The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ONDO

  • Ondo: Tension over alleged plan to manipulate election results

    There is anxiety in Ondo State over the delay on the final announcement of result of the last saturday election result by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Segun Agbaje.

    Although some returning officers had announced the results in some senatorial districts, but that of Ondo central where Governor Olusegun Mimiko hails from has not been announced or brought to the collation centre.

    Journalists who had besieged the collation centre at St Peter’s College, Akure since around 8.00 a.m had to leave, while no action was going on at INEC office, Alagbaka as at press time.

    Because of the new technology results in the Ondo Central had been on the social media in favour of one of the political parties.

    However, sources said the results in the central district were allegedly been doctored by somewhere in Akure which forced the state chairman of the APC to go on air, warning against such manipulation.

    Some Results for the Presidential and National Assembly elections across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State have been trickling in.

    The results released so far, showed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is currently leading in the state.

    According to returning officer of the Ondo northern senatorial district, Prof. Sylvester Oluwadare announced Senator Ajayi Boroffice as the winner.

    Borrofice was returned elected as he polled 102,843 votes against Dr. Bode Olajumoke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 76751 votes.

    For Akoko Northeast/Northwest, Babatunde Kolawole of the APC won. Similarly, Friday Olemija of the APC was declared winner for Akoko Southeast/Southwest federal constituency.

    Also, the APC Candidate for Owo/Ose federal constituency, Bar. Bode Ayorinde, who is the pro-chancellor of Achiever Private University, Owo has been declared as the winner of the poll.

    In the result announced by the Returning Officer, Dr. Johnson Fasinminrin, Ayorinde won the poll with 36,204 votes, while PDP candidate, Mrs. Folasade Tinubu pulled 28074.

    APC Presidential Candidate, Buhari had landslide victory in Odigbo local government with 18,655 votes, while PDP got 9,315. AP Senatorial candidate, Morayo Lebi scored 18,561, while PDP flagbearer, Yele Omogunwa pulled 19,796 votes in the same state.

    In Ifedore local government where the current State Chairman of PDP, Engr. Clement Faboyede hails from, Buhari scored 13,459 votes, while Jonathan has 8031 votes. APC Senatorial candidate in the Ondo Central also pulled 12284 votes, while the incumbent Senator representing the district, Ayo Akinyelure has 8479 votes.

    In Irele local government where the two Senatorial Candidates of PDP and APC hail from, APC scored, 8,654 votes, PDP, 13,079 votes. In the same local council.

    Buhari polled 9,969 votes, while PDP Presidential Candidate scored 11,639 votes. APC House of Representatives candidate, Oluwole Akinmoyero has 8,933, while Omogbehin of PDP got 11,869 votes.

    As at press time, many of the results from the ward levels have been collated in the various collating centres across the local governments.

    Though, INEC returning officers are yet to announce the result for Akure South and North local governments but our correspondents who visited majority of the units during the voting reported that APC is lead in the majority of the polling units.

    In Idanre local government Presidential election result, APC scored 12,654, PDP has 12,290. The senate result, APC pulled 10n 102, while PDP got 14,374.

    In the Ifedore/Idanre federal constituency, APC candidate won with 21,404 votes, while PDP candidate Engr. Osakuade got 20,754 votes.

    In Ondo South Senatorial District, collation was still going on, but information had it that some supporters of a political party hijacked some ballot boxes and escaped through the water ways in Igbokoda, headquarters of ilaje local government.

    Other party agents at the centre maintained that they would not endorse the result sheet of that area.

  • Banks shut down operation in Ondo over robbery

    Commercial centres particularly banking institutions Friday shut down operation in Owo, headquaters of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo state and its environs following the Thursday bank robbery in the town.

    This development however paralyzed commercial activities in the town as all social and commercial activities were grounded.

    It would be recalled that dare devil armed robbers who invaded the town on Thursday killed the manager of a new generation bank and his assistant.

    Also, the robbers left many residents of the town injured after their devilish operation which lasted for about two hours.

    When our correspondent visited the town Friday, mobile Police Officers were seen patrolling the town.

    Also, the town was deserted as many people stayed indoor apparently for fear of further attack by the robbers or arrest by the Police.

    Although the Police are yet to make any arrest in connection with the incident, it was gathered that a team of detectives have been deployed to the town.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the State Police command, Mr Wole Ogodo stated that the Police have commenced investigation on the robbery incident.

    He stressed that the armed robbers would not go unpunished as efforts are on top gear to arrest them.

    Meanwhile, the people of Owo have condemned the Thursday robbery incident in the town, alleging that the Police failed in their responsibility to attack the robbers.

    An indigene of the town, Mr. Soji Oluwasen alleged that the robbery incident took place in the presence of the Police, who he blamed for negligence of duty.

    He said the incident was unfortunate as many people sustained injuries, while others died.

    The effect of the robbery has spread to Akokoland where customers met gates of all banks under lock and key thereby depriving many from travelling to their home base where they registered to vote today.

    A disappointed customer, Emmanuel Ojelabi lamented his inability to buy foodstuff the purpose of election as market will open during the election.

    Many banks in Akure, the state capital also shut their doors against many customers because of fear of robbery attack.

  • Mimiko’s deputy Olanusi joins APC

    Mimiko’s deputy Olanusi joins APC

    The Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi Thursday morning resigned his membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared for All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Olanusi, an indigene of Supare in Akoko South West local government area of the State became the deputy governor of the State in 2009 under the platform of Labour Party before he defected along side with the governor to PDP in October, 2014.

    It was learnt that the governor, Olusegun Mimiko and his deputy had been at loggerheads for so long, leading to rumours that the governor was making attempt to impeach him.

    Details later….

  • Ondo: INEC begins distribution of materials Thursday

    Ondo: INEC begins distribution of materials Thursday

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Wednesday said distribution of sensitive materials to the 18 local governments area of the state will begin on Thursday.

    Disclosing this at a Stakeholders’ forum held in Akure, the State Capital, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Segun Agbaje expressed the readiness of the commission for the Presidential election.

    Agbaje explained that the commission has created voting points to decongest polling units that have registered voters in excess of 750 to facilitate early completion of the accreditation and voting process on election day.

    Mr. Agbaje also assured the people that INEC Ad hoc staff will arrive early at their respective polling units on the election day.

    He said to achieve this; the commission has resuscitated Registration Area Center (RAC) where ad hoc staff would pass the night on eve of the election.

    The REC disclosed that an election operations situation Room has been set up at the state Headquaters of the commission to directly receive queries and complaints from voters, accredited observers, contestants, journalists and other members of the public for quick and necessary intervention.

    According to the REC as at 22nd March, a total number of 1,142,991 PVCs had been distributed to voters in Ondo State representing 75.44 percent out of 1,515,034 PVC received.

    Agbaje however urged all stakeholders to join hands together and play their roles positively in accordance to the constitution, stressing that the consequences of not getting the 2015election right are too grave and should not be contemplated.

    In his own address, the Commissioner of police in the state, Mr. Isaac Eke assured the people that security will be provided for electorates and all political parties.

    He expressed confidence that the election will be free, fair and violence free.

    Eke said the people will need to bear with the INEC, if they wish the election be succeed as the smart card reader is a new innovation.

    He however assured the people that the police will exhibit high level of professionalism in the course of discharge of their duties on the election day.

    Others who spoke at the forum included traditional rulers, religious leaders and leaders of political parties, called for the cooperation of the people for free, fair and credible poll to be recorded.

  • ‘Ondo residents’ll vote out Jonathan’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has said the people will “vent their anger” on President Goodluck Jonathan by voting against him on Saturday.

    The party said Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s claim that the people preferred Jonathan to its candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, was deceitful.

    It challenged Mimiko to name a single federal project or intervention executed by the Jonathan administration in the state.

    A statement by the Vice Chairman, APC Publicity Committee, Kunle Adebayo, said the citizens had suffered failed promises, poverty and gloom.

    Adebayo said the failure of the PDP government to touch their lives was the reason people turned to the APC and Buhari.

    He said: “Mimiko, in trying to mobilise rulers, teachers, workers and youths, boasted that Jonathan’s new tenure will bear an indelible imprint in the lives of the Yoruba.

    “The point must be made again that Mimiko’s claims are not only an insult to the intelligence of the people, they are the antics of drowning men which all political opportunists are.

    “How can Mimiko hope anybody in Ondo, particularly the insulted workers, frustrated youths, betrayed women and dehumanised rulers, are listening to his tales by moonlight?

    “In case he does not know, the people identify Jonathan as the President who treated them like trash, despite the massive votes given to him in 2011 when he came whimpering as the shoeless riverine boy.”

    “From inheriting a cash surplus of over N58.4 billion and a zero debt profile, it is no news that Mimiko has plunged the state into an unprecedented level of indebtedness, retrogression, poverty and stagnation.

    “As is customary with a bat pretending to be a bird, Mimiko’s empty boasts and politics of opportunism have, by default, exposed the futility of the PDP’s crave for permanent enslavement of Nigerians.”

    “Just as Ondo PDP under him has become a symbol of crisis, confusion, betrayal and corruption, well-meaning Nigerians have also decided to vote for  Buhari, who represents hope and rebirth.”

  • Ondo electorate’ll punish Jonathan with votes – APC

    Ondo electorate’ll punish Jonathan with votes – APC

    The Ondo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) has said that the people of the state would expresss their anger on President Goodluck Jonathan in the Saturday presidential election by voting against his re-election.

    The party said Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s claim that the people of the state preferred Jonathan to its candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, was a self-deceit.

    It challenged Mimiko to point to a single federal project or intervention executed by the Jonathan government in Ondo state to show the president’s commitment to the people of the state.

    A statement by Vice Chairman, APC Publicity Committee, Kunle Adebayo said instead of good life, the citizenry had suffered failed promises, poverty and gloom like other Nigerians under the PDP government.

    Adebayo noted that the failure of the PDP government to touch their lives accounted for the reason people had turned to the APC and Buhari to seek redemption.

    He said; “Mimiko, in trying to mobilise traditional rulers, teachers, workers and youths, boasted to them that Jonathan’s new tenure will bear an indelible imprint on the lives of the Yoruba people and that his monumental achievements in his first four years are confounding and comforting to the people of Ondo state.

    “The Point must be made again that Mimiko’s claims are not only an insult to the memory and intelligence of the people of the state, they are the antics of drowning men which all political opportunists are.

    “How can Mimiko hope anybody in Ondo state, particularly the insulted workers, frustrated youths, betrayed women and dehumanized traditional rulers, was listening to his tales by the moonlight?

    “In case he does not know, the people of Ondo state identify Jonathan as the President who treated them like a piece of trash in spite of the massive votes given to him in 2011 when he came whimpering as the then all begging, shoeless riverine boy.

    “From inheriting a cash surplus of over N58.4b and zero debt profile, it is no news that he has plunged Ondo state to an unprecedented level of indebtedness, retrogression, poverty and stagnation. As is customary with a bat pretending to be a bird, Mimiko’s empty boasts and politics of opportunism have by default exposed the futility of the PDP’s crave for permanent enslavement of Nigerians.

    “Just as Ondo PDP under him has become a symbol of crisis, confusion, betrayal and corruption, every parent who means well for the future of her offsprings has also decided to vote General Muhammadu Buhari who represent hope and rebirth.”

  • The collapse of governance in Ondo

    SIR: Customarily, an iroko tree is reputed in the African culture as enjoying a pride of place among other trees in the jungle. Akin to the uniqueness of an apple tree, an iroko tree is cherished, and well treasured by Africans for several reasons. The revered tree is highly rated for symbolising selflessness, uniqueness and leadership prowess, among others. It is often said, that when an Iroko tree talks, all other trees bow.

    Dejectedly, in Ondo state, we have a Governor, Rahman Segun Mimiko, who nicknamed himself an Iroko; but he is completely the opposite of all the virtues ascribed to an iroko tree. A recap of his political journey to office will suffice: On 19th February, 2009, Mimiko became the governor of Ondo state through the efforts of the progressives’ coalition and in a treacherous manner, it didn’t take more than three months before he dispensed with all the people that God used to enthrone him despite the evil efforts of the Abuja based ruling party men to scuttle his victory.

    True to his character, today, Mimiko dines and wines with the same Abuja men that worked against him at the detriment of most of his real benefactors.

    Educationally, Mimiko is a failure. He was only able to build three mega-primary and secondary schools in the past six years while within three years, former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, renovated 112 secondary schools. In Lagos State, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola has marvelously built about 20 mega schools across the state. Although Mimiko established a University of Medical Sciences in his native Ondo town, but the existing state owned Universities, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba (AAUA) and Ondo State University of Technology, Okitipupa(OSUTECH) are yearning for financial rescue to function optimally.

    Seven years after its establishment, OSUTECH has not produced a graduate. Under the supervision of Mimiko, AAUA retrogressed from being the first best state university in Nigeria to seventh best (NUC, 2015). In the area of infrastructure, Ondo State has the worst road network in south western part of the country. Excluding the federal highways, a majority of the

    state-owned roads are presently in a state of disrepair. Five years after the dualisation of Ondo township roads were flagged off; the project

    is still begging for completion. As I write, the dualisation of Akure-Isinkan-Ondo road started by the administration of late Olusegun Agagu has not been completed.

    Also, three years after, the dualisation of the five-kilometer Owo township road is still at 40 per cent execution stage. Without being immodest, let me expressly say that Mimiko has not completed 50 kilometers worth of roads since he was inaugurated as governor! Furthermore, the number of abandoned projects throughout the state calls for concern. Till date, the construction of the Akure township stadium started by the late Agagu’s government is far from being completed. The multi-billion-naira Akure Dome project flagged off by the governor himself four years ago has been abandoned.

    The dualisation of over two-kilometer Arakale road has not been duly completed. Mimiko’s much-publicized Fountain Water at Alagbaka has dried off. The maternity center built and packaged by Mimiko as Abiye Motherhood Hospitals is now a glorified consulting centre yearning for drugs and personnel. Majority of the market stores Mimiko claimed to have constructed across the 18 Local Government areas have been taken over by weed and rodents.

    It is also trite that none of the companies and factories inherited by Mimiko are functional. Arigidi Tomato Company has not produced tomato paste despite the claim of N1billion injection from Ondo treasury. Oluwa Glass at Igbokoda is daily rusting away with no intention by Mimiko to resuscitate it. Okeluse Cement Factory has gone moribund. Okitipupa Oil Mill resuscitated by Agagu government has closed down. Our State, despite earning the highest allocation from the Federation Account in South West, unfortunately, boast of the highest number of youth unemployment (National Directorate of Employment, 2015).

    Most of the civil servants that vigorously campaigned for him in 2012 are now wallowing in regrets. Their salaries are no longer being paid as at when due. And for having the effrontery to confront the deceitful hegemony of Mimiko, 28 workers of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo was sacked in November 2012.

    Mimiko’s publicly known ideology is inconsistency/betrayal as he has moved from the Alliance for Democracy (AD), to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); to the Action Congress, (AC); to Labour Party (LP), and now back to the PDP. Mimiko has a long history of betrayal. He has the singular unenviable record of betraying all the political leaders who at one time or another assisted him in his political sojourn, especially since the 4th Republic.

    In conclusion, as the 2015 general elections gathers’ momentum, one’s advice to the peace-loving and good people of Ondo state is to shine their eyes. The only panacea for rejuvenation of our state in all ramifications is to get Mimiko and his accomplices out of power by all lawful means. The Ondo State of today is not the one we desire.

     

    Lateef Raji,

    Ondo Renaissance Group (ORG)

     

  • Indian hemp ‘warehouse’ discovered in Ondo

    Indian hemp ‘warehouse’ discovered in Ondo

    THE Ondo state command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has discovered a building where Cannabis Sativa, popularly called “Indian Hemp” was allegedly being stored and sold in Akure, the state capital.

    Officials of the agency who went to raid the “hemp warehouse’ said the command was reliably informed by residents of the area that Indian hemp was being stored and sold in the building.

    The building located on Ogunleye lane, off Kolawole Estate, Olu foam area in Akure, was said to be a meeting point for drug offenders in Akure and its environs.

    The State Commandant of the NDLEA, Mr. Ibrahim Abdul who led officials of the agency to the area disclosed that ýtwo middle aged men were arrested in the building with Indian hemp in their custody.

    The operation was the first major one to be carried out by the new commandant of the agency, since his assumption of office at the command.

    Abdul hinted that two suspects, Chibozor Godday and Collins Nmo who were arrested inside the building would be prosecuted after conclusion of investigation.

    The Commandant disclosed that over 800 bags of Indian hemp were secretly kept inside the ceiling of the building.

    He urged members of the public to always furnish the agency with necessary information whenever they noticed strange developments in their environment.

  • Crisis rocks Ondo IPMAN over election

    Members of the Independent Petroleum Marketing Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Ore Depot branch in Ondo State are at logger heads over alleged plan to impose interim executive.

    They also dissociated themselves from the crises at the zonal and national levels, stressing that they remain one indivisible body.

    Their decision was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Ore Depot’s IPMAN Stakeholders meeting held at Sunny Sky Hotel in Ondo Town.

    The meeting was attended by Petroleum Tankers Department (PTD), the Independent Marketers Branch (IMB) of the Association, the Ondo State Government Representative, Officers from the Department of the State Security (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

    In the communiqué signed by over 100 members including the Chairman, Chief Bode Olayinka and the Acting Secretary, Dare Boboye, members of the association decided that the depot branch should not allow the crises at the national level of the IPMAN to affect its affairs.

    “We marketers  (IPMAN) in Ore depot do hereby resolved and agreed to dissociate ourselves from the crises rocking IPMAN at the Zone and National level. We have decided to remain as one indivisible body”

    “It was also agreed that in Ore Depot, there should be no interim arrangement since there is no crisis at Ore Depot”, the communiqué stated.

    The IPMAN members said since the tenure of the present executive of the association at the Ore Branch would expire on March 31, 2015, election of new executive would be conducted on March 19, 2015 at Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    Subsequently, an electoral committee headed by Mr. Lateef Adebisi Jayeola was set up to arrange for election of the new executive.

  • Oke, Kuku schemed out of Ondo PDP

    Oke, Kuku schemed out of Ondo PDP

    Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, appears not to be making any pretense about his leadership status in the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    That the governor now calls the shots in Ondo PDP is no longer in contention. Following his defection from the Labour Party (LP) to PDP, some old members of his new party resisted his leadership of the party, but their strident objection has not yielded any positive intervention from both the Presidency and the national leadership of the party.

    The biggest casualties of the brouhaha are a former governorship candidate of the party, Chief Olusola Oke and the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, who are now made to look like outsiders or better still onlookers in the affairs of the party.

    But while Oke has openly vowed not to kowtow to the governor, sources say Kuku is playing it cool in order not to jeopardise the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in the state.