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Tag: ‘pledge

  • Police pledge to unmask killers of APC man Ojo

    The Ekiti State Police Command has pledged to unmask the killers of an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Mr. Bunmi Ojo.

    The late Ojo, a commissioner on the board of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), was shot dead around 9 p.m last Friday at a viewing centre in Adebayo area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    He was watching the opening match of the English Premier League between Manchester United and Leicester City when he was killed.

    The late Ojo, who was Personal Assistant (PA) to former Governor Segun Oni, was shot in the head and stomach at close range by his killers.

    His body had been deposited at the mortuary of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti.

    Giving an update on the murder, police spokesman Caleb Ikechukwu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the command was determined to arrest Ojo’s killers and bring them to justice.

    The spokesman said plain cloth operatives and men of the Special Anti-Robbery (SARS) had been deployed in the state to trail the assailants.

    He said: “We are determined to ensure that the killers are brought to justice. We are gathering tips and working on all possibilities to ensure that these evildoers are made to face the wrath of the law.

    “We have sent our men to comb everywhere. Our men in plain cloth are out to unmask the killers.

    “They are combing every corner and those areas seen to be criminal hideouts are under the watchful eyes of our men. So, we are confident that the killers will be arrested soon.”

    Ojo’s killers reportedly seized his phones before opening fire on him, it was learnt yesterday.

    A relative, who spoke in confidence, said the killers also collected Ojo’s car keys, which they later returned after killing him.

    He said: “When they stormed the viewing centre, they shot into the air to disperse the viewers and they immediately seized Ojo’s mobile sets and car keys before shooting.

    “But they later returned the car key after carrying out the act. What they wanted to do was to cause distraction and make the murder look like a robbery.

    “We are appealing to the police to bring the perpetrators to justice. Mr Ojo’s death shouldn’t be swept under the carpet.”

    Also, a chieftain of the APC in Ekiti State, Senator Ayo Arise, has expressed sadness over Ojo’s death and the killing of other innocent souls in the state.

    Arise noted that 10 persons had been murdered in the last three months.

    The senator said most of the victims were APC members.

    Arise, who represented Ekiti North in the National Assembly between 2007 and 2011, urged the police to bring Ojo’s killers to justice.

    In a statement yesterday in Ado-Ekiti while mourning Ojo, the senator described the late politician as a committed and loyal party member.

    He urged security agencies to work together and end the scary situation in the state.

    Arise said: “It has become imperative that the security agencies in the state work out a professional modality for putting an immediate halt to the latest uncivilised killings across the state for the people to have confidence in them.

    “The late former Federal Commissioner in the Federal Character Commission in Abuja, Bunmi Ojo, was a very humble and very loyal personality with vision and foresight. He could have become a great leader.

    “The murder of such a promising and versatile young man and others in recent times in Ekiti State is unfortunate, appalling and untoward. Therefore, the police and other security agencies must work together to immediately arrest the culprits to serve as a deterrent to others.”

    The APC chief commiserated with Oni, the late Ojo’s family and the people of Ekiti.

    He prayed God to console everyone on the great loss.

     

  • Police, NBA pledge harmonious relationship

    Lagos State Police Commissioner (CP) Edgar Imohimi has reiterated the determination of the command to partner with lawyers.

    Imohimi spoke when the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Welfare Secretary Mr Adesina Adegbite visited him.

    He said the command has established good relationship with the five NBA branches in the state and developed a way of settling issues between them without rancour.

    He assured the NBA national officer that the Police would respond to any issue  that might arise between them.

    Adegbite told Imohimi that the visit was informed by recent skirmishes between the Police and some members of the bar.

    He said, for instance, that aside from the issue of Adeyemi Abijo of Ikeja Branch of the NBA, the association also received complaints  from other branches of the NBA, including Ikorodu Branch,  of assault meted on them by some officers of the Police.

    He said there was need for continuous engagement between  them to avert a reoccurrence of similar incidences.

    Adegbite said: “Police should be seen by every citizen as a force they can trust and have confidence in and be able to walk up to them and lay their complaints without any fear.

    “If they see them as a threat, information that could be helpful in their duties will be kept away from them.”

    He cited an incident that happened in Ajah two months ago in which a lawyer was pulled out of a car by some police officers, in the process of which the vehicle ran over his legs.

    He suggested continuous training of all cadres of the state command, adding that the NBA was willing to provide resources to assist in the training.

    Adegbite praised Imohimi for the manner he responded to issues involving lawyers.

    “Your record has been very encouraging so far. Your rapid response to complaints has been impressive too. It shows how a modern police should be run and that we have a fine and decent police officer running our command.

    “When we have good leaders of reference, then we can have good officers in the force,” he said.

    Adegbite disclosed that the national leaders of the NBA were also making efforts to see the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris to discuss ways of improving their relationship.

    Others who accompanied Adegbite on the visit include NBA, Ikeja Branch Welfare Secretary Banke Tanimowo; Young Lawyers Forum Chairman Charles Ajiboye; his deputy, Adetunji Akinyemi;  Nelly Silver-Ajalaye and Oladipo Ajayi.

  • $5b pledge from China for FTZ

    The Oyo State government has secured $5 billion from China to develop its newly established Free Trade Zone (FTZ), Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said.

    The governor spoke in Ibadan, the state capital, while receiving an Industrial Policy and Strategic document from a delegation of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the UNIDO team was led by Mr Jean Bakole, the representative to ECOWAS and Regional Director, Nigeria Regional Office Hub.

    NAN reports that the Industrial Policy Document was developed by Oyo State government with the approval and collaboration of UNIDO.

    Ajimobi said the establishment of the FTZ was part of his administration’s determination to make the state an industrial hub of the nation.

    The governor said 150 investors from China had signified intention to invest in the FTZ, and seven had begun work on the FTZ site.

    He said: “Our administration has not relented in its efforts at infrastructural development of the state, creation of jobs for youths, revenue growth and the protection of well-being of the citizenry.

    “We have evolved several initiatives in all the various sectors of governance and which have been yielding desired results.”

    Ajimobi said his administration’s commitment to industrialisation was evident in a recent ranking, which placed the state among the safest and conducive for doing business.

    The governor said the government was using agriculture as a platform for industrialisation, adding Oyo State was becoming the centre of industrial revolution.

    He hailed UNIDO for selecting the state as the first beneficiary of its collaboration in Nigeria.

    According to him, the opportunity would be fully and judiciously utilised.

    Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Cooperatives Mrs Taibat Adeyemi-Agaba said the document would, on implementation, be the best in the Southwest, having considered the contributions from internal and external stakeholders.

    Bakole praised the transformation of the Ajimobi administration, saying the UNIDO team was in the state to support government efforts through effective collaboration.

  • Nigeria to redeem $100 million pledge to multinational task force

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said that Nigeria will fully redeem its pledge of $100 million for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to enhance its operations against Boko Haram.

    He spoke at a high-level meeting of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa.

    President Buhari said that having already released $21 million to the task force in June last year, Nigeria will remit the balance of $79 million very soon.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, also assured the Council that Boko Haram’s capacity to conduct conventional attacks has been “heavily degraded”.

    He said: “As at now, there is no single Nigerian territory under the control of the insurgents other than their hideouts in Sambisa Forest.

    “Displaced persons (IDPs) are now being resettled in their respective homes.

    “This feat totally accords with our promise to Nigerians to rid the country of terrorism and extremism within few months of our assumption of office.

    “Our efforts are already yielding dividends and we will not relent until the terrorist groups are totally decimated and wiped out of our country and sub-region,” he said.

    The President also reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to support measures to end the conflicts in Burundi and South Sudan, including the proposed deployment of troops by the AU to Burundi.

    He said: “Let me re-iterate Nigeria’s deep commitment to ensuring durable peace, stability and security on our continent.

    “Without peace, there will be no development. It is therefore vital for all of us to join hands in taking appropriate measures to end the conflicts and bring a stop to the incalculable damage being inflicted on innocent citizens in the affected countries,” the President told participants at the meeting.

  • TUC urges COAS to redeem pledge

    • Union pleads for condemned soldiers

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria has commended and urged the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Kenneth Minimah, to go all out to reward soldiers as promised during his visit to Baga town in Kukawa Local Government Area, Bornu State.

    TUC in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, also urged the leadership of other security operatives who are participating in the fight to follow suit.

    “We read in the dailies that COAS had boosted the morale of the troops at the scene of the fight when he commended their courage and patriotism in the fight to save our dear country. He told them that every soldier who participated in the Baga operation, whether dead or alive has been promoted to the next rank. While we commend the COAS for the confidence-building trip, we wish to passionately appeal to him to ensure that the promise is fulfilled straight away as it will go a long way in motivating and encouraging the soldiers,” Kaigama said.

    The Congress appealed to the Federal Government and the military authority to temper justice with mercy on the soldiers who were condemned some months ago.

    “Justice, they say serves a better societal purpose when tempered with mercy. And indeed the quality of mercy is not strained. It is twice blessed. It blesses he that gives and he that takes.

    “We can say that when functions are carried out systematically and meticulously, and to the best of ability, the result is success and joy for all,” he said.

  • Edo redeems pledge to Christian community

    Edo redeems pledge to Christian community

    Edo State government has redeemed its pledge to provide a bus for the use of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

    Presenting the keys of a 33-seater Coaster bus to the CAN Chairman at the weekend, Governor Adams Oshiomhole said although the government might not be able to sponsor individuals on a holy pilgrimage, its commitment to recognised faith-based associations, which helped to instil morals in the people, remained unshaken.

    He said: “In the past, you requested for a vehicle for CAN and I promised that we would provide you with a bus to assist you to move around and mobilise your members in your activities.

    “This bus has been procured for some time now and I realised that we have not formally presented it to you. So I decided to invite you to formally present the bus since the request was made formally by your leadership.

    “Also, I offered to help you build your secretariat. Time is going and I have about two and a half years to spend. I don’t want to make a promise that I will not fulfil. So I thought I should keep my promise.

    “From the end of this month, we will make some money available.

    “Every month, we will be committed to putting the money in your account so that in the next 10 months we will be able to raise N250 million to ensure that the project is completed while I am in office.”

    Oshiomhole thanked the CAN leadership and Christians for their prayers and support.

    The leader of the delegation and CAN Chairman, Rt. Rev. Peter Imasuen, thanked the governor and prayed that God would bless him.

  • Non-indigenes pledge support as Fayemi takes campaign to Ikole

    Non-indigenes resident in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State have pledged their support for Governor Kayode Fayemi in the June 21 governorship election.

    The ethnic nationalities, including the Tiv, Idoma, Igede and Ebira who turned out for the All Progressives Congress (APC) rallies held in Oke-Ako, Irele and Ipao communities yesterday, said they had benefited immensely from the Fayemi administration.

    They said Fayemi’s construction of roads in rural communities contributed “immensely” to the conveying of farm produce to the urban areas.

    The campaign train took Fayemi to Ayebode, Odo-Ayedun, Oke-Ayedun, Iyemero, Itapaji and Odo-Oro.

    A prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Oke Ayedun, Mr. Adebisi Ogunsakin, defected to the APC along with his supporters at the rally held in the town.

    The governor also received royal blessings from the  traditional rulers of the communities who appreciated him for spreading dividends of democracy to their people.

    Fayemi said his administration did not neglect any community, nothing that the APC government has given all communities what is due to them.

    These, according to him, include road, payment of monthly stipends to the aged,  youth employment, grants to finance projects in rural communities, renovation of schools, payment of special allowances to teachers in rural areas and empowerment of farmers with loans and equipment.

    The governor said  Ikole Local Government area is one of the councils to be divided into smaller administrative units when the panel on creation of new councils concludes its assignment.

    He urged the electorate to come out en masse to vote for APC  on June 21.

    Fayemi charged them to guard their votes against “electoral robbers” who, according to him, are desperate to grab power by all means.

    Also yesterday, the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation urged all registered voters in the state who are yet to obtain their permanent voter’s cards to do forwith.

    May 21  has been designated as the last day for the collection and transfer of voter’s cards in the state.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is worried over the high number of permanent voter’s cards yet to be collected.

    According to the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Halilu Pai, only 285,794 of the 635,315 permanent voter’s cards had been collected.

    In a statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the spokesperson of the campaign organisation, Mr. Dimeji Daniels, said with the May 21 deadline set by INEC, there were only six days left for those  yet to collect their cards to do so if they are willing to vote on  June 21.

    Last week, INEC said temporary voters’ card would not be allowed on election date.

    The campaign organisation  urged people to collect their permanent voter’s cards (PVCs) to be able to keep their choice in the June 21 governorship election, Fayemi, in office for the delivery of more dividends of democracy.

  • FG will redeem house pledge

    FG will redeem house pledge

    •Minister tells Tunisia ’94 Nations Cup squad

    Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi has assured members of the Super Eagles who won the Tunisia 1994 Africa Nations Cup that he would meet with President Goodluck Jonathan about the houses promised them by the late General Sani Abacha.

    The Minister thanked them for their patience, saying it demonstrated their sense of nationalism and patriotism.

    “When I met Victor Ikpeba in Ilorin last week he mentioned this issue to me. We also met at another event and he reminded me and we agreed to have this meeting today (Monday, September 5th, 2014).

    “One thing I must say that will delight you, based on what you said, was that when the unfortunate incident of the death of Thompson Oliha was announced, the Federal Executive Council that we had immediately after His Excellency, My President (Goodluck Jonathan) said he heard it on radio that people were saying that the promise he made to the Super Eagles squad of 1994 was not honoured and that government is a continuum.

    “Even promises made by government in 1960 is still a promise made by government in 2013. That is to tell you the direction that the mind of Mr. President works on this kind of thing.

    “If you look at what has happened since he became President, you will see that every single athlete that has done honour to this country has been honoured not only in football but also in other sports as well.

    “That is the philosophy that anyone that honours his/her country deserves to be honoured by that country.

    “I must commend you also especially for the maturity that you have demonstrated over the years and waiting patiently.

    “Some of you have gone ahead to serve the country in other capacity. I think the child that was born in 1994 by now will even be too old to play in Samson Siasia’s team (laughing).

    “But I must commend you for your patience, for your sense of nationalism and patriotism; I think that is one thing that is no longer easy to find in the national team anymore.

    “I must commend you for that and I can assure you that I will treat this matter with all the seriousness that it deserves. I believe it is the right thing to do. Government has announced it and government should keep its promise.

    “I can assure you that we will make appropriate representations to Mr. President and I believe that he is going to respond accordingly. We will also keep you informed of progress being made.

    “I want to thank you for the commitment you have shown and your dedication to our country. By the grace of God all of us will always look back to the time we have served and be proud of that moment”, the Minister assured.

    Eguavoen, on behalf of the players, thanked the Minister and also appealed that the location of the houses should be Abuja.

  • World Bank agency pledges support for SMEs’ lending

    World Bank agency pledges support for SMEs’ lending

    The International Finance Corporation (IFC), an agency of the World Bank, is assisting local banks to boost lending to Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (SMEs) in the country.

    Speaking at the SME Toolkit Global Partner conference in Lagos, IFC, Nigeria Country Manager, Solomon Quaynor, said the corporation found that banks do not want the high risk transactions associated with lending to SMEs.

    Quaynor said the SME Toolkit would enable the entrepreneurs to manage their businesses.

    IFC, he said, stepped in to de-risk such loans by providing financial infrastructure and developing collateral registry that will assist banks in lending to the subsector.

    ”We are working on getting the SMEs to use toolkit, so that banks can be more comfortable lending to the subsector. Our focus is not about giving money to the banks to lend to SMEs. It is about building their confidence in the SMEs so that the subsector can easily obtain loans from lenders,” he said.

    He said the corporation spends a lot of time training the banks to understand SMEs by designing products for the subsector among other things. It is not about the money we are providing for banks, but that we are getting them to be more careful in lending to SMEs.

    He said the corporation is investing in broadband services to ensure that the right communication platform needed to reach more entrepreneurs across the country is made available.

    General Manager, IBM Africa, Taiwo Otiti, said the SMEs tools help entrepreneurs manage their businesses properly, and in the process, making it attractive for banks to grant them loans.

    “The SMEs Toolkit will help entrepreneurs input their financials, making it easier for banks to understand and take lending decisions on their account positions,” he said.

    He said SMEs remain engine of growth for the economy, adding that they are the largest employer of labour within the economy. He said when the SMEs businesses are run well, they will have the capacity to employ more people.

    “Part of the SMEs teaching is how to package their businesses to attract banks’ lending. Also note that there are several types of banking in the country,” he said.

     

  • ‘Nigeria has failed in its ‘pledge’

    ‘Nigeria has failed in its ‘pledge’

    A former House of Representatives spokesman, Eseme Eyiboh, yesterday said Nigeria has failed in its pledge to be faithful, loyal and honest.

    He said the country’s self-inflicted woes have robbed it of moral authority to seek God’s help.

    In a statement on the nation’s 52nd Independence anniversary, Eyibo said Nigeria is faced with self-made challenges which show that it “reneged” on the pledge.

    He said: “We have as individuals and as a people pledged to our nation (Nigeria) to be faithful, loyal and honest but at 52, with the self-inflicted and pervasive growth in insecurity, unemployment, corruption, hunger, injustice and waste in governance, it is self-evident that we have reneged on that pledge.