POLITICS
Osun 2022: Senator Bashiru-led Group Picks Form for Oyetola
By Jude Opara, Abuja
A group under the aegis of Friends of Governor of Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun state led by Senator Ajibola Bashiru have boasted that the governor is the candidate to beat in the forthcoming governorship election.
Bashiru and his team made the declaration on yesterday at the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) when they picked the nomination form for the governor in support of hi ambition to contest for re-election.
He said the State of Osun is blessed with a governor whose interest is in giving his people a quality dividends of governance adding that the state has never been better in so many areas including welfare, health, education and infrastructure.
He also boasted that the party has the structure to emerge victorious at the election.
“We have the structures in all the nine federal constituencies. We also have ward executives, local executives and unit executives. So, it’s about structures that win elections and not personality.
So we believe that the existing structures of our party is such that the party that is really in existence today is the APC and I will give you statistics. Beyond the 2018 election, the first election and the only election that has been conducted under the leadership of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola is the 2019 general elections and I challenge you to go to INEC website to download the results.
“There are nine federal constituencies in the State of Osun. Our party APC had six out of that nine seats and of course if you do the percentage that is about 65% that’s B plus. Then in the Senatorial election in the three Senatorial districts, our party got two out of the three Senatorial districts I think that’s also about 70% and of course in the house of assembly, of the 26 seats we have in Osun, our party had 23 out of the 26 and all of them are still members of our political party.
“So when you have a political party that has in its fold two senators, six house of Representatives members and 23 elected State legislators I don’t think it is beyond any doubt to say the party to beat in the State of Osun is the APC and the leadership of the party has provided structure to ensure that we deliver massively.
And we also know that the presidential election in 2019, Osun is one of the States that delivered for our leader president Muhammadu Buhari. So no doubt, the State of our party is strong, vibrant, cohesive and articulate to deliver for the party in the 2022 election.”
He reiterated that the friends of the governor are not persuading him to contest because he has declared his interest publicly.
“I don’t think the inference to draw is the fact that we have collected form. The inference is not necessarily the logical implication of the fact that we have picked the form. The governor at the maiden meeting of the traditional council in the Oba traditional council that was held last week openly and publicly declared his interest to contest.”
Bashiru also dismissed the claims that the state chapter of the APC is in disarray,.
“There’s nothing like mass defection, in fact if there’s any movement, it is movement towards APC. From what is on ground today, objectively, and you can go and conduct vox pop in the streets of Osun, the party to beat is APC and the aspirant that will get the mandate of APC is Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, no doubt about it.”
He also argued that being a member of the APC Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) should not be an issue, even as he said that Oyetola can also choose to recuse himself if the need be.
POLITICS
Abiodun Appoints Tunde Onakoya Sports Ambassador
Kunle Idowu,Abeokuta
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has appointed Mr. Tunde Onakoya, the National Master of Chess and the current Guinness World Record Holder for the longest Chess Marathon in history, the Sports Ambassador of the State.
Governor Abiodun, who made this known on Thursday when he received Mr.
Abiodun, who was impressed with the achievement of the National Chess Master at the global stage, said this could not have been possible without determination and resilience and hard work.
“I can see why you continue to be an inspiration to many young people across the length and breath of this country. You have gone further by establishing a foundation called the ‘Chess in Slums Africa’ because you are determined to tell your story and encourage other children and get them out of the slums and give them hope and a future.
“Today, we will be officially appointing you as our State Sports Ambassador. Coincidentally, Ogun State will be hosting the National Sports Festival in the next nine months or thereabouts and we are boasting that we are set to host the best National Sports Festival that has never been held in the history of this country and coincidentally, chess is one of the games that will feature in that event.
“I have decided that because of you and in your honour, we will begin an Ogun State Chess Competition across the length and breath of the state. Since you are now officially our Sports Ambassador and our Chess Ambassador, we will leave it to you to design that competition from the local government all the way to the state level.
“But we as your state, we will have a sponsor in the Tunde Onakoya Prize, for the winner of that competition,” the governor explained.
The governor likened the travails of the Chess Master to that of millions of youths in Nigeria who are struggling to make something out of their lives, stating that his achievements in the face of difficulties is a testimony that life does not recognize where one comes from, place of birth or parent’s status in the society.
He commended the longest Chess Marathon holder in the world, for his resolve to succeed without engaging in dubious activities, noting that with the feat, he has joined the league of illustrious sons and daughters who have done Ogun State proud in their chosen endeavours.
Mr. Onakoya had earlier told the governor of his immense gratitude for the support he received from Nigerians in his march to stardom, adding that he felt proud to be a Nigerian.
He also recalled his challenges while growing up, noting that he saw chess as a way out of poverty and ability to think critically beyond the surface.
Onakoya acknowledged the unpopularity of chess in the country, attributing it to lack of understanding of the value of the game.
He said he has intensified efforts in making the game popular in Lagos, Kenya and other parts of Africa, saying he and his team are trying to bring the game to the grassroots in collaboration with Lufthansa Airlines.
Onakoya said he was determined to break the world record as it was said that no human had played the game beyond 56 hours, but he did it in 60 hours.
He thanked governor Abiodun for the honour done to him and his parents, pledging to work with the government to make the game attractive to the youths.
“I am proud to be a Nigerian and from Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, I felt highly honoured and happy in the way Nigerians all over the world supported me immensely to achieve this feats and the honour accorded me by our royal fathers and His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, my state Governor,” Onakoya said.
POLITICS
Reps Threaten Sanctions against NNPCL, Others over Environmental Degradation
By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Wednesday, threatened to sanction the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL), other oil companies and agencies of government, responsible for the environmental degradation caused by the activities of oil companies in oil producing communities of the country.
This is just as the joint Committee of the House probing the matter, summoned the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, Mr Mele Kyari, and others, to appear before it for the probe.
The summon was handed down by the Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Hon Pondi Julius Gbabojor, at an investigative hearing on the need to investigate the service and unprecedented environmental damage within the communities on Wednesday.
Also to appear before the joint committee are the chief executives of some oil companies and relevant government agencies.
The House Committees include Environment, Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Climate Change.
Gbabojor said the matter to be addressed was critical as he threatened appropriate sanctions if those invited failed to turn up.
Besides the NNPCL, oil companies summoned include Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Total Energies, Oando Oil Limited, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited Seplat Energy among others.
Also government agencies summoned include Nigeria Midstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, National Oil Spill Detection Response Agency, National Environmental Standards Regulations and Enforcement Agency.
When the probe commenced on Wednesday, only four out of 35 oil companies and agencies invited for the probe showed up.
The National Environmental Standards Regulations and Enforcement Agency, however sent an excuse through a representative, but the rest did not give any reason for their absence.
The Committee members however complained that even the four that turned up submitted the relevant documents just the previous day, not giving the lawmakers enough time to study it for the probe.
They rued the attitude of the oil companies and agencies saying it impeded efforts aimed at moving the country to a better place.
Gbabojor said, “We will write another letter to everybody. They should turn up to answer questions on issues pertaining to degradation of the environment due to the activities of oil companies.
“They have to be here on the 8th of May. If anybody fails to show up, then we would not decide as a committee on what to do. I want to believe that there was enough time, two letters were sent, there was ample time for them to see the letters and duly honour. But for putting on a human face, we would still give another time to do so,” he said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, in his opening remarks earlier said it was important to protect the environment.
Represented by the Deputy Minority Whip, George Ozodinobi, he said, “I fully recognize the immense responsibility which befalls us as public servants to protect and safeguard our environment and meet the challenges posed by the ravages of environmental damages, and the need to balance economic prosperity and social responsibility to ultimately achieve equitable development.
“Also as representatives of the people, we must ensure that the voices of those most affected by environmental damage are heard and respected. We have to listen to the fears that are faced by frontline communities, indigenous people, and marginalized groups who usually bear the brunt of environmental injustice.
“It is therefore, for this reason that the House mandated the Committees on Environment, Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Petroleum Resources (Downstream), and Climate Change, to investigate the environmental damage in oil producing communities caused by non-compliance to extant laws by oil producing companies.”
POLITICS
Ondo Guber: PDP Holds Primary Election Today
By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will hold its primary election in Ondo State today (Thursday, April 25, 2024) to select a candidate for the Governorship Election in November and has approved a seven-member electoral committee to conduct the exercise.
In a statement on Wednesday, the PDP said the exercise will be held at the International Culture and Event Centre, The Dome, Akure, Ondo State.
The statement listed the seven-member electoral committee as Sen. Ewhrudjakpo Oborawhartevwo, Chairman, Hon. Oluwole Busayo Oke, member, Rt. Hon. Muktar Ahmed, Member, Haj. Hassana Diko, Member, Barr. John Mathew, Member; Hon. Nnena Ikondon, Member and Hon. Dare Adeleke, Secretary.