The Nation Newspaper

Tag: re-elected

  • Pyagbara re-elected MOSOP president

    Pyagbara re-elected MOSOP president

    The former President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Legborsi Pyagbara, has been re-elected.

    The 2015 MOSOP Electoral Committee chairman, Prince Birah, announced this at the weekend when he addressed reporters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    Birah, who spoke through the committee’s Secretary, Bari-Ara Kpalap, said Pyagbara won all the 51 votes cast in the election at MOSOP Centre in Bori, Khana Local Government Area, on December 30, last year, beating Mike-Lube Nwidobie, who staged a walk-out before voting started.

    He regretted that Nwidobie, who he said left the election venue without casting his vote and did not know the outcome of the poll, organised a media briefing in Port Harcourt where he allegedly declared himself winner of the election.

    Describing Nwidobie’s action as a mere distraction to MOSOP’s leadership, Birah urged him to use legal means to express his grievances, if he could not consult the Organisation’s internal mechanism instead of creating, causing unnecessary confusion and tension in the area.

    Birah admitted that Nwidobie sent a petition to the electoral committee after presenting his manifesto on the day of the election, alleging shadiness in the electoral process.

    According to him, the MOSOP chieftain also complained about lack of confidence in the electoral body as well as the adoption of unconstitutional electoral procedure.

    He was said to have demanded the resignation of the election body.

    Birah said: “After the accreditation, which was done in the presence of all the candidates, including those vying for other positions, opportunity was given to the two presidential candidates to present their manifestos, after which the ballot boxes were brought and inspected, by turning it upside-down to confirm that it was empty.

    “It was at that point he began his protests, alleged bias on the electoral body and the composition of the accredited voters. After this, he walked out of the election hall and headed to Port Harcourt to declare himself winner. He said several other things, including misquoting the MOSOP constitution on election, to mislead unsuspecting public and the Ogoni.”

  • Why Ajimobi should be re-elected

    SIR: As the 2015 gubernatorial election draws nearer, the good people of Oyo State will do themselves good if they re-elect Governor Abiola Ajimobi for another term in office as he has not only surprised the people of the State but outsiders as well.

    Since the former senator came on board as governor of the Pace-setter State, he has left no one in doubt as to his capacity to deliver within the shortest possible time. Right from the beginning, he had a vision for a new Oyo State and commenced work towards making it a reality.

    Abiola Ajimobi nipped violence in the bud in the state by first proscribing the activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers following the June 4, 2011 unrest at Iwo-Road area of the state which led to the death of the national president of Medical Students’ Association and other innocent souls. In fact, it was one day, one trouble, especially in major cities across our dear state before he was sworn-in. He swung into action, telling those who cared to listen that insecurity was the major obstacle to the state’s growth.

    After persuasion from several quarters, the governor lifted the ban on activities of the NURTW but not without a warning that they must never resort to violence is settling disputes among its members.

    The peace that followed that has given birth to many investors trooping in to the once investor-unfriendly state. Before 2011, there was just one private radio station, but now we have seven. Any frequent visitor to Challenge/Oluyole areas could bear witness to the number of  new companies that have evolved there.

    Apart from this, the environment is now a beauty to behold as the state capital, which was listed as one of the dirtiest states four years ago, is now among the cleanest states. Those who pass through Iwo-Road and Challenge areas of Ibadan before this administration came on board will bear witness to the environmental reform carried out by Governor Ajimobi. The employment of the 20, 000 youths through the Youth Empowerment Scheme of Oyo State (YES-O) is second to none. We should all join hands to commend the governor for this initiative because it is not easy to cough out N20, 000, 000 monthly in this time of dwindling allocation from the national purse.

    To be able to sustain this peace and development, the people of the State need to re-elect Ajimobi.

     

    • Gbadegesin Adegoke

    Ibadan, Oyo State.

  • ‘Why Ajimobi ’ll be re-elected’

    ‘Why Ajimobi ’ll be re-elected’

    Notwithstanding the incessant blackmail by opposition parties in Oyo State against Governor Abiola Ajimobi, A Chieftain of All Progressives Congress in the State, Mr Ladi Oluokun has stated that situation will not affect the chances of Governor Ajimobi from been re-elected.

    “In Oyo State, we should be looking at the performance and achievements of elected public officers. The governor has done very well in almost four years. He has restored peace and security to the state. People can now go about their lawful activities without fear of molestation. This is why investors have been flocking to the state to create jobs and make life meaningful for the people.

    “Investment inflow has grown by about 69 per cent. People are beginning to realise the difference between a good government and a government that promoted brigandage and let loose dogs of war on the citizens’’. He went further that:”quite a number of industries and companies are springing up as a result of the conducive environment that Ajimobi has provided. More than 10 industries have been established and nobody will come and invest where he will not make profit. That has led to massive employment for the people and all those that are now engaged in thuggery  have shunned the unruly behaviour because they are engaged. So, there is peace, there is work, there is clean environment, there is infrastructural development and mass transit now operates . So, I don’t see why Ajimobi will not continue as the governor of Oyo State after the election”, he said

    Oluokun, who is also the council boss of Ibadan North East Local Government, while Commenting on the APC rally in the state,explained that the rally was a huge success and it is an indication that the APC is the party to beat in Oyo State.

    According to him,  Contrary to the speculations in certain quarters that our party is not in contention at all, the rally has rested such speculations and we are glad that all eyes are on our party and its candidates, particularly Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who will be re-elected by the grace of the Almighty by the good people of the state.

    Oluokun noted that what Ajimobi has done in terms of infrastructural development of the state, restoration of peace and the cleanliness of the environment, are unprecedented in the history of the state.

    “Artisans got interest free loans to re-capitalise their business and they are quite happy for this. Ajimobi’s victory in the coming polls is not in doubt.?” he said

    The council boss further said:”How many of his predecessors performed like him? How many politicians can pray that if they will not perform God should not allow them win, but Governor Ajimobi has said it openly that if he will not perform God should not allow him win.”

    Oluokun listed some of his own achievements over the last 10 months as:” construction of drains, earthwork asphaltic paving of Idera street yidi/ Agugu ,Akerele layout, Idi-Orogbo/Idi-Ibepe and Ayo Craig road. construction of pedestrian bridge at Labiran area of phase 1 and 2, sinking of Solar system borehole at Labiran areas and Construction ofa double cell box culvert at Ajegede and Onipasan areas. Construction of Olusegun Obasanjo road, Gerado road “

    The council boss also stated that he has impacted positively on the lives of the people of thecouncil through people-oriented empowerment programs. He said his administration will continue carry out a robust and all involving empowerment programme for the people of the council.

    He credited all his achievements to the financial and moral support he received from the governor.

    Oluoukn said though he might not be able to do all, but said all the people in the council area should vote for Ajimobi in order to ensure continuity in governance, adding the he would build on what he has done and provide more dividends of democracy to the people in each of the wards that make up the council.

  • ‘Why Jonathan should be re-elected’

    ‘Why Jonathan should be re-elected’

    A socio-political group, Niger Delta Youth Platform (NDYP), has said President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election will unite the country.

    Speaking during a meeting of the group at Monty Suites, Calabar, Cross River State, at the weekend, its National President, Comrade Akan Etteudo, said the re-election of Jonathan was not a misnomer but a deserved move aimed at strengthening the country’s unity, peace and progress.

    Etteudo said NDYP, which comprises youths and young professionals from the nine states of the Niger Delta, places premium on unity and stability of the country, which according to him, only President Jonathan can offer.

    NDYP, while hailing the Transformation Agenda of the President, expressed appreciation for the appointment of Mr Bassey Dan-Abia as the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), saying it has further engaged talented youth leaders, such as Akanimo Ibok, and many others in the region.

    It urged Jonathan to be calm and focused, adding that  youths would deliver electoral victory for him.

  • Dean re-elected

    The School of Applied Science and Technology (SAST), has re-elected Dr. Moshood Fowomola as dean for a second term.

    Although Fowomola was unopposed, the election was conducted to confirm that two-thirds of the workers wanted him to return. He emerged the winner with 100 per cent votes.

    Fowomola said he was able to implement all the promises he made while seeking office for the first time in 2012 – one of which was the part payment of the annual conference fees for all.

    He added that, throughout his tenure, incentives were given to workers, both Christians and Muslims during the festive periods, while some laboratories and offices were renovated without putting all the burden on the management.

    Mr. Mufutau Usman, Head, Micro Biology Unit of the school, he described Fowomola as a ‘man of integrity’. He said paying part of the conference fees for all workers was a feat that had never been accomplished in the history of the school. He said each worker paid N3,000 instead of N68,000, which was a great relief for them.

     

  • Hayatou re-elected CAF President

    Hayatou re-elected CAF President

    Cameroonian Issa Hayatou was on Sunday unanimously re-elected President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for a new term until 2017.

    Hayatou, 66, ran unopposed at the 35th ordinary General Assembly of the continental body held in Marrakesh, Morocco.

    Hayatou was elected head of the African Confederation for the first time in 1988 in Morocco, on the sidelines of the African Cup of Nations football competition.

    Jacques Anouma of Cote d’Ivoire wanted to oppose Hayatou at this CAF congress, but a change to the election rules disqualified him.

    Anouma’s attempt to overturn the decision to disqualify non-executive members from the election was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

    CAS ruled on March 5 that the CAF Executive Committee had jurisdiction to refuse Anouma’s candidature which the CAF Statutes adopted in September 2012.

    The statutes, according to CAS, were applicable in assessing the validity of the candidates in the presidential election.

    CAS added that Anouma did not meet these criteria because he had never been a member of the CAF Executive Committee.

    Hayatou, who already declared that this would be his last contest for the CAF presidency, is the fifth CAF president and by far the longest serving.

    His predecessors are Ethiopian Ydnekatchew Tessema, who served 15 years, Egyptian Abdel Aziz Moustafa (10 years), Sudanese Abdel Halim Mohammad (5 years) and Egyptian Abdel Aziz Abdallah Salem (1 year).

    Among those who attended the opening were the presidents of the 54 national associations and FIFA President Sepp Blatter.

    Blatter hailed Hayatou’s leadership of African football over the last quarter of a century, saying that African football had become world famous and made commendable strides during this period.

    He also commended Morocco for the continued development of its football infrastructure, including the recent launching of its professional league.

    The FIFA president added: “As a result, Morocco will become the first African nation to host FIFA World Club Cup in December this year and that is in recognition of the enormous work Morocco has undertaken.”