The massive operation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to deter vote trading and other financial malfeasance ahead of tomorrow’s presidential and national assembly elections may have begun paying dividends with the interception in Lagos of the sum of N32, 400,000 (Thirty-two Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) allegedly suspected to be used for vote buying in Lagos. The recovery was made by operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Commission.
The suspect involved has been taken into custody for further questioning.
The Chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa has implored all personnel of the Commission deployed for election monitoring duties to show courage and not give room for unscrupulous persons to undermine the integrity of the elections through financial inducement.
Tactical team of operatives are currently on ground in all the states of the federation and the FCT. Telephone hotlines have already been circulated through social media for members of the public to share information regarding financial malpractices with agents of the Commission. Details of the number are available on EFCC social media platforms.
Members of the public are encouraged to report anyone trying to buy or sell votes by making use of the EFCC financial crimes.
Indigenous Tertiary Institution Students of Oyo South Senatorial District on Thursday appreciated the Accord Party Senatorial Candidate for Oyo South Hon. Kolapo Kola-Daisi for giving them bursary most especially coming at a time like this.
The bursary award ceremony held at the Magara Police Station Campaign office.
Representing Kolapo Kola-Daisi at the event was the Director General, Kolapo Kola-Daisi Campaign Organization, Mr. Sunday Babalola. Mr. Babalola on behalf of KKD congratulates the beneficiaries and reassured them that the student community will continue to be engaged if elected.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the National President, Federation of Ibadan Students’ Union Aare Fakolade Anuoluwapo appreciated Hon. Kolapo Kola-Daisi and assured him of the support of the student community within Oyo South Senatorial District.
“We appreciate our incoming Senator and we want to assure him that we will reciprocate his kind gesture on Saturday, to whom much is given, much is expected”
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, has reiterated his commitment to pursuing policies and programmes that would accelerate economic development and progress of the people.
The Governor said his administration will continue to work in tandem with the aspirations and yearnings of the people for the overall development of the state.
The Governor, in a special message commemorating the six years anniversary of his administration, stated that bold steps have been taken in the journey of redeeming the state and restoring its lost glory.
“Six years have flown by with astonishing speed. Our mission to redeem the state has been marched with courage and determination. We have made remarkable progress in our resolve to make life better for the people and make our state an enviable destination.
“Our commitment to industrialization and massive investment has yielded enduring fruits. In our first term, we facilitated industries both at the industrial park and the Ondo-Linyi industrial hub in Ore. We kept our promise of putting a stop to the carnage at the cross section of Lagos- Benin expressway in Ore by constructing the first-of-its-kind flyover, christened “The Redemption Bridge.”
“Our infrastructural drive has been phenomenal. In the last six years, over 294.11km of roads have been completed while a little above 100km are ongoing across the state. Our determination to leave the state better than we met it and bridge infrastructural gap has yielded impressive results.
“Despite the giant stride recorded on road construction in our first term, we didn’t rest on our oars as we are still dotting the landscape and initiating new road projects. For instance, we have commenced work on Igoba township road. Similarly, work is about to start on Ajagba – Iju Osun – Akotogbo road. The Agadagba – Pereama road is completed and awaiting commissioning, same as Igbobini – Igbotu township road. We have also concluded arrangements to commence work on the Agerige road.
“In pursuance of our commitment to the REDEEMED agenda of our administration and our desire to leave a good legacy, we commenced the construction of a betting Governor’s Lodge in our second term. Today, the Lodge is near completion and it is our hope that the laudable project will be commissioned in few months’ time.
“In the last six years, we have made bold footprints in the infrastructural sector. Another landmark testimony of our commitment to infrastructural development is the 250 – bed hospital we are building in each of the Ondo and Akure complexes of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital.
“We are also set to build an ultramodern and befitting Judiciary Complex in Akure, the State capital. The new complex will house twenty different Court buildings from Court one to Court 20. That is aside the Chief Judge’s Court. The ground – breaking will be performed soon at the existing Court Complex.
“Also, in our resolve to accelerate development and provide a new lease of fiscal autonomy, we have tremendously improved on our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from the paltry N700 Million inherited in 2017 to an average of N2 Billion. This we achieved without burden on our people.
“When we assumed office in 2017, the workers were owed seven months salary arrears and their morale was low as the situation could be better imagined. We promised to give priority to their welfare, and today, we have offset six out of the inherited seven months arrears. As regards workers’ salary, we have paid up till date. Just yesterday, I approved the payment of the February 2023 salary.
“We understand that no meaningful development can take place in the State without adequate security. That is why we have continued to strengthen the Amotekun corps and other security agencies in the State. It is our resolve to give our best to protect the lives and property of the people of the State.”
The Governor, while thanking God Almighty for His grace so far, expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the people for the mandate given to him and the opportunity to provide leadership in the state.
He assured that the remaining two years of his administration will be devoted to more impactful projects aimed at improving the lives of the people.
Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) has announced the appointment of Professor Isa Ali Pantami, the Minister of Communications & Digital Economy and Professor Adeolu Akande, the Chairman of Nigeria Communications Commission as its Board Chairman, and Vice Chairman respectively.
The appointment was made known during the Governing Board meeting of USPF held on Friday 24th January 2023 at the Communications and Digital Economy Complex, Abuja.
Professor Isa Pantami as the Chairman of the board presided over the meeting that was well attended by institutional members.
Receiving his appointment letter as Vice Chairman of the Board, Professor Adeolu Akande appreciated Professor Isa Ali Pantami, the Ministry & Federal Government for their trust in him and further reiterated his commitment towards the course of Universal Service Provision Fund, as well as serving the nation better for the advancement of technology in the country.
The Omituntun Initiative in the Diaspora (OID), a group of Nigerian professionals in Diaspora, has thrown its weight behind the re-election of the Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde for the second term.
The group, which consists of Nigerians from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, China, Malaysia, Brazil, the Republic of Ireland, Germany, Israel, Hungary, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Botswana, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa, among others, have rated Governor Makinde as the best governor in the history of Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole.
According to the group, following an outstanding record of achievements and the execution of excellent trailblazing projects in all sectors, his declaration to run for a second term in office deserves massive votes from the good people of Oyo State, so as to continue the re-engineering programmes for the socio-political and economic stability of the State as a pacesetter.
This was contained in a press release signed by the group’s spokesman, Barrister Ayotomiwa Adebayo, which stated that Nigerians in the Diaspora are so proud of Governor Makinde as a dynamic and creative leader whose administration has had success and record-breaking performances in Oyo State, especially in the areas of education, health, infrastructure, security, and economy expansion (through Agribusiness).
The group also stressed that Governor Makinde has also committed to actionable climate change policies to mitigate negative environmental impacts on a sustainable socio-economic development. The above-mentioned areas of development focus of his administration have helped to significantly generate jobs, provide food security and safety, increase prosperity, and reduce vulnerability of youths and the ageing population.
“Over 44 months of being at the helm of affairs, Governor Makinde has changed the status quo of governance, fostered unity, and rekindled hope for the possibility of a better future. In fact, Oyo State is now experiencing unprecedented economic growth and a generational shift from poor leadership and bad governance to a good governance. These laudable achievements lend credence to the viability of Omituntun 2.0 – a sustainable socio-economic development and growth agenda for Governor Makinde’s second term tenure,” the release stated.
Barrister Adebayo emphasised that never again shall the good people of Oyo State, including professional bodies, unionists, pensioners, civil servants, teachers, students, farmers, artisans, youths, traders, among others, allow greedy political godfathers and their accomplices, who are puppets, to come to power in 2023. The consequences of their looting and misrule have resulted to unprecedented hardship, and the impacts are still fresh in the memories of the people.
He further stated that Governor Makinde is a very tolerant, prudent, honest and thoughtful leader who has demonstrated the spirit of fairness, equity, and justice towards the citizens of Oyo State irrespective of their religion, ethnicity and political affiliation.
The spokesperson expressed that based on the group’s 99.9% performance scorecard of Governor Makinde’s administration, the OID Convener, Mr. Moses Eledan, has directed all its members and well-meaning citizens, including the youth ambassadors’ wing and GSM Network globally, to work actively and selflessly to ensure that Governor Makinde is re-elected for the continuation of the laudable projects and policies he started.
Mr Eledan further stressed that, “the Executive Governor has made Oyo State a place where a child of nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody and indeed his re-election victory as a servant leader will surely inspire new generational leadership and bring more tremendous developmental milestones for the State.”
“Finally, as Governor Seyi Makinde has restored people’s trust in good governance and leadership, we urge all citizens to vote massively for Seyi Makinde and his endorsed candidates,” the spokesperson added.
Few hours to the presidential and national assembly poll, the camp of the Oyo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) received a major boost as a major rival political party, Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), collapsed its entire structure while its leadership announced that at least 25 of their candidates for the 2023 general election and the whole of their State Executive Committee members have joined the APC.
This announcement was jointly made by the trio of the National Vice Chairman (South West) of the party, Engr. Adewale Durojaiye, the state Chairman, Alhaji Ganiyu Ademola, and deputy governorship candidate of the party in the 2023 poll, Mrs. Funmi Omoniyi, as they spoke at a press briefing organized after a meeting with Oyo APC Chairman, Mr. Isaac Omodewu, and Senator Teslim Folarin who’s is the broom party’s gubernatorial candidate at the APC’s state secretariat, Oke-Ado, Ibadan on Thursday.
According to Durojaye, the decision to fuse the entire structure into Oyo APC was “borne out of the burning desire to be part history as Nigeria is set for a turn around under Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who would emerge as the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We have seen from all indications that Tinubu would not only defeat all his other contestants on Saturday but he would also win convincingly with a wide margin to set an unprecedented record. We cannot afford to be left behind as patriots and democrats.”
In his own address; the APM’s state chairman, Alh. Ademola, stated that they took the bold step after wild consultation with relevant stakeholders from.within and outside the state. His words; “we have a crack team of strong candidates, executive committee members at all levels as well as teeming population of our party faithful from across the 33 Local Government Areas in the state. Although we cannot tell the public the disposition of our Party’s gubernatorial candidate to this move as we have lost communication with him for some weeks now, I am glad to tell the whole world that the deputy governorship candidate and 24 other candidates of Oyo APM are in full support.”
In his reaction; Oyo AP’s chairman, Hon. Omodewu lauded the defectors and assured them of robust relationship as stakeholders in APC. According to him; “it takes a lot of courage and foresight for this kind of decision to be made by any politician at a critical stage like this. We now have it on record that your team of distinguished politicians and patriots acted right when it mattered and your place in the book of history shall be guaranteed as having aided the cause of nation building”.
Among members of the APM’s state executive committee and other state who were present at the meeting are; Hon. Kayode Adeyinka (state Secretary), Comrade Samson Adesiyan (state organizing Secretary), Mrs. Falilat Amoo (state women leader), Comrade Lanre Badmus (state youth Leader), Mr. Mobolaji Elewi (state financial Secretary) and Mr. Adeoye Adedokun (state public relations officer) as well as Oyo North Senatorial Candidate, five House of Representatives candidates and 20 House of the candidates.
Honourable Shina Peller, a member of the House of Representatives and the 2023 Accord Senatorial candidate for the Oyo North Senatorial District, has encouraged voters to forgo vote buying in the upcoming election.
He made the statement today at his major campaign finale held at Adabo Market, Palace Square, Iseyin, Oyo State.
Peller, who represents the Oyo State Federal Constituency of Iseyin/ltesiwaju/Kajola/lwajowa, hailed Accord as a blessing in disguise for him and other party members.
He also affirmed his confidence in Accord as a party through which a new, effective system will be attained come February 25.
Peller, a candidate for the Oyo North Senatorial District on the Accord party platform, stated that he is running on a platform to lead the liberation mission for the Oke-Ogun people.
He was quoted as saying: “People are tired of the present system; they want a breath of fresh air, and I strongly believe that Accord is the party that will lead us to a new, functional system starting from Oyo State.
“My message to the electorates, 2023 has provided us a chance to rewrite the story of our great nation when people can go to the polls and vote for their choices of candidates.
“I have always advised our people not to focus on one candidate, the president is just one person out of a system and our country is suffering from a system failure.
“People should vote their conscience, competence, character, capacity and not just money and popularity and they should try as much as possible to support young candidates because we have more young people in the world today.
“Due to the existence of technology, an average young people in Nigeria today is exposed to direct competition with their peers anywhere in the world, so we should user in a pro-youth government, a government that can create an enable environment for youth to strive in Nigeria, this is opportunity for us to do that, people should run away from vote buying.
“The Oke Ogun-born federal lawmaker explained that if he wanted the APC senatorial tickect by all means, he would have approached the court to challenge the purported Oyo North APC senatorial primaries which he described as kangaroo.
“He stated further that he refused to approach the court because he wants to serve as a leading example to young ones who may experience same but cannot afford to go to court.
“Honourable Peller added that he refused to approach the court because he wants to serve as a leading example to the young ones who may be in his shoes but cannot afford to go to court. I’m now under Accord and the logo of our party is your thumb. Please vote for me,” he said.
The All Progressives Congress APC in Oyo state has claimed to have uncovered alleged plans by Governor Seyi Makinde and the People’s Democratic Party to use the state-owned security outfit known as Amotekun Corps for the purpose of forcefully securing victory for the candidates of the PDP this Saturday when Nigerians are expected to go to poll.
Amotekun Corps, which is the uniformed local security outfit established to combat kidnapping and other related criminal activities the South West in 2020, are under the control of state governors as chief security officers of their respective states with absolutely power to deploy its personnel for duty and assignment.
In a statement issued on Thursday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC regretted that “some anti-democratic forces could still be nursing plans to compromise the smooth conduct of election in the country when all hands ought to be on deck for the collective goal of strengthening the nation’s democracy.
“We have uncovered plots by the Oyo state government and the ruling PDP to use members of the state-owned local security outfit popularly known as Amotekun Corps to alter all arrangement for the proper conduct of presidential and national assembly elections coming up this Saturday with a view to facilitating victory for their candidates.
“Parts of the evil plans are deployment of men in Amotekun uniform to frustrate genuine voters particularly in certain areas across all geopolitical zones including Ibadan- the state capital. Those behind the plot have also perfected plans to involve hoodlums to be drawn from the Park Management System under the leadership of Mukaila Lamidi ‘Auxiliary’ in the execution of their plans.
“The regular Amotekun guards and many motor park miscreants are to adorn the local security outfit uniform brand which is expected to present them as officials legalized to move round on the day of election and thus use the opportunity to carry out some illegal activities capable of disrupting the conduct of the poll. For instance, the fake uniformed men would storm some communities in rural Ibarapa, Oke-Ogun, Oyo, Ogbomoso and Ibadan less city in the guise of searching for suspected kidnappers on the eve of the election and thereby create tension among local residents who might decide to stay indoor on Saturday.
“While we would not disclose the details of the plots being packaged by the identified disgruntled elements, we wish to remind the general public that Amotekun Corps are not among the security agents allowed to either election or provide security anywhere close to polling booths or collation centres on the day of the election. Therefore, we call on the appropriate authorities to ensure that no member of the Amotekun or PMS (in uniform) is granted access to anywhere close to INEC officials and voters conduct their legitimate business on the day of the election.
“The position of the nation’s Constitution as advanced by the Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General as well as that of the Inspector General of Police has been made clear on the issue of Amotekun and the fact remains that only the officers and men of the security agencies owned and controlled by the federal government are authorized to carry out functions at designated polling booths, collation centres and other INEC facilities during elections. Also, the idea of Amotekun Corps serving as security guards to PDP leaders and Chieftains shall not be allowed on the day of the election.” Sadare stated.
Ahead of general election on Saturday, the Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday has begun the distribution of sensitive materials to different local government areas in Oyo State.
The election materials are labelled according to different local government areas in the state.
The general election slated for Saturday will have Nigerians deciding who would pilot the affairs of the country for the next four years after the expiration of tenure of the incumbent President, General Muhammadu Buhari.
There is a heavy presence of security personnel and vehicles on Wednesday and could be seen today Thursday at the Lagos State office of the Central Bank of Nigeria, located in Marina.
Soldiers and policemen are on the ground at the premises as the Independent National Electoral Commission begins the distribution of sensitive materials for the election.
