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Tag: Leke Akeredolu

  • Mimiko marginalized Ondo North and South – UPN candidate

    Mimiko marginalized Ondo North and South – UPN candidate

    The governorship candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in Ondo State, Barr. Bolarinwa Aidi on Monday said the administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko has short changed people of the state.
    He particularly lamented that the people living in the northern and southern senatorial areas of the state have been totally cut off from governance.
    Aidi stated this at a press conference held in Akure, the state capital to kick off his campaign ahead of November 26, gubernatorial poll.
    The UPN candidate said he intends to pursue with vigor, the five noble cardinal programmes of the party and return the state to the path of progress if elected.
    He noted that “on the issue of decadence in social amenities and dilapidated infrastructure, my heart bleeds anytime I remember that more than 75 percent of the citizens of my state are currently living without electricity and pipe borne water.
    “While the people of Ondo south and north are badly affected by this precarious situation, the outgoing inept, rudderless, greedy and insensitive administration under Mimiko has not been able to think out of the box by looking towards other viable options towards electricity generation.
    “The ripple effect of the denial of electricity to the larger population of the state for instance, can better be imagined than experienced-businesses are grounded or killed totally and the cost of running businesses for those who can afford to power their generators, are most times running those businesses at a loss.
    “It is most unfortunate that almost 96 percent of the Ondo state population are denied access to potable water.
    “The one-time celebrated Ondo State water corporation is now a shadow of itself as it has neglected, refused or patently denied the good people of Ondo clean, hygienic and treated water.”
    However, he promised to employ qualified teachers to teach students and also tackle unemployment head-on by having an in-depth research on how to reposition the economy of the state from prostate condition by diversifying into agriculture.
  • Ondo: Abraham, Oke, Boroffice insist on fresh primaries

    Ondo: Abraham, Oke, Boroffice insist on fresh primaries

    ‎Three aggrieved leading governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State yesterday rejected the decision of the party National Working Committee (NWC) to uphold the primary result, which favoured Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

    The trio, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Olusola Oke and Segun Abraham at a press conference held in Akure, the state capital, expressed shock over the action of the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

    At the event, which was also attended by their teeming supporters, Abraham was avoidably absent but sent his apology.

    Speaking on behalf of other aspirants, Boroffice particularly described the decision of the  Oyegun to uphold the result, despite the majority of the committee members kicked against it as very undemocratic.

    He said they were consulting and would soon make public the next line of action on their political careers.

    Boroffice said: “as enumerated in our petitions, which we submitted to the Appeal committee that was duly constituted by the NEC with the approval of the NWC of APC and as contained in the primary election guidelines of APC, the followining are the planks upon which our appeals are based:
    “Fraudulent injection of 383 names into the delegates list that was used to conduct the primary election.

    “Issuance of delegate tag to non-delegates and allowing the non-delegates to vote in the primary election.

    “On investigation, 300 delegates tags were indiscriminately issued to non-delegates, two designated buses were provided to convey known non-delegates to the voting centre and voted to give undue advantage to one of the aspirants. “These among others, were discovered after the charade called credible election.

    “It is important to bring into the public domain that on September 2, a new copy of the compromised delegates list was made available to all the aspirants by the election committee of APC around 10.30pm.

    “On the receipt of the purported new delegate list, we all made a written protest letter, including Akeredolu transmitted our letters to the primary election committee chairman informing him of our rejection of the substituted delegates list.

    “As democrats, having discovered the fraud in the process, we submitted ourselves to the process of redress as stipulated in the primary election guidelines of APC, believing that we are safe in the hands of supposed democrats.

    “The Appeal Committee, within the mandate of their authority, having regards to the preponderance of evidence laid before it recommended that the election be nullified and another election be conducted.

    “In line with the electoral guideline of APC, the report of the Appeal Committee was submitted the NWC for final ratification.

    “Considering our strength in the APC and a total votes of 1,617 in the primary election, as the Apex authority in the administration of APC in Nigeria, we have always assumed sanity and reasonableness on the part of the members of the NWC. “We hope the members of the committee will uphold justice and exorcised corruption from the process.

    “On September 22, the NWC considered the report of the Appeal committee and puts its decision on the recommendations of the Appeal committee to vote. The majority of the members of the NWC voted that recommendations of the Appeal committee be upheld.

    “To our dismay and in a manner at variance with democratic norms, the national chairman overruled the majority of the NWC. He rejected the path of truth and upheld the primary election that its process was chacterised with corruption.

    “We are determined to liberate our people and no undemocratic decision of a party and its leadership will be allowed to misdirect our attention from the goal.

    “Therefore, we hereby condemned in absolute terms the undemocratic decision of the NWC. Since the party and the official leaders of the party have found pleasure in covering fraud, we owe the people of ondo state a sacred duty of liberation”.

    On his part, Oke said he is still consulting and he would soon make his next line of action known.

    He noted that “Whatever you might have since on the social media that I am moving to Action Alliance (AA), APGA, is the desire of my supporters.

    “As at today, I have not moved from APC and if I want to move I will inform you people about my next line of action.

  • Ondo: Boroffice calls for cancellation of APC primary

     

    The senator representing Ondo northern senatorial district, Ajayi Boroffice on Thursday called for the cancellation of the just concluded governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State.

     

    Boroffice, who came fourth, scored 471 votes in an election won by Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), who won the poll with 669 votes.

     

    Also, a member of the House of Represenatives, representing Akoko South West/Akoko South East, Hon. Babatunde Kolawole said the election was characterized with malpractice.

     

    The duo spoke at a reception rally organised by Kolawole and attended by thousands of indigenes of Oka town and its evirons at the Palace of Olubaka of Oka-Akoko in Akoko South West local government, Oba Adebori Adeleye.

     

    Borrofice said he was informed that those who were not delegates voted in the party’s primary election.

     

    He said if the committee finds out the allegation to be true, he is expecting a total cancellation of the exercise.

     

    He said “before the conclusion of the election, I kept hearing the rumor that the delegate list has been infiltrated.

     

    “That there are even some people who are not accredited, who are not even delegates but were given tags and induced to come and vote. And that has been substantiated now and it’s unfortunate.

     

    “I am in support of total cancellation of the election, we must do it again” Borrofice said.

     

    When asked whether he will contest under another party if the primary election result is not cancelled, the lawmaker said he will not leave the APC under any condition.

     

    He said “I am a loyal party man, I had the opportunity to leave the party in 2012 but I didn’t.  I was one of the three people that remained then, among the aspirants

     

    “I am not in this party to be a governor. I am in this progressive party to help build Nigeria

     

    “And if don’t become governor, another person will be a governor, as long as the process is free, fair and credible”, he said.

     

    Kolawole said the senator has just returned from a battle field and they are happy he returned safety despite all the odd against.

     

    The lawmaker commended the national leader of APC, Asiwaju Ahmed for ensuring the party remains united.

     

    The Monarch said the town is happy for the performance of the Senator in the last Saturday primaries of the APC.

     

    He said Boroffice stood tall among other aspirants in the election, adding that he had represented Oka town.

     

    The Monarch stressed that the people of Oka will keep pushing the aspirations of the Asiwaju of Akoko land until he attains the position agitated for, by the people of the community.

     

  • Ondo Police arrest suspected bag snatchers

    Ondo Police arrest suspected bag snatchers

    The Ondo State Police command on Monday said it has arrested a three-man robbery gang for allegedly snatching a bag containing N254,000 from a 50 year-old woman, Mrs. Comfort Ojo at Oka area in Ondo West local government area of the state.

    The suspects were identified as Alloy Ifeanyi, 25; Femi Lekan, 23; Ojo Bola, 20 and Elijah Afolabi, 26.

    The group, who were alleged to have used a motorcycle to commit the crime was said to have snatched Ojo’s bag when she was returning home from party.

    She was said to have reported the robbery case to the Enuowa Police Division in Ondo state.

    The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph, who confirmed the incident said the Divisional Police Officer, (DPO), Chief Superintendent Police (CSP) Waare Samuel was able to arrest Alloy at his hideout.

    He said through interrogation, Alloy confessed that four of them participated in the crime. “He led our men to where his gang members were hiding and we were able to arrest others.

    “They have all confirmed to the crime and very soon, we shall charge them to court,” Joseph said.

  • Ondo: APC aspirant warns electorate on Mimiko political antics

    Ondo: APC aspirant warns electorate on Mimiko political antics

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ondo State, Mr. Niyi Adegbonmire SAN on Thursday warned the people of the state not to fall for the political antics of the state governor Olusegun Mimiko ahead of the November 26, gubernatorial poll.
    Adegbonmire alleged that the governor had embarked on campaign of calumny by blaming the current hardship in the state on President Muhammdu Buhari, whereas Mimiko mismanagement’s attitude had been the bane for this.
    The aspirant spoke with reporters, at his party secretariat in Akure, the state capital, shortly after submitting his letter of intent and also paid his N2million developmental levy ahead of the party primary.
    The lawyer faulted Mimiko on his recent programme tagged “Eto Igbe Ayo” where bags of rice and beans are distributed to the people in Ikare Akoko in Akoko North East local government on the ground of reducing hunger in the state.
    He noted that despite that it is not a bad idea for people who are more blessed by God to assist the less privileged, he believes the plot by Mimiko to be distributing rice for the people at this critical political stage was to lure the electorate to vote for his party.
    Adegbonmire, who was the son of the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), late Wumi Adegbonmire further said: “the people should have asked the governor where he got that money from to buy the rice and beans at a time he is battling to pay his workers five months salaries, workers at the two tertiary institutions are on strike, and no infrastructural projects are going on?”
    The aspirants urged the people to learn from their neigbouring state where the political antics of their governor is to be distributing food stuffs, claiming there was no money to pay the workers but later discovered that he was allegedly keeping some huge amount of money in his accounts.
    On his ambition, Adegbonmire said he was in the race to give to the State the best needed change that the people of Ondo State had been yearning for in terms of good governance.
    He commended the Party leaders across the 18 local governments for their tolerance and continued efforts at building a virile Party in the State in spite of economics hardship imposed upon the people by the present administration of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko led government.
    He urged the leaders to provide a level playing ground for all the contestants through which a popular candidate could emerge.
    He said his administration, if given the mandate would focus on good governance by putting in place a mechanism, in line with the Party manifesto and constitution to give succours to the people at grassroots and also ensuring equal allocation and distribution of wealth

  • APC to Mimiko: Explain how you spent Ondo funds

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has asked Governor Olusegun Mimiko to explain why there is only N3.4billion in the coffer of the state.
    The party said the Governor must tell the people of Ondo State how he managed the  Federal allocations collected between January and May.
    Addressing reporters in Akure,  the State capital, State Publicity Secretary of the party,  Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya said Governor Mimiko has not explained how he got the N3.4billion and how he has spent the allocations from January.
    The APC said one would wonder why the Governor can not put two months allocations together to pay the workers salaries.
    It lamented the level of the pains and suffering of workers who are daily hoping to hear the good news from the Governor.
    “We noticed the arrogance and challant attitude of the Governor while addressing the workers on Tuesday
    “We want to say unequivocally that this Governor believes that he needs nothing from the people of Ondo State
    “Mimiko will never addressed workers like that in 2012 while he was seeking a second term in Office “Adesanya said
    He said the governor has not denied running various bank accounts on behalf of Ondo State.
    “This worker have information,  we are begging them to release it. They are aware that tax payers money is stashed in some bank accounts
    “Governor Mimiko is only hiding this money to spend during the forthcoming governorship election ” APC alleged.
    The party wondered why they cannot borrow money as he did for the local government elections.
    “What value had the local government elections added to the welfare of workers,  if the Governor can borrow money for local government elections,  can’t he borrow to pay workers?
    “Mimiko said he has been borrowing for capital projects,  then what has he been doing with Federal allocations? What happened to the state IGR?” the statement read.

  • Regent, Bishop fight over land in Ondo

    The Regent of Iju-Odo Kingdom in Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State, High Chief Sehindemi Oguntoye on Friday petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of (AIG) Police force; zone XI, Osogbo Osun state over an alleged attempt to his life.
    Oguntoye and some Anglican Clerics in Okitipupa have been at loggerhead over a land dispute
     
    The regent is accusing the men of God of trespassing on his land which he intended to use to build a palace.
     
    In the petition, which was sent to the AIG through his lawyer, Barrister Bode Famakin and which a copy was made available to “The Nation” in Akure, the state capital, Oguntoye particularly accused Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Costal area of Okitipupa, Ebun Ogunele and Rev. Kehinde Akinma of harassing him. 
     
    He claimed that the land being used by the Church was giving his family, but wonder why the priests would decide to trespass on his own land.
     
    The petition reads, “Information from our clients, High Chief Oguntoye and members of the Lemeha family of Iju-Odo-Osooro in Okitipupa was that their life are constantly being threatened and in danger of being eliminated by Bishop Ogunele and Rev. Akinma.
     
    “It is our further information that since our clients wrote a letter to stop further act of trespass to their family land, the aforementioned persons, who masterminded the act of trespass on our clients land have drawn a battle line with our clients for the purpose of diverting our clients’ attention from the land and to probably eliminate our clients.
     
    “Our clients now live with a dangerous apprehension of their life and have been forced to restrict their movements. It is very important to use your good office to provide security of life and property for them to forestall security risk, breach of law and order of the threat to kill them by their thugs.
     
    “Our clients, based on the above information, had once written to the Commissioner of police in Akure. It is our clients belief that the office of the Commissioner of Police, Akure has not been enthusiastic in the investigation of our clients petition and hence our instruction to direct this petition to your office for necessary and urgent action”
     
    However, all efforts to speak with the Bishop and the accused Reverend proved abortive as their mobile lines were unavailable as at the time of filing this report.
     
    But, a prominent member of the church, who does not want his name mentioned because he was not authorized to speak on the matter, dismissed the allegations.
     
    He said “How are you expecting a prominent man of God to be harassing people with thugs? The Anglican Bishop is a cool headed person, who will never promote thuggery.
     
     
    “What the people are fighting for was a land, giving to the Anglican Communion about 98 years ago by the community who were eager for the establishment of Anglican Church without any statutory boundary.
     
    “But, these people were saying they want to build a palace near the church because of the strategic area where the land his sited in the town and we say no and that they should look for another land to build their palace”.
  • Cooks arrested for picking students used sanitary pads

    Cooks arrested for picking students used sanitary pads

    There was confusion at the Federal Girls’ College, (FGC) Akure in Ondo State Capital at the weekend following an alarm raised by the students that their used sanitary pads are being allegedly picked by two of their cooks.
    Our reporter gathered that the suspects were allegedly caught by the students at their dustbins on Friday, which was a day to their “Visiting Day”.
    The boarding students, who were in Junior Secondary School (JSS) three and the Senior Secondary School (SSS) three were preparing for the their Junior and Senior West Africa Examination Council (WAEC).
    Other students are on holiday break.
    It was learnt that the aggrieved students quickly reported the matter to one of their teachers, who informed the Principal on the issue.
    Already, the two suspects have been suspended by the School Principal, Mrs. Florence Ejikeme and had been handed over to police for proper investigation.
    The students, were said to have attempted to stage a protest on that Friday, but were calmed by the chairman of the Parents Teachers Association of the school, Mr. Akin Ashimolowo.
    The matter became worsen on their “Visiting Day” as parents were seen protesting against the management of the school.
    One of the parents was said to have called the Police Area commander, who immediately arrived the school.
    The students were said to have vowed not to eat the food prepare by the cooks.
    Though, it was not yet clear if the suspects were using the used sanity pad for themselves or selling them for spiritual purposes.
    A parent on condition of anonymity said the suspects had confessed to the crime at the police station .
    She said one of the suspects is a wife of a prominent politician in the state and may want to use their ‘connections’ to sweep the matter under the carpets , adding that her child told her that it was not the first time such a thing would be happening in the school and nothing was being done.
    She said ” the question we want to ask the police is that, where did they (suspects) keep all the sanitary pads they have been taking since all these days? Who sent them, who are they working for?”
    The State Police Public Relations Officers, Mr. Femi Joseph, who confirmed the incident said only two of the women were in the police custody.
    He added that the command had commenced investigation on the matter.
    But, Joseph refused to mention names of the two suspects, saying the command had not been able to establish that whether or not the suspects used the sanitary pads for ritual purposes as alleged.
    Joseph appealed to the students to be calm that the police would get into the root of the matter.
    “The matter is still at the realm of allegation, so as I’m speaking with you we, are still investigating,” Joseph said off the telephone.
    All efforts to reach the Principal of the school, Mrs Ejikeme was unsuccessful, as she was said to have traveled out of the town and some of the staffs met in the school declined to speak with our correspondent.
    Similarly, the P.T.A chairman of the school, Mr. Ashimolowo also refused to speak with our correspondent on the matter on the telephone.
    Ashimolowo simply said ” I don’t know you and I can not speak on that matter on the telephone “.
  • Ondo Poll: Group asks parties to pick administrators as candidates

    Ondo Poll: Group asks parties to pick administrators as candidates

    A group, Ondo State Technical Working Group (OSTWG), on Wednesday urged political parties to present suitable and credible persons as their candidates in the November 26 governorship election in the state.
    The group said with the economic crisis in the state, somebody who will play politics with issues affecting the people should not be allowed to be in the helm of affairs.
    It urged political parties to present statesmen and administrators, who have all it takes to resuscitate the dwindling economy of the state, as their candidates.
    OSTWG, whose members claimed not to be politicians, spoke to reporters in Akure, the state capital, through its Director of Research, Mr. Kolawole Johnson, and  Head of Project Analysis, Engineer Adedayo Ogedengbe.
    Johnson, particularly lamented that some politicians, stakeholders and political parties only champion personal agenda which is not in the interest of the state.
    He, however, appealed to the people to stop promoting selfish and parochial interest above the agenda of the people.
    He noted “the politicians of today, especially of the Nigerian stock have not been able to practice the politics that gives credence to good governance, rather they are taken back by sentiments of their immediate interest and that of their group.
    “This has made the electorate and masses to be at the receiving end of their self aggrandizing politics, thereby denying the governed a proper dividend of true democracy, and good governance.
    “It is therefore pertinent that very concerned stakeholders should not continue to permit this act of impunity being perpetrated by the so called politicians that are sacrificing good governance of the altar of political interest that are most time self centered, and not tailored to achieving good practices which encourages or promotes having the best man deploy to the deem.
    “OSTWG hereby rises to the occasion in Ondo State to raise the bar and improve the quality of debate during the present electioneering process.”
  • Protest in Ondo over disappearance of health workers’ Salary

    Protest in Ondo over disappearance of health workers’ Salary

    Health Workers at Ondo State Specialist Hospital, in Ikare-Akoko, Akoko North East local government area of the state on Monday staged a protest over the missing of N15million meant for the payment of their November salary.

     

    It was gathered that the protesters were accusing the accounting officer of the hospital, whom they claimed allegedly absconded with the money.

     

    Already, the aggrieved workers have down tools and vowed that they would only return to work when they received their salaries.

     

    The protesting workers called on government to urgently arrest and prosecute the suspected fraudulent accountant.

     

    However, the Chairman of the state Hospital management board, Dr Niran Okunrinboye appealed to workers to return to work and allow government to find solution to the problem.

     

    But, the chairman of the national Association of Nigerian Nurses and midwives, Mr. Kolawole Ezekiel, who spoke with reporters, insisted that all staff of the hospital had embarked on strike to press home for the payment of their November salary.

     

    It was observed that families have started withdrawing their patients from the hospital after twenty four hours of non-treatment.