OSUN APPEALS RAPE CASE AGAINST MONARCH

Osun State Government has appealed the judgment of High court which acquitted the traditional ruler, Alowa of Ilowa Ijesha, Oba Adebukola Alli who was charged for allegedly raping a female member of the National youth Service Corps (NYSC), Miss Helen Okpara.

The monarch was alleged to have raped the ex corps member at his private house in Osogbo, the state capital. The case which suffered long adjournment was eventually dismissed by Justice Jide Falola on the ground that the case was not proved.
However, Osun state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, Hon. Wale Afolabi in a statement issued by the information officer of the Ministry, Mr Bello Opeyemi said the ministry has filed
an appeal against the judgment at the Court of Appeal, Akure, Ondo state

OSUN EX COMMISSIONER DECLARES GOVERNORSHIP AMBITION UNDER LABOUR PARTY

The former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General in Osun state
during the last administration, Barrister Niyi Owolade has formally
declared his intention to contest for governorship election in the
state next year on the platform of the Labour Party (LP).

AREGBESOLA SEEKS HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY APPROVAL TO CREATE 27 NEW LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS

Osun state Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola

Osun state Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola has sought the approval of the state House of Assembly to create 27 new Local Government Areas in the state.

The Governor who presented an executive bill for the creation of the
new Local Government Areas to be called Local Council Development Areas before the house said the decision to create the new councils was to ensure development of all the nooks and crannies of the state.

He said the state government had earlier set up a committee headed by former Speaker of the house, Professor Mojeed Alabi on the creation of the new councils in line with sections seven and eight of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). While urging the house to give positive consideration to the bill, the
Governor noted that the new councils would operate a parliamentary system of government in order to avoid financial constraints.

AFENIFERE WARNS AGAINST ELECTION RIGGING IN OSUN, EKITI

Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), has warned against manipulation of the 2014 governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti States, saying it would fight to safeguard the nation’s democracy.

The National Chairman of the group, Mr Olawale Oshun, who gave the warning while addressing journalists in Osogbo, the state capital, said ARG would not relent in protecting the interest of all the Yoruba speaking states.
He said the group would resist any form of impediment to the growth and sustenance of democracy in the country.
The group, he said, is monitoring and assessing the performance of the governors in the South-West states. According to ARG, the nation’s return to democracy in 1999 had restored the Southwest region to the path of people-oriented developmental governance, noting that the coming together of Southerners and Northerners in the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a political platform was a good development.
Olawale also said a committee set up by ARG to access the performance of Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has submitted its reports in which the current administration in Osun State was discovered to have performed well.
 “What we saw is evidence of development. We can feel development and development is about the people. We visited some of the projects being executed by the current administration in the state and we observed that many of these projects are meant for the future generation,” he said.

SENATOR SCOLDS JONATHAN OVER DELAY IN PRESENTATION OF 2014 BUDGET

The Senator representing Osun Central Senatorial District, Professor Sola Adeyeye, has described the delay in the presentation of the 2014 budget as presidential inefficiency just as he described President Goodluck Jonathan for lacking vision to lead the country.
While disbursing over 50 million naira to 3,500 people drawn from the ten local government areas in his senatorial district, Adeyeye lamented that the level of poverty in the country is so worrisome and blamed the President Jonathan led administration for not addressing the problem of poverty in the country.
According to him, the level of poverty in the land is too terrible and this compelled him to disburse money to people in his constituency to alleviate their suffering. He frowned that President Jonathan has been given various excuses for not presenting the 2014 budget and posited that is inefficient.
His words “the entirety of Nigeria is a conglomeration of poor people. I felt I must give something to my people. Instead of buying bags of rice and chicken for them, I feel that I should give them a token so that they can do whatever they want with the money. There are 35,000 beneficiaries and each of them got 15,000.
“Initially, my intention was to make it a micro-credit scheme but the banking law and procedures delayed the programme. I’m happy that the people are happy with this gesture. I will still put the micro-credit scheme in place. As long as I’m alive, I will do everything within my power to serve my people well”, he added.
He said Nigeria  has experienced endless decay and stagnation from the Peoples Democratic Party led federalgovernemt. Adeyeye bemoaned “Everyone has seen that what we have at the top in this country is leadership without vision. People aresaying enough is enough”.
He continued “The president is making one excuse or the other for not presenting the 2014 budget. For me, it is an exercise in presidential  inefficiency. That’s one of the decay we are talking about in this country”.
On the face-off between FG and the Academic Staff Union of
Universities, Adeyeye who is also the Chairman of Senate committee on Education said he usually weeps anytime he sees what is happening to Nigeria’s education sector. “I went through public schools in this country, and it served me well but unfortunately we are not serving the next generation well. We will soon solve ASUU problem. I believe that
the end is in sight”

AFENIFERE VOWS TO RESIST IMPEDIMENT TO SUSTENANCE OF DEMOCRACY

The Yoruba socio-political group under the aegis of Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG, has vowed that it would not relent in safeguarding people-oriented developmental governance in the Yorubaland and also pledged to resist any form of impediment to the growth and sustenance
of democracy in the country.

Addressing a press conference in Osogbo on the efforts of ARG inmonitoring the performance of governors in the South-West states, the
National Chairman of the group, Mr. Olawale Oshun said the group is poised to protect the interest of Yorubas people of South-West and all Yoruba speaking state including, Kwara, Kogi, Edo and Itsekiri in Delta State. ARG said the nation’s return to democracy in 1999 restored the Southwest region to path of people oriented developmental governance and noted that the coming together of Southerners and Northerners in All Progressives Congress (APC) as a political platform was a good development.

‘How we improved our revenue in Osun’ - Osun Commissioner for finance, Dr. Samuel Adewale Bolorunduro

Dr. Samuel Adewale Bolorunduro is the Osun State Commissioner for Finance, Economic Planning and Budget. In this interview with GBENGA ADERANTI, he explains the guiding principles of the government of the state under Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, among other issues Excerpts:

TRADITIONAL WORSHIPPERS FAULT CAN OVER ATTACK ON AREGBESOLA’S EDUCATION POLICY

Traditional Religious Worshippers in Osun State have warned the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) against attack on the merger and reclassification policy of the government of Osun State.

The worshippers at a press conference addressed yesterday by their President, Chief Idowu Awopetu in Osogbo noted that CAN should be cautioned to desist from action that could derail the laudable programme of government aimed at transforming education to a greater height in the State.Awopetu said it was wrong for CAN to claim ownership of any public school in the State since it is a matter of public knowledge that since the takeover of ownership of schools by the government in1975, government also took over the responsibility of staffing, administration and provision of infrastructure in the schools.
His words: “We challenge the leadership of CAN to give evidence of contribution of even a kobo for the upkeep of these schools. It is shameless that these elements in the CAN leadership are coming forward to lay claim to the schools that have been left to rot by all before
Governor Aregbesola decided to fulfill his promise of providing qualitative education to all the children of Osun, irrespective of creed or religion”.
“In this regard, we have observed tremendous investment of Aregbesola’s Government in educational infrastructure. Our public schools are now attractive for learning and more students are leaving private schools to be part of the revolution that is taking place in our public schools. Gone is the era where our public schools are not fit for animal husbandry”. He said.
Chief Awopetu expressed shock and dismay that CAN asserted that the reclassification exercise is capable of triggering terrorism in the state saying that the leadership of CAN ought to be mindful of their language especially when such utterances can fan the ember of discord in the state.
He urged security agencies in the state to invite the leadership of CAN with a view to investigating this claim: “In view of the grave implications of the alarmist claim of the CAN Chairman for the immediate security of lives and property in the State, we hereby call
on security operatives to, as a matter of urgency, invite leadership of CAN with a view to investigating this claim and if found to be untrue should henceforth warn them to stop spreading lies that can put this state in turmoil.”
The President insisted that religious tolerance is the hallmark of the Yoruba people saying: “there is hardly any home in Yoruba land, State of Osun inclusive, where you will not find adherents of all the three dominant religion. This, notwithstanding, has not created a wedge between us as a people rather we co-exist peacefully with mutual respect for one another”.
The traditionalists called on citizens of the State to prevail on CAN leadership to maintain peace adding that the state has enjoyed tremendous peace in the last three years of administration of Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.

MANDELA: CONSCIENCE OF THE WORLD PASSES ON

He was very old and very frail, was in and out of hospital for many months, was unable to speak and was out of the public view in recent years. Yet, the death last night of Nelson Rolilahla Mandela must have registered a maximum 10 on the political equivalent of the Richter scale.

Throughout the years when we were growing up, Nelson Mandela was referred to by Nigerian as well as foreign newspapers as “the world’s most famous political prisoner.” In our intellectual discussion circles during the 1980s, we often said that release from Robben Island and later Pollsmoor Prisons could be dangerous for Nelson Mandela because no one could possibly live up to that legendary image if he were out in the open. How wrong we were. Within a few years of his release, Mandela graduated from being a famous anti-apartheid prisoner to becoming the conscience of the world.

ABDUCTED OSUN INDUSTRIALIST, YINKA OBA, REGAINS FREEDOM

Relief has  come the way of relatives of an Osun based industrialist, Mrs. Yinka Obaleye known as Yinka Oba as her abductors finally released her after spending  about two weeks in their den.
Obaleye was abducted while returning home from her company on November 19, 2013 by yet to-be identified gang of armed men. Her driver, Alhaji Tajudeen was shot dead on the spot while trying  to shield the woman from the kidnappers and had since been buried according to Islamic
rites.
The industrialist according to sources was recovered at Akoko in Ondo state where she was abandoned along with her car in a nearby bush in the town.
Osun State Police Commissioner, Mrs. Dorothy Gimba through the Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Folasade Odoro, confirmed the freedom of the industrialist. She explained that the industrialist was abandoned at
the spot in the wee hours of today.
According to the PPRO, the woman walked her way to a nearby police station where she reported herself before the Ondo Police Command which contacted its counterpart in Osun on the development.
As at the time she was released to the Osun Police Command, it was gathered that the victim was very weak to narrate her ordeal in the hands of her abductors to the security operatives.
She was immediately rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Ilesa, Osun State for medical attention. As at the time she was abducted, the victim had malaria and was said to be a diabetic patient.
The Assitant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 11, David
Olufemi Omojola, had on Thursday hinted that the state command had increased the level of policing in Osun to curb kidnapping and other criminal activities.

Aregbesola being welcome Gbangbadekun by the people of Ilesha 2

Governor Rauf Aregbesola in a motorcade being welcome by the people of Ilesha today for the Gbangbadekun Townhall meeting. Thursday 5th December 2013.

Aregbesola being welcome Gbangbadekun by the people of Ilesha

Governor Rauf Aregbesola in a motorcade being welcome by the people of Ilesha today for the Gbangbadekun Townhall meeting. Thursday 5th December 2013.

DEFECTION: TUKUR BEGS PDP SENATORS

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur

National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday met with Senate President David Mark and other Senators of the party at the National Assembly complex where he reportedly pleaded with them not to defect to the All Progressives Congress, Daily Trust can reveal.

IGP DEPLOYS CRACK TEAM TO FISH OUT KIDNAPPERS OF OSUN INDUSTRIALIST

Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar has deployed crack team of detectives from the Force Headquarters, Abuja to fish out the suspected abductors of an industrialist and founder of Yinka Oba Foam, Chief Mrs. Yinka Obaleye and free her from her hostage.

PARENTS THREATEN MASS PROTEST OVER ASUU STRIKE

Parents of university students in the country have threatened to embark on a two million people mass protest to the Aso Rock in Abuja if the federal government and Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) fail to reconcile and end the ASUU strike quickly.
The chairman of the National Association of Parents Teachers Association, South West chapter, Pastor Julius Olaribigbe while addressing a press conference in Osogbo declared that parents will also embark on hunger strike if the ASUU strike continues.
He lamented that majority on university undergraduate in Nigeria university are not very brilliant event when the universities were not closed and wondered what will happen to the students not that they are idle. He said the protest against the federal government will be massive.

ARMY COMMENCES EXERCISE ‘BLACK TIGER,’ ADVICE AGAINST PUBLIC PANIC

Nigerian Army

The Nigerian army has said its head quarters garrison will commence a field training exercise “Black tiger,” in the area of Sabon Wuse along Abuja-Jere Kaduna expressway from Monday 9th to Thursday 12th December 2013.

Aregbesola inspecting farm produce at the graduation ceremony of Osun-Odua Farmers Academy

Governor Rauf Aregbesola inspecting farm produce at the graduation ceremony of Osun-Odua Farmers Academy at Ede in the State of Osun on Thursday 28-11-2013

Nigerian Lawmakers Order Probe Of Subsidy On Kerosene

Lawmakers in Nigeria have ordered investigation into the alleged expenditure of 634 billion Naira (about 4.064 million dollars) to subsidise kerosene in the last three years.

The order came after a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Adeyinka Ajayi, moved a motion urging the house to look into the amount, which has drawn conflicting claims between the Minister of Finance and the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

A Committee in charge of Petroleum Downstream is to investigate the issue.

The house committee is expected to establish the actual amount spent on kerosene subsidy from 2010 to 2013 and the source of the money used in financing the subsidy.

Its report is expected to submitted to the house in the next four weeks.

Mixed Reactions Trail New PDP, APC Merger

Nigerian lawmakers have made diverse comments on the merger of the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) and the All Progressives Alliance (APC), a development expected to generated unexpected debates related to its consequences in the plenaries of the upper and lower chambers.

The merger will be a source of worry for lawmakers, as they will have to consider the legal implications if they decide to move with the governors of the states they represent. The law may not have implications on the governor but on a lawmaker, the individual stands a possibility of losing his seat.

After the declaration of the merger on Tuesday by the chairman of the defunct nPDP, Mr. Kawu Baraje, some lawmakers hailed the decision, describing it as “the best decision the aggrieved group of governors should take”.

Indigenous Armoured Vehicles To Aid Policing In Nigeria

Security agencies in Nigerian are to receive a boost to their activities with the aid of armoured vehicles manufactured in Ogun State, South-west Nigeria.

The vehicle will assist the agencies in tackling insecurity and terrorism in the northern part of Nigeria and ensure safety of live and property in other areas.

In anticipation of the impact the vehicle will have on policing in Nigeria, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye, visited the manufacturing company, which is the first indigenous armoured vehicle manufacturer.

COY TO CREATE 15,000 NEW JOBS IN OSUN

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has reiterated his determination to eradicate poverty and further boost economy of the state by providing jobs for youths.

Aregbesola, while signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Breweries PLC to expand its business to employ additional 15,000 workers into its workforce, said the partnership is to motivate and encourage the company to retain its investment in Osun State. The governor maintained that the state government would create an enabling environment for willing investors, adding that his administration has taken various steps to turn around the fortunes of the state economically.
He commended the management of International Breweries Plc for selecting Osun State for the investment, urging them to be involved in the backward integration for the benefit of those producing raw materials needed for production.
“The collaboration of the IB Plc will help to create about 150,000 direct and indirect jobs in the state. This will boost the economy of the state and the multiplier effect of this will reflect greatly on our economy,” he said.
Otunba Michael Daramola, IBL chairman lauded the efforts of Aregbesola’s administration in transforming the state and increasing the number of industries. Daramola noted that the development informed the decision of the company to expand its scope of operations in the state.

STRIKE: GOVT GIVES ASUU ONE WEEK ULTIMATUM TO RESUME OR FACE SACK

Education Minister Nyesom Wike

The federal government has given the striking members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) one week ultimatum to resume work or face sack.
Supervising minister of education, Nyesom Wike, who addressed the press today in the federal ministry of education, Abuja, directed all Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities to open the universities for academic activities and provide enabling environment for staff that resume for work.
He said all university lecturers that failed to resume by 4th of December  will lose their job.
He also directed that the VCs should place adverts for both internal and external vacancies in their universities.

Seven PDP rebel governors join APC

Rebel governors

The seven aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party have announced their decision to merge with the All Progressives Congress.

The governors, at the meeting they had with the leadership of the APC in Abuja on Tuesday, said their decision was aimed at rescuing the country.

A former Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, announced the decision after the meeting, which was held at Kano Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

Among the governors at the meeting were that of Rivers (Rotimi Amaechi), Kano(Rabiu Kwankwanso), Adamawa(Murtala Nyako), Kwara(Badulfatah Ahmed) and Niger(Dr. Babangida Aliyu).

The governors of Jigawa and Sokoto states, Sule Lamido and Aliyu Wamakko respectively were absent.

Baraje said the governors were part of the decision.

Some leaders of the APC like its Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; a former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; and a former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), were in attendance.

ANAMBRA POLLS: INEC OFFICIAL CHARGED WITH NEGLIGENCE

Prof. Attahiru Jega

The man in the centre of the storm that stalls the Anambra governorship election has been charged with negligence of duty in an Abuja court.

Chukwujekwu Okeke, 54 INEC official in charge of Idemili North, election faces one year jail term or N500,000 fine as stipulated in the electoral Act.
He was charged at Wuse Zone 2 Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday and was ordered to be remanded in police custody till December 2.
Chief Magistrate Mr Usman Shuaibu said this was to enable the police complete investigation in the matter.He also said that the accused’s application for bail would be considered on that day.

I N V E S T I G A T I O N :HOW STATE LAWMAKERS COLLECT BILLIONS IN SALARIES

* 976 legislators received N12bn, passed 601 bills in 2 years

Lawmakers in the 36 State Houses of Assembly have received about N12 billion in salaries and allowances in the first two years of their tenure and passed 601 bills, most of which were initiated by the governors, Daily Trust investigations revealed.
There are 978 members in the state legislatures, soaking up about N6 billion per annum in emoluments.
A state legislator receives about N6 million per annum, comprising basic salaries and other perquisites, according to a Daily Trust analysis based on records obtained from the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

House Of Reps Member Died After Sex Romp With Female Banker, Woman Arrested

A member of the House of Representatives from Ondo State died in the early hours of Saturday after what security sources said was a sexual affair with a female banker in his private residence located at Gwarinpa Estate in Abuja.

Rep. Raphael Oloye Nomiye, who was 50 years old, was until his death representing Ondo, Ilaje, Ese Odo in Ondo State under the platform of the Labour Party.

80-YEAR-OLD OSUN MONARCH DIES AS PALACE IS SET ABLAZE

The traditional ruler of of Ilase-Ijesa in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba Adesina, Alobijuwon, died late Wednesday after unknown persons set his palace on fire.

JONATHAN FALLS ILL IN LONDON

President Goodluck Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan, in the course of his on-going visit to London for a meeting of Nigeria’s Honorary International Investors’ Council, became indisposed and could not be present at the opening of the meeting today.

Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati, who  disclosed this in a statement today, said the president had since been examined by competent medical practitioners.The presidential aide added that his boss had also been advised to rest for a few days.

According to Abati, the Presidency wishes to assure all Nigerians that Jonathan’s condition is nothing serious and that the medical attention he has sought is only precautionary.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from students at Ikirun, Osun State

Governor Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from students at Ikirun, Osun State 

PHOTO GOV AREGBESOLA AND I

GOVERNOR AREGBESOLA AND I

GUNMEN KIDNAP OSUN INDUSTRIALIST, KILL DRIVER

An industrialist, Dr. Olayinka Obaleye, popularly known as Yinka Oba, was late Tuesday abducted by  gunmen in front of her company, killing her driver on the spot.

It was gathered that she had finished the day’s work at her company located at Ilo-Ijesa, Ijebu-Jesa Road in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State and was about leaving when the gunmen accosted her vehicle and took her away after killing her driver.

EAGLES IN LONDON FOR ITALY TEST

The Super Eagles on Sunday evening arrived London ahead of today’s Grade A friendly against Italy in London.The match is scheduled for Craven Cottage the home ground of Premier League side, Fulham.

After thumping Ethiopia 2-0 in Calabar on Saturday evening, to become Africa’s first qualifier for the Brazil 2014 World Cup, the team departed Calabar venue of the match on Sunday morning at about 8am via an Arik Air plane to Lagos, according to the team's Media Officer, Ben Alaiya.

"From Lagos, players and officials of the team joined a Virgin Atlantic Airliner for the six hour trip to London.

"The team arrived London Heathrow Airport at about 4:10pm London time, which is 5:10 pm Nigerian time and was promptly checked into the Hilton Hotel in Cobham, by organisers of the friendly," he said.

BULLET-PROOF CARS: DONT CRUCIFY ODUAH YET - REPS MAJORITY LEADER

Majority Leader of the House of Representative, Mulikat Adeola-Akande has said that it would amount to injustice to crucify Aviation Minister Stella Oduah over the N255 million bullet-proof cars when she has not been found guilty.

Akande, in an interview with newsmen in Osogbo, Osun State, said the outcome of the House of Representatives investigation on the matter would be made public at the appropriate time.
The Majority Leader, who spoke shortly after disbursing cash to 100 women drawn from the 30 local government areas of Osun State as part of her empowerment programme for women in the South-west, said the issue of the bullet proof cars will be thoroughly investigated. 

Anambra: Coalition, CDRP Demands Release of Detained Election Observers

An umbrella body for all civil rights groups in Osun State under the aegis of Osun state Civil Societies Coalition has called for the immediate release of the 180 members of the Justice and Equity Organization (JEO) that were arrested in Imo state on Thursday.

The Coalition also faulted the Imo State Command of the Nigeria Police for parading the election observers like common criminal despite that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accredited them to monitor the election in Anambra state.

JONATHAN REMAINS COMMITTED TO CREDIBLE ELECTIONS – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said it is impressed with President Goodluck Jonathan’s stand on ensuring credible elections in the country.

The PDP, in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa  Metuh, said it is proud of President Goodluck Jonathan’s stand on electoral transparency and credible polls at all  levels across the country. The party stressed that contrary to claims by the opposition, President Goodluck Jonathan has remained resolute in his commitment to free and fair elections as reflected in his mantra of ‘one man one vote’ noting that the drastic reduction in electoral disputes under President  Jonathan is a clear testimony in this regard.
 Lashing out at the APC for not imbibing the spirit of sportsmanship when it is defeated as demonstrated by the PDP on many occasions, the PDP said President Jonathan has remained open and objective on election issues adding that “it is on record that the President has always congratulated candidates who won in free and fair elections irrespective of the parties they belong.”
The PDP told the opposition to “wake up to the reality of its rejection by the people and look elsewhere to cast its lame vituperations.”

ANAMBRA: APC ASKS JONATHAN TO ENSURE CREDIBLE ELECTION

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to live up to his promise of a free and fair election in Anambra State on Saturday, saying the President must be believable at  all times.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday by its interim national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said nothing on ground in Anambra so far points to the fact that Saturday’s election will be free and fair as promised by the President.
“Rightly or wrongly in our country, institutions of state take a cue from the President’s body language. They know that members of the ruling PDP who engaged in electoral malfeasance and brigandage during last month’s Delta Central Senatorial election were not punished. They know that security agencies that turned themselves to the armed wing of the PDP were not sanctioned. In this context, therefore, the President’s promise of a free and fair election will not mean much to those bent on repeating same in Anambra,’’ the party said.
APC also said the fact that one of the candidates in Saturday’s election, Willie Obiano of APGA, has been left  to continue through alleged to have  multiple registration, does not give anyone much confidence that INEC can indeed be trusted to ensure a level-playing field for all the parties.
“President Jonathan should be careful in staking the credibility of his high office on these elections. His promise of free and fair elections in Ondo did not materialize, as the world knows, and the unprecedented electoral heist in Delta does not back up his administration’s claim that the country’s electoral architecture has improved under his watch.
“That is why we say the President must walk the talk. He should know that talk is cheap. If the institutions of state that have any role to play in the election fail to live up to that role, and the ruling  party continues to engage in a flagrant abuse of office by stealing votes in the most blatant of manners, then the President’s promise of a free and fair election would have been rubbished,’’ the party said.

Jigawa Governor’s Sons Arrested For Money Laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested Mustapha and Aminu Lamido, sons of the Jigawa state Governor, on Thursday night.

The Governor’s sons were reportedly arrested for alleged money laundering and flown to Abuja for questioning.A sum of N10 billion was allegedly transferred from Jigawa state government account into the accounts of the Lamido sons.

Although an EFCC representative in Kano state told Channels Television that he is not aware of the arrest, a member of the agency in Abuja confirmed the arrest.

It would be recalled that Aminu Sule Lamido, the eldest son of the governor, was arrested in December 2012 at the Mallam Aminu Kano Airport on his way to Cairo, Egypt for failure to declare the sum of $50,000 he had in his possession.

Aminu was arrested during security checks as he prepared to board an Egypt Air flight to Cairo.

His arrest followed the discovery that he allegedly declared $10,000 in his possession to the Nigerian Customs at the airport while a physical search by operatives of the EFCC found he had tucked away another $40,000, totaling $50,000.

His brother Mustapha is being quizzed for the first time in the fresh case of laundering 10 billion naira, within a space of six to seven years.

The EFCC has said it is prepared to try the suspects in court, in order to compel them to return the stolen money to government’s treasury.

FASHOLA URGES BAN OF SIREN ON GOVS’ CONVOYS

Due to constant road accidents involving public office holders, Lagos State Governor  Babatunde Fashola yesterday pleaded with other governors to  get rid of sirens in their convoys.

Fashola made the plea at the ongoing 13th National Council on Transport in Lagos.  He said such practice amounts to oppressing members of the public who elected them into office, noting that this is the reason why he barred all his commissioners from using siren.  The governor condemned the use of sirens by the political office holders and reckless driving by government convoy drivers.

Aregbesola campaigning for Ngige in Anambra

Gov Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State campaigning for candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Chris Ngige ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Anambra state

MEMORIES OF PROF FESTUS IYAYI

The death yesterday of Prof Festus Iyayi in a car crash in Kogi State would cause great pain and anguish throughout the academic community in Nigeria but also to all the people who have known and stood with him in the trenches of revolutionary struggle in Nigeria. In my own brief stint as a university lecturer and also a member of the secretive Communist underground in the 1980s, I got to know Dr. [as he then was] Festus Iyayi quite well. Even though I have not seen him for many years now, we spoke on the phone as recently as two months ago.

YOUTHS DISRUPT BAUCHI APC CONGRESS

APC

Hundreds of youths suspected to be supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday disrupted a meeting of the party meant to elect an interim leadership committee for the party in Bauchi State.

The congress which was attended by party stalwarts in the state had hardly begun when the hall was thrown into chaos by angry youths who came to witness the proceeding.
Convener of the meeting and national officer of the party Captain Bala Jibrin, confirmed the incident while speaking with our correspondent in Bauchi.
He said, “We had summoned a meeting of all stakeholders of the party in the state to elect the interim leadership but it was disrupted by political thugs among them responsible persons.”
Cpt. Jibrin said the meeting was organized in order to have a free and fair election by inviting all relevant stakeholders and neutral persons of integrity to monitor the election and to conduct free and fair election, but that before the commencement of the election, some youths broke the door of the venue of the meeting and came in to disrupt the convention.

AREGBESOLA MOURNS PROF IYAYI

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, on Wednesday saluted the courage with which the late former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Festus Iyayi confronted forces of under-development in his contribution towards the growth of Nigeria.

Aregbesola said the sudden and tragic death of Iyayi made a sad statement on how quality lives are wasted under very avoidable circumstances of bad roads and other infrastructure decay in Nigeria.

Describing the death as a sad loss to the academic world and the nation, Aregbesola, in a statement by his Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said Iyayi’s death has not only robbed the academic world of an intellectual of uncommon repute, it has depleted the ranks of truly committed agitators for common good in Nigeria.