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Tag: Council

  • Gombe APC unite ahead of council election

    Gombe APC unite ahead of council election

    Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State have laid aside their differences to form a common front as the party strategise towards winning Saturday’s local government elections and set the pace for the governorship election in 2019.

    At the opening of campaigns yesterday, youth leader Abubakar Habu Mu’azu urged the youths to be united, saying there was no fight among party leaders.

    “All we are out for, as leaders of this great party, is the progress of the party. We are out to make sure we unseat PDP in the next election and so, we cannot afford to be divided,” he said.

    According to him, those interested in flying the party’s flag in 2019 have reached an agreement to form a common front and rally round the eventual winner.

    APC’s governorship candidate in 2015, Inuwa Yahaya, appealed to APC supporters to come out en mass to vote and protect same.

    “Ensure anyone who tries to rig out our party faces the wrath of the law. You must protect your votes because it is the public’s fund, our money, that is used to conduct this election,” he said.

    Presenting flags to chairmanship candidates of the 11 councils, former Caretaker Chairman of the party, Bala Jibrin called for prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari.

  • Council poll: secretary predicts victory

    Acting Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State Hakeem Bamgbola, has said the party will win in all the Local Governments (LGAs) and the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the forthcoming council elections.

    Bamgbola, a two-time Chairman of Itire-Ikate LCDA, said the achievements of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would make people vote for the party.

    In an interview, he said: “The administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has achieved a lot in infrastructure development, security and general welfare of the people. The performance of the present administration in Lagos State has positively lifted the ratings of our party and we continue to welcome defectors into APC from other parties daily. Nobody wants throw away a performing government and Lagosians are happy with us because the APC government is performing.

    “Look at the 114 roads recently constructed and inaugurated in all the 20 LGs and 37 LCDAs in the state. Another 181 roads will soon be embarked upon. No other state in the country can boost of this giant stride. Lagosians are happy that they are reaping dividends of democracy from the present government in the state hence their continued support for us.”

    According to him, a lot of reconciliations have taken place since the set back recorded during the last elections.

    “I think we have realised our mistakes that was why we had a lot of reconciliations. Gaining control of the grassroots is very important for any government. It is only when we regain the local governments we lost during the last election in the coming council elections that we can talk of winning back the House of Assembly and House of Representatives seats lost in the last election,” he said.

    The party, he said, was waiting for the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to roll out its programmes for the election.

    “That’s why we must look at those that will be coming in to run the affairs of the local governments. We want people that would replicate the efforts of Governor Ambode at the council level. We are prepared and set for the election. We are just waiting for the LASIEC to come out with its guidelines so that we can set the ball rolling. I’m very sure we are going to win in all the local governments and the local council development areas. We have a government that’s performing,” he said.

  • Council lifts 1,000 pupils with educational kits

    Council lifts 1,000 pupils with educational kits

    The Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has donated educational kits, including bags, exercise books and pens, to 1,000 pupils.
    Its Sole Administrator Abimbola Oshikoya said the gesture was in line with the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s commitment to easing educational pursuit in the state.
    She said the materials would encourage the pupils to be serious with their studies.
    “It is just in line with what Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has started to give little kids the essentials they need in school. We are investing in the lives of our kids and it doesn’t matter how much we spend. They are our future. If they don’t have the basic things needed in school, how would they learn? We need to ensure they have the necessary materials they need to learn in school,” she said
    Oshikoya pleaded with teachers to deliver quality education to the pupils, saying that right educational foundation is key to producing good crop of future leaders.
    “Teachers should endeavour to teach them well, keep an eye on them and ensure the kids get the best. Getting the right education is crucial from the early stage. I advise the children to pay attention to their teachers, do their homework at the right time, and study hard.”
    She also advised youths to spend their time wisely by indulging in things that add values to their lives and eschew violence.

  • Confusion as court stops Oyo council polls

    Confusion as court stops Oyo council polls

    There was confusion among parties in Oyo State at the weekend, following a court ruling restraining the State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) from conducting the February 11 local government election.

    Though details were sketchy, it was gathered that a federal high court in Abuja on Friday granted the prayer of a team of baales (village heads), who sued the commission.

    The electoral umpire had slated election into the 33 local governments and 35 Local Council Development Area (LCDAs) for February 11.

    But some baales in Oyo West, Atiba and Oyo East local governments sought an order restraining the commission from conducting the planned election pending the determination of the case.

    It was learnt that they are angry that delineation of the LCDAs ceded away part of their domains.

    was learnt that parts of their domains were ceded to Afijio.

    A source said the baales simply wanted the issue resolved before any election holds in the LCDAs.

    The order, it was learnt, was granted towards closing hour on Friday, making it difficult for the information to be officially circulated.

    The development has caused commotion among major parties and their candidates, who were finalising preparations for the election.

    Accord Party, Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) revealed that their candidates have emerged; the All Progressives Congress (APC) slated its  primary for tomorrow.

    The council poll is coming 10 years after the last exercise was conducted during the tenure of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja in 2007.

    Reacting yesterday, SDP State Publicity Secretary Akeem Azeez said: “It is quite unfortunate that an opportunity to expose rejection of the APC-led government in the state has been postponed.

    “Without doubt, APC-appointed OYSIEC has shown enough reasons to doubt its capacity and sincerity to conduct credible local government election in Oyo State.”

    APC spokesman Wale Sadare was not available for comments.

    His OYSIEC counterpart, Cosmas Nnadi, was also not available for comments.

  • Council suspends Benin kingdom’s chief priest

    The Benin Traditional Council (BTC) has suspended Nosakhare Isekhure as the Isekhure (Chief Priest) of Benin Kingdom for alleged intransigence.

    Acting on the authority of the Oba of Benin, Omo N’ Oba N’Edo, Ewuare II, BTC announced the suspension of Isekhure at a news conference in Benin City.

    The Iyase (Prime Minister) of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe, who addressed reporters, said: “Chief Isekhure desecrated the position he held in trust for the palace.

    “He operated a parallel palace where he took bribes and reviewed already decided cases.’’

    Igbe said the duties performed by the Isekhure “have now reverted to the original owner, the Ihama of Benin, who is the head of the Ihama N’ihogbe.’’

    The Iyase, who went down memory lane, said: “The responsibilities initially being performed by the Isekhure were part of the traditional duties of Ihama.’’

    He said the duties were handed over to the Isekhure family when the original Ihama became old and could no longer perform his duties during the reign of Oba Ewedo about 1280 AD, who then created the Isekhure title.

    Igbe said Isekhure, in the last few years, “designated his house as a palace where he held court and sometimes reviewed cases already dealt with in the Oba’s palace.’’

    The BTC, which accused Isekhure of corruption, said: “Of course, gratifications were offered or forced and collected.

    “He used his position to influence new chiefs, celebrating their investiture to perform certain rites in his home, during which money, kola nuts and drinks were collected.’’

    Igbe accused Isekhure of being disrespectful to the palace.

    “He turned himself into a be-all and all-knowing authority in the Benin culture and tradition, especially palace procedures.

    “The profanities and denigrations that issued from him and his followers during our mourning period are better just forgotten.

    “During this period, he told those who cared to listen to him that neither the Emwin nekhua (Oba’s burial rites) nor the consequent coronation could hold without him.

    “During Emwin nekhua, he neglected and deliberately refused to perform his traditional duties before, during and after the event, and has since remained infinitely unrepentant.

    “We cannot believe that anyone, any Benin individual, who knows what the motivating Benin culture is, and has worn the toga of a Benin chief, could do what Isekhure did these past two years.

    “We find it difficult to accept the idea that he was a chief. The disconnect has become actual and natural.

    “We recommend in the circumstances, therefore, that he be suspended and with the authority of Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolopkolo, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin.

    “He is, with effect from today, suspended indefinitely from performing the duties of Isekhure title.

    “Those duties were originally performed by Ihama of Benin. They will now revert to the Ihama N’Ihogbe,’’ he said.

  • Council seeks new VC for FUTA

    The Pro-sChancellor and Chairman of Council, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Dr Mohammed Shatta, has inaugurated a Joint Council and Selection Board and Search Team for the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor (VC) for the institution.

    Before the constitution of the search team, the process for the selection of the seventh substantive VC, who will succeed Prof Adebiyi Daramola, was kicked off on November 24, last year with the placement of advertisement in three national dailies.

    This was followed by the election of the representatives of the various bodies that are involved in the process who made up the board/team.

    Shatta urged members of the board to eschew all sentiments and interests and to embrace corporate interests. He said the process must be objective and transparent to get the best for the system.

    “As we know the appointment of the Vice Chancellor is highly sensitive, members of the board should ensure confidentiality of the proceedings of meetings and be fair, objective and equitable in handling the assignment,” he said.

    The search team is required among other things to search for candidates who have scholarly distinguished themselves locally and internationally and are considered fit for appointment to the position of Vice chancellor of the university.  In doing so, it must not discriminate against sex, race, ethnic, political, and religious or other sectional interest group.

    The Pro-Chancellor was optimistic that the board/search team would do a thorough job, promising that the university would provide necessary impetus to ensure that they perform up to expectation.

    Shatta heads the Joint Council and Senate Committee, while another external member of the Governing Council, Chief Joel Madaki heads the Search Committee.

     

  • Stakeholders meet over council’s budget 

    The Sole Administrator Mosan Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Mr. Rotimi Ogunwuyi has said the council will consolidate on the Lagos State Development Programme to make life better for the people.

    Addressing stakeholders at a meeting in preparation for the council’s 2017 budget, the council chief said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had set the template for others to follow, noting that Mosan Okunola council is in high spirit to replicate it in the council.

    He explained that the stakeholders’ meeting was organised to enable the people to make their contributions toward the attainment of a budget that will take care of their pressing needs rather than embarking on projects that are unnecessary and which will not impact on the lives of the people.

    Ogunwuyi added that projects such as roads, youths’ development, primary health care (PHC), education, commerce and sporting activities were in top agenda of government’s fiscal policy.

    The Sole Administrator maintained that his leadership had always strived to ensure that the people were carried along.

    “That is why the stakeholders’ meeting is very important. They will use the opportunity to let government know what their priorities are,” he said.

    He noted that the era when government imposes its decision on the people without wide consultation was over, adding that success could be made easier when the people participate in decision-making.

    “In the past, the practice was for government to impose its wishes on the people without recourse to them and without considering their needs.  This is out of tune with development and democracy.

    “The spirit and letter of the new budgeting system at the local empowerment level means make it mandatory for the ultimate beneficiaries of government programmes and projects to be part of the whole arrangement, right from the beginning.

    “It is the above scenario that has necessitated the consultation. It must also be made clear that within the ambit of the financial capacity of the council, we expect the gathering to come up with the items that will be used to fashion out the 2017 budget.”

    Ogunwuyi further appealed to Nigerians to support the council’s PHC programme, stressing that the facilities were over-stretched.

    “It is in the best interest of the council that I appeal to Nigerians to support our PHC programme. We need more nurses to complement the ones we have on ground and to relieve our members of staff that are being overworked,” he said.

    He presented gift materials to Mrs Ogada Daisy who gave birth to the first baby of the month at the Rauf Aregbesola Hospital.

  • Benin traditional council suspends Chief Isekhure

    The Benin Traditional Council has suspended Chief Nosakhare Isekhure from performing the duties of the Isekhure title.

    Isekhure of Benin is a member of the Ihogbe Palace Society under the leadership of Ihama of Benin Kingdom.

    The present responsibilities of the Isekhure were part of the traditional duties of the Ihama.

    Announcing the suspension of Chief Nosakhare, Chief Sam Igbe, the Iyase of Benin, said the title of Isekhure has been desecrated.

    Chief Igbe said Chief Nosakhare pronounced himself Head of the Royal Family and designated his residence as a palace where cases already dealt with in the Oba’s Palace are reviewed.

    He stated that Chief Nosakhare also boasted that neither the Emwinekhua (funeral rites of Oba Erediuawa) and consequent coronation would not hold without him.

    According to him, “During Emwinekhua, he neglected and deliberately refused to perform his traditional duties before, during and after the event. He has since remain unrepentant.”

    “We cannot believe that anyone, any Benin individual who knows what the motivating Benin cultures and tradition are and have worn the toga of a Benin Chief could do what Isekhure did in these past two years.

    “The disconnect has become actual and natural. Those duties of Isekhure will now be reverted to the Ihama N’ Ihogbe.”

  • Council sensitises residents to HIV/AIDS

    The Sole Administrator of Apapa Local Government Area of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Alao has urged residents to shun lifestyles that could risk their health.

    Speaking during the World AIDS Day, he said Apapa was one of the porous areas to HIV/AIDS because of influx of foreigners as it is one of the border communities in Lagos.

    The council chief said it had become imperative to sensitise the people to the enormous damage it has done to mankind, noting that the presence of foreign elements and their social engagement with them should be guarded.

    He said: “It has become important and compulsory to mark the HIV/AIDS globally considering the incalculable damage the disease has done to mankind.

    “It has reduced the population of young people, thereby decreasing the number of people available for productive ventures all over the globe. It has rendered a lot of people orphans. It has produced a lot of widows and widowers thereby bringing sorrow and anguish to many homes.

    “The theme of this year’s edition which is “Hands up on HIV Prevention” cannot be more apt. This is because it has been concluded that all hands must be on deck towards controlling the scourge. The scourge does not recognise religion, age, gender or colour. It attacks fiercely leaving in its trails gnashing of teeth.”

    He added that efforts are being made to stem the tide of HIV/AIDS at the council.

    “It should be noted that we have a peculiar problem on our hands as a result of the fact that Apapa is an important entry point through which people from different countries come into the country, bringing along both the positive and the negative. As a result of this, we have strengthened our campaign and sensitisation programmes so as to stem the trend.

    “Apart from this, we have partnered with many non-governmental organisations that showed interest in helping us. Those we found to have tested positive to this scourge have been encouraged to be on the prescribed medication and care. However, I still wish to say that the battle is not yet won.

    “We require assistance from the federal and state governments, corporate organisations and other non-governmental organisations in our efforts towards winning the war against HIV/AIDS pandemic. We shall continue to encourage and strengthen our sensitisation mechanism in the local government so that our people can be aware of the consequences of contacting the virus. “

  • Abia electoral commission shifts council poll

    The Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) has announced that the local government election earlier scheduled for December 17 has been shifted by four days.  The poll will now hold on December 21.

    In a statement by the chairman of the commission, Justice Igbozurike Akomas, the election was shifted, following the protest by stakeholders.

    Akomas said the commission considered the pleas by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) that the date be shifted to enable political parties substitute their candidates. The group had also explained that the postponement would enable the parties to campaign.

    The chairman said  the commission, which is product of the constitution and as a democratic institution, yielded to the appeals after wider consultations and in exercise of the powers conferred on it by  1999 Constitution and the Abia State Local Government Amendment Law 2006.

    Akomas advised the parties to adjust their programmes accordingly, promissing to guarantee a   level playing field for participants in the election process.

    IPAC had called for the shifting of the election scheduled for December 17 by two weeks to enable the parties prepare for the exerciise.

    Its chairman, who is also the  chairman of the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA), Emeka Okafor, said the call became necessary to  provide a level playing ground for candidates.

    Okafor said the electoral body should shift the election by at least two weeks to enable parties involved would have had time to correct all their internal problems such as substitution of names.

    He said the groups’ call for the shifting is as a result of several complaints coming from all the political parties involved in the forthcoming elections ranging from high cost of fees to the ABSIEC, stressing that shifting the election date will help for all to prepare very well.