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  • Jonathan advised to allow free, fair poll

    Jonathan advised to allow free, fair poll

    A member of the Aregbesola Campaign Organisation (ACO), Prince Solagbade Amodeni, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to allow free and fair election on August 9.

    He observed that the desperation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to capture Osun State at all costs without minding its repercussions would not augur well for the nation’s nascent democracy.

    Amodeni, a former Commissioner in Ondo State, said Governor Rauf Aregbesola had used his acumen to transform the state through physical and infrastructural development, stressing that people were ready to show appreciation to him through massive votes.

    Besides, he said the governor had surpassed any other past governors in the state by allowing all citizenry to practise their religion to the best of their abilities.

    Speaking to The Nation in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Amodeni said the Christian Praying Ground under construction in Osun State is unprecedented in the history of any state in Nigeria.

    According to him, “During the burial ceremony of Prophet Timothy Obadare, not only he was there personally, his whole cabinet members were there and the state’s financial contribution to the successful burial of the famous religious leader was unrivalled.

    Amodeni recalled that when Aregbesola campaign was launched in Ile-Ife, the opposition said the surging crowd that attended the rally were rented. The blackmail, he said, later stopped when they saw subsequent mega rallies becoming huge by the day.

    He said: “There is no way you can compare Ekiti election to that of Osun because the personalities involved are different and its people are different. Ekiti people were caught unaware and APC left the election for Governor Fayemi alone either through omission or commission.

    The former commissioner noted that though Aregbesola and his team could win the election single-handedly in Osun State, but said: “People are not taking things for granted. We are fully prepared for the political abracadabra and antics of PDP during the election.”

    “We will do everything possible to ensure that the integrity of the ballot papers shall be tested during the poll and the whole world will know APC members are ready for any eventuality during the election.

    Amodeni argued that under free and fair election devoid of any malpractices or using of Federal apparatus, “the PDP candidate, Iyiola Omisore, would not score more than 10 percent,” saying he would only come in distant third  because according to him, his party had no crowd in Osun State.

    His words: “We are fully prepared for the contest, if PDP has anything to show, they will not resort to violence and visible destruction of APC’s candidate billboards and posters.”

    The politician noted that in his 30 years of active politicking, Aregbesola would be the first candidate that would not “use his personal money to purchase campaign materials like billboards, posters, vests, key holders and even pay for radio and television jingles.”

    He disclosed that all materials for Aregbesola’s political campaigns were donated through friends, including himself and numerous political associates.

  • APC: we’ve taken steps to ensure free, fair poll

    APC: we’ve taken steps to ensure free, fair poll

    All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday it had taken steps to ensure that the candidates in the August 9 Osun State governorship election are provided with a level-playing field.

    It added that actions have also been taken to guarantee that the election is free, fair and transparent as well as devoid of harassment and intimidation.

    APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, spoke in a statement in Abuja yesterday.

    The statement said APC had challenged in court the powers of the President to deploy troops and that of the Inspector-General of Police to impose a curfew during the election.

    It also said the party had written to INEC to demand a postponement of the election if the electoral commission cannot guarantee that all registered voters would be given their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) before voting day or in the alternative allow all registered members in possession of INEC temporary voter cards to vote.

    The actions, according to the party, were aimed at avoiding a repeat of the massive harassment, intimidation and arrest of opposition politicians witnessed at the Ekiti governorship election.

    It said the steps would also prevent any illegal lock down of Osun State, which turned out to be a ploy to pigeon-hole opposition politicians while allowing PDP members to move around freely.

    The party said the letter to INEC followed concerns expressed by APC members in Osun that they have so far been denied their PVCs under shady circumstances, a development that could be a ploy to massively disenfranchise APC members and rig the election at source

    The statement said: “In the first case filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos on July 15, 2014, we are seeking, among others, ‘a declaration that by the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), it is ultra vires for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to deploy members of the armed forces to Osun State for the purpose of the conduct of the gubernatorial election scheduled for August 9, 2014’.

    “In the second case, also filed at the same court on July 17, 2014,  we are seeking, among other reliefs, ‘a declaration that by the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), and the Curfew Law of Osun State, CAP 36, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2001, it is ultra vires for the Inspector General of Police of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to impose curfew on any part of Osun State during the conduct of the gubernatorial election scheduled to hold on Aug. 9th, 2014, or at any time whatsoever in any part of Nigeria’.

    ‘’The actions have reinforced the credentials of our party as law-abiding and peaceful. Instead of resorting to self help, as many would have done in the face of the many underhand tactics by the PDP-led Federal Government to stifle the opposition and skew the conditions in favour of the ruling party, we decided to embark on a legal challenge of the unlawful actions of the government.

    ‘’We are not seeking any favour beyond that all candidates in the election be allowed to have a level-playing field, for all registered voters to be able to cast their votes in an atmosphere devoid of violence, harassment and intimidation, and for the election itself to be conducted in substantial compliance with the law.”

    APC said popular participation is at the core of democratic governance, hence a development in which registered voters, most of them from the opposition, will not be allowed to vote based on the incompetence of the electoral authorities is anti-democratic.

    “That is why we have written to INEC to allow duly registered voters to exercise their franchise on August 9, whether or not they have PVCs or temporary voter cards. If this is not possible, INEC should consider postponing the election until such a time that not one voter will be disenfranchised due to the incompetence, collusion or shenanigans of INEC,’’ the party said.

    It warned that the Osun governorship election must not just be free, fair and transparent, it must been seen to be so by all stakeholders.

  • FIFA free Aneke from ‘Egypt Nightmare’

    FIFA free Aneke from ‘Egypt Nightmare’

    FIFA have freed Nigeria striker Jude Aneke from what his representative described as “Egypt Nightmare”.

    Nigeria all-time leading scorer in the Nigeria league Aneke has quit Egyptian club Al Masry under a cloud and as a result can now feature for Spartak Semey of Kazakhstan.

    “Jude (Aneke) has joined Spartak Semey in Kazakhstan. It is important that he returned to the game after the Egypt Nightmare. Jude was freed by FIFA. It was a long fight, but at the end we won and Jude can play again,” his representative Hasan Egilmez told AfricanFootball.com.

    “His fitness is not in doubt and I am sure he will be a big hit in Kazakhstan. He signed a six-month deal.”

    He had struggled to establish himself at Al Masry and injuries also did not help his cause.

    Three years ago, 24-year-old Aneke set a new all-time record of 20 goals in the Nigeria league, beating the 18-goal mark set by Ahmed Musa. He has played for Anambra United, Ebonyi Angels, Kaduna United, Warri Wolves (all in Nigeria) and  Al Masry of Egypt.

  • Candidates, stakeholders agree to free, fair poll

    Candidates of the 20 parties contesting the August 9 Osun State governorship election and other stakeholders have agreed to ensure free and fair poll devoid of violence.

    They made the pledge at a sensitisation workshop organised for political parties and stakeholders by the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs in Osogbo, the state capital.

    The parties in attendance include the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), the National Conscience Party (NCP) and Action Alliance (AA).

    Others are All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Alliance for Democracy (AD), Accord Party (AP) and Democratic Peoples Movement (DPM).

    Issues bordering on the smooth conduct of the election were discussed at the  meeting held at the Leisure Spring Hotel, Osogbo.

    Some of the governorship candidates, who could not attend the programme, sent their representatives.

    While the APC candidate, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, sent the party’s state chairman, Elder Adebiyi Adelowo to the event, the PDP’s candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, was represented by his running-mate, Adejare Bello.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Inter Party-Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, while opening the workshop, stressed the need for all the political parties and their candidates to shun violence during the election.

    Obi said free and fair election is a panacea to peaceful co-existence in any society and pledged that the governorship election would be conducted in a fair atmosphere.

    He also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to create a level-play ground for all political parties before and during the governorship election.

    He said: “Most of our political parties have negated a lot of their duties and concentrated mainly on elections and attaining political power at the expense of an entrenched democracy.”

    “I am calling on all the stakeholders in the Osun State governorship election to embrace peace. All the political parties contesting the election should have equal access to the media. And we want all political parties to have the freedom to publicise their programmes and agenda.”

     

  • Samsung’s free service train lands in Lagos

    Samsung’s free service train lands in Lagos

    Dr. Samsung Free Service Campaign train has landed in Lagos and is calling on all consumers of Samsung to bring their devices such as mobile phones, television, audio visuals, digital cameras, IT products and home appliances for Free Servicing or Upgrade at the The Palms, Lekki and Ikeja City Mall in Lagos.

    According to a statement, any customer can walk into any of the special centres with his/her device and Samsung Smart Care engineers will be waiting to service or upgrade your devices free of charge in the special Dr. Samsung Free Service Campaign that started in Abuja and moved to Port Harcourt.

    Larger products such as refrigerators, washing machines, room air conditioners and colour TVs over 22’’ screen size will be service at the customers’ homes. Other products such as audio systems, DVDs, microwave ovens and 22’’ TVs should be brought to these special Samsung Smart Care centers for servicing or upgrade.

    On the campaign, its Managing Director, Mr. Brovo Kim, said: “Dr. Samsung is a reaffirmation of our commitment to providing our customers with the latest, top quality products backed by superior service and a widespread after sales service network. Samsung is committed to showing our customer appreciation by providing follow up servicing on all of our products.”

    Dr. Samsung offers free service or upgrade of all products bought in Nigeria which are under warranty and 50 per cent discount for spare parts on out of warranty items.

  • Gombe free 10, buy eight players

    Gombe free 10, buy eight players

    As part of their preparation for the 2013/2014 soccer season, Gombe United FC have released ten players whose services they no longer require.

    The club also acquired seven tested talents to reinforce all departments for the task of landing a continental ticket at the end of the season.

    Chairman of Gombe United, Auwalu Umar a.k.a. Auwalu Chansi disclosed this with an explanation that eight of the released players were placed on the transfer market while the other two, who were at Gombe on loan, were returned to their parent clubs.

    He said: “We are doing this to strengthen our squad as we are determined to land a continental ticket this year because we are set for the season.”

    He said the hope was that this season, they would be able to assuage the feelings of their fans and supporters who have been by them all of these years.

    Auwalu Chansi acknowledged that the Savannah Scorpions’ inability to follow up their good start to last season until very late was, “because of injuries and it is very hard in most cases, for replacements cannot measure up to the performances of the injured players.”

    He observed that Governor Dankwambo’s payment of part of the backlog of signing-on fees owed by the previous administration was pivotal to their late found form and hoped for more assistance this year.

    His words: “We hope to have more support – more financial support, more moral support from the state government this year than last year. With that, I believe the morale of the players will be very high and we might do just well enough to have one of the continental tickets.”

    He commended the managers of the Glo Premier League for the rising quality of the league and called for a sustained tempo.

    “Last season was one of the tightest in Globacom Premier League history because the winners and those that went on relegation did not emerge very clearly, so to speak.

    “Not until when the last matches were played that those that qualified for continental and those that were dropped were gotten. We nearly got the continental ticket because we finished seventh,” explained Chansi.

    He, nevertheless, called on all stakeholders to remain honest, committed and sportsmanly, even as he charged players to take time to develop themselves, “so that our league could be more attractive to prospective investors and the world.”

  • Free health services for Bakassi residents

    Free health services for Bakassi residents

    Over 1,000 residents of Bakassi Local Government Area in Cross River were beneficiaries free healthcare services of the National Association of Seadogs (NAS).

    The president of NAS, Mr Ide Owodiong-Idemeko, said that the free healthcare services were part of the association’s humanitarian service to the people.

    “We are doing this project to help ameliorate the health challenges of those who cannot afford better healthcare services, due to financial problems.

    “We are rendering free healthcare services to pregnant women, those with dental problems, HIV/AIDS counselling, free distribution of insecticide mosquito nets and free drugs to members of the community with peculiar problems.

    “This healthcare services we are rendering today, costs the association N20million, we are happy because it is a humanitarian service to the people,” he said.

    Dr Kenneth Okoro, Head of Medical Services of NAS, said that the association carries out free medical services every year in remote areas that have no access to better healthcare service.

    Okoro expressed satisfaction with the high turnout of residents in the community, adding that their medical mission was to help in ameliorating the health challenges of the people.

    “We have identified that Malaria in Bakassi Local Government Area is very prevalent due to the rivers around, and children are the most affected, and we will de-worm them accordingly.

    “Malnutrition is also a challenge here, we are here with our full medical team to do our best,” he said.

    According to him, most of the residents do not undergo medical test as of when due, adding that there should always check their blood sugar level, cholesterol and HIV status every three months.

    “The eyeglasses we brought for those with sight problems were donated to us by our branch in Japan, and our eye care doctors are attending to them accordingly.”

    One of the beneficiaries, Mr Eteng Okon, who received free eyeglasses for his sight problem, said that he was impressed with the free health care services provided by NAS.

    Okon said that there were few health centres in the community, adding that most residents could not afford the cost of health services because majority of them were farmers.

    He thanked NAS for the humanitarian service, saying that it would go a long way in improving the health condition of the people.

     

  • Glo subscribers to enjoy free 800MB data

    Glo subscribers to enjoy free 800MB data

    Globacom has launched a new high-speed internet data promo that will instantly give double data bonus to subscribers on the network. Dubbed My Phone Double Promo, the offer will enable Glo subscribers on the My Phone Bolt plan to get more data volume to browse the Internet and download or upload data.

    According to Globacom’s Marketing Coordinator, Adeniyi Olukoya, with the promo, subscribers on the My Phone Bolt plan who would have received 800MB of data at the price of N2,000 will now get a double data volume of 1,600MB valid for 30 days at the same price of N2,000.

    “This is a great promo from Globacom designed to ensure that we deliver more value to our Glo Bolt subscribers in the New Year. With double data volumes to browse the web, they will be able to do more, thereby becoming unlimited as they work towards achieving their dreams and aspirations for the future,” he said.

     

  • Tukur to Wamakko: you are free to leave PDP

    Tukur to Wamakko: you are free to leave PDP

    PDP National Chairman Bamanga Tukur yesterday told Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko that he is free to leave the party if he so desires.

    Reacting to Wamakko’s call for his removal, Tukur, through a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Prince Oliver Okpala, said it is the governor’s constitutional right to leave the party, adding that as long as he (Tukur) remained the chairman, Wamakko and others with similar inclination must align themselves with party discipline.

    The statement said: “He (Wamakko) should not stay in the party and be encouraging insubordination and indiscipline.

    “The leadership of the party under Tukur has regards for party discipline and will never waver.”

    “Therefore, for him to say Tukur is a political prostitute; does that portray him as a true son? He should express a true sense of respect and discipline because of his position as a governor.

    “When he insults an elderly man like Tukur because he is a governor, then we don’t think he has the moral fibre to remain in office because as a governor he should live by example.

    “The example, he is showing now does not portray him as someone who has respect for seniority and properly constituted authority like the position of chairman of PDP and the NWC.”

    The party chairman said on Tambuwal: “He has the right to support his governor, but as a party man, he should toe the line of political discipline and comportment.

    “Tukur, as a father, will always look after his children who are party members and be able to caution them and bring them to order whenever they engage in acts that are subversive to the corporate existence and image of the PDP as a political entity and the largest political movement in Africa”.

    The PDP also asked Wamakko not to take his suspension “personal”.

    It rated Tambuwal’s presence at a reception for Wamakko in Sokoto on Wednesday as a “social gathering”.

    PDP National Publicity secretary Olisa Metuh made the party’s position known in an exclusive chat with our correspondent in Abuja.

    Metuh said: “I am not aware Wamakko said that the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, is incompetent. We will be shocked if he went personal.

    “His suspension is about party discipline and loyalty; he should not take it personal. The issue on the table is not about whether Wamakko has done well in office or has the support of his people; it is about party discipline and obedience to the PDP Constitution.

    “We noted the fact that he has performed, we are also aware that his people are happy with him but he was elected on the platform of PDP and he has to respect the party and be obedient to its constitution. He needs to appreciate that the issue at stake is not personal.

    “As a governor, Wamakko, like all other elected leaders of PDP, is a product of the party. He owes the party an obligation to be loyal and respect its rules and regulations.

    Asked of the position of the party on Tambuwal’s presence in Sokoto, Metuh said: “The reception was not a party meeting; the Speaker only attended a social gathering organised for the governor.

    “What the governor did was to address a mammoth crowd; there was nothing wrong with the Speaker being there.

    “There is no Article in the PDP Constitution stopping members from attending social gathering.”

    On the setting up of a nine-man committee to resolve the crisis between the party leadership and some stalwarts like suspended governors, Metuh said: “Officially, we have not been notified.”

    On when the ongoing disciplinary action against Governor Rotimi Amaechi will be concluded, Metuh said: “I understand the matter is subjudice. I will not want to talk on subjudicial issue.

    “I came back to the country this morning; I will not talk on the matter until I have been briefed by the National Legal Adviser of the party.”

  • Free ride for students

    Agege Local Government Chairman, Hon. Jubreel Abdulkareem has provided a school bus to convey all students in the council from designated bus stops to school every day.

    The gesture was part of activities marking memorating his 1,500 days in office.

    The council chief also presented vehicles to all executive council officers, councillors, community development committee and the chieftaincy council members.

    According to him, every child in school uniform would have access to the bus and teachers with their I.D card can also board the bus free of charge.

    Hon. Abdulkareem said his administration is committed to child and youth development citing the graduation ceremony of hundreds of students from vocational training centre in various skills which include hairdressing, catering, home management and computer training.

    He said roads among which are Kamoru Alimi, Desalu Lewis, Abeokuta Street were surfaced and upgraded while drains were constructed at Adepegba Street, Road 4 zone 1, LSDPC, Medium Estate, Apapa, Bankole and Kosoko Street.

    He added that culvert was constructed at Lewu Iju Street, Lewu Summonu Street and Oke Street, Idimagoro.

    The chairman declared that a healthy and hygienic environment has been created at all the primary health centres and immunisation programmes are given necessary support and backup.

    He urged residents to take advantage of the diabetic and hypertension screening that is going on in the council’s health centres.

    A member of the House of Reps from the council, Hon Samuel Adejare, congratulated the council boss on his achievements.

    Adejare solicited support for the council leaders, urging the residents to pay their dues and levies regularly.

    This, he said, would enable the council to improve on the development programmes.