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Tag: tinubu

  • Ex-Traffic warden, others arrested for faking Tinubu, Owoseni, DSP

    Ex-Traffic warden, others arrested for faking Tinubu, Owoseni, DSP

    Four persons, including a former warden have been arrested for allegedly impersonating All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni and a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).

    They are Lucky Adieze, 24, John Ogunnowo, 23, Obinna Collins, 21 and Afoke Adetolani, 58.

    Parading the suspects yesterday, Owoseni said their arrest followed tip-off from the public on how criminals were using the Facebook, a social media and police uniform to dupe people.

    Adieze who impersonated Tinubu said: “I am a hip hop musician and I opened a Facebook account with Tinubu’s picture to attract people. I think it was the person who gave me his account number that made police to find me and arrest me two weeks ago.”

    John Ogunnowo, 23 who gave Adieze his account number said: “I work in an health organization but when I lost my job, I was trying to look for money to enable me go back to school. I only gave him my bank account number not knowing that he had bad intention that will end up putting me in trouble.

    “When I went to the bank to collect money, I was told that my account was zero and in an attempt to know why, police arrested me.”

    Collins, who claimed to be National Diploma II Electrical Engineering Student said: “I opened a Facebook account using CP Owoseni because it is only way to attract victims. Once they see CP, they would believe everything I tell them and I would get the money I wanted. This particular woman, Mrs Ronke, a business woman is the only victim. I was chatting with her and she ended up paying N20, 000 into my account. I initially told her that I had boys whom I am training in higher institution and I have a foundation that is taking care of it.

    “Surprisingly Mrs Ronke told me to come and meet her at Conoil, Ikeja to collect something she wanted to give me as a hard working Commissioner of Police. I asked her whether she knew the size of my shoes and she said it does not matter that what she wanted was to have fun with me. She however insisted that she wanted me to collect the shoe and iPad as a remembrance of our love. She said she had been nursing the idea of having fun with me and that was what she wanted for her life.

    “Unfortunately for me, when I came to collect the golden shoe and the Ipad, I was arrested by the police.”

    Adetolani, a former traffic warden inspector known as yellow fever, impersonated DSP.

    He said: “I was dismissed because my colleague who stole a tyre from a parked exhibit vehicle in police station said that I planned it with him. I tried to defend myself but they insisted that we did it together and both of us were dismissed.

    “To help myself and my family, I decided to do something smart. I first bought this uniform and later bought the DSP rank and ID card and uniform for N15,000. I was dismissed from Surulere division in 1984. They framed me up and dismissed me.

    “I bought a bus for commercial purpose but my offence is that I hanged this uniform in my bus so that police, LASTMA, KAI, road safety and other law enforcement agents will not disturb me on the road. You can see that the name I used is my real name. I was stopped at Oshodi by police and I told them that I am a police DSP and they paid me my compliment but told me that they still wanted to investigate me.

    “It was that investigation and interrogation that gave me up. I tried to bribe them yet they refused and told me that police have changed and that it was no more business as usual. But one thing is clear; I did not rob with it. I only used it to get respect and easy passage whenever I meet law enforcement agents. Please tell police to forgive me, it is due to the hardship I was passing through after my dismissal.”

     

  • Tinubu has done well for Lagos, says Okunnu

    Tinubu has done well for Lagos, says Okunnu

    Former Lagos State governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the toast yesterday at a reception for the party’s National Legal Adviser, Dr Muiz Banire (SAN).

    The event, held at Protea Hotel, Ikeja, GRA, was to mark the conferment of SAN on Banire.

    It was organised by the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni (UMA).

    Though Tinubu was not present at the event, he was extolled for the good job he did in Lagos.

    To former Federal Commissioner of Works Alhaji Femi Okunnu, Tinubu did a lot to ensure Lagos attains a mega city status.

    Okunnu said he prevailed on Banire not to quit the party when he (Banire) was complaining that Tinubu is like Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    “Like him or hate him, Tinubu has done a lot for the country, Lagos in particular. He is like Awolowo in term of leadership style. If you say Tinubu is overbearing, Awolowo was dictatorial. Awolowo took full control of the party during his era and that’s what I find in this young man, Tinubu. I told Banire not to quit rather stay there, dig in there, don’t go anywhere because you still have a mission in the party,” he said.

    Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed said with Banire, there is no dull moment.

    Mohammed recalled how Banire jokingly embarrassed a fellow commissioner during executive council (exco) meeting in Tinubu’s administration.

    “Muiz will drop his phone in commissioner’s pocket unknowingly to the latter while entering the meeting venue. Then, he will now ask you can I use your phone to call my line; my phone is missing and his phone will start ringing in your pocket (laughter); that is the kind of person he is,” he said.

    Secretary-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Prof Is-haq Oloyede thanked Allah for turning the opportunities that came Banire’s way into blessings.

    A lot of people have different opportunities in life that never tuned into success, he said.

    “With the blessings of Allah, the opportunities, talents and hard work of our brother have turned into a blessing, not only for him but also to his community and to all of us who know him. Apart from the blessings of Allah, Muiz Banire is successful because he was able to combine his opportunities with talent and turned both into success,” Prof Oloyede said.

  • Buhari, Tinubu hailed over Mohammed’s appointment

    Buhari, Tinubu hailed over Mohammed’s appointment

    The Igbomina community in Lagos State has praised President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other party leaders for making it possible for Alhaji Lai Mohammed to be appointed as the Minister of Information and Culture.

    The Chairman of the community, Chief Rasheed Afolayan, in a statement in Lagos, said the appointment was in recognition of Mohammed’s efforts toward the success of the APC in the general election.

    He used the opportunity to invite those indigenous to Igbomina who reside in Lagos of the Igbomina Day which holds on November 29 at the Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) secretariat, Adekunle bus stop, Yaba, Lagos, as important issues concerning the development of Igbomina area of Kwara State will be discussed.

    Afolayan said prominent monarchs from the area and eminent citizens, including Prince Samuel Adedoyin, Bishop David Oyedepo, Chief Raheem Oladimeji, Prince Jacob Aboyeji and Sheikh Rabiu Adebayo would attend the event.

    The Asiwaju of Igbomina land, Chief David Bamogboye and the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, are chief hosts.

  • Audu gave his all to Kogi, says Tinubu

    Audu gave his all to Kogi, says Tinubu

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is shocked by the death of the party’s candidate in the Kogi State governorship election.

    Prince Abubakar passed on after casting his vote in the election, which he was set to win.

    Tinubu, in a statement he signed personally yesterday, said: “The sudden death of  Prince Abubakar Audu is sorrowful and shocking. He died before his time. This  is a wrenching loss that saddens me greatly.

    “Prince Audu’s death reminds us of our mortality. None of us is on this earth forever. While here, we must make positive impact. We must strive towards good.

    “I first knew Prince Audu Abubakar roughly 30 years ago. He was a good friend. A good man. Some may not have known this but Prince Audu was a renowned financial expert  well known in banking circles before his entry into politics. From  banking to politics, Prince Audu became a dominant feature of our national landscape. He was an industrious man and a determined, hardworking leader with few equals. He was consummate in the art of politics. Yet, Audu was also dedicated to the betterment  of his people. He was an honorary title holder of Lagos, honored by the late Oba of Lagos, Oba Oyekan.

    “Very kind, generous and at ease with his friends and with the people, Audu wanted to make his state a better place. That was his driving concern.  His people loved him because of this and he loved them in return. He was a man of great vision, committed to the Nigerian project and committed to the well-being of his people. He loved Kogi passionately.

    “As was his character, Prince Audu gave his all during this election campaign because he wanted to move Kogi to a better place.

    His death is painful and has stunned us his friends, political associates and particularly his family.

    “My heart reaches out to his loved ones. My prayers are with them. May God comfort them as only He can during this sad period. And may they take solace in the fact that Prince Audu was an outstanding figure and great leader of men. They have a right to be proud of who he was.

    “We must serve his memory well by continuing to serve the people and by carrying on as he would want us to do. We celebrate his life and times. Both his deeds and dreams will outlive him no doubt.

    “I sympathise with the people of Kogi State on the passing of their illustrious son, who was such a  colourful and progressive politician. Whenever the history of Kogi politics, nay Nigerian politics, is written it will be remembered that a Prince of the Niger was once here.”

     

  • Okorocha denies indicting Tinubu in Audu’s death

    Okorocha denies indicting Tinubu in Audu’s death

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, Monday described as malicious and unfounded the report that he indicted the All Progressives Congress (APC) National leader, Ahmed Bola Tinubu as being responsible for the death of the APC governorship candidate in Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu.

    The report credited to one Olutoyosi Omotoso and entitled; “Tinubu, others killed Kogi Guber candidate-Okorocha”, was published on the Facebook account of the author.

    Reacting to the allegation, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, in a press release, said that, “the attention of the Imo state Governor and the Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has been drawn to a social media (Facebook) report with the caption “Tinubu, others, kill Kogi Guber candidate – Okorocha, written by one Olutoyosi Omotoso.

    “In the basically untrue report, the author claimed that the Imo Governor had accused the former Governor of Lagos state and one of the key pillars of the APC in the country, Senator Bola Tinubu and others he didn’t mention, of being responsible for the death of the APC governorship candidate in Kogi state, Prince Abubakar Audu.

    “The report came up Sunday (November 22, 2016) evening and of course, few hours after the news of the death of the Kogi Prince was still in doubt by most Nigerians”.

    Onwuemeodo added that “in the report, the author however failed or refused to mention or tell his audience whether Governor Okorocha had made that claim at a press conference or in a press release, but unfortunately and unintelligently said that the Imo Governor spoke on phone to say that.  And the follow-up question would immediately be; on what ground would the Imo Governor call the author on phone to tell her who killed Prince Audu and who didn’t kill him.

    “The truth of the matter is that, the report was totally false, even on the face value.  It cannot pass any logic to be believed.  It was written in bad faith.

    “Even at that, the language of the story could not be Okorocha’s for those who know him and for those who have been following his speeches.  He does not talk like an immature speaker.  For instance the writer quoted the Governor to have said “we are not unaware of their antics and plans to field Audu’s Deputy, Mr. Abiodun Faleke, after the programmed death of his boss.”

    “Governor Okorocha does not drag his sentences or speak disjointed grammar.  The mischief is very obvious, for all men and women of goodwill to see in the story.”

    The Governor’s aide argued further that, “again, on the day (Sunday) Prince Audu was reported to have died, Governor Okorocha was presiding over the meeting of the South-East Governors’, Ohaneze leaders, traditional rulers and National Assembly members at Enugu state Government House, over the issues of pro-Biafra protests and agitations.

    “The meeting began by 1pm and ended by 6.20pm. It was when the Governor was taken to the airport for Owerri that the news of Prince Audu’s death came as a rumour.  Nobody believed it until late that night when the picture of the ugly incident became clearer.  So, at what point did the Imo Governor call the writer on phone to begin to tell her what she claimed in the story?

    “Against the backdrop of all these, we challenge the writer of the story to also publish the particulars of the call in question.  The number with which the Governor called her and the time.  And also state why the Governor could have chosen to call her, of all people.  Let her state his relationship with the governor to warrant such phone interaction between them.  We are only keen in unmasking the face of an ungodly blackmailer.

    “The truth is that those who are cowed by Governor Okorocha’s God-given clout and attributes are the ones who have chosen to be petty.  And they have our sympathy, because Okorocha, in his politics is being driven by God.

    “Governor OKorocha is not quarrelling with Senator Tinubu.  The envisaged rift between the duo only exist in the imaginations of those who have chosen the path of dishonour, because only dishonourable people could have authored such an inglorious write-up.  Decent people do not do such.

    “Finally, those who feel that they can drag Governor Okorocha down through cheap blackmail should better be advised to find something meaningful to do, because whoever God has blessed, nobody can curse.  This is scriptural.  And that is our joy and consolation.

    “All in all, the Governor regrets the sudden death of the APC governorship candidate in Kogi state, Prince Audu.  The death of the APC gubernatorial candidate in Kogi state came when no one expected it, but God knew why he allowed it to happen few poles to his coming back as the Executive Governor of that state.

    “The death of the Prince should also be a lesson to all of us to appreciate our limitations as human beings.  We are all pencils in the hand of the creator.

    “On behalf of my family and the people of Imo state, I extend my heartfelt condolences, to the President and National leader of our great party, His Excellency Mohammadu Buhari, the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun, the people of Kogi state, and those left behind to mourn the departed gentleman.”

     

  • Aisha Buhari condoles Tinubu over Dantoro’s death

    Aisha Buhari condoles Tinubu over Dantoro’s death

    Wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari, on Saturday visited the Ikoyi, Lagos residence of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to commiserate with him over the death of the immediate past Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Haliru Dantoro Kitoro 111, who passed on, on October 30.

    Tinubu is known to be very close to the late monarch, who gave him his famous traditional title, Jagaban Borgu, in 2006.

    The President’s wife, who arrived at Tinubu’s residence at about 12.45pm, was received by the APC leader and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

    Speaking on the late monarch, Hajia Buhari described him as a committed nationalist and bridge builder, who contributed immensely to the unity of the country by extending hands of fellowship beyond his immediate constituency.

    In his response, Asiwaju Tinubu thanked Hajia Buhari for the visit, while describing the late traditional ruler as a nationalist whose absence would be sorely missed.

    Tinubu commended Buhari’s wife, who was accompanied by the wives of Lagos and Osun States governors, “on her style and commitment to Nigeria”.

    The visit of the wife of the President lasted for about 45 minutes.

    Some of the dignitaries that accompanied Hajia Buhari on the visit, included wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode and her Osun State counterpart, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola, amongst others.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Tinubu, Benson urge citizens to live healthy life

    Tinubu, Benson urge citizens to live healthy life

    Wife of All Progressive Congress (APC) National Leader Senator Remi Tinubu has urged the citizens to keep a healthy lifestyle with regular exercises.

    She advised people to engage in light walk, jogging, press-ups and other exercises that would help in smoothening nerves and strengthening bones.

    The senator added that the idea would help in keeping them physically and mentally fit.

    She said apart from taking drugs, exercise helps in promoting good health.

    Mrs. Tinubu, who spoke at the 2015 edition of the Institute of Directors of Nigeria’s (IoDs) “Walk For Life” programme in Lagos,  said out of ignorance,  people believe that good food was the only determinant of a healthy living.

    It had in attendance dignitaries such as the Yeye Oge of Lagos, Chief Oprah Benson, Punch’s ex-Chairman Chief Ajibola Ogunshola and others.

    The senator, who was represented at the event by her aide, Mrs. Serah Joseph, said she believed in the maxim, Health is Wealth, adding that only the healthy could run their affairs better.

    Mrs Benson said people should start embracing what she described as “a culture of keeping of soul, body and mind fit through regular exercise”.

  • Tinubu: Nigeria is in good hands with Buhari’s cabinet

    Tinubu: Nigeria is in good hands with Buhari’s cabinet

    Ambode opens Mile 12-Ikorodu BRT route

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is confident that President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet will perform.

    Nigeria is in safe hands, Tinubu said during the inauguration of the Mile 12-Ikorodu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route in Lagos.

    “With the team put together by Buhari, he is set to move Nigeria forward. The government is focused. He is the driver of the bus and we are the followers, Tinubu said, adding: “We are in the front row now and we will ensure that Nigeria is turned around and that it succeeds beyond your imagination,” he said.

    Tinubu urged Lagos residents to embrace peace, discipline, accountability and continuity.

    He described the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, as a committed progressive and democrat, saying he had no doubt that Fashola will succeed.

    “He will succeed, and all of them at the centre. This government is focussed and they will succeed,” Tinubu said.

    He praised Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola for believing in the Lagos dream and pioneering the change being experienced.

    “I am a proud father and grandfather. I believe that Nigeria is in good hands. This government will move Nigeria forward. With the President leading this team and we at the background telling them what we know about good governance, we have no doubt that we will succeed and Fashola will make us proud in his new assignment, just as he made us very proud in Lagos,” he said.

    In his view,  “those labelling President Muhammadu Buhari as ‘Baba go slow’ know nothing about the hard work and strategic thinking that goes into governance”. “When I was in government, I was also labelled Baba go slow. But we were determined to lead a fundamental transformation of our state and break uncommon grounds and today, we are seeing the result of the sound and solid foundation.”

    Tinubu said President Buhari was preparing the ground for a very good take-off. “Buhari is taking his time to redesign governance and take us away from the ways of the plunderers,” the former Lagos State governor said.

    “He is gathering financial intelligence needed to lead a transformational administration at the centre. Lagos has taken that same road before. I took over the reins of government when crude oil was $11 per barrel, and we needed to take another view at our profile and see how we could do things differently. Today, I am happy that some of the people who believed in such dream pioneered a different course in governance and many of them have today found themselves serving at the centre.”

    “I was complaining then about paucity of funds just as it is now, it was people like Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and others who were part of the executive council then that were part of the dream to reclaim and develop Lagos State and set the tone for infrastructural renewal and today we are seeing evidence of it.

    “We want to continue with the development of our country and make Lagos a model. We want peace, progress, stability, continuity in Lagos State”.

    He advised Lagosians to be security conscious and report the presence of strange people in their community because as Boko Haram is being dismantled in the Northeast, they are escaping to other parts of the country. “So, we must be our brother’s keeper,” Tinubu said.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode described the project as a milestone in public transportation system. He said the BRT system was initiated as part of the strategies to modernise the public transport system as  in other major City-States around the world.

    “It is intended to provide efficient service that will encourage patronage by the middle class, thereby reducing the number of private vehicles on our roads. Today, the BRT system has, to a large extent, lived up to that expectation. The first BRT system was launched in March 2008 along the Mile 12 – CMS corridor. This 22km BRT corridor has moved over 250 million passengers in the last seven years. The extension being commissioned today is an improvement on the shortcomings noticed on the Mile 12 to CMS corridor. This upgraded system, known as the BRT classic with the BRT lanes running in the median will provide better service in all ramifications.

    “This government is committed to improving on the road transport network, the water transportation system, the public transport infrastructure and most importantly, attract the needed investment to fund our Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP), which is already being implemented.

    “The strategic transport master plan is a 30-year plan that will deliver to us a truly world class integrated public transport system, with six rail lines, one mono-rail, 14 BRT corridors, three cable car corridors and 26 developed Water Routes.

    Transportation Commissioner Dayo Mobereola said 434 new air-conditioned buses would provide efficient, safe, reliable and cheap transportation option to residents.

    He said with the new corridor, there will be a drastic reduction in travel time, cutting the current two and a half hours travel time between CMS and Ikorodu to about 45 minutes.

    Aregbesola, who said he was part of the team, as commissioner for Works under Tinubu’s administration, to go round the world in search of an ideal transportation system for the state, said they settled for the Golgotha in Columbia model.

    He said: “When we went round the world for an ideal model, the initial idea was for a light rail but because of fund we opted for a Bus Rapid Transit system with collaboration with World Bank and the French development partner to partly surmount the transportation problem in Lagos which will be integrated with rail and water transportation.”

    Other dignitaries at the event include: House of Reps member for Ikorodu Constitutency Jimi Benson, Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, Secretary to the State Government Tunji Bello, Ayangburen of Ikorodu Oba Kabiru Shotobi and some Lagos executive council members.

  • Nigeria now has a focused government – Tinubu

    Nigeria now has a focused government – Tinubu

    National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said with the inauguration of the federal executive council by President Muhammadu Buhari the country now has a good and focused government.

    Tinubu stated this Thursday while making remarks at the commissioning of the Mile 12-Ikorodu BRT extension at Ikorodu.

    He said, “With the team put together by Buhari, he is set to move Nigeria forward, the government is focused, he is the driver of the bus and we are the followers.”

    He disclosed that Buhari’s method of planning and redesigning before launching out was the same method he adopted when he started his reign in 1999 and just as they are calling Buhari ‘baba go slow’ that was how he was called go-slow.

    “I was complaining then about paucity of funds just as it is now, it was people like the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and others who were part of the cabinet then that were part of the dream to reclaim and develop Lagos state and set the tone for infrastructural renewal and today we are seeing evidence of it.

    He urged Nigerians to support the government, “every one of us is involved in this project one way or the other.

    Tinubu said, “We want to continue with the development of our country and make Lagos a model. We want peace, progress, stability, continuity in Lagos state.”

    He also advised everyone to be security conscious and report the presence of strange people in their community because as Boko Haram is being dismantled in the North East they are escaping to other parts of the country, “so we must be our brother’s keeper.”
     

  • Tinubu to ministers: Be prepared to solve problems, provide innovative solutions

    Tinubu to ministers: Be prepared to solve problems, provide innovative solutions

    My congratulations to all the new ministers of the federal republic of Nigeria. Today, you begin the hardwork to help President Buhari deliver on the promise of change he has committed to.

    The challenges before you are enormous. People’s expectations are very high and expectedly so. The people’s hope is hinged on the change our party promised.

    You are now the foot soldiers of that change. You have to be creative, proactive and bold. You are men and women of talent and experience of the moment and are lucky to be chosen. After the luck comes work. It is a new dawn for our country.

    Virtually every facet of our national life needs urgent attention. After the devastating effects of the mismanagement by the previous administration on our economy and the psyche of Nigerians you have been selected to help bring Nigeria back from the brink. Your assignment will not be easy. You bear the responsibility to move Nigeria forward into the rank of developed nations.

    Let me share with you the words of Aneesh Chopra from his book “innovative State”. His words resonate for you all today. “This is about creating an innovative State. A government for the 21st Century. One that engages its diverse society, encourages participation and creates a partnership towards problem solving”.
    I leave you with these words and congratulate you once more.

    Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.