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Tag: Amosun

  • ARG endorses Ambode, Amosun, Ajimobi

    The Afenifere Renewal Group has endorsed the governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states.

    The socio-political group, in a statement by its National Chairman, Olawale Oshun, thanked Yoruba voters for speaking eloquently and peacefully with their votes during the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections.

    “ARG enjoins Yoruba people to continue to be progressive minded in act and in thought.

    “This value must reflect in our action on Saturday as we vote for APC candidates, who best represent our perennial aspiration for development,” the statement said.

    It warned Yoruba to be wary of Afonja-styled politicians who for the sake of personal ambition are ready to sell Yoruba patrimony.

     The group said: “Yoruba land cannot afford another interregnum – the type that set us back between 2003 and 2011.

    “To this extent, we recommend for your adoption Akinwunmi Ambode for Lagos State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun for  Ogun State Governor and Abiola Ajimobi for Oyo State Governor.

    “ARG is convinced that the current renaissance of good governance, developmental strides and welfare policies that has commenced in our land, can only continue, be sustained and flourish under these candidates.”

    The group also enjoined the people of Ekiti State “to take a cue from their kith and kin in Ondo State and break through the reactionary clouds hovering over their space, particularly in their choices of House of Assembly candidates, so that they can soar in glorious sky with the rest of the Yoruba.”

    While commending credible Yoruba leaders and groups for rejecting Greek gifts during the presidential election, ARG also thanked Yoruba people for “heeding the call of an assemblage of Omoluabis and authentic and respected monarchs, elders and leaders and for rejecting pretenders who sought to impose a strange leadership culture on us.”

  • Amosun as architect of modern Ogun

    Amosun as architect of modern Ogun

    SIR: As many Ogun indigenes will acknowledge, our state is very different today. It is a more peaceful, prosperous, industrialized and better place to live, learn, earn, rest and play in than it was before. To some, Governor Amosun’s sterling qualities and progressive views are grotesque, defective and different. Some have accused him of always playing to the gallery; some detractors would have people believe that the man is an enigma with a stigma. They distort and misrepresent his steadfastness for stubbornness, his tenacity for dogmatism, his vision for delusion and policies for extravagance. But above all, Ogun has risen, the beautiful ones are here in Ogun State.

    Among the 36 states in Nigeria, Ogun State is blessed with human capital and natural resources. The state has produced leaders in governance, business, sports, education and other fields of human endeavour and the

    Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led government has done a lot in ensuring that the Education sector of the state becomes the best in the country.

    Education they say is the bedrock of any nation. No wonder, successful nations of the world invest a lot of resources in ensuring their children are given the best education so that they can be useful to themselves and

    the nation in the nearest future. The quality of education is a function of the facilities and inputs that go into teaching of our children. Gone are the days in Ogun State where students sat on the floor while teachers teach them because the schools lacked adequate furniture; the era of students not having textbooks and notebooks are over since the government of the day introduced free education at the primary and secondary schools’ levels in the state.

    Senator Amosun, in his bid to ensure all pupils in the state excel in their studies distributed study materials and textbooks to them to relieve their parents of financial burdens. Each of them received textbooks covering their subjects, which include English Language, Mathematics, Science, Geography, French, Social Studies, Reasoning, Biology among others.

    A state-sponsored unified examination was introduced while school infrastructural renewal; teachers’ welfare and training are now key aspects of the education policy. Knowing the importance of providing world-class education to all and sundry in the state, the government embarked on the construction of 15 model schools with the state-of-the-art facilities, best teachers and best materials. Ogun state government under the leadership of Senator Amosun has really done a lot to improve the standard of education system of the state and this is yielding a positive result.

    •  Bolaji Odunuga,

    Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State

  • Amosun pledges support for TRACE

    The Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has commended the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), for its outstanding performance in managing the traffic situation across the state’s roads since its inception.

    Governor Amosun gave this commendation through Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, at an event to launch Officers’ Mess Kit and uniform, TRACE Officers’ Wives Association (TROWA) and the retirement of the out-going Corps Commander in Abeokuta.

    He said TRACE in the last 10 years has been able to justify the purpose of its establishment through efficient service delivery with reference to the mandate given to the agency.

    According to Amosun, the Corps has been able to proof its worth and displayed professionalism through the efforts of the Corps Commander, thereby drawing  the interest of the government to the Corps.

    He said the state government would not relent from supporting the Corps and ensure that all needed working tools with the modern technologies are provided to enhance their effective and efficient performances in the course of carrying out their operations.

    The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Transportation, Gbenga Opesanwo in his remark hailed the outgoing Corps Commander Ayodele Sangofadeji for his passion for the job and his unrelented interest in the welfare of his staff.

    He urged the Corps members to build on the foundation he laid to ensure the Corps attain its goal in the enviable height of comity of traffic management outfit. He said their choice is to build upon it and ensure that the house that was built with lots of toiling do not crumble” he said.

    Opesanwo, urged the officers to work hard to enable the Corps attain the best among other other traffic management agencies, not only in the state but in Nigeria as a whole.

    The outgoing Commander in his response appreciated God for his achievement in the Corps and for seeing him through all the challenges in the course of discharging the duty.

    He said all he stood for and was leaving behind was professionalism, urging the officers to continue in this trend, giving the assurance of his support even after retirement at 60 years and advises the officers to always work with love and unity and always be discipline while on duty.

    He urged them to  shun corruption, harassment, improper dressing and be of good manner while at their duty post.

    Sagofadeji was eulogized by many guests present at the occasion, among who were: his wife, Mrs Abosede Ogunfadeji, who described him as a man and a father in a millions.

    The Ogun State Parking Management Scheme’s Chief Consultant, Engr Wale Yusuf, described the former TRACE boss as a diligent and transparency and accountable man. He said Sangofadeji was highly efficient and worked  without stress  while on duty.

    Yusuf appealed to Sangofadeji remain a public servant despite him bowing out from official service. He urged him to cooperate with his successor for the Corps to attain its aim and objectives.

  • Oshiomhole, Amosun, Saraki, Fayemi, others greet president-elect

    Oshiomhole, Amosun, Saraki, Fayemi, others greet president-elect

    Governors and other eminent citizens yesterday congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on his victory.

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole said Buhari’s victory represents a new dawn in the nation’s polity.

    Oshiomhole, in a statement, said: “Let me congratulate you sir, on your historic victory at the presidential election, through a process which has been adjudged as free, fair and credible by both local and international observers. Indeed, your victory, on the basis of one man, one vote, represents a new dawn in the democratic governance of our great country

    “The spread of your victory across the length and breadth of the country shows your national acceptance as the man Nigeria needs at this critical stage to reposition her from the 16 years of misrule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “I have implicit confidence that, with you as president, Nigeria will no doubt get a true and selfless leadership needed to drive the much-desired change at the centre, which will start the process of reengineering the country and halt the drift, which the country had been plunged in the past 16 years.”

    Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun has also congratulated the president-elect.

    Amosun expressed the hope that Buhari’s government would bring about the much needed security, economic growth and development.

    Amosun, in a statement yesterday by his spokesperson, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Wakama, added that the victory was a demonstration of the Nigerian people’s confidence in Gen. Buhari’s strong leadership qualities.

    Amosun said: “The people have spoken and demonstrated with their votes, their confidence in the ability of the president-elect to pull the nation out of its present economic woes.

    “The trajectory of the president-elect, his principles and uprightness are some of the qualities that must have endeared him to the electorate.”

    To the former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Gen. Buhari’s victory signposts a new beginning for Nigeria and Nigerians.

    “History has just been made in our dear country”, declared Fayemi, who hailed Buhari’s victory over the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan as a victory for democracy and the Nigerian citizenry.

    Fayemi, in the statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said going by the outcome of the election, Nigerians have demonstrated to the entire world their ability and readiness to tow the path of greatness and oneness.

    “Nigerians have spoken. They have spoken clearly through their votes. They want a new direction and a new approach to governance and the APC government under the leadership of Gen. Buhari owes them this and more”, said Fayemi.

    He added that the APC, through the victory, is now saddled with the responsibility of making a meaningful change in the lives of the people as promised during the electioneering.

    Fayemi, who chaired the APC national convention that produced Gen. Buhari as the party’s candidate, said Nigerians were the actual winners in the keenly contested election, having demonstrated rare courage and determination to effect the change they desired.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki dedicated Gen, Buhari’s victory to the citizens.

    Saraki, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Advocacy, Bamikole Omishore, in Abuja, called on the president-elect to be magnanimous in victory.

    He enjoined him to use his unique stature as a statesman to reunite the country and heal whatever crack that might be in the political demography due to the electioneering process.

    The Oyo Central senator-elect, Monsurat Sunmonu, congratulated Gen. Buhari on his victory at the polls.

    The House of Representatives members-elect for Oyo Federal Constituency, Prince Akeem Adeyemi and Waliu Ganiyu, greeted the president-elect, saying that his victory was well-deserved.

    The Secretary to the Oyo State Government (SSG), Mr. Ismail Ali, described the presidential and National Assembly elections as the best ever in the history of Nigeria.

    The APC chieftain congratulated the APC presidential candidate for the victory in the keenly contested polls.

  • Obasanjo, Amosun, wife accredited in Ogun

    Obasanjo, Amosun, wife accredited in Ogun

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ogun State governor; Ibikunle Amosun and his wife, Olufunso Amosun, had their accreditation exercise in Abeokuta, the state capital, on Saturday.

    While Obasanjo was accredited at the his ward 11, polling unit 22 located in Oke – Sokori near his Ita – Eko home in Abeokuta North local government area of the state, Amosun and his wife had theirs at the Ajura 1 polling unit at St John’s School, Ajura, in Obafemi Owode LGA.

    Speaking with reporters shortly after his accreditation, Obasanjo said the exercise went smoothly, but complained that some people will not vote due to non-availability of their voter cards.

    Obasanjo said: “it is a constitutional issue and every four years whether for all elective officers in Nigeria, we must go through this ritual. What I have gone through is very okay, they checked my card, my finger print and they said it was okay and that I should come back and vote.”

    On voter’s card, the former President said: “some people have not collected the card, but at this hour there is nothing much anybody can do. What we do hope is that the election that will come two weeks now maybe those without cards now will have their cards then.

    “Unfortunately, these people will be disenfranchised from this election but this should not cause political violence, they should be patient INEC is doing its best, but maybe at times, water dey pass garri and when when water pass garri, you take it coolly and then expect the best from what you have.”

    Amosun said the technology is slightly slow, adding if that is what is required to give the country free, fair and transparent polls, Nigerians should endure the pain and accept the new development.

     

  • I didn’t step down for Amosun, says Paseda

    I didn’t step down for Amosun, says Paseda

    The governorship candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in Ogun State, Prince Olatunde Rotimi Paseda, has denied insinuations that he has stepped down for Governor Ibikunle Amosun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Paseda said those spreading the rumour are afraid of his grassroots support.

    He spoke to reporters yesterday at the arrival hall of the general aviation terminal of the domestic wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, aboard a flight from Kaduna.

    Paseda said he will not step down for anyone because the UPN remains the party to beat.

    His words: “I understand that there are some rumours, hearsays that I have stepped down for Governor Ibikunle Amosun. I’m sure Amosun himself knows that I will never step down for him and in this particular race in Ogun State, he is also aware that it’s between Paseda and Amosun, everyone else is inconsequential. They don’t even have any presence in Ogun State.

    “Every household in Ogun State knows Paseda  and there are lots of tricks that are being played. My posters are being removed; my billboards are being replaced.

    I think they are just being intimidated. They feel that I am a formidable force  and-they think the only way they can do that is to spread ugly rumours that they feel can give them advantage.

    “My message to my people is for them to keep doing what they are doing. They know I won’t step down for Amosun. They will see that Awolowo has been reincarnated and Ogun State will go back to where Awolowo started and left it.”

  • Amosun approves students’ bursary

    Amosun approves students’ bursary

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has approved and released the 2014/15 Bursary Awards to Ogun State students in higher institutions across the federation.

    Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology Segun Odubela said  N117,271, 000 will be paid to 14, 550 beneficiaries.

    According to him, 4,948 final year students, 9,506 on other levels and 96 Law School students will benefit from the award.

    Odubela said the bursary would be paid directly into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts and enjoined the students to visit their banks.

    He said the government is committed to the welfare of all Ogun State students in line with its Affordable Qualitative Education policy.

    The commissioner urged the students to reciprocate the government’s gesture by being law abiding.

    He advised them to avoid being used by selfish politicians for anti-social activities, particularly electoral malpractices, as the general election approaches.

  • Amosun: INEC disenfranchising 800,000 voters

    Amosun: INEC disenfranchising 800,000 voters

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of deliberately working to disenfranchise at least 800,000 registered voters in the state.

    Amosun, who queried the presence about 625, 000 “alien and fictitious cards” in Ogun, urged INEC to return them to where ever they were brought from.

    He called on other political parties to join hands with him in voicing out “this debilitating flaw” before it is too late.

    The governor spoke at the commission’s state headquarters at Magbon, off IBB Boulevard, Abeokuta, the state capital, where he expressed his anger and disappointment over the shoddy manner the electoral body was handling the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) matter.

    According to him, some people are manipulating things either at the regional office or the Abuja headquarters to shortchange registered voters in Ogun State, ostensibly to disenfranchise them.

    Amosun said only 40 percent of registered voters in the state have collected their PVCs, also wondering why INEC has chosen to distribute the cards in piecemeal.

    Amosun cited some local governments –  Ijebu – Ode, Odogbolu, Ado – Odo – Ota, Yewa North, Yewa South, Ipokia, Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South among others as places where voters have been unable to access their cards.

    “We are appealing to INEC to please release our cards. We have demonstrated that if they bring our cards we will collect.

    “And I’m making clear, we did not support the postponement and I believe that INEC will sort itself out. As at today the total number of PVC collected stands at 639,000 out of 2.9million.”

  • Amosun: INEC disenfranchising 800,000 voters

    Amosun: INEC disenfranchising 800,000 voters

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of trying to disenfranchise  800,000 voters in the state.

    Amosun, who queried about 625,000 “alien and fictitious cards” in the state, urged INEC to return them.

    He called on other parties to join him in voicing out “this debilitating flaw” before it is too late.

    The governor spoke at the commission’s state headquarters at Magbon, off IBB Boulevard, Abeokuta, the state capital, where he condemned the shoddy manner the electoral body was handling the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) distribution.

    According to him, some people were manipulating things, either at the regional office or the Abuja headquarters, to shortchange the state’s voters.

    Amosun said only 40 per cent of voters in the state had collected their PVCs, wondering why INEC chose to distribute the cards piecemeal.

    Amosun listed some local governments; Ijebu-Ode, Odogbolu, Ado-Odo-Ota, Yewa North, Yewa South, Ipokia, Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, among others, where voters had been unable to access their cards.

    “We are appealing to INEC to release our cards. We have demonstrated that if they bring our cards, we will collect them.

    “And I’m making it clear, we did not support the postponement and I believe that INEC will sort itself out. As at today, the number of PVCs collected stands at 639,000 of 2.9million.”

  • ‘Even the blind can feel Amosun’ s presence’

    ‘Even the blind can feel Amosun’ s presence’

    Hon. Nurudeen Akinpelu Aina is a member, Ogun State House of Assembly, representing Ado-Odo/Ota State Constituency 1. The Chairman, House Committee on Health in an interview with Adetutu Audu commented on his performance, the Ibikunle Amosun’s administration and why APC is the alternative change Nigerians need

    WITH just few days to the elections, Ogun State residends are interested in Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s chances in the governorship race? Hon. Akinpelu Aina, the Chairman, House Committee on Health at the Ogun State House of Assembly, is of the view that the Ibikunle Amosun-led administration has done well and should be re-elected back into the office. ‘Don’t let me blow our trumpets but what SIA has been able to do within the past three and half years speaks for him and the party he represents. It is obvious that he is the face of APC in Ogun State and what APC stands for: peace, development and progress .

    “Amosun has been able to achieve these within the past three years of his administration. Of course, I believe the people of Ogun State can see the dividends of democracy in all the three senatorial districts and vote for SIA.  Even the blind can feel the presence of Amosun in the state.”

    On whether the APC presidential flag bearer, General Muhammadu Buhari  and his party, the APC are the real changes Nigeria needs, the lawmaker said “PDP has been in power for the past 16years, controlling the centre. It is obvious that they cannot move this country forward again. The Buhari you are talking about contested 2003, 2007 and 2011 and he lost consecutively and today he is contesting because the people want him. All the blackmail going on, all the criticism around him never affect the personality and integrity of General Mohammed Buhari.   It is a matter of integrity to serve the people and I think the whole world have embraced him. What PDP is saying is not our headache; our sincere aim is to take over power and give people that change they deserve,” he noted.

    On the argument that the election should be postponed, Aina, who is a lawyer by profession said, “my party has made a clear stand on this and of course I stand by my party’s position. Why should the elections be postponed, this is something we ought to have prepared ourselves for, for the past three and half years knowing fully well that there are constitutional provisions based on the Electoral Act that elections within the party and for the general elections should take place within a particular time and these we have been compelling with’.

    He continued, INEC should have done what it ought to do; I don’t know if some people are there to influence them or not but it would be very bad and unfair on the part of INEC and any other agency that is telling them to postpone the elections. It is not about INEC but about Nigeria as a whole. We have made law and it should stand that the period of time elections should be conducted should be complied with. We have played our parts as political parties, so INEC should ensure as a body on its own to conduct a free and fair election not for any other person but for the country so that our democracy would be something to reckon with.”

    The lawmaker, who is seeking re-election, also enumerated his performance and why he should be re-elected. “Basically, I believe strongly that I have been able to do what is just as a legislator in the Ogun State House of Assembly. Based on my primary assignment and duty as a legislator, we facilitated the supply of transformers to different communities. We granted aids to CDAs monthly for community projects; we instituted uninterrupted two years bursary programme for students, empowered women with cash for small scale businesses.  We built a healthcare center at Agoro and donated a block of classroom to Iganmode Grammar School. We started the Ota City Resource Centre to make our students Information Technology compliant.

    Also, I believed I have delivered quality legislative practice in the Ogun State House of Assembly. So, I think one good turn deserves another. If you have a sitting electoral officer who has performed, I think there is the need for you to allow such a person to be re-elected if he wishes, so that he can make more developmental project.