Foremost lawyer Afe Babalola (SAN) has again set aside N34million as part of the money to be shared among 81 best performing farmers in Ekiti State.

The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, (LOC) of the annual event, Prof. Abiodun Ojo, made this known yesterday in Ado-Ekiti at the opening of this year’s edition.

The programme is anchored under the annual ‘Afe Babalola Agricultural Expo and Youth Development’, as a mark of his annual contributions towards promoting the agricultural sector.

Ojo said Babalola conceptualised the annual programme to address the relegation of agricultural sector to the background against other emerging blue chip endeavours, and its attendant effects on food security in the country.

He said five top farmers had been selected in this year’s event, from each of the constitutionally- recognised local governments in the state, with the best farmer from each council going home with N200,000; second best farmer, N150,000; third best farmer, N100,000; fourth best farmer, N75,000 and fifth best farmer, N50,000.

Ojo said the size of this year’s annual cash award was higher than that of last year, which he put at N32million, adding that the overall best farmer across the state would be given N2million, among other gifts.

He said unemployed youths would be empowered with huge cash and high-tech equipment used for smoking fish, with the least of the equipment valued at over N135,000.

Governor Kayode Fayemi, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Olabode Adetoyi, hailed the legal icon for his gesture.

“Baba Afe Babalola is doing quite great, we appreciate him for his selfless efforts and support in making the state great at all times, especially in terms of provision of jobs and ensuring food security”, he said.

He said the outgoing government had never at any time rested on its oars in funding the agricultural sector, adding that N430million and N2billion were expended on farm inputs and to clear farmlands.

THE Nigeria for BAT, a support group for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has promised to deliver 100 per cent votes in Ekiti State to the party in next year’s election.

Ekiti State coordinator Mrs. Modupe Anifowose made this known yesterday during the inauguration of the group’s state and local government executives in Ado-Ekiti, the capital.

She said the body had put in place formidable structures to mobilise not just APC members, but also Ekiti people in general, to vote massively for the former Lagos State governor.

Anifowose said members were working in collaboration with the party leadership in the state and other stakeholders to make Ekiti a catchment area for Tinubu.

Said she: “Ekiti State chapter of the Nigeria for BAT is working assiduously in tandem with relevant stakeholders to deliver Tinubu/Shettima presidential ticket.

“The truth must be said that we are committed to delivering Tinubu in the state in the coming presidential election.

“We are currently mobilising from the state to the grassroots level, not just members, but all Ekiti people to vote massively for the APC presidential standard-bearer.”

Anifowose said Tinubu towered above the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, in competence and ability to take Nigeria to a higher level.

“We in this group share the conviction of many Nigerians. We are sure the former Lagos State governor is capable of winning the general election and can fix Nigeria,” she said.

“Tinubu has proved to everybody that he can do it. He has been developing talents; he has developed governors, ministers, senators, ambassadors. He has plans, he can change this country for the better, he has the experience, exposure and capacity.

“The country is in a bad shape now. Only the combination of Asiwaju/Shettima can solve insecurity, kidnapping, terrorism, banditry, inflation, failing economy, etc. Take it or leave it, it is only Tinubu that can perform the needed magic Nigerians are waiting for and take us to the promised land,” she said.

Former Lagos State deputy governor Otunba Femi Pedro has said the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, if elected, would revitalise the economy, “as he is well prepared for the job.”

He spoke at the public presentation and launch of Adesina Adetola’s book, Nigeria & Democratic Governance: The Seats, The Battles & The Prospects, held in Ikeja, Lagos.

Pedro said: “This is the God’s chosen time for Tinubu to become president and change the face of Nigeria. Tinubu thrives better when there is crisis.

“Asiwaju waited for five presidential elections and he has come out today because he is well prepared to change the face of Nigeria. This is where the slogan, Emilokan, comes from. This is the God’s chosen time for Asiwaju Tinubu. The time has come for Asiwaju to save Nigeria, he will resolve the economic problem we are facing, unemployment and other problems confronting Nigeria today. Asiwaju will handle them. What he has done in Lagos is his testimony to what he can do for Nigeria.”

The former deputy governor described Tinubu as a man with courage.

He recalled that when Tinubu became Lagos governor in 1999, he addressed the issue of infrastructural facilities and fixed it.

Pedro said: “Asiwaju thrives better when there is crisis, when there is chaos this is when he performs. In 1999, when he took over power, Lagos was upside down, the military had finally abandoned the state, they had moved to Abuja and they had cut off supply and source of income to Lagos. There were piles of refuse all over the place, school children didn’t have a place to go. The schools were decapitated and bad. Most of the roads were abandoned, many of us who lived in Lagos remember 1999, pre-Tinubu’s tenure. But that was when he came in, stepped in and turned the place around to be the Lagos we know now.

“I don’t know Asiwaju from anywhere. I was a banker, I was not in politics, I was not a member of any political party. I didn’t even know how Alausa operated. But he identified me and pulled me out of the banking industry and he put me as the deputy governor of Lagos State and when I got to Lagos State, I saw my colleague from my sector, from other parts of the industry that worked with me, the likes of Yemi Osinbajo and many people like that. He brought them, vouched for them and said I need these people to make Lagos work, and you can see the result. When Asiwaju becomes president, you will be shocked and surprised pleasantly the fast scale of change that will come to Nigeria because he is courageous, he is ready and he is prepared.”

The traditional ruler of Akure kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun II, has appealed to the Federal Government to consider the need to approve sophisticated weapons for the Western Security Network code-named Amotekun Corps.

He said the need for Amotekun Corps to complement the already stretched federal police could no longer be overemphasised.

The Akure monarch, who spoke while declaring open the annual Ulefunta lecture series, said the issue of security had become worrisome in the face of uncertainty and worsening security situation ranging from banditry to kidnapping, oil theft and terrorism.

He said Amotekun Corps, as one of the home grown approaches to tackle insecurity, was yielding the desired result.

Oba Aladetoyinbo said the huge success recorded by Amotekun Corps was due to the fact that the traditional rulers were involved and carried along in the scheme of things.

He said: “It is clear that the reality has dawned on us on the need for the involvement of our traditional institutions as a means of providing home grown approach to curb insecurity.

“Through our home grown approach, our efforts yielded much result such that about 850 youths renounced cultism in Akure kingdom. The state government appreciated this effort and many kingdoms took similar initiatives to rid their areas of criminals and rascals.

“Let me raise my voice on behalf of other traditional rulers on the need for the government to include traditional rulers in the scheme of things by giving us a constitutional role.”

“The traditional institutions can no longer continue to play a mere advisory role with no defined and specific role that can make them contribute to the protection of lives and property.”

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, represented by his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, insisted that the Ondo Amotekun Corps would be legally equipped with sophisticated weapons.

He warned traditional rulers to stop expansionist tendencies.

“We wish to caution monarchs to desist from incursion into other kingdoms and stop expansionist tendencies. These unauthorised or illegal annexations of territories outside traditional rulers’ jurisdictions threaten peace. Stay within your jurisdiction so that we can have peace.

“Traditional rulers are our partners in progress. We will not take their noble roles for granted.”

Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has appealed a Federal High Court judgment that nullified his nomination as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the July 16, 2022 governorship election.

The governor and his deputy, Benedict Alabi, have also filed an application at the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja, seeking to stay execution of the court judgment pending the final determination of the appeal.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the FHC, Abuja, had while delivering ruling in the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) invalidated the candidature of Oyetola and Alabi, on the grounds that Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, who submitted their names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), violated Section 183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

Oyetola and Alabi in an appeal filed by the APC through their lawyers, Abiodun Layonu (SAN) and Abdulfatai Oyedele, listed 19 grounds of appeal against the lower court judgment.

According to them, the decision of the Federal High Court was against the weight of evidence and constituted a grave miscarriage of justice. They, therefore, asked the Court of Appeal to set aside the ruling of the lower court and affirm their nominations as valid and lawful.

In the appeal, the governor and his deputy argued that the actions taken by Buni in respect of their nominations were valid and legally cognisable as they were in compliance with Electoral Act 2022 and 1999 Constitution.

The appellants noted that the setting up of the defunct Caretaker Committee/Extra-ordinary Planning Committee by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party did not violate the Constitution and Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.

The APC further argued that the PDP lacked the locus to begin legal action against Governor Oyetola, as the issue of nomination of candidate was an internal affair of political parties, hence did not concern PDP.

First Lady Mrs. Aisha Buhari, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, his counterparts, Prof. Zulum Babagana (Borno) and Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), have been scheduled to attend the 2022 National Women Conference organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO).

The 22nd conference, with the theme: ‘Spring Forth, Stand Out’, will hold from October 18 to 30 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island.

Wife of the Lagos State Governor and Chairman of COWLSO Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu described the conference as “purpose-driven through which women are positively galvanised.”

At a news conference to announce activities lined up for the conference, she said: “Our theme in 2019 was: ‘Unlearn, Learn and Relearn: 21st Century Women’s T.H.E.M.E.S Perspectives /Approach’. In 2020, we discussed ‘Exploring the Possibilities in a New World’, and in 2021, our theme was ‘Awake’.

“Having extensively dealt with issues around awakening last year, what naturally follows an awakening is to emerge into something more beautiful and better. You emerge into a better version of yourself and keep pushing forward to make a positive difference. This is the message we are passing across to women this year.”

No fewer than 1000 youths in Ibadan North Federal Constituency benefited from Labour Party(LP) House of Representatives candidate, Femi Akin-Alamu’s empowerment scheme.

They were empowered through his FELACO Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (EDI).

Speaking while presenting certificate and grants to beneficiaries during the flag off of his campaign office, Akin-Alamu said the motive was to make them self reliant, adding his constituents needed to be equipped with skills for development.

He maintained there is need for good representation and true empowerment for the people, which is different from the kind of empowerment most politicians used to do.

According to him: “We want our people to be financially independent, a lot of empowerment is not empowerment. We created this to teach people how to fish. Teaching them how to become boss of themselves.

“We have been doing this over the years. Last year, we empowered about 4,000 youths. This year, we are empowering over a thousand and we will continue to do so.”

One of the beneficiaries, Ifeoluwa Christiana, applauded the initiator of the scheme, promising to utilise the opportunity.

She said: “I’ve never come across someone that can empower me to this level without knowing me. He really invested in us.

“I appreciate him for this as I’m about to be the boss of my self. Learning this outside will cost me around N200,000 which I don’t have.”

Another participant, Lateef Abeeb, also described the empowerment opportunity as a golden one which will last long in his life.

“As a beneficiary of Graphic Design class, I enjoyed the class, it was well organized and also comprehensive. Learning this kind of graphic design outside will cost me N100,000. I really appreciate.”

The Ibadan North LP Chairman, Ajibaye George, said the scheme was a right step in right direction particularly at this era of youth unemployment.

The FELACO entrepreneurship development initiative trained over 1000 participants in 15 different courses such as photography, shoe making, graphic design, snail farming, event decorations and barbing among others.

Twenty thousand naira each was also disbursed to 50 participants as start up in their various vocations.

Other highlights of the programme include official opening of the campaign office, presentation of certificate and grants to participants of the scheme, and also a mega rally around Ibadan North constituency.