Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has condoled with the Lagos State Government over the fatal accident involving one of its staff bus and a train at the PWD axis of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway early on Thursday, March 9, 2023.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in his update said six people died in the accident while those injured are receiving treatment at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
Obi in his condolence message said news of the accident was depressing. He, however, said the accident is avoidable while urging relevant agencies to stand up to responsibilities to avoid a repeat of such fatal accident.
“I received the depressing news of a train collision with a BRT Staff Bus in Ikeja today, where precious lives were lost and several people wounded. We must at all cost, guard against accidents like this. We must at all cost, guard against accidents like this. The many lives lost to such avoidable incidents are heart breaking. The relevant agencies and authorities must stand up to their responsibilities,” Obi’s tweet reads in part.
The President General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga, accompanied by members of his executive council and the Ibadan Week 2023 committee, paid a courtesy visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, seeking his imperial authority over the rescheduling of the Ibadan Week. The date for the event was postponed due to the recent change in the gubernatorial elections and will now be held from April 22nd to 29th, 2023.
During the visit, His Imperial Majesty graciously granted his approval for the new date, indicating his support for the CCII’s efforts to promote and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Ibadanland. Furthermore, the Kabiyesi expressed his concerns over the issues that have arisen from the CCII in recent times, commending the adept leadership of Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga’s administration in resolving such matters. He was pleased to note the effective measures taken to restore peace and unity among the Ibadan indigenes.
Additionally, Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga conveyed to His Imperial Majesty his ambition to run for a second term as President General of the CCII. The Kabiyesi was pleased with this announcement and eagerly awaits a formal visit from Adeaga and his team.
The CCII remains committed to its mandate of promoting the welfare and advancement of Ibadan indigenes and the overall development of Ibadanland.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Command on Monday, March 6, 2023 arraigned one Odeleye Moses Oluwabukola and his firm, Beedel Strategic Investment Company Nigeria Limited, before Justice Mohammed Owolabi of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, on a three count charge which borders on forgery, uttering of document and obtaining money be false pretence to the tune of N9million (Nine Million Naira).
The defendant, according to investigation approached his victim, Ololade Desmond-Eke with a forged “Local Purchase Order”, asked for a loan of N9million, with an agreed interest of N495, 000.00 (Four Hundred and Ninety-five Thousand Naira), under the pretext of executing some purported contracts awarded to his company across the country.
However, the victim discovered, after advancing the money to the defendant, that the LPO was forged.
A huge crowd of supporters grounded human and vehicular movement in Ibadan on Wednesday, staging a walk in support of the Gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Governor Seyi Makinde.
The crowd included Nigerian youths, Teachers, Civil Servants, Traders, Artisans, motor dealers among others.
The enthusiastic supporters of Governor Seyi Makinde began the solidarity march at Mapo through Beere, Oje, Gate, Total Garden and terminated the walk at the State secretariat, Ibadan.
It was organized by a support group, led by the trio of Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, Mr. Oriyomi Hamzat, and Ms. Seyi Peace.
The supporters defied the cloudy weather and walked round several streets in a carnival-like atmosphere.
They walked tirelessly, making their voices heard and chanting songs in support of Gov. Seyi Makinde.
Appreciating the people for their love and dedication to his re-election bid, Governor Makinde expressed confidence that the outcome of the election would favour the People’s Democratic Party.
The governor charged the people to come out en-masse, vote and stand by their votes.
At the state secretariat, representatives of various unions, associations and beneficiaries of Government employment under Makinde’s administration, reiterated their support for Gov. Makinde.
Various speakers at the rally described Makinde as having competence, character, and capacity and is qualified to continue another four years, as the Governor of Oyo State.
The solidarity walk was also used to sensitize members of the public on the need to carry out their civic responsibility at the poll.
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E-signed:
Hon. Wasiu Olatubosun, Ph.D., Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Oyo State. March 9, 2023.
A Lagos State Government staff bus with registration no 04A- 48LA was on Thursday morning crushed by a moving train at PWD, Ikeja area of Lagos.
The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the accident in a statement.
“The accident recorded many casualties as the staff bus was fully loaded with govt staff going to the office this morning,” the statement added.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made a significant announcement that is causing a stir in Nigeria’s political scene. The much-awaited governorship and state assembly elections scheduled for Saturday have been postponed to March 18, 2023.
The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yaqub while speaking to Journalists said, the decision to postpone the election was hinged on the INEC’s inability to promptly reconfigure the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used during the February 25 presidential election to enable their use in the state elections.
The BVAS system is a technology-driven process introduced by INEC in the 2019 general elections to ease the accreditation of voters during elections. It involves two modes of authentication: fingerprint and facial recognition. However, the machines were not ready for use in the upcoming elections due to legal issues that arose after the presidential election. INEC was earlier restrained from tampering with the information embedded in the BVAS machines until due inspection was conducted, and Certified True Copies (CTC) were issued to candidates who are challenging the outcome of the presidential election.
INEC’s decision to postpone the elections is a result of its commitment to upholding the law and ensuring a credible electoral process. According to a statement released by the commission, “The decision is in compliance with the legal requirement and to ensure that we conduct a free, fair and credible election.” It is a necessary step to ensure that all voters are given the opportunity to exercise their democratic right to choose their leaders without any impediment.
This decision has been met with mixed reactions from different quarters. While some people have commended INEC for taking the right step, others have expressed disappointment and frustration. Many Nigerians were eagerly waiting for the elections to take place and were already making plans to exercise their right to vote. However, INEC has assured the public that it is doing everything possible to ensure that the new date for the elections is well publicized and that all stakeholders are carried along.
In conclusion, the postponement of the governorship and state assembly elections is a necessary step taken by INEC to ensure that the elections are conducted in line with the law and best practices. The commission’s decision is a testament to its commitment to delivering free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria. The public is urged to remain patient and stay engaged as we all work towards building a better democracy.
Barring any further extensions, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said to have reached a decision to postpone Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections to March 18, 2023,
Any moment from now, the postponement might be announced if INEC Chairman finally succumbs to the decision of the electoral commissioners as suggested to him.
This was due to the commission’s inability to promptly commence reconfiguration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines utilized during the February 25 presidential election to enable their use in the state elections.
INEC was earlier restrained from tampering with the information embedded in the BVAS machines until due inspection was conducted and Certified True Copies (CTC) issued to candidates who are challenging the outcome of the presidential election.
Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has revealed that the state governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, has allegedly rebranded operational vehicles of the State Security Outfit, Amotekun Corps, into police colours and also distributed police uniforms to some political thugs with a view to earning them legitimacy to move round polling units during this Saturday election and perpetrate electoral malpractices in favour of the People’s Democratic Party.
Waterfield
In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Oyo APC wondered why the governor was hellbent on perpetrating electoral fraud, despite the widespread lies and innuendos from his propaganda machines that he’s a performer, one who doesn’t even need any campaigns to win reelection in the state..
“Is the governor now afraid of his own shadow, to the point he’s ready to do just about anything to get re-elected?” the party queried.
Calling on the police to investigate the matter, so that the governor does not succeed in his evil plans, capable of throwing the state into pandemonium, Oyo APC enjoined residents of the state to be watchful as they go out on Saturday to perform their civic responsibility, lest they fall into the hands of state-sponsored terrorists in the mould of Amotekun, now rebranded as the police.
“Clutching on to all available straws, Governor Makinde, having reached his wits-end, is willing and ready to do just about anything, including doing the unthinkable; such as rebranding operational vehicles and sewing police uniforms for Amotekun corps.
“As a party and a people; stakeholders in this state’s project, we shall do all that’s legally permissible to ensure the safety and security of our people before, during and after Saturday’s polls.
“What baffles us as a law-abiding party is why the state’s chief security officer will be the one to make the state ungovernable. Is this just about winning an election, or more about hating the good people of Oyo State to the point of harming and maiming them?”, the party asked.
Noting that it wasn’t surprised about Governor Makinde’s latest antics, especially as it relates to the disruption of public peace due to his penchant for violence, advertised in his association with an ex-convict, Mukaila Lamidi Auxiliary, chairman of the state’s park management system, who despite his notoriety and allegations of committing grievous capital offences, has remained a sacred cow, who now emboldened, goes about terrorizing the people
The season of political scheming and maneuvering has come as many political parties would be forming alliance together towards the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Oyo State.
A meeting was recently held in Saki at Riverside Hotel where SDP in Ifedapo Federal Constituency (Saki West, Saki East and Atisbo ) agreed to support the gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress, Sen. Teslim Folarin.
Ahead of the gubernatorial election on saturday, the entire Oyo State Executive members of the Accord party, have agreed to form a working alliance with the incumbent Governor, Seyi Makinde, to actualize his reelection bid.
The state chairman of the party, Hon. Prince kolade Ojo, disclosed this during a press briefing held today in Ibadan.
According to him, the state working committee of ACCORD, the 33 local government chairmen of ACCORD, as well as party stalwarts converged on the party office, Aremo, Ibadan to evaluate, brainstorm and came up with the resolution to support the reelection of the incumbent governor.
He equally accused the gubernatorial candidate of the party, Chief Bayo Adelabu, of sidelining chieftains and members of the party.
See Full Speech Below:
AN ADDRESS BY THE OYO STATE CHAIRMAN ACCORD, HON. PRINCE KOLADE OJO AT A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 8TH MARCH, 2023 IN IBADAN.
The State Secretary, ACCORD, Hon Olayinka Dairo,
Other members of ACCORD Oyo state working committee,
ACCORD local government party chairmen,
Other local government and ward executives of our great party here present,
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, good afternoon.
It is a great delight and honour for me to intimate you members of the fourth estate of the realm in particular and the public in general on developments in the political arena at this auspicious moment.
Following the just concluded presidential and national assembly elections in our dear nation, the state working committee of ACCORD, the 33 local government chairmen of ACCORD, as well as party stalwarts converged on the party office, Aremo, Ibadan to evaluate, brainstorm and chart the way forward with a view to proffering workable solutions for the progress and continued development of our pace setter state.
At the meeting, which was chaired by Hon. Tajudeen Alimi, ACCORD chairman, Ibadan South East and chairman of the chairmen, we decided the following ahead of the forthcoming governorship and house of assembly elections of Saturday 11th March, 2023:
I. Consequent upon many appeals and entreaties by the local government chairmen to right some wrongs, including the taking of unilateral decisions, deliberate sidelining of ward and local government party executives in the running and administration of the party and lack of harmonious working relationships by the governorship candidate of the party, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, the entire party structure expressed its displeasure, disappointment and disenchantment for not being carried along as partners in progress and pillars of electoral victory for his candidature.
II. It was categorically stated after discreet observation and careful study of events that Chief Adebayo Adelabu prefers to work in cahoot with his few supporters from his former party, thereby institutionalising use and dump syndrome within the party.
III. Chief Adebayo Adelabu has neither recognition, nor due respect whatsoever for the party hierarchy and this he will sustain should he be elected as governor of Oyo state.
IV. Arising from the above, the party executives, including the state working committee, local and ward executives have lost confidence in Chief Adebayo Adelabu as a worthy candidate to be supported for the exalted position of state governor. Charity, they say begins at home thus we would not want him to work at cross purposes with our party’s unique and lofty ideology which includes, unity, togetherness, development and progress for the masses.
V. Going forward, the entire ACCORD Oyo state executives have agreed to form a working alliance with the incumbent Governor Seyi Makinde
VI. It is noteworthy to clarify and assert authoritatively that the coalition was born out of passion for interrupted good governance and our conviction that Engineer Seyi Makinde has performed creditably well to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of Oyo state. Thus, this coalition will bolster accelerated growth and all round development. We are not unaware of antics of political jobbers and purveyors of fake news who may want to hoodwink the public that the altruistic merger has pecuniary gains, please disregard such baseless assumption and unfounded insinuation should it arise.
VII. We are particularly satisfied with Governor Seyi Makinde’s achievements in different sectors such as Education, Health, Civil Service reform, and prompt payment of pension and gratuity to mention but a few.
VIII. Meanwhile, the 32 ACCORD candidates for the state house of assembly are in the race to win and we call on supporters and party faithfuls to give them the necessary support for their resounding victory at the coming poils.
IX. We appeal to the media as our dependable companions to include it in their various reports that the party structure is not collapsed, but rather it will be used to support the PDP government led by Governor Seyi Makinde.
