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Senator Yayi vows to continue empowerment programs, denies personalizing govt funded projects

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Senator Solomon Adeola (Yayi), representing Ogun West Senatorial District, has denied personalizing government funded projects declaring that nothing can stop him from empowering Ogun citizens.

This was contained in a statement signed by his media adviser, Chief Kayode Odunaro stating that:

“Our attention has been drawn to a story published in some online newspaper under the title “Group Accuses Yayi of ‘Personalising’ Govt-Funded Projects” on February 14, 2024 edition.

“We would not ordinarily engage a faceless group going by the name of Yewa/ Awori Youth Network with an unknown signatory.

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“However, the fact that the story was used to put out what amounts to mis-information of the public tending towards a libelous and fake news compels us to correct the mis-information and enlighten the general reading public.

” Incidentally, the blogs never made any effort to hear from the Senator or his representatives as the profession demands on a ‘statement’ impugning the person of an elected representative by the purported group whose identity cannot be verified or ascertained beyond the reporter.

For the records, the story alleging that Senator Adeola ‘personalized’ government funded projects as his own is planted by over ambitious politicians positioning themselves for governorship and deputy governorship positions in the run up to 2027 governorship election. These are characters that are completely intimidated, spellbound and shamed at the effective representation that Senator Adeola has brought to bear in Ogun West Senatorial District in less than 8 months of representing the district at the Senate with thousands of constituents directly benefitting from Federal Government as facilitated by the senator.

For the avoidance of doubt, two weeks ago Senator Adeola held an unprecedented three days empowerment programme that directly benefitted over 20,000 constituents. The first was the scholarship and bursary award scheme for 1600 students of tertiary institutions from Ogun West. For the effective implementation of this programme funded through the facilitation of the Senator, a Scholarship and Bursary Board chaired by a professor and other eminent academics was set up.

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To put lie to the asinine allegation of ‘personalising’, the address read at the occasion of the award to appreciative students and parents by Senator Adeola stated inter-alia, “I am facilitating this scheme in conjunction with Teacher’s Registration Council of Nigeria and the Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.”

Again, the programme banner as any programme of the senator, boldly carried the portraits of the President and governor of Ogun state, Prince Dapo Abiodun, to clearly show that the event is in fulfillment of electoral promises made by the party of the Senator in government at state and federal level, APC. How such a public declaration amounts to personalization can only come out of the recess of disturbed minds allergic to good educational development and succor for students being championed by Senator Adeola.

The second facilitation of Senator Adeola for his long-suffering constituents in Ogun West was the empowerment of 5000 Market men and women with financial grants. This was the second time the senator is facilitating such programme to free our traders from debt peonage associated with taking loans for their trade from loan sharks. In that programme that granted each trader, N50,000, the senator has also publicly stated that, “I am facilitating this programme of empowerment tagged “Oloja Yayi” in Ogun West in conjunction with Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), with Start Up Grants for agro-manpower, artisanal manpower and cage culture carp specie restocking for market women and men.”

For the third programme facilitation by the senator which involved empowering 15,000 trained women and youths with equipment and cash grants to start practicing their acquired skills towards income generating self-employment, as well presentation of Ambulances to hospitals, patrol jeeps to security agencies, mini buses for tertiary educational institutions in the senatorial district and books and school furniture, the senator has publicly stated that, “ Today, in conjunction with Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, Federal Cooperative College Ibadan, Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Technology, National Productivity Centre, Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Lagos, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Computer Professional Registration Council, Federal College of Fresh Water Fisheries, New Bussa, Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research, NIFOR, Benin, constituents already trained in various skills and vocation will be empowered with equipment and start up grants as follows: ..”. With such public declarations and acknowledgements that were contained in the programme brochures of each occasion, the least that can be said is that the sponsors of the faceless group are against these benefits for constituent Nigerians coming through the facilitation of Senator Adeola.

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And beyond direct benefits to individual constituents, all the 78 infrastructural projects like 156 Classrooms spread across 13 primary and secondary schools, construction of Primary Health Care Centres, Police Stations, Roads and Town Halls facilitated by the senator have visible projects sign posts naming the Senator as facilitator and the government agency executing the projects. So much for the imagined ‘personalising’ of “govt-funded projects”.

The mention of the breach of procurement law and the project tracking organization without any evidence in the statement contradicts the allegation of personalizing government funded projects by the senator. No procurement law was breached in projects well executed and publicized for tracking organizations to monitoring as the statement indicated. `

Beyond facilitating dividends of democracy for his constituents, it is clear that the sponsor of the politically motivated statement attested to the Senator’s legendary generosity and philanthropy. Their grouse against this is equally their legendary stinginess in the act of giving back to the people. The senator owes no apology or explanations for being a renowned cheerful giver or for his unparallel facilitations as he stated publicly at the last occasion of empowerment.

The laughable aspect of the sponsored statement was the call for relevant government agencies like Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, and EFCC to probe the Senator. Unknown to them, was the fact that the senator officially invited ICPC to monitor the three- day empowerment programme and two uniformed officers of ICPC were at the events in Ilaro throughout the programmes, a fact that further attest to the fact that Senator Adeola could not have personalize government funded projects he facilitated.

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Those having sleepless night and high blood pressure on the unprecedented and effective representation of the Senator, which has rubbished their lackluster delivery of dividends of democracy and their vaunted political ambitions, should take note that more of the senator’s facilitation of projects for his constituents are in the offing as it is the hallmark of the senator over his years as a legislator par excellence. The tradition continues and no detractor can stop the people benefitting from dividends of democracy.

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LET THE CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE BE*

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The hurriedly written press statement by the embattled Patrick Osadebamwen and OCHIAKA UGWU recently impeached as Exco of the FCT Council of the NUJ is really sad, appalling and completely unwarranted.
It is a brazen attempt by them to usurp the powers of the National Secretariat of the Union.

Article 5(9c, d) of the NUJ Constitution is so unambiguous that does not need any interpretation.

Article 5 sub section 9(C) states inter alia; “The Credentials Committee at the National level shall act independently of the President, National Secretary and any other National Officers, while the Credentials Committee at the State Council level shall be independent of State officers of the Union but shall be responsible and answerable to the National Secretariat.

5 (9d) The Credentials Committee at the State Council level shall be nominated by the State Congress subject to the approval of the National Secretariat.”

From the constitutional provisions, it is clear that the Committee is not in any materia particula answerable to any ‘Executive’ Committee member of the Council but the National Secretariat. And not to the already impeached Patrick-led Exco.

It is more worrisome that this so-called cut and join chairman is oblivious of the constitution he swore to defend. What do you expect of a place -holder chairman?

More importantly, since the National Secretariat has communicated with the Committee to go ahead with its mandate, the outgoing ‘Executive’ Committee has no locus standi in the matter whatsoever.

It is also an irony to note that the outgoing Chairman and Secretary could shamelessly claim that our respected former Chairman of Council, Mr AMOS DUNIA took over proceedings of the Extraordinary Congress. Both officers are obviously having selective amnesia. It’s appears they forgot how they came cap-in-hand to beg former leaders to come to their rescue. What can be farther than the truth. Whereas, members were told at the beginning of the Monday Extraordinary Congress that the Committee of elders and former Chairmen of Council, mandated MR. DUNIA to conduct the affairs of the Congress following the VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE passed on the Patrick Osadebamwen-led Executive by the Congress the preceding Saturday.

It is really shameful that an Executive that was saved from being disgraced and booted out of office can still have the temerity to openly and outrightly dish out tissues of lies to the public. What a shame!

The question to ask remains, if Patrick Osadebamwen and OCHIAKA UGWU who has indicated interest in contesting the election, now want to act and take decisions on behalf of the National Secretariat.

Members are aware of the antics and game being played to cover up shady deals perpetrated these past six years and we are watching.

We say NO to the attempt to usurp the constitutional role of the National Secretariat by Patrick Osadebamwen and OCHIAKA UGWU.

Enough is enough!

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#EndBadGovernance Protest: Reps Minority Caucus Demands Justice, Compensation for Victims Arrested

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…commend President Tinubu for swift intervention
By Gloria Ikibah
The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has commended President Bola Tinubu for his prompt intervention in securing the release of 76 young people who were arrested and charged with terrorism, treason, and arson after participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest.
The Caucus praised the President’s directive, which led the Attorney-General of the Federation to take control of the case and ultimately withdraw the charges. The detained individuals, who were reportedly held for 95 days, have now been freed.
In a statement signed by Minority Leader Rep. Kingsley Chinda, Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Aliyu Madaki, Minority Whip, Rep. Ali Isa and Deputy Minority Whip, Rep. George Ozodinobi, they expressed satisfaction with the President Tinubu’s responsiveness to public outcry and international pressure; the caucus however, stressed on the need for further actions to ensure accountability.
“We strongly call for an investigation, prosecution, and discipline of individuals and agencies involved in this despicable and inhuman act that has brought shame to our nation. Those responsible for the unjust detention of these children, keeping them away from school, work, and their families, must face the law,” the statement said.
The Minority Caucus also drew attention to the psychological and health impacts the children may have suffered during their detention, and urged the federal government to provide reformatory therapy and medical support for the victims as they reunite with their families.
In addition they called for compensation for the children and their families to address the emotional and financial hardships caused by their unlawful detention.
The Caucus hopes these measures will serve as a deterrent and ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future.
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NNPCL Debunks Video Claiming Sale Of Adulterated At Keffi Flyover Outlet

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By Gloria Ikibah
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has dismissed claims made in a viral video giving the idea that adulterated Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was been sold at one of its retail outlets.
The video reveals a person pouring a dark liquid, claimed to be PMS, and allegedly purchased from the NNPC Retail station at the Keffi Flyover.
In a statement issued by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer,
NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, on Thursday in Abuja, he described the claim as false and clarified that its outlets do not dispense petroleum products into bottles or jerrycans, as depicted in the video.
Soneye reiterated the company’s commitment to maintaining strict quality control measures and adherence to high standards to ensure safe and reliable products.
The statement reads: “We have carried out spot checks at all our outlets and found this claim to be false. The product was not, and could not have been bought from any NNPC Retail outlet as the company does not dispense petroleum products into bottles or jerrycans as displayed in the video.
“NNPC Retail Ltd does not deal in adulterated products as it adheres to rigorous standards and quality control measures at every stage in its operations,” said Olufemi O. Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer for NNPCL”.
The NNPCL further urged the public to disregard the video and be cautious of individuals spreading false information.
“Members of the public should discountenance the spurious claims made in the video and be wary of selfish and unpatriotic elements pushing such narrative as they do not mean well for the country,” the statement added.
The Company reassured customers of its commitment to quality, and highlighted its dedication to ensuring accurate pump integrity through regular inspections and calibrations across all its stations nationwide.
This according to the CCO this underscores NNPCL’s commitment to delivering safe and high-quality petroleum products while upholding its reputation as a trusted supplier.
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