G-5 Governors Seek Support for Makinde, PDP Candidates' Election

Four governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former governors of Ondo and Ekiti states and leaders of the party across the country, on Thursday, converged on Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to seek the support of Oyo State residents for the re-election of the state governor, 'Seyi Makinde.

The governors and former governors, under the aegis of the G-5 and the Integrity Group, included the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom; Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike; Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu; Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State and his Ondo State counterpart, Olusegun Mimiko.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the G-5 and Integrity Group members, who spoke severally, lauded Makinde's efforts in developing and repositioning Oyo State, charging the electorate in the state to elect all candidates of the PDP from the governor to National Assembly and House of Assembly members.

At the event, held at the frontage of Mapo Hall, Oja'ba, Ibadan, the governor, while addressing thousands of PDP faithful, declared that he has kept his promises to the people of the state as contained in the Oyo State Roadmap for Accelerated Development, 2019-2023 and that it was time to upgrade to Omituntun 2.0, which would ensure the sustainable development of Oyo State.

Governor Makinde, who appreciated the people of the state for supporting his administration right from inception till date, highlighted some of the key achievements of the administration, including free and qualitative education; the building of critical infrastructure that have targeted and contributed to the expansion of the state's economy.

Other achievements listed by the governor include the growth of the state's IGR from around N1.4 Billion monthly  in 2019 to about N3.8 Billion monthly  in 2022, securing the sole ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, the upgrade of the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education to a University of Education and the renovation and equipment of over 250 health facilities across the state.

He said: "Under Omituntun 1.0, I promised you that, in the education sector, we would achieve the sole ownership of LAUTECH by Oyo State, and we have achieved that. Today, we have also achieved the upgrade of the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo to a University of Education.

"I promised economic prosperity to the people of Oyo State under Omituntun 1.0. I said I would take them from poverty to prosperity. We have grown our IGR from N1.4bn every month in 2019 when we took over the reins of government to N3.8bn as of November 2022.

"Under Omituntun 1.0, I promised that our infrastructure would integrate all the zones of our state and target our economy. We have done the 65km Moniya-Ijaye-Iseyin Road. "There is Oyo-Iseyin Road; Ogbomoso-Iseyin Road; Apete-Awotan-Akufo Road; Airport Road; Akobo flyover and others.

"We scrapped the N3,000 education levy. "I promised that workers and retirees would get their full salaries and pensions on or before the 25th of every month; that date is now known as the GSM date and since 2019, workers and pensioners get paid.

"I promised the people a safe and secure environment, and we brought in Amotekun.

"I promised a government that will put the people first and all our decisions have shown just that. Now, it is time to upgrade. It is time for Omituntun 2.0."

The governor, who appreciated all members of the Integrity Group for their support and presence, said: "Let me use this opportunity to thank my colleagues for their support."

Earlier in their various remarks, the members of the G5 governors present at the event described Governor Makinde as a man of integrity, who believes in fairness, equity, and justice, charging the people of the state to support his second term bid and to elect other candidates of the PDP in the state.

Another highlight of the programme was the unveiling and presentation of flags to the party's standard-bearers in the three senatorial districts and 14 Federal Constituencies, by the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the PDP, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja.

In attendance at the programme were the Deputy Governor of Oyo State and Makinde's running mate with whom he collected the party's flag, Barr. Abdulroheem Bayo Lawal; former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Hamid Gbadamosi; chairman of the Oyo State Advisory Council, Senator Hosea Agboola; former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Monsura Sunmonu; the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun and the Chief of Staff to the governor, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi.

Others were the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide; former Chief of Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, Dr. Saka Balogun, among others.

Obasanjo Unfit To Recommend President For Nigerians - Tinubu

All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said former President Olusegun Obasanjo is not qualified to recommend or endorse anyone as President of Nigeria because of his failures.

While speaking on Thursday at the APC Presidential Campaign rally held at the University of Benin Sports Complex, Ugbowo Campus, Benin, the APC flagbearer said Obasanjo failed to develop the country when he had the opportunity, but rather was fighting his then Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, while accusing each other of spending the country's money for their personal comfort. 

Tinubu noted that after spending $16billion on electricity, Obasanjo and the PDP government could not deliver electricity for Nigerians to make even popcorn.

As Governor of Lagos, Tinubu recalled how he brought Enron Power to generate electricity and solve the power problem in the commercial nerve centre of the country but the project was frustrated by the Obasanjo-led PDP government. 

"I brought Enron to solve electricity problem and help Lagos economy, but Obasanjo and PDP frustrated it. They punished me and Lagos people and even began deducting our money. I created Local Governments in Lagos to accelerate development and create employment for our people, but Obasanjo siezed our allocation and punished us for that. That was wickedness and such a man said he endorsed a man for you to vote as President. Can you follow such a man? Can Obasanjo recommend a leader for anyone in Nigeria? A man who does not know the way cannot show the way."

On his main opponent, Atiku Abubakar, the former Governor of Lagos said the PDP presidential candidate is not qualified to be President of Nigeria having indicted himself on his record as a civil servant.

"Atiku and Obasanjo accused themselves of using Nigeria's money to buy cars for their comfort. Atiku was a custom officer who said he made money selling cars, that is smugling. He didn't even know that a civil servant cannot do any other business apart from agriculture. That is enough to disqualify him and he is not fit to be President."

On his plan for the economy and Edo people, Tinubu said it is time to eliminate darkness and make the economy of the country productive through massive industrialisation, promising to make Edo State a hub of industrial activities and an energy state.

At the very electrifying rally, Tinubu told the people that prosperity and happiness have come. He applauded the return of Benin artefacts by some Western nations, but urged the countries to pay some money to Edo State having made huge money from the returned artefacts through tourism and exhibitions.

"Edo people, prosperity has come, happiness has come, hope is back in your homes, knowledge is back in your community. I am happy about the returned artefacts. They are bringing our artefacts. I support the Oba of Benin who said our heritage must come back but I disagree with the Europeans. They have used our artefacts for exhibitions and tourism for decades in their museums to make money. They should not just send them back without money. When I become President, I will ask them to pay us restitution. I will contribute to the building of the museum in Benin."

On his competence and readiness for the job, Tinubu told the mammoth crowd that his administration would focus on job creation through small scale industries, build a credible credit system for capital formation, bring multibillion dollar investments to Edo State and end estimated electricity billing. 

"I will turn Edo State to an energy State. I will convert Yahoo boys and make them useful by converting their talents and intellects to produce chips for industries. We can defeat poverty, ignorance and homelessness. We have the knowledge, we have the brain to do it. Trust me. I am an expert in finding the way where there is no way. I found a way to tame the Atlantic and turn it to a money-making machine."

Tinubu also spoke on his motivation to make life better for the poor and why opportunities must be created for young people to move up on socio-economic ladder.

"I believe the children of boli and groundnut sellers should become doctors, engineers, nurses etc. That was why I started the payment of WAEC fees for their children as governor in Lagos. If you want to become rich, elect me. If you say I should go and retire, it means you want to retire diamond and gold. Edo people, I am telling you like I say everywhere in Nigeria, elect me."

In his address at the rally, former governor of Edo State and Deputy Director- General of the Tinubu-Shettima Campaign, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, said come February 25, Edo people would use their PVC to appreciate Tinubu as a father of multi-party democracy in Nigeria. 

"If you want to understand why Obasanjo failed to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, it was the resistance of Asíwájú and others.

"Obasanjo also wanted to take over Lagos. Asíwájú said you can't do it. If you are a military general, I am a general of politics. He fought him to a standstill," Oshiomhole said.

He charged the mammoth crowd at the rally to mobilize their relatives and friends back home to vote for the APC candidate.

Oshiomhole also threw jibes at the Presidential Candidates of Labour Party, Peter Obi, and that of PDP, Atiku Abubakar, asking Edo people to reject them. 

"Peter Obi is a joke," he said, adding that Obi could not address the erosion problem in his state of Anambra. 

Oshiomhole said Atiku cannot unite this country. "Someone who cannot unite his house, how can he unite Nigeria?" 

Edo State APC Chairman, Col David Imuse (rtd), said Edo had always been with Asiwaju Tinubu and would always be there for him to ensure victory in the February 25 election. 

"There is no political party that has a candidate that is as qualified as our candidate, in terms of experience, in terms of pedigree and performance."

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, APC National Woman Leader, Beta Edu, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, former Chief of Defence Staff, General Olonisakin, Senator Andy Uba, among others, attended the rally.

Christmas: Putin Orders Ceasefire In Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine over Orthodox Christmas. 

The ceasefire, according to the Kremlin, takes place from January 6 to 7.

This is the first time Russia introduced a full ceasefire in Ukraine since the launch of the offensive in February last year.

The announcement comes following a request for a ceasefire during the religious holiday from Russia’s 76-year-old Orthodox leader Patriarch Kirill.

“I instruct the defence minister of the Russian Federation to introduce from 12:00 (0900 GMT) on January 6, 2023 until 24:00 (2100 GMT) on January 7, 2023 a ceasefire along the entire line of contact between the sides in Ukraine,” the Kremlin said in a statement.

“Given the fact that a large number of citizens professing Orthodoxy live in the areas of combat, we call on the Ukrainian side to declare a ceasefire and give them the opportunity to attend church services on Christmas Eve, as well as on the Day of the Nativity of Christ,” the statement added.

In Russia, Orthodox Christmas is considered a high holiday, after it was all but wiped out during Soviet rule.

It falls on 7 January (in accordance with the Julian calendar used by the Russian Orthodox church) with the day before seeing those who celebrate attend long religious services, followed by a traditional feast of 12 courses.

 

NFIU Bans Cash Withdrawals From Government Accounts

The Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has announced the prohibition of cash withdrawals from accounts belonging to the federal government, its agencies or parastatals, as well as state and local governments.

Addressing journalists in his office in Abuja on Thursday, NFIU Head, Moddibo Haman Tukur, said this was necessary to arrest the rate by which monies are taken out of public accounts without recourse to the money laundering laws and sometimes for corruption purposes.

According to him, the rate of withdrawals above the threshold from public accounts has been alarming, adding that over 701 billion naira has been withdrawn in cash from 2015 till date.

The NFIU boss said he had instructed all financial institutions to stop cash withdrawals from government accounts from March 1, 2023, adding that any government official who flout the order will be prosecuted alongside his or her accomplices.

He said the NFIU had told banks and government agencies at all levels to move fully into online, as all transactions involving public money must be routed through the banks for the purpose of accountability and transparency.

Tukur emphasised that this move is in line with the resolve to fully transit the country into cashless economy which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been leading.

“As far as we are concerned, Nigeria will become a full non-cash economy by March 1 this year. As a consequence, any government official that withdraws even one naira cash from any public account from March 1 will be investigated and prosecuted in collaboration with relevant agencies like EFCC and ICPC.

“This is not reversible as we are only enforcing the law,” he added.

Talking about those who may want to flout the regulation under the excuse of government exigencies and all that, Tukur noted that only President Muhammadu Buhari has the power to grant any waiver to any official.

 

Family Sets To Hold 1 Year Remembrance For Alao-Akala

Everything is set for the late former governor of Oyo State Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala to be remembered by family and associates, a year after his demise.

According to an e-invite at the disposal of trendscopenews, the special thanksgiving service is scheduled for Thursday 12th January, 2023. At at First Baptist Church, Okeelerin, Ogbomoso by 10am.

Reception and entertainment of guests follows immediately at Viva Continental Hall, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

Alao-Akala, it would be recalled, died on the 12th of January, 2022, at the age of 71.