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Tag: governorship candidates

  • Governorship candidates decry infrastructure deficit in Kwara

    •Moro communities decry neglect

    Governorship candidates of the Labour Party (LP), the African Democratic Party (ADP) and the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP) in next month’s elections, Comrade Issa Aremu, Isa Manzuma and Abdulmumin Ajia have painted a sorry of infrastructural decay in Kwara State.

    The trio said the state suffers from gross and worst infrastructural deficit and that many of the roads across the state have become deplorable.

    They made the remark in Ilorin, the state capital at the 2019 Kwara governorship debate, organized by the Kwara Coalition of Business and Professional Associations (KWACOBPA).

    Ajia promised to remove all forms of infrastructure deficit, if elected.

    He said: “I will remove the corruption and bottlenecks inherent in the current government’s infrastructural development. I will be transparent to Kwarans, by telling them how their money is being spent. I will revive the tourism sector, by putting people that have passion for it. We will have tourism calendar. I will invest in the marketing of all our tourism potentials to the world.”

    Aremu said he joined the governorship race to promote economic prosperity and growth of the state. The LP candidate said he had attempted to uplift the plight of people as a labour leader and that the time is auspicious to replicate such efforts in the political arena.

    He said: “Our party has a five-point development agenda. We will have a 10-year development agenda, to reduce the perennial energy problem in the state. We will try as much as possible to have multiple sources of energy.

    “We will get between 250,000 and 500,000 direct jobs from tourism sector. We will also open up our roads in all the three senatorial districts. We will give our people the purchasing powers. I will be on duty to revive all our tourist centres in the state.”

    On insecurity, the frontline unionist said he will work towards providing employment for the people. He added: “We will engage the services of traditional rulers to ensure security in their domains. Kwara under our watch will return to being a state of harmony.”

    Manzuma promised to revive some of the state’s tourism centres, including the famous Esie Monument in Esie, Irepodun Local Government Area. The former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin branch, said: “I also intend to reactivate the moribund Kwara Hotels, in which all of us are sitting.”

    The KWACOBPA chairman, Dr Ahmed Raji, said the essence of the debate is to provide a platform for the candidates to unveil their agenda for the private sector, as encapsulated in their manifestoes and programmes.

    He said: “The economic and business agenda of the governorship candidates are therefore of strategic importance to existing investors and prospective investors. It is important for private sector to have an insight into the thinking of the candidates on the trajectory for the state economy.”

    Meanwhile, communities in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State have decried their neglect and underdevelopment in the hands of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in the state.

    Read also: I’m next governor of Kwara, says Abdulrazaq

    They said the All Progressives Congress (APC) government at the centre, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, has improved the lot of the people at the grassroots in a number of ways.

    The spokesperson of the communities, Chief Wole Oke, said the communities have elected to pitch their tent the APC, because of its achievements. He said the Ilorin-Jebba road, which was in deplorable condition, has been tarred by the Buhari government.

    He said: “For the past 16 years I cannot point out any particular project the state government has done in Moro Local Government. They will tell you there is the Kwara State University (KWASU) in Malete, but how many indigenes of the local government are workers there. We have a situation where the catchment area is not gaining anything.”

    The former Afenifere scribe in Kwara State is confident that the APC would emerge victorious at the general elections. He added: “Our chances are very bright. If there is anything at all, the Kwara State APC will have landslide victory at this year’s polls at all levels.

    “Take each senatorial district and analyse them. Compare the strength of each party in each senatorial district. What we have is dominance of the APC in all the five local government areas that make up Kwara North district. About two months ago, you knew what happened. Saraki would never believe that the APC would win that by-election and that is a pointer to what will happen in the next three weeks.”

     

  • Governorship candidates debate economy in Lagos

    The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is set to host another edition of the “Private Sector Interaction” with governorship candidates in Lagos State.

    The interaction is aimed at providing a platform for the candidates to discuss their manifestoes and programmes for private sector development in the state.

    The event, according to LCCI, is scheduled to hold on January 11, at the LCCI Conference and Exhibition Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

    LCCI Director-General Mr. Muda Yusuf said due to the strategic position of Lagos, the Organised Private Sector (OPS) is interested in having insight into the thinking of the candidates on the trajectory for the Lagos economy.

    Yusuf said: “The business community cannot continue to be passive in the political and electoral process. The reality is that the quality of economic policies is impacted by the quality of political governance.

    “It is the economic policies that determine the prosperity or otherwise of our businesses, hence our participation at this point in time. It is the economic policies that will determine how equitable the society will be and the capacity of the economy to create jobs.

    “It is the social and economic policies that will determine the degree of social justice that we experience as a people. For these and other reasons, we need to play a more active role in influencing the choice of political leaders at all levels of government.”

    He maintained the need to have a political leadership that will build institutions and promote policies that are supportive of investment.

    Yusuf also spoke of the need to position the private sector as a true engine of growth and development of an economy that rewards hard work, creativity, innovation, wealth creation and entrepreneurship.

  • MSSN to governorship candidates: support hijab, get our votes

    The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit has maintained that unconditional approval for pupils to wear hijab in schools will be one of the criteria for voting for any governorship candidate in the state.

    Its Amir, Dr Saheed Ashafa, said this at a briefing on the state of the nation and the organisation’s ongoing 106th Islamic Vacation Course (IVC) holding at the Human Capital Development Center (HCDC), Noforija, Epe.

    He said: “Let me get something clear. MSSN Lagos is not a political organisation but millions of our members are qualified voters. We have sensitised them enough to get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and the need to be peaceful during the election. We have been very careful in taking a position on the governorship elections in Lagos State, but we will not support any candidate that will deny us any of our rights. We also urge the candidates to engage on issue-based campaign.”

    According to him, assault on pupils wearing hijab is a violation of their right.

    He warned principals and teachers who still punish pupils for using hijab despite the circular from government to desist from doing that.

    Such action, he said, was capable of endangering the peaceful coexistence of people of different faiths in the state.

    “We know the implication of a matter in court and the implication of working contrary to that. However, every assault that happens in Lagos is taken up by the society. Probably people think we will take to the street and create chaos. We are not going to do that. We will follow the constitutional procedures in seeking redress.

    “Recently, a Vice-Principal was removed from office due to assault on pupils in hijab. This is a step in the right direction, even though we are not after removal of anyone from office, but what we are saying is that the pupils should be able to enjoy their right to use hijab,” Ashafa said.

     

     

     

  • Accord, MAJA, APA produce governorship candidates in Kwara

    In Ilorin, Kwara state based legal practitioner, Yahaya Kaale Saadu, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA) party.

    Alhaji Saadu was elected in Ilorin, the state capital, during the party’s primary and affirmation by delegates.

    Also, a businessman Kolawole Sarafadeen has got the governorship ticket of the Africa Peoples Alliance (APA).

    The Offa born-businessman turned politician, was chosen through consensus by delegates.

    Speaking after his election, Saadu promised to revive the lost glory of the state.

    He said: “I will focus attention on legal reforms, infrastructure and provision of graduate employment. Others are reviving the lost glory of the state going back to 1967 till date.

    “My administration we will revive the dead cooperative, gateway company,  Kwara furniture, Sugar Company Bacita, paper mill, Jenna,  textile, tate and line and many others.”

    Sarafadeen said “I hail from Offa,  Offa local government area of Kwara state. I am a businessman.  I did all my schooling in the state.

    “I was once a civil servant. That means I know the state inside out.  I know what is happening in the state.

    Ever since the commencement of this government, we noticed there has not been any positive change.  “There have been security challenges, poor educational system, poor infrastructure. The youths are disillusioned.

    “That is why  we out to correct these anomalies especially in my area. We lost a lot to the over five months old Offa bank robbery.

  • Ogun ADC, ANN elect governorship candidates

    The Ogun State chapter of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) has elected Ademola Ogunbanjo as its governorship candidate.

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also elected two-time governorship contestant, Gboyega Isiaka, as its candidate ahead of next year’s general elections.

    Ogunbanjo, who hails from Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun East, is the sole governorship candidate of the party.

    His candidature was ratified in an indirect primary conducted at the Centenary Hall, Ake, Abeokuta, the state capital, on Wednesday.

    The ANN flagbearer has enjoyed successful career in banking, telecommunications, oil and gas.

    He pledged to make knowledge, enterprise, peace and prosperity (KEPP) the pillars of his government, if given the mandate to lead the state in 2019.

    Also clinching the tickets are 11 House of Assembly candidates, including a former student unionist at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Solomon Enilolobo.

    He won the ANN ticket for Abeokuta South Constituency II.

    Isiaka was declared winner of the party’s governorship primary by ADC State Chairman, Dr. Gbolade Osinowo, on Wednesday night.

     

     

    Osinowo said Isiaka (aka GNI) polled 207,334 votes as an unopposed aspirant of the party.

    The chairman noted that with GNI as ADC’s candidate, “victory is sure for the party in 2019”.

     

     

  • Serial governorship candidates warming up for 2019

    Since the return to civil rule in 1999, governorship elections in some states have persistently featured some personalities who have been unrelenting in their bid to govern their states. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI profiles some of these perennial candidates.

    Ogboru

    Perennial Delta State governorship candidate Chief Great Ogboru is warming up to challenge Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in next year’s general elections. But, his ambition has already divided the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) because the idea is against the existing zoning arrangement.

    Given that Delta politics was initially dominated by the Central Zone, there is a widespread acceptance of the need for power rotation among the three senatorial districts. James Ibori from Delta Central senatorial district took the first shot between 1999 and 2007. Emmanuel Uduaghan benefitted from the slot of Delta South from 2007 to 2015, to pave the way for the emergence of incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, whose first term would end next year. They were all elected on the PDP platform.

    As the race for the 2019 governorship race gradually gets underway, the odds are stacked in Okowa’s favour; no thanks to the zoning arrangement. But, APC stakeholders in Delta want to stop the governor’s re-election, by fielding a candidate from Delta North to effectively challenge the governor in his zone. This is based on the prevailing sentiment in Delta North and Delta South to allow the Anioma people to complete their eight-year slot before power shifts from the zone. But, Ogboru who is backed in his quest by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege would not entertain such prospects.

    Ogboru has been contesting for the Delta governorship since 2003; meaning that he ran in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015. He lost in all the contests to candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The APC chieftain who contested the 2015 on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) had described the election as his final battle in the quest to “liberate the people of Delta State”.

    A persistent and unrelenting politician, Ogboru has been moving from one party to the other to actualize his ambition to govern the state. He contested in 2003 on the platform of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD); in 2007 and 2011 as a candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and in 2015 as the flag bearer of the LP. He lost in each of those attempts and challenged the results at the election petitions tribunal each time.

     

    Isiaka

    Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka is another perennial governorship candidate that is also preparing to take another shot at it in Ogun State. Two months ago, he left the PDP, the platform on which he contested the last election for the African Democratic Party (ADC), in readiness for next year’s general elections. His action was conveyed in a letter dated May 24 and addressed to the leadership of the party.

    Isiaka, popularly known as GNI, first contested for the Ogun governorship seat in 2011. After failing to secure the ticket of the PDP in 2011, his principal backer, former Governor Gbenga Daniel, floated another platform, the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), to actualize the ambition. Governor Ibikunle Amosun won the 2011 election with 51.90 per cent of valid votes, while the PDP flag bearer in the race came second, after securing 25.9 per cent of the votes. The PPN candidate was placed third, with 18.84 per cent votes.

    Isiaka came into the political arena in November 2003, when he was appointed Special Assistant on Investments to former Governor Daniel. Later, in April 2004, he became the pioneer Group Managing Director of Gateway Holdings Limited (GHL), the investment company of Ogun State.

    He was drafted into the race in 2011 by Daniel to actualize the former governor’s promise to hand-over to an indigene of Ogun West district, otherwise known as Yewa land, which is yet to govern the state since it was created. But, the Yewa agenda failed, as Amosun who is from Ogun Central defeated all the two major candidates from the region in the race.

    GNI and other aspirants from Ogun West are favoured by the zoning arrangement in next year’s contest; as Governor Amosun has pledged to a governor of Yewa extraction. Since he defected from the PDP to the ADC the governorship aspirant has been consulting with stakeholders in different local governments.

    With the support of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who has been rallying support for the ADC, Isiaka believes that he would get it right this time around. Speaking about his 2019 aspiration, he said: “Yes, I have contested twice and I am planning to do it again and the major reason is because, those factors that I considered back then are still there and God has still continued to give me the strength and the wherewithal to seek the office so that I could make life better for the people. If anything, the reasons for my contesting have probably even increased now, given the general situation that the state is in now.”

     

    Marwa

    The Northeast state of Adamawa is going to be flashpoint for a number of serial governorship candidates who are already warming up to throw their hats into the ring. Indications are that former Lagos State Military Administrator, Brig. Buba Marwa, will soon join the race for Adamawa 2019 under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Marwa is a retired Brigadier general and former military administrator of Lagos and Borno States. His performance in office as military administrator is said to be lofty and therefore many believe that if given the party’s ticket to run, he would win the governorship election and ensure good governance.

    However, his experience in partisan politics has not been a pleasurable one. He first aspired for the presidency on the platform of the PDP in 2007. But, when he failed in that bid, he left the PDP in 2011 and joined the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and opted to contest for the governorship of his home state, Adamawa. He lost the 2011 election and was still in the CPC when it merged with other legacy parties that formed the APC in 2013.

    Nevertheless, after surveying the political atmosphere in Adamawa before the last general elections, he returned to the PDP once again and was granted waiver on August 29, 2014 to vie for the party’s governorship ticket. It might have been a different story for Marwa, if the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, had not defected to the party from the APC. Thus, Marwa was denied the PDP ticket for the Adamawa 2015 race. This compelled the retired military officer to leave the party once again in June 2015.

    Determined to put the two failed governorship attempts behind him, he is believed to have joined the race for the Dougirei Government House, Yola, for next year’s election once again, as many groups are calling on him to come out to vie for the exulted position on the APC platform, to replace the current Governor Bindow Jibrilla.

    Some groups of youth and women groups for Marwa under the APC in Adamawa have urged former military Governor of Lagos, Buba Marwa, to aspire for 2019 gubernatorial race under APC. The groups, under the banner of “Adamawa Advocates for Marwa” in a recent meeting in Yola, said Marwa was the needed ready-made person that could unite the party and salvage the state from being taken over by the opposition.

    Members of the group who spoke said the APC-led state government under Governor Jibrilla has divided the party and was tottering, making it necessary to have someone like Marwa who has the track record to salvage the party and people of Adamawa.

     

    Ribadu

    Recent developments in Adamawa strongly indicate the former EFCC chairmanis preparing to challenge Governor Jibrilla. Ribadu, who lost to Jibrilla in 2015 when the former contested under the platform of the PDP, has returned to the APC and joined forces with former Governor Murtala Nyako.

    Mustapha Atiku Ribadu, a member of Black Cap Revolution, a group that backed Ribadu’s governorship bid in 2015, said Jibrilla stands no chance against the former EFCC boss in 2019. He argued that failure by Governor Jibrilla to work with the APC executives and members who made him the party’s candidate, as well as his refusal to pay workers’ salaries or fulfill campaign promises, has made him “so unpopular that nobody wants him re-elected”.

    His words: “The governor has neglected those who worked for his victory, including the party executive and failed to pay workers’ salaries and other entitlements. So, voters have realised that he is not a reliable leader. Everybody is aggrieved and waiting for 2019 to oust him.”

    However, a loyalist of the governor and founder of Bring Bindow Back (BBB), Dahiru Hammandikko, dismissed Ribadu as no threat to Jibrilla, saying Jibrilla’s achievements have endeared him to the people. He said Ribadu did not make much impact in his presidential bid in 2011 and governorship in 2015, adding that 2019 would not be different.

     

    Others

    Other serial contestants like former Deputy Governor Gbenga Kaka (Ogun State), former Deputy Governor Ahmed Ibeto (Niger State) and former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala have joined the race to govern their states. The list also includes former Governor Rashidi Ladoja. But, it is not clear yet whether Ladoja is still going to run this time around.

    Kaka declared his intention recently at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council secretariat at Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta. The former deputy to Chief Olusegun Osoba and former Senator (Ogun East) said he has the experience, integrity and commitment to take Ogun State to the next level.  His words: “I am your man; I have the experience, the integrity and commitment.”

    He said he would be contesting again in 2019 on the platform of the APC.

    His Niger State counterpart, Ibeto, was until recently Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa. He recently defected from the APC back to the PDP to realize his ambition. Reports say Ibeto is currently undergoing the process of obtaining his PDP membership card from his ward in Magma Local Government Area.

    He was the Deputy Governor for eight years to former Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu.

    In 2014, he defected from the PDP to the APC, after he lost the party’s primary.

  • Governorship candidates in Lagos sign gender pact

    Four of the candidates in the April 11, 2015 gubernatorial election in Lagos State, Messrs. Jimi Agbaje of the People Democratic Party (PDP); Ayodele Akele, National Conscience Party (NCP); Adeniji Adedoyega, KOWA Party and; Bolaji Ogunseye of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), have signed a gender pact with  Civil Society Groups to  promote women related issues in the state if elected.

    The pact contains the 12- point demands adopted at the Lagos gender dialogue held recently with the candidates.

    The demands cover issues such as health, education, economic and poverty alleviation, vulnerable groups, decision making, environment, agriculture, road network, water supply, people with disability, child abuse and violence against women and security.

    The programme was organised by the Vanguard Newspapers, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) and Silverbird Television in partnership with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Lagos.

    The gubernatorial candidates signed the gender pact after a session of dialogue with the electorate. The four agreed to involve women in their administration as a result of the issues of gender and women in particular, receiving very limited attention from political actors during electoral processes over the years.

    The programme held at Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos.

    Agbaje assured women in the state of a minimum of 25% appointive slots in his administration.

    He said the problem with women is that the qualified ones hardly want to join politics. He urged them to move from political activism to real politics, saying that is the only way by which more women can participate in politics.

    He challenged women entrepreneurs and professionals to step into politics so there can be more women in the system.

    Akele noted that if women are given 35% appointive position without impact in their lives and that of the vulnerable citizens in the state, then it is meaningless.

    Adeniji and Ogunseye both promised to reserve 50% appointive seats for women in the state.

    Adeniji said: KOWA Party was formed in 2009 to specially take care of women and all vulnerable persons in Nigeria.

    Ogunseye said he cannot give 35% of appointive positions to women because that will be going against the actual demand of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW, which states that 50% slots should be reserved for women to ensure gender equality.

    Earlier, Executive Director, WARDC, Dr Abiola Akiyode Afolabi said WARDC is a nongovernmental, human rights organisation dedicated to the promotion and protection of women’s rights, gender equality and social justice in Nigeria.

    She said the initiative was borne out of the concern on the limited attention that gender and women issues received from political actors, during the electoral process especially the fact that few women candidates emerged during this electoral dispensation.

    “Historically, people in political offices do not prioritise gender and women empowerment issues for reasons best linked to ignorance, patriarchy, lack of political will and general apathy towards women’s issues. This has continued to retard world progress and development.”

    She said the Lagos gender dialogue was an opportunity to bring women issues to the front burner, making it the most critical debate.

    “A 2012 report on gender in Nigeria concludes that the estimated 80.2 million women and girls in Nigeria have significantly worse life chances than men in relation to employment and livelihoods, education and health, political representation, and violence. According to the report, Nigeria ranks 118 out of 134 countries in the Gender Equality Index; women are politically unrepresentative with only seven out of the 109 senators and 25 out of the 360 representatives as women elected in the 2011 election process. In relation to maternal health, each day, 144 Nigerian women die in child birth, which is equivalent to one death every 10 minutes,” Akiyode said.

    A child right activist, Mrs Yemisi Ransome-Kuti spoke on the need to educate the young ones. “We the women brought children to the world, both male and female. It is up to the women to ensure that our young men grow up respecting women, and see themselves as equal partner, at home, school and work. They do not aspire to get to the position where they are the Lord and master of their situation. It is by ensuring that there is that balance, emotionally, mentally and intellectually between the male and the female child right from young,” she said.

    Woman Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, Mrs Morenike Taire, said that the initiative was in line with the newspaer’s commitment towards ensuring a better life for the entire nation, particularly women and children.

  • Group secures commitment from Lagos governorship candidates

    Group secures commitment from Lagos governorship candidates

    An advocacy group, the Lagos State Civil Society Partnership (LACSOP), has secured a commitment from contestants that whosoever emerges as the governor will implement the proposals contained in a document, titled: “Our Lagos: People’s Charter/Social Contract for Post 2015″.

    Speaking at a town hall meeting in Lagos, during the formal presentation of the charter to candidates, the Secretary, Steering Committee of LACSOP, Mr. Ayo Adebusoye, said the document contains  development issues submitted on behalf of member organisations, who represent a broad spectrum of pro-change, non-state actors, citizens network, coalitions, community-based organisations and professional associations in Lagos State.

    Adebusoye said the charter is derived from the first-hand experiences of members of the groups, from all walks of life. For instance, under transparency, the charter/social contract states that the Lagos State Government needs to conform to global best practices in transparency and accountability in governance.

    In this area, there are three recommendations. One, procurement law: “There is the need to enforce due diligence in the procurement system in Lagos State Government.” The second recommendation revolves round the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. It says that the Lagos State Government, as the Centre of Excellence and an evolving mega city that prides itself as an open government and a progressive state should domesticate the FOI Act. In the third recommendation, which focuses on the separation of political party from government entity, it enjoins Lagos State to to immediately embrace international best practices where all tax-paying Lagosians would benefit from public goods and services.

    The candidates who signed the document and made a formal declaration before the audience are: Mr. Bolaji Ogunseye, the governorship flag bearer of the Alliance for Democracy (AD); Comrade Ayodele Akele and Oloye Victor Adeniji, his National Conscience Party and Kowa Party counterparts respectively.

    However, the standard bearers of the two major parties, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and Jimi Agbaje of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) respectively, were not present at the town hall meeting.

    One of the moderators, Ms. Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, noted that the two candidates were to be at the event, but had excused themselves at the last moment. She said the organisers would present the document to them for ratifications at separate meetings in their offices.

    LACSOP is a forum of civil society networks established since the beginning of the Governor Babatunde Fashola-led administration in 2007, to serve as the mouth piece cum watchdog of the citizenry in advocating for effective implementation of critical development issues and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).