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Obasanjo urges Adeleke to keep dancing, deliver on infrastructure

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Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has urged Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to continue his dancing spirit while prioritising the delivery of crucial infrastructure projects in the state.

Obasanjo, who spoke at the inauguration of a VIP lodge, an edifice located within the premises of Osun State Government House in Osogbo, recalled a private conversation he had with Adeleke when he admonished him not to stop dancing, but to work very hard to improve the lives of the residents of the state.

The former president, who declared himself as Adeleke’s dancing partner, also challenged the governor to unite the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, implement good initiatives that would affect people positively and ensure proper documentation of all his achievements as governor.

Speaking in a mixture of Yoruba and English, Obasanjo said, “Some people once despise you, calling you a mere dancer. In reply, I told them that it is only happy people that used to dance. From now on, you are my dancing partner.

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“What I have heard and seen since three days that I have been here If anyone is doubting you, bring the person to your state to see for himself or herself. If you remember at one time, I called you on the phone and I said don’t stop dancing but I added that, as you are dancing, ensure you are working.

“If I tell you that I don’t know what happened before you get to the government, I will be telling a lie. But you did something last week Sunday that I appreciated. You called the leaders of your party together. I am happy that you called them and brought them together. Senator Olu Alabi is here, ex-governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola is here and Fatai Akinbade too.

“You should bring everyone on board. That is the best thing to do. I have talked to two out of three of them. It is a good move which is not only good for your party but for the state and the country. You said government is a continuum. You also said that you are working on all abandoned projects, may God crown your efforts.

He added that he is happy that Adeleke is taking project deliveries one after the other taking them.

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He urged the governor to be honest with his conscience, with the people and with God.

“You have to be a man of character,” Obasanjo said.

Speaking earlier, Adeleke said his administration has completed some major capital projects, while work was also progressing on many others captured under his infrastructure plan.

According to him, the VIP Lodge would enable his administration to minimise the cost of hosting important personalities visiting the state, adding that with the completion of the project, a major milestone in cost efficiency has been achieved.

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Adeleke, nicknamed the dancing governor, took the oath of office as the 6th elected governor of Osun State on Sunday, November 27, 2022, following in the political trajectory of his late elder brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who was the first elected governor of the state.

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Oritsetimeyin Oil Rig: ‘Stop Igniting Industrial Crisis In Nig & We’re Surely Not Party Of Your Strike Threat’- PTD Tells NUPENG*

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has decried the strike mongering posture of its parent body in reaction to the alleged deployment of troops that reportedly chased away members of the union from the Oritsetimeyin oil rig.

PTD also used the moment to reassure Nigerians and the entire stakeholders in the petroleum industry downstream sector that it would do everything possible within its power to stop NUPENG from making do its threat, an action which it said could further cripple the economy of the country and increase people’s hardship and hunger.

The union also maintained that Tanker Drivers would no longer work against the progressive and seamless policies of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or be an attack dog to the government under the current leadership of NUPENG.

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A leader from the Port Harcourt Zone of PTD Comrade Chief Joseph Dagogo-Jack (JP) made this disclosure in Abuja on Friday, November 8, 2024 during a parley with newsmen at Top Rank Galaxy hotel around 2pm, Nigerian time.

Dagogo-Jack also appealed to PTD members across the country to go about their normal duties in actualising the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu as it concerns the oil sector.

“What NUPENG is currently facing at the Oritsetimeyin oil rig is a reflection of failure and lack of direction by its leadership as presently constituted, especially the office of the General Secretary, occupied by Afolabi Olawale. Here is a leadership that took it’s members in PTD to Court with the intention to jail them, leadership that set up and sacked its secretariat staff over trump up charges, leadership that demoted its staff and suspended several members, leadership that flagrantly disobeyed court orders and has been serially slammed with contempt of court, leadership with no prudence, discipline, transparency, probity and accountability, leadership full of high-handedness .

“Leadership that has completely destroyed all the Branches under the umbrella body of NUPENG, that is the same leadership struggling to get national relevance and attempting fight for workers at the rig whose fundamental rights were violated. NUPENG can get nothing done positively until it mend its fence and allow PTD to breathe, otherwise it can make any progress. It has set dangerous precedents for itself and it therefore needs to urgently do self introspection and restitution and as well accord leadership legitimacy to PTD led group of Comrade Lucky Osesua and his entire team.

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“It is crystal clear that NUPENG has failed completely to cater to the needs and interests of its members across board, no wonder it now sees the Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products (ADITOP) as a threat to its existence having noticed that ADITOP is now ready and prepared to offer better deal to Tanker Drivers with a robust Collective Bargaining Agreement, security of tenure, protection from health and safety hazards, and with the poise to come up with relevant training on health and safety, among other juicy packages, which NUPENG has failed to do over the years but only sees PTD as a cash cow, yet its members are being impoverished through NUPENG’s policies and programmes. NUPENG needs to understand the beauty of democracy, NUPENG cannot continue to enjoy the monopoly of freedom of association and assembly in the oil and gas sector, our constitution is very clear about that.

“We must however reiterate that PTD is a recognised association of its own and wants to concentrate on its main core objectives and we are also using this opportunity to also appeal to security agencies to always assist and work in a friendly manner with our members at all times. Our members should also know that PTD will soon call for a national executive council meeting to treat the issues within the PTD and effectively regularise our activities within.

“We call on all national executive members, both past and present, to unite and come together towards ensuring an amicable resolution and smooth sailing of PTD, as without peace and unity, the association will not move forward. The national chairman, Lucky Osesua, his deputies Comrade Dayyabu Yusuf Garga, Comrade (Chief) Peter Moudebelu (Onwa) and the national secretary, Humble Power Obinna and other executives of the PTD branch are ready to work with everyone, and we offer an olive branch to the opposition to contribute their quota to the growth of PTD.

“I want to also assure the Nigerian people that we mean well for the country and shall never in any way inflict pain or injury on the masses. Although we are worried about the disturbing action of some overzealous security personnel, we believe with dialogue, we can still maintain industrial harmony and peace within the petroleum industry value chain. Notwithstanding, workers’ rights and the sanctity of negotiated agreements at Oritsetimeyin oil rig should not be compromised under any guise.

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“It must be noted and placed on record that PTD cannot, through our action, add to the current hardship and cry of hunger by vulnerable Nigerians by engaging in any industrial tension under a fragile and weak economy that is currently screaming for help. That will be irresponsible and totally unpatriotic of us should we join NUPENG in any needless strike at a time like this,” the labour leader (Dagogo-Jack) stated.

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Democrats not happy with Biden, campaign strategy, others for Harris’ defeat to Trump

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Democrats are facing a painful reckoning over Kamala Harris’s drubbing at the hands of Donald Trump in the US presidential election, as shock gives way to anger and recrimination in the aftermath of a devastating repudiation.

Lawmakers and strategists looking for someone to blame for Tuesday’s wipeout have so far been more likely to target President Joe Biden than Harris, who is regarded as having done a decent job with the short time she had to campaign.

The election night disaster — Trump’s triumph was accompanied by a Republican “red wave” in the Senate — has proved to be a Rorschach test, with rival factions each offering reasons for the defeat informed by their particular brand of Democratic politics.

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The circular firing squad began with progressive senator Bernie Sanders arguing in a scathing statement that a party that had forsaken the working class should not be surprised to “find that the working class has abandoned them.”

That prompted an angry rebuke from Democratic National Committee chairman Jaime Harrison, who dismissed Sanders’s thesis as “straight up BS” and posted a long list of Biden’s achievements for low income families.

New York congressman Ritchie Torres hit out at what he sees as smug political correctness on the left, insisting that Trump had “no greater friend” than activists alienating voters with “absurdities like ‘Defund the Police’… or ‘Latinx.’”

Harris has escaped the harshest criticism, as she is regarded as having had insufficient time to campaign thanks to Biden’s initial insistence on running again at 81, despite having promised to be a bridge to the next generation.

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The aging president’s sluggishness in bowing out after a disastrous debate performance against Trump deepened the challenge, as Harris had to start her campaign in July as a relative unknown, despite being the vice president.

Billionaire former Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg, who feels that Biden’s campaign should never have got as far as the June 27 debate, attacked the president’s team in a commentary for Bloomberg for covering up his shortcomings “until they became undeniable on live TV.”

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NUJ National Dismisses Petition Against FCT Credential Committee

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The National office of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has dismissed a petition seeking to disqualify Comrade Henry Umoru and Comrade Sarah Odugbo, members of the Credential Committee overseeing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council election scheduled for November 8th.
The petition which was submitted by  Osaretin Osadebamwen, John Chuks Onuayin, and Victorson Agbenson, called on the NUJ national leadership to remove the two officials from their roles in the committee.
However, in an official statement, the National Secretary of the NUJ, Achike Chude, declared that the petition lacked merit.
According to Chude, a thorough investigation into the allegations against Umoru and Odugbo found no evidence to support the claims or justify their disqualification from the Credential Committee.
He stated:  “A careful investigation of the complaints made against the duo did not produce any evidence to substantiate the allegations against them and the subsequent call for their disqualification from the Credential Committee set up to supervise the FCT Council election. The allegations were without merit.”
Chude reaffirmed the NUJ’s position that Comrade Henry Umoru, Comrade Sarah Odugbo, and Comrade Elizabeth Christopher Atte should continue their duties as members of the Credential Committee without any hindrance.
He further urged members of the FCT council to support the committee, providing an enabling environment to ensure the successful conduct of the election.
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