The Nation Newspaper

Category: Ondo 2020

  • CP vows to remain apolitical

    CP vows to remain apolitical

     Osagie Otabor, Akure 

     

    ONDO State Police Command has said its officers and men will remain apolitical, impartial and discharge their duties professionally during and after the October 10 governorship election.

    It said it was prepared for the poll.

    Police Commissioner Salami Bolaji spoke at the weekend when he received a delegation of YIAGA Africa Initiative, who visited him to ascertain the level of police preparedness for the election.

    He said any politician plotting to re-enact the 1983 episode of political violence in the state must be ready to bear the burden of his action.

    Bolaji said contrary to insinuations that the command might not be prepared due to the impact of COVID-19, his men were prepared to provide security for the parties participating in the election, their followers as well as other participants in the electoral assignment.

    Read Also: CNPP faults Police over arrest of protesters

    He said: “Even if it is now, we are ready as we have the required logistics and manpower set for the exercise.

    “The command is ready to work with the relevant bodies to ensure the success of the election. We are ready to provide security for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and their materials, to ensure nothing untoward happens during and after the election.’’

    Ms. Cynthia Mbamalu, who spoke on behalf of YIAGA Africa, said they came to discuss the role the police would play to ensure a violence-free governorship election.

    Said she: “YIAGA’s role as an observer group, among other functions, is to see that the police maintain an impartial stance with stakeholders, to achieve a hitch-free, fair and credible governorship election in October.”

     

  • Arogbo Ijaw leaders hail Akeredolu

    Arogbo Ijaw leaders hail Akeredolu

    Osagie Otabor, Akure

     

    LEADERS of Arogbo Ijaw in Ese-Odo Local Government have expressed satisfaction about the performances of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    They said the governor had developed the state in the last three and a half years.

    The Chairman of Arogbo-Ijaw Community Organisation (AICO), Deacon James Ashidi, who spoke when he led other Ijaw leaders to visit Akeredolu, said there had been commitments to the service of the people.

    He praised the governor for building the first flyover in the state, the Ore interchange otherwise called the Redemption Bridge, among other infrastructural projects in the Southern Senatorial District.

    Ashidi thanked the governor for counting Ese-Odo Local Government worthy to be listed as part of oil producing areas.

    Read Also: Akeredolu, Unity Forum reach truce

    He thanked Akeredolu for appointing Arogbo Ijaw indigenes into his executive council (exco), especially Information and Orientation Commissioner Donald Ojogo.

    Akeredolu described Ojogo as a man of honour and integrity, who could be trusted and relied upon.

    “Ojogo is a loyal man and not a pretender. He stood his ground on a number of things. I’m very proud of him. He is an intelligent person. He has shown that no Ijaw man can be led by the nose; he has always been his own man. I thank him and we are proud of him,” he added.

    The governor said medical personnel would soon be deployed in Comprehensive Health Centre, Arogbo.

  • Ondo deputy governor to run on ZLP’s platform

    Ondo deputy governor to run on ZLP’s platform

    Osagie Otabor, Akure

     

    THE National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has cleared Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi to contest the October governorship election on its platform.

    Ajayi resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in June and joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he contested the party’s primaries in July, but failed to clinch the ticket.

    He met former governor Olusegun Mimiko and got into talks of running on ZLP’s platform.

    His application was sent to the NEC of the party, which met last weekend and approved his application.

    Ondo State Chairman of the ZLP, Mr. Joseph Akinlaja, confirmed the clearance of Ajayi in a phone chat.

    He said Ajayi would formally join the ZLP tomorrow.

    Akinlaja said the ZLP was poised to win the governorship poll in October.

     

  • Ondo 2020: Mimiko woos ex-Ondo Deputy Gov to ZLP

    Ondo 2020: Mimiko woos ex-Ondo Deputy Gov to ZLP

    Osagie Otabor, Akure

    Former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, have begun wooing past political associates to the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

    The ZLP hoped to become the third force in the state when Deputy Governor of the state, Hon Agboola Ajayi, joins the party this week.

    Dr. Mimiko was said to have turned down pressure by the South West Peoples Democratic Party led by Governor Seyi Makinde to work for his former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Eyitayo Jegede.

    Last week, he visited residence of his former Deputy and leader of the All Progressives Congress Unity Forum, Alhaji Ali Olanusi.

    Details of the meeting was not made public but close associated said it was part of the process for Alhaji Olanusi to work for the ZLP.

    Olanusi dumped the Peoples Democratic Party while serving as Deputy Governor under Mimiko to join the APC.

    He was later removed by the state House of Assembly.

    It was learnt that Alhaji Olanusi was not happy about the decision of majority of Unity Forum members led by Chief Olusola Oke to work for the re-election of Governor Akeredolu.

    READ ALSO: Ondo 2020: Assembly suspends ZLP lawmaker

    According to a source, “Many enemies are now becoming friends on this governorship election. Alhaji Olanusi and many others who have parted ways with Mimiko before are now friends. They are teaming up in ZLP to send away APC government.

    ” In few days to come, Alhaji Olanusi and his supporters, with some other people in the APC will defect to ZLP and declare their support for Agboola Ajayi.”

    A member of the ZLP state executive confirmed that Olanusi was expected to lead many APC supporters to join the ZLP.

    He said, “It is true Alhaji Ali Olanusi is joining our party.”

    But Alhaji Olanusi in a statement issued in Akure insisted he remained member of the APC.

    Alhaji Olanusi said reports of his planned defection to the ZLP mischievous, misleading and laughable.

  • PDP a united force, says Jegede

    PDP a united force, says Jegede

    By Osagie Otabor, Akure

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Eyitayo Jegede, has said the party has remained a united force.

    Jegede, who denied reports that his emergence as the PDP candidate has caused a crack within the party, said he and the PDP leadership had hit the ground running to win votes.

    Speaking through the Head, Media Research for Eyitayo Jegede Campaign Organisation (EJCO), Mr. Samuel Fasua, Jegede described the report as false, misleading and unsubstantiated.

    He said he emerged as the PDP candidate, having scored the highest votes cast at the primary election.

    Jegede noted that other aspirants have congratulated him.

    Read Also: More pressure on Jegede to pick Ajayi as running mate

    He said: “While we value individuals’ right to their opinions, we feel compelled to raise the flag regarding an allegation by this group that Jegede is seen by these unhappy (PDP) leaders as a follower of the ideology championed by former vice president and PDP presidential candidate in the 2019 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    “Although this group hailed the election of Jegede, describing him as the choice of the people, it neither identified the leaders that were unhappy with Jegede’s emergence nor stated the nature of Atiku’s ideology that Jegede would pursue.

    “The group, as such, relied on these assumptions to declare that there is crisis in Ondo PDP, over Jegede’s emergence.

    “Shortly after the primary election, we held a free and fair congress during which new executive officers emerged. Those who contested and did not win congratulated the winners.

    “Therefore, we urge that the Vanguard for Justice and Fairness in PDP should channel its energy to selling the programmes of action of Jegede, who is out to restore good governance to Ondo State, rather than plying the low road of presenting fairy tales as the truth.”

  • SUBEB donates campaign materials to APC

    SUBEB donates campaign materials to APC

    By Osagie Otabor, Akure

    Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has donated materials to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the campaign for the October 10 governorship election.

    SUBEB Chairperson Princess Oladuni Odu presented items such as posters, fez caps and 500 T-shirts with the inscription such as AKETI 2020 and the APC logo.

    Odu is the first political office holder to present campaign materials to the APC.

    She said the items were meant to boost the re-election bid of the party’s candidate, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    Read Also: Akeredolu wins Ondo APC guber primary

    The SUBEB boss noted that the supremacy of the party required that politicians and political office holders should support and respect the party structure.

    She said those who had experienced life outside the government would appreciate how enticing it was to be in power, adding that leaders should work together to ensure victory for the party’s candidate in October.

    “This is my widow’s mite, donated to the party for the success of our governorship campaign. I must say it is a demonstration of my loyalty and commitment to the party and its success at the governorship election in October,” Odu said.

    APC Chairman Ade Adetimehin hailed Odu for having regard for party structure.

    He noted that only a few politicians would return to support the party after securing appointments.

    Adetimehin said: “I’m not surprised at what Princess Odu has done today. It takes people like you in positions of authority to build a strong party. I can assure you that the party structure will stand by you when you need it.”

    He promised to ensure that the items were distributed among the 18 local government party chairmen so that the impact of the donation would be felt by all.

  • ZLP demands recall of suspended lawmaker 

    ZLP demands recall of suspended lawmaker 

    By Osagie Otabor, Akure

    The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has demanded reversal of the suspension slammed on its only lawmaker in the House of Assembly, Mr. Tomide Akinribido.

    He was suspended on Monday for gross misconduct and alleged use of abusive language on the Speaker, Bamidele Oleyelogun.

    Akinribido, however, described his suspension as politically-motivated.

    ZLP spokesman Felix Olatunde said in a statement that the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration was taking governance to a reckless level.

    Read Also: Ondo 2020: Assembly suspends ZLP lawmaker

    He said the suspension of the only ZLP lawmaker was the height of high handedness at play.

    Olatunde said it was deplorable for Speaker Oleyelogun to be acting the script of the APC-led executive.

    The statement said: “ZLP sees this act as capable of reducing the legislative authority and parliamentary immunity of the state to a puppet status.

    “Therefore, we demand the reversal of the repressive act by the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu administration and its prompt apology to the law-abiding people of Ondo State in general and the good people of Ondo West Constituency 1 in particular for riding roughshod on the electorate this much.

    “The good people of Ondo West Constituency 1 should remain calm as we pursue the redress of this injustice with legitimate approaches at our disposal.”

  • PDP chair vows to lead party to victory 

    PDP chair vows to lead party to victory 

     Osagie Otabor, Akure

     

    THE newly-elected Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Fatai Adams, has vowed to lead the party to victory.

    Adams, the former deputy chairman, defeated Dennis Arole at the state congress.

    Addressing supporters after assuming office, Adams said his election was borne out of the commitment of members for a united PDP dedicated to all citizens.

    Read Also: PDP members to ICPC: investigate Obaseki

    He said the collective desire for good governance would be achieved through members doing the right thing at the right time with the right motive for the good of the least of all.

    Adams promised to continue the legacies of the PDP founding fathers whose efforts and sacrifices, he said, birthed an indestructible political legacy that would transcend generations.

    He said: “My fellow compatriots, I salute your resolve in the face of intimidation, harassment and blackmail by the soon to be removed APC government, to ensure that our state is liberated from the unproductive maladministration called the APC. I assure you of my firm resolve to do all I can as your chairman to ensure that our party, the PDP, wins the next election.”

     

  • Akeredolu, Unity Forum reach truce

    Akeredolu, Unity Forum reach truce

    Osagie Otabor, Akure

     

    MEMBERS of the Unity Forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State and Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu have reached a truce to work together for the success of the party in the October 10 election.

    The first runner-up in the APC primary election, Chief Olusola Oke, led the forum members to visit Governor Akeredolu where the truce was reached.

    No statement was issued after the meeting, but an aide to Oke, Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye, said the discussion was successful.

    He said the governor accepted the forum’s proposal on the need for stakeholders to work for the party’s victory.

    Read Also: Akeredolu denies reporting Mimiko to EFCC

    Oke told reporters that he and his followers had resolved to remain members of the APC in their wards.

    He said: “As members, we are interested in a united, cohesive APC where members will be treated as equal, where government patronages will no longer be sectional, where rights and privileges of members will be respected without hindrance. It is not in the interest of any member of our party for this state to slant into opposition. We will do everything possible on our part, subject to conditions and terms to be agreed on.

    “Our group insists that because of the experience in the past where promises were made and not kept, where people were given assurances, but were denied. It is important that the reconciliation should be comprehensive, involving all the strata of our party. That is the only reconciliation that will instil confidence in our people.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • ZLP’s NEC to decide Ajayi’s fate

    ZLP’s NEC to decide Ajayi’s fate

     Osagie Otabor, Akure

     

    THE fate of Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi in the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) will be determined at a meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC), to be held this week.

    It was gathered that the NEC of ZLP would look into legal issues surrounding the candidacy of Ajayi.

    He contested last month’s primary election of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and lost to Eyitayo Jegede.

    His campaign posters on the platform of the ZLP have been seen in Akure and the state secretariat of the party.

    ZLP Chairman Joseph Akinlaja, in a television interview, said Ajayi’s application would be discussed at the party’s NEC meeting.

    Read Also: Semi Ajayi: I enjoy Nigerian food a lot

    He said considering Ajayi as a candidate of the party would not be a problem to the party, adding that it was not unconstitutional and not against the Electoral Act.

    Akinlaja said: “Everything will be considered at the meeting of the National Executive Council. If we find out that it will not pose any legal obstacle, he may be considered as our candidate. Previously, when addressing members of our party, I said we were going to run to win. You could see the deluge of people coming into our party. We are sure to run to win because our leader, Olusegun Mimiko, ruled this state and you could see what he did in health and education.”