The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won the governorship seat in Kwara.
Its candidate Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq scored 331,546 to defeat his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Razak Atunwa who polled 114,754.
He was declared winner by the Resident Electoral Officer of Kwara a moment ago.
Details shortly…
All Progressives Congress (APC) has swept the 24 seats of the Kwara state House of Assembly in the governorship and House of Assembly elections.
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) state Electoral Commissioner Mallam Garba Madami announced this on Sunday in Ilorin, the state.
The candidates and their results include Aliyu Wahab Opakunle of Afon state constituency- 8034, Ambali Ibrahim of Onire/Owode (7,953), Salihu Yakubu of Ilesha/Gwanara scored 11,542 and Mohammed Salihu of Okuta/Yashikra polled 14,929.
Others are Nadanusa Mohammed of Edu scored 25,276, Ahmed Rufai of Pategi had 17, 844, Abolarin GG of Ekiti constituency had 7,789 while Adetiba Olarewaju of OKe eve to scored 7,090. Salau Ganiyu of Omupo constituency got 9,790, Owolabi Razaq of theShare/Oke-Ode scored 12,870, Aliyu Yusuf of Ilorin East scored 31,190, Suleiman Abdulsalam Ilorin South polled 25,882, Abubakar Olawoyin of Ilorin Central scored 17,338 and Abdulgafar Ayilara of Ajikobi/Alanamu constituency scored 35,823.
Awodiji Felix of Irepodun scored 15,419, Awolola Olumide scored 6,494; Hammed Baba of Gwanabe/Bani scored 7,728, Abdullahi Danbaba of Kaiama polled 7,096; Bello John Olanrewaju of Lanwa/Ejidongari scored 8,047, while Babatunde Abdulkareem of Olooru/Malete/Ipaye polled 10,588; Saheed Popoola of Balogun/Ojomu scored 9,987; Adeniran Joy of Shao/Essa scored 11,786; Olayiwola Oyebode of Odo-Ogun scored 4,957 and Yusuf Atoyebi Musa of Oke-Ogun polled 5,847
The All Progressives Congress (APC) appeared to be heading for victory last night in the governorship election in Lagos, Ogun, Kwara, Kebbi, Sokoto and Bauchi States as results began coming in from the various polling booths.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was looking good in Adamawa, Enugu, Delta, Ebomyi and Akwa Ibom States.
In Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC who was projected by The Nation as the candidate to beat yesterday, established a strong lead ahead of his closest rival, Jimi Agbaje of the PDP with the majority of the votes cast in such areas as Ikorodu, Alimoso, Badagry and Lagos Island.
Sanwo-Olu was the preferred candidate at Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s polling unit in Victoria Garden City, Lekki.
He got 223 votes there as against the 175 votes polled by Agbaje.
The ruling party lost to the PDP by a wide margin during the presidential election two weeks ago.
At PU 007, Anglican Primary School, Iworo, Badagry LGA the APC candidate got 207 while the PDP received 74 votes.
Prince Dapo Abiodun of APC held firm in most parts of Ijebu, Remo , Egbaland and Otta.
He also did well in Yewaland although Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) seemed to have an edge there, being an indigene.
Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of the APC appeared to have confirmed the uprooting of the PDP in Kwara State with another emphatic win.
AbdulRazaq won his polling unit at Idigba, Adewole ward with 592 votes as against PDP’s 80.
He also got 201 votes at Ode Oba Onilu, Ilorin as against the 52 for PDP.
At press time, there was a wide gap between his votes and what the PDP candidate Razaq Atunwa had garnered.
It was also clear that Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State had won in most of the polling centres where INEC returning officers had announced results.
Bagudu got 572 votes against the 7 received by Sen. Isa Galaudu of PDP at Iyan Gwandu polling unit 012, Marafa ward.
In Nasarawa 2 polling units 002, Bagudu got 526 votes and Galaudi 98.
At polling unit 008 at GRA Kindi Zauro, Nasarawa ward in Birnin Kebbi, Bagudu scored 354 while Galaudi, scored 87.
In Garkar Mai-Alelu polling unit 006, where the governor cast his vote, the APC received 745 votes against 23 garnered by the PDP.
The trend was similar in Sokoto and Bauchi State.
Official results from polling stations in Adamawa, Enugu, Delta, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom gave it to the PDP candidates.
The PDP won the governorship election in former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s polling Unit 012 of Ajiya Ward of Adamawa North Local Government Area.
Announcing the results at the unit, the presiding officer declared that the APC polled 99 votes while the PDP scored 161 votes. The ADC candidate scored 51 votes while the SDP candidate got only one vote.
Similarly, the PDP trounced the ruling APC with a 50 votes margin at the polling unit in front of Adamawa State deputy governor’s office
According to the announced results, APC scored 63 votes, while PDP got 113 votes. The ADC got 78 votes.
In the presidential elections of February 23, APC celebrated a victory over PDP at the same polling unit with 187 votes against 167 votes.
As it was during last month’s presidential and national assembly elections, many top politicians failed to deliver even their polling units.
President Muhammadu Buhari delivered his Unit 003 s in Sarkin Yara A Ward in Daura Local Government Area of the State for the APC governorship candidate Aminu Masari, with 370 votes.
Senator Yakubu Lado-Danmarke of the PPD polled 42 votes.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State lost his polling unit to the PDP in the gubernatorial election.
The All Progressives Congress candidate, Adebayo Adelabu, scored 112 votes while the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Seyi Makinde, scored 145 votes.
A former Oyo State governor, Rasheed Ladoja won the governorship election in Polling Unit 13, Ward 10, Ibadan North Local Government Area for the PDP with 180 votes while APC received 34 votes.
Dapo Abiodun ,the APC flag bearer in Ogun got 240 votes at his Ward 3 Unit 2, Ita Osanyin, Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area to beat his closest rival, Adekunle Akinlade, of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), who polled 71 votes.
A factional governorship candidate of the PDP who went into an alliance with Akinlade against Abiodun was roundly beaten at his polling unit at Ward 5 Unit 4 Wesley Nursery and Primary School, Iperu, Ikenne.
At the end of voting APC scored 197 votes, while the APM polled 75 votes.
The PDP and ADC polled 6 and 2 votes respectively.
The APC also floored former governor Ayodele Fayose at his unit at Afao Ekiti in Irepodun Ifelodun local government area of the state.
The APC’s candidate in Irepodun/Ifelodun constituency 2, Alhaji Hakeem Jamiu, beat the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Sunday Omosilade by scoring 168 against PDP candidate’s 26 at St David’s Primary School polling unit in Afao Ekiti.
Omosilade, who is Fayose’s Personal Assistant, had earlier in a letter dated March 1 and addressed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, signified his intention to withdraw from the race.
But the INEC said it was not aware of such withdrawal, saying he should have withdrawn 45 days to the poll.
Also, at units 15 and 003, Igbemo ward, Jamiu recorded 171 and 335 votes respectively, while PDP polled 0 in the two units.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) on Friday said it has uncovered about N1billion cash withdrawal by the Kwara State Government, a week before the last Presidential and National Assembly elections.
It also confirmed the arrest of six suspects by its Ilorin Zonal Office over the withdrawal.
Those arrested and currently being interrogated include, Commissioner for Finance Nurudeen Banu; Accountant -General Sulaiman Ishola; Commissioner for Water Resources Yusuf Abdulkadir; Head of Service Susan Modupe Oluwole; Special Adviser Commissioner for Energy, Eleja Taiwo Banu; Chief of Staff, Abdulwahab Yusuf; officials of the Secretary to the State Government, and those of the Government House.
Investigations by EFCC operatives revealed that the said money was withdrawn from the state’s account domiciled with Sterling Bank.
An official of the State Government, Hafees Yusuf, confirmed to the operatives that he got instructions from his “boss” to withdraw some monies sometimes in February 2019.
He said: “My Controller of Finance told me that the sum of N350m was paid into the account of Kwara State Government, and I was instructed by my boss to raise cheques of various sums of monies, which I did and were duly signed by the Controller of Finance; I withdrew the monies as I was instructed by my supervisor.”
A senior staff of Sterling Bank, who is currently being interrogated by operatives, revealed the Accountant General, Commissioner for Finance and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, are signatories to the account where N720m cash was withdrawn from the Kwara State Government Account domiciled in the branch of the bank located at Post Office in Ilorin between February 7 and 11, 2019.
Three Relationship Managers of the bank – Rahaman Alimi, Akinleye Ademola and Olarewaju Sarafa, were said to have parked the said money in bullion van and personally delivered it to the Chief of Staff to the Kwara State Governor, Abdulwahab Yusuf.
The bank officials further told operatives that they acted on the instruction of their “boss” which was identified as, Rasaq Abolarin.
Meanwhile, the officials of the Kwara State Government officials have been granted administrative bail even as investigations continue.
They are expected to be arraigned before a Federal High Court in Ilorin next week.
The suspicious withdrawals, were uncovered after operators acted on a petition by a Non-Governmental Organisation, the Kwara Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability (KWARA-CGGA) asking for the probe of over N1 billion loan the State Government secured from a bank a few days before the general elections.
Hassan Omoiya, Secretary General of the organisation, noted that intelligence had it that the state government obtained the loan on February 13, from a bank using the remittance of Kwara State VAT allocation due in February and March 2019 as collateral.
He further urged the EFCC to “determine the appropriateness of utilisation of credit facility of N1 billion by Kwara State Government at the twilight of general election.”
The Acting Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Tony Orilade confirmed the arrest of the suspects and the administrative bail given to them.
Sanwo-Olu is best, says Fashola, Why I’m backing Adelabu, by Alao-Akala
Aremu quits for AbdulRazaq, Daniel backs Abiodun, Adebutu roots for Akinlade
Parties were consolidating yesterday their alliances in preparation for tomorrow’s crucial Governorship and States’ Assembly elections.
Before campaigns ended last night, there were realignment of forces, last-minute defections and judicial interventions in some of the states.
The Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a case against Ogun State All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Dapo Abiodun, saying an NYSC certificate is no constitutional requirement for an electoral office.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja ruled that Sen. Ayogu Eze is the authentic candidate of the APC. Here is a report of events in the various states:
Ogun
Former Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Gbenga Daniel endorsed Abiodun. Though Daniel did not defect to the APC, he urged his supporters to vote for Abiodun tomorrow.
This endorsement followed a Wednesday night meeting at his Asoludero Court in Sagamu.
With this, Daniel has turned his back on PDP governorship candidate Buruji Kashamu.
Aside Daniel’s endorsement, Abiodun also received the backing of six governorship candidates and 14 political parties.
The party chairmen who backed Abiodun include Adeyinka Adeyemi(Alliance For Social Democrats), Olusegun Oluyemi (Better Nigeria Progressive Party), Asimiyu Arisekola(Advanced Allied Party), Kelani Alao (African People’s Alliance), Adekunle Owode (National Action Council), Odejide Radio (Democratic People’s Congress) and Adeshina Abraham (People’s Progressive Party).
Others are Otunba Rasheed Odebude (People’s Trust), Bolanle Bello(People for Democratic Change), Otunba Femi Soluade( Mass Action Junction Alliance), Prince Talabi Abiodun(People’s Coalition Party(PDP) and two others.
The parties, in a statement jointly signed by their chairmen, said they shared the same ideologies and would work with the APC to take the state to a greater height.
The six governorship candidates, in a statement signed under the aegis of the Governorship Candidates Forum, said they decided to support Abiodun because of his plans and programmes.
The governorship candidates are: Olusegun Olufemi of Better Nigeria Progressives Party, Femi Olomu (Alliance of Social Democrats) and Adegbola John (Advanced Allied Party).
The others are Odejide Adio (Democratic People’s Congress), Adeshina Abraham (People’s Progressives Party) and Lanre Banjo (People’s Trust).
Also, a House of Representatives candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Yewa-South/Ipokia Federal Constituency and a House of Assembly candidate of the Alliance for Democracy, Yewa South State constituency, Olukayode Idowu and Boluwatife Salako, adopted Abiodun.
Abiodun also received a legal victory when a court yesterday ruled in his favour in a case over his National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) certificate.
The APC governorship hopeful’s rival, Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), got the backing of the Sikirulai Ogundele-led faction of the PDP.
Ogundele announced the endorsement at a news conference in Abeokuta. The governorship candidate of the faction, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, on Wednesday failed in his legal bid to nullify Kashamu’s nomination.
Ogundele directed its members across the state to come out en-masse tomorrow and vote for Akinlade.
“Ogun is an important state in Nigeria and our decision has been informed by the need to sustain the state in the area of development, which the current administration has initiated.
“Politics is about credibility, responsiveness and integrity, among others, and we have found all these qualities in Akinlade.
“We believe that this development will enhance his chances of winning the governorship polls in the state,” he said.
Oyo
The chances of APC governorship candidate Chief Adebayo Adelabu received a major boost with his adoption by 13 political parties under the aegis of the Forum of Political Parties.
Former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala also urged Ogbomoso people to rally behind the APC governorship candidate to enhance the historic city of warriors’ growth.
The chairmen of the 13 political parties conveyed their adoption of the APC candidate in a joint March 6 letter addressed to the APC State Chairman, Chief Akin Oke.
The signatories include Mr. Abimbola Azeez of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN); Otunba A. Fagbemi, Allied Peoples Movement (APM); United Progressive Party (UPP), Sunday Badejo; Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria (GDPN), Mr. Abass Oladimeji; and Young Democratic Party (YDP), Mr. Chris Ayanniyi.
Others are the Northern People’s Congress (NPC), Akin Adelekan; Independent Democrats (ID), Chief Wasiu Are; Mr. Bolaji Olugbode of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) as well as the chairmen of Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA), Nigeria Elements Progressive Party (NEPP), Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Re-Build Nigeria Party (RBNP) and Democratic People’s Party (DPP).
The ex-governor, who sacrificed his second term prospect under the Action Democratic Party to support Adelabu, addressed a tumultuous crowd of party supporters at a mega rally held at the façade of Soun Ogunlola Hall, Ogbomoso, on Wednesday.
Also on the campaign trail were prominent leaders of Ogbomoso, including a former local government chairman, Chief Dayo Lawal and a Fourth Republic Senator, Gen. Brimmo Yusuf (retd.)
Alao-Akala visited the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, with Adelabu and his running mate, Samuel Egunjobi. He said that his alliance with the APC was in the best interest of the city.
After perusing the blueprint of the two governorship candidates jostling for his endorsement, Alao-Akala said that he settled for the APC candidate based on what he called his superior credentials, track record, pedigree and ability to deliver on electioneering promises.
Urging Ogbomoso residents to cast their vote for Adelabu, the ex-governor assured them that they would not regret it.
He added that the enormity of the task ahead had made it imperative for a coalition of interests and the coming together of political parties desirous of making appreciable impact at the governorship election.
Alao-Akala said: “You know we are not new in this game of politics. I have carefully assessed the credentials of the people seeking my support and I have no equivocation in settling for Bayo Adelabu of the APC.
“My alliance with the APC for the governorship election is in our best interest in Ogbomoso. I have never misled you and I will not mislead you on this. The alliance will be of tremendous benefit to us. I have told the APC leadership, up to the national level, what Ogbomoso wants.
“I told them that Ladoke Akintola University of Technology is our own heritage here, that the hospital needs attention and we want them to bring it up to the admirable standard we dreamt of it. Ilorin-Ogbomoso Road has suffered inexplicable neglect over the years and I have also secured assurances that it will receive the needed attention, if the APC candidate wins.
“Therefore, I urge you to vote for Bayo Adelabu of the APC as governor on Saturday. We stand to gain a lot from an APC government at the state and national levels. I’m not in this for myself, but in the interest of Ogbomoso.”
Adelabu expressed gratitude to Alao-Akala for backing him.
Noting that the Ilorin-Ogbomoso road is the gateway to the North, he promised to collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure its completion, if he is elected as the governor.
LAGOS
In Lagos, APC candidate Babajide Sanwo-Olu reiterated his promise of a people-oriented administration. Power, Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola urged the electorate to vote for him and his running mate, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat.
Fashola said that no one should trade experience for mere desperation to be governor.
Speaking during a live television interview programme on Television Continental (TCV), where he, Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat were guests, Fashola, who is the immediate past Governor of Lagos, noted that voting for the APC candidate will guarantee continuity of the great strides that Lagos has made since 1999.
According to the former governor, the candidacy of Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat is the best that can happen to Lagosians, as the two men are not novices to the workings of government.
“They are not only tested, but have also been part of the process of development that Lagos has witnessed since 1999 till date,” Fashola said.
The former governor said that Lagos cannot afford to experiment at this point in its history, that the people had gone beyond that stage where governance will be left in the hands of, inexperienced individual.
Sanwo-Olu assured Lagosians that their needs have been captured in his planned programme tagged “THEME”.
His running mate said technology will take the centre stage in their administration.
He specifically mentioned education, traffic management, health, the economy and security as the sectors in which technology will play prominent roles.
“But the first step is for you our people to go out on Saturday to vote for the APC. Its then we will be able to fulfil these promises,” Hamzat said.
The Awori Concerned Elders (ACE) in conjunction with Awori Welfare Association of Nigeria have urged all its adults to vote for the APC governorship candidate Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Saturday.
At a conference in Lagos, the spokesperson of the group, Prince Adeniyi Jafojo described Sanwo- Olu as the best of all the candidates, noting that the group would mobilise the indigenes to vote the candidate.
He added that Awori people had been supporting APC right from inception. According to him, voting the APC is not only politically wise, it give room for the entrenchment of the party’s progressives policies.
“The Awori concerned elders have reviewed the political situation in Lagos State since inception, therefore it has been considered expedient that a directive to all Aworis to vote the APC is very appropriate.
“The continuation will facilitate a smooth take-off of the new government and sustain the existing political landscapes.”
The Yoruba Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAYAN) also endorsed all the governorship candidate of the APC in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states.
Its president, Prince Adeniyi Olutimehin, said the decision was taken after extensive consultations with major stakeholders.
Enugu
Enugu State Governor and PDP governorship candidate Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi rounded off his campaign with some leaders commending his achievements. He also declared a public holiday to enable people prepare for the election.
Ugwuanyi embarked on door-to-door campaign at his home local council, Udenu.
Prominent leaders of the PDP in Enugu State at a rally applauded the governor for entrenching peace, tranquility and good governance.
The PDP chieftains include the Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu, former Governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, Senator Fidelis Okoro, Senator Hyde Onuaguluchi, and Ambassador Justina Eze. They described Ugwuanyi as a man of history.
Ekweremadu said it was because of the peace in the state that Nwobodo, for the first time in the history of the state, joined other PDP leaders to witness the grand finale of the party’s campaign.
He said: “It has never happened before and I thank you (Ugwuanyi) for the peace and tranquility in Enugu State. There is no bickering or quarrels among the political leaders in the state.”
Describing Ugwuanyi as a son, Nwobodo thanked him for bringing everybody together.
Senator Onuaguluchi eulogised Ugwuanyi for the “uncommon peace” “he brought to the state, noting that “all of us have come to learn from Gburugburu (Ugwuanyi)”.
Ambassador Eze also applauded Ugwuanyi’s “uncommon leadership style” and joined others in urging the people to come out en-masse to vote massively for the governor and other candidates of the PDP tomorrow.
Ugwuanyi appreciated the party’s stalwarts for their kind words and tremendous support for his administration as well as his re-election bid.
He thanked the electorate for the support they gave to the PDP during the Presidential and National Assembly Elections, and urged them to vote massively for him and House of Assembly candidates of the party on Saturday.
Ugwuanyi’s challenger in the APC, Ayogu Eze, received legal backing for his ambition yesterday when the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja confirmed his candidature. The court set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court which voided the nomination of Eze as the state’s APC governorship candidate.
The appellate court, in a unanimous judgment of a three-man panel, allowed the appeal by Eze and proceeded to affirm him as the rightfully nominated candidate to represent the party in the election scheduled for tomorrow.
Justice Abdul Aboki, in the lead judgment, set aside the judgment of Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replace Eze with George Ogara as the APC governorship candidate for the APC in Enugu State.
Ayogu told reporters that he was back and would definitely win the election on Saturday.
He said the judgment that led to the removal of his name suppose not to be adding that it was politically manipulated.
“But come May 29, 2019 your brother who is talking to you now will be sworn in as the governor of Enugu state.
“ They cannot stop it. The will be swept by a tsunami which they can’t explain where it come from,” said Eze.
He thanked his numerous supporters for exercising patience while the judicial process was on.
Gombe
In Gombe State, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), consisting 39 political parties and 15 governorship candidates, endorsed PDP’s Bayero Nafada as their candidate in Gombe. This came a day after 19 political parties endorsed the APC candidate, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya.
The coalition, in a statement signed by Mohammed Adamu and Sunday Paris, Chairman and Secretary of CUPP in the state, said the endorsement was done after a critical assessment of the PDP government’s achievements in Gombe.
The statement, which was made available to reporters in Gombe, particularly commended the strides in the educational, health and agricultural sectors, and urged voters to vote for continuity so as to enjoy more dividends of democracy.
“We are endorsing our candidate based on credibility; we want to consolidate on the gains of the present administration,” the statement said.
Akwa Ibom
The Change Nigeria Party (CNP) in Akwa Ibom State aligned itself with the APC and its governorship candidate, Nsima Ekere.
The CNP also said it took the decision because its manifesto tallies with APC’s thrust of providing electricity, construction of refineries, poverty alleviation, regeneration of the political space, economic rejuvenation and other people enhancing policies of the ruling party.
Its governorship candidate, Dr. Anietie Ukpong, said the CNP would support the APC to weed out the remnants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), adding that ‘’PDP’s 16 years could be best described as 16 locust years in Nigeria’s history’’.
Ukpong went on: ‘’What APC is doing is disintegrating Nigeria from the cobwebs of past failures and dysfunctional economic and political system which the PDP ran for 16 years.
‘’APC is blessed with leaders who have vision for the future prosperity of Nigerians. That is what CNP believes in. Nigeria’s prosperity lies with the youths.
‘’For 16 years PDP concentrated on building roads and all manner of infrastructure but cared less about the youths. CNP is in tandem with APC which is determined to change the narrative.’’
Pleateau
A group of Christians known as Catholic Social Forum yesterday declared support for APC governorship candidate Governor Simon Lalong.
The group, which expressed its support in a statement by Sir Emmanuel Dashe and four others, said: “The Catholic Social Forum in the Shendam, Pankshin and Arch Diocese of Jos in their combined meeting of 7th March 2019 in Shendam Catechist Training Center, discussed the current political situation in Plateau State resolved that in view of the appreciable infrastructural development recorded in the last four years in Plateau State, as well as the appreciable peace experienced in the last four years, the incumbent governor should be returned to continued the good jobs he has initiated.
“Secondly, in order to consolidate on the principle of zoning in Plateau State and in order to ensure the continuous payment civil servants salaries and pensions, and for the interest of an all-inclusive Governance and the need for a smooth transition and continuity.
“We, the Members of the Catholic Social Forum In Shendam, Pankshin and Jos Arch Dioceses do hereby endorse, unconditionally the aspiration of the Executive Governor of Plateau State, the Rt Hon Barr Simon Bako Lalong in the forthcoming Governorship Elections in Plateau State.
“Subsequent upon the above, we hereby call on all Catholics and the peace-loving people of Plateau State to come out en-masse and vote for the inclusive ticket of Governor Simon Lalong and his amiable Deputy, Prof Sunny Tyoden.”
The governor also got the backing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders’ Advisory Council.
The council’s chairman, Chief Joseph Din, in a statement yesterday in Jos, said: “As we go into this Saturday’s election, we want to fully endorse the candidature of the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong who remains the most credible and widely acceptable man for the Plateau project among all other contestants of the seat.
“Within the three and half years he has been the governor, he has demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt his love and commitment towards a united and prosperous Plateau, as against the divisive acts of his predecessors.”
The elders said the opposition PDP was showing high level of desperation for power to loot the commonwealth of the state.
He called on security agencies to be vigilant and ensure peaceful, credible, free and fair election and put a searchlight on the PDP in the state which, he said, is bent on winning the poll at all cost.
”We call on agents and supporters of the APC to be watchful to ensure that their votes really count. Going by the last elections experience where many voters were disenfranchised as a result of the slowness and malfunctioning of card readers and late arrival of election materials, we call on INEC to put all strategies in place to ensure a hitch free exercise.
”We call on the electorates to come out en-masse and vote our amiable, humble and promised-keeping Governor who has left no one in doubt about his sincerity to totally rescue Plateau from the hands of self-seeking individuals who do not mean well for the state and the people.”
Kano
Forty-three political parties yesterday in Kano declared their support for the APC governorship candidate, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
The governorship candidates of the parties, who threw their weight behind governor Ganduje through their spokesman and United People’s Congress (UPC ) governorship candidate Ibrahim Gaya at the African House Government House, directed their members to vote for the APC candidate tomorrow.
Gaya said: “We have dropped our contest and unanimously decided to endorsed the Candidature of Governor Ganduje in order for him to accomplish his mission of staging a comeback and consolidate on socio-economic development of the state.”
APC Chairman Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas hailed the parties for their sacrifice.
He said: “I have personally not witnessed a situation where a gubernatorial candidate will invite fellow colleagues to come dine and wine together in a conducive atmosphere.”
Ganduje said he invited the candidates to the Government House to create mutual understanding between the political parties in the state to demonstrate love and unity of purpose.
Delta
President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to restrain APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole from taking steps capable of disrupting peace in Delta during tomorrow’s election.
Leaders of youth organisations from various ethnic nationalities in Delta State also warned Oshiomhole to steer clear of the state tomorrow, adding that his presence would be violating the law.
The leaders of the ethnic nationalities, led by the President-General of the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities, who is also the National President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Pereotubo Oweilaemi, spoke at a news conference in Warri.
They urged security agencies to be neutral in their duties in all parts of the state on the Election Day.
They said: “While we are hopeful that Deltans will again go to the polls without let or hindrance to cast their votes for their choice candidates come Saturday the 9th of March, 2019, we are worried that certain elements from neighbouring states want to ferment trouble in the State during the elections in order that their preferred candidates win the elections by any means necessary.
“Prominent among such characters who are boasting that they will do everything necessary to rig the elections and to subvert the will of the people including coming to Delta State on the election day to coordinate the activities for his Party, is Comr. Adams Oshiomhole, the national chairman of the APC. While Oshiomhole is free to campaign for his Party within the confines of the law, he has a limit in meddling with the affairs of Delta State which is not his State of origin.
“The Electoral Act, 2010 is very clear on where and how Oshiomhole should conduct himself during the elections. Sections 58, 124, 125, 127, 128, 129, 130 and 131 of the Act did not permit Oshiomhole to be in Delta State on the Election Day. We warm him to desist from his desperate act of meddling into Delta State election. The APC National Chairman’s presence in Delta State on the Election Day will be an invitation to anarchy. It will be a recipe for total breakdown of law and order in the State.
“We the Ethnic Nationalities’ Youths Leaders in the State will not fold our arms and allow foreigners to cause an avoidable crisis for us. We will resist Oshiomhole’s desperation to plunge Delta State into a big crisis. We, therefore, appeal to President Buhari and people of goodwill to call Adams Oshiomhole to order before things get out of control. Should there be any breakdown of law and order in the State then Nigerians should hold Oshiomhole responsible.
“We also appeal to all members of the various political parties in the State to be law abiding and refrain from acts that will lead to needless hostilities in our dear State. Let us collectively fight against electoral violence of any kind and resist the undue interference by foreigners who are heating up the polity for us.”
Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s reelection bid received a boost after the oil and gas host communities of Nigeria(HOSTCOM) Delta State pledged to cast their votes for the PDP.
The group observed that Okowa has done a lot for Deltans through well-executed projects and programmes to merit second term in office.
Its Chairman, Gabriel Isibeluo, said: “All the oil and gas producing communities in Delta State hereby adopts Governor Okowa as our sole candidate for the Governorship position in the elections coming up on Saturday.
“We will vote for someone who has track records of performance, we are aware that traditional rulers of different ethnic nationalities have adopted our Governor as their candidate too and bearing in mind that for you to be an active member of HOSTCOM that you must have your permanent voters cards, on Saturday, all the members of HOSTCOM will cast their votes for our Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa because, he deserves to be re-elected.
“I assure you, our Governor, we will all enter Asaba for the victory dance, HOSTCOM will vote 100 per cent for you Sir, congratulations in advance.”
Okowa thanked HOSTCOM and all Deltans for believing in equity and partnering with his administration to deliver democratic dividends to the people.
“You (HOSTCOM) are giving me a clear mandate as Deltans; I want to thank you for recognising our achievements in the last four years and for endorsing us for continuity till 2023; in our second term, we will continue to have townhall meetings because, a Governor that is not connected to the people is not a Governor; I like to identify with my people, all Deltans without discrimination; we approved that host communities should monitor Delta State Oil Producing Area Developmental Commission (DESOPADEC) projects and report back to me because of our desire for jobs to be executed to specifications; we are aware that there is no state government in this country that has constructed the number of roads like we have done and in the next four years, we shall continue to move from town to town, village to village to execute projects, so, if it has not gotten to your place, be patient, we will get to you, your happiness as Deltans gladdens our heart as government.”
Rivers
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot lose the governorship and State Assembly elections. The Rivers people, he noted were firmly with the party.
According to him, tomorrow’s polls would end what he called “the illegal activities of the political monster” in the state.
Speaking during a town hall meeting with leaders of Rivers East Senatorial District in Port Harcourt, Wike charged the people not to be intimidated by soldiers, as they have a duty to cast their ballot.
He said: “There is no way that the PDP will lose Rivers State and they tell the world that the elections are free and fair. Even if we want to play politics, how would they explain to the International community that PDP lost to an unknown party that did not campaign?
Kwara
In Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, a group, known as O2 Liberation Movement, marched through major streets to rally support for the APC governorship candidate AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in tomorrow polls.
The group was confident that the APC would repeat the feat of the February 23rd presidential and National Assembly elections in the Governorship and States’ House of Assembly elections.
Speaking with reporters, Chairman of the movement, Alhaji Hassan Owoyale said: “We are organising one million-man march in solidarity for the APC governorship candidate in Kwara State and we are calling on all Kwarans to support and vote en masse just as they did two weeks ago for the party and all its candidates at the polls.
“We believe in the ideology of APC, President Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. We are confident that if Alhaji
Abdulrazaq becomes the governor, he will govern differently. Nothing is working in Kwara. We believe that Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is bringing in change. His government will work and be for the people. Not the government that will take our commonwealth to another part of the country.
“The entire people of Kwara State are tired of this administration. They want change and that is what we are clamouring for. This liberation struggle has been on for the 10 years and we have been talking to people that we want a government that will give us free education, free health for our people and many things that we deserve in democracy.
“The Liberation movement group at the last weekend visited some APC stalwarts to celebrate the party’s victory during the presidential and National Assembly elections.”
Some chieftains visited included former governorship candidate Mohammed Dele Belgore, Alhaji Olosasa, Alhaji Musa Maiyaki, Dr Saliu Ajia, Lanre Sulyman, Dr Amuda Aluko among others.
Sokoto
In Sokoto, leaders of the Ardos and Magajis) and thousands of their members Silame, Wamakko, Tangaza, Gudu, Yabo, Shagari, Binji and Tureta local government areas dumped the PDP for the APC.
APC Chairman in the state, Alhaji Shehu Aliyu said that they left their former party sequel to their recurring neglect by the leaders of the PDP.
According to him, the leaders and their followers have resolved to pitch their camps with the APC, as well as assiduously work to ensure the success of its candidates during the forthcoming governorship and assembly polls.
The leader of the APC in Senator and Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, yesterday organised special prayers for peaceful polls.
Wamakko said: “God gives and takes leadership and we solely rely on Him to succeed. Fervent prayers are potent armours against any ill-will.
“The prayers are being offered to seek divine protection and to ensure the conduct of the forthcoming polls peacefully. The prayers are also aimed at ensuring sustainable peace, unity and socioeconomic prosperity in the State and Nigeria at large.”
The former governor said the relationship between the APC and the Sultanate remained cordial.
“The Sultan is apolitical and he is a Father to all. We have an excellent and perfect relationship with the Sultan, as well as the Sultanate Council of Sokoto. He is a highly revered leader, whom we all cherish and respect. Our party will also continue to uphold the dignity and exalted status of the traditional rulers.”
In a statement by its Secretary, Mr Umar Faruk Ladan, The Sultanate council also advised voters and members of the public to maintain adequate peace before, during and after the election.
It further urged electorates to continue to cooperate with security agencies at all levels to help them provide peaceful atmosphere during the exercise.
The leader of Kwara’s crumbling dynasty has reportedly conceded defeat even as he urged his party to fight to the finish, apparently hoping for a political miracle in the gubernatorial and state assembly elections this Saturday.
The margins of defeat from the February 23 elections are indisputable just like the resolve of the electorate to break away from the past; a past characterised by cronyism, ineptitude, deceit and profligacy.
For over four decades, the Saraki political dynasty has held sway dictating who gets what in Kwara State. The patriarch of the dynasty, Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki, was very popular among his people due to his politics of inclusiveness. He consistently shared in their pains and joy.
This perhaps led to his election into the upper chamber of the National Assembly and his emergence as the leader of the senate in 1979. From 1979, Saraki installed civilian governors of Kwara State, namely AdamuAttah, Cornelius Adebayo, Sha’aba Lafiaji and Mohammed Lawal who ruled from 1999-2003. In 2003, he fielded his son Dr BukolaSaraki who won two terms as governor.
Bukola led the affairs of the state from 2003-2011 before installing his crony, Abdulfatah Ahmed, as his successor. The younger Saraki, prior to the demise of his father about a year later, had taken over the leadership of the dynasty and was already dictating affairs of the state. Henceforth, he consistently deployed huge resources to win all elections in the state for his party and candidates. The last of such polls was the 2017 local government election which appeared largely manipulated in his favour. Less than two years later, Saraki and his candidates surprisingly tasted defeat for the first time in the February 23, presidential and National Assembly elections.
The defeat of Saraki in his bid to return to the senate was excruciating, signalling the end of the dynasty. He lost the election with an unimaginable margin. Flying the PDP flag, the seemingly invincible Saraki lost in all four local governments (Asa, Ilorin West, Ilorin South and Ilorin East) that make up his Kwara Central senatorial district, scoring 68, 994 votes as against 123, 808 votes garnered by his main challenger, Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe.
The senate president not winning his own seat is a big deal. He was simply run out of town. Though the election may have been won and lost, the questions political pundits have been asking is how did Saraki lose this election to the APC candidate he defeated in the same contest in 2011?
The answers are not far-fetched. They are located in a dismal record of performance; Saraki acting as a tin god; re-cycling discredited politicians and the frustrations of an enlightened electorate encapsulated in the phenomenal slogan: O to ge.
The outgoing administration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has been eight wasted years of misrule, characterised by infrastructure deficit, disregard for welfare of workers and several unfulfilled promises. Like his immediate predecessor, Ahmed’s government succeeded in impoverishing the people of Kwara further. Local Government Council and state Universal Basic Education Board workers are owed salaries while pensioners are also owed their gratuities. Many Kwarans are wont to rue the slow pace of infrastructural development, particularly in the last eight years.
Prior to his defeat, the senate president believed he had Kwara in his grip and that the state is impregnable for any challenger on the political turf. Preferring to dominate the scene, Saraki deliberately avoided picking popular candidates for elections. He held the fortunes of the state hostage for the last 16 years but Kwarans have had it all; the elastic limit of patience and suffering was overstretched here.
Another undoing of Saraki was his preference for consistently appointing same set of self-centred individuals into government positions. Some of them have been in government even before Saraki became the governor with no traceable impact in government and their community. He preferred these set of people based on their loyalty to the dynasty and not for their competence or performance. It was therefore not a surprise that virtually all Saraki’s foot soldiers were defeated at their polling units.
For several years, many Kwarans especially the aged and unemployed youths were satisfied with receiving handouts from the dynasty in the name of empowerment. Not anymore as people of the state have now realized that there is heavy prize to pay for every plate of food or N1,000 worth Ankara they received from the politician.
The O to ge slogan, translated to mean ‘enough is enough’, was a masterstroke that resonated among the electorate and it became very popular through various radio programmes. It was a ‘quit notice’ to the Saraki dynasty that has brought untold hardship on the people of the state.
For all those who have been following events in the state, the Saraki dynasty has won elections when it enjoyed the ‘protection’ from the government at the centre. That was not so in 2015 as it rode on the popularity of Muhammadu Buhari to triumph over the opposition. In 2019, Saraki had no federal might. The heavy security presence, effective check of political thugs, re-deployment of INEC officials and security agents he consistently influence with his deep pocket meant Saraki had no machinery to manipulate the outcome of the election.
The April 5, 2018, Offa bank robbery incident is one sin many Kwarans will for many years hold against the present administration and Saraki. Not that anyone is accusing Governor Ahmed and Saraki as the perpetrators, but it is believed they created the environment for such dastardly act. Ahmed, as the chief security officer of the state, paid kid gloves to the issue of security, especially outside Ilorin, until the bloodletting incident that claimed about 33 lives, including nine policemen. He also failed to create employment opportunities for the youths in the state. They became easy recruits for cultism and robbery.
Saraki appeared to have incurred the wrath of the people of Offa when he boasted on radio last December that he donated N10million to the families of the victims without minding the unquantifiable value of the 33 lives lost to the unfortunate incident.
Going to the polls this Saturday, Kwarans appear so determined to nail the coffin of a parasitic political dynasty for good. The indices are constant and it’s a resolve for total liberation.
A Kwara state High Court sitting in Ilorin, the state capital has sentenced a notorious criminal, Olatunji Ibrahim Ariyo and four others to death.
Others include Ganiyu Sulyman Yaro, Timothy Oyebanji, Lukman Olateju Sanda and Akeem Olayinka (deceased).
They are to die by hanging, the court said.
Ariyo who is popular in the state capital for his nefarious activities.
In her judgement, Justice Adenike Akinpelu said that the convicts were tried on a six-count charge for the offences of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, causing mischief by fire and theft contrary to section 6 (b) and 1 (2) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 and sections 337 and 286 of the Penal code.
The court held that on 25th April, 2015, the convict committed the said offences at Agbarere area, in Ilorin.
“Each of the convicts is sentenced to imprisonment for a term of two years and the sum of N25,000 is imposed as fine on each of them on count 5 for causing mischief by fire.
“Each of the convict is sentenced to death to be executed pursuant to Robbery and Firearms Act on count 1, 2, 3 and 4 for the offences of criminal conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery respectively.
Making appearance for the prosecution are the state Director of Public Prosecution, Barr. Abdulmumini Adebimpe Jimoh, Senior State Counsels, Kayode Adekeye and B. O Banigbe.
Toyin Muhammed Onanolapo appeared for the first accused while Ayodeji Azeez represented the second accused in the matter.
Ariyo with his gang were said to have invaded homes of no fewer than eight families in Ilorin metropolis to carry out robbery attacks.
POLITICAL parties are joining forces for better performance in Saturday’s Governorship and States’ Assembly Elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is conducting governorship elections in 29 states. The assembly elections are holding in all the 36 states and the six council areas in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The candidates are outsmarting one another in last-minute moves to sway the electorate’s support ahead of the poll.
Here is a report of events in the states:
LAGOS
In Lagos, 30 candidates are backing All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
TARABA
In Taraba, the local chairman of the APC, Alhaji Ibrahim El-Sudi, insisted that Sani Abubakar remained its candidate for the governorship election.
El-Sudi was reacting to a Federal High Court order earlier yesterday in Jalingo which disqualified Abubakar on the grounds of falsification of age. He said that the same case had been determined and dismissed by a superior court in 2007.
The chairman noted that the party’s lawyers had swung into action to appeal the “mischievous judgement”.
He urged the party’s supporters to continue with their campaign.
A Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, the state capital, presided over by Justice Stephen Pam, had issued an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and APC not to recognise Abubakar as a governorship candidate.
A copy of the judgment showed that Usman Udi, Joshua Paaku, George Geofrey and Muslim Munkaila, had on January 9, urged the court to disqualify Abubakar for falsifying his date of birth.
“It is hereby declared that the information contained in the affidavit Abubakar supporting his personal particulars that he was born on February 14, 1968 is in conflict with his date of birth contained in the West African Senior School Certificate he submitted to INEC,” the court noted.
NIGER
Governorship candidates were locked in series of meetings to seal the support of their supporters.
Some of the candidates took their campaigns to churches, holding talks with religious leaders to solicit for votes.
The Nation gathered that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate, Joshua Bawa, had visited three churches between Sunday and yesterday.
The two main contenders – the APC and PDP – have been meeting with various religious leaders and youth groups to strengthen their support bases.
APC candidate and incumbent Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has been meeting with labour, religious leaders, indigenous groups, women, pressure groups and directors in Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
KWARA
No fewer than 37 political parties in Kwara State pledged to support APC governorship candidate Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
The parties, under the umbrella of Kwara Like-Minds Political Parties (KLPP), backed all the APC House of Assembly candidates at the poll.
Addressing reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, spokesperson of the parties, Prince Oladele Sunday, directed their members to vote en masse for the candidates all the APC on Saturday.
Prince Sunday said: “We are at a critical stage in our country, but most especially our dear state is already in political labour room and KLPP has joined hands with APC and other stakeholders in taking a successful delivery of liberated Kwara.
“Today is not meant for an unending discussion but to let the whole world know that when the people were dying slowly in the hands of political tyrants, the KLPP showed up. When the people were groaning and gnashing their teeth under bad governance in the state, posterity will be fair to us that KLPP showed up.
“Finally, members of KLPP hereby instruct our numerous members and appeal to the teeming voters in the state to come out en masse on March 9th to vote for all APC candidates. Let us all ‘show up’ so that we can all move from ‘O to gee’ (It’s enough) to ‘O to pe’ (It’s worthy of praise)”.
APC Chairman Bashir Bolarinwa said: “The forthcoming governorship and House of Assembly elections are equally important to the APC. It is important to us as a party and the people of Kwara State.
“I want to say here that out of 55 political parties that are functional in the state, today are above 35 have openly declared to identify with us. What that simply means is that all of them as members of these political parties are directing their members and appealing to the people to vote on Saturday for the governorship candidate of our party.
“Further to that, all the 24 House of Assembly candidates of APC will on Saturday be candidates of their parties as well.”
Also yesterday, a former state lawmaker, Wole Oke, said the victory of the APC candidates “means total freedom for Kwarans”.
ENUGU
In Enugu State, 70 political parties were said to have adopted incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the sole candidate.
The parties, under the auspices of the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP), unanimously adopted Ugwuanyi of the PDP as their consensus candidate.
The leaders of the political parties, who conveyed their position to the governor when they visited him at the Government House, Enugu, said: “Our mission here tonight is to reaffirm our total, unalloyed, unequivocal and unconditional support for your re-election as governor come March 9, 2019, which is barely five (four) days away.”
OYO
The Oyo State chapter of the APC berated the PDP candidate, Seyi Makinde, for “his double standards”.
It urged the people not to trust an individual with such a major character flaw with their mandate.
The APC lambasted Makinde on his coalition with the gubernatorial candidates of Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator Femi Lanlehin, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Sarafadeen Alli, the leader of ZLP, Rashidi Ladoja and others.
According to the APC spokesman, Dr AbdulAzeez Olatunde, Makinde should explain “to the electorate who Ladoja, Lanlehin and Sarafa are to him as the APC does not want to preempt him by calling them godsons”.
Olatunde felicitated with some members of ADC, ZLP, SDP and others for jumping off the “sinking ships” of the parties to align with the ruling party, stressing that “the APC knows their worth and will accord them their due respect and regard”.
RIVERS
An APC chieftain in Rivers State, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, restated the people’s determination to sack Governor Nyesom Wike with their ballot on Saturday.
He said the resolution was because of what he called the abysmal performance of the PDP-led administration in the Southsouth state in the past four years.
In an online statement, Eze alleged that Wike was the initiator of the call for his sack by Rivers people.
Eze said: “The failure of Wike’s administration is responsible for why most Rivers people want him to go on May 29 this year. Rivers State is losing out on development, since Wike forced his way into office through the bloody and massively-rigged 2015 elections.
Wike is the arrowhead of the agitation to remove him (Wike) from the Brick House (Government House, Port Harcourt), a project he initiated immediately he assumed office on May 29, 2015, by scaring away investors from the state, through the promotion of insecurity.”
Members of the Coalition of Like-minded Rivers People described March 9 as the state’s day of hope, when Wike will be voted out.
The group, at a news conference in Port Harcourt, as part of the massive protests they started on Monday in the state capital, declared that there was no going back in ensuring that a focused and God-fearing person would be the occupant of the Government House from May 29.
The coalition’s three-page address was read by Azubuike Wanjoku, the President-General of Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM) International, who is also a member of the House of Assembly, representing Ikwerre constituency.
But Wike, through his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, urged the people to ignore what he called “the propaganda of the APC”.
He insisted that Wike’s impressive performance across the 23 local government areas would earn the PDP re-election on March 9.
Also yesterday, the Police debunked the alleged plan to kidnap the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State. They urged the public to disregard it as fake news.
Commissioner of Police Usman Belel, who debunked the rumour, described it as unfounded and unverifiable.
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Electoronic Media, Simoen Nwakudu, had in a statment on Tuesday, raised the alarm on the alleged plan by APC members to kidnap the REC ahead of the polls to push for its postponement.
But the Police Commissioner said that his men were on top of the security situation.
The commissioner said there was no cause for alarm.
DELTA
The governorship candidate of the Allied congress party of Nigeria (ACPN) in Delta State, Chief Paul Isamade, urged Deltians to reject Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of the PDP, alleging that his four-year reign has brought nothing but backwardness to the state.
Isamade, who is also the National Secretary of the party, said it was “unfortunate that 20 years into the current democratic dispensation, Delta State is still not working inspiite of the huge revenue that has accrued to it.”
CROSS RIVER
Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has not been sacked by the Court of Appeal, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary Christian Ita, said yesterday.
Ita described as fake news reports trending on social media claiming the governor has been sacked by the appellate court in Lagos as the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Saturday’s election.
In a statement, the spokesman said there was no such pending matter in the Appeal Court.
He maintained that the case instituted in a Federal High Court in Abuja by Mr. Emmanuel Ibeshi was discontinued when he filed a legitimate notice of discontinuance and as such never went on appeal.
He blamed the report on political opponents who have been dazed by the reality that the governor’s re-election bid was a fait acompli.
The statement, therefore, urged members of the public and the governor’s teeming supporters to disregard the fake report.
Every revolution starts like a seed, it grows to become an oak tree,’’ these were the words of the 79 year-old Alhaji LAK Jimoh, the originator of the campaign slogan, “O To Ge”, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara.
The septuagenarian whose LAK acronyms stand for Lazeez Ayinla Kolawole, spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on how he came about the wild fire campaign slogan, “O to Ge” which literally translates to “Enough is Enough’’.
“O To Ge’’ has been described by election observers as an impactful three words campaign slogan effectively used to end decades of political hegemony of a self-imposed dynasty in Kwara.
The observers saw the APC’s clean sweep of the Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state as an upset and a death knell for the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara politics.
In the elections, PDP unprecedentedly, lost the presidential election and the entire three Senatorial and six House of Representatives seats to the APC.
The major upset was the defeat of the senate president in his stronghold, Kwara Central Senatorial zone by the APC candidate, Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe.
Oloriegbe polled a total of 123,808 votes to defeat the Senate President who scored 68,994 votes in the four Local Governments Areas of Kwara Central Senatorial District.
Contrary to claims in certain quarters, Jimoh, a renowned politician in Kwara, said “O to Ge’’ movement actually started in 2010 when he was an aspirant for the Kwara Central Senatorial seat under the PDP, preparatory to the 2011 general elections.
The 1971 graduate of Political Science from the University of Lagos said he contested the seat with Saraki, but was “robbed of his mandate’’.
Before, 2010, Jimoh said he had used a similar slogan, “It Is Time For Change’’ in 1983 when he contested Kwara Governorship Primaries of the PDP which was also won by Bukola Saraki.
“This movement did not just start in 2018. Every revolution starts like a seed and with time it grows to become an oak tree.
“When I foresaw the revolution that will end the era of bad governance in Kwara, majority of the people did not see it.
“People did not see it then and I was accused of being too revolutionary but I assured them that we will ultimately get there.
“Gradually, the revolution assumed the spine and magnitude that we just saw in this year’s election, when the people used the power of vote to dethrone decades of political dynasty that had impoverished Kwara,’’ he said.
Jimoh, who left public service as Permanent Secretary in 1982 for active politics, alleged that for 40 years, Kwara was under the “government of hegemony of exploitation, massive looting of public resources and administration so insensitive to the plights of the people’’.
He explained: “Kwara is not an industrial state, it is an agrarian state but today we do not have even a Ministry of Agriculture. We do not have any thriving agricultural project at all.
“All the agric nurseries and training schools and even the land of the Ministry of Agriculture were sold out.’’
He said the media hyped multi-billion Naira Shonga Farm project by Bukola Saraki as governor of Kwara was a sham.
“Billons of Naira were pumped into the project but till today no single farm product came out of the farm till it got Moribund.
“It is all fraud. What they called Zimbabwe farmers were just farm workers who did not bring a dime to the state for investment yet they called them investors.
“It was the state government that borrowed billions of Naira from the defunct Intercontinental Bank and gave it to these people but we have nothing to show for it,’’ he said.
Jimoh said that Kwara inherited some employment creating establishments like the Jebba Paper Mill, Tate and Lile Sugar manufacturing company in Bacita and the British Morris Tobacco Company, which had all collapsed because of hostile economic atmosphere.
He alleged that the state owned Trade Bank, was liquidated simply because the management was not cooperating with political authority to use the Bank for looting of resources.
Jimoh said under the watchful eyes of the past administrations also, state owned Gateway Insurance Company, Kwara Express and Kwara Hotels folded up.
He said the state had witnessed a total decay of infrastructure, ranging from bad roads, poor health delivery system, collapse of environmental sanitation and educational system.
“When I saw all these, I said we must not continue in that way and allow these people to destroy the state.
“Then, I said, “O to Ge, Enough is Enough. We must rise against the misrule and slavery,’’ he said.
Jimoh said the maladministration started having significant impact on the people when it was extended to the civil service when workers, pensioners and the common man started feeling the pinch.
He said the civil service which ought to be the engine room of government was politicised and turned to rubber stamp.
Jimoh said some Level 12 officers with political godfathers were being appointed as Permanent Secretaries above their seniors thereby, dampening the morale of workers
He said the situation got so bad that government could no longer pay salaries of civil servants as well as gratuities and pensions of retirees.
“With reckless looting of the state’s treasury and siphoning of government money to individual pockets, the government could not pay salaries of civil servants.
“The entitlements of retirees after 35 years of active service to the state were not paid and they were regularly being called for screening during which many of them died
“In 2008, the Bukola Saraki government borrowed N3.3 billion from Intercontinental Bank to settle the accumulated arrears of benefits of Kwara retirees.
“When the government received the money, a committee set up for the disbursement recommended that 50 per cent of the money be used for the pensioners while the balance be used for the development of infrastructure.’’
Jimoh said the pensioners challenged the legality of the government’s decision to use the money borrowed to settle their entitlements for development of infrastructure.
He said the matter got to the Supreme Court and many of the pensioners were yet to be paid.
Jimoh said the Local Government Administration was not left out in the maladministration with the Joint Account System which had left the Councils unproductive.
He said the cumulative effects of decades of bad governance led to the mass action and revolution fuelled by “O to Ge movement that witnessed the end of the Saraki grip on Kwara politics.
“It is not just about campaign because the people of Kwara decided that they want a change of government because they were tired of the old order.
“What we have achieved today is the collective efforts of all Kwarans who wear the shoes and know where they pinch,’’ he said.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who is the APC leader in Kwara shared the view of Jimoh that the liberation of Kwara from the grip of a crippling hegemony was a collective effort of all Kwarans.
The minister recently said at an event in Abuja: “I must stress and I have said this that the credit for the liberation of Kwara goes to the good people of the state who, in spite of efforts to compromise them, refused to sell their votes.
“A simple slogan, O To Ge (Enough is Enough), captured the determination of the people to vote out those who have held them down for decades. And that
is precisely what they did.
“The victory in Kwara was achieved in the sweetest way. The election was conducted in an atmosphere of peace and security.
“No single shot was fired throughout Kwara. No one snatched ballot box. It was an atmosphere of conviviality. It was a sharp departure from what used to be in the state.
“It confirms what we have been saying, that when there is adequate security, there will be a level playing ground for all the parties, and for all Kwarans,’’ he said.
The minister, however, appealed that the job was not completed yet, until March 9, the date for the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
He urged everyone to come out en masse to vote for all APC candidates and make it another free, fair, credible and peaceful election.
Mohammed urged the voters to ignore the threat by the opposition to disrupt the Saturday’s poll assuring that the government would provide adequate security to protect them.
He said they got the information that the opposition were planning to unleash political thugs to attack and intimidate voters during the Saturday’s poll.
“We have been hearing a lot of things that the opposition has imported a lot of thugs to Kwara to disrupt Saturday’s elections.
“If anyone does so, he or she will be risking his or her life.’’
He reassured the people that the Federal Government would provide adequate security for all during the elections scheduled for Saturday.
NAN
Retirees under the aegis of Local Government Pensioners Association of Nigeria have accused the Kwara state government of planning to totally annihilating local government pensioners.
The association condemned the discriminatory attitude of the state government as reflected in the state Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC)’s Monday meeting.
In a statement Chairman, Secretary and spokesperson of the association Alhaji Isiaka Akanbi, Alhaji K.A Audu and Prince Ademola Ajibade said the state government owes the pensioners over nine- month pension arrears.
The statement reads: “In the meeting, the JAAC allocated 100 percent salaries to the state Universal Education Board (SUBEB) and serving local government staff whereas the pensioners and vulnerable were paid 40 percent pension for the month of February, 2019.
“The association believes that this action was taken as fallout of the conference its members held with the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership where the pensioners tabled their plights.
“For the purpose of clarity, only 40 percent of monthly pension for the month of February is being paid to local government/local
government education authority pensioners in the state as against the picture painted in the media by the state government that retirees were paid 100 percent for the said month.
“The association therefore condemns this callous attitude of the state government being perpetrated since the assumption of office of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.
“It hereby calls on well-meaning Kwarans to prevail on the state government to ensure that this obnoxious attitude targeted at the aged personnel is put to a stop.”