News
Gov Aiyedatiwa Clinches APC Ticket For Ondo Election
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state has emerged winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primary for the November 16 election.
Aiyedatiwa, who succeeded late Rotimi Akeredolu in December, defeated 15 other contenders in the election which ran into the next day.
Aside from Aiyedatiwa, those who contested the election were Jimoh Ibrahim, Olusola Oke, Wale Akinterinwa, Diran Iyantan, Dayo Faduyile, Gbenga Edema, Jimi Odimayo and Isaac Kekemeke.
Others include Olusoji Ehinlanwo, Olugbenga Edema, Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo, Akinfolarin Samuel, Ohunyeye Felix and Morayo Lebi, Garvey Iyanjan and Judith Omogoroye, Ifeoluwa Oyedele.
According to Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State, Chairman of the 7-man Election Organising Committee, Aiyedatiwa polled a total of 48,569 votes, while his closest rival, Akinfolarin, garnered 15,343 votes.
Oke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), came third with 14,915 votes; Ibrahim polled 9,456 to place fourth, while Akinterinwa, who emerged fifth, secured 1,952 votes.
Meanwhile some of the aspirants have rejected the outcome of the election which aggrieved APC members described as a sham.
During a protest at the party’s secretariat in Akure, Ondo capital, on Sunday, they demanded a fresh exercise over alleged electoral irregularities.
The protesters had placards with inscriptions such as: “No election in Ondo State,” and “APC primary electoral officers failed to show up in all wards in Ondo State.”
Others are: “We Demand Fairness and Justice in APC Primary Election in Ondo State”, “APC Must Not Collapse In Ondo State,” and “Primary Election Materials Were not Distributed in all Wards.”
The protesters, who were supporters of Olusola Oke, Wale Akinterinwa and Jimi Odimayo, called for fresh primary in the interest of peace.
Addressing journalists, the Director-General of Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation, Ondo Central Senatorial District, Mr Adeniran Oyebade, who spoke on behalf of the protesters, described the election as a broad-day robbery.
“We are protesting against our mandate that was stolen. It was a broad-day robbery, a monumental disaster.
“APC delegated some people to Ondo State to conduct the primary; apparently, that was never done.
“They remained in Akure and started writing results. They wrote the results of all the 203 wards in the State, taking the mandate of the people into their own hands.
“At the end of the day, we started seeing different results flying around stating one particular aspirant won the election, but that never happened.
“APC as a party is about to set Ondo State on fire, and we will never take this lightly. We want the most popular aspirant; an aspirant that knows the people; we want the aspirant whose name is a household brand in every part of Ondo State,” he said.
Oyebade called for the suspension of Gov. Usman Ododo of Kogi from the party.
“Ododo should be suspended from the party. He is not fit for this kind of job. Electoral fraud is a serious crime. You cannot come to the wards of our people and start terrorising them against their will.
“What we want is the cancellation of the primary because election did not take place. There is no need to say that the election was inconclusive,” he said.
News
Simon Ekpa: FG’s attempt to extradite self acclimated freedom fighter may hit brickwall
The Federal Government’s attempt to extradite pro-Biafra agitator Simon Ekpa, from Finland to face terrorism charges in Nigeria may hit brickwall.
According to The Africa Report, this is due to Finnish legal restrictions.
The self-declared prime minister of the Biafra Government In Exile (BRIGE) was arrested alongside four others by Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over terrorism related activities.
The Finnish police said they suspect that Mr Ekpa “has contributed to violence and crimes against civilians in South-eastern Nigeria.”
Nigeria’s defence chief, General Christopher Musa while reacting to the arrest, said the country will proceed to push for Ekpa’s extradition to Nigeria.
While Finland has confirmed Ekpa’s arrest, the country made it clear that, according to Finnish law, the country will not extradite its nationals outside the European Union or Nordic countries.
This further complicates Nigeria’s request since there is no extradition treaty between the two countries.
Even though Finland and Nigeria are in contact, the legal framework prohibits the transfer of citizens for trial in non-EU countries.
According to reports, everything has to be done according to Finnish legislation, which has very strong protections for freedom of speech
“The issue of an extradition treaty is very fundamental. If there is no extradition treaty between the two countries, there can be no legal basis or justification for extraditing Ekpa,” a Lagos-based lawyer Festus Ogun said.
Vince Onyekwelu, former British Police Officer and National Security Risk Strategist said the chances of Ekpa’s extradition to Nigeria are also slim.
Onyekwelu said while appearing on Arise TV:
“Professionally speaking, the Finnish Authorities have done their due diligence and have every right to arrest Simon Ekpa. It is left for the court to look into the request by the Chief of Defence Staff to extradite Ekpa to Nigeria. However, with the absence of an extradition treaty between Nigeria and Finland, Ekpa’s extradition will seem unlikely.”
News
Minimum wage: Yobe Gov approves N70k for workers
Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni has approved the payment of N70,000 minimum wage to civil servants in the state effective December 2024.
This is contained in a memo signed by the governor, following recommendations by the committee on Minimum wage constituted by the state government.
The committee had recommended for a reconciliation of local government finances to ensure a hitch free transition process of the local government councils from the existing salary structure to the new minimum wage.
The reconciliation process which is nearing completion is expected to be concluded soon for approval, and quick enrolment of the local government employees into the new minimum wage salary structure.
The committee had recommended for a reconciliation of local government finances to ensure a hitch free transition process of the local government councils from the existing salary structure to the new minimum wage.
The reconciliation process which is nearing completion is expected to be concluded soon for approval, and quick enrolment of the local government employees into the new minimum wage salary structure.
According to a statement signed by the spokesman to the governor, Mamman Mohammed, the Government expects civil servants in the state to reciprocate the gesture by putting in their best to ensure effective and efficient service delivery
News
Retired 85-year-old Col bags P.hd
A retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army, Bolaji Titilola Onafowokan, aged 85, is among the first set of doctoral degree students produced by the Tai Solarin University of Education, TASUED, Ijagun, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluwole Banjo, disclosed this at the weekend, while briefing the press on activities to mark the 16th convocation ceremony of the university.
He said the first set of PhD holders to be produced by the institution totalled 67.
“I am happy to inform you that the university will, at this 16th convocation ceremony, graduate its first set of doctoral degree holders.
“They are 67 in number and the list included a retired Army Colonel, Bolaji Titilola Onafowokan, who is 85 years old. And he is getting his PhD in Educational Technology.
“I salute his courage and doggedness to pursue this dream of his. Even younger ones shy away from this kind of task.
27 First Class
“Also, out of the 4,140 graduating students, 27 have first class. We are also graduating 4 M.Phil, 275 Master’s degree and our best graduating student is Adedeji A. Adedamola with CGPA of 4.91.
“We are also giving honorary degrees to four distinguished Nigerians namely: Dr Taiwo Olayinka Afolabi, Prince Oluyemisi Adedoyin Shyllon, Otunba Jaiyeola Wasiu and Engineer Jubril Dotun Sanusi,” he stated.
Prof. Banjo, who is winding down his tenure as the VC of the first university of education in Nigeria, added that some projects would be inaugurated by the Visitor, Governor Dapo Abiodun.
“We are happy to say that within the last one year, we have done some projects to add to what we have on ground. We have expanded the Medical Centre and the fund used was from our internally generated revenue.
“We are also weaning ourselves of epileptic power supply as we have our own Independent Power Project. It is 800 kva which can be scaled up.
“Even as it is, it is enough for our needs. It is less expensive than what we pay monthly as electricity bills to the power firm serving this area,” he said.
The VC also disclosed that the Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, would deliver the convocation lecture titled, “From classroom to cloud: Leveraging digital literacy for national development.”
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