Jonathan Commences Campaign for Total Removal of Fuel Subsidy

President Goodluck Jonathan has moved to totally remove fuel subsidy, the president launched his crusade in Abuja on Thursday, saying Nigeria is not developing because of fuel subsidy.
Omitting the gargantuan corruption problem in Nigeria, he said total removal of subsidy on petroleum products would put an end to the importation of petroleum products and further attract investors to the oil sector.
It could be remembered that the president about this same time last year proposed total removal of subsidy on petroleum products and in spite of public protests removed subsidy on January 1, 2012, now he is at it again.
The President’s move was totally condemned and refuted with spontaneous protests by Nigerians.
President Jonathan Started this fresh campaign for the total removal of subsidy at the Presidential villa in Abuja while receiving the report of the graduating participants of the Senior Executive Course 34, 2012, of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies.
“Why is it that people are not building refineries in Nigeria despite that it is a big business? It is because of the policy of subsidy, and that is why we want to get out of it,” the President said.
He argued last year that while the total removal of subsidy could be painful to Nigerians they would be happier at the end if they could bear the initial pains.
Jonathan said, “To change a nation is like surgery. If you have a young daughter of five years who has a boil at a strategic part of the face, you as a parent leave that boil because either the young girl will cry or you take the girl to the surgeon.
“So you have the option of just robbing metholatum on the face until the boil will burst and disfigure her face or you take that child to the surgeon. On the sighting of a scalpel of the surgeon alone, the child will start crying.
“But if she bears the pains and do the incision and treat it, after some days or weeks, the child will grow up to be a beautiful lady.
“There are certain decisions that government must take that may be painful at the beginning and people must be properly informed so that they will be ready to bear the pains.”
The President said he believes Nigeria could turn around and become great within 10 years as long as the right policies are in place.
“I believe that you do not need a lifetime to change a nation. Under 10 years, Nigeria can change and people will not even believe that this is Nigeria again. Immediately you come up with strong policies in key sectors of the economy and keep it for 10 years, the change will be astronomical,” he said.
He said the reason why Canada has 16 functional refineries and Nigeria has four struggling refineries is that all the refineries in Canada are privately owned.
The oil sector is filled with scale corruption and the citizens are angry about the development, although the President has promised to probe the sector, nothing worthy of note has happened yet.
The probe committee set up by the House of Representatives subsequently found that oil thieves had defrauded the country of N1.7trn under the fuel subsidy regime.
Today the a son of the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mahmud Tukur, and children of other notable Nigerians and their companies are currently on trial for fuel fraud.
Unfortunately, Nigerians have been suffering from acute shortage of fuel for almost two months with filling stations selling, unofficially, at between N100 and N150 per litre and now with the subsidy removal campaign up again the situation might get worse except with strategic intervention.
Critics now suspect the government might be responsible for the shortage as a deliberate move to increase pump price in the New Year.

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ACN, Accord Party and PDP file petitions against Ondo governorship election

The governorship candidates of Accord Party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) on Friday, submitted petitions against the victory of Dr Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party at the October 20 governorship election in Ondo state.

The petitions were submitted to the Secretary of the state Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, Mr. Yusuf Musa.

According to the three parties, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Dr Mimiko as the winner of the election despite glaring irregularities.

The ACN candidate Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), in his 403-page petition demanded the outright nullification of the election, arguing that the governor was not duly re-elected by a majority of ‘lawful votes’.

This he claimed made the election to be invalid “by reason of corrupt practices and or non-compliance with provision of the Electoral Act.”

The former NBA chairman also added that they have found a good reason to head for the tribunal, expressing assurance that the election will be set aside and a rerun will be conducted.

The PDP’s candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, in his own petition, alleged electoral irregularities, manipulation of votes and outright falsification of results in some areas of the state.

He also asked the tribunal to nullify the election and conduct a fresh one or declare him the winner of the election.

Mr. Olawale Ojo of Accord Party alleged that INEC unlawfully excluded his name and the logo of his party from the ballot papers used for the election contrary to the 2010 Electoral Act.

A 20 member legal team, led by a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Akinlolu Olujimi, is representing Mr Akeredolu and his party. One of the legal team, Adekola Olawoye, claimed that there are about 117 witnesses that are ready to testify at the tribunal

Source: Channels TV

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Could this be the next President and Vice-president of Nigeria in the coming election?

Mimiko and Mark

This two men are known strong political office holders and ambitious as well. The man in Ankara attire is Olusegun Mimiko, while the man in shirt and trouser is David Mark.

Mimiko is the incumbent governor of old Ondo State and Mark is the Senate President of the Federal republic of Nigeria. Just few weeks ago, Mimiko was re-elected back into office for the second tenure which is to begin next year feburary.

There are speculations that the governor is aiming higher than just being a governor and there are indications that the senate president as well is eyeing the Aso rock seat.

could this be part of what these two are discussing? Will a yoruba man (Mimiko) be the next vice-president? Is it ideal to plan towards that ambition while they are yet to conclude their present tenures in office?

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Ondo Election: Party agent caught distributing N10, 000 to officials

UPDATE: A man, claiming to be an agent of a political party was on Saturday arrested at ward 7 Akure garage, Ondo, close to the incumbent governor and the Labour party’s candidate in the ongoing governorship election, Olusegun Mimiko’s polling booth distributing N10,000 to security officials.
He was allegedly caught with ballot papers thumb printed at a Texaco filling station in the area
The man has been sent to Olokuta prison in Ondo.

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ONDO ELECTION:IG, GOC declare war on armed thugs

Deployed soldiers in Akure, Ondo State

Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, and  the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major Gen. Mohammed Abubakar, have warned troublemakers to stay away from the state.

The nation’s number one policeman issued his warning on Thursday in Abuja, while speaking with State House correspondents, after a meeting of the sub-committee on the funding of the police reform programme.

Abubakar said, “The restriction is not for the three days. It is from 6pm on Thursday because we want to ensure that people do not take arms and ammunition (into the state), or import people who ordinarily are not supposed to be in Ondo for the election.”

He said he had used his visit to the state on Wednesday to study the terrain and instruct his men on how to ensure a hitch-free election.

The GOC issued his own warning shortly after arriving at the 32 Artillery Brigade Akure, on Thursday, to address the soldiers to be deployed in the state for the poll.

The GOC said, “No movement on that day except for those on essential duties and those on election duty. No hunting on election day.

“I am happy that the IG has said that there will be no fishing during the poll. I don’t want to hear that I am going to the bush to hunt. Anybody with arms must be arrested. If he resists arrest, shoot him; I give you the order.”

The GOC said that movement would be restricted from 6am to 6pm but added that motorists passing through the state to other parts of the country would only be allowed passage after they had proved that they were not going to the state.

The GOC said he had received a petition from a political party (he declined to name the party) that one of the contestants had bribed some soldiers to allow his party to rig during the election.

He promised that he would not be a party to such an arrangement and warned that any soldier found colluding with any party would be severely dealt with.

He said, “No amount of money they promised you would turn you into MKO Abiola or (Aliko) Dangote. These people worked for their money. So be satisfied with what the Nigerian Army is paying you.

“Our purpose of being here in Ondo State is to support INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission), the police and the people of the state to ensure a peaceful election. You and I will not vote even if you have registered. Your work is to enable INEC to conduct a peaceful poll and to allow others to vote without fear.

“The last election in Edo State was conducted under 2 Division and it was peaceful. I want Ondo State election to be peaceful also. You won’t stay at the polling booths but you will provide security for the people.”

Major General Abubakar assured the people of the state that the army had mapped out strategies to identify fake soldiers who might want to infiltrate the genuine troops deployed by Nigerian Army.

He said there would be a dress code for the troops, adding that it would be easy for real soldiers to identify fake ones.

The GOC declined to give the number of soldiers to be deployed, but he said that soldiers had been moved in from several formations to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order.

Meanwhile, INEC, on Thursday, began the distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials to be used in the conduct of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

The materials distributed amidst heavy security were to be used for the election in Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Area of the state.

The materials had been kept in the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Akure since they were brought into the state last week.Representatives of various political parties were present during the distribution of the materials and they expressed satisfaction with the condition in which they met them.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Mr. Akin Orebiyi, said that the materials were being taken to the Forward Operational Base of the Nigerian Navy at Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area.

He said that adequate security had been put in place to safeguard the election materials.

The early distribution of the materials, according to Orebiyi, is to ensure the efficient transfer of election materials to the far-flung areas of the state.

Orebiyi said the collection of materials by INEC signified the commencement of the governorship election.

The INEC National Commissioner in charge of the South-West, Prof. Lai Olurode, said the commission was ready to conduct a better poll in Ondo State.

He assured that INEC would not be partisan in the conduct of the poll and urged anyone with a complaint against any official to submit such to the commission. He said the materials distributed had been kept with the CBN.

Source:punchng

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ONDO ELECTION:24 hours to D-Day

Akeredolu, Oke and Mimiko

GBENGA ADENIJI X-rays the campaign activities of the three major contestants in tomorrow’s governorship election in Ondo State

The word of an unknown author that ‘during a campaign the air is full of speeches-and vice versa’ aptly captures what oozed out of the political scene of Ondo State this week.

Before electioneering was rounded off on Tuesday, candidates of the Labour Party, Action Congress of Nigeria and the Peoples Democratic Party- the three major contestants in tomorrow’s governorship election-sought votes from the voters and lashed out at one another.

Incumbent Governor Olusegun Mimiko of the LP leaves no one in doubt with his belief that he is the people’s choice. To him, he has been committed to his electoral promises; hence, his two challengers should forget the dream of unseating him. However, PDP’s Chief Olusola Oke and ACN’s Oluwarotimi Akeredolu have also not minced words in their stance that the Sunshine State needs a new person to propel it to greater heights. Each of the duo sees himself as the right man for the job.

All the three candidates have their backers.  A former National Legal Adviser of the PDP, Oke has the backing of the Federal Government-controlling party. On his part, ex-National President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Akeredolu enjoys the support of ACN governors in the South-West as well as that of the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Mimiko rests on his performance in office in the last three-and-a-half years and acceptance by the people of the state. The desire of the ACN to dislodge Mimiko from the Alagbaka Government House is premised on a purported refusal of the governor to join the party, after being allegedly helped by its leaders to reclaim his mandate from the state PDP after the 2007 general elections. Interestingly, the trio are said to be the best of friends before politics pitted them against one another. Besides, they attended the same University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University. While Mimiko studied Health Science, obtaining a degree in Surgery in 1980, Akeredolu and Oke studied Law in 1977 and 1986 respectively. Fallout of the rallies of the three main political parties-LP, ACN and the PDP- out of the 13 that registered for the election, suggested that the die is cast for tomorrow’s epic political battle.

Oke, who said during his campaign in Akure, the state capital, that his goal was to “rescue the state from waste and corruption”, added that what it had experienced in the last three-and-a-half years under the Mimiko administration “is punishment and pain”. He had said, “Today we have sealed our pact with the people. Before the President of this nation, dignitaries in Nigeria and in my state we have shown readiness to take my people out of gutless hypocrisy and decadence to which they have been consigned in the last three-and-a-half years. Our hands are already on the plough and there is no looking back. We need to get into prosperity. That is why we need so badly a good government we can trust. By the grace of God, my party will produce that government.” Describing the Mimiko administration as ‘an error of history’ that he said the people would correct at the poll tomorrow, Oke stated that a government must not ally itself with power against the powerless.

Tinubu, the ACN leader, at a Redemption Rally in Akure on Monday, claimed that he supported Mimiko with millions of pounds in cash during legal battle to reclaim his mandate. The former governor of Lagos State said Mimiko was not being truthful when he claimed that he did not receive money from him in the course of the legal proceedings. Tinubu, who quoted passages from the Holy Bible during his speech, insisted that he gave money and vehicles to assist him.

He stated, “Mimiko claimed that I did not spend money when he had problems with his mandate, this is not true. It is a lie. He came to me and begged me to support him, rolling on the ground. He said Wole Olanipekun was there when we were planning the strategy, this is not correct. Rotimi Akeredolu was among the lawyers we organised for him. He collected money from me. I spent millions of pounds sterling but he betrayed me. It was Yemi Osibajo, who travelled to Israel and other countries to arrange the experts that helped him prosecute the case. People warned me not to help him because of his antecedents of being a serial traitor. He betrayed Adebayo Adefarati, Olusegun Agagu, and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo among others, but I still helped him. Mimiko has called me a godfather, yes, I am a positive godfather and even, godfatherism is biblical and that is why Christians refer to God as their father.” Noting that he is a godfather for progress in Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Lagos, Edo and Ogun, Tinubu faulted the mega school concept of the Mimiko administration, saying the schools were not befitting of a low populated state like Ondo. The ACN chief said the state would lose much if the people refused to vote in the party.

However, Mimiko on Tuesday in Akure at a rally featuring leadership of his party, Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, said both the people and his performance would decide the election. He added that it would not border on any issue of betrayal. He said, “The election is not going to be about the imagination of a man that feels he was betrayed. We will leave that for now. It is about the people. The people will decide Saturday’s election. Rascality must be differentiated from progressivism. I have no doubt in my mind that the people of Ondo State will vote for our party that day.”

Mimiko also noted that his opponents faulted the fountain project embarked upon by his administration. He said, “They do not know that the fountain only recycles water. We only need to replace it once in a year. They did not do physics in school. I thought it is only geometry they did not do. Nursing mothers from Osun and Ekiti states benefit largely from our Mother and Child health programme which the opposition fault.” Debunking claim that his administration had not inaugurated any road, the governor said he had constructed first-class roads imbued with inner roads, walkways, car parks and setbacks than any past government in the state.

Besides, there have been accusations and counter-accusations from the campaign teams of the three parties in the week. For instance, the Mimiko Campaign Organisation once alleged that it had uncovered a plot by the ACN to hire fake corps members to rig the election. MCO, in a statement by its Director of Publicity and Media Relations, Mr. Olabisi Kolawole, said, “The opposition party has recruited mercenaries to be clothed in the National Youth Service Corps uniforms to rig the election,”

Reacting, the Director, Media and Publicity, Akeredolu Campaign Organisation, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, described the allegation as false. Ajanaku claimed that the onus was on LP to explain to the public what “its top member caught with an Independent National Electoral Commission official in Ondo town was doing with 10 ballot boxes.” He further alleged that it was the LP, which had been bringing thugs into the state in order to rig election because, according to him, its government had failed to perform. He said, “We don’t have control over the corps members so we could not have recruited them to rig the poll. We won elections in Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti and Edo, so we will win in Ondo State without rigging.”

As a way of pledging the neutrality of INEC, its Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday in Akure at a stakeholders’ meeting, said the commission was committed to credible poll. Jega, who advised voters to be patient and vigilant, added that INEC had introduced a process that would make every genuine voter’s vote count.

He said, “We have done everything possible to ensure a credible poll. We will not allow anybody to do the wrong thing and anybody who does anything contrary will have him or herself to blame. Political parties must have credible party agents. If they have competent, credible party agents who have integrity, there is no way election results can change.” In addition, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, assured of a violence-free election.

Now, all eyes are on the state concerning the election, which observers think may offer a new definition for the country’s politics. If anything, the Jega-led INEC must use the opportunity to reaffirm itself as an unbiased umpire dedicated to delivering free and fair elections. Nevertheless, for Mimiko, Oke and Akeredolu, their fate in tomorrow’s election lies in the thumbs of the people of the state.

source:punchng

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Ondo Elections: IGP Orders Restriction Of Movement In And Around State

Towards ensuring adequate security for Saturday’s gubernatorial elections in Ondo State, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed D. Abubakar, has ordered restriction on movements in and around the State.
A statement by Deputy Police Public Relations Office Frank E. Mba said the order would take two tracks.  The first would impose restrictions on movement in and out of Akure only, beginning at 6p.m. local time today until 6am tomorrow (Friday).

On the second track, the restriction would be in place “in and out of the entire State, except for those on essential duties and or such degree of movement necessary for citizens to exercise their franchise on the election day,” and would take effect at 6pm on Friday and expire at 8pm on Saturday.
Under the arrangement, travelers and citizens who intend to use roads in and out of Ondo State are advised to use alternative routes.

“While expressing his regrets over the inconveniences that road users and the general public may suffer as a result of this restriction, the IGP appeals for the understanding and cooperation of the entire citizenry, as the restriction is essentially to ensure the effective security of citizens, election officials and materials,” the statement said. “It is a strategy to curtail the influx and movement of undesirable and criminal elements in and out of the State before and during the election.”

The police boss assured the public that adequate security logistics and manpower have been strategically deployed to achieve a most conducive electioneering atmosphere, pointing out that policemen for election duty have been properly trained, briefed and sensitized on their roles as stipulated in the Electoral Act.
“They are expected to be professional, non partisan, civil but firm in their approach and relation to the public; and to strictly observe Force Order 237 on the use of firearms to ensure that inalienable rights of the citizens are not trampled upon,” the statement said.

The IGP also advised politicians to play by the rules.  He urged politicians, political office holders and all Very Important Personalities who are not directly involved in the conduct of the election to peacefully cast their votes and return to their homes.

“On no account must they be involved in monitoring of election, as the Police will enforce to the letter, all laws relating to the elections and law breakers appropriately dealt with in accordance with the law of the land,” he warned.

He urged the citizens of Ondo State to come out enmasse to exercise their civic right, reassuring them that the police, assisted by other security agencies, have mapped out plans to ensure that voters out to vote can do so without molestation from any quarter.

He further advised them to shun violence and all forms of thuggery, and urged parents to keep close watch on their children and wards in order not to allow them to be used by unscrupulous politicians for criminal purposes, as the full weight of the law will take its course on anyone apprehended.

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POLITICS:LP boss asks Jega to redeploy Olurode

National Chairman of the Labour Party, Chief Dan Nwanyawu, has called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to redeploy the INEC National Commissioner in the state, Prof. Lai Olurode.

Nwanyawu said this in Akure, Ondo State on Tuesday while addressing a rally to round off the LP’s campaign ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko LP’s candidate for the poll.

Nwanyanwu, who said his party was not comfortable with Olurode in charge of the election, said the electoral body must do everything to ensure that the poll was not rigged.

He said all parties must be given a level playing ground for a popular candidate to win the poll.

Nwanyawu said, “We will not go to the tribunal again. The result of this election will be declared on the field.

“Olurode should be changed. We are telling Jega. If it is the ACN who complained, they would have changed him.

“Jega and the security agencies should ask what happened in 1983. They should not allow that to happen again. Jega must ensure a free and credible election on Saturday. Jega must ensure a credible poll. We will resist any attempt to change the result.”

He told party supporters not to wear the LP’s vest, arm bands or any item with the party’s logo on Saturday, alleging that the opposition had prepared to use the vests and other items to implicate the party.

Also at the rally, the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, canvassed votes for the Mimiko, describing him as “labour friendly”.

Omar said the governor had performed very well in the state, saying he had started an unparalleled transformation in the state.

He said, “I am here to remind you of certain obligations you must fulfill. This man, Mimiko, is a man of principle. If given a second chance he would lead the state aright again. If you go round the state you will see the amount of work he has done.”

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ONDO FINAL GOVERNORSHIP DEBATE (VIDEO)

Final round of the Ondo State 2012 Governorship Debate. Featuring Mimiko, Akeredolu & Oke. Organised by NIGERIA ELECTIONS DEBATE GROUP (NEDG)

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Ondo Varsity Union Leaders go underground over fear of arrest

The protracted labour unrest at the Ondo State owned Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU) Akungba Akoko is far from being over as leaders of the three unions under the aegis of Joint Action Committee (JAC) have gone underground.

They are allegedly being trailed by security agents on the directive of the state government

Workers in the institution being headed by Prof. Olufemi Mimiko recently protested against poor condition of service career structure, elongation of typist cadre, inconclusive 2010/2011 promotion exercise,arrears of 33 months hazard allowance and selective victimization of some staff particularly one Mr. P.O Tametawo who has not received his salary for the past 22 months.

Tameta was said to have faced two separate panels set up by the Vice Chancellor,Prof Mimiko and was discharged and acquitted, yet his salary is yet to be reinstated.

A source close to the University said because of the protest,its management has concluded plan to arrest seven of the union leaders.

Those penciled down for arrest are the Chairman, Non Academic staff Union (NASU) Aguda Bamidele, Vice Chairman,Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) , Mrs. Akingbesote,Chairman, National Association of Academic Technicians (NAAT), Comrade Giwa, NASU Treasurer, C.A Ekundayo,and NAAT secretary, E.O Akele as well as two others for leading recent workers protest at the University.

The management described the workers’ action as insubordinate and inimical to Governor Mimiko’s second term ambition.

The source added that a woman attached to VC’s office has been appointed to frame up the Union leaders.

It was revealed that a clandestine meeting was held at the Government House last Sunday, the meeting was allegedly chaired by the Governor with his younger brother, Prof. Mimiko and some other top University and government functionaries in attendance.

The source said “ At the meeting, a certain Magistrate was invited to the meeting and was briefed to deny these Union leaders bail after their arrest until after October 20 election They are to be arrested any moment from now, and appear in court before detention.

A member of the JAC’s executive who spoke in confidence said “ We are concerned because of a recent development in which a Magistrate denied bail to ACN members over a bailable trumped up charge,we learnt that the prosecution of the Union leaders is to be personally led by the State Attorney –General”

The AAU Union leader urged Mimiko to shed this idea, stressing that it will further dent the image of his administration and the ruling LP. According to him,the governor should note that no condition is permanent,saying “whether he likes it or not, he will leave his office one day and posterity will thereafter judge him because of his craftiness.”

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POLITICS:I did not betray Tinubu, Adefarati, Agagu – Ondo gov

Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has denied betraying his predecessor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu; the late former governor of the state, Chief Adebayo Adefarati; and the Action Congress of Nigeria National Leader of Lagos State, Chief Bola Tinubu.

Mimiko said this at the palace of the Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom on Tuesday.

He said, “I was faithful, loyal and committed to my bosses when I served as their commissioner and Secretary to the State Government even when there was a grand conspiracy against me at a point.”

The Labour Party candidate for the October 20 governorship election in the state also said Tinubu did not give him money when he contested the 2007 governorship election.

Mimiko said he decided to clear the air on the misgivings and rumours against him at the palace of the Osemawe in his own dialect so that everybody would know that he was speaking the truth.

He said, “I have sacrificially and faithfully served the people of Ondo State in the last three and half years to the best of my ability and heaven is my witness.

“That was exactly what I did when I served at the Adefarati and Agagu administration. Anybody that is calling me a traitor or an ingrate is ignorant of the true accounts of what happened between me, Adefarati and Agagu.

“I tried my best to serve the two of them as best as I could but things went wrong when fifth columnists infiltrated and they reneged on our solemn agreement which made me to leave their governments because I detested cheating.

“As for Tinubu, I challenge him to tell the whole world where and when he gave me money to contest election in 2007 or to prosecute my legal battle to reclaim my mandate.

“The only thing he did was that he brought in forensic experts but I paid for all their services, including the cost of procuring all the materials they needed for their jobs and other logistics.

“Chief Wole Olanipekun my lead counsel is alive. He is aware of everything that happened. The only thing that Tinubu did was that he claimed to have paid the professional fee of Adrian Forty (the forensic expert) but did not give details.

“Tinubu did not also negotiate with me on whether I will join his party after my legal victory. They asked me to join the Action Congress of Nigeria in 2010 and I said that my people are not willing to leave the LP.”

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POLITICS:ACN, PDP ‘self-help’ threat dangerous, says Mimiko Campaign Organisation

THE Mimiko Campaign Organisation weekend described as alarming and a clear invitation to a state of anarchy, the threat by Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that it would in conjunction with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) resort to self help unless the Director of the State Security Services in the State is redeployed.

ACN has at the weekend through the Director of Media of the Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) Mr Idowu Ajanaku, called for the removal of the SSS boss in the State accusing her of bias vowing that both the ACN and the PDP might have no choice but to resort to self help if she was not removed.

The party had equally last week called for the removal of the State Police Commissioner and other top officers of the Command for similar reasons.

But the MCO while describing this statement as reckless, dangerous and symptomatic of the desperation of the opposition in the State, said it was however a justification of its strident cries in the past that the two leading opposition parties in the State were working together in unleashing violence in the State.

Its Director of Publicity and Media Relations of the organisation, Mr Kolawole Olabisi said the threat by the parties was very instructive and must be treated with grave concern by the security apparatus in the State.

“What the ACN and the PDP are doing is to work together and to cause so much violence to intimidate the electorate not to come out especially in areas they see as impregnable to their nefarious plans to rig. This had been the antics of the ACN in particular and it is merely angling for the redeployment of security officers who are in their payroll to Ondo State. It has happened in all the States they are controlling.

“The statement is nothing but inciting and a clear declaration of a state of anarchy by these desperados who cannot win a ward in a free and fair election in the State unless through subterfuge.

“It also confirms our strident cries that both parties were working together to unleash violence on members of the Labour Party (LP) and a pointer to the fact that since the security operatives in the State are living up to their billings of nipping the series of violence and bringing the culprits to book, they now demurred.

“We are also happy that by this statement, they have publicly agreed that their members are being arrested and detained for violence related offences contrary to their bare-faced posturing that they are the saints. “The truth is that In Ondo State both the ACN and the PDP are the alpha and omega of violence since they came with their do-or-die brand of politics in their ill-fated passion to capture Ondo State.

“We urge the security operatives not to take this startling but equally frightening revelation lightly for it was a rare confession that could only have been divinely inspired from those who want to turn Ondo State into a cauldron of violence. It must not be allowed to be swept under the carpet.”

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POLITICS:Governor Mimiko’s aides resign

Not less than four (4) of Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s aides have resigned their appointment from the ruling Labour Party administration since last week Monday.

Yesterday,the Special Assistance to the Governor on Project Monitoring,Mr Femi Idris, resigned his political appointment from the ruling government noting that it is in his best interest to resign now than to rubbish or bring shame upon his name.

His resignation letter addressed to the Secretary to the State Government partly reads: I thank Governor Mimiko for allowing me to serve in his administration. I’m compelled at this juncture to resign my appointment with immediate effect. This is to enable me concentrate fully on my educational programme.

He further explained that it was wise for him to resign his appointment from Governor Mimiko’s administration that is associated with different political crisis, and for the sake of his image, he had to resign.

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POLITICS :Man caught with 2,000 voters cards in Governor Mimiko’s ward, says he got them from INEC

Barely fourteen days to Ondo State Governorship election, the State Police Command today apprehended a Chieftain of the ruling Labour Party[LP] Mr Olaolu Oladapo and his wife, for allegedly being in possession of more than 2,000 voters cards.

The couple were arrested in Ondo town, the home town of the LP’s governorship Candidate and incumbent Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko.

Sources told “Daily Post”‘ that the case was immediately transferred from Ondo Police Division to the State Police Command, Akure.

An eye witness who is a prominent politician, but preferred anonymity said “I just visited the police command in Akure,I saw the accused person making useful statement to the police .The man put on LP T-shirt and Fez Cap at the Criminal Investigation Department [CID].

“I even interrogated him by asking where he got the cards and told me in the presence of police men that INEC gave them unclaimed voters cards and that he is not alone in the business.

“This development has confirmed to the citizenry how Mimiko and LP have perfected plans to rig the coming election.

The Director of Publicity of the People’s Democratic Party[PDP] Mr Ayo Fadaka in his reaction said”We have taken due notice of the arrest of a prominent member of LP in Ondo State, Olaolu Oladapo for being in possession of ballot papers and other election materials.

“This development is indicative of LP determination to rig the elections and we believe that people like him are spread across the state.

“In view of this, we call on the police and other security agencies to get to the root of the matter by exposing how election materials got to his custody and also discovering others like him across the state.

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“You are a liar” – Mallam El-Rufai blasts Jonathan over Independence speech

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has described President Goodluck Jonathan’s 52nd Independence Anniversary speech as ‘empty’ promises that cannot come to pass.
The erstwhile minister described the president’s 18 minutes live broadcast as false claims and waste of time. El- Rufai further referred to the speech as a claim of no visible evidence to show.
He said: “Is it at all possible to react to nothing? The speech was 18 minutes of false claims of accomplishments no one can see or feel, and promises that no one believes will be fulfilled.
“That is the tragedy of our nation today. That is why a country which constitution does not recognise any ‘state religion’ has resorted to a year of publicly-funded prayer project, instead of the hard work of providing inclusive leadership, honesty and integrity by example.”
He advised Jonathan to wake up and tackle security, unemployment and other challenges facing Nigeria as a nation, instead of giving ‘unnecessary’ credit to himself.
Also, speaking on the broadcast, Senator Domingo Obende, ACN, Edo North, said Nigerians need action, not words.
He called on president Jonathan to wake up before the nation hits the rock.

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POLITICS:“Mimiko presented fake SSS report to win tribunal court case” – Agagu

The security reports which the ruling Labour Party (LP) purportedly submitted before the Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal in 2007 have been found to be fake. Sources said the State Security Service (SSS) and the Police have discovered that the reports that purportedly emanated from the SSS were forged.
It would be recalled that the former Governor Olusegun Agagu, who was sacked through the Appeal Court verdict on February 23,2009 in Benin City had in May, 2010 sent a petition to the President alleging that Governor Olusegun Mimiko forged the security reports on which the tribunal and the Appeal Court, Benin Division, based their judgment and nullified Agagu’s election.
Already, Agagu wrote the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJ) on the basis of the findings of the Police Special Investigation Panel which discovered that virtually all the security reports were forged by LP.
Agagu said in the petition: “My grouse with the verdicts of the Tribunal; and the Court of Appeal is essentially on the acceptance by the two tiers of courts that elections in 10 Local Governments where I won were marred with irregularities while conveniently all the votes cast in the seven Local Governments where the LP won were retained.
According to him”In both judgments, (Tribunal and the Court of Appeal) the decision of the Judges was based on the Security Reports purportedly written by the SSS.
The Security Reports which have now been pronounced to be forgeries by the SSS and the Police were the basis for the verdict.
Agagu said”Mr. Chairman Sir, my counsel objected to the admission of the fake SSS Reports more so that the SSS Officer who was subpoenaed by my opponents stated on oath that the service did not originate or possess such reports!
“The PDP lost more than 62,926 votes through this flaw in just two Local Government Areas (Okitipupa and Irele) where the fake SSS reports were directly used in the judgement and could have influenced decisions in other Local Government Areas.
“You will agree with my Lord that it is against public interest for a party in a suit to produce fraudulent evidence to deceive the court into giving him a favourable judgement.
” On ground of public policy and equity, he should not be permitted or allowed to profit or to continue to enjoy the fruits of such fraudulent victory or judgement particularly where it has to do with a very sensitive political office such as the exalted office of Governor of a State.”
The controversial report is now generating controversy in the state especially now that Mimiko’s tenure for the first mandatory four year is lapsing and he is still interested to remain in office for another four year tenure.

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In Ondo, it’s battle in the sun

THIRTY days to the October 20 governorship   election in Ondo State, the leading contenders are upping the ante to out-do one another.
The ruling Labour Party Candidate and Governor of the state christened Sunshine State, Olusegun Mimiko is not sparing any arsenal in his bid to surmount the mounting hurdles being placed on his path to re-election by the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. While Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) is flying ACN’s flag, Olusola Oke is bearing the umbrella of the PDP in the contest.
Aside traversing the length and breadth of the state canvassing for votes, the eagle-eyed contenders are quick to point out any undue advantage their opponents are plotting to exploit to win the contest.
It is on this account that the Olusegun Mimiko Campaign Organisation (MCO) raised the alarm that the ACN leadership planned to rig the polls by using some staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. It called on the National Chairman of the INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, to monitor the activities of the commission’s officials alleged to have aligned with the ACN to compromise the election.
MCO’s Director of Publicity and Media Relations, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi said that since it had dawned on the opposition in the state that they would lose their deposits and fail woefully in a free and fair election, they had resorted to this underhand tactics of compromising some INEC officials. Olabisi said that officials of the commission recently met with some leaders of the ACN in Lagos to strategise on the rigging plans for the Ondo gubernatorial election.
“But in order not to fritter away the gains by INEC in its duties and in accordance with its stance that there must be free, fair and credible elections in the nation, Prof Jega must take more than a cursory interest in what is happening in Ondo State by beaming his searchlight on the activities of some of his officials,” he said. But in a swift reaction, the Director of Media and Publicity, Independent Campaign Network, an arm of the A C N in the state, Bosun Oladimeji, said that it was the LP that wanted to rig the coming election because it was no more popular in Ondo state. Oladimeji said that LP was an arm of PDP, which he said was a master rigger adding that the ACN was a progressive party that would win the election convincingly.
Akinrinnade lead gladiators to roundtable today: To ensure a peaceful and credible governorship election on October 20, 2012, the 12 governorship candidates, leading stakeholders in Ondo State and other eminent Nigerians will gather in Akure tomorrow for a parley.
The gathering, which will hold at Royal Park Lane Hotel, Akure and will be chaired by Lt. General Alani Akinrinnade, is being organized by the Office of the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Inter-Party Affairs.
Speaking on the stakeholders’ forum, an offshoot of a similar exercise held before the recent gubernatorial elections in Edo State, Senator Ben Obi, special adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, said the parley was necessary to ensure that the forthcoming election was violence-free and credible.
Expected at the forum include Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the Labour Party (LP) candidate; Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) flag bearer and Olusola Oke, the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) among others.
Indeed, the Police authorities, who have expressed worries over what they called politicising criminalities by political parties in the state ahead the polls. This is coming following spate of violence across the state which is heating up the polity.
The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Danladi Mshelbwala, in a statement, in Akure warned that he would not compromise the subsisting peace in the state. Mshelwala said that necessary measures had been put in place to arrest the ugly trend and warned “those in possession of fire arms illegally are in their own interest warned to surrender them before they are caught or be ready to face the full wrath of law.”
Police, INEC make promises: In furtherance of the search for violence-free and credible polls; security personnel from 11 states of the Federation including soldiers would be deployed to maintain peace during the polls just as the INEC has promised to make the governorship election an improvement of that of Edo State.
Addressing stakeholders in Akure, the Ondo State Capital on the display of Voters Register ahead of the election, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Akin Orebiyi said that materials for the October 20 election would arrive all the wards across the state on Friday, October 19. Orebiyi said that the Commission was prepared for any antics that the politicians might want to play during the election to circumvent the efforts of the commission in organising a free and fair election.
Security personnel
According to him the security personnel’s coming from 11 states of the Federation would provide adequate security across the state.  “We have put in place machineries to ensure that the October 20 governorship election is an improvement of that of Edo State. In fact this coming election will be the best ever conducted by INEC and it is going to be a model. With adequate security personnel’s including the Military men then we are sure that this election will not only be free but also fair. On opposition parties’ alleged illegal registration of voters in the state, Orebiyi dismissed the allegation as unfounded.
He said that he had been quizzed by security agents from the Police Force Headquarters on the allegation and it had since been discovered to be a ruse.
Orebiyi expressed worries over several fake allegations flying across the state by the political parties saying that none could be substantiated by them. The REC however assured that if evidence was provided by the parties it would be investigated and if found true the commission would act decisively.
Lapses in the register
”We have done our homework to give a level playing ground to the political parties, this election will be different. The ICT team of INEC has visited Akure three times to correct the lapses in the register. But I want to assure everybody that INEC is prepared to hold the best election in the country with the Ondo governorship election. However the parties should help us because in spite of the allegations of illegal voters’ registration, nobody has come forward with evidence. We are ready for any ambush by any of the political parties in the state. They will meet us there.”
Orebiyi equally denied the allegation by a political party that over 100,000 voters were transfer to the state for the coming election. He said that that commission only received and treated application for only 55 adding that only 30 applications for transfer of registration were received from outside the state while 25 people applied to transfer their cards within the state.

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Bayelsa State To Immortalize General Sani Abacha

To mark the 16th anniversary of the creation of Bayelsa State, the state government has announced its decision to immortalise late General Sani Abacha. 

It has concluded plans to lay the foundation stone for a 150 duplex housing estate which would be named after late General Abacha whose government created Bayelsa State as Head of State on the 1st of October, 1996. Governor Seriake Dickson announced the decision yesterday in his broadcast to commemorate the 16th anniversary of the creation of the State and the 52nd independence of the country. 

According to Governor Dickson, government in partnership with the Ijaw National Congress (INC), has christened the main auditorium of the INC secretariat after General Abacha as well as invite the family of the late General to be part of the celebration and also plant a memorial tree in his honour.

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“Jonathan wants to win Ondo governorship election for PDP” – Kuku

The Presidential adviser on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku yesterday, said if there was anything President Goodluck Jonathan was passionate about at this moment, it is winning the October 20, Governorship Election in Ondo state for the candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Olusola Oke.
Kuku also dismissed the claim from the camp of the incumbent governor and candidate of ruling Labour Party, Olusegun Mimiko that President Jonathan gave him the nod to seek re-election, describing it as blatant lie.
The Arogbo politician who also double as chairman of Presidential Amnesty programme described President Jonathan as the most educated president the nation ever had, and a loyal party leader who will rather do everything humanly possible to ensure the victory of PDP in any election.
The presidential adviser said it was common knowledge that the PDP lost the grip of South West from Ondo state when it lost to the LP through the judgment the Appeal Court of 23 February, 2009, adding that the party was ready to regain the control of the region.
Meanwhile, the PDP in the state has dismissed the boast by governor Mimiko that he would win the October 20, election by 70 percent.
In a statement signed by the director of media and publicity of the party Ayo Fadaka, it said this indeed is one of the many unrealistic comments that he has being making in recent times.
Fadaka said;” It is obvious from his many comments that he is completely insulated, isolated and detached from public opinion, however we consider it necessary to jolt Mimiko from his revelry to absolute reality to let him know that the people of this State have come to distrust him absolutely”
“It is time to make Mimiko realize that the people have not forgotten about the many projects he initiated and abandoned after he has sunk so much money. In this regard, mention must be made of the Dome project that was to cost N1.2 billion and given a completion period of six months, has since gulped N2.9billion, the Kaadi Igbeayo project, an Identity Card Scheme that cost the State N4billion has since been abandoned and same for many of its other projects,” Fakada stated.

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LP accuses ACN of plans to buy votes

The Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State, yesterday said its had uncovered plans by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to buy the peoples votes by doling out money to the electorate to win the October 20, governorship election. According to the LP, this was one of the highlights of a meeting by the ACN leaders during a meeting held last Saturday at Fountain Hotel, Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State.

The hotel, it alleged, is owned by a chieftain of the party who is a current political office holder in the state and is now the training camp for thugs and other clandestine activities that would be imported into Ondo State by the party. According to the LP Publicity Secretary, Mr Femi Okunjemiruwa, the exercise codenamed “Operation Capture Ondo State” and which is being coordinated by a South-West Governor had earmarked N2.5million per each of the 203 Wards in the state for the massive buying of voters cards from the electorate at the initial stage. The money would be increased as the need arises in the next few days as the election draws nearer.

Says Okunjemiruwa: “Indeed, it was part of this money that the party has deployed people out in the state to mop up voters cards and this is no longer working out as planned owing to our strident cries to the people coupled with the massive voters’ education going on in the state. It is equally gratifying to commend the law enforcement agencies for arresting some members of the ACN who were buying voters cards and charging them to court. “The aim of this war chest by the ACN is to deploy people who would embark on house-to-house lobbying of people with amount ranging from N5, 000 to N10, 000 or more depending on the bargaining power of the person to be so hoodwinked.

“This is coming on the heels of the realisation that in a free and fair election, they would lose their deposits in Ondo State due to the performance of the Dr Olusegun Mimiko-led government in the state. Again, since we blew the lid off their plans to induce some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the election, this now appears a mirage, they have resorted to their darned operation see and buy over the electorate in Ondo State.” Only last week, the LP blew the open plans by the ACN to unleash maximum terror on Ondo State and turn it into a theatre of war ahead of the October 20 election.

The LP also alleged that the opposition party had procured N200million worth of arms and ammunition with which various attacks were intended to be unleashed on the state to prevent a conducive atmosphere for the election due to hold in about three weeks. It urged the law enforcement agents to as a matter of urgency, investigate the activities of the party and its agents who were planning to unleash terror on the state, a plan which it noted was being coordinated from Ado Ekiti and Osogbo.

Among others, the LP said that as part of the plans to effect this, arrangements had been concluded by the opposition party to bring to the state ahead of the October 20 date, 100 sophisticated guns and bullet proof vests.

The LP Spokesperson therefore, urged the security agents to keep abreast of the situation just as it called on the people of the state to chase away from their doorsteps, those who promised to capture them as if they were animals that could be caged at will and their image tarnished with naira notes.

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