The Nation Newspaper

Tag: governorship bid

  • Fintiri declares governorship bid in Adamawa

    Former Acting Governor, Adamawa State, Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has officially declared his intention to contest for governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    He made the declaration at the party secretariat in Yola, where he defied a torrential downpour to address the mammoth crowd.

    The former Speaker, Adamawa House of Assembly said the condition of the state, which he claims has been constantly and embarrassingly lagging behind its peers, and the pressure from the people of Adamawa State prompted him to indicate interest in the governorship race.

    In his words, “That Adamawa State has not been working and that it has been constantly lagging behind its peers is no news. That we continue on this trajectory as long as we do not change the direction and quality of governance is open to debate. That the consequences not only for the poor but also the rich are threateningly ominous is also not in doubt.

    “Indeed to continue doing the same thing and expect different result is another definition of insanity.”

    He therefore said, “I have no option than to succumb to the sustained pressure by the people of Adamawa to join this race.”

    While commissioning his campaign office, Fintiri said he will present himself before the party on the 28th, and officially declare on the 29th.

    The governorship aspirant also said he is open to a consensus, but if that does not work, then all will have to go the poll.

    Chairman, PDP, Adamawa State chapter, Barr. Tahir Shehu promised a free and fair primary and a level playing ground to all candidates.

     

  • Akintola gets Oyo lawmakers’ backing for governorship bid

    Ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary to pick its candidate for next year’s governorship election, lawmakers in the Oyo State House of Assembly have endorsed one of the aspirants for the ticket, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN).

    The lawmakers spoke about Akintola in glowing terms during his visit to the Assembly.

    Akintola was a member of the House of Assembly between 1991/1992 and served as Deputy Speaker and Chairman of its Committee on Public Petitions and Judiciary.

    In an apparent show of comradeship, the lawmakers noted that having a former lawmaker as governor would further boost existing cordial relationship between the Executive and Legislative arms.

    The Chairman of Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the House, Segun Ajanaku, described Akintola as a role model in legislative business and parliamentary leadership.

    He said: “If party nomination for governorship were like that of nomination for political appointment, the House would ask Chief Akintola to take a bow and leave, which mean it’s a done deal.”

    The lawmaker representing Ogbomosho North, Olawunmi Bimbo Oladeji, lauded Akintola’s aspiration.

    She said: “I know you served us well in this House because you were once a member and leader. You know the nitty-gritty of parliamentary job and governance.”

    Another lawmaker, Segun Olaleye, praised Akintola for his parliamentary experience.

    He added: “You impressed me with your statement that even if you are not picked, you will still remain a progressive. You are one of best politicians we have around now. You also said politicians should be able keep to their promises.”

    Akintola applauded the lawmakers for the existing warm relationship between them and Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    He said: “What we have at hand presently in Oyo State, in terms of governance as propelled by Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the present versatile House of Assembly, is gold. We should not settle for nothing less than what we have at hand presently. Therefore, I am aspiring to be the next governor of Oyo State to sustain the good work jointly done by the governor and this honourable House of Assembly.

    “If elected, I owe each and every member of this hallowed chamber a medal of excellence in leadership for creating a cordial working relationship with the Executive arm of government. We can all see the multiplier effect with various development projects going on across the state.”

    Present at the event were Deputy Speaker Abdulwasiu Musa, Majority Leader Subair Kehinde Hassan, Chief Whip Olafioye Akinmoyede and Deputy Majority Leader Oyedokun Oyeleke, among others.

     

  • Supporters rally monarchs, cleric for Fayemi

    Supporters rally monarchs, cleric for Fayemi

    Loyalists of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, have visited traditional rulers and clergymen in Ekiti State to support his yet-to-be-declared governorship bid.

    Acting under the aegis of Just Keep Following Group (JKFG), the supporters urged the monarchs and clerics to support Fayemi when he eventually declares for the top job ahead of the July 14 governorship election.

    They said Fayemi’s tenure between 2010 and 2014 represented the “golden era of Ekiti development,” which should be replicated again after the 2018 poll to bring relief to the people.

    They visited the Chairman of the State Council of Obas, who is also the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, and the state Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Joshua Orikogbe.

    The JKFG team also visited the Grand Imam of Ekiti State, who doubles as the President of League of Imams and Alfas in Southwest, Edo and Delta states, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello, and the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rev. Felix Femi Ajakaye.

    Fayemi’s men sought royal and celestial blessings for the minister to succeed in the governorship project, if he eventually joins the race.

    Led by the State Coordinator, Comrade Bisi Dada, the JKFG team presented a letter to the traditional rulers and clerics, stating the reasons Fayemi should take another shot at the governorship seat.

    At Oloye’s palace, Dada said Fayemi executed many life-changing projects at the grassroots during his tenure, including the construction of five-kilometre roads in towns and villages and N5,000 monthly stipends for aged people.

    Dada added that Fayemi held obas and their wives in high esteem, sponsored the construction of palaces, a special health scheme for obas, chiefs and their families, procured and distributed brand new vehicles to monarchs.

    He said: “Your Majesty, we seek your prayers for the overall development of our dear state and your son, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to continue to support the uplifting of the state wherever he finds himself as an individual, if he eventually yields to our request to join the governorship race.”

    Oba Ademolaju said: “All politicians interested in the governorship race are our children. We obas are not politicians; we are after the development of Ekiti. We are fathers of all and we are for peace.”

    Receiving the team, CAN Chairman Rev. Orikogbe promised to convey the message to all Christian leaders.

    Sheikh Kewulere and Bishop Ajakaye prayed for the team.

  • Lawyers back colleague’s governorship bid

    Lawyers back colleague’s governorship bid

    A head of the April 11 governorship election, members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Jos branch have backed the governorship bid of their colleague Simon Lalong, who is running on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform.

    Lalong informed the branch of his ambition last Thursday.

    Lalong, former Plateau State House of Assembly Speaker, was the branch’s Assistant Secretary. He believes lawyers are the society’s leading lights, adding that he would implement his party’s laudable policies in the state.

    He vowed to use his wealth of experience in governance to ensure that all segments of the society are transformed under his administration, assuring that the masses’ welfare and youth employment would be foremost in his agenda.

    The branch Chairman, Mr. Ledak Dazuk Dafer assured Lalong of the branch’s unflinching support.

    He said: “We have about five of them contesting and we have given all of them opportunity to address us.

    “My expectations from them is that they will excel because they will apply the unique training of a lawyer in addressing socio-economic and political problems of the country

    “You know that the legal profession is a respectable one because it trains people in character and in learning and by the grace of God, I expect all the best from them. They should perform well like we already have templates across the country. They had done well as lawyers, so I am sure that they will definitely perform if elected in their respective offices of aspiration.”

    He added: “Lawyers are agents of change, we have gone around educating voters to make good use of the forthcoming elections by participating massively and voting for candidates of their choice.”

    Immediate past NBA Vice-President Mr. Steve Abar said Plateau State was privileged to have Lalong as a governorship candidate.

    “I say this because he is a quintessential leader, a gentleman per excellence, an epitome of humility, a selfless leader who cherishes the virtues of honesty, modesty, truth and genuine service. He is an apostle of the rule of law, justice and equity, a rare breed politician not given to graft and self aggrandizement or the primitive acquisition of wealth which is the hallmark and characteristic of most politicians of today.

    “Lalong is a person passionately committed to the growth and development of Plateau State, a passion he has demonstrated in the various opportunities in leadership he has had in the  state. He has been tested and proven as a practicing lawyer and a committed member of the NBA. In the past, he creditably served the NBA Jos Branch as an Assistant Secretary before hearkening to the call of his constituents and was elected to represent them in the Plateau State House of Assembly.

    “In the House, he rose to the enviable position of Speaker, a position he occupied for about seven years and his era witnessed unprecedented stability and high level of legislative enactments, notwithstanding the destabilizing efforts of the Federal Government and its Agencies.

    “He excellently passed the true test of character by resisting the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo and the Economic and Financial Crimes’ (EFCC) offer to aid the illegal impeachment of Chief Joshua Dariye and benefit therefrom by being rewarded with the Governorship of Plateau State at the time.

    “The courts eventually vindicated his stance when it nullified Dariye’s illegal impeachment. The subsequent Federal Government/EFCC sponsored attempt to recall him from the House of Assembly was also stoutly resisted by his constituents who overwhelmingly voted for him in the referendum organised for that purpose.

    “If elected as Governor, Rt. Hon. Lalong will be bringing to the stable of governance his wealth of experience garnered overtime in the judicial and legislative arms of Government, both as a practicing lawyer and as member/Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly.

    “Another critical benefit of his election is that it will be a re – unifying factor and rallying point for a just, equitable, peaceful and progressive Plateau State. It will also restore the harmony requisite to galvanize unprecedented and even development of the Plateau State. It is an indisputable fact that the candidacy of his major opponent has left the citizens of Plateau State in a fractious and disunited condition.

    “To my mind, a Lalong and Prof. Trodden governorship will restore Plateau State to an era of unprecedented peace without which there cannot be the critically needed development. This why lawyers in Plateau State and I in particular are rallying around and rooting for him,” Abar said.

    Aformer chairman of NBA Jos branch, Mr. Caleb Dajan said Lalong would be following in the footsteps of the state’s former governor Chief Solomom Lar.

    “We very confident that a lawyer will do better as the Plateau State Governor because we have  seen lawyers in Lagos, in Akw Ibom, in Enugu State and we have seen how they performed, so we don’t expect anything less from Rt. Hon Lalong in Plateau State,” he said.