Vice-President Kashim Shettima has implored voters in Ondo State to re-elect Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami, in Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

Shettima made the call on Wednesday while addressing the crowd at the MKO Abiola Democracy Park, Akure, for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign.

The Vice-President assured that the duo would bring hope, prosperity, and unity.

He added that they would ensure that the sun continued to shine brighter in the sunshine state.

Shettima told the electorate to ensure their votes collectively become their voice, conviction and message to those underestimating APC’s strength and will in the state.

“Aiyedatiwa is not merely campaigning to hold onto a position — he is campaigning to bring hope, prosperity, and unity to every corner of Ondo State.

” I am confident he is the leader who can turn these ambitions into realities. This election is more than a choice between two candidates.

” It is a choice between progress and stagnation; unity and division. It is a chance to stand with a party that has consistently delivered and with a leader who truly understands the heartbeat of Ondo.

“So, as you go to the polls, remember what we stand for. Remember what you deserve: a governor with the experience, the compassion, and the strength to keep pushing Ondo toward greatness.

“Let’s secure Ondo’s future together. Let us vote APC, and re-elect Aiyedatiwa,” he said.

Extending President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill to the people of the state, Shettima said the President was in support of Aiyedatiwa.

According to him, President Tinubu is confident that the governor’s re-election will sustain the commitment of APC to the people’s well-being.

“Today, I bring you the goodwill of  President Tinubu, who would have loved to be here today, but he is with us in spirit, and he has fully endorsed the Aiyedatiwa-Adelami ticket as the torchbearers of prosperity for the state,” he said.

Shettima urged the people of Ondo to look beyond distractions and instead at the integrity and stability, the APC has brought to the state.

“Look at the work we’ve done to strengthen our economy; even if the gains may not always be immediately visible. Consider the real, practical solutions APC offers to make the sun shine brighter in Ondo State,” he added.

He described Aiyedatiwa and his deputy as men of exceptional courage and leaders tested by challenges that would have deterred many.

Shettima noted that the governor had shown remarkable resilience in building a formidable force for the APC in the state.

“From overcoming politically motivated attacks to uniting our great party, he has proven himself not just a survivor but a leader who stands strong for the good people of the sunshine state,” he said.

Earlier, Aiyedatiwa urged the people to vote for APC, saying that his predecessor, late Rotimi Akeredolu, would be happy seeing all APC winning the election.

Aiyedatiwa recalled that Akeredolu once told him that he, Aiyedatiwa, would succeed him, adding that the late governor would be glad to see this happen come Saturday.

He said that the electorate would attest to the level of development in the state, pledging that by the time he returned, he would do his best.

The National Chairman of APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, also expressed confidence that Aiyedatiwa would win the Saturday, Nov. 16 gubernatorial election.

According to him, a vote for Aiyedatiwa is a vote for unity, peace and development. (NAN)

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, has warned Afenifere Chieftain, Dr Femi Okurounmu, to avoid getting involved in matters capable of ridiculing his status as an elder statesman, especially matters on which he would not speak objectively for obvious reasons.

Olayinka stated this while reacting to Dr Okurounmu’s statement, accusing President Bola Tinubu of being laid-back on the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, asked “what exactly Dr Okurounmu expected President Tinubu to have done?”

Olayinka said it was strange that Dr Okurounmu, a former Senator could opt to be playing ostrich to the avalanche of disobedience to court judgements by the Governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara, and the danger such affront on the judiciary posed to democracy and peace in the country.

“One is however not too amazed because he (Okurounmu) holds the record of being the first Senator to be suspended by his colleagues out of the seven Senators that have been suspended since 1999 till date,” Olayinka said.

Dr Okurounmu had accused the FCT Minister of being the architect and mastermind of the Rivers crisis, saying, “even if Governor Sim Fubara is his godson, Wike should be told that he cannot be his surrogate as a sitting governor with full powers.”

Responding, Olayinka asked when Wike told Dr Okurounmu that he wanted Governor Fubara to be his surrogate, and not function as the Governor of Rivers State, adding that “He (Okurounmu, as an elder should be honest enough to stand before the mirror and ask himself the roles he played in Fubara becoming governor.”

He said: “In Yorubaland, when two children are fighting, what the elders do is to sit them down and listen to their sides of the conflict. Elders don’t just sit in their bedrooms and apportion blame as done by Baba Femi Okurounmu.

“Was it Wike that went to the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex and set it on fire so as to prevent duly elected lawmakers from carrying out their duties?

“Was it Wike that has been illegally using three members out of the 32-member State House of Assembly to carry out legislative business in Rivers State, including passing the State Budget as well as screening and confirming commissioners, when the constitution says that budget can only be passed by two-third of the Assembly members?

“Hasn’t Governor Fubara been ignoring judgements of the courts concerning his regime of lawlessness in Rivers State? When the Court of Appeal in Abuja on October 10, 2024, affirmed a lower court’s decision nullifying the Rivers State’s 2024 budget signed into law and being operated by Governor Fubara, did the governor obey the judgement?

“And is it not shocking that Dr Okurounmu had chosen to ignore the danger Governor Fubara’s deliberate affronts on the rule of law pose to democracy and peace in Nigeria?”

On Dr Okurounmu’s accusation that President Tinubu was being laid-back on the Rivers State crisis, Olayinka asked; “What exactly does Baba Femi Okurounmu expect the President to have done? Overrule the various judicial pronouncements and join Governor Fubara in his reign of lawlessness?

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Former Member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Israel Sunny Goli has commended President Bola Tinubu and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over the recent investigations and prosecution of graft cases and fight against corruption.

Hon. Israel Sunny Goli, who represented the Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency in the House of Representative, also commended the EFCC for the thorough investigation into the $35 million fraud concerning the 2,000 barrels per day (BPD) Atlantic Refinery project in Okpoama, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Hon. Israel Sunny Goli, in a commendation letter addressed to the Chairman of the

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, said the arrest of Mr.

Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, and Eng. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), and others who are key figures in the alleged fraud, has instilled hope among our people and bolstered confidence in the EFCC under your leadership.

According to him, “It is heart-warming to observe that public confidence in the agency under your leadership has grown significantly, as you have steered a new course of transparency, focus, and zeal in the operations of the foremost anti-graft agency.”

“While the arrest of the aforementioned individuals is a positive development, I respectfully request the investigation of the

board chairman of the NCDMB  and its members for their potential complicity in approving the award of the contract to an entity with no known track record for the construction of a 2,000 BPD Modular Refinery in Okpoama, Brass Local Government Area.”

“The lack of response or support from either the board chairman or its members since I raised the petition on this matter raises significant concerns about their potential complicity in the fraudulent act. To fully understand their involvement, I recommend an immediate arrest and investigation of Timipre Sylva, being the board chairman and other members of the board.”

“Nothing would be more gratifying to the people of Brass Local Government Area than to see everyone involved in the perpetration of this $35 million fraud brought to justice, with every stolen dime refunded so that the project can be executed for the benefit of all.”

Hon. Sunny-Goli, who is also a traditional ruler from Two Brass with the title Kemmer V; Amadabo of Kemmer-Ama, extended his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the unwavering stance against corruption,”I would like to extend my gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering stance against corruption. This firm position has expedited the investigation and arrest of those involved in grand larceny while holding public trust, particularly in this case.”

“Such a resolute approach by the President serves as a deterrent to other public office holders.It is disheartening that, despite the government’s good intentions towards its citizens, those entrusted with implementing policies for the benefit of the people are choosing to corruptly enrich themselves at the expense of the populace.”

Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested former Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Timber Kesiye Wabote, in connection with an alleged $35 million fraud involving the Brass Project.

It was gathered that the arrest is related to a failed refinery project for which $35 million was allocated.

Wabote’s arrest followed the detention of Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, who is facing allegations of misappropriation, money laundering, and diversion of $35 million in public funds.

Wabote is currently held at the EFCC’s facility in Abuja.