the first 100 days after his re-election.

He said consultants and engineers have been engaged and are working on rehabilitation and articulation of the dam.

The Awara dam was built to supply 6.7 million litres of water to residents in Ikare, Akunha, Arigidi and other parts of Akoko land.

Akeredolu said there was need for the people to vote for continuity of the APC- led administration, for them to enjoy good governance.

He spoke when he was commissioned into the Order of the Crownhood of St. Paul by the Diocese of Akokoland, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.

Monarchs in the four local government areas in Akokoland have endorsed Akeredolu for a second term.

They endorsed Akeredolu at the palace of Olubaka of Oka, Oba Yusuf Asebori Adeleye.

The traditional ruler vowed to work for the re-election of Akeredolu.

Agency Reporter

Old students of St. Lawrence’s Grammar School, Ilesa have hailed Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for re-aligning the state’s education policy with the National Policy on Education classification of 6-3-3-4.

A statement by Alhaji Adebayo Jimoh and Mr. Lawrence Aluko, national president and general secretary of the association, said the reversal of the policy is an affirmation of the belief of residents that Oyetola’s administration is a listening government that considers the interest of the people in its developmental programmes.

The association pledged support for the Oyetola administration, offering to embark on interventions in their alma mater.

“As a show of solidarity and support to the government, the old students of our school that has now been returned to its previous full grammar school status have begun the following infrastructural projects to beautify and re-equip the school: A new school hall with a sitting capacity of 500 students is under construction and due for completion by December. The hall has been named in honour of our ex-principal: Famoyin Hall. Also, a modern and befitting main school gate that will improve the general aesthetics and ambience of our school, including a fence wall, is under construction. This gate will be completed by October ending,” the statement said.

The old students noted that the school’s science block comprising the biology, chemistry and physics laboratories will be fully renovated, while a functional and well stocked library with current book titles and magazines to aid and support learning will be delivered by November.

To improve the state of hygiene and sanitary conditions of the school, the association also pledged to build additional 10 units of toilets with water cisterns and overhead tanks, which will also be delivered in November.

“We have already commenced work on the renovation of old block of classrooms to make learning more conducive for students. We are also in constant dialogue with Ilesa North East Local Council Development Area (LCDA) for the release of the modern block of three classrooms with staff room built and donated by an old student of our school, which was loaned out to the LCDA at their inception.”

Agency Reporter

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), has expressed joy about the victory of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State in Saturday’s governorship election.

He said in a statement in Akure that the result of the election was a manifestation of the people’s conviction that the PDP was the credible alternative that could give good governance to the people.

“I express joy at the victory of Governor Obaseki, particularly for the fact that it symbolised Nigerians’ disenchantment with the ensuing poor leadership under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their conviction that a PDP government is the credible alternative,” Jegede said.

He said PDP is a party that institutionalises inclusive democracy, which gives equal opportunities to party members, as against the dominance of a cabal of political godfathers.

Nigeria’s foremost ace sports journalist and Executive Chairman of Owan West Council, Frank Ilaboya, has congratulated Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, on their victory at the just concluded governorship election.

In a statement signed by the council chairman and made available to reporters by his Chief Press Secretary, Hassan Otinau, Ilaboya hailed the governor for his administrative acumen, “which has stood Edo State and its people out in the past four years.”

He said: “I want to specially say congratulations to the man who God has destined to win and govern Edo State for the next four years.

“It was one of the longest and toughest electioneering campaigns ever in the history of Edo politics, but thank God for giving us victory, a well-deserved one for that matter.

“Edo people spoke loudly and clearly that we are a collection of people whose voices and must be respected at a decisive moment like this.

“It was a battle between godfather and the good people of the state, a battle of light over darkness, and as always, the voice of the people remains the voice of God.”

From Osagie Otabor, Akure

Action Democratic Party (ADP) has said the jobs it plans to create when it wins the October 10 governorship election will give graduates N2million annually.

It said it would focus on creative employment in the fashion industry, transport sector, waterways and other infrastructure in the riverine areas and across the state.

Its governorship candidate, Martin Olateru-Olagbegi, in an interview in Akure said he had the best ideas and plans to lead Ondo on the path of greatness.

He said his contenders had been tested and they had run out of ideas.

Olateru-Olagbegi said it was wrong for those that failed to ask for another term in office, instead of leaving honourably.

Said he: “If people will allow us to analyse government and bring together our way forward approach, they will find out that there is nobody with more suitable plans than we have. All of those running have tasted power. If they were not able to get it done the first time, now they are asking for another chance. If people don’t pass, they do not get to the next grade.

“You need a visionary leader who will bring in creative employment. We are tapping the resources of oil and gas. We will develop action plans that will lead to employment. We will tap into the oil sector, transport sector, waterways and other infrastructure in the riverine areas.”

From Osagie Otabor, Akure

Prince Peter Fasua, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has said he is focused on winning the October 10 governorship poll.

According to him, he is not distracted by the activities of the big parties.

Fasua, who insisted that there was no crisis in Ondo SDP, described the parallel primaries held by a faction of the party as ‘a get together party.’

The candidate, in a chat with our reporter, said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognised his candidacy and issued him a code.

He said SDP adopted the evangelism style of campaign to talk about his policies and programmes to the people in their homes.

On the alleged plans to collapse structure for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Fasua vowed to continue to the end, the battle of winning the election.

He said: “There is no crisis in the SDP. If there is crisis in the SDP, INEC will not issue a code to the party. During my primaries, we were recognised. The primary election others had was just a get together party. Crisis is happening everywhere. It cannot be 100 per cent. As long as it is an exercise controlled by man, crisis will always happen.

“That is what people will be thinking about minor political parties. Merging of parties happens everywhere. It is never a crime. It happened in Osun State recently. If you are strong at one end and another party is strong at another end, all of you will form a coalition. It is part of politics.

“When I compare myself to other contestants, I am ahead of them despite they having access to government money. Whatever are the achievements of the past government, I will do more. I have experience and I know I will do better.”