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  • Be proactive or lose Ondo, APC group tells Buhari, party leaders

    •Akeredolu accused of working for opposition •Commissioner: allegation against governor mischievous

    A group of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters in Ondo State, under the aegis of Ondo APC Mandate Group, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the national leadership of the party to take steps that will ensure it does not lose the forthcoming general elections.

    The group accused Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of working against the interest of the party in the state.

    Addressing reporters yesterday at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, the nation’s capital, its spokesman Olugbenga Bojuwomi said it was unfortunate that the government had not considered it necessary to investigate its previous allegations against the state government.

    Then group insisted that the state government was working for candidates of the Action Alliance (AA) for National Assembly elections and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate.

    Bojuwomi said the Ondo State governor was not happy that his candidates did not win APC’s primaries and was sponsoring opposition parties for that reason.

    The spokesman said the governor had concluded plans to bring in fake policemen and fake ballot papers to be used against the APC during the elections.

    He said: “As the spate of insubordination and ego increase unabated on the part of Governor Akeredolu, his evil plan against the wish of the good people of Ondo State and the upcoming victory of our dear President Muhammadu Buhari are in tandem with that of a desperate and devilish undertaker.

    “Apart from the fact that series of these aborted plans have been revealed by this group – Ondo APC Mandate Group – and other sister groups in the state before now, which has yielded no fruits in the ears of the Presidency and APC national headquarters, but as lovers of President Buhari and APC, the group will continue to expose evil plans by Akeredolu which can as well lead to loss of lives and property on the Election Day.

    “However, to buttress this, a secret meeting was held in Akeredolu’s hometown, Owo, on Thursday, February 14, with all the divisional police officers (DPOs) where he informed them of the arrival of the fake policemen, soldiers and ballot papers already printed at the Governor’s Office.

    “The attack on APC loyalists, who are working for Buhari’s success, was also discussed with the DPOs that night. On Friday, February 15, less than 24 hours after the meeting, several concerted attacks were carried out against some APC stalwarts in the same Owo under the supervision of these so-called DPOs and their men. Some people were macheted and shot; the case was reported to the new Commissioner of Police in OndoState. But up till now, no arrest has been made.

    “The fake ballot papers have been printed in the Governor’s Office in other to use it to assist his AA National Assembly candidates and PDP presidential candidate in Ondo State. Also, all these fake policemen and soldiers with uniforms are being camped in the three senatorial district of the state.

    “There have been several threats and warnings from Governor Akeredolu against house-to-house campaign for Mr. President in Ondo State. He is only promoting AA and PDP presidential candidate. That is why up till now there is no campaign for President Buhari in Ondo State by party members.

    “Logistics that was released to Mr. Governor from Abuja was not given to APC stalwarts. In fact, the only condition for the money to be released to local governments was that you must work for AA or the PDP presidential candidate.

    “Governor Akeredolu’s message to all obas and party faithful in Ondo State was that they should vote for AA in National Assembly and PDP candidate for the President during the elections.

    “Furthermore, on Thursday, February 14 night, an undisclosed huge amount of money was given to Akeredolu from one of the PDP financers, a business mogul in telecommunication industry from the Southwest, for the ballot paper printing and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials as well as mobilisation for vote-buying for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar during the elections.

    “We hereby call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and INEC to, as a matter of urgency, investigate their men in Ondo State before Governor Akeredolu uses them to cause popular unrest. This is because if all these evil plans, as exposed, are not stopped, Ondo State will boil during the elections.

    “We call on the National Chairman of APC to investigate the activities of Governor Akeredolu and the party’s state executive with a view to unveiling their nocturnal activities on behalf of AA in Ondo State.

    “Under normal circumstances, we expected APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole not to extend any invitation of caucus meeting held yesterday (Monday) to Governor Akeredolu since it is established from all indications that the Ondo State governor is Atiku Abubakar’s campaign director general in disguise.

    “Prevention is better than cure. We say once again: if all these evil plans by Governor Akeredolu against the victory of our dear President Buhari and the peace of Ondo State are not aborted by concern authorities, Ondo State will catch fire on February 23.”

    Also, the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Yemi Olowolabi, yesterday described as mischievous those behind the protest against Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for his alleged disloyalty to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said: “Governor Akeredolu has no divided loyalty to the ruling party. There was nowhere he campaigned for the Action Alliance or any other opposition party.

    “To show his absolute commitment to the party, he flooded the streets with APC billboards, purchased campaign vehicles for the party in the 18 local government areas and funded intermittent radio jingles and television slots to market APC and its candidates.”

    Olowolabi recalled that last week, there were mega political rallies in the three senatorial districts in Owo, Akure and Ore.

    The commissioner said it got to a stage where the governor mandated his aides and State Executive Council (Exco) members to deliver their communities to the APC in the forthcoming general elections.

    He condemned the group, saying the intention of those behind the allegation was to heat up the polity for their selfish interests.

  • Be proactive or lose Ondo, APC group tells Buhari, party leaders

    •Akeredolu accused of working for opposition •Commissioner: allegation against governor mischievous

    A group of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters in Ondo State, under the aegis of Ondo APC Mandate Group, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the national leadership of the party to take steps that will ensure it does not lose the forthcoming general elections.

    The group accused Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of working against the interest of the party in the state.

    Addressing reporters yesterday at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, the nation’s capital, its spokesman Olugbenga Bojuwomi said it was unfortunate that the government had not considered it necessary to investigate its previous allegations against the state government.

    Then group insisted that the state government was working for candidates of the Action Alliance (AA) for National Assembly elections and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate.

    Bojuwomi said the Ondo State governor was not happy that his candidates did not win APC’s primaries and was sponsoring opposition parties for that reason.

    The spokesman said the governor had concluded plans to bring in fake policemen and fake ballot papers to be used against the APC during the elections.

    He said: “As the spate of insubordination and ego increase unabated on the part of Governor Akeredolu, his evil plan against the wish of the good people of Ondo State and the upcoming victory of our dear President Muhammadu Buhari are in tandem with that of a desperate and devilish undertaker.

    “Apart from the fact that series of these aborted plans have been revealed by this group – Ondo APC Mandate Group – and other sister groups in the state before now, which has yielded no fruits in the ears of the Presidency and APC national headquarters, but as lovers of President Buhari and APC, the group will continue to expose evil plans by Akeredolu which can as well lead to loss of lives and property on the Election Day.

    “However, to buttress this, a secret meeting was held in Akeredolu’s hometown, Owo, on Thursday, February 14, with all the divisional police officers (DPOs) where he informed them of the arrival of the fake policemen, soldiers and ballot papers already printed at the Governor’s Office.

    “The attack on APC loyalists, who are working for Buhari’s success, was also discussed with the DPOs that night. On Friday, February 15, less than 24 hours after the meeting, several concerted attacks were carried out against some APC stalwarts in the same Owo under the supervision of these so-called DPOs and their men. Some people were macheted and shot; the case was reported to the new Commissioner of Police in OndoState. But up till now, no arrest has been made.

    “The fake ballot papers have been printed in the Governor’s Office in other to use it to assist his AA National Assembly candidates and PDP presidential candidate in Ondo State. Also, all these fake policemen and soldiers with uniforms are being camped in the three senatorial district of the state.

    “There have been several threats and warnings from Governor Akeredolu against house-to-house campaign for Mr. President in Ondo State. He is only promoting AA and PDP presidential candidate. That is why up till now there is no campaign for President Buhari in Ondo State by party members.

    “Logistics that was released to Mr. Governor from Abuja was not given to APC stalwarts. In fact, the only condition for the money to be released to local governments was that you must work for AA or the PDP presidential candidate.

    “Governor Akeredolu’s message to all obas and party faithful in Ondo State was that they should vote for AA in National Assembly and PDP candidate for the President during the elections.

    “Furthermore, on Thursday, February 14 night, an undisclosed huge amount of money was given to Akeredolu from one of the PDP financers, a business mogul in telecommunication industry from the Southwest, for the ballot paper printing and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials as well as mobilisation for vote-buying for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar during the elections.

    “We hereby call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and INEC to, as a matter of urgency, investigate their men in Ondo State before Governor Akeredolu uses them to cause popular unrest. This is because if all these evil plans, as exposed, are not stopped, Ondo State will boil during the elections.

    “We call on the National Chairman of APC to investigate the activities of Governor Akeredolu and the party’s state executive with a view to unveiling their nocturnal activities on behalf of AA in Ondo State.”

    “Under normal circumstances, we expected APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole not to extend any invitation of caucus meeting held yesterday (Monday) to Governor Akeredolu since it is established from all indications that the Ondo State governor is Atiku Abubakar’s campaign director general in disguise.

    “Prevention is better than cure. We say once again: if all these evil plans by Governor Akeredolu against the victory of our dear President Buhari and the peace of Ondo State are not aborted by concern authorities, Ondo State will catch fire on February 23.”

    Also, the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Yemi Olowolabi, yesterday described as mischievous those behind the protest against Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for his alleged disloyalty to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said: “Governor Akeredolu has no divided loyalty to the ruling party. There was nowhere he campaigned for the Action Alliance or any other opposition party.

    “To show his absolute commitment to the party, he flooded the streets with APC billboards, purchased campaign vehicles for the party in the 18 local government areas and funded intermittent radio jingles and television slots to market APC and its candidates.”

    Olowolabi recalled that last week, there were mega political rallies in the three senatorial districts in Owo, Akure and Ore.

    The commissioner said it got to a stage where the governor mandated his aides and State Executive Council (Exco) members to deliver their communities to the APC in the forthcoming general elections.

    He condemned the group, saying the intention of those behind the allegation was to heat up the polity for their selfish interests.

  • APC campaign council urges unity among party leaders

    •‘Vote for Buhari, other APC candidates’

    The Southwest Presidential Campaign Council of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged privileged members of the party to close ranks and work for its success in tomorrow’s and next month’s elections.

    This followed reports of anti-party activities in some Southwest states, particularly Ogun and Ondo.

    The council’s Zonal Director Chief Olusola Oke (SAN) said information reaching his office revealed that some privileged and highly placed APC members in Ondo and Ogun states were still holding animosity over the last primary of the party.

    A statement by the spokesman of the campaign council, Rotimi Ogunleye, said the aggrieved members should shun anti-party activities in the interest of the party and the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The campaign council said feelers from outside hinted that the anti-party activities of the privileged individuals were creating confusion in the minds of the majority of the electorate who could hardly distinguish between the ballot papers of the Senate, House of Representatives and President while casting their ballots.

    Also, Oke advised the few privileged APC leaders to think about the danger and damage their actions may cause the party in tomorrow’s elections.

    The campaign zonal director said the actions and anti-APC activities of the individuals were capable of reducing the strength of the party in the zone, especially in Ondo and Ogun states.

     

     

  • Oyo group cautions APC aspirants, party leaders

    Oyo group cautions APC aspirants, party leaders

    A group within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in Oyo State, New Dawn Forum (NDF), has raised an alarm that some elements within the party are trying to hijack the party from the loyal members.
    Addressing a press conference in Ibadan yesterday, Chairman and Secretary of the group, Chief Rasheed Babalola and Hon. Jaiye Ayilara, while raising the alarm, however commended Governor Abiola Ajimobi for the postponement of the APC primaries due to the pending court injunction and to avoid crisis in the state.
    They claimed that the governor in his wisdom saved the party from being torn into factions when he call for the postponement of the primaries at a meeting he had with aspirants. The group, while calling for calm among the aspirants and leaders of the party, said it was glaring that if the primary was held, it would have led to crisis.
    “We want to appeal to all aspirants and all loyal members of the party to give peace a chance and give room for the consensus exercise to prevail; to save this great party from being torn apart by some people claiming ownership of this party. Whereas, All Progressives Congress (APC), is a mega party and nobody can claim its ownership.
    “By the grace of God, we are saying that the election will hold in a peaceful atmosphere. We unanimously support Governor Ajimobi for his boldness in standing his ground as leader of the party and chief security officer of the state. We appeal to him not to relent in his efforts towards sanitizing this party,” the group said.

  • Why Abraham is good for APC, by party leaders

    Why Abraham is good for APC, by party leaders

    TWO leaders of Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Taiwo Malumi and Dr. Paul Akintelure, have explained why a governorship aspirant in Saturday’s primary, Olusegun Abraham, will pick the party’s governorship ticket for the November poll.

    They spoke last weekend while addressing APC delegates at the Igbokoda headquarters of Ilaje Local Government.

    Malumi said the Ikare-born technocrat and businessman is “a square peg in a square hole”, who will sustain the party’s progressive stance.

    The party’s senatorial leader said statewide acceptance of Abraham showed that he would win with high margin as the APC flagbearer.

    His words: “Our party prides itself on singling out the best heads for positions of responsibility. And, as far as Ondo is concerned, its economy is in need of someone who can produce results based on evident economic experience. Abraham is a successful businessman, who will get the best deals that will profit Ilaje and Ondo.

    “I do not support losers. I’ve known him for a while. I know he also doubles as a technocrat with the highest hands-on experience and professionalism among the aspirants, at a level sufficient enough to use what we have in our state to transform Ondo to the Amsterdam of Africa. We must vote for him, and with the acceptance the state has given him, I’m sure he will win by a wide margin”, Malumi stated.

    Akintelure, another leader in the neighbouring Okitipupa Local Government and a fellow aspirant who stepped down for Abraham, said what Ondo needs “is politics of economy, not politics of power”.

    He added this is why most delegates are embracing the Abraham option ahead of the Saturday primary election.

    Akintelure added: “I am a medical doctor with diverse interests in other sectors, such as agriculture, human capacity development, and hospitality and I understand this exigent need for states to diversify in this era of dwindling oil fortunes to stay afloat.

    “That is why I bow to the talent in this guy, Olusegun Abraham, he is a perfect fit for the task at hand in Ondo. He has proven his worth at excelling in business and infrastructure in and outside Nigeria. He has the needed amount of exposure to unlock our blessings in Ondo

    “To be honest, I believe all the aspirants who showed an interest to bear our party’s flag are competent. But considering the scale of preference of priorities in Ondo, one would naturally and with wisdom select the Abraham option. The priorities in Ondo include wealth creation, job creation and a sustainable economy. Abraham has the highest level of experience in this regard and it explains why our national leaders and most delegates embrace him.”

    Akintelure berated some of the party members who are displeased by the stream of endorsements Abraham got so far.

    “We must condemn this hypocrisy and charlatan politicking depicted by those against valid endorsement of an aspirant, all of us at one point or the other sought these endorsements for our aspiration.

    “Why then cry foul when there is none? The fact remains that we have to present our strongest candidate to successfully unseat this monster PDP government in Ondo State, and judging by this overwhelming acceptance so far, I believe Abraham will win by a wide margin on Saturday.”

     

  • PDP workers to party leaders: ‘Stop blaming APC for your misery’

    PDP workers to party leaders: ‘Stop blaming APC for your misery’

    •Metuh replies them: ‘I am ready to face probe’

    Workers at the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday  insisted that the party’s leaders were the architects of its current misery, and should therefore stop blaming the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for their woes.

    The workers are currently at war with members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) over a planned 50 percent slash in their salaries and allowances.

    The NWC had, through a circular by PDP’s National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, also given notice of a 50 percent reduction in secretariat staff strength.

    But the workers responded to the NWC’s move by dismissing the officials as corrupt, insensitive and reckless.

    They also staged a protest at the party’s secretariat on Friday, and threatened to drag the NWC members to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation.

    But the   National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, did not take kindly to the workers’ action.

    He accused them of acting the script of the APC with a view to destabilising the PDP.

    However, the workers, under the aegis of the PDP Staff Welfare Association, dismissed Metuh’s accusation as “absolute bunkum, clumsy, and blundering blackmail.”

    The association’s Chairman, Ngozi Nze and the Secretary, Dan Ochu-Baiye vowed, in a statement, to expose more of the party leaders’ corrupt practices.

    Describing Metuh’s stand point as “a weak shot from a mortally crippled arsenal of witch hunt”, the workers said such blackmail would not break their resolve to see the NWC members investigated and prosecuted.

    Their words: “Metuh’s allegation is a wide window into the impressionable character of the man who has been in the saddle as the party’s image-maker and an ominous signpost into the shallow manner the publicity of the party has been run.

    “We wish to state that this is a man whose conduct, demeanour and media outings have been a repulse to professionalism and a source of embarrassment to party members.

    “We therefore place it on record that the majority of the establishment staff of the PDP are not just unrepentant members of the party who have spent over sixteen years in service; who have assimilated the PDP ethos as a way of political life, but are also the repository of the party’s institutional memory whose spirit can hardly succumb to the ephemeralty of power loss.

    “Who plays anti-party? you may ask. Staff members who are genuinely resisting the morally repugnant and obsessively corrupt NWC so that the PDP will survive, or the likes of Olisa Metuh who have a track record of anti-party given his open endorsement of APGA candidate in the 2013 Anambra governorship election.

    “What with Metuh’s subsequent denigration of the PDP candidate and his chances on live television programme less than 24 hours after the election, even as the result was being awaited?

    “Earlier in January 2010 Anambra governorship election, Metuh as National Vice Chairman, South East, abandoned Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, the PDP candidate while openly galvanizing support for Hope Democratic Party candidate, his friend and benefactor.

    “The PDP did not only woefully lose in Otolo Nnewi Ward 1 of the Party’s zonal vice chairman, but came a distant third in his polling booth! What a faithful party officer!”

    They queried Metuh’s support for former President Goodluck Jonathan in the run up to the last election and wondered what happened to “a whopping sum of N450 million media fund earlier approved for the office of PDP Publicity Secretary by President Jonathan.”

    They also cited the recent congresses in Anambra as “another signpost to the destructive trajectory which the likes of Olisa Metuh is driving the PDP to.”

    They added:”as we write, the party is still waiting for the result of the congresses a week after it was held, pending when Metuh is done with his conclave of distortion and extortion.

    “This is the same man who we reliably gathered, is surreptitiously scheming to emerge as the Organizing Secretary of the party next year. To do what? Turn the party organization into Idumota Market and institutionalize extortion, graft and impunity.

    “This is a man who started in 1999 as a zonal youth leader, then National Ex-officio, Acting National Auditor, Zonal Vice Chairman and now publicity secretary. It is either his umbilical cord was buried at Wadata Plaza or that he can’t survive on any other thing except the PDP.

    “We make bold to add that the worst form of anti-party is the mindless plunder of the party resources by the NWC which Olisa Metuh is an integral part. He is, in fact, the leader of the body’s extortion gang.

    “Recall that the same man was the Chairman of Kogi State congresses which held last week and match it with the fact that the widely rumoured request for one billion Naira from the state governor emanated the same week.

    “Indeed, labelling the staff of the PDP could be a veiled attempt to justify the huge sum of N70 million which Metuh collected in July in the name of fighting the APC in the media.

    “We wish to therefore advise him and the NWC to respond to gritty issues raised in our press briefing without which the fortunes of the party will continue to dwindle.”

    The workers had, among others, accused the party leaders of squandering N12 billion realised from the sale of nomination forms during the last general election.

    They also alleged that the party leaders had compelled delegates to pay N10,000 each into a private account of a company called Morufi Nigeria Limited only to squander the over N1 billion realised from the transaction.

    Metuh in his reply to the workers volunteered to be investigated by the security agencies over the allegations of corruption against him.

    In a statement by his Personal Assistant, Mr. Richard Ihediwa, Metuh said the workers’ actions were meant to bring to public odium and to distract him from his duties.

    He said he was being persecuted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) through the workers, for his relentless criticism of the policies and programmes of the administration.

    According to him, “This is not unexpected given the role of the National Publicity Secretary in the rebuilding of our great party and how uncomfortable the ruling APC has been for his outspokenness.

    “We are aware that the anti-PDP forces have easily found a handful of disgruntled PDP staff as willing tools to attack Chief Metuh with a view to bringing him to public odium, distract him and deny our party a credible voice to propagate its positions.

    “These forces had even gone to the extent of engineering some discontented PDP members to portray statements by the National Publicity Secretary as his personal opinions in the attempt to discredit and intimidate him.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that the National Publicity Secretary will not be deterred or detracted by such threats and cheap blackmails as he remains committed to his role in the rebuilding of the PDP and in providing firm, credible and issue based opposition to the ruling party.

    “This office would not join issues with these elements, however we make bold to state that Chief Olisa Metuh, being aware of the challenges that come with his new role has offered himself, his office as well as all his private companies for probe by the Department of State Services (DSS) or any other government agency for that matter.

    “We also find it laughable that anybody would criticise the recent PDP congresses in Anambra and Kogi that have been widely applauded to be transparent and credible as established by the peace and harmony that characterised the processes.

    “One also wonders how the issue of congresses helps the case of welfare matters being pushed by the staff, if not for the ulterior motive of destroying the PDP publicity”.

    Metuh said his accusers have deliberately refused to appreciate his immense contributions to the party and the fact that he became the longest serving member of the National Executive Committee due to hard work and the confidence members of the party reposed in him as an individual.

    He expressed relief that his accusers are now calling for his investigation instead of resorting to plots to assassinate him.

    “However, we restate that the National Publicity Secretary will not in any way be cowed or intimidated by the threats, blackmails and attacks by anti-PDP forces to abandon his mandate as spokesperson of our great party”, the statement

     

  • APC chieftain hails party leaders for resolution of Reps crisis

    APC chieftain hails party leaders for resolution of Reps crisis

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Chief (Dr.) Femi Majekodunmi, on Friday lauded President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the party, on the peaceful resolution of the leadership crisis in the House of Representatives.

    Majekodunmi also hailed other APC national leaders, including the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Senator Bola Tinubu, members of the Board of Trustees (BOT) and National Working Committee (NWC) for the maturity and fatherly roles played in resolving the crisis.

    The Physician and politician who made this known to reporters in Abeokuta, the state capital, stated that the calm and harmony that had now returned to the Lower arm of the National Assembly, showed the party as one that can handle its crisis regardless of the magnitude.

    He said: “what the party has been able to prove is that compromises are hallmark of any political issue, stating that the time has come for politicians to always take the country first in all they do as any office is nothing but an opportunity to serve the people.

    “With the peaceful resolution of the crisis in the House of Representatives, President Buhari, has once again proved that he has what it takes with the other leaders of the party to put the party on a sound footing such that it will continue to be a shinning example for other political parties to emulate.

    “While it is indisputable that crisis cannot be ruled out of any democratic process, the gladiators have been able agree that they are elected to serve the people and thus must at all times engage in compromise to resolve any crisis.”

    According to the Baagbile of Egbaland, with the crisis put behind, APC is poised to deliver the dividends of democracy continually to the teeming Nigerians that voted  it into office as the executive and the legislative arms having forged a common unity, the sky is their limit for the development of the country.

     

  • Council chief, party leaders, transporters meet

    Council chief, party leaders, transporters meet

    To seek the votes of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and its affiliate union, Motorcycle Riders’ Association (commercial motorcyclists), otherwise called Okada riders, in next month’s general elections, leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos State, have met.

    The meeting, which held at the premises of the union’s chairman, discussed various issues bordering on the critical roles that members of the union can play in the election and the need for them to vote massively for the ruling party in the state in all the elections.

    The Chairman, APC in the area, Mr. Adewale Bello, said his party has high regard for the motorcyclists and urged them to vote for his party.

    He said Lagos State Government and APC consider the operators as critical players in the development of the state, adding that their contributions to revenue generation, employment and transportation were remarkable.

    Executive Secretaryof the Ojokoro LCDA, Alhaja Fausat Hassan-Olajoku, praised the union for its support and contributions to the development of the area, assuring its members that she would channel their complaints to the state government for action.

    Alhaja Hassan-Olajoku said she would meet with police divisions in her domain with a view to urging them to addressing contentious issues relating to their operations, by talking to their subordinate officers and men to exercise caution when dealing with commercial motorcyclists.

    She urged them to exercise their civic duties by registering and collecting their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    Mr. Rasheed Makinde, the Lagos State House of Assembly APC candidate in Ifako Ijaiye Constituency, promised to seek the support of other APC leaders in the area to address some of the challenges facing the Okada riders in the zone, adding however, that the government’s restriction order had drastically reduced accidents’ rates, and their fatalities, including deaths, over the years.