The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Flag bearer

  • Ex-Rep urges APC to pick flag bearer from Ekiti South

    Ex-Rep urges APC to pick flag bearer from Ekiti South

    A former Houses of Representatives member, Bamidele Faparusi, has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State to choose its governorship flag bearer from the Southern Senatorial District.

    Faparusi spoke yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, while officially declaring his intent to run for governorship on the platform of the progressives’ party.

    The aspirant also inaugurated his campaign coordinators and opened his campaign headquarters at Similoluwa on Iworoko Road in Ado-Ekiti.

    Faparusi, who hails from Ode-Ekiti in Gbonyin Local Government Area, said the general feeling in the state was that the next governor should come from Ekiti South, which had not produced the chief executive.

    He said: “Any attempt by our party to look beyond the South to field our candidate means we are kissing the governorship bye-bye. For APC to win, we must pick our candidate from the South.”

    Faparusi, who represented Ekiti South Federal Constituency II between 2011 and 2015, promised to provide jobs for youths, empower artisans and attract investment to the state, if given the top job.

     

  • Aspirant congratulates flag bearer

    One of the chairmanship aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, in the forthcoming Lagos State local government election scheduled for July 22, Hon. Peter Ajayi, has congratulated the flag bearer of the party in the area Hon. Monsuru Bello Oloyede.

    In a statement issued by the Peter Ajayi Campaign Organisation (PACO), Ajayi said the emergence of Bello as the candidate of the party “can be seen as the best decision by the party leadership”, because it does not mean that the other aspirants are not capable hands.

    He said only one person can emerge victorious in any competitive political contest and that it is appropriate for other aspirants to rally round the selected candidate to win at the general election.

    “I implore other aspirants to extend the hands of fellowship and the spirit of sportsmanship to the candidate, so as to ensure victory in the coming election. The party is bigger than all interests.”

  • AD defends its flag bearer Oke

    AD defends its flag bearer Oke

    The Ondo State chapter of the Alliance for Democracy( AD) has defended its choice of Chief Olusola Oke as its governorship candidate in the November 26 election, saying that the former All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain is qualified, because he has met the requirements.

    It debunked the report by some youth under the aegis of the Akin Olowookere Youth Vanguard (AOYV), claiming that they still recognised Olowoolere as the party’s flag bearer.

    Speaking at press conference in Akure, the state capital, yesterday, the AD chairman, Seriki Adebobola, said the party has a procedure which a governorship candidate must pass through and that Oke has met all the conditions and was consequently adopted with the consent of Olowookere.

    He said: “We are using this forum to disown the youth in their unruly action to embarrass our candidate. We want Chief Oke to note that such statements did not emanate from the AD.”

    He recalled that Oke was planning to defect to the Action Alliance (AA), but quickly retraced his steps by joining the AD, because it is a platform that has structure all over the Southwest.

    Adebobola said Oke was embraced and welcomed into the fold, because he is as a man with sound academic and administrative pedigree, which would make the AD the party to beat in the November 26 poll.

    He said: “Olowookere stepped down for Oke formally with due process; he signed all the necessary papers with the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and consequently the electoral body has ratified him as the AD flag bearer in the election.

    “Similarly, we want to inform the public that Olowookere never took a kobo before handing over the ticket to Oke; hence he has been honoured as the AD leader in Ondo State. We want to say categorically that such youth association does not exist.

    “They want to create confusion within our party; we know the antics of the opposition. Thus, we are not moved; we remain focused, because our target is victory on November 26. We know the faceless youths were sponsored by those desperate for power; they can embark on any prank, but we are winning the election.”

    The AD chairman urged Oke to continue with his strategic move of wooing voters to the party to facilitate his victory and that of the party in the election.

  • D-Day for Bayelsa APC as party elects flag bearer

    •We have no preferred aspirant, says Oshiomhole

    Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress (APC) will today elect its standard bearer for the December 5 governorship election.

    Whoever emerges the party’s candidate will contest against Governor Seriake Dickson, the consensus candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday led a seven-man electoral committee of the APC to Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Oshiomhole said the party had no preferred aspirant, adding that whoever wins would fly the party’s flag.

    The governor and his committee met with the 19 aspirants in Yenagoa, promising to follow the party’s rules for the primary.

    He said any international passport issued to any delegate after the party released its guidelines for the poll would not be used for accreditation.

    Oshiomhole said accreditation of delegates would begin at 8am and end at 12pm.

    The Edo governor said late comers would not be allowed accreditation and voting.

    Answering the aspirants’ questions, Oshiomhole said the rules on the primary would not be compromised for any reason.

    The governor said 1,508 delegates were expected at the primary, adding that the most potent instrument of identification was the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    He said the primary should be viewed as a family affair while the rules were not different from those used in the Kogi and presidential primaries of the party.

    According to him, two members of APC’s Board of Trustee (BoT), former Governor Timipre Sylva and the party’s Deputy Publicity Secretary Timi Frank, were eligible to vote.

    As a delegate, Frank was automatically excluded from the Zonal Election Monitoring Team, led by the National Vice-Chairman (Southsouth) Hilliard Ettah.

    Oshiomole also named Samson Siasia Sports Complex as the venue of the primary, adding that an open ballot system would be used for voting.

    The governor warned aspirants against cloning identification cards.

    He said APC would deploy card readers to authenticate delegates’ PVCs.

    Oshiomhole said: “If anyone is involved in criminal acts, we will ensure they are arrested. Cloning of cards is a criminal offence. The sponsor of such act and those caught with the cloned cards would be arrested.”

    Addressing the aspirants, he said: “The election is a family activity. The family is meeting to deliberate on who can be entrusted with the party’s flag to contest the December 5 election. Already, the fact that we can sit together in Bayelsa is a good sign.

    “The election is not between enemies; it is not between opponents. The language in this primary is not to win and defeat and it is not to kill. The language must not be violent. At the end of the day, there will be no loser. Whoever emerges cannot govern the state as a military administrator.

    “Out of 19, only one will emerge as our party’s flag bearer. I know I have visited the state on different matters and I enjoyed myself. But I know I won’t be able to enjoy myself like before. But I know I will come back when our party is in government.”

    The aspirants were seen going to the office of the Department of State Security (DSS) for a meeting with its director.

    The contest is believed to be between Alaibe and Sylva.

    Other aspirants are: ex-Chief of Staff, Chief Dikivie Ikioghaba; two-time former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Warman Ogoriba and Dr. Imoro Kubor.

    Others are: the Prince of Odi Kingdom and former senatorial aspirant, Preye Aganaba; Ambassador Felix Oboro, Ambassador Felix Otiotio, Powell Godknows, Kpolovie Obhoo, Christopher Enai, Romeo Bekeyai, Tonye Apirila, Ebitimi Amgbare, Fred Ekiegha, Senator Clever Ikisikpo, Mrs. Charity Vedalago and Ebitei Francis Williams.

     

  • ‘Flag bearer’? Wrong!

    Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in (on) politics and business”

    “Satellite enabled (Satellite-enabled) wireless GPS tracker debuts (sic)”

    “History was made in Abia State recently, (otiose comma) as a youth emerged the United Democratic Party’s governorship flag bearer (standard bearer) in its just concluded (just-concluded) primaries ahead of the February general election (elections).” 2015 in focus: this is just the first paragraph of a two-column story!

    The next two goofs are from a full-page congratulatory advertorial signed by Alhaji Sahabi Isah Gada, MFR, mni, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Sokoto State: “Sokoto State Government: A well deserved (well-deserved) honour”

    “This award is a testament of (to) your good deeds and sterling quality as a leader in the nation (nation’s) politics.”

    “Your Excellency, this award has again unveils (unveiled) your handiwork….”

    “Our supports and prayers shall encompass (really?) you, not only in time like this (at a time like this)….” (Full-page advertorial signed by Alhaji Isah Bajini Galadanci, Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Budget & Economic Planning, Sokoto State) ‘Support’ is uncountable.

    The PUNCH of December 29 circulated a few blunders: “It was gathered that after he did not pick (take) his calls….”

    “Another police source…told our correspondent that he saw him few (a few) days to his death and he was looking healthy.” Looks can be deceptive and looking good outwardly does not necessarily connote sound health.

    “The National Pension Commission is set to prosecute 101 companies for failing to remit the deductions of their workers (workers’) pension contributions to….”

    “Thanking our esteemed clients for more feathers to (in) our cap” (Full-page advertorial by Halogen Security Limited)

    THISDAY PERSPECTIVE of December 22 takes over with two flaws: “Candidates have emerged under (on) the platform of the PDP to fly the party’s flag in the main election.”

    “Reason for this is due to the undisputed fact that….” A rewrite: Reason for this is the undisputed fact that…. ‘Reason’ and ‘due to’ cannot co-function!

    “Moreso (More so), your great business innovative ideas and Solutions (unnecessary capitalization) has (have) singled you out among your equals.”

    “PDP Presidential Campaign Team makes a stop over (stopover) in Owerri…Imo State tommorrow (sic)….” (Full-page advertorial signed by the Directorate of Media and Publicity, Presidential Campaign Organisation)

    “…if the right calibre of running mates were (was) chosen from the very beginning (sic).”

    “We at Bolton White Hotels and Apartments celebrates (sic) and rejoices (sic)….We are proud of you & your contribution (contributions?) to the growth and development of the Nigerians (sic) economy. Keep (Keep up) the good work.”

    “The award is a testament of (to) your commitment to excellent service delivery in the hospitality industry.” (Full-page congratulatory advertorial by Greenlife Pharmaceuticals Limited)

    Have you noticed that most advertorials contain blunders? The next set of gaffes by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State as published in THE GUARDIAN of January 4, 2015, is testamentary to this allusion: “…is not a novice in politics as he has experience (experiences) spanning over 20 years and he knows what the law says about payment of taxes.”

    “As a good citizen of this country (a comma) he has (had) never at any point in his career engaged in tax evasion as his detractors are suggesting.”

    “…the prophets of doom want the world to believe that Dr. Ikpeazu’s tenure i ASEPA was dogged in (by) controversy.”

    “While in ASEPA, Dr. Ikpeazu, a thorough bred (thoroughbred) scientist….”

    “We have emphasized that and want to repeat it over and over again that….” This is a verbal overkill, an asunder: delete ‘again’

    “We have explicit confidence in the credibility and quality of Dr. Ikpeazu as our flag bearer (standard bearer)….”

    “Dr. Ikpeazu is already enjoying wide (a wide) acceptance among the Abia electorate.”

    “…his impeccable character endeared him to the party (party’s) stakeholders who saw him as a good product that would be acceptable to majority (a majority) of of (sic) Abians.”

    Finally from the ludicrous PDP advertorial: “The young man is exuding with energy and enthusiasm to take….” Yank off ‘with’.

    “Court remands Lamido’s son in prison” The court can either ‘remand in custody’ (which means to send someone to prison until trial) or ‘remand on bail’ (which implies allowing a suspect to go free until the trial after leaving a sum of money with the court). Thanks to A. S. Hornby for this insight.

    FEEDBACK

    PLEASE note that we have these egregious errors in our newspapers and magazines because most of our journalists do not have good grounding in the grammaticality of the English language. Besides, we do not have reading journalists-journalists who read on a daily basis. So, you surrender! The rule of the thumb is, do not mix your drink. If you start with British English continue to the end. And if you begin with American English continue to the end. Happily, there are usages that are acceptable on both sides of the Atlantic. (BAYO OGUNTUNASE, 08056180046)

    EBERE, if you think your column is not making any impact, ask the Independent National Electoral Commission, our colleagues and friends of the media about “voter card” now adopted by several local media and available online. For the doubting Thomas, “voter card” is simply the Voter Identity (ID) Card. (US and India) It is similar to the “User Card”. Both ID cards contain your own non-transferable personal details or information. (SUNNY AGBONTAEN, BENIN, 08056162531)

    FROM THE COLUMNIST: Thanks Sunny.