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Tag: ELECTION

  • Election: Job creation tops agenda

    Election: Job creation tops agenda

    Youth unemployment has been on the increase in the country. This is a development that should give every responsible government serious concern. Politicians seeking elective offices in next month’s general elections have, however, promised to commit billions of naira to job creation, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

    IT is  electioneering season  and candidates seeking political offices have been unveiling their agenda and job creation seemed to have topped their list.

    One of them, Lagos State All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate Akinwunmi Ambode,  said he would set up a Lagos Employment Trust Fund (LETF) with N25 billion over the next four years. This, according to him, will enhance access to a minimum of N1billion yearly finance across the five divisions in the state.

    He said: “That will allow our youths and unemployed people have access to adequate finance for entrepreneurial ventures. We will protect the growth of our small and medium scale enterprises by providing tax incentives. We will implement government policies that will encourage the private sector to employ more citizens and foster economic development.”

    Ambode also promised to seek collaboration with the private sector to ensure the sustainability of the state bursary and scholarship initiatives for tertiary institutions, capacity development for the informal sector as well as skill acquisition through technical and vocational training for residents of the state.

    “We will encourage the private sector to partner with government in this regard as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). We will also deepen skills,” he said.

    He also plans to increase employment through investment in Agriculture. “We will provide incentives for agricultural processing companies, thereby providing employment for our bulging youth population,” he added.

    In addition, he said part of his agenda is to create a secondary market for job creation by engaging youths in sports, tourism and entertainment. “To make our state a tourism destination in Africa, we will also develop our waterfront by providing recreational facilities and encourage investors to invest more in tourism infrastructure. Our unique cultural heritage will be promoted and enhanced to attract tourists globally. This will also create a secondary market for job creation. We will create community sport centers to encourage our youth development. We will partner with the entertainment industry to develop sustainable structures and frameworks to support interested and upcoming youths,” he said.

    For his re-election bid, Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun is planning to further boost employment after employing no fewer than 50,000 youths in the state through direct and indirect employment in 43 months of his administration. Considering his  mission to rebuild the state, he promised to create more jobs if re-elected. According to him, the feat he achieved earlier was made possible by his administration’s holistic approach to unemployment, which include creating an enabling environment for business and industries to thrive.

    Before he was elected in 2011, he disclosed that close to one million youths were unemployed in the state. He, however, said the trend was gradually reducing on a daily as about 46 industries with at least $100 million investments had sprang up under his administration. He added that some of them engaged about 4,500 staff in a day through job-shifts.

    In Oyo State, Governor Abiola Ajimobi has also put job creation on the front burners of his agenda. The Oyo North Senatorial District youth leader of the APC, Hon. Salihi Dauda Ajana said Ajumobi has done more than enough to deserve a second time. He said in the history of the state, he is the first to appoint the highest number of youth. “I’ve found out that 90 per cent of those employed were teachers while other sectors were neglected. The employment created by this administration cuts across all ministries and professions. It is the highest in the history of this state,” he said.

    Ajimobi also employed 20, 000 people into the Youth Empowerment Scheme of Oyo State (YES-O).

    Ajimobi said he deserved a second term because his achievements during the first term are impeccable. The governor said he had put smiles on the faces of traders evacuated from the streets by building a befitting shopping complex and empowering them with N20 million to trade.

    According to the governor, the government had also given N300 million to 6,000 traders and artisans at N50,000 each, noting that his ‘stomach infrastructure’ policy had been in practical terms and not just about propaganda. The sum of N300 million was offered at no-interest as loans among 6,000 traders across the 33 Local Government Areas of Oyo State. Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade and Investment, Mr Isiaka Kolawole, said that the scheme is aimed at boosting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and grant small businesses access to funds.

    He stressed that Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) as government agency responsible for the creation and development of micro, small and medium enterprises in the country, has a crucial role to play in translating the government’s agenda of drastic reduction of unemployment and poverty among Nigerians.

    Ajimobi regretted that in the past, Oyo State did not take advantage of partnering with SMEDAN to translate some of its programmes that are geared towards fighting youth unemployment and poverty alleviation in the state.

    “Oyo State will be in active partnership and collaboration with SMEDAN to derive maximum benefits of your laudable programmes that could positively change the lives of our people. Henceforth, Oyo State government will participate fully in all SMEDAN programmes so that the state could benefit from the good gesture of empowering the people through creation and developing of small businesses,” he promised.

    Apart from these states, political office seekers for the position of governorship are making efforts to ensure that job creation remain a top agenda of their manifestoes while those seeking re-election are not waving off their past efforts in the areas of job creation.

    At the federal level, the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) and APC have also promised to create an environment where millions of youth would be employed directly and indirectly.  APC presidential candidate, Major-General Muhammedu Buhari (rtd) said he would build a country that provides jobs for its young people, reduce unemployment to the lowest of single digits and provide safety nets so that no one is left behind. He also added that if elected, entrepreneurship will thrive, enterprise flourishes and the government will gets out of the way so that people can create value, build the economy and aggressively expand wealth.

    Buhari, promised to create job opportunities through agriculture and mining, if elected. “My administration will focus on agriculture and mining as a way to secure jobs for able Nigerians. There is a circle of insecurity, unemployment and corruption in the country, which I will break when elected next month.

    “I have faith that 2015 is the year we shall begin to write a new story – a story of our youth creating jobs and expanding the frontiers of innovation and creativity everywhere from Mavin Records to the Co-Creation Hub; a story of genuine investment in our children and students be they in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka or in the Delta State University, Abraka; a country that finally makes a permanent shift from our debilitating dependence on the free-falling price of crude oil,” he said.

    PDP presidential flag-bearer, President Goodluck Jonathan has promised to create eight million jobs for Nigerian youth in the next four years if re-elected as president. He made this promise at the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta while addressing a PDP  rally.

    The president said he was already collaborating with influential persons in the private sector to bring this promise to fruition. He further said job creation would engender poverty alleviation and wealth creation.

    However, economic experts believe this commitment if well implemented will solve unemployment problem in the country most especially as the electorate appear ready to follow the wind of change blowing across the country as a result of dismal performance of the economy.

  • ‘This election’s about freedom’

    ‘This election’s about freedom’

    The vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has described the February 14 presidential election as a vote for freedom for Nigerians. “It is a vote for the freedom of the Nigerian people; freedom from want, freedom from poverty, freedom from hunger, freedom from oppression, freedom from sickness and freedom from all the things that have held us down,” he told people  at a Town Hall Meeting in Ketu, Lagos yesterday.

    The Town Hall Meeting was put together by a group, the Friends of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and the Abundant Life Parish of the Redeem Christian Church of God, Ketu, lagos, to provide a platform for interaction with the people. Osinbajo, who started his presentation in Yoruba, but switched to English after a few minutes, said when a certain class of people hears APC members shout change, they are usually gripped by fear. He said those who are afraid of change are those who have stolen the nation’s wealth and do not want to see a change in the polity.

    While thanking Nigerians for their patience and perseverance, Osinbajo, who is a pastor and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), reiterated that there are so many reasons why Nigerians must vote for change on February 14 and that the APC has carefully designed its manifesto to tackle most of the anomalies in the country. He added that since the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government at the centre is not ready to initiate programmes that would alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, it should pack its bag and baggage and leave.

    On poverty and unemployment, Osinbajo said the party has worked out plans to create 20,000 jobs in each state in the short and medium term, in collaboration with state governments. He said an APC-controlled Federal Government would also encourage the private sector to assist in the creation of more jobs, through granting of tax holidays to firms that assist in that regard. He did not however on the criteria that must be met by such private sector collaborators to qualify for the tax holiday.

    The vice presidential flag bearer said a General Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, if voted into power, would accelerate the rate of development of roads and infrastructure, to give Nigerians to give Nigerians a sense of belonging. He added that if the resources of the country is well managed, that there is no reason why it would not be enough to do many things.

    On education, Osinbajo said an APC-controlled government at the centre would not only provide free and compulsory primary education to school-age children in Nigeria, but would also provide midday meal for every child in school. He said such free meal programme is already being implemented in Osun state, which is controlled by the APC. “This would help them to learn better,” he added.

    Prof. Osinbajo noted that there is need for proper funding of education at every level. But, added that funding is specifically the bane of tertiary education in the country. “That is why we have frequent strikes,” he said, adding that the APC will give preference to science, engineering and mathematics, through provision of scholarships to deserving students.

    On health, he said under an APC government, every Nigerian should be able to go into a hospital and receive free treatment. This, he said, would be made possible through health insurance. He said if every citizen pays N1,000, the Federal Government would pay the rest, a pool of fund can be created for the insurance scheme, adding that $1 billion can pay for the insurance of every Nigerian in a year.

    He assured the disable, the elderly and the poor that they would be taken care of through a social security scheme that would be put in place under an APC government at the centre. He noted that the above category of Nigerians will be paid a stipend monthly, adding that a similar scheme is already being implemented in Osun State and that it was also implemented during former Governor Kayode Fayemi’s era in Ekiti State.

    In agriculture, Osinbajo said the APC intends to put in place a system that will stabilize the price of agricultural produce in the country, to stop post-harvest losses by experienced by many farmers. He also added that a Buhari-led government would invest in processing plants, to turn primary produce from agriculture into semi-finished products. All these, he said, would encourage people to take to agriculture and thereby it would help to reduce the level of unemployment in the country.

    On insecurity, the APC Vice Presidential candidate said the issue of the welfare and equipping the entire security system is key; if Nigeria wants to win the war against insurgency. He said he was shocked when he heard on CNN recently that Nigerian soldiers have to buy their own boots and uniforms. He wondered how the N4 trillion budgeted for defense annually is spent.

  • Election: Taraba Tiv affirm their choice

    Election: Taraba Tiv affirm their choice

    The Tiv in Taraba have made clear who they want to govern the state after the elections. It is former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Darius Dickson Ishaku.

    Tiv masquerades and the popular Swange cultural troupe performed before a large crowd in Takum, headquarters of Takum Local Government Area of the state, as the people held a reception for the ex-minister.

    The Tiv have a dense population in Wukari, Ibi, Donga, Takum, Gassol, Bali and Gashaka local government areas of the state. Their Chanchanji ward in Takum alone has over 30,000 persons, has the highest number of voters in the state and determines who wins Southern Taraba polls.

    Ishaku, an architect and administrator, hails from Takum council in Southern Taraba. He defeated sacked Acting Governor Garba Umar and two others to clinch the ruling party’s governorship ticket.

    Thousands of Tiv and Jukun residents in Southern and Central Taraba districts have been attacked and killed, others were injured and hundreds of thousands dislodged from their homes which were also destroyed by insurgents in the last two years.

    The hostilities are coming to an end following the reinstatement of Abubakar Sani Danladi as Acting Governor. The end of killings and the victory of Ishaku as the standard bearer of the ruling party brought joy in the land. This was evident at the reception and rally organised for Ishaku in his country home of Takum to mark the New Year festivity.

    Folksingers, masquerades, cultural dancers, political bigwigs and the general public graced the occasion. The Tiv people displayed their popular Swange dance to show their solidarity. Commissioner of Environment Rebecca Manasseh who is leading the campaign, said the Tiv were pleased with Ishaku and would do everything possible to support him during the election. She said Tiv and Jukun were united and working closely to ensure that Ishaku became governor.

    Besides the killings, Taraba people are not happy with the level of development in the state. The consensus seems to be that there is no remarkable thing to show for the state’s 23 years of creation from the defunct Gongola, despite its huge mineral and human resources. And the worst time is said to have come when Garba Umar steered the state between November 14, 2012 and November 21, 2014 when he was sacked by the Supreme Court for unconstitutionally occupying the office. Reinstated Acting Governor Abubakar Sani Danladi has accused him (Umar) of plundering the state and leaving behind a debt of over N14.9 billion which is reportedly suffocating the state and impeding payment of salaries. In Ishaku, though, the Tiv said they see a spring of hope. They believe the architect can extricate Taraba from its rural profile to an enviable pedestal.

    Thus, the Jolly Nyame House, Takum where the rally held, was filled to capacity. A large crowd surged as dignitaries made their speeches. A wave of excitement pervaded the atmosphere when Ishaku stood up to speak. His speech appeared to soothe the minds of all the ethnic groups in the area.

    He said he will make a difference as governor. He stated: “there is peace in the state now that Acting Governor Abubakar Sani Danladi has been reinstated to steer the state. But if I take over there will be peace, peace and peace. We shall remove war and replace it with peace. Displaced persons will return to their homes and farms.”

    Ishaku said: “We need celebrations not funerals. I want to work, and I am ready. Please come out and vote to bring back stability and development needed in the state.”.

    In his speech, former Minister of Commerce and Industries Ambassador Idris Waziri said: “The time has come to effect a change in the state through Ishaku. Those in the grave must come out and vote.

    The Senator representing Southern Taraba Emmanuel Bwacha described the occasion as “a huge success.”

  • Annan to speak on election Tuesday

    Annan to speak on election Tuesday

    Former Secretary of the United Nation (UN) Kofi Annan is among eminent personalities scheduled to advise Nigerian political actors on how to ensure a transparent and rancour-free election next month.

    The ex-UN scribe will speak at a forum being put together by a group of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in an effort to ensure that the conduct free and fair elections.

    The forum scheduled for Abuja on Tuesday and being organised by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation (Situation Room), will afford Annan the platform to share his insights on the role of civil society in ensuring electoral integrity.

     

  • Group mobilises for election monitoring

    Group mobilises for election monitoring

    The Police Assistance Committee (PAC) has resolved to be on ground nationwide to assist the Police and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through secret monitoring of the election processes during the February  general elections.

    The PAC said it had mandated all its executive members across the states to embark on serious mobilization of their members for proper enlightenment programme on how they would carry out monitoring exercise and devise ways of passing out secret information that can prevent manipulation of the elections by unscrupulous elements who might want to cause chaos or perpetrate rigging during the elections, while also urging all tradesmen/artisans and PAC members to obtain their permanent voter cards which can enable them vote for candidates of their choice during the elections.

    In a communiqué issued after its National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja and jointly signed by its Director-General Dr. Martins Oni, and National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kadri Shina, the PAC called on the INEC, the Police and other security agencies working on the elections to work closely with their members in ensuring that necessary information is made available to them which could assist in preventing, rigging, violence and thuggery during the elections, adding that the implication of not having a peaceful elections would be too grave for the country, as the entire world is watching and expectant that we must get it right this time around.

  • Christian groups decry CAN election

    •Executives to be inaugurated today

    The leadership of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) and the Roman Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria have protested the election by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos State branch.

    They said they disagreed with the election, which they alleged was conducted among three groups- the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), ECWA/TEKAN and the Organisation of African Institute Churches (OAIC), leaving out CCN and the Roman Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria.

    The Chairman of the state’s CCN, the Very Rev. Stephen Adegbite,  described the exercise as inappropriate, a charade and a betrayal of trust, saying he could not call that an election but a selection.

    His words: “The election was inappropriate, a charade and a betrayal of trust by the organisers. I can’t call that an election. It was a mere selection. The scenario can be described as an embarrassment to the CCN, Roman Catholic and the entire Christian organisations in the country.”

    Rev. Adegbite condemned the emergence of Apostle Bamgbola of the PFN as chairman, Elder Israel Akinadewo of the OAIC as general secretary and Rev. E. Oguntosin of ECWA/TEKAN as the vice chairman.

    He said the election was invalid and should be cancelled and a fresh one conducted, which should involved all Christian bodies.

    The election, which was conducted under the supervision of the National Secretary of CAN, Rev. Musa Asake, last Wednesday, was intended to end the leadership tussle.

    The executives will be inaugurated today at ECWA Church, Mushin, Lagos.

  • ‘How we deployed ICT to prevent rigging in Osun election’

    ‘How we deployed ICT to prevent rigging in Osun election’

    The Osun State Governor,  Rauf Aregbesola has revealed how the deployment of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in monitoring and reporting of events as they unfolded during the August 9 governorship election in the state prevented falsification of results.

    The governor, in a statement by the Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon,was quoted as stating this while delivering a keynote address titled “Broadband: Oxygen for Digital Economy” at the Africa Digital Forum and Award 2014 organised by the ICT Watch Network at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers in Ikeja, Lagos Sunday evening.

    Aregbesola pointed out that ICT was put to use by the various situation rooms set up by the government to monitor, get results and happening across all the units, wards and Local governments in the state helped in no small measure.

    He bemoaned the situation of the country at this jet age lacking the capacity to deploy Internet and other advanced technologies to locate the whereabouts of the Chibok school girls several months after their abduction by Boko Haram insurgents.

    The governor noted that Nigeria has a new opportunity for economic resurgence in the digital economy age, saying that the nation has the requisite infrastructure both material and human.

    He said, “We have a huge human population (167 million) with equally immense needs. This is a potentially immense market with which we can trade our way from poverty to riches. Added to this is the demography of that population.

    “Our population is predominantly composed of youths who are energetic, enthusiastic, and innovative”. The governor stressed

    Aregbesola noted that the Osun experience in the use of modern technology and the use of Internet could be a model for national ICT development on a non-partisan basis.

    The governor pointed out that the use of ICT will enhance greater deployment and consumption of broadband.

    According to Aregbesola, “In Osun, without being immodest, we can say that ICT has been a major plank of governance. We pioneered e-learning with the invention of Opon Imo. We have also been able to provide card based e-credit for farmers. Of course, we have also deployed e-based payroll and staff ID card on MasterCard platform directly connected to the holder’s account.

    “We have also devised e-ID Card for all pupils in public schools and the card will now serve as payment instrument for our home-grown school feeding and health programme (O’MEALS).

    “We set up the OYESTECH, an institution for training youths in the use, assembly and repair of electronic gadgets from plasma television, computers to mobile phones”. The governor told the gathering.

    Aregbesola held that Nigeria has a great potential for enhancing development in this information age through the digital economy.

    He noted that there are still huge potentials in road traffic monitoring and control, CCTV camera, weather monitoring and forecast, national population database among others.

    He said, “What this means is that there is power and potential in numbers. A great number of people mean a potentially great variety of needs to be met.

    “The good thing is that in meeting these needs, a self-reinforcing cycle is created in which people have access to employment, are productively engaged, earn income, create wealth, and spread prosperity with accompanying prospect of material uplift and satisfaction”. Aregbesola pointed out.

    The governor added that any human mass is a potential source of wealth generation from which positive developments can spring, stressing that what is required therefore is creativity in turning the potential into public good.

  • Election: Outdoor advert to boost employment

    Election: Outdoor advert to boost employment

    Next year’s general elections in Nigeria will open fresh job opportunities, especially in the outdoor advertising segment. Billboards, transit adverts, posters or arena placement owners are expected to hire both skilled and unskilled labour, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

    These are boom times for players in the outdoor advertising segment of the industry. The political parties have just completed their party primaries for various elective posts. Players in the outdoor advertising are expected to witness activities in the industry after a long lull that has rendered the industry illiquid.

    Some players had projected about N20billion for the industry during the election period. They expect that the  fund being devoted to the sector will not only create empowerment for outdoor agencies and hoarding owners, but also for both the skilled and unskilled labour.

    As a result, the boom will open windows for people in areas such as billboard designing, structural engineers and their auxiliaries, planting, account management, media management, field supervision. This will in trun grow government’s revenue.

    Of all these areas of opportunities in the outdoor advertising, the structural engineering seems to have job space for more people because it is tasked with the responsibilities of mapping out the sites where billboards will be sited.  As a result, certain categories of people will be employed to carry out the job on the sites.

    From the cumbersome manual method to the now popular imposing electronic billboard advertising, structural engineers have been creating Jobs for people in the formal and informal sector. The former includes fine artists, graphic artists, printers of large format posters, and computer programmers, while the latter are bricklayers, welders, painters, among others.

    Accountants, media managers, compliance officers and creative experts such as graphic artists will benefit from the fortunes of the outdoor advertising industry during the electioneering period.

    With the recent restructuring and reforms in outdoor advertising also known as the out-of-home advertising medium, experts  say better days await job seekers as states governments have now embraced the new generation billboards.

    The states, which have established agencies to regulate activities in outdoor advertising are Lagos State Signage Advertising Agency (LASSA), Osun State Signage Advertising Agency (OSAAA) and Oyo State Signage Advertising Agency (OYSAA).

    Others are Rivers, Ekiti, Edo, Ondo, Enugu, Delta and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    While these states are generating revenue by approving and collecting commission on every billboard erected in their domain, they have helped in providing job opportunities for people.

    Experts said the stakes are high for job seekers, given that companies are committing fortunes to it. They said billions of naira are being spent on outdoor advertising which has a multiplier effects in the economy.

     

    Job potential

    The Director General, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, Mr. George Noah says the industry holds huge job opportunities as the Lagos market alone currently employs some 100,000 people, adding that the industry would have grown more but for prevailing hindrances which included but not limited to loss of market share to television, radio and social media marketing. He said Lagos currently hosts 100,000 signs and 800 outdoor structures.

     

    Gains for outdoor

    The Media Facts, a key media resource for marketing professionals in West and Central Africa, showed in its fresh report on the industry that the TV sub-sector dominated the media spending for last year. With a total of N47 billion advertisers spent on their advertisements on the TV stations in the country last year, the figure represented 45 per cent of the overall spending by advertisers. The report said with N23.2 billion spent on outdoor advertising during the year under review, the outdoor sub-sector came second after the TV. Similarly, the report stated that the radio and print media recorded advertising spend of N15.1 billion and N18.5 billion, respectively last year.

    “The TV dominated media spends of advertisers – accounting for 45 per cent of the total expenditure of N103.8 billion in 2013. While TV and radio spends dropped by nine per cent and two per cent points, OOH (out of home) and print increased by three per cent and eight per cent, respectively,” the report stated.

    Former General Manager, Tequila Nigeria Limited, Mr. Gbolalian Mosaku-Johnson said newspapers, radio and television advertising have overshadowed outdoor advertising for years, arguing that there is a renewed interest in outdoor advertising by blue-chip companies that can spend a fortune in producing good copies. Tequila is an integrated marketing communication outfit providing services such as brands developments, promotion among others.

    Mosaku-Johnson said many people would be employed either on contract or full-time basis to help in producing outdoor advertising services because some companies are ready to pay a lot of money for such services.

    “This is high time graphic artists, among other skilled personnel must prepare themselves for big opportunities in the outdoor advertising industry. It is projected that outdoor advertising will get more attractions in the next five to 10 years because state governments are showing keen interest in the field by setting up agencies for such needs. Now that we have thousands of billboards in strategic places across the country, there would be more opportunities for job seekers.” he said.

    He projected that at least 5,000 jobs would be created directly or indirectly in a year in each of the 36 states of the federation when the outdoor advertising begins fully.

    He said: “Now mobile outdoor advertising which ensures that bigger buses and taxis are used to promote products/services of companies is on the increase in the country. These advertisements are produced periodically, depending on what the clients pay for. This shows that graphic artists and large format printers would be made to provide more services in the industry. “Also, drivers, among other auxiliary workers would be employed aside the workers needed to produce billboards. With this, a lot of job opportunities would be open for skilled and the unskilled workers in the country,” he added.

    However, the advertising practitioners in the country, acting under the aegis of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, (AAAN) said over N20billion would be spent on political campaigns this year.

    Its Chairman, Publicity Committee, Dr. Celey Okogwu, noted that the N20 billion that would be spent on political campaigns which may however not pass through the organised private sector.

     

    Outdoor advertising guidelines

    Three months to the general elections, LASAA is worried by the indiscriminate ways these campaign posters are being pasted across the states.  It has threatened to sanction candidates and individuals that run foul of its guidelines on the use of election campaign materials in the state.

    Noah, who gave  the warning, said the guidelines on the use of election campaign materials for next year’s general elections in the state were issued in accordance with the agency’s responsibilities, and as provided for under its enabling law. One of these laws is the Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency Law 2006 as amended, which regulates and controls outdoor signage, advertisements and billboards in the state.

    According to Noah, the guidelines were issued to establish sanity and protect the environment from defilement, visual blight and other adverse effects of uncontrolled, unregulated deployment and display of political campaign materials within the state during this electioneering period.

    He said: “The guidelines are also issued without prejudice to any political party, association or aspirant as it is our intention to ensure fairness and equality among all concerned stakeholders, while judiciously performing our duty and applying the rules without sentiment or bias.”

    He explained that billboards and wall drapes political campaigns may only be deployed on existing structures owned and operated by outdoor advertising practitioners who are registered with LASAA and have obtained permits for such sites and structures.

    “Parties interested in deploying political campaigns may contact LASAA or owners of the proposed structure for clarification. 2. A-Frame may only be deployed on road verges, medians on inner streets and must not exceed a size of 1 x 1 meter (big size) and 0.5 x 0.5 meter (small size) and must have a distance of not less than 100 meters between each sign deployed.

    “Banners may only be deployed on inner roads and streets subject to the following conditions: only if the banner is attached to the wall of a particular building limited to inner streets, and it is not to be tied to poles or public utilities (electric and telecom poles).

    “Posters may be deployed on designated surfaces on inner streets only and are not to be deployed on highways, major roads and high streets. Posters must not be pasted on public utility structures such as street lamp poles, transformers, road directional signs, electric poles and other unauthorised surfaces.”

    The agency warned political parties, aspirants and their supporters to refrain from indiscriminate deployment of campaign posters and embrace the use of other creative and innovative platforms including: a stick in the ground, billboards, mobile adverts, among others.

    According to Noah, aside risking prosecution, other  non-conforming political campaigns would be removed without recourse to the owners, even as he reminded politicians that all political campaign advertising materials must be removed immediately after the elections.

  • ‘Next year’s election will be the best ever’

    ‘Next year’s election will be the best ever’

    The founder and president of the Divine Ministry for Inter-Religious Harmony (DMIRH), Prophet David Oyekan, has predicted that contrary to the fears being expressed by many Nigerians that next year’s general elections will be free and fair and that it would be the best ever. His words: “The Divine will of God will surely prevail in 2015. Therefore 2015 election is going to be the most credible and the most peaceful election the Nigerian nation has ever witnessed. It will beat the imagination of the entire global community.”

    Oyekan, who made the above revelation in a document made available to The Nation, said God Almighty has a purpose and plan for Nigeria and that the grand design of the Creator must be achieved. According to him, God has a hand in the amalgamation of Nigeria and He is not happy with the acts of disunity in the country.

    The seer said God is angry with the Nigerian government over the ceasefire agreement signed with Boko Haram insurgents because if the government had followed the Divine directives that were conveyed to it earlier matters would not have come to such a sorry end. Nevertheless, he said Nigeria would overcome the Boko Haram saga, if the leaders of the country agree to do what God has decreed they must do. “Otherwise, we would have another dimension of trouble that would make politicians, religious leaders and the media to comply with the demand of God,” he noted.

    To avoid the wrath of God, Oyekan said the authorities must comply with the demands of God before the 2015 general elections. “That is why I’ve been making efforts to deliver the message, but people are not listening. The demand of God must be complied with by January 2015 to prevent this problem. If not, many politicians and religious leaders would die within two months,” he added.

    Oyekan said he has been trying since 2001 to bring to the notice of the authorities the Divine demand of God concerning the Nigerian nation. He said: “The Lord, the master of the universe, has not only revealed to me the genesis of Nigeria’s problems, but also provided a Divine intervention provision in the short term, the medium term and the long term strategy to put an end to Nigeria’s problems in accordance with His Divine purpose and plan for the Nigerian nation as it affects the global community at this end time.”

    Against this background, he has been sending spiritual revelations to various organs of government since 2001. But, he said the ruling elite have turned deaf ears to the demands of God because they do not believe in the relevance of spiritual guidance in nation building. The prophet gave 12 different instances of the Divine directives he sent to the authorities and the indifference displayed by those who were supposed to implement them.

    For instance, he said in August 2005 such revelation was sent to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, through the Aso Rock Villa chapel, for government to dedicate the independence anniversary of that year “to God Almighty in appreciation of what God has done for the nation for 45 years of independence of this nation and for returning democracy to Nigeria.” But, the directive was not obeyed by government; as the occasion was celebrated as usual.

    Oyekan said he also conveyed the directive of God to the Yar’Adua administration in August 2009, through the First Lady, to declare a three-day national fasting and prayer in preparation for the 49th independence anniversary and to organise a peace and unity summit in collaboration with all stakeholders before the 2010 Golden Jubilee Celebration. But, it was also not heeded. As a result, another one was issued in November of the same year, asking the government to declare a seven-day national prayer and fasting, from January 1 to 7, 2010, to usher in the blessing of God in the country’s Golden Jubilee year.

    According to him, after experiencing several frustrations trying to draw the attention of the Presidency and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the revelations, he shifted focus to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the judiciary through the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). But, the CJN and opposition party equally refused to take the revelations seriously. Without spiritual foundation in nation building, he said the future development of such a nation is in great jeopardy. He noted that government has consistently refused to listen to him because he comes from a lowly background and nobody knows him.

    The founder and president of DMIRH, a spiritual non-governmental organization, said so many of the ills that have befallen the nation since 2001 are direct consequences of the disobedience of the directives. He indicted all the organs of government, including the fourth estate of the realm, the media, who have at one time or the other received the revelations, for the disobedience. Quoting from Isaiah 29 verse 13 and 14, he said the name of the Lord is always on the lips of Nigerians, but their hearts are far removed from Him.

    Oyekan said the amalgamation of 1914 was divinely arranged by God through Lord Luggard. He added: “This was to cement the unity of the nation. The success of the quest to keep Nigeria one during the civil war which ended in 1970 was a Divine arrangement. This is the reason why ‘go on with one Nigeria’ (Gowon) succeeded in that regard in 1970.”

    It was for the purpose of continuing to cement this unity, he noted, that former President Olusegun Obasanjo unknowingly gave a joint ticket to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and President Goodluck Jonathan. “It was a Divine arrangement to achieve the unity of Nigeria,” he said, adding: “For this unity to be cemented, God in His infinite mercy also guided Yar’Adua to grant amnesty to Niger Delta militants. This is because the enemy of the unity of Nigeria in 2005 predicted that the nation would disintegrate in 2015.”

  • Media and Osun election tribunal

    A section of the media has not served the cause of truth and has rather shown unconscionable partisanship on the Osun State governorship election and its aftermath.

    While it is generally agreed that media houses have their biases, their ultimate responsibility is to serve the cause of truth and promote democratic development in the land, irrespective of their bias.

    It is disheartening however that some media organisations either out of laziness or mischief or both are fond of taking news report written by Osun PDP media minders and slamming it on their front pages without crosschecking its veracity. This unprofessional conduct has caused confusion and portrayed the media concerned as liars and unreliable entities.

    Not long ago, an appellate court in Ilorin, Kwara State made a ruling on jurisdiction in a long standing suit on the 2011 elections in Osun. This means the trial of the suit proper is set to begin. However, in a bizarre twist, PDP rewrote the judgement and claimed that all elected legislators, state and federal, have been sacked and should vacate their seats. Almost all newspapers reported it as such. A few tried to ‘balance’ it with the reaction of Osun APC.

    One would have thought that the newspapers have their reporters in court and would rather rely on their own report. When their reporters are not in court, they should have obtained the certified true copy of the judgement and refer it to their legal departments for interpretation and meaning, in case the editors cannot understand court judgements.

    Now, the truth eventually came out that it was a preliminary ruling and to further put the media in shame, PDP has now withdrawn the original suit. How low can the media sink in the partisan quagmire?

    Again, Osun PDP spun an infernal lie that 100,000 invalid votes had been discovered among Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s lot in the ballot and this would mean that Senator Iyiola Omisore would be sworn in on November 27. The report also claimed that Aregbesola for this reason has asked for a rerun election. This evil report found its way into the website of AIT and the pages of Nigerian Tribune. Several internet rodents latched it and feasted on it with frenzy. The election petition tribunal was so incensed that it warned of dire consequences if such false reports were to appear in the media again.

    AIT pulled down the report and apologised on the same website. Nigerian Tribune, in its usual characteristics, is yet to make any amends. It is really instructive what has now become of the legacy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    The questions we should be asking ourselves are: one, how much could PDP have paid that is worth the integrity of a newspaper? Secondly, why would media organisations deliberately inflict such pain on its audience that look up to it for the promotion of truth and justice?

    It is my sincere hope that media organisations will protect their name and integrity from being sullied as a result of Osun PDP’s fruitless desperation.

     

    • Mike Ogundele, 

    Osogbo, Osun State