The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ONDO

  • Court orders release of Ondo ACN members

    Court orders release of Ondo ACN members

    AN Akure High Court, presided over by Justice B. F. Adeyeye, has ordered the release of two arrested Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) members. They were arrested in the convoy of the party’s governorship candidate, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), and arraigned for alleged robbery and unlawful possession of firearms.

    The ACN legal team, led by Titiloye Charles and Victor Olatoyegun, approached the court to bail the accused after the Chief Magistrate Court in Akure declined jurisdiction on the matter.

    It ordered that the accused, Folagbade Dapo and Oluwasola Sunday, be remanded in Olokuta Prison. Akeredolu’s convoy was attacked by suspected Labour Party (LP) thugs on July 28. Rather than arrest the thugs, the police arrested the ACN members.

    The police anti-robbery unit, however, washed its hands off the matter, saying it was not properly investigated and that it should be withdrawn.
    The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, took over the matter.

    He averred that the accused have a case to answer. The Justice Commissioner issued a legal advice, which directed the trial of the accused for alleged robbery.

  • ACN chieftains allege threats to their lives

    ACN chieftains allege threats to their lives

    Iwo Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leaders in Akoko, Ondo North Senatorial District, Olugbenga Omole and Barry Obamehinti (aka (Beri-Bonje), at the weekend alleged that some notable leaders of the ruling Labour Party (LP) were threatening to intimidate them for working against their party.

    It was learnt that Omole, who is a regular discussant on a radio current affairs programme: Ondo State in Focus, alleged that the LP leaders were not comfortable with the facts he presents on the programme.

    Addressing reporters in Akure, the state capital, Omole said: “The height of the threat came when I featured in a private television station in Lagos. Immediately I stepped out of the studio, a strange number came in and it happened to be one of the top shots of LP, who pleaded with me to come and join them or else I would have myself to blame.

    “I am calling on security agents to be aware of this because I have already lodged a complaint with the police and I have instructed my lawyer to petition the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Mohammed Abubakir.”

    Obamehinti, who was Head of the Security Unit of Omoluabi Platform, a group sponsored by Dr Olu Agunloye before he defected to the LP, was regarded as the engine room of the Agunloye political base.
    He said: “Agunloye is not happy that I didn’t follow him to the LP. I told him that he met me in ACN and should not think I would follow him to the LP.”

    “Agunloye knows that all his followers in Akoko and Owo are with me and I am working on the few ones that are with him now because they have been disappointed by Mimiko who promised to develop the state and its citizenry but failed totally.

    The two ACN Chieftains urged the Police to investigate the case in a bid to save their lives from the attackers. Police spokesman Adeniran Aremu, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), could not be reached for comments, but a source at the command hinted that the report has not been officially reported.

    Another ACN leader in Ose Local Government Area, Timehin Adelegbe raised the alarm over a clandestine move by a council chairman and some other LP stalwarts to eliminate him because of working for ACN particularly in Oke-luse community.

    Through his lawyer, Adelegbe petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to investigate the matter and rescue him from assaination threats by his political opponents.

  • Akeredolu: I’m ready for probe on alleged fraud

    Akeredolu: I’m ready for probe on alleged fraud

    The Akeredolu Campaign organisation (ACO) of the Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday challenged a “faceless” organisation, which accused its governorship candidate, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), of fraud to petition the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to investigate the alleged N3 million fraud.

    The former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President promised to submit himself and his company, AKT Ventures, for a probe by security agents. A statement by the organisation’s Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy, Mr Idowu Ajanaku, said: “For us at ACO, this is a baseless, wanton and cheap attempt to bring the name of Akeredolu (SAN) to disrepute by this irresponsible association called Good Governance Monitor (GGM), allegedly sponsored by Governor Olusegun Mimiko and his drowning Labour Party (LP).

    “Thus, the allegation that Akeredolu diverted N3 million donated by the Niger State Government is false.  “This so-called ‘scandal’ has already been investigated by the top level of NBA and Akeredolu had been acquitted of any misconduct, undue influence or manipulation of the process as far back as 2010.

    “The National Executive Committee’s (NEC’s) decision was contained in paragraph eight (8) of the communiqué signed by the General Secretary, Ibrahim Eddy, and the Publicity Secretary, Muritala Abdul-Rasheed, issued at the end of the NBA meeting on June 3 and 4, 2010, under the subhead: AKT Ventures and the NBA.

    “It states inter-alia: ‘For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC reiterates and adopts the decision of the committee of former Presidents, which had absolved the current President of the NBA from any wrongdoing concerning the affairs of AKT Ventures Limited and its relationship with the NBA’.”

    ACO recalled that Akeredolu’s contribution to the NBA was recently recognised when the association named its headquarters in Abuja after him.
    The organisation noted that this speaks volume on how the body of learned men perceives him and his leadership.

    The statement added: “In our reckoning, Akeredolu is not only a man of pedigree, but he is honest and straightforward; he is focused and determined to make Ondo State better.

    “(He is) unlike Mimiko, who has played to the gallery for three and a half years. Then governor only has markets, stalls, maternity homes and boreholes to show for the huge revenue accrued to the state. His administration has been recording a litany of abandoned projects, such as the Doom-dome, Akure TownshipS, Owena Multi-purpose Dam, Akure-Owo Road, Ondo-Akure road, Arakale road, Arigidi tomato paste factory.

    “No amount of cheap lies, sponsored propaganda and blackmail by Mimiko, his co-travellers and faceless organisations against Akeredolu will save the governor from being rooted out in the October 20 poll by the Ondo State people.”

  • Akeredolu accuses Mimiko of intimidating opposition

    Akeredolu accuses Mimiko of intimidating opposition

    The Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) of the Ondo State Action congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday accused the ruling Labour Party (LP) of intimidating opposition parties.

    It alerted the public to the worsening security situation in the state following the alleged arrest of a personal assistant to a monarch in Ilaje with explosives, over 100 AK rifles and other weapons by a detachment of the Nigerian Army in Okitipupa.

    ACO noted that “this is a dangerous dimension to the build-up to the governorship election in Ondo State”. The ACN had accused the LP of importing arms into the state.
    In a statement by its spokesman, Mr Idowu Ajanaku, ACO alleged that the LP had started distributing the weapons to its thugs in the local governments to intimidate opposition members and cause confusion before and during the October 20 poll.

    The statement reads: “We want members of the public to recall how the Labour Party members have been unleashing violence on the ACN such as Akeredolu’s convoy on Oba Adesida road Akure, Okeluse at Ose local government, members during ward meeting at Lafe in Akure, among others.

    “Indeed, a serving commissioner in the Olusegun Mimiko administration now goes about with a contingent of fully armed mobile policemen, who shoot sporadically into the air to create panic in the community.

    “Last week, during the community celebration at Igbaraoke, he was there with over 10 uniformed policemen and other private guards, who were armed with all kinds of weapons, thereby causing so panic during and after the event. They shot sporadically into the air. This is in a bid to intimidate members of the opposition.”

    ACO urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate the matter and fish out the security agents who work with Mimiko to cause mayhem in Ondo State.

    It reminded the governor and his co-travellers that Ondo State residents are not cowards and that no amount of intimidation would make them change their minds to vote out the LP on October 20.

    ACO said: “The people of the state are determined to vote for ACN, which has promised to replicate the massive infrastructural development of Lagos in Ondo State and provide 30,000 jobs within 100 days in office to stem the tide of the criminal neglect of the youths.

    “The ACN standard bearer is an honest man, with the pedigree and integrity. He is trustworthy. Ondo State people can trust him to fulfil his promises because he is another SAN with a sound mind.”

  • ACN candidate ‘didn’t incite varsity, poly workers against LP’

    The Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) of the Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday debunked the allegation by the ruling Labour Party (LP) that opposition parties were instigating the workers of Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU) in Akungba Akoko and the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo (RUGIPOLY) against the government.

    In a statement by its spokesman, Mr Idowu Ajanaku, ACO said: “To us, this is a panic measure on the part of the unpopular government in the state. If an opposition party has such a capacity to influence government workers against the so-called grassroots administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, then they are on their way out.”

    The organisation said Ondo State residents should ask the ruling Labour Party (LP) if it was the opposition that has refused to pay the allowances of workers of Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU) in the last 28 months.
    It also asked if it was the opposition that has refused to pay the 27 per cent allowances to teachers in the state.

    The statement added: “In fact, it should interest the people why it took Mimiko over two years to show interest in the widows and children of the Labour unions’ representatives who died in a motor accident on their way from Akure after a meeting with Mimiko to negotiate for the welfare of workers.

    “Till now, the agreement reached has not been implemented. The entire campus wears a mourning look as claims that subvention has not be released is all over the air.

    “Is this also the work of the opposition? Is it an opposition party that has neglected the welfare of the workers in both institutions? Is it the opposition party that has been victimising the workers of these institutions? Is it the opposition that has been forcing civil servants to Mimiko’s rallies across the state against their wish?”

    ACO noted that the latest series of protests against the Mimiko administration is an indication that it has lost the confidence of the Ondo State residents.

    It expressed confidence that Mimiko and his LP would be rooted out by the people on October 20.