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Tag: Chief John Oyegun

  • Why we killed tenure elongation for Oyegun, others – Ganduje

    Ahead of another emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which is expected to put an end to the ongoing controversy about tenure elongation for party leaders at all levels, Kano state Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said they were against the idea because it will affect the fortunes of the party and portray it as an undemocratic party.

    The Governor said he was not part of the tenure elongation idea and said those of them who were not in support of the idea had managed to convince the governors in favour to jettison the idea and embrace an elective convention where new leaders will emerge.

    Speaking at an interactive session with a selected group of journalists in Abuja, Ganduje also declared his intention to seek reelection as Kano State governor in 2019, adding that the State has concluded plans to drag President Muhammadu Buhari to court if he fails to seek reelection for a second term.

    The governor said the contentious tenure elongation for the party executive will be reversed at the party NEC meeting scheduled for Monday, April 9, 2018 and a committee put in place to conduct congresses to elect leaders at all levels.

    He said that the few APC governors who were campaigning for the tenure elongation which he described as “illegal” have been convinced to see reasons why such should not be.

    Ganduje also revealed that Monday NEC meeting is expected to decide on date and time table for Congresses and convention of the party which will brings in new set of leaders at all levels.

    “Yes, there was controversy on this even though yesterday we  were able to put it at rest. But let me tell you the issues involved, those who are advocating for tenure elongation, they are advocating on the premise that when we hold congresses and convention according to their own perception, there will be a lot of problems and that problem will linger into election period. Well that is a perception, it could be that way and it could be that some people wanted to retain power. Therefore that reason biased.

    “However, I don’t belong to that school of thought. The constitution of our party has made a provision for four years and at the end of it we have to hold congresses and convention. The constitution of Nigeria has also provided for that, so we have no reason whatsoever.

    “If you are saying that there would be some problems, problems are part of ingredients of politics, there is no way you can practice democracy in a developing country without having some problems. There must be problems; there must be divergent views and disagreements. There will never be a time that things will be 100% normal. So even if there is problem, that is part of democracy and we will be able to move forward.

    “So for those who thought they would be able to continue, we said no and so I think Mr. President finally hit the nail on the head, by saying that he is not in favour of any tenure elongation.

    “Tenure elongation is undemocratic, it may lead us to litigation which will not be good for the party and we are happy that we have convinced the few governors that were for the elongation and on Monday we hope to have our NEC meeting where the previous decision will be reversed and by then timetable will be out for congresses at the ward level, congress at local government level, congress at the state level and finally convention at the national level.

    “I think that is the situation and I am happy to say that the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum issued a statement, the chairman of the APC governors Forum also issued a statement and the national chairman of the party Chief John Oyegun made a statement as well to say that all is well.”

    Speaking on his decision to seek second term in office, Ganduje said: “In Kano, people are saying four plus four, that is they are urging me to contest again but I too feel that in order to continue with the good development that we have started, development require some time and the constitution has given four years and another four years in order to consolidate what one has started.

    “I am convinced that I too will seek for second term and people are also urging me to do so. Eventually it will be left to the people to decide whether I am will qualified or not.”

    On why President Buhari must re-contest in 2019, the governor said: “APC governors want Mr. President to continue. I am happy that it is not the president that said he wants to continue, it is the people that are saying continue but Mr. President has not made up his mind yet.

    “When he came to Kano, I told him that any time he decides not to contest we will take him to court, Kano state government will take him to court any time he decides not to contest. So we are waiting for him.

    “In this country we saw presidents who spent billions of Naira for third term, so what is the ruse about a constitutional second term. Some people who spent billions of Naira in order to go for third term, I think it should not be news or something like that.”

    Read Also: Tenure Elongation: APC NWC divided over technical committee

  • Buhari working hard to make things better, says Oyegun

    Buhari working hard to make things better, says Oyegun

    The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun, says President Muhammadu Buhari is working hard to make things better, urging all Nigerians to give the needed support.

    Oyegun spoke in Uyo on Saturday while flagging off the APC local government election campaign in Akwa Ibom, slated for Dec. 2.

    “Your president is working hard to turn things around for better. APC needs people of vision, people with passion to bring about a new Nigeria,” he said.

    Oyegun said that the APC was poised to reposition Nigeria on the path of progress by sweeping away corruption and the evil of the past.

    He said that he was overwhelmed by the crowd at the rally ground, describing it as an indication that the Akwa Ibom people were ready to embrace change.

    Oyegun, who received formally some defectors from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by Sen. Nelson Effiong, representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, said that APC was proud of the state.

    He described Sen. Effiong as a gentleman; a man of vision and integrity, who could look into the future.

    The national chairman commended the defectors for seeing the new Nigeria which APC had promised to deliver to all Nigerians.

    Speaking on behalf of the new entrants into APC, Sen. Effiong, said that he had the vision of change 10 months ago and took the decision to join the party.

    Effiong commended President  Buahri for taking Nigeria to the promised land and assured the APC National Chairman that the party would win the forthcoming council election convincingly.

    “I assure you sir, that we are here in the party with open mind and we will take the state to the main fold of Nigerian politics in 2019,” Effiong said.

    In his welcome address on the occasion, the APC State Chairman, Dr Amadu Attai, said that the Akwa Ibom people were committed to supporting President Buhari because of his sincerity.

    Attai, who applauded the Social Investment Scheme of the Federal Government, also thanked the APC-led government for taking Nigeria out of recession.

    He commended the quality and purposeful leadership of the party at the national level and promised that APC would work hard to win the local council election in Akwa Ibom.

    In his goodwill message, the chairman of APC Governors’ Forum, Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, commended APC in Akwa Ibom for presenting a very strong opposition in the state.

    Okorocha said APC was the way to follow in Nigeria because the party was the antidote to corruption in Nigeria.

    “I am impressed with what I have seen in Uyo; come 2019, our victory is sealed. Let’s connect to the national grid for all the good things from the national,” Okorocha said.

    In his remark, the Deputy National Chairman, South, Chief Segun Oni, urged the APC people in Akwa Ibom to unite and work as a team in the state.

    Oni, who is a former governor of Ekiti, noted that some people were disenchanted and effort should be made to reconcile them into the party.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the campaign featured official presentation of party flag to 31chairmanship as well as 329 councillorship candidates of the party by the national chairman.

    The campaign flag-off was attended by APC stalwarts such as the Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Nsima Ekere and Senior Presidential Special Assistant on Political Matters, Mr Gideon Zamani.

    Others are Senior Special Assistant, National Assembly, Sen. Ita Enang; the Managing Director, Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, Mr Umana Okon Umana; APC chieftain in Akwa Ibom, Chief Don Etiebet.

  • Oshiomhole denies plotting Oyegun’s removal

    Oshiomhole denies plotting Oyegun’s removal

    Immediate past Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole , has denied plotting the removal of Chief John Oyegun as the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, (APC).

    Comrade Oshiomhole was responding to accusations by a group, the All Progressive Congress Youth Vigilante (APCYV) that he was behind the move for the removal of Chief Oyegun.

    The group’s Director Organisation/Strategy, Mr. Emmanuel Oronsaye, had in a press statement said Oshiomhole would fail in the quest to replace Chief Oyegun.

    Oronsaye described Oshiomhole as one of the pretenders in the APC.

    He noted that Chief Oyegun has demonstrated absolute understanding of local and national politics as well as piloted the scheme that obliterated the strong opposition foisted on the state due to harsh leadership quality of Oshiomhole as Governor of Edo State.

    According to the Oronsaye, “Let us place it on record that the APC as a part is yet to arrive its ideologically wired end. It naturally has in its fold a lot of pretenders and Oshiomhole is one of them.

    “We take absolute responsibility for our vigorous campaigns for President Buhari’s emergence as President. Considering the role we played to salvage the state for APC that was at the brink of loosing to the PDP, we are firmly in support of the leadership of Chief Oyegun.”

    But Oshiomhole in a press statement issued by his media aide, Mr. Victor Oshioke, said the group exist only on paper and a busybody seeking undeserved attention.

    He stated that he would not use underground methods to seek a position if he was interested in it.

    According to the statement, “It is true that many observers and party faithfuls have voiced their preference for Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to lead the APC, but that does not mean that they are sponsored by him or got his approval.”

    “The APC as a party has established rules of seeking a leadership position, and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole being a law abiding, loyal member of the party, will employ appropriate channels of engagement if he is interested in any position.

    “It is time we ignore these mischief makers who are out to malign Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s towering image. Comrade Oshiomhole is a respected leader in the APC family and we should not forget that as governor, he worked so hard that his efforts resulted in APC scoring 48% of the votes that brought President Buhari into office.

    “His personal courage, commitment and dexterity made it possible for Edo to come out as the only state in the South South and South East geo political regions where APC scored above 25% in that election.

    “He deserves to be respected by all true party members and this attempt to drag his name into an imaginary contest is nothing but panic attacks by some persons who are just scared that his name has become synonymous with achievements. It is an open secret that Comrade Oshiomhole possess a rare capacity to inject life and awaken creative energies in any milieu he finds himself. This uncommon attribute makes some people nervous.”

  • I’ve no plan to leave PDP, says Ogbulafor

    I’ve no plan to leave PDP, says Ogbulafor

    A former National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, said on Tuesday that he had no plan to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Ogbulafor said this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia.

    He said there was no truth in a media report that he was holding talks with chieftains of APC in Abia on how to defect to the party.

    Ogbulafor, however, recalled that when APC won the presidential election in 2015, he visited the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, to congratulate him.

    He said the gesture should not be misconstrued, adding that he had no intention of joining APC.

    The former national chairman said, “I am still in PDP and I have not discussed with any other person on plans to defect to APC.’’

    On the judiciary, he said, “I have confident in the judiciary. It has given us victory in Abia with the affirmation of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu as governor and it will give us victory in PDP.’’

    Ogbulafor further said that he had implicit confidence in the nation’s judiciary to deliver judgment, in a fair manner, in the party’s leadership crisis.

    He further said that PDP remained popular and leading political party in all the 774 local government areas in the country.

    “The judiciary appreciated that it is not good for Nigeria to be a one-party state because it appreciates that one party system is not good for the nation’s democracy.”

     

  • El-Rufai fully implementing APC blueprint in Kaduna – Oyegun

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun, on Thursday said Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, is fully implementing policies and programmes in the party’s blueprint.

    Oyegun commended Kaduna State Government for its economic and investment initiative, saying the gains will soon be felt all over the country.

    The APC national chairman, who spoke during the closing of a two-day Kaduna investment and economic summit, said he is happy with Governor El-Rufai’s efforts in the areas of education, health and economy among others.

    Oyegun said: “I’m convinced that by the time you finish your tenure as the Governor of Kaduna State, we will have a new Kaduna State.”

    “Governor El-Rufai is a pride to APC and I’m happy that he is sharing the knowledge and ideas to other governors of the APC to use. Your plans for Kaduna State in various areas are the best demonstration of what the APC stands for.  To facilitate economic growth, create employment and tackle insecurity in the country.

    “What you are doing is to show and make sure that Kaduna is well placed as investment destination of choice.  We are happy with the development because anything that happens here will have effect all over the country.

    “Investment will not go anywhere without peace and I believe you are working in that direction.  Because I know the government is making great efforts to make Kaduna State an investment heaven.”

     

  • Edo election result updates

    Edo election result updates

    Akoko Edo LGA:

    APC – 24,545

    PDP – 13, 027

    Registered Voters – 110,118

    Accredited Voters –39,945

     

    Ikpoba Okha LGA:

    APC – 33, 469

    PDP – 26, 096

    Registered Voters – 260,965

    Accredited Voters – 55, 348

     

    Etsako West LGA:

    APC – 29,199

    PDP – 10,843

    Registered Voters – 136, 664

    Accredited Voters – 45,620

     

    Etsako East LGA:

    APC – 18,078

    PDP – 12,552

    Registered voters – 66, 277

    Accredited voters – 33, 032

     

    Etsako Central LGA:

    APC – 10, 373
    PDP – 8, 827
    Registered voters – 43, 049
    Accredited voters – 20, 145

     

    Esan Central LGA:

    APC – 9, 781
    PDP – 10, 180
    Registered voters – 50, 603
    Accredited voters – 21, 400

     

    Owan East LGA:

    APC – 21, 233
    PDP – 12, 889
    Registered voters – 76, 455
    Accredited voters – 36, 271

     

     

    Owan West LGA:
    APC – 12,862
    PDP – 10,132
    Total Registered Voters: 54,406
    Total Accredited Voters: 24,487
    Total valid Votes: 23,290

    Oredo LGA:
    APC – 37,612,
    PDP – 30,492.
    Vote cast – 73,712.
    Valid votes – 69, 401.
    Rejected votes – 4,311

    Egor LGA:

    APC –  26,177
    PDP – 19,514
    Total Registered Voters: 184,296
    Total Accredited Voters: 49,802

    Igueben LGA:

    APC – 7, 802

    PDP – 7, 560

    Registered voters: 42, 655

    Accredited voters: 16, 482

    Uhunmwode LGA:

    APC – 10, 911
    PDP – 8, 667
    Registered voters – 62, 987
    Accredited voters – 21, 927

     

    Esan Northeast LGA:

    APC – 9,130
    PDP – 16,220
    Registered voters – 74,293
    Accredited voters 27,121

    Esan South East:

    APC – 9,554
    PDP – 11, 466
    Registered voters – 66, 698
    Accredited voters – 22, 522

    Orhionmwon LGA:

    APC – 15, 262
    PDP – 16, 446
    Registered voters – 102, 921
    Accredited voters – 34, 270

    Esan West LGA:

    APC – 13, 114
    PDP – 16, 311
    Registered voters – 87, 867
    Accredited voters – 31, 866

     

    Ovia North East LGA:

    APC – 17, 561
    PDP – 13, 141
    Registered voters – 126, 391
    Accredited voters – 33, 664

     

     

    11:57PM – APC wins seven of eight wards announced in Oredo.

    Four remaining wards to be announced shortly

    11:10PM – Oredo Ward 12: (PDP wins)

    Collation Officer Adegoke YO

    Registered 20,143.

    Accredited 4,399.

    APC 2,041, PDP 2,066.

    Valid votes 4178.

    Rejected 221.

    Vote cast 4399.

    Oredo Ward five (APC wins)

    Collation officer Godwin Fajimi Ayodele.

    Registered 21,848.

    Accredited 6,218.

    APC 3,445, PDP 2266

    .
    Valid votes 5,842.

    Rejected votes 342.

    Votes cast 6,184.

    New Benin two (Old Ward 7) (APC wins)

    Dr. Ruth Ajobiewe

    Registered 30,535.

    Accredited 9191.

    APC 4416, PDP 4047.


    Valid votes 8627.

    Rejected votes 564.

    Votes cast 9191.

    10:50PM – Oredo Ward 10: 

    Collation Officer: Dr. Adeyefa Emmanuel.

    Registered voters 22,349.

    Accredited voters 5,814.

    APC 2,910, PDP 2,384.

    Total Valid Votes 5,389.

    Rejected 425.

    Total vote cast 5,814.

    10:22PM-Ward Seven Oredo LG
    APC-4412

    PDP- 4047

    10:05PM- INEC declares APC winner of Oredo Ward 9

    Robert Egbe

    Collation officer Ward 9, Dr. Olusola Ayanda just announced the results for his ward.

    4093 total votes
    3,810 total valid votes
    283 rejected votes

    APC wins Oredo Ward 9
    APC: 1,980 votes
    PDP: 1833
    Total registered voters in Ward 9: 13,765

    9:25PM – Collation begins at Oredo collation centre

    Collation officer, Dr. Enoch Opeyemi of the Dept of Mathematics, University of Oye-Ekiti announces commencement of collation at Oredo collation centre, Cultural Centre, Benin.

    He begs for maturity of agents in cases where results announced on the field differ from the centre’s results.

    Only four party agents are available – ACD, ACPN, APC and PDP

    8:52PM The Edo State Cultural Hall venue of Oredo LGA Collation Centreis scanty. Collation should begin in 10 or 15 minutes, although results are still being expected from the ward levels.

    8:25PM Egor Ward 1:

    Unit 1 APC 129 PDP 86.

    Unit 2 APC 139 PDP 53.

    Unit 3 APC 119 PDP 82.

    Unit 4 APC 176 PDP 102.

    Unit 5 APC 121 PDP 85.

    Unit 6 APC

    unit 7 APC 143 PDP 72.

    Unit 8 APC 87 PDP 109.

    Unit 9 APC 207 PDP 97.

    Unit 10 APC 128 PDP 126.

    Unit 11 APC 126 PDP 79.

    Unit 12 APC 65 PDP 99.

    Unit 13 APC 192 PDP 113

    6:37P.M. Ovia Northeast: Obarenren Unit four – APC 70, PDP 46

    Unit three – APC 74,  PDP, 50

    Unit Six – APC 69, PDP 42

    Unit two Aihuababekun – APC 153, PDP 57

    Obazuwa –  APC 80, PDP 47

    Odighi unit 11 – APC 107, PDP 11

    Unit 12 Odighi – APC 151, PDP 24

    Okuen – APC 28 PDP 9

    Odigueten – APC 137, PDP 60

     

    4:19P.M. Oyegun lost polling unit – National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Chief John Oyegun, has lost his polling unit. At Unit 2 Ward 2 in Oredo Local Government Area, the APC scored 69 votes while the  PDP scored 78 votes.

    3:40P.M. At Oghara Primary School, Auchi, four persons sustained injuries as hoodlums attempted to snatch ballot box. Police arrest three including a woman.

    3:19P.M. Learn to be good winners and good Losers. Be peaceful no matter the outcome of the polls, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) tells electorates at Ward 11, Unit 12 in Jattu. – DIG Habila Joshak

    3:01P.M. In the entire Edo South, no incident of violence, no ballot box snatching, says Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of Federal Operations, David Folawiyo

    1:08A.M. Voting largely concluded in most Pulling Centres in the state even as officials continue to wait until 2pm to commence collation of results at the units.

    12:50P.M. At ward 11, units 17 to 21, no more queue of voters. At Unit 21: 710 voters were registered, out of which 204 voted. The last voter cast his vote at about 12:50pm. Officials still waiting for others voters.

    10:45A.M. National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Oyegun accredited for voting. Oyegun hailed the peaceful process.

    9:30A.M. Oredo Ward two, Unit two – accreditation and voting commenced. The number of registered voters as at the time of filing this report is 854. A total of 27 persons

    However, as at 9:57A.M. total of 27 persons has voted. The card reader accepted all voters’ cards presented, but some fingerprints were not approved.

    8:30A.M. EC30A and EC30C situated at Staff Training Centre, accreditation and voting commenced at the ongoing Edo election as residents decide next governor for the state.

    8:26A.M., 962 registered voters. 42 voted by 10am. Three card incidents/fingerprint authentication failures, incident forms issued. No challenges so far.

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  • FG fixes boarding fare ahead of Abuja-Kaduna rail commissioning

    FG fixes boarding fare ahead of Abuja-Kaduna rail commissioning

    As President Muhammadu Buhari prepares to commission the completed Abuja-Kaduna rail project, the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi on Thursday, fixed boarding fare for passengers who intend to ply the route.

    The Minister, who was accompanied by the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun, former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Oni, and other party chieftains in Abuja, stated that the project has been finalized and ready for commercial operation.

    Amaechi said passengers who intend to board executive and economy seats would be charged N900 and N500 respectively.

    On perimeter fencing, Amaechi disclosed that the contract has been awarded and work will soon commence at the terminals.

    “When we get money, we will start fencing. The contract has been awarded and we are looking for money but we will soon get money and we hope to start fencing in the next two – three months.

    “We are expecting new locomotives and when it comes, we will then make arrangement in next year budget to buy more coaches so that we can have one of the trains stopping in all the stations and the other doing Kaduna – Abuja,” the Minister said.

    In his remark, Oyegun admitted the project was initiated by the past administration but far from completion.

    He added that aside from other additional considerations, the project also gave attention to the disabled persons who may want to access the service.

    “Within one year of the present minister, under direction of the president, he set every other thing in place that makes it a railway line. It is functional, ready to roll. It will start rolling commercially,” Oyegun said.

    Also speaking, the Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Engr. Fidet Okhira said the service will ease pressure on the roads, increase easy delivery of goods and services.

    He expressed optimism that before 2017, the railway corridors will also witness fast development.

    Okhira said: “This will project will also take a lot pressure off the roads, the roads will last longer and accidents will reduce. You cannot quantify all these in naira and kobo.

    “Rail infrastructure brings development. In less than a year you will see industries and estates spring up along the rail corridor because there is means of transportation.

    “Right now, we are moving three trains of fertilizers from Lagos to Kaduna for Flour Mills. We started moving for Lafarge from Gombe to Kafanchan and Kaduna. We are still talking with the petroleum suppliers to partner with us.

    “Presently we have a few customers we move petroleum products for with our pressurized tanks. We also use some to move our diesel across our stations. We use over 15 trucks of diesel a month.

    “On Abuja to Kaduna, we will have parcel wagons but not huge loads. We have 20 rail wagons and open wagons.”

     

  • Ondo Guber: Boroffice picks APC nomination form, meets Oyegun behind closed doors

    Ondo Guber: Boroffice picks APC nomination form, meets Oyegun behind closed doors

    The Senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District, Prof Ajayi Boroffice, on Wednesday picked the nomination form to run for the Governorship of Ondo State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Immediately after obtaining the form, Senator Boroffice had a close door meeting with the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Oyegun, at the party’s national Secretariat in Abuja.

    The Senator was accompanied by his wife, Professor (Mrs) Olusinmibo; Hon. Babatunde Kolawole, Member of the House of Representative; Rt Hon Kenneth Olawale, former Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly; Dr Pius Osunyikanmi; Hon. Diran Iyantan, former Commissioner for Local Government and chieftaincy affairs in Ondo State.

    Others in the Senator’s entourage include his personal aides, Barr. Ade Ajanaku, Senior Legislative Aide; Mr Kayode-Adeniyi Fakuyi, Special Assistant on Media; Mr Gani Muhammad, Media Director of Campaign Office and others.

  • Nigeria’s future very bright, Oyegun assures

    Nigeria’s future very bright, Oyegun assures

    The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun, says Nigeria’s future remains very bright.

    Oyegun, who spoke on yesterday at the Luncheon and Award programme organised by the University of Ibadan Alumni Association, urged Nigerians to persevere and be optimistic.

    The event was a follow-up to the third Public Service Lecture of the association entitled, “Change and the Nigerian Traditional Institution, “? delivered on at the weekend by the Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Achebe.

    Oyegun said APC took over power when the economy was in bad shape, adding that there was need for complete overhauling of the system to initiate the desired change envisaged by the people.

    “The price of crude oil dropped drastically when we came on board.  Rather than a plastic solution, President Muhammadu Buhari took some sacrificial decisions to overhaul the entire system.

    “In the period of pregnancy, there is always pain. Buhari remains one of the few incorruptible Nigerians that can take sacrificial decisions and instill discipline.

    “Lack of discipline is one of the factors that brought our institutions to the prostrate state we met them. I have no doubt in my mind that the future is very bright,” he said.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Oyegun was honoured with Alumnus of the Year Award while the publisher of the Sun Newspapers, Orji Uzor Kalu bagged the Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

    Among the 56 other awardees were Dr A.A.A Obiora, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), Chief Olu Falae, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Chief Areoye Oyebola and Dr Michael Omolayole.

    Also speaking at the event, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State described Oyegun as a distinguished public servant as well as an accomplished economist and civil servant.

    Dr Kemi Emina, the National President of the UI Alumni Association (UIAA), described Kalu as a great entrepreneur, who is leading the youths through his entrepreneurial spirit.

    Emina thanked Oyegun and Kalu, who was represented by his Personal Assistant, Kunle Oyewumi, for their contribution to the development of the institution and the advancement of knowledge.

  • Why Buhari’s ministerial list is delayed – Oyegun

    Why Buhari’s ministerial list is delayed – Oyegun

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has said that the Ministerial list of President Muhammadu Buhari is being delayed because the President is conducting a thorough check on the background of those he wants to appoint into his government.

    Oyegun told newsmen at the party secretariat that the appointment of Ministers was the prerogative of the President, adding that the party was interested in the ability of the people he is appointing to bring about ideas that will help achieve his set objectives and deliver on what he want.

    The APC Chairman said the President is open to picking people from all works of life as Ministers especially if those people subscribe passionately to his agenda to move the country forward, whether they are members of the party or not.

    He said: “There is absolutely no dispute between the party and the president. We agreed that we shall use all manner of people: politicians, technocrats, all manner of people, even if not politicians, who can deliver and who subscribe passionately to the agenda of the president, to move this country forward, irrespective of where the people come from; irrespective of whether the person is a card-carrying members of the party.

    “What is important is the qualification of the person and the ability of the person to deliver on the ideas of Mr. President. What we are interested in is the ability of the people to bring up the ideas that will help Mr. President achieve the set objectives and the ability to deliver on what the President wants.

    “Secondly, this is an executive function and the President has the right to consult as widely as possible. This means he might pick people within the party and people outside the party.

    “It is a prerogative the President should exercise and we cannot question that. We are quite happy about the way he is proceeding”.