Former Ekiti State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Otunba Bisi Kolawole, has won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election for the June 18, 2022 guber poll. Efon Alaaye born politician was backed by the former governor of the state, Ayo Fayose.
Kolawole, from Efon Alaaye in the Ekiti Central Senatorial District, was a former House of Assembly member from 2007 to 2011 and Commissioner for Environment under the administration of Fayose between 2015 and 2018.
Seventeen aspirants – Kolawole, Segun Oni, Senator Biodun Olujimi, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, Mrs Olumide Olubunmi, Kayode Adaramodu, Adewale Aribisala, Yinka Akerele, Ogunsakin Ayodeji, Alhaji Lateef Ajijola, Mrs Arogundade Olutoyin, Princess Adekemi Adewunmi from Efon, Mrs Cecillia Ebiesuwa, Mrs Adewumi Adesoye, Mrs Titilayo Owolabi, Mrs Modupe Asaolu and Mrs Deborah Alo – participated in the election.
Kolawole polled 671 votes to clinch the party’s governorship ticket. Segun Oni emerged the second runner-up with 330 votes. other includes Kemi Adewunmi 1 vote, Deji Ogunsakin 6 votes, Kayode Adaramodu 10 votes, Kolapo Olusola Eleka 93 votes, Wale Aribisala 56 votes and 13 votes void
The chairman of the primary election committee and governor of Akwa State, Udom Emmanuel, while kicking off the election said: “It is our expectation that this Ekiti State primary election will be seamless at the time it is completed. We hope to see that the Ekiti State chapter of the PDP elects a widely acceptable flagbearer.”
According to him, the candidate should be able to make the ‘umbrella’ stronger and win the upcoming governorship election in June.
Udom disclosed that the aspirants were properly screened for the election and made to sign a peace pact.
“We are in agreement on strict adherence to electoral guidelines on the conduct of a credible, free and fair gubernatorial primary election in Ekiti.
“We also agreed to observe the protocols laid down by National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) for prevention of Covid-19 transmission,” he said.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has flagged off construction of 3.89Km Opebi-Ojota road.
In a statement released by the governor via his official Facebook account as read in part:
“Today, I flagged of the construction of the 3.89-kilometre Opebi-Ojota Road to be built by Julius Berger Construction Company.
This road infrastructure will open into Ojota axis in Kosofe, taking traffic from Opebi U-Turn and into Ikorodu Road via the intersection that will be constructed under Odo Iya Alaro Bridge at Mende.
The road will be supported by a 276 metre-long deck-on-pile bridge and 474 metre-long mechanically stabilised earth-wall approach sections.
I also used the opportunity to announce that we have procured additional three sets of trains for the Lagos Blue Line Rail project expected to be completed before the end of the year.
Let me add that this new road demonstrates that we prioritize the well-being of the people of Lagos, as we are witnessing another milestone in the implementation of the Traffic Management and Transportation Pillar of our administration’s THEMES Agenda and the State Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP).
Upon the completion of this project, it will not only provide a new link to commute around Ikeja and its environs, it will also enhance economic prosperity and life expectancy”.
Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested one Michael Jackson for his alleged involvement in internet fraud.
He was arrested on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, following the credible intelligence received by the Commission on the illegal activities of some individuals allegedly involved in computer-related fraud.
Jackson, who poses as Ella, a transgender woman, allegedly defrauded unsuspecting victims of millions of Naira.
The suspect, who also claimed to be a Disc Jockey, DJ, had in his possession fetish items, which he claimed was “for grace and success.”
One of the Governorship Aspirants, Sen Biodun Olujimi has withdrawn from the primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party taking place in Ado-Ekiti.
Speaking to newsmen, Olujimi discredited the exercise, saying she was dissatisfied with the choice of delegates for the exercise.
According to her, the list to be used for the primary puts her at a disadvantage as her local government is left with only 12 delegates as decided by the party leadership.
Tension has been rife in the state over the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) slated for Wednesday and Thursday respectively.
The PDP primary scheduled for Wednesday is set to commence as eight aspirants are out to contest for the party’s ticket in the 2022 Governorship election.
The delegate primary election is currently holding in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
The Executive Governor of Oyo State Engr. Oluseyi Makinde on Wednesday received the report of the Oyo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry into Police Brutality, Violation of Rights of Citizens and Unlawful Killings led by Hon Justice Badejoko O. Adeniji (rtd), presented their report to the government.
The Governor in his address commended the Committee for a good job and promised that his administration will implement the findings of the Panel and at the same time send recommendations to Federal Government where applicable.
“I commended members of the panel for the thorough job they did and thanked them for their service. I promised that the recommendations in the report would be implemented by our administration while we would pass on the necessary recommendations to the Federal Government”
ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that a student of Alapoti High School (snr.) Ogun state on Tuesday was arrested by the Police for bringing “Igbadi” (An Assorted Charm) school.
It was learnt that the boy brought the charm to school early morning on Tuesday.
According to an annonymous eyewitness spoke with by ODUDUWA NEWS, he said they boy confessed that he used the charm for protection owing to the fact that the country is not secured.
Effforts at getting report from Police Spokesman in the State proved abortive as several calls were put to him but not picked.
ODUDUWA NEWS has learnt that some ARMED THUGS coming to Ekiti from Ibadan were arrested by Soldiers at about 3am today, at Ita Awure/Efon Junction.
It was gathered that the armed thugs were coming to invade Ekiti to stalemate the PDP Primary Election in order to prevent emergence of a particular candidate as the flagbearer of the party in the forthcoming 2022 governorship election.
They came in many vehicles and are being held by Soldiers as at the time of filing this report.
ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that the owner of Hilton Royal Hotel, Dr Ramon Adedoyin, and six others have been finally arraigned in Abuja High Court over the circumstances surrounding the death of Timothy Adegoke, the MBA student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, who reportedly died at the hotel on November 6, 2021.
Adedoyin, according to a statement on Tuesday, is being charged with the offence of unlawful interference with a dead body, while the other six accused persons are charged with various offences ranging from murder, conspiracy, altering receipt, along with other stated offences.
According to the case summary and proof of evidence filed by the Police, Adedoyin is being charged for illegally disposing of Adegoke’s body, altering and cancelling his payment receipt and the removal of the hotel’s CCTV cameras with intent to destroy evidence.
Others charged with the educationist are, Adedeji Adesola, 23, Magdalene Chiefuna, 24, Adeniyi Aderogba, 37, Oluwale Lawrence, 37, Oyetunde Kazeem, 38, Adebayo Kunle, 35 and others still at large.
One of Adedoyin’s lawyers, Abiodun Williams, said the legal team expected the development as it was an indication that the Police had concluded their investigations which also signified the beginning of the legal battle to prove and establish the innocence of the accused persons.
He said, “At least the charges have now cleared Adedoyin of the grievous allegations of murder and ritual killing peddled against him; thus setting the stage for him and all the suspects to prove their innocence before the court.
“We will like to restate, most emphatically, that Adedoyin ought not to have been dragged into this case in the first place. We will, therefore, leave the rest to the court to decide according to the proof of evidence placed before it.
“Hopefully, the media, especially the online blogs and those sponsoring lies and rumours, will stop their unfounded allegations and allow the court to dispense justice to all those involved according to the facts and evidence adduced.”
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has slammed apex Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, over the group’s stance on not supporting the 2023 presidential bid of former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement by its Director General, Prof. Ishaq Akintola on Tuesday, MURIC stated that Afenifere’s refusal to support Tinubu is a slap on the Yoruba race in “view of Tinubu’s active role in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria.”
The MURIC DG said he was surprised that a Yoruba socio-cultural group which was supposed to be a rallying point for all Yorubas should come out in the open to denounce one of its own because of the differences between its leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and the APC chieftain.
The Muslim group added that Tinubu deserves to reap from the gains of democracy, having sacrificed for its realisation and as such, should be supported, especially by the Yoruba group.
It described the action of Afenifere as “myopic and unpatriotic,” saying the group “has one or two lessons to learn from the Igbos.”
“Unlike Afenifere’s cold attitude towards the only Yoruba man who has shown interest in the presidency (at least publicly), the Igbo socio-cultural group, the Ohaneze, has pledged to support two Igbo men (Anyim Pius Anyim and Dave Umahi), who have expressed interest in the presidency with 10 billion naira,” MURIC said in the statement.
“We call on Afenifere to sharpen its political instinct. An adage says one good turn deserves another. The Yoruba socio-cultural group should neither reject its best candidate nor remain neutral at a time others are embracing their own,” it added.
The Pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, held its first annual general meeting on Tuesday, January 25, 2022.
The meeting held at the country home of the Acting Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, in Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State. The meeting was attended by some leaders and members of Afenifere from all the states in Yorubaland including Delta, Kwara and Kogi.
Among the leaders in attendance were the former Governor of Kwara State, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Senator Kofo Bucknor-Akerele, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Chief Supo Sonibare, Chief Sola Ebiseni, the Secretary General, Dr. Gbola Adetunji, Chief Korede Duyile, Abagun Kole Omololu, Hon. Leke Mabinuori, Chief Kofoworola Doherty, Dr. Ebun Sonaiya, Chief Tunde Onakoya, Senator Femi Lanlehin, Jumoke Ajasin-Anifowose, Chief Segun Olawoyin and Deacon Owolabi Oladejo, Chief Olu Pesu, Reverend Goke Omigbodun to mention a few. The Ag. Leader welcomed Members and congratulated them for surviving the turbulent 2021.
The meeting deliberated extensively on various issues pertaining to the Nigeria nation especially in the way they affect the Yorubas.
The meeting reviewed the various challenges that Nigeria has been facing since independence. The meeting felt that while the country had never met the dream of its founding fathers, the situation had never been this bad socially, economically and politically. The situation is particularly worse on the security front as no part of the country is safe at any time of the day any more.
The meeting also discussed the continued travails of Mr Sunday Adeyemo Igboho and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
This was contained in a statement signed and sent to ODUDUWA NEWS by Afenifere National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi.
After extensive deliberations, Afenifere resolved as follow:
A. Before and after independence, various efforts have been made to have a country, Nigeria, that everyone would be proud of. A country in which every one lives a happy life and there is life more abundant for all. Afenifere however has no doubt whatsoever that the country can never get out of its present logjam, let alone, develop, unless there is Restructuring.
B. The meeting felt that one of the things that has been a great cog in the wheel of Nigeria’s progress today was the rubishing of true federalism. Meaning that true federalism must be allowed to be effectively operational immediately. In other words, States and local government councils must be allowed to enjoy self governance as bprovided for them in the Constitution.
C. Afenifere is convinced that Restructuring of the Nigerian State before the 2023 general elections is achievable. It is achievable through the adoption of the Reports of the 2014 National Conference and the 2018 Mallam El-Rufai Committee of the APC on True Federalism with desirable modifications where necessary.
D. In recent times, we have consistently expressed concern on the situation of insecurity in Nigeria today. We have also always recommended what we consider as the ways out of the unprecedented security challenges facing us. In this respect, we strongly call on the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the introduction of State Police equipped with requisite means to enhance security in the states and that of the federation ultimately. The performance of Amotekun Security Network in the South West in conjunction with the Nigerian Police has shown clearly that all the criticisms against State Police are unfounded and self serving.
E. The meeting considered Sunday Adeyemo Igboho as a Prisoner of Conscience. Afenifere called on all men and women of conscience, particularly the international community to which human rights and freedom are abiding faith, to prevail on the Governments of Nigeria and Benin Republic to release Sunday Igboho forthwith. Not only that, the federal government should also pay Sunday Igboho the damages awarded to him by the court upon the savage attack on his person and property.
F. The meeting also called on the federal government to release Nnamdi Kanu even if on Political consideration as happened in the case of Asari Dokubo under the then President Olusegun Obasanjo. The meeting expressed appreciation to its Leader and to Ekiti State for hosting the participants. The meeting looks forward to a more benign year in 2022.
