Exclusive: Tinubu Stopped Sunday Igboho From Disrupting 2009 rerun governorship election in Ekiti between Fayemi and Segun Oni.

A special adviser to President Buhari, Babafemi Ojudu said Tinubu was the one who convinced a pro Yoruba activist Sunday Igboho not to get involved in the conduct of the 2009 Ekiti State governorship reru election between Kayode Fayemi of then ACN and Segun Oni of PDP.

In the 2007 Governorship election, Segun Oni of PDP was said to have defeated Kayode Fayemi of the then ACN after which Fayemi challenged the election in court leading to an Appeal Court sitting in Ilorin to call for a rerun in some wards.

Babafemi Ojodu claimed Sunday Igboho who was hired by the PDP to cause trouble in the rerun election was later persuaded by the National leader of APC, Asiwaju Tinubu through his efforts to shun violence, enbrace free and fair election and allow the People's wish to stand.

Full piece:

It was in 2009. The Appeal Court sitting in Ilorin ordered a rerun in a number of polling units in the election between Segun Oni of the PDP and Dr Kayode Fayemi of ACN.

Oni had in the main election and the election petition tribunal that followed been declared winner of the gubernatorial (governorship) contest. Our party, ACN, contested this, hence the declaration of a rerun. 

 

The election which came three months after the Appeal Court judgement was like a war. The PDP ruling at the federal level did not want to lose Ekiti while the opposition ACN led and financed by Bola Ahmed Tinubu wanted to take Ekiti by all means.

 

A few days to the election, we got an intelligence report that the PDP bigwigs had perfected a plan to unleash thugs recruited from across Yorubaland on Ekiti. The plan was to kill and maim as many as possible, snatch ballot boxes and win by any means possible. 

 

Tinubu summoned me to Lagos and said Femi, "I have conducted a scientific opinion poll. You people can win this election. The only snag however is they are deploying state security as well as thugs against you. State security men, we can handle (and he did creatively handle them) but how do you handle thugs?"

 

I then suggested we dissuade them by engagement and inducements. After all, they are in the business only for the money and not for ideological reasons.

 

We reached out to both Ade Basket in Akure and Fada Geri in Ondo. Both were dreaded in political circles. We had a series of meetings with them and were able to squeeze an agreement with them that they would not make themselves available to the PDP for hire. I got them to even sign documents for me that they were going to stay off Ekiti elections.

 

The biggest headache for us then was Sunday Igboho whom we learnt had been hired and paid by a senator from Osun to come and cause mayhem in Ekiti. Tinubu instructed we must get him at all cost. 

 

Six days to the election, we began our search for him. Eventually we met someone who had his number. I put a call through to him and he agreed to meet with me in Ibadan. We scheduled an appointment and had a meeting at a small hotel not far from Premier Hotel.

 

Tinubu, I told him, had sent me to him that he would like to have a meeting with him. He said he would love to meet him as he had heard a lot of good things about him too. The problem he said was he was PDP and not ACN. I said that precisely is the reason why he wanted to meet with him. He asked if I could keep this a secret, I said why not. Papa (Lamidi) Adedibu, and our Osun Senator, he said must not learn about his meeting Tinubu. I told him there was no way they would know except it leaked from his side. 

 

He agreed to a meeting on Thursday preceding the election. I reported back to Tinubu who then relocated from his base in Lagos to Sunview Hotel in Akure. Igboho drove down alone at about 10.00 pm. I and Tinubu had a dialogue with him.

 

“Igboho!" Tinubu said, “I have heard a lot about your bravery. The Ekiti people have suffered too long under the rule of the PDP. They are looking for change. I learnt you have been hired to make this impossible. I have invited you to plead with you to allow the poll to be conducted peacefully. If after that, the PDP wins, fine. If the ACN wins, all well and good.”

 

Tinubu went on and on, lecturing him on the beauty of democracy and unencumbered electoral process. By the time Tinubu finished with him, he became sober and contrite. “Baba”, he said, “I have heard you and I am pleased with what you have said. Whatever you want me to do, I will do even though I have collected money from the other side.”

 

This was the extent Tinubu went to secure Ekiti for his party, ACN. Most of this, the candidate, Fayemi himself, was not even aware of.

Tinubu then beckoned me to follow him to the bedroom of the suit he occupied in the hotel. “Femi, this guy appears sincere. It does appear we have dissuaded him."

“Thank you, Baba,” Igboho said with a smile across his face as soon as he received a golden handshake for agreeing not to destroy in Ekiti as they had planned. 

He then said that he would be in Ekiti on the eve of the election but at 2.00 am, I should put a call through to him. He would put his phone on speaker and I should tell him I am a police AIG and that the police had discovered his presence in Ekiti and would be raiding in 30 minutes time. With that call, he would tell his minders he could no longer stay. He would pack his boys and their lethal weapons and leave town. 

Tinubu ordered food and drink for him. He would touch neither. He however overtime became comfortable in our midst and regaled us with several anecdotes from his career as a political enforcer. One particular anecdote stayed locked up in my memory till today because it was so funny. 

According to Igboho, he went through the tutelage of Chief Adedibu, the strong man of Ibadan politics. He said he was one of his most reliable and trusted thugs. At a point in their relationship, Adedibu, he said, began to suspect he was getting too powerful and independent. Adedibu, he narrated, then invited him to a meeting and told him he would like him to run for the chairmanship of a local government. 

He said he knew this was an attempt by Adedibu to bench him and he therefore told Adedibu that he was not educated, not able to speak English and could therefore not be chairman of a local government. 

Adedibu, he said, looked at him and barked an order STAND UP! He stood up. “SIT DOWN!” He sat down. Adedibu then said “and you claim not to be educated. Whatever is left, we shall add it unto you”.

A week before the election, we had reserved and paid for all the rooms in all the hotels in Ekiti. The money ran into several millions. Tinubu, as usual, paid for this. The strategy was to ensure no thug or any undesirable element had a place to stay in the state. Security men and INEC officials had to appeal to me, sometimes through Tinubu, to release some rooms to them to stay. With this, we knew who was staying where. And we closely monitored them and their activities.

Thus, when Igboho and his band of 50 thugs arrived in Ado Ekiti that Friday, we were able to monitor them till they were taken to be accommodated overnight in Government House due to lack of hotel accommodation in the state. 

This was the situation when at 2:00 am I did exactly what Igboho instructed me to do and he and his men fled town. Two hours after leaving, I got a call from him. They did a head count and found out two of their men were missing. Interestingly, they found out the two had gone to town in search of women. Igboho pleaded with me to help retrieve them and get them out of town the following morning. 

At about 5.00 am that morning I picked them up in front of the Fire Station at Fajuyi Park, took them to my house and by 6.00 am got a driver to take them out of town. We had the rerun elections. It wasn’t entirely peaceful. But thuggery and violence were largely reduced. 

This was my encounter with Sunday Adeyemo alias Sunday Igboho, lately crowned a hero in Yorubaland, by the reign of terror by herders and bandits. 

He has that occasional conscience you can appeal to. Let those who can rein in the herders do so and make the forests and highways safe again. Let farmers be able to carry out their occupation without fear of kidnap, murder and rape. Let us find a modern and permanent solution to this issue of itinerant herding that pitches a group of Nigerians against the other. Let us not ethnicise criminality. A criminal is a criminal and a crime is a crime whether perpetrated by Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, Junkun, Bachama or Ibariba.

We should do everything possible to stave off this crisis and stop beating the drums of war before it reaches a crescendo.

Open Letter To National Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Mai Bala Bunu

Dear Chairman 

I'm obliged to write this letter to you to express my concern over an issue that can earn us negative moral ratings  as a political party and as Nigerians in general.

The prevailing Pandemic situation in Nigeria and and the fact of being a COVID-19  Survivor have  compelled me to write this letter to you as a loyal and committed party member and a patriotic Nigerian. 

I want to state  categorically here that the contents of this letter are my personal opinions based on  personal experience, interaction with people and observation of events happening around us daily. 

Personally, I felt the decision to revalidate and conduct new registration of  members is a laudable and commendable one. Because as we move towards another general elections in 2023, the need to update our membership register could not have come at a more opportune period. 

However, laudable as the Registration plan may be, what about  the TIMING of the exercise? With due respect sir, it is my considered opinion that the timing is not appropriate at this time, especially given the  the renewed surge in the spread of Covid as it is being reported on daily basis by the Presidential Task Force. 

Some states are already over stretched in oxygen supplies and care. 

Our Government has for some time given directives to the Religious bodies to reduce congressional attendance at both Churches and Mosques. So many states have cancelled social gatherings. While others are compelling the use of face masks to reduce the rate of infection and fatalities. So why must we go into an exercise that will certainly draw large crowds across the various states?

The stage is set for the exercise and I must confess that I'm personally impressed wit the preparations and logistics put in place for the exercise. I have no doubt in my mind that it will be a resounding success for us and will be a springboard for achieving one strong, united party. 

However, the situation in the country occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic have compelled me to have a rethink on the desirability of continuing with the exercise as planned.

Mr Chairman, I'm strongly of the opinon that this exercise should be postponed till  a more appropriate time.

 Personally, I believe this will not only shore up the image of our great party but will also save lives of Nigerians. 

There is no doubt that the second wave of COVID-19 has proven to be more dangerous and deadly. 

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, Mr Boss Mustapha had warned that the second wave of the pandemic would be more dangerous and deadly. Events since the beginning of the year have proven him right. Mustapha himself was struck by the deadly virus and yours truly also tested positive to the virus recently. Mustapha, Others and I are lucky to survive. But several others did not. 

Mr Chairman, let me give you a grim statistics of COVID-19 in January 2021.

 Between January 1st to January 22nd, a total of 196 deaths were recorded from COVID-19. This amounted to 13.2% of the whole total of 1, 485 fatalities recorded throughout the country. 

This is also means that an average of nine people died daily of COVID-19  between January 1st and 22nd.

Between January 19 and 22, a total of 6, 134 people tested positive to COVID-19 and the number of infections continue to grow higher and higher prompting the Federal Government to even consider another lockdown. 

Already, places of worship are operating in half capacity while in some states, most civil servants are working from home. 

All these measures were put in place to control the spread of the deadly virus, my question is do we need to aggravate the situation by going ahead with our registration and revalidation exercise?

The exercise is meant to register millions of our members across the federation and I forsee two scenarios: it's either we have our members coming out in multitude to register or most deciding not to come out at all for fear of being infected. The two options are not good enough for us as a party.

If our members come out to register in high numbers, then the possibility of increase in the number of COVID-19 cases might be high and ultimately lead to increase in the number of fatalities.

 If our members refuse to come out for fear of being infected, then we will have lesser numbers of  members to be registered for our party. Either way, God forbid, we lose. 

We are the ruling party and we must be in the forefront of promoting the welfare of our people, pushing this exercise forward will rather add to our popularity rather than reducing it. We can afford to do this because  we presently don't have any particular election to deal with.

The second variant of COVID-19 is ravaging the world and most countries of the world have entered a second lockdown. 

There is a Federal Government directive that we should avoid large gatherings of people and that social distancing should be maintained at all times and personally, I don't believe we can achieve adequate social distancing if the registration and validation exercise is allowed to go ahead. 

I'm a survivor of COVID-19 and I knew the harrowing experience I went through which I would not wish even for my bitterest enemy. 

My humble opinion and suggestion is we should postpone this exercise to a time that is conducive, when the coronavirus situation in the country would have improved. 

Thank you and God bless. 

Honourable James Abiodun Faleke 

Member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency 

Chairman, House Committee on Finance

GOV BELLO MOURNS FORMER AGF, FIRST NORTHERN NIGERIAN SAN, ABDULLAHI IBRAHIM

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has expressed deep shock over the death of a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abdullahi Ibrahim (SAN), describing his demise as a collosal loss to the nation and the state in particular.

Abdullahi, an Igala man from the Eastern flank of  Kogi State, was until his death on Sunday January 24, 2021, the first SAN from the whole of Northern Nigeria and had served as the Attorney General of the Federation between 1997 and 1999. 

Bello in a condolence message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed, described the late Abdullahi as an accomplished legal practitioner and administrator who has put so much into the service of the nation in different capacities.

He said the sterling contributions of the late legal icon to legal profession right from when he was called to the English Bar in 1963 until he reached the pinnacle of his career as the first SAN from Northern Nigeria remain remarkable and landmark feat he would continue to be remembered for.

Bello while commiserating with the immediate members of his family and members of the Bar and Bench over the sad loss, prayed the Almighty Allah to grant his soul Aljannah firdaus.

Abdullahi until his demise, was the  Managing Partner of Abdullahi Ibrahim and company, a  legal firm. He was called to the English Bar in 1963 after which he practiced in chambers in England before returning to Nigeria, where he was called to the Bar in 1964. 

He served at various times as Legal Adviser and Senior State Counsel in the defunct Northern Nigeria. He has been in private practice since 1973.

Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim has held various board appointments in several public and private bodies. 

He has also served the nation at various times; he was Legal Adviser and later Chairman of New Nigeria Development Company Limited (NNDC). 

He has previously served the nation at different times as Federal Minister of Education; Federal Minister of Science and Technology and Minister for Transport and Aviation. 

He was also the nation’s Chief Legal Officer, as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of Nigeria between 1997 and May 1999.

His wealth of experience and knowledge had been of immense advantage  to  the various tribunals and panels of inquiry  that he had served.

He is a life member of the Body of Benchers of the legal profession, and was its Chairman until 2001. He is a member of Cois missioner International and a member of National Boundary Commission, among others.

Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim  was the agent and later co-agent in the dispute between the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Republic of Cameroon at the International Court of Juctice at the Hague.

Having put so much into the nation, the Federal Government acknowledged his contributions and conferred on him the national honours of, Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR), and recently, Commander of the Order of the  Niger (CON).

Ikeja Federal Constituency will not be left behind, Faleke says as he commissions classrooms projects at Ojodu and Onigbongbo LCDAs

The member of the House of Representatives for Ikeja Federal Constituency, Honourable James Abiodun Faleke has assured residents of the constituency of his commitment to ensuring that they enjoy more infrastructure projects from the Federal Government. 

Faleke made this commitment on Friday, 22 January, 2021 via a message delivered on his behalf during the commissioning of blocks of six classrooms projects he facilitated for Estate Primary School, Ogba in Ojodu Local Council Development Area; and Bola Memorial Primary at Abule Onigbagbo in Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area.

The projects were part of the constituency project of the former Chairman of Ojodu LCDA who is currently the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance.

The classrooms were fully equipped with desks and benches as well as toilet facilities.

Speaking at the commissioning, Faleke stated that he is committed to ensuring that the people of his constituency enjoy full dividends of democracy.

“These projects are part of our intervention programme for the improvement of education in this constituency. I want to assure you that more are still coming to this constituency,” the pioneer Chairman of Conference 57, umbrella organisation of council Chairmen in Lagos, said

Faleke stated further that his commitment has always been with his people hence the determination to take advantage of any position or office he holds to put in place measures, programmes and projects that will enhance their welfare and improve their standard of living.

“As your representative in the House of Representatives, I’m assuring you that Ikeja Federal Constituency will not be left behind in projects from the Federal Government,” he assured.

Faleke was represented at Ogba event by All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and Ojodu LCDA chairmanship aspirant, Alhaja Funmi Layeni; while the Chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA, Hon Dotun Olakanle, represented the federal lawmaker at the Abule Onigbagbo event.

Speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the Lagos State Basic Education Board, Hon Wahab Alawiye-King, the Secretary of Ikeja Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Hakeem Abolore Amosu, expressed appreciation to the Lawmaker.

He assured that the facilities will be well maintained and monitored.

Ikeja Federal Constituency will not be left behind, Faleke says as he commissions classrooms projects at Ojodu and Onigbongbo LCDAs

Faleke Commissions Classroom Projects At Ojodu, Onigbongbo LCDAs; Assures Residents Of More Infrastructure Pro

The member of the House of Representatives for Ikeja Federal Constituency, Honourable James Abiodun Faleke has assured residents of the constituency of his commitment to ensuring that they enjoy more infrastructure projects from the Federal Government. 

Faleke made this commitment on Friday, 22 January, 2021 via a message delivered on his behalf during the commissioning of blocks of six classrooms projects he facilitated for Estate Primary School, Ogba in Ojodu Local Council Development Area; and Bola Memorial Primary at Abule Onigbagbo in Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area. 

The projects were part of the constituency project of the former Chairman of Ojodu LCDA who is currently the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance. 

The classrooms were fully equipped with desks and benches as well as toilet facilities. 

Speaking at the commissioning, Faleke stated that he is committed to ensuring that the people of his constituency enjoy full dividends of democracy. 

"These projects are part of our intervention programme for the improvement of education in this constituency. I want to assure you that more are still coming to this constituency," the pioneer Chairman of Conference 57, umbrella organisation of council Chairmen in Lagos, said. 

Faleke stated further that his commitment has always been with his people hence the determination to take advantage of any position or office he holds to put in place measures, programmes and projects that will enhance their welfare and improve their standard of living. 

"As your representative in the House of Representatives, I'm assuring you that Ikeja Federal Constituency will not be left behind in projects from the Federal Government," he assured. 

Faleke was represented at Ogba event by All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and Ojodu LCDA chairmanship aspirant, Alhaja Funmi Layeni; while the Chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA, Hon Dotun Olakanle, represented the federal lawmaker at the Abule Onigbagbo event. 

Speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the Lagos State Basic Education Board, Hon Wahab Alawiye-King, the Secretary of Ikeja Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Hakeem Abolore Amosu, expressed appreciation to the Lawmaker. 

He assured that the facilities will be well maintained and monitored

Breaking: Oyo Seriki Falani and family attacked, house and cars burnt.

Despite assurance by the police and the people of the state, his house was burnt in the presence of security agents.

The settlement of the Seriki Fulani of Oyo State, Alhaji Saliu Abdulkadir, was allegedly set on fire by aggrieved youths on Friday night.

Abdulkadir told SaharaReporters in Ibadan that he, his wives and children were sent out of the settlement, adding that 11 vehicles and houses were burnt in the process.

He told SaharaReporters that despite assurance by the police and the people of the state, his house was burnt in the presence of security agents.

Sunday Adeyemo, an agitator for Oodua Republic, better known as Sunday Igboho, on Friday visited some Oyo communities to confirm compliance of Fulani people with the seven-day ultimatum he had given them last Thursday to leave Ibarapa and Igangan areas of Oyo State. 

Fulani herdsmen have largely been blamed for the growing cases of killing and kidnapping in southwestern Nigerian.

Yagba Awakening: A Clarion call to Folorunsho Olafemi

“Romans 13:11”

Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.

There is time for everything and even the holy book recognizes this fact. For us in Yagba Federal Constituency, the time has come for us to make our intentions known. 

For the youths of Yagba Federal Constituency,  it is important at this junction to ensure  we the youths have very strong, resourceful and purposeful representation in the politics of 2023 and beyond, especially, in the type of Representative we send to the Green Chambers of National Assembly.

Where it is available as it is in Yagba Federal constituency, we must seek to be represented by high class material, youthful, first class intellectualism and high grade disciplined and exposed person whose yes is yes and his no is no. His words must be bankable and transparently humble with confirmed spirit of love for the development of our people and who can be entrusted with our Destiny of egalitarian society and developmental goals. He MUST demonstrate openness and easy accessibility for both consultation and complains calling for attention. Engr Chief Folorunsho Olafemi is a material we have shortlisted meeting the above-mentioned criteria. He can convincingly improve on all past representation (we are grateful to our past representatives) which is our goal.

No more shall our poverty be used as a weapon; where people come to us only during election period to take advantage of our dire poor state, enjoy our votes and become invisible leaders. 

As we seek God to bring to us a selfless mouthpiece and bring back to us what we have been longing for as a Constituency, we can see a man who is a prisoner of conscience; Folorunsho Olafemi!

Over the years, we have taken our time to carry out unbiased and unsolicited research on the activities of Engr. Folorunsho to his people in Yagba Federal Constituency and we have discovered that indeed he is making sincere efforts in easing the burdens of the people in Yagba Federal Constituency through Empowerment Programs and projects for Youths and Students, women not excluding the widows.

A brief of some of these charitable contributions, donations include but not limited to provision of funding to assist those who were rendered homeless as a result of the heavy windstorm that scattered their roofs and building in Mopa, Registration of Students for WAEC, NECO and JAMB Examinations in Yagba Federal Constituency and this has been running for years now and is still ongoing, successfully empowered Youths in Yagba with over hundreds of thousands of Naira to each of the twelve beneficiaries of YOUpreneur program; a program now made to be an annual event to help encourage Youths in Yagba Land to support their business ideas with supervisions to help guide them through. Countless footing of medical bills and provision of visible amenities to the people. Annual empowerment program for women and widows in Yagba Land.

Although, not yet within the corridors of power, Folorunsho has shown he means well for our people and if given opportunity to represent us, he will do more.

Upon the above, I lay the foundation of the request of Progressive minded Youths and concerned people for the development of Yagba Federal Constituency to call upon you to come heed to the Clarion call for the rebranding of Yagba people at the Federal House of Representatives, as our mouthpiece.

Yagba Federal Constituency as it is today is in dire need of someone with broader developmental ideas and with National and International Partnerships with investors to help harvest our natural resources for our own good leaving is to be core and direct beneficiaries of what we offer. All of these potentials we are not unaware that you carry. Heeding to this call will show how important the development of Yagba Land means to you.

There is no other better time to make this call other than now.

*Signed:*

Pharm Makanjuola Dahunsi Fatai

*For Yagba Progressives Forum*

Yagba Awakening: A Clarion call to Folorunsho Olafemi

“Romans 13:11”

Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.

There is time for everything and even the holy book recognizes this fact. For us in Yagba Federal Constituency, the time has come for us to make our intentions known. 

For the youths of Yagba Federal Constituency,  it is important at this junction to ensure  we the youths have very strong, resourceful and purposeful representation in the politics of 2023 and beyond, especially, in the type of Representative we send to the Green Chambers of National Assembly.

Where it is available as it is in Yagba Federal constituency, we must seek to be represented by high class material, youthful, first class intellectualism and high grade disciplined and exposed person whose yes is yes and his no is no. His words must be bankable and transparently humble with confirmed spirit of love for the development of our people and who can be entrusted with our Destiny of egalitarian society and developmental goals. He MUST demonstrate openness and easy accessibility for both consultation and complains calling for attention. Engr Chief Folorunsho Olafemi is a material we have shortlisted meeting the above-mentioned criteria. He can convincingly improve on all past representation (we are grateful to our past representatives) which is our goal.

No more shall our poverty be used as a weapon; where people come to us only during election period to take advantage of our dire poor state, enjoy our votes and become invisible leaders. 

As we seek God to bring to us a selfless mouthpiece and bring back to us what we have been longing for as a Constituency, we can see a man who is a prisoner of conscience; Folorunsho Olafemi!

Over the years, we have taken our time to carry out unbiased and unsolicited research on the activities of Engr. Folorunsho to his people in Yagba Federal Constituency and we have discovered that indeed he is making sincere efforts in easing the burdens of the people in Yagba Federal Constituency through Empowerment Programs and projects for Youths and Students, women not excluding the widows.

A brief of some of these charitable contributions, donations include but not limited to provision of funding to assist those who were rendered homeless as a result of the heavy windstorm that scattered their roofs and building in Mopa, Registration of Students for WAEC, NECO and JAMB Examinations in Yagba Federal Constituency and this has been running for years now and is still ongoing, successfully empowered Youths in Yagba with over hundreds of thousands of Naira to each of the twelve beneficiaries of YOUpreneur program; a program now made to be an annual event to help encourage Youths in Yagba Land to support their business ideas with supervisions to help guide them through. Countless footing of medical bills and provision of visible amenities to the people. Annual empowerment program for women and widows in Yagba Land.

Although, not yet within the corridors of power, Folorunsho has shown he means well for our people and if given opportunity to represent us, he will do more.

Upon the above, I lay the foundation of the request of Progressive minded Youths and concerned people for the development of Yagba Federal Constituency to call upon you to come heed to the Clarion call for the rebranding of Yagba people at the Federal House of Representatives, as our mouthpiece.

Yagba Federal Constituency as it is today is in dire need of someone with broader developmental ideas and with National and International Partnerships with investors to help harvest our natural resources for our own good leaving is to be core and direct beneficiaries of what we offer. All of these potentials we are not unaware that you carry. Heeding to this call will show how important the development of Yagba Land means to you.

There is no other better time to make this call other than now.

*Signed:*

Pharm Makanjuola Dahunsi Fatai

*For Yagba Progressives Forum*

Joe Biden: We will write an American story of hope

 Joe Biden's inauguration speech in full: 'We will write an American story of hope'

Chief Justice Roberts, Vice-President Harris, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Vice-President Pence. My distinguished guests, my fellow Americans.

This is America's day. This is democracy's day. A day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve. Through a crucible for the ages, America has been tested a new and America has risen to the challenge. Today we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate but of a cause, a cause of democracy. The people - the will of the people - has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded.

We've learned again that democracy is precious, democracy is fragile and, at this hour my friends, democracy has prevailed. So now on this hallowed ground where just a few days ago violence sought to shake the Capitol's very foundations, we come together as one nation under God - indivisible - to carry out the peaceful transfer of power as we have for more than two centuries.

As we look ahead in our uniquely American way, restless, bold, optimistic, and set our sights on a nation we know we can be and must be, I thank my predecessors of both parties. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. And I know the resilience of our Constitution and the strength, the strength of our nation, as does President Carter, who I spoke with last night who cannot be with us today, but who we salute for his lifetime of service.

I've just taken a sacred oath each of those patriots have taken. The oath first sworn by George Washington. But the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us. On we the people who seek a more perfect union. This is a great nation, we are good people. And over the centuries through storm and strife in peace and in war we've come so far. But we still have far to go.

We'll press forward with speed and urgency for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibility. Much to do, much to heal, much to restore, much to build and much to gain. Few people in our nation's history have been more challenged or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we're in now. A once in a century virus that silently stalks the country has taken as many lives in one year as in all of World War Two.

Millions of jobs have been lost. Hundreds of thousands of businesses closed. A cry for racial justice, some 400 years in the making, moves us. The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer. A cry for survival comes from the planet itself, a cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear now. The rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism, that we must confront and we will defeat.

To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America, requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy - unity. Unity. In another January on New Year's Day in 1863 Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. When he put pen to paper the president said, and I quote, 'if my name ever goes down in history, it'll be for this act, and my whole soul is in it'.

My whole soul is in it today, on this January day. My whole soul is in this. Bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation. And I ask every American to join me in this cause. Uniting to fight the foes we face - anger, resentment and hatred. Extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness, and hopelessness.

With unity we can do great things, important things. We can right wrongs, we can put people to work in good jobs, we can teach our children in safe schools. We can overcome the deadly virus, we can rebuild work, we can rebuild the middle class and make work secure, we can secure racial justice and we can make America once again the leading force for good in the world.

I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. But I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal, that we are all created equal, and the harsh ugly reality that racism, nativism and fear have torn us apart. The battle is perennial and victory is never secure.

Through civil war, the Great Depression, World War, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifice, and setback, our better angels have always prevailed. In each of our moments enough of us have come together to carry all of us forward and we can do that now. History, faith and reason show the way. The way of unity.

We can see each other not as adversaries but as neighbours. We can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting and lower the temperature. For without unity there is no peace, only bitterness and fury, no progress, only exhausting outrage. No nation, only a state of chaos. This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge. And unity is the path forward. And we must meet this moment as the United States of America.

If we do that, I guarantee we will not failed. We have never, ever, ever, ever failed in America when we've acted together. And so today at this time in this place, let's start afresh, all of us. Let's begin to listen to one another again, hear one another, see one another. Show respect to one another. Politics doesn't have to be a raging fire destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesn't have to be a cause for total war and we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured. 

My fellow Americans, we have to be different than this. We have to be better than this and I believe America is so much better than this. Just look around. Here we stand in the shadow of the Capitol dome. As mentioned earlier, completed in the shadow of the Civil War. When the union itself was literally hanging in the balance. We endure, we prevail. Here we stand, looking out on the great Mall, where Dr King spoke of his dream.

Here we stand, where 108 years ago at another inaugural, thousands of protesters tried to block brave women marching for the right to vote. And today we mark the swearing in of the first woman elected to national office, Vice President Kamala Harris. Don't tell me things can change. Here we stand where heroes who gave the last full measure of devotion rest in eternal peace.

And here we stand just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground. It did not happen, it will never happen, not today, not tomorrow, not ever. Not ever. To all those who supported our campaign, I'm humbled by the faith you placed in us. To all those who did not support us, let me say this. Hear us out as we move forward. Take a measure of me and my heart.

If you still disagree, so be it. That's democracy. That's America. The right to dissent peacefully. And the guardrail of our democracy is perhaps our nation's greatest strength. If you hear me clearly, disagreement must not lead to disunion. And I pledge this to you. I will be a President for all Americans, all Americans. And I promise you I will fight for those who did not support me as for those who did.

Many centuries ago, St Augustine - the saint of my church - wrote that a people was a multitude defined by the common objects of their love. Defined by the common objects of their love. What are the common objects we as Americans love, that define us as Americans? I think we know. Opportunity, security, liberty, dignity, respect, honour, and yes, the truth.

Recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson. There is truth and there are lies. Lies told for power and for profit. And each of us has a duty and a responsibility as citizens as Americans and especially as leaders. Leaders who are pledged to honour our Constitution to protect our nation. To defend the truth and defeat the lies.

Look, I understand that many of my fellow Americans view the future with fear and trepidation. I understand they worry about their jobs. I understand like their dad they lay in bed at night staring at the ceiling thinking: 'Can I keep my healthcare? Can I pay my mortgage?' Thinking about their families, about what comes next. I promise you, I get it. But the answer's not to turn inward. To retreat into competing factions. Distrusting those who don't look like you, or worship the way you do, who don't get their news from the same source as you do.

We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal. We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts, if we show a little tolerance and humility, and if we're willing to stand in the other person's shoes, as my mom would say. Just for a moment, stand in their shoes.

Because here's the thing about life. There's no accounting for what fate will deal you. Some days you need a hand. There are other days when we're called to lend a hand. That's how it has to be, that's what we do for one another. And if we are that way our country will be stronger, more prosperous, more ready for the future. And we can still disagree.

My fellow Americans, in the work ahead of us we're going to need each other. We need all our strength to persevere through this dark winter. We're entering what may be the darkest and deadliest period of the virus. We must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation, one nation. And I promise this, as the Bible says, 'Weeping may endure for a night, joy cometh in the morning'. We will get through this together. Together.

Look folks, all my colleagues I serve with in the House and the Senate up here, we all understand the world is watching. Watching all of us today. So here's my message to those beyond our borders. America has been tested and we've come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances, and engage with the world once again. Not to meet yesterday's challenges but today's and tomorrow's challenges. And we'll lead not merely by the example of our power but the power of our example.

Fellow Americans, moms, dads, sons, daughters, friends, neighbours and co-workers. We will honour them by becoming the people and the nation we can and should be. So I ask you let's say a silent prayer for those who lost their lives, those left behind and for our country. Amen.

Folks, it's a time of testing. We face an attack on our democracy, and on truth, a raging virus, a stinging inequity, systemic racism, a climate in crisis, America's role in the world. Any one of these would be enough to challenge us in profound ways. But the fact is we face them all at once, presenting this nation with one of the greatest responsibilities we've had. Now we're going to be tested. Are we going to step up?

It's time for boldness for there is so much to do. And this is certain, I promise you. We will be judged, you and I, by how we resolve these cascading crises of our era. We will rise to the occasion. Will we master this rare and difficult hour? Will we meet our obligations and pass along a new and better world to our children? I believe we must and I'm sure you do as well. I believe we will, and when we do, we'll write the next great chapter in the history of the United States of America. The American story.

A story that might sound like a song that means a lot to me, it's called American Anthem. And there's one verse that stands out at least for me and it goes like this: 'The work and prayers of century have brought us to this day, which shall be our legacy, what will our children say? Let me know in my heart when my days are through, America, America, I gave my best to you.'

Let us add our own work and prayers to the unfolding story of our great nation. If we do this, then when our days are through, our children and our children's children will say of us: 'They gave their best, they did their duty, they healed a broken land.'

My fellow Americans I close the day where I began, with a sacred oath. Before God and all of you, I give you my word. I will always level with you. I will defend the Constitution, I'll defend our democracy. I'll defend America and I will give all - all of you - keep everything I do in your service. Thinking not of power but of possibilities. Not of personal interest but of public good.

And together we will write an American story of hope, not fear. Of unity not division, of light not darkness. A story of decency and dignity, love and healing, greatness and goodness. May this be the story that guides us. The story that inspires us. And the story that tells ages yet to come that we answered the call of history, we met the moment. Democracy and hope, truth and justice, did not die on our watch but thrive.

That America secured liberty at home and stood once again as a beacon to the world. That is what we owe our forbearers, one another, and generations to follow.

So with purpose and resolve, we turn to those tasks of our time. Sustained by faith, driven by conviction and devoted to one another and the country we love with all our hearts. May God bless America and God protect our troops.

Thank you.’ America..

AHMED ATTAH TO UNVEIL NATIONAL ADVERT FEATURING CAMPAIGN ANTHEM

By: David Alfred-Dogwo | January 20, 2021

Next week, the Chairman of Nigerian Youth Initiative of Alhaji Yahaya Bello Presidential Campaign Council Hon. Ahmed Attah, will unveil powerful new ads that encapsulates the strength, resilience, and hope of the journey of Governor Yahaya Bello to Aso Rock in 2023, featuring a campaign Anthem, "Flight 2023" written by the acclaimed award-winning songwriter better known by his stage name Praiz; a Nigerian R&B songwriter, producer and singer. 

Praiz's music career hit the limelight after he finished second runner-up at the maiden season of Project Fame West Africa. He is best known for releasing hit singles like "Rich and Famous", "Sisi" and "I Love You". He contributed guest vocals to Bez's 2011 single "That Stupid Song"; the music video for the aforementioned song went on to be the first African video to make a world premiere on BET’s 106 & Park.  He is currently signed to X3M Music and is with Ahmed Attah in the goals for hitting the grounds on Yahaya Bello Presidential bid.

The minute-long spot will premiere on ChannelsTV in Igala-language version.

Also, a female Ebira Rapper who made it to the Top List beyond male dominated chamber Queen Nicki Minaj one of the Richest female Rapper in the world and Otonoruku: one of the popular Ebira Rapper with own swag and also a boss on his own that won many award in musical aspect will both debut on ChannelsTV on Ebira Language. 

Bablon Mash of the "One Man MAPO" and Angélique Kidjo, a singer-songwriter, actress, and activist who is noted for her diverse musical influences and creative music videos will both feature in Yoruba language version. In 2007, Time magazine called her "Africa's premier diva"

The ads will air between next week till February 14, 2021 and it will be a digital ad targeting Nigerian Youths across multiple platforms. The ads also, will follow the full English lyric video of the songs.

Ahmed Attah will continue airing ads on national television airwaves and digital platforms in a total of 12 states of where the campaign's paid media program will be active in designated markets.

Ahmed Attah’s appearances and tour with national excos to South West, South South in recent times was a huge success. I think this is a good deal to improve Alhaji Yahaya Bello’s acceptability. 

Other appearances suggest that, apart from anything else, Ahmed Attah’s energy and stamina are endless. He’s a great advert for kick boxing. And his team seem relentless in organising a continually high profile campaign for GYB4Nigeria.

All in all, we’ve made a strong start to the awareness campaign, I think. Ahmed Attah is leading from the front. We’re getting healthy and continually wide coverage in the media and those smiling teams are beavering away like good ‘uns on the ground. Nothing could possibly go wrong….could it?

What do you think of our progress so far? 

Please share your thoughts.…

Signed:

ALFRED DOGWO is Head, Directorate of Media and Publicity of Alhaji Yahaya Bello Presidential Campaign Council 

<davidalfreddogwo@rocketmail.com>

+2348034768404

2023: We should push Tinubu to be greater than Awolowo’, says Oluwo

The Oluwo of Iwo in Osun State, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi has described the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the most qualified to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

Speaking at the launching of South-West Agenda (SWAGA) in Aurora Event Centre in Osogbo, Osun State on Tuesday, he said Tinubu is a visionary leader who has all it takes to rule to succeed the president in 2023.

The monarch who berated the lackadaisical attitude of some Yorubas called on sons and daughters of Yorubaland to always rally round their leaders.

He condemned the manner at which the Yorubas were at the forefront of the pull-him-down syndrome that never made the late Awolowo realize his ambition.

“No one is as qualified as Sen Bola Ahmed Tinubu who remained a visionary leader and a great achiever. Only a misled son of Yoruba would not support this course.

“Who else has that capacity to run for 2023 poll i

Ayo Olowonihi Takes Over at EFCC Academy

A Director with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ayo Olowonihi, has been appointed as the Commandant of the EFCC Academy, the EFCC has said.

Olowonihi, who was on Grade Level 17 was suspended by the then acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, in 2015 and then demoted to Grade 16 by Magu in 2017.

The aggrieved director subsequently instituted a case against the EFCC before the National Industrial Court.

According to court documents, Olowonihi said Magu had on November 19, 2015, summoned him to his office accusing him of being behind some damning online publications on the activities of the commission and against the person of the chairman.

He said on Magu’s directive, he was interrogated, his official computer taken away, while he two phones (MTN and GLO) were seized, adding that his office, after being thoroughly searched by a team of detectives and policemen, was sealed.

The plaintiff further stated that while interrogation was still on, Magu demoted him as commandant and redeployed him.

Olowonihi said while the letter was purported to have been issued by the management of the commission, he was not aware of any management meeting where such a decision was taken being a management staff.

The EFCC director won his case in court on February 26, 2019 but the EFCC under the leadership of Magu, filed an appeal.

The Court of Appeal in August 2020 affirmed the ruling of the lower court but by then, Magu had been suspended indefinitely by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)

‌

On Monday, the EFCC said in a statement by its Spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, that Olowonihi had been appointed as the head of the EFCC Academy.

A statement titled, ‘Olowonihi Takes Over at EFCC Academy’, read in part, “The acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mohammed Abba, has appointed Detective Commander Ayo Olowonihi as Commandant, EFCC Academy, Karu, Abuja.

“Olowonihi takes over from Itam Obono, a Deputy Commissioner of Police

“The appointment which is with immediate effect was consummated with a hand-over ceremony today, Monday, January 18, 2021, attended by both Olowonihi and Obono with heads of departments and units of the Academy in attendance.”

Obono charged Staff to give Olowonihi the best cooperation, stating, “I’ll ask that, Ayo who is coming is not new, he has been here before and the work will take speed. Give him the best cooperation. The little hurdles that are there, you may be able to surmount faster than we have done.”

In his response, Olowonihi appreciated Obono and wished him well at his new assignment. He pledged to take the Academy, which is the brain of the organisation, to where it should be.

Meanwhile, The PUNCH learnt that the new EFCC leadership had reversed several of Magu’s appointments while those close to the sacked EFCC boss have remained on suspension for the last six months pending the decision of the President to act on the report of the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel.

An Open Letter To Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello, The Sardauna Of Sokoto

By Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.

I am not sure I know how to address you especially now that the formal Ranka ya dade is of no use to you since you are now in eternity. However, because this is a very special year, I had decided to write two letters, one to you and the other to Sir Tafawa Balewa. I thought I should start with you for obvious reasons. These letters are my formal way of having an imaginary conversation with both of you. In a way, I want to give you a report of what you left behind, what your immediate successors have done with your investment and how they shared our inheritance to the descendants.

In a way, I feel like a grand child reporting his uncle to his grand father, so please be patient with me. I think this is necessary because if we continue this way, I am sure your memories will be a distant whisper in the ears of your great grand children. What is more, your name is now a mere meal ticket for many. I also fear that some of the values you lived and died for are heading into oblivion. Apart from your autobiography, it took a white scholar and lover of northern Nigeria, Professor John Paden to write your authoritative biography. One would think that by now, those who claim your name would have endowed a Chair of Sardauna Studies in one of the northern Universities. But they are preoccupied with other more important pursuits it seems.

A second reason for this letter is the fact that I am now a citizen of your home state of Sokoto where I now serve as the Bishop of the Catholic community. You will be glad to know that Sokoto is still a very peaceful place to live in. From the point of view of progress and development, I am afraid that you will probably not get lost in many of the towns and communities. I have visited Rabah where you were born and I have also seen your house here in Sokoto. It is impossible for me to believe but it reminds me of the modesty of one of my heroes and your contemporary, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania whose personal house sits in a street corner in Dar es Salaam. Since there are no Christians or Muslims in the presence of God, I am sure both of you might have met.

For us, growing up as children in my little and very remote village, Sokoto registered in our memories only because your great stature served as a beckon that pulled the city nearer to us. Yet, looking back, how could I have imagined that I would not only visit Sokoto, but also become a citizen of this state? I deliberately drove to Rabah just to have a feel of where you grew up and where your father had served as a District Head.

Fifty years have gone past since you and your brave wife were brutally murdered in cold blood. Perhaps, had she merely pleaded or run into hiding, even her murderers would probably have thought otherwise. However, in a rare combination of the deeper instincts of genuine love, passion and total commitment, she gave herself in defense of what she loved most when it mattered most. In that warm embrace into which you both clung, with she serving as a shield, you were both dispatched into eternity in one moment. I hope both of you are happy in paradise now.

I was old enough to have known you, but I did not ever get the opportunity to even see you. Like millions of other young children and teenagers across Northern Nigeria, we heard about you and only had images of you in our minds. So much myth was built around you and Mallam Aminu Kano. For our young minds, your name elicited awe but that of Aminu Kano excited us. We fell in love with Aminu Kano’s name rather quickly because even early in life, we had always lived in fear of the Native Authority people as the ugly face of the oppression of taxation. We recall how much sorrow their visits often left behind especially in the homes of some of our poorer uncles in the villages when they came to collect their haraji. When we heard that Aminu Kano was against haraji, we loved him because haraji threatened our school fees.

Your place in history is assured, but there are still areas of controversies about your legacy. We have heard and read that you were a man who loved the north and its people, irrespective of their religion. The praise singers have left us plaudits, paens, myths and apocryphal material about your greatness. This is not the place to debate your actions. You laid a foundation to ensure that none of your children faced an uncertain future. Today however, many of your children have become orphans because the region has become a huge orphanage.

Our children fill the streets begging for food, their elder brothers who have some education have no jobs and nowhere to turn to, their parents have no work and those who have worked are dying with no pension. Farming has become a hazardous preoccupation. You will weep if you see where we are now. Selfishness has consumed us and the army has deserted the battlefield because there is no one to lead them. There is neither direction nor destination and most people have lost the will to fight for any cause.

At a time when there was no technology and no structures, you developed them from scratch. You built such institutions as the Ahmadu Bello University, Institute of Administration, Kaduna Polytechnic, Colleges of Education, Government Secondary Schools, etc. You set up the Northern Nigerian Development Corporation, Northern Nigeria Investment Limited, Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Broadcasting Corporation of Nigeria, New Nigerian Newspapers, Textiles Factories such as Kaduna Textile Mills, Zamfara Textiles, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, Northern Oil Processing Mill, Sword Branch Bottling Company, Nigerian Breweries Ltd, Hamdala Hotel, Kano Ground nut pyramids, Central Hotel, Bank of the North, Northern Nigeria Radio Corporation and many others etc.

With this legacy, should every son and daughter of northern Nigeria not walk like a prince or princess? Yet, today, all these institutions have been killed and buried by your successors who refused to develop a professional style of managing these great institutions. They were seen as extensions of a feudal system and today, rather than administer them, your successors presided over their funerals. What is left now are their carcasses.

Today, we look back at all the ideals that guided you. Despite its shortcomings, you were determined to ensure that the North did not lag behind. To do this, you undertook to navigate a very difficult and treacherous terrain without a clear compass. You tried to wield together a medley of peoples with conflicting and challenging histories, cultures, aspirations and so on. To make it worse, the people did not as yet possess such weapons for the construction of a modern state as technology and education. Yet, your programme of Yaki Da Jahilci helped many poor farmers gain some levels of literacy.

The north is in turmoil now and the reasons are many. The turmoil is the result of the sickness that afflicted the nation after you and other great nationalists were brutally murdered. We gradually slid into a civil war. We now have 36 States and the old north now has 19 States. You will be pleased to know that almost all the Governors were born around the time of your death. They are therefore young and promising. Please pray for them so that they can extricate themselves from retrogressive mistakes of their fathers and create a more open society where everyone can have a sense of belonging. Unlike their fathers and uncles, they have University education and they have studied and worked in a more plural environment. Indeed, our Governor in Sokoto was born just a few days before you died and he was the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives with the help and support of Southerners. This is different from your time when the relationships were more combative and rather acrimonious. You will be surprise to note that those you referred to as the scallywags in Lagos, those who booed at you in the wake of the debate over self government in 1956 were largely responsible for garnering support for General Buhari, a son of Daura who is now our President. So, please, pray for us to have more open and tolerant society.

Your heart must be bleeding at the sight of what has become of the north today. Boko Haram, a criminal band of murderers took hold of the north and turned it into a wasteland. Thousands of lives have been lost and today, millions of our people are in refugee camps. Thousands of innocent women, women and children have lost their lives. A great swath of the north is now a refugee camp of desolation and pain. Thousands of our girls have been killed, raped and forced into marriages. Over two hundred young girls in a village called Chibok have been in captivity and their fates are unknown. It is over 600 days now and we have no news. Northerners are merely looking up at the federal government and refusing to take full charge of what is clearly and mostly our battle or the result of our negligence and disunity.

When you look back now, I believe even you will realize that your controversial Conversion campaigns laid the foundation for mistrust in the house that you had built earlier. Since then, there has been increasing distrust among our people and the chasm has grown even deeper. We have spilled so much blood around the north, you will be shocked to see how many unmarked graves there are.

Finally, I must let you get some rest, but let me give you a little gist. Your grand son, Hassan, is the Magajin Garin Sokoto now. I am not sure he can play Fives as you did because he looks bigger than you. You will be proud of him. Also, the little brilliant boy who got As in his School Certificate examinations from Kabba and whom you gave a scholarship to ended up not in the northern civil service but he became a priest. You will be proud to know that he is now a Cardinal of the Catholic Church and could be Pope!

Please tell the Prime Minister to be patient because his own letter will come next week. For now, again, please pray for us. Ask God to rekindle the spirit of foresight and deep love for people that He endowed you and other men of your generation with. Give my warm regards to Col. Pam and my mama, his wife, Elizabeth and all those great men and women who lost their lives with you. Tell her to please look for Justice Oputa.

2023: Why We are Forming New Political Movement -Okorocha

The agitation for the 2023 Presidency thickened on Monday with a former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, announcing the plan to form a new political movement in Nigeria.

Okorocha, representing Imo West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, said himself and other progressive-minded politicians were perfecting the plan as a result of the silent agitations and complaints across the country against the current state of the nation.

According to him, from the body language of the Nigerians, it was obvious that they were not satisfied with what was on ground in Nigeria.

The Senator, who is a founding member of the All Progressives Congress, unfolded the plans in an interview with journalists in Abuja.

The PUNCH reported that Okorocha, while commissioning projects in Rivers State, on the invitation of governor, Nyesom Wike, recently provoked a fresh controversy when he called on the good people in APC and the Peoples Democratic Party to come together and rescue Nigeria in 2023.

He said on Monday that there was an urgent need for the regrouping of the ‘good politicians’ to restore public confidence in governance and save the country.

The former insisted that the country needed political reengineering, warning that Nigerians cannot be fooled again by mischievous politicians in 2023.

“The movement for a new Nigeria has begun and we must come together, I mean progressive Nigerians to make the country work,” Okorocha said.

Asked if the promise of the new political movement for a new Nigeria would not be similar to that of the APC in 2015, he, retorted that the APC was hurriedly formed to take power from the PDP without much emphasis on the character of those championing the course.

He assured that the political coalition is being championed by people with a proven track record of achievement and public spirit, adding that it was no more ideal to allow people who do not have a genuine love for the unity and progress of the country to hijack power.

The ex-governor said, “The APC was a hurried arrangement, it was hurriedly formed to take power when the then government was drifting. APC would have been better until people who were not members of the party; people who came for congratulatory message hijacked the party and became Lords.”

BREAKING: Akeredolu Orders Fulani Herdsmen To Vacate Ondo Forests Within A Week, Bans Night Grazing

BREAKING: Akeredolu Orders Fulani Herdsmen To Vacate Ondo Forests Within A Week, Bans Night Grazing Says these felons have turned our forest reserves into hideouts for keeping victims of kidnapping, negotiating for ransoms and carrying out other criminal activities.

Rotimi Akeredolu, Governor of Ondo State, has ordered Fulani herdsmen to vacate all Forest Reserves in the state within the next seven days.

Akeredolu in a statement released on Monday also banned the movement of cattle within cities and highways, as well as night grazing.

There has been a growing rate of insecurity in the state despite the launch of Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun.

The statement read, “We have taken major steps at addressing the root cause of kidnapping, in particular, and other nefarious activities detailed and documented in security reports, the press and debriefings from victims of kidnap cases in Ondo State.

“These unfortunate incidents are traceable to the activities of some bad elements masquerading as herdsmen.  These felons have turned our forest reserves into hideouts for keeping victims of kidnapping, negotiating for ransoms and carrying out other criminal activities.

“As the Chief Law and Security Officer of the State, it is my constitutional obligation to do everything lawful to protect the lives and property of all residents of the state. In light of the foregoing, the following orders are hereby issued:

“All Forest Reserves in the state are to be vacated by herdsmen within the next seven days with effect from today, Monday 18th, January, 2021. Night grazing is banned with immediate effect because most farm destruction takes place at night.

“Movement of cattle within cities and highways is prohibited. Underage grazing of cattle is outlawed.

“In its usual magnanimity, our administration will give a grace period of seven days for those who wish to carry on with their cattle-rearing business to register with appropriate authorities. Our resolution to guarantee safety of lives and property within the state shall remain utmost as security agencies have been directed to enforce the ban.”

Akeredolu’s directive was informed by the killings and kidnappings happening in the state, which have largely been blamed on Fulani herdsmen.

In July 2019, some suspected herdsmen in a kidnap attempt, shot and killed Funke Olakunrin, the second daughter of Afenifere leader, Reuben Fasoranti.

The police said the incident occurred between Kajola and Ore along the Ondo-Ore Road.

In November 2020, Oba Adegoke Adeusi, the Olufon of Ifon in the Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State was murdered by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.

Oba Adeusi was killed at a spot around the Elegbeka axis of the town.

The first-class monarch was returning to his palace from Akure, the state capital, when he was killed.

2023 Presidency: "Stop Being Mischievous",TSG advises Karounwi

The Head of Media and Publicity of Tinubu Support Group(TSG) Oluwatosin Johnson, on Sunday, accused Karounwi Oladapo, the Southwest All Progressives Congress (APC) caretaker Zonal Publicity Secretary of being mischievous for saying that Governor Kayode Fayemi is hugely favoured to get the 2023 APC ticket to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

Oluwatosin stressed that the National Leader of APC,Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu  is currently focused on helping President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver on his mandates.

" Without sentiments, President Muhammadu Buhari is no doubt  one of the greatest Presidents Nigeria ever had, yet he's in his 70s.

Saying Asiwaju will soon be 70 and too old for the exalted office of the President is  foolish and myopic".

According to him, the " US today elected a President full of energy to make their nation great again, and we are still here thinking the problem of Nigeria is the age of our Leaders. President elect Joe Biden is 78 years old".

" Look at Lagos today, it's a state everyone is proud to be identified with, this is happening because of the developmental blueprint made available by Asiwaju.

"  I will advice him to be a good party man and stop all his antics to divide our great party." Oluwatosin said.

College of Education (Technical), Kabba Out With Best CBT Centre in Kogi

The 250 seater computer based test (CBT) centre of the Kogi State College of Education (Technical), Kabba built by the administration of the Provost, Mrs. Victoria Jagboro  ( SMOGA) is ready for use.

It has passed the preliminary inspection by the Coordinator of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Coordinator in Kogi State, Mrs. Dupe Ayoson who has recommended it to the Board’s headquarters in Abuja for the mandatory inspection by an accreditation team from Abuja.

The Coordinator was elated by the quality of the job done at the centre and rated it the best in Kogi State.

When it is finally accredited, the centre will begin to host subsequent JAMB tests.

The Provost, who conducted Mrs. Ayoson round the centre said every effort had been made to meet JAMB’s standards in the design, construction and equipping of the centre.

Mrs. Jagboro, who broke into songs of praise when the Coordinator passed her favourable verdict, said the centre was one of the critical projects handled by her administration in the bid to make the institution a centre of excellence.

The other projects nearing completion are a 350 seater auditorium, a block of four classrooms with 75 seats each, a block of staff offices, an ICT centre with 56 computers complete with internet service and e-library facility.

Others are Home Economics laboratory and Business Education laboratories.

Completed projects already in use are a 300 seat hall and a students’ 

dignity project of 16 room lavatory with a borehole and overhead tank.

At the temporary site, the library extension built by state government and equipped by the Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND) has been completed as well as a functional fish pond.

Mrs. Jagboro attributed her success so far in the institution to the unflinching support she received from the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello who she said continued to encourage her to do more without interfering in the day to day administration of the college.

She also thanked the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Professor Sulayman Bogoro for his commitment to the upgrade of the institution’s facilities.