south-westnews Mimiko challenges Buhari on free, fair election 14
Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure
O
NDO State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, on Tuesday, said the greatest gift President Muhammadu Buhari can give to Nigerians to sustain the nation’s democracy is to give room for free, fair and credible elections in the country. Mimiko, who stated this in Akure, Ondo State capital, after the peaceful conduct of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congress, said election would continue to be peaceful in the country only if the present leadership embrace the one man, one vote mantra.
Thursday, 7 April, 2016
He said: “The greatest gift required from the president is to ensure credible and violence free election and the future will be bright for our nation. In spite of our challenges today, this nation has manifested to be leader of nations. “Let’s continue to invest our faith in credible election. Credible election is the key to future of this nation. There’s no alternative to this and there is no
alternative to democracy. “Without being sounding political, because the problem of Nigerians is that there is too much of politics than governance, I want to appeal to the president that the greatest gift he can give this nation is credible election.” Mimiko commended member of the PDP in the state for conducting a free election saying the outcome of the congress is a testimony of greater things
to come to PDP in the state and at the national. The governor described the party as one big united family that cannot be defeated in the state, saying that “it is only PDP that can defeat PDP in the state and once the whole house is united, victory is sure in all elections.” The newly elected Chairman of the party, Chief Clement Faboyede, assured members of the party that the new execu-
tive will always be ready to serve the interest of the members and party as entrenched in the constitution of the party. Some of the new executive members of the party in the state included; Deputy Chairman, Fatai Adams; State Secretary, Chief Ibine Oyedele; State Organising Secretary, Kunle Akintan; State Publicity Secretary, Banji Okunomo and Alhaji Gàníyù Obenla as the Financial Secretary.
Babalola bags Nelson Mandela leadership award By Nurudeen Alimi THE African Youth Parliament (AYP), last weekend, conferred its 2016 Nelson Mandela Leadership Award on former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Mr Femi Babalola (Jogor). The AYP is the leadership body of all democratic youth parliaments in Africa, cutting across 54 countries. It came to Ibadan with a 10-man delegation representing different countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Ghana. At a brief ceremony in Ibadan, the AYP in a speech read by Diplomat Erich Jomo from Kenya, pointed to Babalola’s “contributions to education, propagation of youth emancipation and his grassroots empowerment programme” as the basis for the conferment of this year’s Mandela award on him. “The Award and Monument Committee of the AYP, which was inaugurated in 2003, is tasked to assess annually individuals and institutions that have contributed immensely to youth and grassroots development for the conferment of the award. The aim is to encourage quality leadership in Africa,” the group said, adding that Babalola’s nomination was sequel to meeting the yardstick. Receiving the award, Babalola extolled the cardinal programme of the AYP, saying that he was overwhelmed to see that the continent paraded the crop of young, dynamic and patriotic youths who devoted their exuberance and learning to the emancipation of Africa and her teeming peoples.
From left, Pastor Yele Braithwaite; wife of the deceased, Dr Grace Braithwaite; Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko; Olumide Braithwaite and Mrs Ebun Adeosun, during a condolence visit by Governor Mimiko to the Braithwaite family, at their residence in Lagos, on Wednesday.
Ekiti works commissioner resigns All conspiracy against Ekiti will fail —Speaker Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti
THE Commissioner for Works and Transportation in Ekiti State, Mr Kayode Oso, has resigned. A statement by the state government on Wednesday, which announced the resignation of the commissioner, said the commissioner resigned on health grounds. A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr (Mrs) Modupe Alade, said “Mr Kayode Oso’s resignation on medical grounds, according to his letter, has been accepted by Governor Ayodele Fayose.” She said: “Mr Kayode Oso has worked assiduously to add value to this administration going by his effort towards the development of our state. We wish him quick recovery. The government of Ekiti State will stand by him while he overcomes his health challenges.” Oso, during the first coming of Governor Fayose, started as Chief of Staff to the Governor and was later
appointed as Commissioner for Works. Oso was again reappointed as Works Commissioner on October 16, 2014. Meanwhile, the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Honourable Kola Oluwawole, has stated that every conspiracy against the people and government of the state will fail, “as long as God remains on His
throne.” According to a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Stephen Gbadamosi, Pastor Oluwawole stated this at the monthly prayer meeting organised by the state House of Assembly at the Assembly Chamber in Ado Ekiti, the state capital. He appreciated God for His protection over the As-
sembly staff and the entire lawmakers, most especially Honourable Afolabi Akanni, who was abducted by the Department of State Services (DSS) and only released after 18 days without charges. The Speaker charged the workers and the entire people of Ekiti to always be grateful to God, noting that with God, all impossibilities could be made possible.
Mining operators accuse Amosun’s aide, firm of extortion It’s for developmental purposes —Aide Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta THE Society of Quarry and Mining Operators in Ogun State has alleged that one of the aides of the state governor, Mr Lekan Onamusi and a dredging firm, Dredge Consult, are extorting their members with the assistance of policemen attached to the Office of the Governor. The Chairman of the Society, Mr Sola Aikulola, disclosed this at a press conference in Abeokuta, on Wednesday. He said that Onamusi and
the dredge firm were using armed policemen to demand illegal taxes, fees and charges from his members before they could carry out their lawful operations. He said the society had different court rules restricting the state government from interfering in its activities, adding that the society annually paid royalties to the Federal Government and that the state government, through the consultant and Dredge Consult, imposed N300 to N1,800 charges on its members per trip, depending on the tonnes
and N250,000 charge per dredger for permit. When contacted, Mr Onamusi denied the allegation, saying the charges being collected from the dredgers were meant for “developmental purposes.” Onamusi said:”We give them conditions they must meet. What we are collecting is not royalty. What we are collecting is state levy for developmental purposes. That is not the name we call it. We are not collecting royalty. Can they provide receipt for the N250,000 permit fee?
Nigerian Tribune
Oyo NURTW boss begs Buhari to end fuel crisis By Olawale Olaniyan
CHAIRMAN, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Oyo State chapter, Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde (Fele), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to put an end to the lingering fuel crisis that has taken its toll on business activities in the country in recent times. Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday, Oyerinde, who is also the South-West chairman of NURTW, noted that the presidency needed to proffer solution to the fuel crisis without delay, saying Nigerians are not happy with the whole situation. He said “members of NURTW are spending days at filling stations in their bid to fuel their vehicles to serve the populace even at high rates.” He disclosed that many motorists have parked their vehicles at homes as a result of the hardship of getting fuel, while some Nigerians too have closed their shops due to the fuel scarcity. “I am using this medium to call on President Buhari to help find solution to this fuel crisis because it is really affecting NURTW members especially in the South-West. We can’t perform our duties any longer,” Oyerinde said.
Impartation service GOD’s Mercy Revival Ministries will hold its monthly prophetic impartation service with the theme, “Manifestation 2016: Time for Appearance of My New Day.” The service is scheduled to hold at the Mercy Revival Centre, 25/33, Alake Lakonko Street, Off Ikotun Idimu Road, Ile Epo busstop, Ikotun, Lagos, on Sunday, by 9:00a.m. The service will be hosted by the General Overseer, Pastor (Dr) James Akanbi and Sister Lola Olatunde (Kakaki Eledumare) will perform as the guest artiste.
Pastor (Dr) James Akanbi