The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mr. Jimi Agbaje

  • Agbaje will not abandon projects, says chieftain

    FORMER Lagos State Commissioner for Energy Wale Oluwo, has assured the people of Epe that the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Jimi Agbaje, would continue the developmental strides begun by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in the town.

    Oluwo also said the land acquisitions in the Epe and Lekki-Ajah axis would be reviewed, if PDP wins the election.

    Oluwo, an Epe indigene, told the indigenes who gathered for Agbaje’s rally in the Marina beach area of the town that the infrastructural constructions begun by the governor embarked upon would not be abandoned under Agbaje.

    “Agbaje and his Deputy have assured me that they will continue the good work that Ambode began in Epe but has not been allowed to finish,” Oluwo said.

    Echoing Oluwo’s words, Agbaje’s running mate, Haleemat Oluwayemisi Busari, whose paternal roots are in Epe, also assured her kinsmen that there would be no abandoned projects in the town.

    Oluwo said: “All our land that they acquired, JK will review. Those that can be returned will be returned. Owners of those that cannot be retrieved will receive adequate compensation.”

    According to Oluwo, the PDP government would provide the people with roads, potable water and electricity.

    The former commissioner recalled the circumstances that led him to quit the government.

    His words: “I resigned from the government. They say that in Nigeria it is difficult for a public official to resign, but I resigned on my own.”

    Busari encouraged the people not to feel intimidated but to go out and vote on Saturday, saying, God was on their side.

    She said: “I cannot get to Alausa and forget Epe. Jimi and I belong to you. We have based our campaign on the economy, livability and the future. Obafemi Awolowo and Lateef Jakande achieved much in the Southwest and in Lagos with their unforgettable records in education and other sectors. Our programme shall be based on education, with the welfare of teacher’s paramount.”

    She said 10 percent of the contracts would be allocated to women, as a foundation for boosting the state’s economy.

    Busari said that their government had an eye towards developing Lagos for the welfare of the youths.

    She said: “When we corruptly spend today the resources that should enhance our future, what shall be left for our children? We shall not behave that way, we will project programmes with our children in mind.”

  • PDP presents Ogun governorship flag to Adebutu

    The national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Friday in Abuja presented Mr. Ladi Adebutu with the symbolic party flag, to enable him contest the Ogun State governorship election on the platform of the PDP.

    The party leadership also presented similar flags to Mr. Jimi Agbaje to fly the PDP governorship flag in Lagos State, while Mr. Seyi Makinde was also presented with the flag for the Oyo State governorship contest.

    While presenting the flags to the candidates, the national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus said the party had submitted Adebutu’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as required by law.

    Secondus declared Adebutu as the party’s authentic governorship candidate for Ogun State.

    Meanwhile, INEC had earlier recognised Senator Buruji Kashamu as the PDP governorship candidate based on the ruling by a Federal High Court.

    The party chairman described the present administration as a government of cabals, saying Nigerians will reject them in 2019, because they don’t even know who their President is.

    “Nigerians are dying in their numbers, yet the emperors of APC will be talking about integrity even more people are hungry. Nigerians will pass their judgment in 2019, you can no longer deceive Nigerians”, the chairman said.

    He restated the call on INEC and the security agencies to be neutral during the 2019 elections, saying Nigerians are wiser now than before.

    Secondus said, “This is a President that does not communicate, he only speaks when he goes outside the country. Nigerians are confused and cannot understand him and yet he said he’s coming back; to do what?

    “You are not talking to Nigerians, you can’t persuade them, you can’t order the security agencies, you can’t order INEC. The president should be bold to call the INEC chairman and security agencies to order”

    He charged President Buhari to participate in the upcoming presidential debate and not to do so by proxy.

  • Agbaje to empower local govts

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Candidate for Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has promised to empower the local government system to deliver service for the people of the state.

    In a statement yesterday, Agbaje said that rather than a few people with vested interests determining who governed the state, the onus lay on the people to elect their leaders.

    The statement reads in full as follows.

    “In the months ahead, I will present a number of proposals which make up my vision and plans for Lagos State.

    “I will also do my best to meet as many of you as possible and explain these plans, beliefs and convictions. On any occasion I will welcome your questions and do my best to answer them, so you will have no doubt of where I stand on issues important to you.

    “In the meantime, here are some of these beliefs, plans and convictions.”

    “Agbaje said he will not build another government from scratch. He said is a going concern will remain so.

    “As governor, what I will do is use that exalted Office to make sure the government of Lagos State works for the people of Lagos State, minimising waste and focusing on areas critical to the welfare of all Lagosians.

    “A few vested interests should and must not determine the person occupying Alausa. The fate and direction of everyone living in Lagos should be determined by all who live in this Great State.

    “Who is to be imposed as governor of Lagos State isn’t important. What is very important is who the people of Lagos would want to be their governor.

    “My government will be a government of minimal interference / influence so as to enable the free market flourish and run based on the forces of demand and supply.

    “I will empower all arms of the government from the Local governments up. The Local government is crucial and must be the first point of call for Lagosians. We will promote a Lagos State accountable to the people.

    He added: “Most of the job qualifications we attain from our higher education institutions are not the jobs needed today in Lagos State. There has to be a shift to Lagos specific requirements determining what is being encouraged as job qualifications in Lagos State. Thus we must have a Lagos that recognises what it needs and a Lagos that encourages qualifications in those areas, driven right through the educational system.

    “For our teeming youth who have already passed through the system and still remain unemployed, your skills may be required in other places around the world. We would look at alternative means such as freelancing as a viable means of employment. This allows you to gain employment work in other countries but from the comfort of your own home in Lagos State. It is already happening and my government will expand this trend.

    “My government will work with the business, labor, the financial world, and our educational system for the best brains available to modernize our Institutions and economy, eliminating waste and duplication.

    “In the end, the Lagos this generation desires can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is ours.

    “I thank you all and look forward to meeting as many of you as possible over the next few months.”

  • PDP chair: Dokpesi flays role of BoT members 

    PDP chair: Dokpesi flays role of BoT members 

    One of the aspirants in the race for the national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Raymond Dokpesi has knocked some members of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) for campaigning for some of the chairmanship aspirants.

    Dokpesi, who accused the BoT members of trying to hijack the party ahead of the national convention, also faulted attempts by the BoT members in the Southwest to exclude some aspirants from the race.

    He called on members of the BoT wishing to become national chairman to first relinquish their seats in the BoT and join the race. Chief Bode George and Prof Tunde are two members of the BoT in the chairmanship race.

    Speaking shortly at the party’s Abuja secretariat shortly after returning his nomination papers, Dokpesi stressed the need for the PDP to have a chairman strong enough to lead the party to victory in the 2019 general elections.

    He said, “Members of the BoT want to take over the party. Some people want to use the BoT to take over the day to day running of the party.

    “Members of the BoT have been going round with some aspirants. They have been meeting delegates and stakeholders of the party.

    Some of them (BoT members) smart as they are, are peddling rumours that the BoT has endorsed some aspirants as their choice of national chairman. But we know that the BoT has not met”.

    Faulting the decision by some Southwest BoT members to exclude some chairmanship aspirants, Dokpesi said it’s wrong to exclude the aspirants without consulting them.

    In a November 3 document signed by Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun, the Southwest BoT had cleared Chief Olabode George, Prof Tunde Adeniran and Prof Taoheed Adedoja for the race.

    Other aspirants like Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Mr. Akintayo Akin-Deko and Prof Wale Oladipo were excluded from the race.

    Dokpesi said the action of the BoT members has already done some damage to their aspirations.

    “For one or two persons, a lot of damage has been done to the persons said to have been excluded from the list”, stressing however that the affected aspirants would have to work hard to get their campaign rhythm back.

    The media mogul however said the issue picking a consensus candidate may still arise, adding that the aspirants will sign the terms of agreement in the days ahead.

    On his plans for the party if he emerged chairman of the PDP, Dokpesi said he will work hard to unify the party and ensure that all broken bridges are rebuilt.

  • PDP must be kept alive, says Agbaje

    PDP must be kept alive, says Agbaje

    Mr Jimi Agbaje, governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos for the 2015 election, said on Wednesday that the party would remain alive in spite of internal problems.

    Agbaje, a candidate for the party`s national chairman position, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that members would keep the party alive, being the main platform for the opposition in the country.

    He said the decision of delegates to extend the tenure of the Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee was a good option aimed at keeping the party stronger.

    “ It is obvious that from the situation we found ourselves, we must keep the PDP alive. It is the still the veritable platform for the opposition.

    “ So, the best option is what we have taken, which is to extend the life of the caretaker committee, to expand it as we have decided and to give room for whatever litigation,” he said.

    According to him, members believe that at the end of the day, the truth will prevail because the majority will have their way.

    “ The PDP is definitely not going to die. The PDP is going to fight for its staying alive,” he said.
    Agbaje also said that he was optimistic that before the end of the year, the party would bounce back stronger and more united.

    “I’m sure that within the year, we will be very much stronger,” he said.

  • Pdp clears Agbaje to contest primaries

    Pdp clears Agbaje to contest primaries

    A governorship aspirant in Lagos State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has collected his Clearance Certificate from the party’s Screening Committee in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. Agbaje, who was screened alongside other aspirants from Lagos, has collected the document that clears him to compete in the PDP primaries.

    Speaking about this positive development to his ambition, Agbaje said in a statement signed by his Director of Media and Publicity, Felix Oboagwina: “Securing clearance is the least of my problems. I am more concerned about the general elections.”

    Agbaje also shrugged off rumours making the rounds that he may have been barred by the PDP Screening Committee.

    He retorted: “That I was disqualified or that I failed screening is news to me, although I also got a few people calling me to say that they heard the rumours too. But no problem, I have collected my Clearance Certificate. I have been cleared.”

    He added: “The screening exercise began on Saturday. But most of us from Lagos were screened on Sunday. Today (Monday), the certificate was handed over to us at the PDP Secretariat in Ibadan, which served as venue for the exercise.”

    It was learnt that documents that the panel asked the aspirants to present included relevant certificates backing the educational qualifications. They claimed: NYSC Discharge Certificate, PDP membership card and voter’s card.