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  • Akinyelure-led team targets 2mbpd crude oil production

    Akinyelure-led team targets 2mbpd crude oil production

    Perform or be fired, Tinubu tells NNPCL board

    The Pius Akinyelure-led Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited plans to raise daily crude oil production to two million barrels.

    Akinyelure dropped the hint yesterday while chatting with reporters after the inauguration of the Board by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.

    The board, according to him, has also promised that Nigeria will rank amongst the best in the global oil and gas industry and ensure that the key performance indicators of the oil industry of the country are rated number one in Africa.

    The petroleum sector has been battling massive oil theft and vandalism of oil and gas facilities for decades, leading to significant economic losses and environmental degradation.

    Last year, Nigeria lost at least $2 billion to oil theft, according to an inquiry by the National Assembly, which also revealed that only 66 per cent of the oil production could be effectively guaranteed.

    The report of the inquiry, which was made public in November last year, said the other 33 per cent was affected by theft and lost production “due to the third-party easy access on land terrain.”

    Akinyelure said the overhaul of the security architecture of the oil-producing regions was necessary to end the oil theft and vandalism of pipelines.

    He said: “It is not an easy task we know we have the challenge of oil theft and vandalism of our pipelines, our commitment is to produce two million barrels per day anytime from next year but for this, we have to overhaul our security architecture so that the incidences of stealing, vandalism of oil pipelines can be reduced and this will help to beef up our cash flow and we will become a better nation.”

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    The chairman said that the Board members assured the President of collective efforts to reposition the NNPCL to sustain the economy better while it guaranteeing improved fortune for Nigeria.

    “We have assured him (President) of our collective effort to make it a company that we will all be proud of and a company that will help sustain the economy and make sure we create some element of prosperity for Nigerians,” he told reporters

    Akinyelure the board secured 100 per cent assurance and support of the President to carry out its responsibilities fully.

    The Board chair said: “He has assured us of his support and on our part too we have given him our 100 per cent assurance that we will do the best we can to make sure the key performance Indicators of the oil Industry in Nigeria will be rated number one in Africa and proudly competing with oil and gas industry around the world.” Chief Akinyelure added.

    Other board members are: NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) Mele Kyari; Alhaji Umar Isa Ajiya; Ledum Mitee; Musa Tumsa; Ghali Muhammad; Prof. Mustapha Aliyu; David Ogbodo and Ms. Eunice Thomas

  • Adefisoye congratulates Akinyelure on NNPC appointment

    Adefisoye congratulates Akinyelure on NNPC appointment

    The Founder of Maten Energies, Moshood Abiola Adefisoye, has congratulated Chief Pius Akinyelure on his appointment as the non-executive Chairman of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

    The congratulatory message reads: “It gladdens that your comprehensive experience as a seasoned technocrat in the Nigerian oil sector has been acknowledged.

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    “Your well-deserved appointment as the Non-Executive Board Chairman of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is an additional feather to your cap of honours.

    “Hearty congratulations, Baba Rere.”

    Adefisoye noted that President Bola Tinubu made the best decision with the appointment of Akinyelure to ensure that the much-needed repositioning of NNPCL was swiftly achieved.

  • Jide Olurankinse congratulates Akinyelure on appointment

    Jide Olurankinse congratulates Akinyelure on appointment

    The Ondo born politician and business tycoon, Jide Olurankinse has congratulated his political leader, Chief Pius Akinyelure on his appointment as Chairman, Board of Nigerian Petroleum Company Limited.

    The USA -based business tycoon also lauded President Tinubu for putting a  round peg in a round hole, saying Chief Akinyelure is the man for the job due to his experience in the Oil sector.

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    In his congratulatory message, he wished the ex mobile Director a successful tenure, ” On behalf of the good people of Ondo Central Senatorial District and my family, I congratulate our father and leader,  Chief Pius Akinyelure on his well deserved appointment as the Chairman Board of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL)

    “Olurankinse, implore all the sons and daughters of Ondo State to  support the newly appointed NNPCL Chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure with prayers for him to be successful in the assignment given to him by the President”.

    If we can recall, President Tinubu on Monday, appointed Pius Akinyelure as the new Board Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited with effect from December 1.

  • ABAT Movement hails Akinyelure

    ABAT Movement hails Akinyelure

    The Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Movement (ABAT) has congratulated the ex-director of Wema Bank, Chief Pius Akinyelure, on his appointment as Chairman, Board of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

     In a statement by the organisation’s executives, Akogun Banji Ojo, Otunba Femi Soluade and George Ogunjimi, they described his appointment as well-deserved and a round peg in a round hole because Chief Akinyelure is a visionary leader in the oil and gas sector.

     “We are using the medium to congratulate our father from Ondo State, a rare gem and ex-director of Wema Bank and Odua Investment Ltd on his appointment as NNPCL chairman.

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     “No doubt since the inception of President Bola Tinubu, he has been putting the right peg in the hole and he has proved again by appointing Akinyelure as NNPCL chairman, based on his experience in oil and gas sector,”

     ABAT Movement also lauded President Tinubu for choosing Chief Akinyelure to use his vast experience in the crucial sector in Nigeria.

     President Tinubu on Monday appointed Akinyelure as the new Board Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited with effect from December 1.

  • How Ondo APC primary was ‘rigged’, by Akinyelure

    How Ondo APC primary was ‘rigged’, by Akinyelure

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman (Southwest) Chief Pius Akinyelure has explained how the party’s governorship primary was manipulated, culminating in the submission of Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s candidate.

    Akinyelure, in a statement, named the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Secretary Mai Mala Buni and the National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, as the persons behind the act.

    The statement, which the APC National Vice Chairman said enjoys the support of six National Working Committee (NWC) members, accused the trio of using NWC meetings to usurp powers and unilaterally take decisions that their offices did not give them the power to take.

    It emerged that as many as three delegates’ lists for the election were in circulation at some point after the first list was tampered with.

    Izunaso, according to the statement, single-handedly removed, added or substituted names on the initial list circulated to the party’s 24 aspirants, leading to the emergence of a second list that was altered in favour of Akeredolu.

    His action enjoyed the support of Oyegun and Buni, even when other members of the NWC opposed it because it conflicted with the party’s rules.

    Akinyelure’s statement reads: “The National Organising Secretary confirmed to the NWC meeting of Monday September 19, 2016 that he actually received objections from some of the aspirants as to the delegates’ list. Then he unilaterally made the adjustments as he deemed fit.

    “It is emphasised that the National Organising Secretary performed these adjustments without recourse or reference to the NWC. The NWC was not appraised of his actions before the primary. The National Organising Secretary then issued this altered list to the Primary Election Committee for use in the conduct of the election.

    “This altered list became available to some of the aspirants in the early hours of the election day (September 3, 2016). When the election process was about to commence, Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and three other aspirants protested and raised objections as to the delegates’ list to the election committee.

    “However, the committee members could not address it as it was not within their competence to do so. They went ahead with the conduct of the election.  After the declaration of the results of the election by the election committee, three aspirants petitioned the Election Appeal Committee, alleging discrepancies and the alteration of the delegates’ list provided to them by the election committee and other irregularities.

    “Consequent on the above, the NWC of the party received both the Election Committee and the Election Appeal Committee’s reports, which were tabled at the NWC meeting of Monday, September 19, 2016.”

    A decision by the NWC to submit the name of an interim substitute to INEC as place holder until a fresh primary was conducted suffered a setback after Oyegun, Buni and Izunaso “blindsided the other members to submit Akeredolu’s name in spite of a six to five votes in favour of presenting the substitute name”.

  • Elders pledge loyalty to Tinubu, Akinyelure, others

    Elders pledge loyalty to Tinubu, Akinyelure, others

    Elders of the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ifedore Local Government yesterday pledged their loyalties to the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, Southwest Vice Chairman Chief Pius Olu Akinyelure and the State Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke.

    They pledged to stand by whatever decision taken by the leaders on the August 27 governorship primary.

    The elders said they would never tolerate a situation where the integrity of the leaders would be rubbished by anybody.

    A statement issued and signed by the APC leaders from Igbara-Oke, Oladapo Taiwo, Chief Muyide Adu (Ijare), Chief Femi Bakare (Ilara-Mokin) and Sola Omotosho, Secretary Ifedore Local Government, said they were proud of their leaders’ achievements.

    The statement reads: “We also use this opportunity to pledge our total loyalty to the party’s national secretariat as they prepare to midwife a free fair and credible primary to usher in a new and progressive government.

    “We also appeal to all our members in the APC in Ifedore Local Government to remain loyal to their leaders and go about their party duties of mobilisation of members and preparation for the primary.”

    Bakare said there was nothing wrong if Tinubu endorsed one person out of the 25 aspirants eyeing the party’s ticket.

    He noted that American President Barrack Obama endorsed Hillary Clinton before their party’s primary as his own anointed candidate.

    “There is nothing wrong in endorsing. If Obama can endorsed, has an interest, how much more of a leader of a calibre of Tinubu, who believes in developing people?”

    Also, the Muslim Council of APC in the state has said the position of Tinubu should be adhered to during the gubernatorial primary election slated for August 27.

    This was contained in a statement signed by the council state secretary, Alhaji Ehinola Ahmed.

    The group said the council believes in any decision made by Tinubu, which, they said, is in the best interest of the party and the state.

    The council said it would throw its weight behind what it described as a laudable decision.

     

  • Ondo now ready for APC -Akinyelure

    Ondo now ready for APC -Akinyelure

    Ayo Akinyelure is a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State and a former Senator who represented Ondo central senatorial district.The chartered accountant spoke with Damisi Ojo on his vision and mission for the Sunshine state if he gets the mandate to rule. Excerpts;

    Can you brief us about your political profile? I am Senator Ayo Akinyelure. I represented Ondo central senatorial district in the seventh senate and by the grace of God, I have declared my intention to contest in the forthcoming governorship election in the state under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). I am a chartered accountant by profession and I have been practicing for over 30 years. I was elected to serve in the 7th senate. By the grace of God, my record of achievements in those four years have been published officially for the electorate in Ondo stateto see and judge my performance.

    What actually spurred you into politics after your professional exploit as a chartered accountant?

    I believe I am a true Nigerian and politics is a very good venture. I believe in accuracy and integrity and for anybody to succeed in this country, he needs integrity as a value. I and my friend, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the incumbent governor of Ogun state, decided that we are going into politics on the same day.

    We believe that we have made success in our endeavour as chartered accountants and tax practitioners and the way Nigeria was going, we cannot allow mediocres to take over the power in this country and as a result, we resolved in my office in 1997, to be in politics. But we didn’t take it serious then, but after the election in 1999, when Nigeria returned back to democracy, in 2006 we sat down again that we must go into politics fully.

    We went to Ogun state and later came back to my base, Ondo state to come and engage in politics. What actually spurred me into politics was the fact that in Ondo central, there are six local government areas, which comprises Ondo East, Ondo West, Idanre, Ifedore, Akure North, Akure South constituencies.

    You were in Alliance for Democracy and later Action Congress. At what point did you leave the party for the Labour Party and later PDP?

    There came a time when everybody in Ondo wanted Mimiko to become the governor. At that time,Mimiko, was a Minister under President Obasanjo and Agagu was then the Governor on the platform of PDP. We sat down and did our permutations and concluded that there was no way Mimiko will get the ticket of PDP with Agagu contesting and he cannot join AC because of Obasanjo. We now resolved that Mimiko should go and bring any party, a registered political party in Nigeria and contest with. He now brought Labour Party (LP) exactly 90 days to the election. LP was launched in Ondo and Mimiko was announced as the flag bearer of the party. That was how I decamped to LP after being given a letter to the effect that I am the senatorial candidate of the party in Ondo central.

    But when Mimiko won his second term, he became anti-party and anti-people. But I was able to get the ticket to the National Assembly under the same platform where I demonstrated good leadership and performed credibly well. I was able to use the platform to engage 348 graduates into Federal Civil service. But I lost re-election afterwards to a coup within the same party. I am not a PDP person but Mimiko just woke up one day and said we were moving to the PDP not knowing that it was for his own selfish interest. All the stakeholders were not carried along in arriving at that decision, he just said we are moving to PDP and as followers, who are we to question his authority. We followed him then not knowing that he has gone there already to create problem for us in order for those of us holding offices not to return back for second term.

    After the general elections, I officially declared my defection in to the APC in 2015. And today, my loyalty is total to APC leadership and by the grace of God through my good performance at the 7th National Assembly, I will surely have the APC governorship ticket. I am the only aspirant among others with a score card and I have been telling the electorate to shine their eyes. I am ready to serve the people of Ondo state under the platform of APC.

    What exactly is your reason for wanting to be the Governor of Ondo State after your stint in the national assembly?

    It is those who want good governance in Ondo that are urging me on. They came to me in Abuja after I joined APC and told me to come and rescue Ondo from Mimiko. I just wanted to concentrate on my profession but these people said I am the only person that can stop Mimiko in 2016.

    On that note, I concluded that I should give it a trial believing my achievements will sell me. I was the only person with an agenda when I was going to the senate. I helped many graduates by getting them jobs at the Federal Civil Service. Today if it is by credibility and good performance, I am the best option among others.

    Are you not threatened by numerous other aspirants?

    I am not bothered. Let them come out with their score card. I am ready to serve Ondo people. I am ready to deliver the dividends of democracy. But I will say that our electorate should shine their eyes. I have demonstrated passion for my people that if I can be given another opportunity to serve. I will perform better, more than what I did in the senate. Anybody that will take over from Mimiko now must be someone with a passion for the people and must be ready to restructure the economy of the state. Investors are bringing their money to develop Ondo state. If given the chance to be the next governor, I will drive the economic recovery of the state. If I am elected as the governor, I will provide solution to Ondo problems.

    How are you preparing for the primary election?

    I am preparing seriously. But I will just pray for the electorate to hear what I’ m saying so that they will vote me in. They should not go for the highest bidder because of the future of the state.

  • Akinyelure joins Ondo governorship race

    Akinyelure joins Ondo governorship race

    The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator representing Ondo Central District, Ayo Akinyelure, has joined the governorship race on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The APC parading has 50 aspirants warming up for primary.

    Declaring his intention at the APC secretariat, Akure, the former lawmaker promised to revive the state’s economy.

    He lamented that, in the past few years, the state has experienced economic doldrums to the extent that it has ranked among the worst in the southwest.

    The former chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, said: “As an oil-producing state with special oil derivation funds, it is so dishearting that the economic management of the state is bad and there is a need to urgently initiate an accelerated development of its huge natural resources.

    “It is the cry for recovering that gingered my thought with some concerned stakeholders in the state and after a vast consultation, I resolved to declare my interests to run the governorship race.

    The Idanre-born politician said he would use foreign investors to develop the natural resources across the three senatorial districts, if he is elected as the governor.

    According to him, there would be employment and the re-deployment of human resources into developmental projects such as granite and bitumen exploration, glass production, cottage industries and large scale agriculture to solve the short time problems of unemployment.

    He promised to run an open government where public interests and stakeholders would be catered for through effective participation in governance.

    Akinyelure said: ”I am happy to return home. My foundation is progressives and I am back in the fold from the PDP to add value to APC’s victory after November 26 poll.”

    The former legislator donated N2m as his contribution to the Ondo APC endowment fund for the construction of permanent secretariat of the party in the state.

     

    Besides, he gave another N2m for the running of the affairs in the party secretariat.

    The APC state chairman, Isaac Kekemeke thanked Akinyelure for his contribution to the growth of the party in the state.

    He reiterated that the party leadership would conduct a credible primary election where the best aspirant would emerge as APC flagbearer for the eventual victory after the governorship poll.

  • Ondo APC ready to take over, says Akinyelure

    Ondo APC ready to take over, says Akinyelure

    Scores of women politicians in Ondo State under the aegis of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women for Change (APCWC) yesterday converged on Akure, the capital, for a one-day sensitisation seminar.

    The group was led by the former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs Jumoke Ajasin-Anifowose.

    The APC National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Chief Pius Akinyelure, said the people were ready to take over from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Akintelure, who was represented by the state chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, said Ondo people are desirous of change.

    He said only the APC has the needed change Ondo people want.

    The APC leader disclosed that the party in the state has set machinery in motion ahead of the next year’s governorship poll.

    Mrs Ajasin-Anifowose urged women to show interest in politics. She advised them to be more committed to the party.

    The former commissioner argued that women perform better in public office than men.

    The Chairman, Planning Committee, Erelu Modupe Akindele-Johnson, praised the women for attending the seminar, adding that it was a sign of good things to come.

    The Lead Speaker, Prof Sophie Oluwole, spoke on “Women substantive participation in politics: The missing link in development”.

    Other discussants were Prof Yemi Faparusi, Prof Emmanuel Owoputi and Dr Keziah Awosika

  • Ondo APC: Akinyelure promises credible primary

    Ondo APC: Akinyelure promises credible primary

    The National Vice Chairman (South West) of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Pius Akinyelure, has assured all aspirants jostling for the governorship ticket of the party to contest next year’s governorship election in Ondo State of a free, fair and credible primary election.

    Akinyelure said the party has laid precedence in picking its presidential candidate through a transparent primary election.

    The APC chieftain spoke with reporters at the party’s secretariat in Akure, the state capital, shortly before attending a meeting of the State Working Committee (SWC).

    Akinyelure said there will be no imposition in the party, saying the party would always follow due process in choosing its candidates.

    He urged party supporters to rally round and work assiduously to facilitate its victory in the 2016 governorship election.