Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) Wahab Alawiye-King has clarified that the ongoing personnel audit in public and private primary and junior secondary schools is not for tax purpose.

The audit is being conducted by LASUBEB in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission ((UBEC), Federal Ministry of Education, National Commission for Nomadic Education, National Bureau for Statistics, National Population Commission, state Ministry of Education, civil society organisations and Association of Private School Proprietors (APSP).

Alawiye-King said the exercise, which started on June 6, will last till June 25, is to obtain comprehensive and reliable data on pupils in basic education to reduce the number of out-of-school children; determine the number of schools locally and nationally; and establish a basic education data bank.

Other reasons for the exercise, according to him, are to obtain the number and qualification of teaching and non- teaching staff in the basic education institutions nationwide; determine the key performance indictors in the basic education sub sector; determine the number, qualifications and distribution of SUBEBs and LGEAs personnel; obtain reliable and verified data for accessing the impact of basic education delivery; and generate data for effective national and global reportage.

He added: “We appeal to all public and private primary and junior secondary schools (unity, faith-based, military, para-military and international school owners) to please cooperate with the enumerators for effective data gathering.”

By Osagie Otabor, Akure and Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan

Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Amb. Sola Iji, Chief Olusola Oke and Adegboyega Adefarati, have expressed confidence that the party will win the 2023 presidential election with the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the party’s presidential candidate.

Iji, who was a Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Togo, said Tinubu possesses the charismatic qualities to win over 25 per cent of votes in all states.

The former ambassador, who spoke through his spokesman, Onole Iroaye, described Tinubu’s victory at the national convention as ‘most deserving by all parameters’. He said the APC could never had a better presidential candidate at this time.

Oke, a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the party produced the Nigeria candidate in the person of Bola Tinubu. According to him, the APC primary passed the litmus test of transparency and openness in leadership selection process.

In a statement yesterday, Oke said history will be kind to the APC northern governors for their historic role in zoning the presidency to the South.

Adefarati, on his part, said Tinubu’s victory was a testament to his ‘political tenacity and temperament to manage and merge vast interests, supporters, leaders, and regions over long years of his vision for the country’.

“In the game of politics, Asiwaju is a master planner, commanding force and arresting personality who has not only raised men and leaders, he is also a great friendship builder and manager. Talk of democracy in Nigeria, Jagaban’s name travels minds across the globe,” he noted.

A governorship aspirant of the APC in Oyo State, Oyedele Alao, has also congratulated Tinubu on his victory.

Alao, in a congratulatory message he personally signed, noted that the emergence of Tinubu was due to his tenacity, and which signposts a victory for Nigeria and Nigerians.

According to him, the overwhelming votes given to the APC National Leader showed his acceptability by party members, and the believe in his capacity to provide the needed leadership that would consolidate and continue to ensure the democratic gains and move the country forward.

Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola has said addressing current security challenges in the country must be seen as a collective responsibility of all Nigerians.

He stressed that providing security was a major duty of government, but also requiring the people’s support to provide the partnership upon which the security architecture can be improved.

Oyetola spoke yesterday during the turbaning of Mallam Ayuba Lugu as the new Seriki of the Hausa Community in Ibokun town, Obokun Local Government Area. He was represented by his Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye.

The governor said the continuous weaponisation of religion, ethnicity and promotion of cultural differences must stop for the country to remain peaceful and united. He also harped on the need for social cohesion through dialogue, justice and equity, to sustain peaceful co-existence among the people.

Oyetola also warned residents, especially non-indigenes, against shielding criminals, insisting that suspicious movement must be reported to appropriate quarters in the interest of continued peaceful coexistence in the state.

State Seriki Hausa, Alhaji Suaib Gomina, praised the governor for providing enabling environment for peaceful co-existence among the indigenes and non-indigenes in the state.

The Oyetola has also vowed never to betray his conscience in fulfilling his campaign promises to the people, if re-elected governor.

Read Also: APC remains the party to beat, Oyetola boasts

Oyetola urged the people to disregard ‘falsehood being peddled by the opposition parties that he would not fulfill his campaign promises’.

He spoke during an engagement with members of state Automobile Technician Association yesterday.

Represented by Oyintiloye, the governor said his journey into politics was for service delivery and not for personal gain or deception.

He assured civil servants and retirees of his commitment to their welfare, and urged them not to fall for the antics of the opposition parties.

“Since the beginning of our administration, we have spent N43 billion on payment of pension for retirees and we will not stop. Osun is also one of the few states in the country that has implemented the minimum wage, and we have been consistent in the payment.

“Those spreading falsehood that I will stop paying attention to the welfare of workers and our senior citizen are not to be trusted because they have nothing to offer,” he said.

The governor reiterated that re-elected, he would consolidate on the achievements his administration had made in the last three and half years.

Chairman of the association Ajibola Akinola hailed the governor for his strides in infrastructure and amenities. He, however, appealed to the governor to assist members of the association with more soft loans to boost their businesses.

He also promised the association would support his re-election for the continuation of his good works.

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki and governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State have agreed to work for the victory of the party’s candidate, Shuaib Abdullahi, in the 2023 election.

All 13 aspirants but three attended the meeting where Saraki applauded them for agreeing to work together and uniting to save the state.

According to him, what the party needs to win the elections is to present a common front and take the message of unity to all wards in the state.

The former governor promised his unflinching support for all party candidates, and urged all the aspirants to make maximum contributions to the coming campaigns.

He said: “When our party wins resoundingly in Kwara State as we are set to do, it will be obvious that we are all winners, both those whose names are on the ballot and those who are not, but have worked diligently for the victory of the party.”

In a communiqué at the end of the meeting, the aspirants noted that ‘arriving at a choice candidate was a rigorous and delicate process because all the aspirants are qualified for the position of governor, and have the backing of the people at home, particularly the constituents from the five local government areas in Kwara North’.

The communiqué reads: “…we are happy that a governor from Kwara North is beginning to be a reality, and this is because of the consensus-building, consultative, participatory, and all-inclusive approach adopted by the leadership of the party. All the aspirants commit themselves to work for the victory of the party in all elections from the presidential, gubernatorial, senatorial, federal, and state constituency representatives, and particularly to support our governorship candidate, Shuaib Abdullahi, in winning the polls.

“All the aspirants also agreed that the situation on ground is bigger than the ambition or personal interest of individuals. They therefore agree to work together and give all their support to the efforts to rebuild the state. They also agreed to contribute to the development of a solid campaign plan, strategy, road map, and other activities needed to secure victory for the party.

“The aspirants also suggested that the forum of aspirants should meet more regularly and serve as an ‘advisory board’ to discuss major issues and advise the candidate as well as the party on key issues.”

The Oshoja Royal Family of Ikeja Land has reaffirmed its earlier position on the nomination of Prince Temitope Ibikunle as the next to occupy the vacant stool of Olu of Ikeja Land.

The stool has remained unoccupied since the demise of Oba Rafiu Matemi Amore in 2014. Two members of the Oshoja family – Prince Wasiu Adeleye and Prince Nurudeen Adeleye however lay claim to the stool thus brewing controversy.

But the family, led by Alhaja Taibatu Adeleye, at a news conference in January, unanimously announced Prince Temitope Ibikunle as heir to the vacant stool.

In a June 8 letter addressed to Chairman of Ikeja Local Government Area, Mojeed Balogun, signed by Alhaja Adeleye and Prince Muka Shittu Akinlabi, the family again reiterated its position on the nomination of Prince Ibikunle as successor to the throne.

The ‘Letter of Revalidation of our Stand on the Nomination of Prince Temitope Adebowale Ibikunle as the Omo-Oye of the Oshoja Royal Family to fill the vacant Olu of Ikejaland stoll’, insisted on the withdrawal of the nomination of Wasiu Adeleye and Nurudeen Adeleye.

It reads: “Following information in the public on the stand of the family as regard the above subject, the Oshoja Royal Family of Ikeja land, under the leadership of Alhaja Taibatu Onipele Adeleye, once again revalidate its stand on the withdrawal of the nomination of Prince Wasiu Owolabi Adeleye and Prince Nurudeen Adeyemi Adeleye. This decision was reached on January 24, 2022, after over half a decade of conflict without resolution between these initial nominees.

“The family as unanimously appointed Prince Temitope Adebowale Ibikunle Oshoja to stand as the sole Omo-Oye to the stool of the Olu of Ikejaland, and this decision was documented and communicated to your office in January 24 letter for your action.

“The right to the stool of Olu of IkejaLand is a collective right of the family; hence, the family has the sole prerogative to decide who represents its interest without sentiments. We also want to reaffirm that this privilege is not a right of any individual(s).

“Given the above, we will like to state expressly that Prince Wasiu Owolabi Adeleye and Prince Nurudeen Adeyemi Adeleye do not in any way represent the family’s interest any longer in respect to the subject matter.

“Hence, we admonish the government and her agencies, the public, to desist from associating with them on the account of the above. We also appeal to the government, her agencies and the public to be respectfully guided not to have any further dealings with them in this regard.

“We enjoin all authorities to treat our decision respectfully and urgently to facilitate the progress we have long sought as a community.”

The Kwara State government has said it is not jittery over the recent defection of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

An associate of Governor AbdulRaman Abdulrazaq, Senator Suleiman Makanjuola, and many other aggrieved aspirants, recently left the party after the National Assembly and House of Assembly primaries.

Communications Commissioner Olabode Towoju, at a programme organised by the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said the era of hand-picking candidates at the detriment of others that are more popular and acceptable was over.

He added that the governor and the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, would win the 2023 elections convincingly.

The commissioner also said the government will not relent in its efforts to bring all persons alleged to have mismanaged state funds to book.

He added: “We are not giving up in ensuring those who siphoned our collective patrimony and put the state in wretched condition are brought to book. The wheel of justice mostly comes very slowly, but when it comes to pass it could be very devastating. We should also not forget that we are talking of the people who are very clever in their ways, who keep hiding under technical grounds to checkmate all our moves.

“But moving forward, we have engaged senior lawyers to fight most of the cases and we are confident that every one of them will be brought to book.”