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Tag: Ogun state

  • Primary: My victory is for APC , Ogun people – Abiodun

    … Calls for unity, lauds Amosun’s achievements

     

    The National Working Committee (NWC)’s declared winner of the governorship primary of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has said the victory at the Wednesday primary is for the “party and the good people of Ogun State.”

    Six persons – Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade(Ogun West), Senator Gbenga Kaka (Ogun East), Otunba Bimbo Ashiru(Ogun East), Prince Dapo Abiodun(Ogun East), Jimi Lawal(Ogun East) and Abayomi Hunye (Ogun West) contested for the APC governorship ticket, according to Muhammad Ndabawa, while declaring, last Wednesday, Abiodun winner and gubernatorial candidate of APC, and coming a day after the state Chairman of the party, Chief Derin Adebiyi, had also announced Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s man, Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade as the party’s candidate.

    However, in a release made available to The Nation, Abiodun acknowledged that all other contestants were “eminently qualified” to win but said just one must emerge.

    He added that what lies ahead now is victory in 2019 and appealed to all party members and supporters to put aside their differences in the spirit collective responsibility and pull forces together to ensure victory at the general election next year.

    According to the oil magnate and real estate player, a “house divided against itself cannot stand.”

    While commending Amosun for his achievements in the state over the past seven years, having “laid a good foundation for others to build on,” Abiodun also implored everybody to join hands with him to “build a wonderful future for the people of Ogun State where everyone, irrespective of tribe, religion or affiliation does matter.”

    He said: “I do not see this victory as mine but that of our great party and the good people of our dear state – Ogun State.

    “I am immensely overwhelmed and encouraged by your show of love, trust, resilience and support for me and the values my team and I stand for. In return, I am using this opportunity to once again reiterate my commitment to the unity of our great party and ultimately the continued development of Ogun State.

    “Our work has just begun. All of us that contested are eminently qualified however one of us must emerge. We now have the collective responsibility of putting aside our differences and pulling our forces together to ensure victory at the general election next year, for as we all know, a house divided against itself cannot stand. I implore you to please join hands with me.

    “Winning the election in 2019 is a collective responsibility that we must jointly discharge. This is not the time to relent on our efforts. Rather, it is the time to buckle down and put our best foot forward.

    “Personally, I have no doubt that what you have given me is a great responsibility, but in the words of Abraham Lincoln, “you cannot evade the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” Therefore, I hereby accept this responsibility with a great sense of privilege and I promise to do that which is right and beneficial to the people of Ogun State at every point in time. This is my solemn promise.

    “I want to use this opportunity to appreciate the incumbent Governor Ibikunle Amosun for his achievements in the state over the past seven years . He has indeed laid a good foundation for others to build on.

    “Let us all join our hands together as we take up the challenge to build a wonderful future for the people of Ogun State where everyone , irrespective of tribe, religion or affiliation does matter.
    I am resolutely committed to this.

    “With utmost humility, I Prince Adedapo Abiodun hereby accept the historic mandate bestowed on me on Wednesday by the members of our great party as the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State for 2019.“

  • Majekodunmi returns to APC, backs Amosun’s Senatorial ambition

    A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ogun State, Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, on Thursday re-united with former party, All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    Majekodunmi, who served as the Caretaker Chairman of ADC in Oyo State, said his resignation of membership of ADC is with immediate effect, made this known in a  release to reporters in Abeokuta, the state capital.

    Read Also:2019: Smart Adeyemi, others emerge Kogi APC Senate candidates

    The medical doctor – turned politician also disclosed that he has withdrawn from the Ogun Central senatorial race under the platform of the ADC and from any real or imagined membership of the party.

    He added that his decision to withdraw from the race for the Ogun Central Senatorial seat as a mark of respect to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, stating that he is now fully back to the APC at his ward in Abeokuta South local government after due consultations with his family members, relations and political associates within and outside Ogun State.

    “My loyalty is now fully with APC,  I hereby confirm that there is no more divided loyalty and will henceforth fully resume my activities in APC starting from my Ward 1, Abeokuta South.

    “After due consultations with my immediate family, political leaders and teeming supporters across the length and breadth of Ogun State and all over the country, I have decided to resign my membership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and return back to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “This decision is the best I could take at the moment given the political situation in our dear state, Ogun State. Indeed,  it was in the best interest of the people of the state as I believe that for now it is the APC that is in better position to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people,” he stated.

    He however said his leaving the ADC does not mean its members are his enemies, stating that as a politician that has served the state in different capacities, he will continue to make himself available to serve the people irrespective of his returning to the APC.

  • 2019: Court orders PDP, INEC to accept Kashamu’s group list

    …Declares his men as authentic Ogun PDP delegates

     

    The crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) may have been finally resolved as a Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Tuesday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Uche Secondus-led National leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to accept and process the list of candidates and delegates submitted to them by the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State Executive Committee of the PDP for the purpose of the 2019 general election.

    Ruling on a motion for interlocutory injunction after listening to arguments canvassed by the counsel to the Ogun State PDP Executive, Mr. Ricky Tarfa (SAN), who noted that the court had on the 28th of September, 2018 ordered that the defendants should be put on notice and adjourned till 2nd October, 2018, for definite hearing of the motion for interlocutory injunction.

    Tarfa said he was ready to move the motion because all the parties had been served and the court was bound by its records.

    The Honourable Justice M. Abubakar Shittu went through the court’s file and noted that the court was satisfied from the proof of service and affidavit in support that all the defendants had been duly served but for reasons best known to them failed to file any document in opposition to the plaintiffs’ claims. They also did not send in any legal representation despite standing down the case for hours.

    After standing down the matter for hours, the court resumed sitting and in a brief ruling delivered afterwards, it held that the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs, having not been controverted, are granted as prayed. The reliefs are: “An interim order directing the 1st Defendant (INEC) to accept or process only the list of candidates of the PDP for the 2019 general election in Ogun State authenticated by the plaintiffs as having emerged from primaries conducted by them for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senatorial and Governorship elections and submitted by the Plaintiffs or their authorized nominees pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    “An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st Defendant (INEC) by itself, servants, officials, agents or privies from accepting, processing or publishing the name/s of any person/s purporting to be a nominated candidate/s of the PDP from Ogun State for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, senatorial or governorship election except those who emerge from primary elections constituted by delegates authenticated by the Plaintiffs, convened and conducted by the plaintiffs for the election/nomination of 2nd Defendant’s candidates in Ogun state pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    Read Also: INEC issues Certificate of Return to Oyetola

    “An order of interim injunction restraining the 2nd – 4th Defendants (PDP, Secondus and National Secretary Ibrahim Tsauri) from convening, conducting or organizing a National Convention of the PDP for the nomination of the Presidential candidate of the party without the authentic delegates from Ogun State listed in Schedule A attached to this originating summons (as authenticated and accredited by the Plaintiffs) in attendance and voting pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    “An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st Defendant (INEC) by itself, its members, employees, servants, agents or privies from accepting, processing and or publishing (for the purpose of the 2019 general elections) the name of any person purporting to be the nominated presidential candidate of the PDP (notwithstanding that such a name is submitted by the National Executive Committee of the PDP or persons claiming to act for it) when such a person claiming to be the Presidential candidate of the PDP is a product of any National Convention convened, organized and/or conducted by the 2nd to 4th Defendants (PDP, Secondus and National Secretary Ibrahim Tsauri) or persons claiming to act for them, without the authentic delegates from Ogun State including the Applicants herein and others listed in Schedule A attached to the originating summons (as authenticated and accredited by the Plaintiffs) in attendance and voting pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    “An order of interim injunction restraining the 1stDefendant (INEC) by itself, its members, employees, servants, agents or privies from accepting, processing and or publishing (for the purpose of the 2019 general elections) the name/s of any person/s purporting to be (a) nominated candidate/s of the PDP from Ogun State or presidential candidate of the PDP (notwithstanding that such nomination is submitted by the National Executive Committee of the PDP or persons claiming to act for it) when such person/s claiming to be candidates of the PDP for the general elections is/are (a) product/s of any unity list or consensus arrangement which bypasses the prescribed electoral process of the PDP, particularly the electoral colleges constituted by delegates including the Ogun state delegates listed in Schedule A attached to this originating summons(as authenticated and accredited by the Plaintiffs)  in attendance and voting pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

    The court adjourned hearing in the substantive suit till the 7th of November, 2018.

  • Tension mounts as thugs attack Ogun Deputy Speaker’s Office

    … Destroy four buses, others

     

    Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly (OGHA), Hon. Kunle Oluomo, escaped unhurt on Tuesday morning when dozens of armed gang suspected to be political thugs, invaded his constituency office in Ifo, demanding his whereabouts.

    The suspected thugs who were furious for not seeing him after thoroughly ransacking the constituency office located near Ifo market along Lagos – Abeokuta road, vandalized the window panes of campaign office, items and four buses that convey school children to and fro schools within Ifo Local Local Government.

    The Nation gathered that Oluomo representing Ifo constituency 1 at OGHA, and who sighted the approaching hoodlums in good time and hurriedly hid himself, escaping them before they surged into the office ransacking and smashing items.

    As at 4:pm, tension still pervaded the volatile Ifo town because of the hoodlums even as heavy presence of armed Policemen and soldiers were sighted keeping vigil at the area to forestall a major breakdown of law and order.

    Read Also: 2019: I won’t surrender Ogun to ‘profiteers’, says Amosun

    The Nation called the state lawmaker on phone and he confirmed the attack on his office and four buses when the hoodlums could not locate where he hid, but disclosed that the Police has taken him to the Sango Divisional Police Headquarters along with the vandalized buses.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said he was not aware of the incident, promising to call back upon inquiry but never did as at 4:54 pm despite reminder calls placed to his mobile line.

  • 2019: I’ll not surrender Ogun to ‘profiteers,’ Amosun vows

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun again blows hot regarding the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary and the 2019 general elections in Ogun state, vowing not to “surrender” the state to those desirous of reaping from where they had sowed nothing.

    Amosun added that he and his supporters are on ground, well prepared and ready for the ‘profiteers’ on which ever date the governorship primary is fixed.

    The Governor who made this known while addressing hundreds of APC members and supporters at the MTR Hall, Ibara, Abeokuta, on Monday morning urged them to keep their ” gun powder dry” for political battle ahead.

    Amosun who momentarily left the MKO Abiola stadium, Kuto – Abeokuta, the venue of this year Independence anniversary celebration after leading some traditional rulers and state officials to cut the 58th Independence anniversary Cake for the MTR Hall to address his supporters, debunked the allegation of “security breach” by five APC governorship aspirants in the state.

    He said nobody is facing any threat and urged people not to de-market Ogun state with allegations of security breaches.

    “Don’t worry because of them. This position we are today is by the benevolence of God, we are more now, I have told them, we have the government, we have the party and we have the people.

    Read Also: Amosun’s choice governorship candidate Akinlade woos Ogun

    “They have been trying all the tricks in the book, they will have trouble having 10 or five percent of the people. If they do it one million times, the result will be the same.  They thought they are God.  God who dealt with them before will harmer more this time. The disgrace they got last  time (2015) will be more this time.

    “Keep your gun powder dry, we will mobilize you with the necessary logistics when the time comes. If they are doing kuru Kere moves, tell them that they will be graced. We are on ground here.  We will give you money for your motor (transport fare) back.

    “They writing something, nobody is going to kill anybody, if you have the love of Ogun State,  don’t  de-market it, nobody will kill anybody. We are ready for them, I’m the chief security officer of the state, something is worrying their brain, we are waiting for them.

    “Please don’t touch anybody, if they bring money collect from them, what we have done for you the day before yesterday, we are going to do another one, no retreat no surrender, it is not by might but by the benevolence of almighty God.

    “It is operation deliver your ward. Go out and mobilize yourself. We outnumber them. Where they have people, please allow them,” Amosun said.

  • Uncertainty, apprehension over APC planned guber primary  in Ogun

    Confusion and apprehension suffused the air of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, and other parts of the state over conflicting information regarding the planned governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
    While some information have it that the primary will hold this Sunday, another suggests it has been shifted till Monday, October 1, leaving  party supporters, members and even some of the aspirants still unsure of what to believe.
    Six persons – Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade(Ogun West), Senator Gbenga Kaka (Ogun East), Otunba Bimbo Ashiru(Ogun East), Prince Dapo Abiodun(Ogun East), Jimi Lawal(Ogun East) and Abayomi Hunye (Ogun West), are in a keen battle for the APC governorship ticket.
    The confusion is precipitated by the alleged unavailability of materials and personnel required for the conduct of the primary as at 11: am in some of the wards visited in Abeokuta.
    The Nation learnt that APC Governorship Primaries committees headed by
    Muhammad Indabawa  and Sen. Gbenga Aluko(Secretary) for Ogun state are still being expected in the state from.Abuja.

    Read also: Why I annoited Zulum as my successor- Shettima

    A governorship aspirant who spoke with The Nation on phone, said the materials and  Committee members for the exercise are  still awaited from Abuja, adding that there was not information that the expected team have arrived the state yet.
    The APC Public Relations Officer in the state, Chief Wole Elegbede,  told The Nation that he only heard the primary was postponed for Lagos and Imo States respectively, urging party members to disregard rumours suggesting the date is shifted for Ogun APC.
    “Kindly disregard the rumours that the Ogun APC governorship direct primary is not holding today.
    “In view of the above, we urge all our loyal and dedicated members to mobilise fully for a free, fair and successful governorship primary today as planned,” Elegbede stated.

  • Ogun APC holds peaceful primary to vote Buhari

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Ogun State on Friday trooped out in their thousands throughout the 236 wards in the state for the party’s presidential primaries and voted President Muhammadu Buhari to run for the 2019 Presidential election.

    At Sango Ota ward, where the turnout was massive, the people voted enthusiastically for Buhari. The process went peacefully and recorded no hitches.

    Also, in majority of the wards in Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South, APC members turned in large numbers to cast vote for the President.

    In Ward 13, Igbore-Agoba area of Abeokuta South Local Government, party members were sighted in their hundreds on queue waiting to take turn to vote for the party’s sole presidential candidate.

    Former governor of the state, Aremo Segun Osoba, who voted at Ward 13, Igbore – Agoba, described the exercise as peaceful and orderly.

    He urged members to repeat the orderly conduct on Sunday during the governorship primary.

    “The exercise was very peaceful and orderly. This is an indication that all other primaries will go on smoothly.

    “And I have come here today to preach unity to our members. They should embrace peace and forget all differences that we might have had in the past.

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    “My message is simple. We must learn serious lesson from Osun election. We must not be disunited. We must go into all the races as one family.

    “Whoever emerges must become the official candidate of all of us, irrespective of the position or age. We must accept whoever emerges as flag bearer at all levels.

    “Not only for governorship, but also senatorial, House of Representatives and the state assembly. We must all go out and we must not allow the opposition to return.

    “On Sunday don’t fight anyone, do everything orderly. There should be continuity in Ogun, APC must continue in this state,” Osoba said.

    Also in Ward 12 and Ward 6 – all in Abeokuta South Local Government, party faithful came out in scores and voted for Buhari to run in 2019.

    Same trend was observed a Ibara Orile Ward 16 Abeokuta North Local Government where the party executives adopted  option A4.

    Commenting on the primary, immediate past acting  state chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Lemboye, preached peace and unity in the party,  saying “there can’t be progress and development in an atmosphere of rancour and disunity.”

    However, the Governor Ibikunle Amosun, monitored the exercise at the Ajura ward and other wards across the state.

  • Court stops move to expel APC Exco in Ogun

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has restrained the leaders of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), from suspending or expelling ward executive committees of the party at Ifo Constituency 1 Wards 1, 2,3 and 11.

    In the judgement obtained by The Nation, 10 leaders of the affected wards in Ifo Local Government, instituted the legal action against the party leaders in the state over the alleged plan to expel them(plaintiffs).

    In the originating summon, the plaintiffs dragged the APC, state chairman, Chief Derin Adebiyi, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, before the court.

    The court also warned that INEC, the party leaders and other defendants joined in the suit risk imprisonment if they failed to recognize the plaintiffs as ordered by the court.

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    The plaintiffs had sought the relief from the court to compel the defendants to obey the subsisting judgement, which conferred legitimacy on the ward executive committees in the mentioned wards.

    Granting the order restraining the defendants, the court ordered the defendants or their proxies to recognise the plaintiffs as the authentic officers of the ward executive committees in wards 1,2,3 and 11 in Ifo 1 state constituency.

    “An order restraining the defendants by themselves, agents, servants, proxies and surrogates from suspending or expelling the plaintiffs from the first defendant’s political party and recognizing them as the authentic officers of the ward executive committees in wards 1,2,3 and 11 in Ifo 1 state constituency,” the injunction reads in part.

  • Amosun to settle deductions, others with N17.3b bailout fund

    The Ogun State government has said it will use the N17.3 billion refund from the last tranche of the Paris Club to pay backlog the of cooperative deductions, gratuity, severance packages, furniture allowance and other entitlements it owed its workers.

    The government said the gesture would boost workers’ morale and enhance productivity.

    It promised to continue to off-set outstanding entitlements of the state workforce whenever funds are available.

    The Commissioner for Finance, Wale Osinowo, broke the news yesterday at the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta, the state capital.

    He told reporters that the state received the N17.3 billion late Wednesday and brought it to the notice of the residents.

    The media briefing was in conjunction with the leadership of organised labour under the auspices of Joint Negotiation Council (JAC).

    Osinowo said N10 billion, representing 60 per cent of the N17.3 billion, would be spent on workers’ cooperative deductions, gratuity, severance packages and furniture allowance, while the balance of N7.3 billion “will go into social services for the benefits of 7.5 million indigenes of Ogun State”.

    The commissioner restated the commitment of the Ibikunle Amosun administration to settle outstanding deductions and other entitlements before leaving office next year.

    JAC’s State Chairman Abiodun Okakanmi urged the government to address workers’ promotion since 2016 till date.

    Accompanied by Comrade Bunmi Fajobi of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Olakanmi urged the government to pay all the deductions without skipping any month.

     

     

  • TCN raises capacity with 60MVA transformer in Edo, Ogun

    In line with the Buhari administration’s policy on incremental power, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has again successfully completed the installation of two units of 60MVA 132/33kV power transformers at Papelanto and Okpella Transmission Substations in Ogun and Edo States respectively.

    The 60MVA transformer in Okpella will be commissioned by the Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on September 22, part of ceremony in his honour by his ancestral home, Igara Community in Edo State.

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    The 60MVA at Papalanto will be commissioned by the Minister of Power Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN at a later date.

    The 60MVA power transformer installed at Okpella, is long overdue and will greatly support the industrial policy of His Excellency the Executive Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, which is based on the existence of huge deposit of limestone and other solid minerals in the area. Already BUA Cement has a factory at Okpella which could be expanded with improved power supply.

    According to the statement issued by TCN General Manager Public Affairs Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, prior to the new installation, the capacity of Okpella Substation was only 15MVA and has now increased to 75MVA with the installation of a 60MVA power transformer. Consequently, several communities including Okpella, BUA Cement Company, Aghenebode Town and environs, who are customers of Benin Electricity Distribution Company, are expected to experience improved power supply.

    Also, the capacity of Papalanto Substation was 75MVA before the new 60MVA power transformer was installed. The additional transformer has increased the stations capacity to 132MVA. Electricity users in Ilaro, Lapeleke, Sango, Onihale and environs in in Ogun State who are customers of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company are expected to experience improved power supply. Potential eligible customers such as Lords Mint and Dolphin could also benefit from the increased supply.

    TCN noted that several projects are currently on-going in its network nationwide and re-affirmed its resolve to continue to pursue and implement the incremental power policy of the Federal Government by consistently investing in capacity expansion initiatives through its Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Program (TREP). TCN expressed gratitude to the Honourable Minister of Power Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola for providing the needed leadership under which the company has continued to achieve laudable milestones.