The Nation Newspaper

Tag: aspirant

  • Aspirant against proposed airport concession

    A Presidential aspirant for the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Comrade Paul Igene, has said the proposed concession of the five major airports will not see the light of the day.

    He said concession was an ill- wind that would blow no one any good.

    Speaking with reporters in Lagos, Igene said, if elected, he would ensure that the concession was jettisoned by the government.

    According to him, the welfare of the aviation workers is paramount to him as workers well motivated will be productive and their morale boosted.

    He noted that in view of his experience as having served in various capacities as Deputy President NUATE, state council chairman, Branch chairman NUATE, he was aware of the challenges being faced by workers in their various organisations.

    He promised to encourage professionalism and ensure that administrative processes in the national secretariat was up to acceptable standards.

    He said the issue of the land of the National secretariat in Lagos, bought many years ago, when he served as Deputy President, would be revisited, adding that the National secretariat in Kano that caught fire would be renovated.

     

  • Aspirant vows to fix Abia in four years

    Former Abia State Deputy Governor Comrade Chris Akomas has officially declared his intention to contest the governorship on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He vowed to fix problems in four years.

    Akomas, who addressed state, local government and ward officers of the party at his Nenu country home in Obingwa Local Government Area, said he wants to rewrite the history by setting the state on the path of progress.

    “I am a proponent of single term tenure and I believe that five years is good enough to do wonders. If five years will be good enough, four years will be good enough. All I have to do is divide the other years and add them to the four years that I will be in power.

    “For me, four years is more than enough to complete any project that I want to execute. How many years did Ngige have to set Anambra on path of progress? Ngige cleared pension and salary arrears within the short time he was in power. Peter Obi continued on that and Obiano the present governor of the state couldn’t have done anything less than what his predecessors did.

    “All I need is to set this state on the sustainable path of progress that whoever comes after me would have no any other option but to ensure that Abia continues to grow.

    “I don’t need more than four years to set the solid foundation for social, economic and infrastructural growth and development to thrive in the state.”

    APC Chairman Donatus Nwankpa, who was represented by his deputy Adiele Ogunka, thanked Akomas for making his intention knowns.

    Ogunka promised that the party would give level playing ground to all aspirants and ensure the primaries are credible.

  • I ‘ll make difference as president, says aspirant

    Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) presidential aspirant Dr. Elishama Ideh has called for power shift in next year’s general elections, saying that Nigeria is yearning for a dynamic leadership.

    He said that the country may become more fragile, if the current leadership is sustained in power beyond next year.

    The 54-year old Mass Communication graduate from Ishan, Edo State will compete for the ANN ticket with other aspirants, including Fela Durotoye, a motivational speaker.

    The aspirant said the executive and the legislature should bear the blame for poor governance in the country. She called for a transformational leadership to draw the curtains on the national rot.

    She said: “The new transformational leadership that the nation requires would be hobbled, if it does not have a corresponding new National Assembly that is equaly driven by a consuming passion to achieve the vision for Nigeria. All steps must therefore, be taken to see to the emergence of a complimentary band of patriotic lawmakers in the next convocation of the National Assembly.”

    Ideh told reporters in Lagos the multiple crises ravaging the nation have overwhelmed the Buhari administration, advising the electorate to explore the alternative route to national recovery.

    She said: “Our slogan is: ‘Rich nation, poor people. We are better than this.” Our plan is to alleviate poverty, provide jobs, accommodation, schools and health facilities. In the poverty index, they said we have overtaken India now. Our people now live on less than two dollars per day. It is unacceptable.”

    Ideh, who has been rehabilitating many homeless and jobless Nigerians, warned about the consequence of aloofness to the plight of the poor and down-trodden, saying that the rich may not be safe in the nearest future.

    She said neglected, aggrieved and bitter Nigerians who are refugees today may turn the rich into refugees tomorrow.

    Urging voters to vote wisely next year, Ideh said: “Nigeria should not be allowed to go into extinction.”

    She added: “I am out with an emotional intelligence for a rescue mission.

    Reflecting on the contentious national question, Ideh said restructuring is the answer.

    She added: “States should be encouraged to explore their resources with the Federal Government as a collaborating partner.”

    On security, she said: “The security of lives and property is an urgent matter and our security institutions need to be fully re-caliberated and overhauled, complete with modernized systems and apparatus. Additionally, ample care should be taken to demonstrate equity and reflect true federal character.”

     

  • Lagos House of Assembly aspirant promises better representation

    A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs. Maryam Owolabi-Bada, has declared her interest in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Somolu Constituency 1 seat in next year’s general elections. She said, she has the competence for the job.

    Owolabi-Bada said she would deliver quality representation, being a grassroots politician, who has the interest of her people at heart. She said: “I’m tested, trusted, competent, willing and ready to serve as the case maybe. I’m a thorough-bred politician and with my decade of experience.

    “I will explore every opportunity available to ensure my people get what belongs to them in the area of qualitative health care delivery, qualitative and affordable education, youths and sports development, as well as women empowerment.”

    The aspirant added: “Our primary responsibility has always been to give adequate representation to our people and better interaction; even though we’re there to make laws that will bring about the enhancements of the socio-economic well-being of our people, as well as carry out our appropriation and oversight of the same funds appropriated for the executive and the system.

    “All Progressives Congress (APC) is a party of the progressive with the interest of the people at heart at every point in time and if I’m given the mandate, I’ll deliver.”

    The Accounting graduate of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, however, called on Lagosians to get their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) ready for the upcoming 2019 general election scheduled for February.

    Owolabi-Bada said parents should warn their wards against thuggery adding that such sharp practices by politicians could undermine free and fair elections.

    The aspirant is a member of the women wing of Iya Dunni, a socio-political group under the auspices of former Lagos State Governor, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, Itesiwaju Somolu/Bariga, Social Sisters and the National Committee of Friends.

     

  • Aspirant to industrialise Osun

    A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Ayoade Afolabi Lawal, has pledged to industrialise the state, if elected in this year’s election.

    Addressing his teeming supporters during his declaration to run for governorship at the party’s secretariat on Gbongan Road in Osogbo, the state capital, Lawal promised to continue from where the Rauf Aregbesola administration will stop.

    He also pledged to prioritise youth empowerment and provide necessary support for the vulnerable, including women, children and the aged.

    Lawal, a chemical engineer and business mogul, hailed Aregbesola for laying a solid foundation for the incoming administration to build upon.

    He said: “But for all-round sustainable development, industrial development should take precedence henceforth. This is the way to complement what has been achieved and to deepen the recent gains of democratic governance.

    “My administration shall create a value chain industrialisation, which will be all-inclusive, and no son and daughter of Osun will be left out in the scheme…”

  • Aspirant to create 200,00 jobs in one year

    A governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Prof. Adeolu Durotoye, has promised to create 200,000 jobs in his first 12 months in office, if he becomes governor.

    Addressing reporters on a programme, News Point, organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at its secretariat in Osogbo, the state capital, Durotoye said job creation would be on his priority list.

    The PDP aspirant said Osun State needs someone with capability to run its economy.

    Durotoye said he was using the party’s platform to actualise his governorship ambition because the party provides a level-playing field for all.

    Durotoye, who said he knew the state’s debt profile, level of unemployment and students’ performance, added that he had the solutions to them.

    He said: “How do you create Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) without jobs? I am already talking with investors around the world. I am going to bring manufacturing plants to Osun with an enabling environment. So, creating jobs is a necessity.”

    The PDP chieftain noted that governance is a serious business and should not be left in the hands of the lazy-minded.

    Durotoye said: “Governance requires a lot of hard work, integrity and so much energy, which I believe I have sufficiently.”

    The expert said he would create jobs through private initiatives, public private partnership and public initiatives.

    He added: “I have gone round the state and found the need to make development go round the state, instead of concentrating it in one place. The largest individual producer of rice in Nigeria today is Cosmas Maduka. He has cultivated 1,650 hectares of land. I have spoken to him. I have spoken to some industrialists in South Africa and Turkey.

    “If elected, I will talk to the owners of Osogbo Steel Rolling Mills and Machine tools to ensure that they start functioning to engage our youths.

    “When you multiply 200,000 jobs with about six dependants, it will amount to about 1.2 million people whose life would be affected. Creation of jobs is not negotiable but essential. Another multiplier effect is that Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) would increase and payment of salaries would be made easier.

    “Good governance is 80 per cent economics and 20 per cent politicking as Osun State is in an extraordinary situation which requires extraordinary capabilities from a man like me to handle. Governance is a serious business that requires hard work and I belong to that group.

    “I am 48 years, still energetic to work. I have links with the three senatorial zones of the state. I was born in Ede, Osun West, born by Osogbo, Osun Central parents, schooled in Ife, Osun East.”

    He said he would ensure tourism, education, agriculture and food security receive deserved attention.

     

  • Shun bad utterances, aspirant urges Nigerians

    Nigerians especially people in Osun state have been advised to shun utterances that would led to chaos in the country.

    A governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state Dr Oyebola Oyemomi, gave this advice in his Ramadan message.

    He said the people to obey the tenets of Islam as laid down Prophet Muhammed.

    Oyemomi, who hails from Orile-Owu, said Ramadan period calls for sober reflection and shunning all vices.

    Politicians, he said, should abide by the rules of the game and shun thuggery, violence and brigandage that could cause disruption of peace and harmony among the people.

    He said:  “What should be paramount in our minds is how to govern and better the lots of the people. Politicians should not think of deceiving the people, but show that they are ready to lead the people alright. We should have a re-think about our attitude and deviate from criminal activities. We must all do what is just to move Nigeria forward.”

    He called on the Boko-Haram leaders to use the Ramadan period to have a change of heart and stop killing innocent people.

  • SDP will surprise PDP, APC in Ekiti, says aspirant

    Akinloye Ayegbusi is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ekiti State. In this interview with reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, he speaks on his vision for the state and other issues. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA was there.

    Many Nigerians are pushing  the generational shift. What is your view?

    Those leaders who have made such comments including professor Wole Soyinka, Former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, Former president olusegun Obasanjo were merely stating the obvious. Some of these leaders became heads of state when they were less than 30 years old. Today after several decades, they are still in the corridors of power. The youth must be allow to take over the leadership of this country. The older generations have done their best in piloting the affairs of this nation. My take is that our youths have the modern tools, they have the budding energy as well as the determination to govern the country. the youths are less bugged down by tribal and religious sentiment. They are more educated. The summary is that they are better equipped to provide leadership at a time like this when the country is at a cross road.

    Your party is relatively young in Ekiti and the governorship election is less than three months away. How can it beat more formidable parties like PDP and APC during the election?

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) is not a new political party. Though the party was defunct due to its proscription. But, the spirit of the June 12, and its symbol, Chief MKO Abiola, has sustained the party. The party is a political movement in Ekiti at a time that people are tired of the old order. The platform has become an alternative choice between the good and the bad. It has become the a platform designed to rescue people from the untold hardship brought on them by several years of misrule. Let me also say that SDP is a good brand, populated by people of integrity. People who are determine to liberate the youths, the women, the children and the vulnerable people, especially the elderly in the society. So far people of like minds who have felt oppressed in other established party are daily trooping to our party. I can assure you, that SDP has become so formidable that it will give APC and the PDP a bloody nose in July 14, the voting day for the governorship.

    The contact and mobilization committee and other leaders of our party have been doing a yeoman job to recruit members in all the 177 wards of the state.

    Why do you want to be governor of Ekiti State?

    I have a mission to lead a tpeople-oriented and goal-getting government in the state so as to restore her dignity, rich socio-cultural and political values, hopes; ensure equitable distribution of the hard-earned dividends of our nascent democracy; rejuvenate and strengthen the state’s emaciating economic potentialities. I also have a vision is to lift Ekiti State to an enviable platform in the comity of the Federated States of Nigeria; to touch and impact positively on the life of the entire citizenry of the State.

    Education is considered the most cherished value of the state. What is your plan?

    Education is known world-wide as a dynamic instrument for transforming any society. Incidentally, education is the major Industry in the state.

    Unfortunately too, this industry has suffered serious neglect over the years.

    The focus of my administration, if given the opportunity, will be on, providing qualitative education at all levels, guaranteed and sustained government subsidy on cost of education at all levels, building of more classrooms in primary and secondary schools, employment of more teachers, for both the primary and secondary schools. I will also ensure regular payment of teachers’ salaries at all levels, provision of enhanced welfare package for teachers so as to motivate and promote their efficiency and dedication, effective supervision of primary schools, re-introduction of Local Education Officers,  establishment of a State Polytechnic to cater for the admission quests of thousands of applicants seeking admission into satellite campuses of other polytechnics within and outside Ekiti State.

    What are the other ways you think the youths can be engaged?

    Our youths will be made to embrace agriculture. Ekiti is basically an agrarian society. Deliberate, effort will be geared towards tapping and utilizing the agricultural potentialities of the State. A government led by me will pay due attention to agriculture via the following: Full integration of Cocoa-Rebirth Programme. Large scale production of yams, cassava, maize and some other tree crops. Encouragement farmers to form Cooperative Societies with a view to getting government loans to purchase tractors and other equipment for large scale farming. Sustained incentives to farmer via loans and subsidized equipment.

    Encouraging irrigation on farming Revamping of the Ikun Dairy Project, The establishment of small-scale Agro-allied industries to readily utilize available raw agricultural materials within the State. Ekiti State is not poor, though it may not be as rich as some other State of the Federation.

    Ekiti State is endowed by God with ebullient, abundantly and qualitative manpower and material resources.

    God had provided all these in commensurate and limitless quantities.

    The matching of human resources with natural resources required a God-fearing, skilled, experienced, dynamic and goal-getting manager. My appeal is that we should all join hands to positively change the course of our history by ushering in a people-oriented and God-fearing Government this time around.

  • Aspirant urges delegates to back popular candidate

    Former Senate Deputy Chief Whip Gbenga Aluko has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to consider zoning in the selection of its governorship candidate for the July 14 election.

    He also advised delegates to pick a competent aspirant from Ekiti South Senatorial District as standard bearer.

    Aluko, an aspirant, urged delegates to go for a popular candidate with mass appeal.

    He said the party would not rely on federal might if the delegates vote right and chose a sellable candidate.

    He spoke in Ode-Ekiti, headquarters of Gbonyin Local Government Area, while hosting 2,000 delegates from the 177 wards.

    Aluko said: “It was not that APC didn’t use federal might in Anambra, but despite that, we didn’t even win a local government out of the 21 in the state. But, in Ondo, we won because Akeredolu has been with the people of Ondo State. Even people were happy when he won.

    “If you look at the results of Ondo governorship poll, the PDP that came second in the election and the candidate of Alliance for Democracy, Olusola Oke, could not go to court. That is the gain of having a flag bearer that is popular. So, we will lose if will bring a bad candidate.

    “The police were on ground in Ondo, they didn’t slap anybody anywhere.

    “Even if you chase away the PDP leaders, are we going to do same to Okada riders, civil servants, teachers and artisans?

    “That is why it is important for us to vote right on Saturday. We shouldn’t put emotion into it. We must follow reality for us to be able to win.”

    On zoning, Aluko said: “if you viewed what Ekiti Obas said that it is time for the South to produce the governor, then you will know how deep this has become in Ekiti. The Obas even warned all parties to adopt it as part of conditions for selecting their candidates.

    “If you look at this critically, you will know the seriousness our critical stakeholders attached to it and APC should not make a mistake of its life by not complying with this silent convention”, he warned.”

    Aluko said wards, local governments and state executives will be allowed to retain their respective seats, if he becomes the candidate.

  • Aspirant reacts to Buhari’s statement on youths

    A governorship aspirant in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Seyi Makiinde, has decried the description of youths as lazy and indolent by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    In a statement by the Seyi Makinde Organisation, signed by Prince Dotun Oyelade, the aspirant said the remark credited to the President at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Westminster, London was the most unkind description of the long suffering  youths at a time they were bearing the brunt of misrule by the older generation, which included the military regime of Buhari, whose government contributed to the destruction of the educational sector, particularly tertiary education.

    Makinde quoted the President: ”More than 60 percent of the population is below 30, a lot of them have not been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria is an oil-producing country. Therefore they should sit and do nothing and get housing, health care and education free.”

    The aspirant said the hitherto respected and loved President displayed insensitivity and lack of knowledge about the predicament confronting youths.

    “Youths, at least from this part of the country, are the exact opposite of the unfortunate profiling of President Buhari, as the majority of them are well educated, but deprived and made poor by uncaring policies of the government.”

    Makinde, an engineer, said even youths who do not possess formal education are well trained artisans willing to contribute their quota to the development of their fatherland, but are not given a chance to live decently.

    The statement asked: “Is it the fault of youths that the Oyo State government had a debt profile of N47 billion in 2015, which suddenly increased to N116 billion within one year? Is it the fault of youths that lip service to education has resulted in scanty and demotivated teachers, dilapidated school buildings, moribund health care system and stealing of public money?”

    Makinde said the youth were angry with the President, adding that he should not think it was beneath him to apologise for such an unfortunate statement