The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ONDO

  • 1,000 join Ondo APC

    One thousand Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members from Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State have joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    They were led by a former board member, State Development Property Corporation (OSDPC), Joshua Adebusoye (Baba Rere), who resigned his appointment on Monday.

    He said: “It is better to be a slave in a foreign land than at home. I am comfortable being a slave in the APC than in PDP and I am pledging my commitment to join APC to ensure the victory of Gen Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of the party.

    “I want to join other progressives to work for change in the country and with the calibre of politicians in APC and its manifestos, the genuine transformation is in the offing in Nigeria.”

    APC chairman in the local government T.O. Igbasan described the coming of Adebusoye as a plus for the party.

    The State Deputy Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, said they have left darkness for light,stressing that there is no founder,no joiner.

     

  • 6,000 people benefit from MTN free eye treatment in Ondo

    6,000 people benefit from MTN free eye treatment in Ondo

    Succour has come the way of no fewer than 6000 people across the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo state who had eye problems.

    They have benefited from the free eye care treatment organized by communications giant, MTN, Nigeria.

    The beneficiaries of the free medical eye treatment in the state also went away with financial gift, eye glasses and other medical facilities courtesy of the MTN Foundation.

    Speaking at the programme held at the Medical Village, Ondo, the state Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko said the initiative was similar to that of the state government.

    He said the present administration in the state has committed huge resources to the medical need of the citizenry.

    Mimiko lauded MTN for supporting his administration through the programme, just as he assured that his government would continue to cater for the medical needs of the overwhelming people of the state.

    The Governor, who highlighted the achievements of his administration in the health sector, said the people of Ondo state, especially the women folk enjoy free medical care since his assumption of office.

    Also speaking, the Director, MTN Foundation, Mr Dennis Okoro said the initiative was borne out of the research carried out by the foundation which revealed that over one million Nigerians are blind, while over three million of them are living with visual impairment.

     

  • Ondo Hausa community for Buhari

    Leaders of the Hausa community in the 18 local governments in Ondo State yesterday met in Akure, the state capital, to strategise for the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari.

    The APC supporters debunked the report from “faceless people”, who claimed to have endorsed the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan.

    A statement by the leader of the APC Hausa Community, Mallam Bala Umaru, dissociated his members from the purported support given to President Jonathan.

    The statement reads: “After an emergency executive meeting of our group, we re-affirm our resolve as bonafide members of the Ondo Hausa Community in support of APC and its candidates.

    “We are saying emphatically that all our members across all local governments have resolved to use our human and material resources to ensure victory for Buhari and other APC candidates.

    “Nobody can blindfold us, we have been in this state for several years now. We want the positive change many Nigerians are yearning for.”

  • ‘No votes for Jonathan in Ondo’

    The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Isaac Kekemeke, has said Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s meetings with various stakeholders will not produce votes for President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The governor has been meeting with rulers, youths, teachers and political leaders, among others, on the need to vote for the PDP’s presidential candidate.

    Speaking at a meeting in Idanre Local Government Area with members of the Forum of Ondo State Stakeholders, Kekemeke said the people would work and vote for the APC’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Chairman of the State Stakeholders’ Forum, Segun Ojo, said members of the group would work for Buhari.

    “In Ondo State, APC has the chance of taking over the state; the people are already fed up with the PDP. This is a government that has not paid workers for two months. How will Mimiko convince the workers to vote for PDP?”

  • 1,073,904 PVCs collected in Ondo

    The Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Segun Agbaje, has said 1,073,904 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been distributed in the state.

    This, he said, represented 71.8 per cent while 420,265 representing 28.1 per cent were yet to be collected.

    He spoke at the town hall meeting of a  non- governmental  organisation “Say No Campaign” in Akure, the state capital.

    He said: “Everyone must take a stand against electoral violence; we cannot afford to be on the fence.

    “You and I have a role to play if we must say no to violence.”

    The group’s Southwest Coordinator, Abiodun Ajila, said the elections must be free and fair.

  • Ondo traders for Buhari

    Ondo traders for Buhari

    Leaders and members of the Market Women Association in Ondo State at the weekend expressed their support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari.

    Over 1,000 market women trooped into the APC secretariat, Akure, where they assured the party leaders of their determination to mobilise their members to work for Buhari, his running mate, Osinbajo and all other candidates.

    They hailed Osinbajo for coming to the popular Erekesan Market during his recent Town Hall meeting in Ondo town.

    At the event were the candidate for Ondo Central Senatorial District, Chief Tayo Alasoadura and the House of Representatives candidate for Akure North/South, Afe Olowookere.

    The traders were led by the former lawmaker representing Akure South 1 Constituency, Tayo Abidakun (Jaja).

  • Proprietors protest in Ondo

    Proprietors protest in Ondo

    Members of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) in Ondo State are on “a war path” with the government, following what they described as “heavy tax and obnoxious policies”.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Akure, the state capital, the aggrieved proprietors, led by their President, Pastor Goke Orimoloye, said an average school paid N3million yearly.

    Orimoloye said due to the government’s inconsistent policies, private schools now have to pay the government, Ministry of Education and the local government.

    He said: “The Board of Internal Revenue collects N2,000,200 yearly. We pay the Ministry of Education a renewal college fee for N125,000 and N80,000 for primary school. We pay N30,000 to the local government for the premises. The Ministry of Education also collects N90,000 for JSS 3 examination for 60 pupils; for SS 2 examination we pay N55,000 for 55 pupils.

    “For the primary six examination, the ministry collects N50,000 for 50 pupils. Our tenement rates, which we pay to the local government, is between N50,000 and N120,000 yearly. Local government vehicle document (mobile advert) is N20,000. Signage to the Board of Internal Revenue is N15,000.

    “Rebranding of vehicle in Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) colour (per bus) N150,000.  We also pay re-accreditation fees (for colleges) to the ministry N50,000 and primary schools N30,000.

    “For sanitation we pay N50,000. In total, the ministry collects N480,000 ; local government N50,000; Board of Internal Revenue N2,015,200; FRSC N150,000 and Ministry of Environment N50,000.”

  • Indian hemp warehouse in Ondo

    Indian hemp warehouse in Ondo

    The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ondo State has discovered an Indian hemp warehouse in Akure, the state capital.

    The state Commander, Ibrahim Addul, said missionary, government and security vehicles were used for conveyance of cannabis sativa. He said the agency would ensure the monitoring of all government vehicles.

    Addul said 30 persons were arrested for alleged drug offences across the state. The NDLEA boss said the agency had destroyed 20 hectares of land with Indian hemp, adding that 19 tonnes of Indian hemp were also seized by the agency.

    Abdul informed that 26 drug offenders were serving jail terms in the state with 11 others facing trials.

    The NDLEA boss said it has also intensified efforts at curbing the menace of drug abuse among teenagers and youths.

  • Fuel scarcity looms in Ondo, Ekiti

    Fuel scarcity is looming in Ondo and Ekiti states, following threats by members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Ore Depot, to embark on a three-day warning strike from today.

    The strike is hinged on the failure of the Pipeline Products Marketing Company (PPMC) to make products available at Ore Depot since 2013.

    A communiqué at the end of the meeting signed by leaders of Independent Marketing Branch (IMB) and the Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD) Yemi Akinde and Olakunle Ajulo, said the stakeholders made several efforts at addressing the problems.

    The stakeholders said they would not allow trucks to bring petroleum products to Ondo and Ekiti states from any depot.

    “We will mount road blocks at all entry points to the two states. We urge the Federal Government and the PPMC to ensure pumping of fuel to the Ore Depot within the three days that the strike would last.”

  • ‘Stop pre-election monetary inducement in Ondo’

    ‘Stop pre-election monetary inducement in Ondo’

    The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to check the alleged pre-election monetary inducement being perpetrated by some politicians.

    It was learnt that the “common wealth” was being distributed to some people during Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s meetings with traders, artisans, community leaders and pressure groups.

    In a statement by its Media Committee’s Secretary Charles Titiloye, the party recalled that INEC kept quiet when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) raised N21 billion for its campaigns, contrary to the Electoral Act.

    APC said: “We are now witnessing the effect of these illegal investments by the PDP in campaigns through the open distribution of money in Ondo State.

    “Unfortunately, INEC again, has decided to turn away from the pre-election monetary inducement of voters.

    “Free and fair elections are not just about voting but a process that includes the conduct of politicians during electioneering campaigns.

    “Since the inducement of voters is an offence under the Electoral Act, INEC must immediately monitor the campaigns of political parties in Ondo State to prevent the electorate from being heavily compromised before the day of the election.”