The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Adams Oshiomole

  • Ekiti: Oshiomhole wants adequate security deployment

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomole has said enough security operatives, including the military should be deployed to Ekiti State for this weekend’s governorship election to ensure the safety of the electorates and the votes cast during the election.

    Oshiomhole said a situation where criminals will be wielding AK 47 on an election day, and the police is overwhelmed should not be allowed to occur in Ekiti state, adding that the deployment of a large number of policemen for this weekend’s governorship election in Ekiti State was necessary to ensure safety of lives during the election.

    Oshiomhole who spoke with newsmen shortly after receiving the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright said the number of policemen deployed to the state for the conduct of the election does not matter as long as it is aimed at protecting the lives of the people.

    The Inspector General of Police has reportedly deployed about 30,000 policemen to Ekiti State for the conduct of the election, but Oshiomhole said there was nothing wrong in the deployment, adding that for an effective presence and performance both army and police were needed in the state.

    He said that experience has shown that sometimes, such figures of deployment are announced, while the actual presence on Election Day will be a far cry from the announced deployment.

    Read Also: Fayemi warns troublemakers to leave Ekiti

    “Whether they should use the military or not use the military, I don’t think you want to argue that. Over the years since 2003, 1999, the armed forces have always been deployed.

    “Don’t forget that when I was in Edo state, I told people that I want the armed forces to be involved in the election because the rigging machine is serviced by criminals who are hardened and who are often hired. Now if you have criminals wielding AK 47 on an election day, and the police is overwhelmed you want to say the army should not be deployed?

    “We shouldn’t worry about who we deploy. I think we should all pray that however people are deployed that in the end we are not counting dead bodies.

    “My experience in Edo is that you will hear stories like so so number of people deployed. In the end, you will find no police men. I have seen that in Edo. The important thing is that regardless of what the  police chooses to do, regardless of the number they choose to deploy, let us ensure that those who are going to vote are safe and that the votes cast are secure.

    “Whatever number they need to secure the lives of those who are going to vote to create that sense of security for people to move freely to vote for candidates of their choice, I don’t think we should dictate to the Inspector General of Police how many people he wants to deploy” he said.

    The APC National Chairman also appreciated the British government for their support in promoting democracy in Nigeria, assuring that he would do everything to ensure a free and fair process in the Ekiti governorship election.

    “For the process is more important than the outcome because we are looking at the Nigeria project in terms of sustaining democracy not the survival of a particular political aspirant whether it is on my party platform or in the platform of the opposition” he said.

    In his remarks, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright said his country is interested in Nigeria’s democracy added that they intend to send observers for the election to ensure it is free and fair.

    “The British High Commission will be sending a team there to observe the election and to ensure that they go smoothly, to ensure that INEC can do its job, that the security forces do their job and basically to ensure that the people of Ekiti state are allowed to freely express their opinion, to vote along with their conscience and to be able to do so in peaceful manner” Arkwright said.

  • APC chairmanship: Ebri lauded for stepping down for Oshiomole

    A former governorship candidate of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) in Cross River State, Mr. Goddie Akpama, has lauded ex-governor of the state, Dr Clement Ebri, for voluntarily stepping down for Comrade Adams Oshiomole, for the position of National Chairman in the recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention.

    Akpama, now a member of the APC, said Ebri showed exemplary leadership by conceding to the former Edo State governor.

    He told reporters in Calabar that by sacrificing his personal aspiration, Ebri had demonstrated that the interest of the party was greater than the personal interest of any individual member of the party.

    “What His Excellency did by stepping down was very exemplary. Despite the fact that he had massive support from delegates across the country, he sacrificed his interest for the greater interest of the APC, and that singular action amounted to the success of the National Convention last Saturday.

    “His action and stance is responsible for the complete unity within the fabric of the APC at the national level. I advise that henceforth, politicians in the states and across the country should emulated his example of self sacrifice, and put it into practice,” Akpama said.

    Akpama who was also a former Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) said he was elated that Ebri displayed his leadership quality by leading delegates from Cross River State to a successful convention, thereby, establishing himself as a true and natural leader of the APC in the state.

    “From the formation of the party, and even before the convention the Cross River State chapter of the APC was in crisis, and lacked direction, an indication that the party lacked a central figure that had put himself forward for members to rally round for the success of the party. I am happy, and I am confident most members of the party are happy that Ebri put himself forward to played the much needed leadership role, which was hitherto absent. His Excellency, Ebri, from all we have seen has distinguished himself as the leader of the APC in the state”, the former governorship candidate said.

    He also stated that by joining the race, Ebri demonstrated that Cross River State was no longer in the backwaters of Nigerian politics and can never be taken for granted any longer.

    He also congratulated Oshiomole on his emergence as National Chairman.

  • APC chairmanship: Oshiomhole receives fresh endorsement

    Ahead of Saturday’s national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Association of former Local Government Chairmen and Councilors of Nigeria (AFLOG) has endorsed Adams Oshiomole for the position of the national chairman of the party.

    A statement by the national chairman of AFLOG, Adol Awam Chris, said that the group decided to support Oshiomhole because of his known competence.

    He added that their decision to back Oshiomhole as national chairman of the party is as result of the need to handover the leadership of the ruling party to competent hand.

    He noted that it is a public knowledge the activities of Oshiomhole while he was the president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    He said, “During his tenure as labour leader, he negotiated a 25 per cent wage increase for public sector workers.

    Read Also: Oshiomhole decries APC’s ‘opposition to itself’

    “While he was NLC president, Oshiomhole kicked against neglect of local oil refineries which led to reliance on imported gasoline, followed by rises in the price of fuel.

    “As a result of his activities a newspaper declared him Man of the Year in the Year 2000, in recognition of the immensity of his contributions to popular struggles.

    “When he was governor of Edo State, he embarked on massive construction of roads, rehabilitation and building of schools, provision of potable water, health facilities and provision of employment to over 25,000 persons, among others.

    “Oshiomhole assumed office when the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) was low, but within a short period he was able to increase the state’s IGR from N300 million to over NI.6 billion.”

  • House of Reps have more or less endorsed Oshiomole – Gbajabiamila

    Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila disclosed today that the House of Representatives have endorsed the former Governor of Edo state, Comrade Adams Oshiomole as the next National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC ).

    Adams Oshiomole

    Gbajabiamila who took to his twitter handle in the early hours of today said:

    “We sat down for over two hours with Comrade Oshiomole and had a heart-to-heart discussion and we are all on the same page.

    “As a result of that solicitation, we as the @OfficialAPCNg caucus in the House of Representatives believe in him. We have more or less endorsed him”.

    Oshiomole who will most likely be taking over from Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, will be saddled with the singular and arduous task of bringing cohesion and repositioning to the APC nationwide.

  • Oshiomhole calls for diversification of oil, gas industry

    Oshiomhole calls for diversification of oil, gas industry

    The former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomole on Thursday called for the diversification of the oil and gas sector of the nation’s economy.

    Oshiomhole made the call at the ongoing 5th Triennial National Delegates Conference of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) in Abuja.

    The theme of the conference is: “Emerging Trends in the Oil and Gas Industry and its Impacts on Labour Movement in Nigeria.’’

    Oshiomhole, represented by Mr Isa Aremu, the Vice President, Industrial Global-All, said that with the crash in the global oil prices, there was need for governments to look elsewhere in generating revenue for its economy.

    According to him, the Federal Government has been talking about diversification of the economy in the areas of agriculture, solid mineral, among others but not in the oil and gas industry.

    “In spite of the challenges taking place in this sector, the oil and gas industry matters more than ever before and there is no way you can talk of diversification without the oil and gas sector.

    “As a matter of fact, no diversification can take place in agriculture, in solid minerals without the necessary available resources that is still accruable form the oil and gas sector.

    “It is obvious, 40 per cent of the national employment comes from the sector not only that, 95 per cent of the foreign exchange earning of Nigeria comes from oil and gas.

    “16 per cent of our GDP also comes from this sector, with 37 billion reserved crude oil as well as 183 cubic feet of gas,’’ he said.

    Oshiomhole added that the country’s gas reserve was close to 30 per cent of the entire world gas reserve.

    “It is clear that the future shows that Nigeria is not just oil producing country but increasingly we are also gas producing country. ”

    He said that the real diversification must start from the petroleum industry before any other sector.

    On crude oil, he said that Nigeria was only exporting crude without adding value to it.

    “We are not adding value the way we should but there are close to 112 derivates from the crude oil.

    “There are a lot of downstream and upstream that we can generate in a way to revive the industry,” he added.

    He, however, decried the way the major operators in the oil and gas industries were shifting the burden on the working people due to the collapse of prices of the crude oil by downsizing, among others.

    He said that it was time for the company operators to respect the collative bargaining they entered in order to put an end to the arbitrary sacking of workers.

    He also called for a joint revival of the industry, urging them not to compromise on the need for minimum labour standard, especially with respect for decent work.

    The former governor urged the union to use the opportunity provided by the conference to deliberate on issues that would move the industry forward.

    Mr Francis Johnson, PENGASSAN’s president said the union supported government’s initiative to bring in investors to revamp the refineries in the area of funding and expertise.

    Johnson, however, said that the union demanded an access to the Federal Government, investors memorandum of understanding for the three refineries – Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna.

    “We called on government to ensure immediate rehabilitation of obsolete equipment in the plants and to ensure that unions are carried along in all stages of the process,” he said.

    He said the union was not in support of the recent amendment of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Act as it would be inimical to the growth of the organisation and the country.

    The PENGASSAN president, while commending the senate on the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), called on them to ensure that the remaining part of the original bill was  passed to ensure optimal benefits.

    He also called on delegates to vote for dedicated candidates with proven track records during the conference and to stand together for the purpose of achieving collective goals of the union.

  • Governors need more powers – Mimiko

    Governors need more powers – Mimiko

    Out-going Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has sought for more powers for governors to enable them perform better.

    He spoke on Wednesday  evening at a farewell dinner in his honour and former Edo Governor, Adams Oshiomole by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

    The event which was attended by all governors including past ones, started after the NGF briefly met at the old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja

    “The situation where state governors have no control of forces. We have to recreate the image of the governor in Nigeria.

    “There is a level of perception between the governor from the people and what they are delivering in the states.

    “I think we need to rethink about the image of the governor. Africa cannot come of age if Nigeria does not come of age,” he added.

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo also attended the dinner during which he commended  the two governors.

    Mallam Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Victor Attah former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Rochas Okorocha of Imo state, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state were among those who spoke well about the two governors.

    Governor Oshiomole in his remarks thanked the forum and said the gathering must remain to preserve the diverse nature of the country.

    He said the NGF should be seen as an organization that would unite the country and deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

    Oshiomole also commended Acting President Osinbajo for the leadership he has always provided for the National Economic Council (NEC) which he was a member.

  • Cash crunch: Edo Govt vows to complete ongoing projects

    Cash crunch: Edo Govt vows to complete ongoing projects

    The Edo state government has on Thursday assured that all ongoing projects embarked upon would be completed in spite of the cash crunch that has hit most states of the federation.

    This assurance was given by the state commissioner for Works, Mr Osarodion Ogie while inspecting road and flood control projects in Abudu, Oba Erediauwa and 2nd East Circular areas of the state.

    The commissioner said while some states were finding it difficult to pay salaries, Edo had continue to meet with workers salaries obligation as well as continued with projects execution across the state.

    He said this was made possible because the Adams Oshiomhole led government had from inception made conscious effort to cut down on recurrent expenditure to beef up its capital expenditure.

    Ogie said the tax drive and blockage of leakages in the state resources have also assisted the government to meet up with its financial obligation.

    He said as a responsible government, it would continue to ensure that that the people’s money was being spent responsibly until the last day of the government.

    According to him, “The people of the state know they have in place a responsible government and it is the covenant of this government that it would work until the last day.

    “As a responsible government we will ensure that no ongoing project embarked upon will be abandoned.

    “You will notice that we have continue that contractors have not left the site of all ongoing projects in spite of the cash crunch that have hit most states of the federation. Edo is not owing any workers while several states of the federation have been unable to pay salaries for months now.

    “We are not saying we are not being affected by the cash crunch because there are many projects the government would have love to execute. What we are saying that we have ensured that the ongoing ones does not suffer In spite of the financial challenges in the country.

    Speaking on the 10km Oba Erediauwa and 26 adjoining road projects in Upper Sakponba, Ogie said it was carefully initiated to address the menace of flood problem in the areas.

    “The Erediauwu road project comprises of 26 adjoining streets. Several of this streets have not witness any vehicular movement for about 20 years as a result of their states And many houses in the area have been swallowed due to challenges of flooding problem in the area.

    “The same goes to the Abudu township road and three adjoining streets that we are also working on. The abudu road project put together is 4.5km.

    “On the 2nd East Circular, the road which has totally failed have been left abandoned for over 30 years. It is a commercial road hence our decision to reconstruct the road from it original single lane to dual carriage road fitted with work -way and street light, ” he explained.

  • Glitz and glamour as top artistes thrill Edo youths

    Glitz and glamour as top artistes thrill Edo youths

    It was a dazzling night at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Edo State on Saturday, January 18, 2014 as a high-calibre Live musical concert was held to thrill the thousands of youths who thronged the place to listen to and get close to their music idols who were in their elements to make the night an interesting one to remember.
    The Live Concert, was the highpoint of a Youth Summit held earlier in the day to ginger youths of Edo State and indeed Nigeria on the need to rise up to the challenges of nurturing an assured future and developing their potentials in a country with growing apprehension and developmental inertia.
    The Youth Summit, with theme: “Nigeria’s Centenary: Defining the Issues and Setting Agenda for the Future of Our Youths” had featured inspirational talks from the host Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole; Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola; Human Rights Activist, Joe Okei-Odumakin; Human Rights Lawyer, Festus Keyamo; Motivational Speaker, Toyosi Akerele, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar who was represented by Alhaji Kiri Mohammed and former President of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Peter Esele.
    After the Summit at the Imaguero College Hall, the youths thronged the ‘Ogbe’ stadium in the evening for an all-night concert to wind down and they were not disappointed as they were thrilled by the best of the best artistes in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
    Some of the top artistes who thrilled the youths at the Concert include Timaya, Sleazzy E, Terry G, Wande Cole, HarrySong & KCee, Sound Sultan, Banky W, Basket Mouth, WizKid, Buchi, I go Dye, I Go Save, Eso, Klint Da Drunk, Edo Boy, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Osayomore Joseph, Franchise, Eedris Abdulkareem, among others.
    Governor Adams Oshiomhole who was given an award on the occasion by the Concerned Entertainers of Edo State for bringing the state back from the abyss and returning night life and tourism to the state said the Youth Summit and Concert were put together to return the peoples faith in the country.
    He said: “I promise to create an opportunity for our youths to realize their potentials. For me, the future begins today and that future belongs to all of you, you must have faith in your country.”
    The Concert was graced by eminent Nigerians including Senator Domingo Obende, Deputy Governor, Dr Pius Odubu, Barrister Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Hon Samson Osagie and Rasaq Bello-Osagie, both of the House of Representatives; Prof Pat Utomi, Barrister Festus keyamo, Comrade Issa Aremu, Miss Toyosi Akerele, Comrade Peter Esele and members of the state executive council.
    Pictures by George Enofe show the razzmatazz at the music concert.