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  • APC postpones Imo, Lagos States Governorship primary elections

    … Inaugurates 21-member National Convention Committee 

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has postponed its governorship primary elections for Imo and Lagos states to Monday, Oct.1.

    Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the party’s National Chairman announced this on Saturday in Abuja,while inaugurating the party’s Governorship Primary Election Committee and the Presidential National Convention Committee.

    Oshiomhole, who attributed logistics for postponing the primary election in the two states, said it would hold on Sunday (tomorrow) in other states of the federation as earlier scheduled.

    “We have decided to postpone the governorship primary election in Imo and Lagos states to Monday Oct.1, even though it is public holiday.

    “There is nothing in the law that says we cannot conduct our party affairs on the day of public holidays.

    “We are sure that we will be able to rectify logistic challenges between now and the end of tomorrow, “ Oshiomhole said.

    He added that the party`s secretariat would get to the committees through its chairmen to hand over documents and all materials including ballot papers and result sheets they would use for the primary election.

    He further added that no fewer than 177 governorship aspirants were currently jostling to get the party’s tickets to contest governorship election in 29 states.

    He thanked the committee members for honouring the party’s invitation at short notice and for accepting to serve it and the nation generally.

    The APC national chairman stressed that members of the committee had a duty to ensure that the core values of the party was adhered to, adding that they should remain neutral while carrying out their assignments.

    He added that the party’s leadership was doing everything possible to ensure proper security in states of the federation where the governorship primaries would be held.

    Oshiomhole said the presidential national convention committee must reflect the ray of the future with gender balance.

    “We want to organise a convention that is different. We want a convention that goes beyond electioneering, “ he said.

    He added that the national convention should discuss the Nigeria agenda, issues of governance, development and economic issues as well as social choices.

    “Let us disagree and agree within that convention in addition to confirming the presidential candidate and maybe amend any section of the Constitution that we might want to.

    Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state, who is the chairman of the 21-member presidential national convention committee, thanked the party`s leadership for the opportunity to serve.

    “I thank you for giving us the opportunity to participate in laying the foundation for our 2019 electoral victory, because if you see the quality of the foundation, you will know how the building will be.

    “The foundation you have laid today is so solid that I have no doubt that we will succeed in 2019 election, “ he said.

    He stressed that the committee would not let the party down and assured that it would do its best to ensure that the party`s victory in 2019, was secured.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while Kashim Shettima would serve as the committee Vice Chairman, Hadiza Bala Usman would serve as its Secretary.

    Other members of the committee are Babatunde Fashola, Audu Ogbeh, Nasiru El-Rufai, Rochas Okorocha, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Kayode Fayemi, Abubakar Bagudu and Mohammed Abubakar.

    Godwin Obaseki, Simon Lalong, Sen. Emma Anosike, Hajiya Hauwa Sule, Timipre Sylva, Mr Sharon Ikeazor, Dr Ramatu Tijani, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Stella Okotete and Paulen Tallen are all members of the committee.

    The presidential national convention had been fixed for Oct. 6 to ratify President Muhammadu Buhari as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2019 election.

    The list of members of the governorship primary election across the states of the federation is attached below:

     

    Full List of APC Governorship Primaries Committee for September 30:

    SOUTH EAST

    ABIA STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1.       DAVID IYOHA CHAIRMAN
    2.       NASIRU ADAMU JEGIRI SECRETARY
    3.       HON. IBRAHIM GAMBO MEMBER
    4.       HON. SAM ADEROGBOYE MEMBER
    5.       MUSA HUSAINI SHELLENG MEMBER
    6.       HAJIA AMINA MOHAMMED MEMBER


    EBONYI STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. SENATOR DOMINGO OBENDE CHAIRMAN
    2. EMEKA UMEAKUKAR SECRETARY
    3. HON. RAYANU ILYASU MEMBER
    4. MALLAM UMAR ABU MEMBER
    5. BAR. LEKAN ADESHINA MEMBER
    6. MRS RACHEAL AKPABIO MEMBR
    7. BARR. MARCEL ODIEDI MEMBER


    ENUGU STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. PROF. MOSES MOMOH CHAIRMAN
    2. CHIEF BERNARD MIKO SECRETARY
    3. RT. HON. AYO AGBONMONSERIN MEMBER
    4. MRS QUESS OYADONGHA MEMBER
    5. MOHAMMED GOMBE MEMBER
    6. PRINCEWILL EJOGHARADO MEMBER
    7. ABUBAKAR BELLO MEMBER


    IMO STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. ALH. AHMED GULAK CHAIRMAN
    2. HENRY IDAHAGBON SECRETARY
    3. BERNARD MIKKO MEMBER
    4. KASHIM MOHAMMED MEMBER
    5. ALH. SADIQUE GEBE MEMBER
    6. MR. JOSEPH ENYIUKPO MEMBER
    7. YAKASSAI MUKTARI MEMBER
    8. AZOM CHIME UCHENNA MEMBER
    9. DR. AHMED AMINU MEMBER
    10. CHARLES NWABUEZE MEMBER
    11. COL. ANTHONY IGBANOR MEMBER
    12. ENG. FORT DIKE MEMBER

     

    NORTH CENTRAL

    BENUE STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. CHIEF MUTIU ARE CHAIRMAN
    2. BIODUN OYEBANJI SECRETARY
    3. HON. ISAH SONG MEMBER
    4. ABUBAKAR MARU MEMBER
    5. ANDREW SERIKI MEMBER
    6. ENGR. NDUBUISI NWANKWO MEMBER
    7. YUSUF DAN UMAR MEMBER


    NASARAWA STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. ISMAIL AHMED CHAIRMAN
    2. HON. ABDULLAHI CANDIDO SECRETARY
    3.   MEMBER
    4. MRS TOLA JACOBS MEMBER
    5. MRS LYINDA EDEM AK MEMBER
    6. YETUNDE ADENIYI MEMBER
    7. CHIEF OBINNA NNORO MEMBER
    8. MR. DOMINIC ALANCHA MEMBER


    NIGER STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. LUCKY IMASUEN CHAIRMAN
    2. HON. SAIDU AKAWU SALIHU SECRETARY
    3. HON. SADIQ MAMMAN MEMBER
    4. IBRAHIM UMAR MORIKI MEMBER
    5. CHIEF DR. LIBERTY ATSU MEMBER
    6. MAI MODU SHERIF MEMBER
    7. BARR. MARTINS MUKORO MEMBER
    8. THANKGOD IMOH MEMBER
    9. HON. SUNDAY ADUNMO MEMBER


    PLATEAU STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. SENATOR OBADORA CHAIRMAN
    2. HON. BRAI OSHIORENUA SECRETARY
    3. SIR PHIL EZEH MEMBER
    4. BASHIR MIJINYAWA MEMBER
    5. MR. DIKE T.C.  DIKE MEMBER
    6. AHMED MUSA GEIDAM MEMBER
    7. DAN ASABE SULEIMAN KAKANDA MEMBER

     

    NORTH EAST

    ADAMAWA STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. YERIMA A. GIADE CHAIRMAN
    2. CHRIS DIRISU SECRETARY
    3. ROMEO SHAIBU OMOIKE MEMBER
    4. DR. ADAMU ABBA MEMBER
    5. WAKIL AHMED SARKI MEMBER
    6. RICHARD AGWA MEMBER
    7. ABDULLAHI HAWA YUSUF MEMBER


    BAUCHI STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. PROF. AHMED BAKARI CHAIRMAN
    2. PROF DALHATU SAUGARI SECRETARY
    3. CAOT. RTD. KAZEEM A. JIDE MEMBER
    4. TIJANI RAMALLAN MEMBER
    5. ALH. LAWAL KENKEN MEMBER
    6. DR. SANUSI YAKUBU MEMBER
    7. HON. ENGR. BEKE APERE MEMBER
    8. CHIEF DIRON ADESUAN MEMBER
    9. ANDREW MOMODU MEMBER


    GOMBE STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. ABU BAWORO CHAIRMAN
    2. PROF. SANI RINGIM SECRETARY
    3. HON. MOUKTAR GARO MEMBER
    4. TOM ODEMWINGIE MEMBER
    5. ELDER EMMA OKORO MEMBER
    6. HON. USMAN BALKORE MEMBER
    7. ABDULFATAI AGUNLEYI MEMBER


    TARABA STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. SEN. EMMANUEL OCHEJA CHAIRMAN
    2. HON, ALI KAGU LAWAL SECRETARY
    3. DR. LODRICK CHIDI ENEH MEMBER
    4. ABDUL MALIK YAKUBU MEMBER
    5. SHOLA OYINLOLA MEMBER
    6. ABBATI RASHID RAFINDADI MEMBER
    7. BARR. MENYECHI ONUOHA MEMBER


    YOBE STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. UMAR LAWAN KARETO CHAIRMAN
    2. ANTIBAS ELNATHAN SECRETARY
    3. HON. ALIYU UGBENA MEMBER
    4. OTUNBA SEYI ODUNTAN MEMBER
    5. HAJIA HASSANA ABDULLAHI MEMBER
    6. ALI MAKODA MEMBER
    7. HON. BABBA UMAR MEMBER


    BORNO STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. HON. AHMAD EL-MARZUQ CHAIRMAN
    2. MALLAMI ABDULKADIR SECRETARY
    3. SALIHU BABA AHMED MEMBER
    4. HON. BIODUN OMOLEYE MEMBER
    5. RT. HON. ADEYEMI IKUFORIGI MEMBER
    6. GARBA N. DANZARIA MEMBER
    7. OYINVWI ONOME KENVIL MEMBER
    8. MAITURARE AHMED MEMBER


    KANO STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. DR. PIUS ODUBU CHAIRMAN
    2. ABDULAZIZ BELLO SECRETARY
    3. ALH. YAHAYA AMIN MEMBER
    4. HON. AMAH NWAUWA MEMBER
    5. SHAMSU SULE FUNTUA MEMBER
    6. USMAN AHMED NAHUCHE MEMBER
    7. SURAJUDEEN OYEDELE MEMBER


    KEBBI STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. PROF. OSUNBO OSAREME CHAIRMAN
    2. ENG. SAID ABUBAKAR SECRETARY
    3. COMRADE GARBA MUSA BELLO MEMBER
    4. IBRAHIM ADAMU MEMBER
    5. DR. JOHNSON ATAEKONG MEMBER
    6. MR JAMES LALU MEMBER
    7. DR. SAMMY EKPE MEMBER


    KATSINA STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. DR. ISA ADAMU CHAIRMAN
    2. DR. HARUNA YERIMA SECRETARY
    3. AMINU HUSAINI MEMBER
    4. YAKUBU B. HADEJIA MEMBER
    5. ENG. ABDULLAHI GASHIR MEMBER
    6. BAKO ZANNA MEMBER
    7. BABAGANA TUKOR MEMBER


    SOKOTO STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. ALHAJI SULEIMAN ABUBAKAR CHAIRMAN
    2. ALHAJI SALAU ABUBAKAR SECRETARY
    3. LAWAL ZUBERU MEMBER
    4. CHIEF SILAS CHUKWU ONWO MEMBER
    5. ILYASU HAMID MEMBER
    6. CYRIL EYOP MEMBER
    7. DR. ISHAQ KOLAWOLE MEMBER


    ZAMFARA STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. BARR. AMINU ASINACHI CHAIRMAN
    2. DR. ABBAS KATAGUN SECRETARY
    3. MOHAMMED MAUZO MEMBER
    4. DANLAMI ZURU MEMBER
    5. ZUBAIRU SULEIMAN MEMBER
    6. RABIU GARBA MEMBER
    7. BELLO IBRAHIM MEMBER


    JIGAWA STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. SEN. ABUBAKAR SADIQ CHAIRMAN
    2. BELLO IBRAHIM SECRETARY
    3. BARAKA SANI ZAKKA MEMBER
    4. HON. IBRAHIM TURAKI MEMBER
    5. YUSUF BARMO MEMBER
    6. MRS. TEMITOPE OYEWOLE MEMBER
    7. AMBAYA ATTAHIRU ISA MEMBER


    KADUNA STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. MATTHEW IDUYEKHEU CHAIRMAN
    2. BARR. SANUSI MUSA SECRETARY
    3. ALH. ABU GAMBO MEMBER
    4. PROF. EDDY FLOYD IGBO MEMBER
    5. ENGR. GABRIEL IDUSERI MEMBER
    6. UMARU ALIYA AJIYAN NASARAWA MEMBER
    7. HON. HAKEEM OKEDARA MEMBER

     

    SOUTH SOUTH

    AKWA – IBOM STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. BARR. YAMAH MOMOH CHAIRMAN
    2. HON. ABBAS BRAIMAH SECRETARY
    3. ALH. UBA MALAMI MEMBER
    4. AHMED OKARA MEMBER
    5. HON. NADA KARIBO MEMBER
    6. ALH. MURTALA ADHAMA MEMBER
    7. ALH. GARBA MUSLIMA MEMBER
    8. HAJIA AMINA GAMAWA MEMBER
    9. HON. YUSUF MAIANGUWA MEMBER


    DELTA STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. LAWRENCE ONOJA CHAIRMAN
    2. EDREES SALEH DANMAIRAFI SECRETARY
    3. BARR. ELVIS ASORO MEMBER
    4. ENG. CHIMA AGU MEMBER
    5. ISA DONGOYARO MEMBER
    6. OLU KOGAR MEMBER
    7. PRINCE PROGRESS MEFFOR MEMBER


    CROSS- RIVER STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. SEN. AHMED YERIMA CHAIRMAN
    2. BARR. OLUSEGUN ILORI SECRETARY
    3. BARR. NATHANIEL IKEOHA MEMBER
    4. GEORGE IZUWA MEMBER
    5. HON. TOM ZAKARI MEMBER
    6. MR. OLU ABIOLA MEMBER
    7. BARR. AKINSANYA AYODELE MEMBER

     

    RIVERS STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1.       RTD. JAFFAR LAWAL ISA CHAIRMAN
    2.       TUKUR AHMED JIKAMSHT SECRETARY
    3.       MUBASHIR ALUKO MEMBER
    4.       ALIYU AMINU MEMBER
    5.       CHIEF KOLA ADEYENI MEMBER
    6.       BARR. MENYECHI ONUOHA MEMBER
    7.       DR. MUSTAPHA TIJANI MEMBER
    8.       SAIDU UBA MALAMI MEMBER

     

    SOUTH WEST

    LAGOS STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. CHIEF EBIRI CHAIRMAN
    2. H.E. DANKI GARI SECRETARY
    3. ALI. AHMED MUHAADU MEMBER
    4. SENATOR CLEVER IKISIKPO MEMBER
    5. CLEVE EGBEJI MEMBER
    6. HON. CHIDI EZE MEMBER
    7. DR. JERRY UGBOKWE MEMBER


    OGUN STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. MUHAMMAD INDABAWA CHAIRMAN
    2. SENATOR GBENGA ALUKO SECRETARY
    3. ALI MAGASHI MEMBER
    4. HON. MATTHEW OMEAGARA MEMBER
    5. KABIR AHMED MEMBER
    6. OSITA OKECHUKWU MEMBER
    7. ECHEZA OSHOGWE MEMBER
    8. ALH. ABDUL AZEEZ ANUHI MEMBER


    OYO STATE

    S/N NAME DESIGNATION
    1. CHIEF DEMOLA SERIKI CHAIRMAN
    2. FRANSIS INEGBENKI SECRETARY
    3. HON. FAPARUSI MEMBER
    4. HAJIA SAADATU YAHAYA MEMBER
    5. UMAR ABBA MEMBER
    6. BARR. EJIRO ETAGENE MEMBER
    7. DR. HASHIM ADA MEMBER

    (NAN)

  • Why we disqualified Shittu, Mama Taraba – Oshiomhole

    …Says can’t preach discipline and habour without our core values

    …Lagos, Imo primaries now holds Monday

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said that the party cannot continue to preach discipline and harbour people who conduct themselves in a way that suggest that they do not have those core values that should bind the political party together.

    Oshiomhole who spoke while inaugurating the committees for the various states governorship primaries challenged members of the various committees conducting the governorship primaries not to yield to pressure from any quarter, but to do their best to help the party improve internal democracy in the country.

    He also announced that the governorship primaries in Lagos and Imo will not go ahead on Sunday due to logistics reasons, adding that the party has shifted to primaries in the two states to Monday, October 1.

    He said “We have decided to postpone the election in Lagos to Monday even though it is public holiday, there is nothing in the law that says we cannot conduct our party affairs on the day of public holidays. So, Lagos and Imo States for now, the exercise will take place on Monday.

    “We are sure that we will be able to rectify logistic challenges between now and end of tomorrow. For those going to those States, please take note, otherwise… The secretariat will get to the committees through the chairmen, the documents and all the materials you need – be it ballot papers, result sheets that you will use for the election”.

    Oshiomhole who also explained the disqualification of two serving Ministers said that the time has come when the country must move away from paper qualifications in terms of who is eligible to contest political offices on the platform of the party

    He said: “If we must sustain this tradition, obviously we must begin to look beyond paper qualifications in terms of who is eligible to be fielded on the platform of our party.

    “It is in view of this and several other reasons that we found ourselves unable to clear otherwise two very eminent Nigerians who are members of our party, one a lady, one a man, which shows that we are balanced and sensitive because there are issues that might even be right in the eyes of the law but they are immoral and they are indecent in the eyes and in the minds of very ordinary, decent human beings.

    “Society is governed and sustained by rule of law. But the rule of law alone is not enough to guarantee peace and progress. If there are no values, no ethics, no commitment, no passion, which is why some criminals are walking freely because Senior Advocates are able to persuade their Lordships that there are no convincing reasons to jail them.

    “So, based on this commitment, we disqualified two eminent Nigerians and I am glad that we found the courage to do so. We cannot continue to preach discipline and harbour people who in our view conduct themselves in a way that suggest that they do not have those core values that should bind us together as a political party.”

    Read Also: Osun poll: Our deal with Omisore, by Oshiomhole

    While asking the committee members not to succumb to pressure from any quarters, Oshiomhole told them to always remember that we live in a society where people hardly accept defeat even though they are aware that somebody must emerge winner at the end of the day.

    He said “You are likely to come under pressure because we are in an environment in which nobody concede defeat and sometimes, those who win are not gracious enough to recognize that it does not have to be winner takes all. In genuine democracy, everybody is a winner because if you govern well, you govern for the good of the people, everybody will be better off.

    “The primary purpose of power is to use it to deliver on public welfare and public good. So, I plead with you to do your very best to try to strike a balance because we have all promised to do justice to all members of the party. So, do your very best so that at the end of the day, you will help us to deepen internal democracy.

    “So, stepping out on Sunday to conduct elections, you have duty to sustain the core values of the APC which is to ensure that we conduct transparent primaries. Our constitution which is the basis of the contract between members of the APC to vie for couple of offices and our National Executive Committee is adhered to.

    “We have decided to activate two of the options in our constitutions (direct and indirect). We have worked hard to provide some of the preconditions without which we can’t service internal democracy. As we speak, we have our membership register which has been distributed to the 36 states.

    “I believe that we have compelling reasons to conduct credible primaries across the country. The guidelines have been well articulated and we expect the Chairmen to provide leadership in all states where they have been deployed to.”

    Oshiomhole also announced that 177 aspirants bought nomination forms to contest the 29 vacancies available on the platform, saying “We have only 29 vacancies for governors and to fill these 29 vacancies, we have distinguished Nigerians, men and women, about 177 that applied.

    “This does not suggest any unusual level of political or executive unemployment. It just points to the level of interest, commitment, passion and above all the confidence that people have in the APC.

    “We have tried as much as we can to carry out a thorough screening exercise in way that will enable us to benefit from the recent things that have happened in our party and some of us believe that we can learn some positive lessons from there and reflect on the implications of such actions and reviewed the way in which we select people who contest elections on our platforms.

    “We have to work consciously to move our party from a mere public taxi that people who are politically stranded can board and when they get to their destinations, they pay fees if they are kind enough to pay or they just jump out of the car and then we wait for the next passenger.

    “We have to build a mass movement that is grounded in the hearts of the Nigerian people, membership-driven and to do that we must service our internal democracy.

    “We must move away from top-down approach to decision making and consciously working to encourage a bottom-top approach so that the ordinary Nigerian who is a member of our party will have a sense of ownership, involvement, participation and equation.”

    While inaugurating the Senator Abiola Ajimobi led National Convention Committee, Oshiomhole said the party wants to organize a national convention that will discuss the way forward for the country in addition to rectifying the Presidential candidate of the party.

    He said “this committee reflects the ray of the future with gender balance. We want to organize a convention that is different. We want a convention that goes beyond electioneering our where traders and praise singers have a field day and try to do what needs to be done and discuss the Nigeria agenda, issues of governance and development, issues of economic and social choices and let us disagree and agree within that convention in addition to confirming the presidential candidate and maybe amend any section of the constitution that we might want to.

    “We have barely one week to the convention and we appreciate the fact that you accepted to serve.

    Speaking on behalf of the convention committee, Senator Ajimobi assured the party that will lay a solid foundation for the party’s victory in 2019.

    He said “I thank you for giving us the opportunity to participate in laying the foundation for our 2019 electoral victory because if you see the quality of the foundation, you will know how the building will be.

    “The foundation you have laid today is so solid that I have no doubt that we will succeed in 2019. We assure you that we will not let you down and promise to do our best to ensure that we are partners in securing victory for our party in 2019.”

  • Independence Day: 300 athletes for marathon

    Of the 420 students of public and private schools in Ikorodu Division of Lagos state who applied to participate in this year’s edition of Oba Kabir Shotobi Independence Day Mini Marathon, sponsored by the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, two hundred and seventy student runners and an addition of about thirty guest athletes, have been cleared by the screening committee to run in the race scheduled to take place in Ikorodu town on Monday, 1st October.

    The event, according to Hon. Agunbiade, who is also the Opomulero of Ikorodu, is meant to commemorate the annual Independence Day as well as discover sporting talents in Ikorodu Division.

    The event which was firstly staged in 2015 and since then had been a yearly competition, with this year’s edition

    According to the organisers of the race, this year’s event will span about 7.3km. Committee chairman, Akeem Bello said since it started in 2015, the event has been moving from strength to strength. He revealed that most of those disqualified were excused from the race on health grounds. He said the screening exercise also helped some students and parents to discover and treat some life threatening health challenges hitherto unknown to them.

    Bello added that the marathon is aimed at creating healthy rivalries among students of private and public schools in Ikorodu division, contributing to the development of sports in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole, discovering and developing athletes that will represent Lagos State and Nigeria in national and international long distance races in future as well as commemorate Independence Day celebration in the division.

    The DG of Team SOB, Kabir Ajalogun said the 4th edition of the race was unveiled on Tuesday, September 18, 2018, by His Royal Majesty, Oba Engr. Kabir Adewale Shotobi, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu Kingdom at his palace to kickstart this year’s event.

    “For four years now, the Independence Day celebration is marked in Ikorodu with the Oba Shotobi Independence day Mini Marathon. The people have come to know and appreciate the race as the main event of the day in our division. Apart from the runners, people come from far and near to watch the marathoners as they run through major areas of our towns.

    “Seventy athletes took part in the race when we started in 2015, but of the Four Hundred and Twenty applicants that were screened medically by medical personnel from Lagos State Sports Commission this year, Two Hundred and seventy athletes will be taking part in the competition.

    “This is an indication that the competition is waxing stronger by the year. Also, past Winners like Olayinka Boluwatife, won Bronze in Ibile games, are being groomed to reach great heights in sports.”

    He further revealed that the list of qualified athletes will be published. “The officials drawn from Body of games master of primary and secondary schools in the Division and the State Sports commission will be briefed on Friday, September 28, 2018, on route alongside with the athletes on the rules of the competition.

    CityScenes gathered at on Sunday September, His Royal Majesty, Oba Sotobi will light the torch of the race and hand it over to a team of past winners who run all the way through the route to the finishing line at Igbogbo road police barracks.

    The route for this year’s marathon is; Ayangburen palace -Living stone college – Etunrenren street – Late Ayangburen Residence – Water Works Station – Lagos Road – Round About – Sabo Market – Kokoro Abu Street – Ikorodu Grammar School along Awolowo Road – Ota On a – Oriwu Road -Ita Elewa – Ireshe Road – Sheriff Junction – Finish point at Police Barracks Ikorodu.

    “The race will be flagged off by 7:00am at the palace of the Ayangburen of Ikorodu by the Oba himself assisted by other eminent personalities.

    For their efforts, the winners in both male and female categories, will win trophies and medals for their respective schools and cash gifts of fifty thousand naira. Also, thirty thousand naira and twenty thousand naira in addition to trophies are available for first and second runner up in both categories respectively. Similarly, contestants up to the 20th position in both categories will go home with consolation prizes.

  • Lagos APC ticket: Hamzat steps down for Sanwo-Olu

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant Dr. Obafemi Hamzat on Saturday stepped down from the race, urging his supporters to vote for a contender, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in Monday’s direct primary.

    He described Sanwo-Olu, a former Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions, as a man of integrity, great humility and extraordinary intelligence, recalling that both of them had worked closely with former Governor Bola Tinubu, his successor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN).

    Hamzat visited Sanwo-Olu at his Ikoyi, Lagos residence where he endorsed him by raising up his hand, saying that he will be a credible and worthy successor to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. He was received by Sanwo-Olu, his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, his campaign manager, Mr. Tayo Ayinde and Otunba Lekan Osifeso.

    Hamzat said: “After due consultations with my numerous supporters and in deference to the wise counsel of those I consider my political mentors, I have resolved to step down from the governorship race in Lagos on the platform of our party and, instead, poll resources together with my brother and friend, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    “So, my supporters are hereby directed to vote for Sanwo-Olu to emerge the candidate of the APC in the primary scheduled for tomorrow (today) across the state.”

    Thanking Hamzat for endorsing him, Sanwo-Olu reflected on their involvement in Lagos governance under Tinubu and Fashola, saying that he is a good friend, compatriot and comrade in progress.

    Following Hamzat’s withdrawal, the battle for the ticket may be between Sanwo-Olu and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at Sunday’s direct primary.

    Hamzat, who recalled that he had obtained the party’s nomination form, said he was happy to be part of the historic direct primary, which had given party members the opportunity of choosing the flag bearer.

    Hailing the democratic shadow poll, he said the process has truly restored the ownership of the party to its members, irrespective of class, creed and gender.

    Hamzat justified his earlier intention to run for governor, stressing that he intended to reawaken collective consciousness about the need to infuse fresh ideas to advance Lagos State and sustain its tradition of service, excellence and inclusiveness, which characterised Tinubu and Fashola administrations.

    He said: “In seeking APC’s ticket then, we were acutely aware of the enormous historic burden power imposes in a unique environment like Lagos. We were conscious of the fact that real progress is defined only by balancing growth and development. While we must innovate, we do not have to discard systems or processes that are working.

    “To keep team spirit alive, we are aware that we must always seek to mobilise the generality of our party members behind a common purpose, to deliver the APC manifesto.”

    Hamzat said the greatest asset of the PDP is not only the legitimate power given to the political family by Lagosians since 1999, but the  close-knit brotherhood toughened by past adversity of weathering the storm of opposition, the collective endurance of federal persecution and the passion and dedication of members to always ensure victory on election day.

    The former aspirant, who lost the ticket to Ambode in 2015, emphasised that “the loyalty of our party members should never ever be taken for granted.”

    Reflecting on the direct primary, which has heralded the inevitability of a clash of interests and perspectives, Hamzat said the way forward was for like-minds to close ranks and poll resources together, forge a formidable front and advance the ideas that can serve the larger interest of party members.

    He added: “If great milestones were recorded under the Fashola administration, I believe it was because there was a fidelity to the path already charted by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. It consists of a clear road-map that ensured that from the sorry status of almost a failed state in 1999, the Lagos Asiwaju Tinubu bequeathed in 2007 was a very healthy state with vastly improved social infrastructure. It was a worthy legacy Fashola defended and took to greater height for eight years he was governor of Lagos.

    “Having been part and parcel of the formulation and execution of various policies and programmes that transformed Lagos right from Asiwaju Tinubu and Fashola administrations, and having been a loyal party member all through thick and thin, I strongly believe Sanwo-Olu is equally rooted to fly our party’s flag in the 2019 election and I have no doubt that he is well placed and equipped to take Lagos to greater height. In view of this, I hereby step down for him.”

  • Lagos APC denies suspending members

    The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday dismissed as untrue reports that it had  suspended some high ranking members of the party ahead of tomorrows governorship primary.

    Said to have been suspended are  former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr.Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Special Adviser to the governor on Community and Communication Affairs, Hakeem Sulaiman-Oris, Niji Kaseem, Muslim Folami,  James Faleke, Babatunde Quadri,, Segun Olulade, Tunde  Buraimoh, Sakiru Anifowose Dengen, Yemi Alli,  Hakeem Bamgbola, , Alhaji  Bashir Adekoya, Otunba Tayo Oyemade, Hon Abiodun Mafe, Rev Iyo Oyasodun, Sanyo Osijo,  Hakeem Masha, Cornelius Ojelabi, and Femi  Apata.

    However,the state publicity secretary of the party,Mr.Joe Igbokwe described  the report as “a lie from the pit of hell, an ugly story planted by ugly persons to cause disaffection in the land of limitless opportunities and the pride of the nation.”

    He added: “this is an election period and politicians are trying to upstage one another by resorting to playing to the gallery by manufacturing lies, innuendoes and outright subterfuge to gain advantage.  This is not the culture of Lagos APC and it can never be.

    “Let it be known and it is hereby made known that APC Lagos cannot accept this brigandage, political irresponsibility and rascality.  Those who are parading the this fake news are enemies of our great party,  they do not mean well and therefore cannot succeed.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Police quiz herbalist over ‘abducted’ 9-yr-old Nigerian girl’s relocation to Togo

    Men of Ikotun Police Division,Lagos, on Tuesday interrogated a Lagos –based herbalist, Kofi Mesan, for allegedly abducting a 9-year-old daughter of his lover, Adebisi Adelowo.

    In a report published last Saturday by The Nation, Adelowo, a mother of four accused her former boyfriend, Mesan, of abducting her eight-year-old daughter, Irebami, and relocating her to Togo.

    Adebisi, also disclosed that Mesan was not Irebami’s biological father.

    According to the woman, Mesan,  who lives in Isheri-Olofin area of Alimosho Local Government, allegedly tricked her into releasing her daughter to him with a promise  to help her enrol the girl in school.

    She claimed that her daughter’s father was one Toyin Awolere, a spare parts dealer at Ladipo Market, Mushin, Lagos.

    She said that Awolere proposed to her in 2007, and their relationship resulted in  pregnancy.

    Adebisi said Awolere abandoned her shortly after her mother died of a strange illness.

    She said she was introduced to Mesan in the course of searching for a solution to her mother’s mysterious illness.

    She added that Mesan took advantage of her crashed marriage to lure her into a relationship, after his marriage to another woman crashed.

    Mesan, however, allegedly relocated her daughter to Togo, without her consent.

    It was learnt that during his interrogation, Mesan, who earlier told The Nation that he was the father of the girl, admitted not being her father at the station.

    It was learnt that Mesan was asked to write an undertaking that he would produce the girl on Monday October 1.

    A police source told our reporter that Mesan was asked to produce the girl by Monday, or risk prosecution.

    ‘’He did not claim to be the father of the girl during interrogation. The girl’s mother was his live –in- lover, but their relationship became frosty and they went their separate ways.

    ‘’The police have intervened and the man has promised to return the child on Monday.’’

  •  Air Peace claims loss of N60m as NLC strike disrupts operations

    Air Peace said yesterday that its flight operations were disrupted by members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos for more than four hours

    The airline, according to its Chairman, Allen Onyema, lost more than N60 million as revenue that would have accrued from the disrupted flights.

    Onyema said although the NLC and its members have the right to agitate for minimum wage, it was wrong to hide under such guise to damage the airline’s property at the terminal and disrupt the movement of passengers going about their normal business.

    He said it was wrong for the protesting unions to single out the carrier while others were allegedly allowed to fly.

    He said the negative impact of such action would spill over and affect the flight rotations of the carrier.

    Speaking in an interview in Lagos, Onyema said: “In the early hours of Friday, the NLC led their troop to the GAT and disrupted our flight operations for four hours.

    “This led to thousands of passengers being stranded and resulting in the loss of revenue running into over N60 million.

    “We think this was a selective action. They pushed down our computers and started fighting our staff. This is not good for the health of the industry. “

    He however called on government to support indigenous carriers by providing operational infrastructure to eliminate flight delays because of limited screening and scanning machines at the terminals.

    “If many airports have air field lighting, airlines could operate into them any time of the day. Through this, the aircraft would be in the skies with the assurance that it could land at any airport any time of the day with the right landing aids.”

    Onyema said government should be conscious of the fact that good airports assist to drive hub status, and not the wrongly held view that it is airlines that develop hubs.

    He berated aviation authorities for not allocating space to Air Peace for lounges at airports preparatory to its international operations.

    “The airport authority will not allocate space to us at the airports for passengers lounge, but it is giving such out to foreign carriers. Is this how to support Nigerian carriers?” he queried.

  • Artiste tasks Nigerian musicians on originality

    A UK-based Nigerian artiste, Edmund Spice, on Friday urged contemporary musicians to experiment more with different sounds to avoid monotony.

    Spice told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that some Nigerian music sounds were becoming monotonous, as they sounded like earlier ones.

    “Some of our artistes prefer to toe the lines of other people’s work rather than being original, which is why majority of our musicians sound the same.

    “They copy another’s success rather than create theirs. In our time it was different; if you are listening to “Ras Kimono“ it is him.

    “If it is ‘Alex O’ it is him, Alex Zitto, Onyeka Onwenu, Sunny Okosun, they all sound different; if you are listening to Edmund Spice, you are listening to him.

    “But now if you listen to 10 different songs, the artistes and the beats will sound the same; they need to go back to the drawing board and experiment on different sounds and lyrical content,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Legends of BlackMusic Awards for December

    Spice said that such a thing happened before when there was a gap, around 2006, and Innocent Idibia quickly grabbed the opportunity to come out with something new.

    He said that “African Queen’’ was a new song that heralded what is happening now.

    “African Queen was good and different; If you listen to David Adeleke aka ‘Davido’ with ‘Skelewu’, it was different; his ’30 billion in your account’ was different.

    “So, the present musicians need to be different or they become stagnant.

    “If they continue with follow follow thing as Nigerians would say, then they would go into oblivion,’’ the artiste said.

    According to him, originality is why stars like Davido  and 2baba will continue to make it and some other artistes copying them will not.

    “This is because when they want to come out, they will come out with a different thing and move on, then everyone would want to make their style; it does not work like that,” he said.

    Spice said that things would change if everyone did his or her stuff and became original.

    He said that the lyrical content was not much of a problem, as it was good for the new generation.

    “Don’t forget that during our own time, our fathers were listening to ‘Bobby Bare’, so it is a generational thing. They have created their own style.

    “The only problem is the rhythm, not the lyrics. Somebody has to create something new and this is the time.

    “The vacuum is there right now, it is choking, so somebody has to come out with a new thing,’’ he said.

    Spice said that he had not quit music and that was why he came back to Nigeria to collaborate with other musicians on new songs.

    The international artiste studied at St. John Bosco College, Ubiaja, Esan, South-East Local government Area, Edo State.

    Some of his songs are “Baby Can I Hold you Tonite“; “More than Anything“; “Iyeny“;  and “Woman“, among others.

  • Labour strike: Lagos secretariat under lock

    The Lagos State Secretariat at Alausa, Ikeja is under lock as workers were prevented from entering the premises to resume work for the day by the Labour Unions that commenced nationwide strike Thursday over the minimum wage issue.

    The Labour leaders were said to have arrived the premises as early as 7a.m on Thursday, blocked the in and out entrances of the secretariat stopping workers who came for the day’s work from gaining entrance into the premises.

    Parked conspicuously in front of the gate were branded vehicles of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC.

    As at the time of filling this report, the secretariat was still locked up with workers and Trade union officials waiting outside.

     

  • Lagos, Visa explore how tech can improve SMEs

    The Lagos State government and global payment technology solutions provider, Visa Inc. say they are exploring how technologies developed by indigenous small and medium enterprises (SMEs) could be deployed to promote the cashless initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Speaking on the sideline of Cashless Lagos Hackthorn held at the weekend, the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Akintunde Oyebode, said the forum was designed to solve problems around cash management in thevstate.

    He said it was also looking at how to use technologies developed locally by SMEs to solve challenges around the Cashless programme.

    He said: “I am pleased with the winning teams and the possibility of using these solutions to solve payment issues experienced by SMEs. If we are able to help businesses optimise payments and grow, it will not only improve the state’s economy, but also create new jobs. This hackathon further demonstrates how partnerships between government and socially responsible companies can spur development and create double or triple bottom line impact.”

    According to him, the cash prizes won by the teams that pitched would be used to build the actual solution.

    “What you see here is the prototype solution and we hope to take it to the market in the next six months. We also have banks interested in how they support the roll out of the solution for their customers bringing the ecosystem together.

    “This is the second programme we launched this year. We look forward to doing more and partner with relevant institutions. We are funding tech startups and issued work space stations to 50 start-ups already and to 25 more before the end of this month.

    “In total, we are talking about N80 million in work space vouchers. A funding allowance of N200 million is available and this is the first set of funding going to the tech ecosystem,” Oyebode said.

    Leader of Team Blended, which won the star prize of N2million, Olawale Olarenwaju,said the solution is a handy point of sale (PoS) in a mobile device that works like the normal PoS. “Our integration will be powered by Visa because it is big card switching companies that allow us authenticate other cards through Visa,” he said.