Sesan Olufowobi

The Rotary Club of Omole-Golden has called on individuals and organisations to strive to improve people’s lives.

The club’s president, Ibironke Alaba, said this on Saturday at the General Hospital, Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos.

The club donated five photo therapy machines, five incubators, and a decorated neo-natal clinic to the hospital.

Ten persons were also presented N500,000 cheque of the club’s micro-credit scheme.

The president said, “Each person will get N50,000. The club is committed to improving people’s lives”

Also, the District Governor, Rotary International District 9110, Kola Sodipo, hailed the club for being vibrant.

Sodipo said, “I’m not surprised that the club donated the items to the hospital because it is known for embarking on good projects.

 “The club is functional and effective. Two personalities have joined the club today. Eminent people join the club on a regular basis.

“If one considers the projects to be executed and the ones already executed, the club has scored a pass mark.”

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Mudiaga Affe, Calabar

the Clan Head of Ikang, the headquarters of Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State, Chief Kenneth Effiong, on Friday lamented the influx of Cameroonian refugees into his community, following the crisis in the southern part of Cameroon.

Effiong, who disclosed this while receiving members of the Calabar South-Akpabuyo-Bakassi chapter of the National Association of Seadogs, led by its Coordinator, Mr Ekong Otu, said over 300 Cameroonians were residing in the community.

The clan head had received the seadogs who brought medical experts to screen residents of the community for gastric ulcer, high blood pressure, tuberculosis, HIV.

He said, “You people are God-sent. This medical mission will have a large turnout because our people actually need some medical attention. The main problem that we are having is the issue of Cameroonians who gradually take over our community.

“We are not hostile and we cannot send them away, but we need government’s intervention to relocate and treat them because some of them might have come with one form of disease condition or the other. We have over 300 of them with us at the moment.”

The coordinator of the visiting team, Mr Ekong Otu, said they were in Bakassi to offer free medical screening and provide drugs to indigent residents.

He said the chapter had engaged the services of medical experts within and outside in the intervention mission following the ongoing strike by workers in the public sector, adding that over 150 patients were attended to in less than four hours.

“This is part of our quarterly external project. We have come to carry out this medical intervention in this Bakassi for indigent residents. If there are challenges, we would refer them to the secondary and tertiary health institutions. So far, 150 persons have benefitted from the services,” he said.

Delivering a health talk to the residents, a nurse with the General Hospital in Calabar, Mrs. Thelma Takim,   said there is the need for more awareness as so many houses in the community are not well ventilated.

She cautioned the residents to stop sleeping in the same room with domestic animals such as pig, goats and cows, adding that it would lead to infections.

A beneficiary and resident of Ikang, Mrs. Nkechi Akan, said she took advantage of the medical intervention by seadogs because she does not have money to visit the hospital.

Akan commended the association for the gesture and urged that it should be a continuum.

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Peter Dada, Akure

A pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ayo Oluwatusin, has urged Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voters Card to enable them to perform their civic responsibility in the 2019 General Elections.

He stressed the need for righteous people to take over the leadership of the country, saying it could be achieved if every Nigerian participated in the forthcoming general election.

Oluwatusin, who is an assistant pastor in charge of Ondo Province 4 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, stated this during the province’s sanitation exercise in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Saturday. The exercise was themed ‘Connecting to the source.’

He said, “We must go out to collect our PVCs in order to vote for the candidate of our choice. As we are praying that God will install the righteous persons in Nigeria, we must also go out practically to vote for the right person, we must not allow evil people to rule us.”

Decrying the act of vote-buying that occurred in Osun and Ekiti state governorship elections recently, the pastor said the act was evil and implored Christians to shun it.

“Vote-buying is not godly, it is demonic, satanic, and dangerous and if it continues it will move Nigeria to a standstill position. Such act should not be happening among the Christians.”

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…suspends chairman

John Alechenu, Abuja

The National Executive Committee of the Alliance for New Nigeria has dismissed as dubious the national convention held by some party members in Abuja, on Saturday.

The party’s NEC said the convention which was held to elect the party’s presidential candidate was a sham.

This was contained in a statement issued by the party’s NEC in Abuja, on Sunday.

It said, “The national convention to elect a presidential candidate has been fixed for Wednesday, October 3, 2018, at a venue soon to be announced.

“Leaders called on ANN members and the public to either ignore anyone parading him or herself as its presidential candidate or, at best, regarded him or her as a jester.”

The NEC further said the so-called Abuja 29th September convention was invalid because it did not comply with the Section 3, Sub-Section B (i) of the ANN Constitution.

It further said, “Because of these grave flaws, the NEC of the party resolved that Emma Dania is suspended forthwith as the National Chairman of the party for grossly violating provisions of the constitution.

“That Dr Jay Osi-Samuels, the pioneer chairman of ANN, who steered the party from infancy to its present enviable state, be immediately reinstated as National Chairman.”

Nineteen out of the 26 state chapters of the ANN withdrew from the Saturday convention.

The withdrawals followed the statement by the frontline presidential aspirant, Mr Olawepo-Hashim, protesting the hurriedly organised convention by a faction of the party.

Olawepo-Hashim, however, corrected impressions that he had withdrawn from the presidential race, saying he surely had not.

“I am in the race. I have only pulled out of the hurriedly organised convention of the ANN fixed for today, Saturday, purportedly to elect the presidential candidate. I am still in the race for 2019 by the special grace of God.”

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Olaide Oyelude, Katsina

The nationwide strike declared by organised labour has turned to blessings for private hospitals and pharmacies in Katsina State as patients, who hitherto consulted government hospitals, were forced to patronise them.

Following the shut down of the Federal Medical Centre and the General Hospital, Katsina, in compliance with the directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress, only senior medical doctors were seen rendering skeletal services in the hospitals since the commencement of the strike.

READ ALSO: Accept convention results, Dickson, Mark tell PDP aspirants

Findings by our correspondent indicated that scores of patients had turned to private hospitals and local pharmacies for succour.

At many private hospitals and patent medicine stores visited by PUNCH Metro on Saturday, tens of patients were observed being attended to, including those referred by the government hospitals.

A man, Mallam Abu Umar, who brought his seven-year-old son with a fractured hand for treatment at a private clinic, said he was sent away by medical personnel at the FMC where he initially took him to.

He said, “We first went to the FMC but we were not attended to because of the strike. They only assisted us to stabilise the boy before I brought him here (the private hospital).”

A patent medicine dealer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that there had been an increase in the number of customers as a result of the strike.

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Olalekan Adetayo and Olaleye Aluko, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday evening paid a visit to the two Nigerian Air Force officers involved in helicopters crash in Abuja on Friday.

Buhari visited the injured pilots at the Defence Intelligence Agency Hospital, Abuja, where they are receiving medical attention.

As of the time of the crash on Friday, Buhari was in New York, the United States of America, where he attended the 73rd United Nations General Assembly.

He returned to the country in the early hours of Sunday.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in a statement, said Buhari arrived the hospital at about 5.30pm to pay the injured officers what he called “a  morale-boosting visit.”

Adesina said the President rejoiced with Squadron Leader Batuba, and Flight Lieutenant Andy, giving glory to God for sparing their lives.

He was also said to have commiserated with them on the loss of their colleague, Squadron Leader M.B. Babari.

He prayed that God would give the family of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss.

The statement read, “Chief of Medical Services at the hospital, Air Vice Marshal Saleh Shinkafi, assured President Buhari that the medical condition of the officers was improving steadily and that they were being kept for further rest and counselling, as part of the rehabilitation process.

“The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was also on hand to receive the President, explained that the three pilots ejected successfully from their jets after the collision, while training for air parade to mark the country’s 58th Independence anniversary, but the helmet of Babari flew open, and he suffered head injuries that turned fatal.

“Among others that received the President at the hospital were his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari; and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Usman.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has said that it is expecting the delivery of six new attack helicopters from Italy.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, stated this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during his inspection tour of the 115 Special Operations Group, noting that the military had also trained 90 pilots in the last three years.

The air chief in a statement on Sunday confirmed that Nigeria was expecting 18 new aircraft from the USA and Italy, which would help to enhance the war against the Boko Haram insurgency and other internal security threats.

According to the statement by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, Abubakar stated that the NAF had brought in 31 aircraft into its inventory since 2015.

… commiserates with NASS over Adedoyin’s death

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday sent condolences to leadership and members of the National Assembly over the death of a member of the House of Representatives, representing Irepodun Isin/ Ekiti /Oke Ero Federal Constituency of Kwara State, Funke Adedoyin.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President also commiserated with the government and people of Kwara State, the deceased’s family and friends.

He said Adedoyin’s death had deprived the nation of the wisdom and maturity she had always brought into service.

The statement read, “As a former member of the Federal Executive Council and legislator, the President believes Adedoyin’s sacrifice and contributions to national development will be remembered by posterity, especially her unreserved commitment for more representation of women in government and education of children.

“President Buhari prays that God will receive her soul and comfort all her loved ones.”Copyright PUNCH.
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Peter Dada, Akure

As part of the celebrations of the country’s 58th independence anniversary, the Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, has pardoned no fewer than 17 prisoners serving various jail terms in the state.

Governor Akeredolu pardoned the lucky beneficiaries of the prerogative of mercy in the exercise of his right as the chief executive of the state.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Segun Ajiboye,  on Sunday.

According to the statement, the governor acted in accordance with the recommendation of the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.

Akeredolu said in the statement, “I, Rotimi Akeredolu, the Governor of Ondo State of Nigeria, in exercise of the power conferred on me by paragraph (d) of the sub-section (1) of Section 212, of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),  am pleased to extend my grace and mercy unto the said prisoners.

“My will and pleasure, therefore, is that you discharge the said prisoners out of prison custody accordingly and forthwith.”

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Sesan Olufowobi

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has called on Nigerians to pray for a peaceful general elections in 2019.

Obasa also warned against actions and utterances that could negatively affect the peaceful co-existence of residents of the country.

The Speaker said this in a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Rasak, on the celebration of the country’s 58th independence anniversary.

He said, “It is a very crucial period in Nigeria and as we move towards the 2019 general elections; I want to call on Nigerians to continue to pray for peace to reign before, during and after the elections.

“We must also eschew violence; avoid actions and utterances that can breach public peace. We must promote measures and programmes that will enhance the unity of this country.

“As parents and citizens, we must be vigilant and be watchful of the friends our children and wards associate with. We must be vigilant of events in our environment and make sure we report suspicious characters and groups to security agencies in order to nip crimes in the bud.

“As youths, we should not allow ourselves to be used as agents of violence. We should not give in to unscrupulous elements in the society who will want to take advantage of our vulnerability to cause mayhem and disturb public peace.”

He stated that the All Progressives Congress administration at all levels was not unaware of the challenges facing the country, assuring Nigerians that the government would not relent in putting in place measures and programmes that would enhance welfare and improve standard of living.

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Adelani Adepegba, Abuja

The Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiative has said Internally Displaced Persons were willing to return to their communities in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and other parts of the North-East.

The Vice Chairman, PCNI, Tijjani Tumsa, explained that the agency was working with the state governments in the region to prepare for the return and rehabilitation of the displaced citizens.

Speaking at the PCNI’s coordination forum for September in Abuja on Friday, Tumsa said the meeting was to develop strategies for the return of the IDPs.

He noted that the PCNI would continue to work with partners to ensure that the returning IDPs  could access basic services that could create the enabling environment for them to rebuild their lives.

Tumsa said, “A substantial number of them want to go back and they want to go back into a secure environment.

“With the success recorded by the Nigerian military, an increasing number of people who were displaced by the crisis desire to return to their homes.

“Our goal is to ensure the return process is safe, voluntary and sustainable.”

He added that the agency would continue to partner others to ensure speedy rehabilitation of those displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.

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Mudiaga Affe, Calabar

The Cross River State governorship primary slated for Sunday in the various wards has been postponed to Monday (today) due to the late arrival of materials.

The National Vice-Chairman of the party in the South-South, Chief Hilliard Eta, said the postponement was due to the late arrival of the seven-member election committee members sent to the state.

This came amid a protest by two governorship aspirants of the party, Chief Edem Duke and Prof. Etim Nyong, that the party structure was being hijacked by Eta to favour a governorship aspirant from the central senatorial district.

However, Eta denied the claims that he was frustrating the process by allowing some persons to hijack materials.

He said when the committee members arrived the state, they had to pay courtesy calls to some security outfits including the police and the Department of State Services.

“I have heard the allegation that I have connived to hijack election materials.  Let me assure all our members that nothing is farther from the truth.  We have just returned from visits to security services and INEC and the materials are in the custody of the Ali Magaji committee.  The materials will be distributed and by tomorrow, the election will commence in all the 196 wards in the state.”

But earlier, Duke and Nyong had alleged that materials meant for the conduct of the election had been hijacked by the National Vice Chairman, claiming that he was in favour of a particular governorship aspirant.

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Leke Baiyewu, Abuja

The President of the Senate and presidential aspirant on the Peoples Democratic Party’s platform, Dr Bukola Saraki; and the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, have congratulated Nigerians on the occasion of the nation’s 58th Independence Day anniversary.

Saraki, in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, noted that one of the key reasons for the non-realisation of the dreams of the founding fathers who fought for the nation’s independence from the colonial government was that the citizens failed to seize control of the fortunes and future of the country.

He said Nigerians also allowed “sentiments to determine the choice of leaders and what national objectives should entail.”

The Senate President stressed the need to ensure a more vibrant, constructive and patriotic citizen participation in the governance of the country.

He said, “At this point when democracy has come to stay in Nigeria, all Nigerians should use the occasion of the 58th Independence Anniversary to redefine what should constitute the Nigerian dream, rally round that dream, support leaders who are capable and competent to realise that dream.

“Citizens should stop abandoning politics and political choices to politicians and manipulative elements who invoke only religious, ethnic and geopolitical sentiments to impose leadership; who are only supported for the purpose of serving the interests of those who put them in office.

“Nigerians should re-dedicate themselves to the ideals of defining their personal interests in line with how it helps the realisation of national objectives. Our national objectives should simply be to build a united, peaceful, economically strong, internationally respected country, with robust military, well-motivated work-force, ambitious youth and fulfilled citizens.”

The Senate President said, “As the country celebrates its 58th independence anniversary, “Nigerians should vow that the leader who will lead the country when it is celebrating its diamond jubilee anniversary must be one who would have set this country on the path of genuine socio-economic development and political greatness.”

Ekweremadu, in a separate statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu, stated that only free, fair and credible elections could secure Nigeria’s democracy and guarantee the much-needed good governance that would restore it to the pinnacle of glory.

The deputy senate president described a rigged election as a “coup by other means” against the will of the people, which should have no place in a democracy.

He said, “As we have always known, Nigeria is one of the most endowed nations on earth but has not lived up to the promises she held at independence. For our nation to make progress, our democracy must flourish. And for our democracy to flourish, the people should be at liberty to elect leaders with the requisite character, knowledge, and pedigree, to turn the fortunes of the country around.

 “Importantly, the government, stakeholders, and all institutions of democracy, especially the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies must respect and uphold the right of the people to exercise this franchise in a free, fair, credible, transparent, and peaceful atmosphere. They should not only vote, their votes must count as anything to the contrary is a coup by other means.”

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Theophilus Onojeghen, Warri

Some armed men have invaded the Aboh Police Station in the Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, killing two cops.

The gunmen, who were alleged to be in military uniforms, also reportedly left many others who were on duty at the time of the attack, injured.

READ ALSO: Two clerics, six others die in Anambra multiple auto crashes

Multiple sources in the community, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Sunday, disclosed that many of the injured were in a critical condition.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the incident, which occurred around 2am on Saturday, threw members of the community into confusion.

It was also gathered that the hoodlums also broke into the police armoury and carted away ammunition and sophisticated weapons.

One of the sources, who spoke to our correspondent in Asaba on Sunday, said, “The police were taken unawares by the gunmen. They attacked the police station, killed two policemen and the ones that survived escaped with bullet injuries.

“One of the police officers died on the spot and the other one died on the way to the hospital, while the ones that were injured are receiving treatment in a hospital.

“They also made away with ammunition at the police station. A plain-clothes female police officer, who was at the gate of the station, escaped unhurt after she told the gunmen that she was a flood victim who came to seek refuge at the police station.”

A police source, who also confirmed the attack, disclosed that the invaders made away with the engine of a patrol boat belonging to the marine police post in the community.

The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Aniamaka, confirmed the incident.

READ ALSO: Demand for loans decreases – CBN report

Aniamaka also confirmed that two police officers were killed by the hoodlums, noting that investigation had started into the attack.

A military source in the area said security had been beefed up in the area, while a manhunt had been launched for the suspects.

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…as parallel primaries hold in Ogun

Chukwudi Akasike, Etim Ekpimah, Mudiaga Affe, Samuel Awoyinfa,  Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, and  Theophilus Onojeghen

The Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, his Cross River and Delta states counterparts, Prof. Ben Ayade and Ifeanyi Okowa, respectively, have won the Peoples Democratic Party 2019 return tickets in their various states

Ikpeazu emerged unopposed and was announced as the winner by the Chairman of the PDP Governorship primary committee for the state, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, who said Ikpeazu polled 1,991 votes  out of 2, 207 total votes cast by the delegates accredited for the exercise.

Speaking after his declaration, Ikpeazu after commending the delegates for giving him another opportunity to serve the state noted that nobody could take the mandate given to him by the people because his was “a divine mandate.”

A similar situation played out in Cross River State as delegates affirmed Ayade as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2019 election.

Ayade, who also emerged unopposed, did so after his two challengers, Dr Paul Udayi and Mr Emmanuel Ibeshi, were disqualified from contesting.

The two aspirants, however, vowed to seek legal redress, saying no one gave them any reason for their disqualification.

In his remarks after the exercise, Ayade expressed gratitude to the party’s delegates who trooped out to the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar to vote. He promised not to betray their trust.

The Chairman of the PDP electoral panel for Cross River State, Chief Talib Tebite, said due process was followed even though the candidate contested unopposed.

Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, also emerged victorious after the party’s primary in the state. The conduct of the exercise also put to rest speculations that a former governor of the state, James Ibori, was leaving the PDP to join the APC. Ibori was among the party’s delegates who voted during the primary, which held in Asabi, the state capital.

Okowa, who was the party’s sole aspirant for the ticket, was announced winner and candidate of the party after delegates from the 25 local government areas cast their votes for him.

The Chairman of the PDP election panel, Mrs Uzi Nwandu, announced that Okowa polled 3, 252 votes to emerge winner. Okowa also announced his deputy, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, as his running mate for the 2019 election.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, also emerged unopposed as the party’s candidate for the 2019 election.

The Chief Returning Officer for the state PDP governorship primary, Mr Chuma Chinye, announced that the governor polled 3,345 votes from the 23 local government areas of the state.

The voting process was started by the National PDP Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, who was a statutory delegate from Andoni Local Government Area.

In Akwa Ibom, Governor Udom Emmanuel was also elected unopposed as the party’s candidate for the 2019 governorship election.

The Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who chaired the PDP panel, announced the outcome of the primaries saying Emmanuel polled a total of 3,807votes out 3,817 votes cast. He noted that 10 votes were voided.

Emmanuel, in his acceptance speech, said, “The development of Akwa Ibom is the thrust of the PDP. Once more, I affirm that with the PDP, Akwa Ibom State shall grow from strength to strength.”

However, the PDP primary in Ogun State produced two claimants to the party’s ticket.

A faction led by Bayo Dayo held its governorship primary at the party secretariat along the Presidential Boulevard Road, Abeokuta.

The two governorship aspirants were Alhaji Adewole Adeyanyu and Prince Adeleke Shittu.

Shortly before the commencement of voting, Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju announced his withdrawal from the race after 1,994 delegates were accredited for the exercise.  Shittu emerged as the faction’s candidate after polling 1,979. The remaining 15 votes were declared void.

Another faction of the PDP under the leadership of Sikirulahi Ogundele held a parallel primary inside the marquee at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library complex, Abeokuta.

The sole aspirant, Oladipupo Adebutu, was declared the winner after polling 2,369 votes out of 2,634 cast.

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Oluwatosin Omojuyigbe

The Akwa Ibom State All Progressives Congress governorship primary has ended in stalemate as party leaders engaged in a fight.

The PUNCH learnt that the party chieftains had gathered at the state party secretariat along Ikot Ekpene Road to do a last-minute preparations and collection of materials for the direct primary when an argument ensued between the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang,  and a former Minister of State, FCT, John Udoedeghe, which led to exchange of blows.

Our correspondent learnt that Udoedeghe, an aspirant, accused Enang of conniving with Senator Godswill Akpabio and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Nsima Ekere, to hijack materials meant for distribution to the wards and instead presented fake materials.

An eyewitness said Udoedeghe held Enang by the shirt and slapped him on his right cheek before attempting to kick him on the thigh, adding that Enang remained calm as party chieftains intervened in the exchange.

Reports said there were gunshots at Afaha Offot, and around the APC state secretariat and two people were feared dead as gunmen allegedly went away with the primary election’s materials.

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Samson Folarin

Two policemen attached to a bank in the Okota area of Lagos State have been arrested for allegedly beating up a businessman, Damilola Durodola.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the police sergeants, identified only as Ezekiel and Haruna, were facing disciplinary actions at the command headquarters at Ikeja, Lagos.

READ ALSO: Ikpeazu, Ayade, Okowa, Wike, others win PDP gov tickets

Our correspondent learnt that Durodola, who drove a KIA vehicle, was on his way to work on Thursday when he ran into a traffic allegedly caused by a pothole in front of the bank.

He had taken the bank’s premises to evade the traffic when he was reportedly challenged by one of the policemen, Ezekiel.

The 28-year-old was allegedly held by the cop, who also called his colleague, Haruna, on the telephone.

The Afijo, Oyo State indigene, said he was shocked when Haruna, on arriving at the scene, broke his wing mirrors and used an iron rod to hit him in the face.

He said, “I was going to my place of work at Surulere on Thursday when I ran into traffic on Okota Road. There was a pothole in front of the bank, which motorists were avoiding. That was around 8.05am.

“I observed that the bank’s customers’ parking space was empty by that time, so I decided to use it to go out. I was approaching the exit when the mobile policeman, who was in a polo shirt and khaki trousers, flagged me down.

“I thought it would be a normal conversation, so I waited. He asked me to reverse. I told him that if I did that I could cause traffic for other road users. He started hitting my car as he held on to my shirt.

“I drove about eight blocks away from the bank. The mobile policeman brought out his phone to make a call. A few minutes later, I saw another mobile policeman arriving on a motorcycle. He had a gun and an iron rod in his hands. Without hearing anything from me, he broke my wing mirrors and whipped my eye with the iron rod.”

The victim said a crowd mobbed the policemen and queried them for beating him up.

Durodola said while in pain, he held on to his assailant.

“I told him that he would go nowhere for assaulting me. He cocked his gun and threatened to shoot me.

READ ALSO: MASSOB opposes Bianca Ojukwu’s senatorial bid

“The mob fought the policemen and the bank officials came out to intervene. Shortly afterwards, a team of policemen arrived at the scene and shot into the air to disperse the crowd.

“Suddenly, one of the policemen held me and said I was harassing a uniformed man; they wanted to turn the case against me. The mob came back and rescued me,” he added.

The victim said he called and narrated his ordeal to the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad, adding that the senior police officer asked him to report the case at the command headquarters in Ikeja.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the case was referred to the office of the provost, who directed some senior police officers to follow Durodola to the Okota Police Station and the bank to identify the mopols involved in the incident.

At the Okota division, the policemen on the ground allegedly gave wrong names to the team.

The names given by the bank were also reported to have conflicted with those given at the station.

“One of the officers with us, a DSP, asked to see the details of policemen who took weapons from the armoury that morning. He observed that the names were also different. But as we were about leaving the bank premises, I saw the two policemen coming out and quickly identified them.

“I was told that they were arrested on Friday. While one of them was detained, the second, who has an ailment, was left to seek medical attention.

“The officer in charge of the mobile policemen at the Okota division later called to apologise to me on behalf of his men. He said he had also been affected by their action.

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“But the provost told me that the policemen would face the consequence of their actions. Although I would have wanted them to fix my car, but this is Nigeria and I have decided to do it myself,” he said.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, said he would call back.

He had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

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Success Nwogu, Ilorin

The governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kwara State on Sunday was disrupted.

Accreditation of delegates had commenced about 8.30am at Kwara Hotel amid a tight security. There was also a high presence of security operatives on major roads leading to the hotel. Vehicles were diverted while only a few were allowed close to the venue of the accreditations.

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Accreditations lasted till about 4pm while delegates and aspirants later went to the Banquet Hall to cast their votes. The venue also had a high presence of security operatives.

Some of the aspirants included the Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad;  Bolaji Abdullahi, Senator Sha’aba Lafiagi, Alhaji Ladi Hassan, Aliyu Ahman-Pategi,  Alhaji Saka Isau (SAN),  Prof. Sulaiman Abubakar, Alhaji Ibrahim Ajia and Alhaji Zakari Mohammed.  Seated at the high table included the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed;  former Nigeria’s Ambassador to The Netherland, Nimota Ibrahim; Kawu Baraje, Joel Ogundeji, and the state PDP chairman, Alhaji Kola Shittu.

Some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission were present during the exercise. They included Mr Jibrin Maaji, Patrick Friday, Jacob Ayanda, Solihu Wolu, Adebayo Aremu, Jubril Abubakar and Adelabu Raliat.

PDP national officials that came to supervise the exercise included Charles Menagbo, Edward Benjamin, Bankole Thomas, Naeti Chikwe and Chuks Akwitt.

It was observed that many of the prominent party leaders appeared not too much impressed with the exercise.

Sign that all was not well with the process emerged when Ahmad announced that he had withdrawn from the contest.

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The process, however, continued. After delegates from Ifelodun and Baruteen local government areas had voted and delegates from Asa Local Government were about to vote, a lady started shouting. She said, “I will not agree. I must be settled.”

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Olufemi Atoyebi, Ibadan

The All Progressives Congress in Oyo State on Sunday held its governorship congress at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, with a former Central Bank of Nigeria Deputy Governor, Adebayo Adelabu, emerging after other contestants stepped down for his candidacy.

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After the likes of Joseph Tegbe, who was touted as Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s anointed candidate, and other aspirants willingly stepped down from the race, Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) refused to do so as he was adamant on a full primary. But as the election began, the legal icon announced his withdrawal from the race. Adelabu is the grandson of the Ibadan notable politician, Adegoke Adelabu, popularly known as Penkelemesi (peculiar mess).

A former governor in the state, Adebayo Alao-Akala, on Saturday earlier announced that he would not be part of the primary, saying Governor Ajimobi had perfected strategy to impose Tegbe on the party.

Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State also held its governorship primary at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium on Sunday with a businessman, Seyi Makinde, beating other aspirants to clinch the party ticket for the 2019 governorship election.

Makinde beat his closest rival, Senator Ayo Adeseun from Ogbomoso, although the senator in the last assembly left the venue of the primary, citing tampering with the delegates’ list as a reason. The primary was executed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and the representatives of the PDP from the national secretariat.

In his acceptance speech, Makinde said the victory notwithstanding, there was a lot of work for the party ahead of the general elections.

“We know the daunting and challenging work ahead of all of us when, by His Grace, we win the governorship election on March 2, 2019.”

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“Victory is sweet because, with all sense of humility, I know that we are capable of walking the talk. We have the ability to solve the myriads of challenges that daily confront our people, particularly the vulnerable citizens whose numbers, as I speak, have continued to increase in frightening proportions, especially in the past seven and a half years. The plight of these vulnerable citizens will be addressed by our administration. Good governance is putting people at the centre of development,” he said.

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Samson Folarin

Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) has refuted claims by some protesting trainees that the company dashed their hope, five years after promising to employ them.

The company, in a statement on Friday, said the training in question was a Corporate Social Responsibility, adding that it was not a pathway to employment in the oil company.

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PUNCH Metro had reported that some trainees of the company took to the Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos, to protest against what they described as enslavement by the oil company.

The protesters were said to have come from the Escravos Gas to Liquid Plant and other Chevron field operations in the Niger Delta.

Of the 151 affected trainees, about 30 were said to be first class graduates, while others reportedly left their executive positions in other companies to join Chevron after scaling the highly competitive selection process.

The trainees, some of whom joined the Vocational Training Programme (VTP 5) in 2013, claimed that four sets which underwent the training before them, had been employed.

They alleged that after the two years’ training, Chevron not only denied them employment, but refused to issue them certificates.

The protesters said they had nothing to show for the five years that they worked for the company, adding that the firm had continued to roll out training contracts.

The General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Limited, E. O. Brikinn, said the company only sponsored the training.

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 He said, “Chevron Nigeria Limited, operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation /CNL Joint Venture, is an equal opportunities employer and does not undertake employment decisions on the basis of race, gender, religion, colour, age, ethnicity, disability etc. Employment into the company is dependent on organisational requirements and business needs.

“CNL’s sponsorship of the Vocational Training Programme was a corporate social responsibility initiative intended to help build the skills and capacity of the VTP trainees from the local communities in various areas of oil and gas operations. Trainees spend a portion of their time in this programme attached to a CNL facility.

“The technical skills that the VTP trainees are equipped with are transferrable and therefore, the trainees are capable of contributing to the oil and gas industry and various other sectors of the Nigerian economy. Several of the VTP trainees have been able to get employment within the oil and gas industry. The VTP was never and is still not intended to serve as a pathway to employment in CNL for the VTP trainees. CNL never made any commitment in this regard to the VTP trainees. CNL will continue to encourage qualified persons to apply to the company for employment, whenever there are vacancies.”

One of the trainees, Lawal Solomon, who reacted on behalf of the group, said the company’s claims were false.

He said, “There was no point during the training when we were told that it was a CSR; how will you advise career-oriented people and first class graduates to resign their work and careers to settle for a CSR?

“Most CSRs have duration after which the candidates are released to go; how come Chevron did not release certificates to the trainees and continued using them in their facilities?

“Most trainees were trained for specific job roles in CNL operations, which is not in line with the claim that the skills are transferable; many of the trainees were converted from their initial fields at will by CNL to fill openings that needed workers.

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“There are trainees who were trained as operators, but ended up as maintenance technicians after completing the training. Some trainees were converted to operators after being trained as technicians.

“If this is actually a CSR, how come their operation and maintenance training governance model developed by CNL and the Dragnet Advert that many applied for does not describe the programme as a CSR?”

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