Kunle Idowu, Abeokuta

Ogun State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has knocked the former Governor of the State and Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, over his recent interview on some of the projects going on in the State.

Daniel, in a recent interview said he initiated some important projects which were under reported due to ‘bad press’,  including the iconic Gateway Agro-Cargo Airport started by the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun about three years ago and nearly completed with the longest runway and largest apron in Nigeria and West Africa corridor.

Reacting to Daniel’s statement on Sunday, Tunde Oladunjoye, the Publicity Secretary of APC in the State, said the statement credited to Daniel was nothing but a product of hallucination by a serial failure.

He insisted that the lawmaker did nothing to suggest seriousness of his administration to build any airport in the State, adding that the former governor in his usual character merely announced the proposed airport and the intending location as mere political statement for immediate gains.

According to Oladunjoye, the area proposed for the airport by Daniel’s administration remained a thick forest while billions of naira were siphoned under the guise of consultancy for the implementation of the project.

“Unlike the deceptive 8-year administration of Daniel, that was characterized with high level of fraud, political assassination and widespread brigandage,  Abiodun came on board with integrity, and purposeful leadership skill, which is practically responsible for the remarkable success his administration had recorded in the last five years, and the reason for the present headache of his hitherto traducers, including Gbenga Daniel.

“Setting the record straight, like many other failed Governors of Daniel type, who merely made political statements about projects to manipulate people’s emotions and deceive them for political gains, the Agro-Cargo Airport situated at Ilisan-Iperu axis of the State was just one of the many areas where Otunba Gbenga Daniel failed the people of Ogun State very woefully.

“Gbenga Daniel,  after announcing construction of an Airport in the year 2006, the area earmarked for the project remained a tick forest till 2019 when Prince Dapo Abiodun came into the saddle. Daniel’s successor, Ibikunle Amosun based on the nature of his personality and pattern of reasoning did not even open the file of the proposed Airport throughout his eight years in office, the same way Daniel abandoned all the projects left behind by his predecessor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba.

“The recent interview of having the grand or master plan for what Governor Dapo Abiodun has been accomplishing is not only self-ridiculing, it is simply a sheer hallucination of a serial failure and shameful acceptance of failure on the part of Mr. Gbenga Daniel. His interview and comment on Governor Dapo Abiodun reek of deep envy and insensitive lack of modesty,” Oladunjoye averred.

The Ogun APC Publicity Secretary further took a swipe on the former Governor,  asserting that his ineptitude, deceptive tendency, and maladministration were responsible for his unpopular administration and not bad press as he claimed.

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

An elder statesman and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State,  Sen. Barnabas Gemade, on Saturday, told Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, not to hesitate to make political enemies in his bid to effectively deliver good and  quality governance to people of the State.

Sen.

Gemade, a former Minister for Works, made this remark during the 58th birthday celebration of the  governor held at the New Banquet Hall, Government House Makurdi.

According to the former national chairman of PDP,  in politics where the governor has found himself now, he can not run away from political enemies if he wants to succeed and develop the State.

Chief Gemade who was the Chairman of the occasion stressed: “in politics whatever you do or say people interpret it differently. Therefore, you must not be afraid of making enemies while bringing good governance to Benue people.

 “This business that you are in now is politics and governance, there are enemies you cannot run away from. People will be elevated and others brought down.

“If you are doing something bad, some will want you to do something good and vice versa but search you conscience and do good for the masses and you will have satisfaction”. he said 

The celebrant, Governor Hyacinth Alia disclosed that his administration has concluded a plan to extend the construction of the  underpass to Benue South senatorial district, stressing that government would soon commence the building a flyover in Otukpo the traditional headquarters of the Idoma nation.

Former Minister for Works  Sen. Barnabas Gemade has urged Governor Hyacinth Alia not to be afraid to make enemies in his quest for good governance of the State. said the people of Benue South Senatorial District also known as Idoma nation would soon have a flyover in Otukpo its headquarters.

He maintained that his administration was determined to develop the State adding that he appreciated the virtues of hard work and conscience of the poor masses. 

He said the State was currently enjoying relative peace and most of the displaced farmers have returned to their farms adding that more effort would be done by his administration for more peace to be achieved.

The Governor again emphasized that security was not spoken but executed.

Earlier in his birthday message, former Military administrator of Plateau and Katsina States, Maj. Gen. Lawrence Onoja (rtd), lauded the Governor as a ‘dogged man’, a liberator of the oppressed and a sacrificial and selfless servant of the people.

General Onoja who was also the Guest Speaker of the occasion said Governor Alia was the people’s father, a rare politician, gentleman, philanthropist, philosopher, and a dogged believer in Mr. Presidents Renewed Hope Agenda as it supports the development and liberation of the oppressed and less privileged people of Benue State and beyond. 

Quoting Gaylord Nelson, an American Politician and environmentalist, Gen Onoja rtd said Gov Alia has sacrificed for the future generations of the State by first living his priestly ordination to join politics and provide dividends of democracy to the people.

“Permit me to dwell on the sacrificial and selfless nature of His Excellency as you will all agree with me that His Excellency has indeed made a great sacrifice in my opinion to take up the mantle to serve as Governor of Benue State. 

“This suggests that true moral character is demonstrated by the willingness to make sacrifices today that will have a positive impact on the future, even if those future generations may never know or express gratitude. 

“This clearly describes the decision His Excellency has taken and also encourages all of us gathered here today to consider the long-term consequences of our actions and to prioritize the well-being of future generations over immediate gratification. 

“By applying this we can collectively make choices that contributes to a sustainable and thriving future for the good people of Benue State and the nation at large.”he said 

Benue APC acting Chairman, Benjamin Omakolo described the Governor as a remarkable leader and extraordinary man whose journey in life has been that of passion for his people especially in improving their well being.

All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee led by the Deputy National Secretary, Barr. Festus Fuanter eulogized the Governor as a man who is giving hope to Benue people in the area of infrastructural development.

“Do not be distracted. The party will stand by you for two reasons, generational and political so we can win the next election, do not be afraid as nothing good comes easy. We shall stand by you and ensure you surmount every obstacle that comes your way”, he said.

Member representing Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo Federal Constituency Prince Solomon Wombo said the Governor was on a mission to salvage the State adding that the State needs a strong man at this time to take it out of the woods. 

“We will stand with you and give you all the assistance. We pray that God should make you stronger than the enemies of Benue State. Any member of the national assembly not standing with you do not have foresight”Wombo said.

From Anthony Nwachukwu, Lagos

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of undue interference in the party’s internal leadership crisis and collusion with its splinter group.

It further called on the INEC Chairman, Prof.

Mahmud Yakubu, to investigate the attendance by the commission’s staff at the convention held by the party’s splinter group, even after the agency had been served the court notice challenging the illegal convention.

In a statement on Sunday by the National Secretary, Comrade Oginni Olaposi, the NNPP insisted that the respective staff be punished, while reminding INEC that it should be neutral in the party’s internal crisis as required by law.

“Without prejudice to the integrity, honour and leadership of the INEC chairman, we are using this medium to remind him that the successes and otherwise of electoral processes in Nigeria largely depend on the quality of leadership of the commission under his watch,” the statement read.

“It is trite to note that INEC as a commission has the mandate to regulate and control electoral processes in Nigeria in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Electoral Guidelines.

“This shall be without prejudice to the partial autonomy and independence of political parties to regulate and control themselves in accordance with party constitution.”

Noting that the courts have several relevant pronouncements on parties’ liberty and authority in self-regulation, administration and management, it wondered “why INEC as a commission, other than being neutral, is found to the contrary and taking sides over an internal matter of NNPP.

It dismissed claims that the splinter group had won the legal battle, stating: “We regret to note that Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso and others expelled from our party have been deceiving the general public that the NNPP under the leadership of Major Gilbert Agbo lost in the various cases.” 

For a clearer declaration, “we have approached the Court of Appeal over how the internal crisis can be resolved and who does it,” as the NNPP Constitution gives the founder and members of the board, as the conscience of the party, the mandate and responsibility to resolve the internal crisis.

“On the part of INEC as a regulator, it shall be an oversight function to deploy alternative dispute resolution, especially when the matter is brought before it formally.

Instead, however, “INEC was found attending and observing an illegal convention of the expelled members. INEC again should have the courage to respond to the letter of the founder and members of the board to facilitate and order the board to take responsibility in resolving the internal crisis.

“For the avoidance of doubts, it is on record that Kwankwaso and his splinter group and INEC were duly served with court notices against the illegal convention and yet it held and INEC erroneously attended.

“We shall therefore advise the chairman of INEC to step up his supervisory role in the management and administration of the commission’s statutory responsibilities and know when to evoke his residual powers to act.”