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  • #Ondo2020: We Will Run A Collegiate Leadership Style When Elected Governor of Ondo State – Olafeso

    #Ondo2020: We Will Run A Collegiate Leadership Style When Elected Governor of Ondo State – Olafeso

    The National Vice Chairman (South West) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and a leading gubernatorial aspirant of the Party in Ondo State, Dr. Eddy Eniola Olafeso has said he will run a collegiate leadership style when elected to govern the State. He spoke at a meeting he had with selected leaders of the PDP in Ikare when he paid them a visit.

    “We will not act like an emperor when elected as your Governor. We will run a collegiate leadership where we will all sit and take decisions that will be binding on us all. No one is an island of knowledge, we will consult you every now and then to get the best out of our people.” He said.

    While further eulogizing PDP stakeholders in Ondo State, he told them “There is nothing to share in failure. We must all do all we can to make sure we stay strong and united to ease out these wolves in sheep’s clothing that have eaten deep into our commonwealth at the detriment of us all.”

    “Our lands are lying fallow untilled as we have a largely ineffective government in place. We will make agriculture attractive and that will take thousands of our youths off the street.” he added when he informed the leaders of the party.

    Chief Sanya Orungbemi, responding on behalf of the Akoko north east PDP stakeholders thanked Olafeso for holding fort since the exit of Dr. Agagu and told him to make sure that the PDP make sure they get it right. “I have decided to return to the PDP to ensure we return to government. We must stay united and strong. It is the only option we have. I will plead with all stakeholders to find a consensus as regards the state Congress.”

    Olafeso have been on a tour of the state meeting selected stakeholders in a regularised setting to accommodate the NCDC instructions on the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • #Ondo2020: Plot to Secretly Announce  Consensus Candicate of The Unity Group Today Exposed.

    #Ondo2020: Plot to Secretly Announce Consensus Candicate of The Unity Group Today Exposed.

    As events are unfolding towards the October 2020 gubernatorial election in Ondo State, a foremost youth interest group within the ruling APC, the Unity Group Foot Soldiers, has leaked to the press the secret plan of the leadership of the leading interest group within the Party, the Unity Group to announce a consensus aspirant today.

    The group has issued a strong warning to the leadership of the Unity Group over its proposed secret announcement and vowed that it will not hestitate to physically assault any member of the group who converge on the Alagbaka home of the leader of the group and a former deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, to participate in what it described as a charade.

    The youth interest group has called on the State Government and Commissioner of police, Mr Undie Adie, to arrest and prosecute anyone that converge for any political meeting in the house of Alhaji Olanusi today, saying such gathering will flout the government rules to stem the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 that is presently ravaging the world.

    “It is an act of insensitivity and inordinate quest for power that will make some supposed State elders gather at this time when the State Government is doing everything possible to keep the State free from the Coronavirus” the group said.

    It was revealed that, in the last 24 hours, the leadership of the Unity Group has secretly been contacting some of the members of the Group who are accomplices in the plan to announce a consensus aspirant against the overall interest of the entire members of the Group.

    It was also disclosed that the plan is to go ahead and read the rejected report of the embattled seven-man screening commitee, and those who could object to the back-door plan have been kept out of the loop for a smooth execution.

    The UG Foot Soldiers who described the plan as an act of desperation, said the Unity Forum, under the leadership of Alhaji Ali Olanusi, has failed in its mandate as the hope of the common APC member, saying it no longer represents the interest and intent for which it was established

    The group also cited what it described as act of greediness and bad leadership on the path of the leader of the group, Alhaji Olanusi, as reasons to attempt to embark on such dishonourable act.

    “Baba Ali Olanusi has confirmed that he has no respect for the ultimate interest of the group and the people of Ondo State but his own pocket”. The group said.

    “The numerous allegations levelled against him concerning the recent execrable activities of the Screening Committee have now been confirmed to be based on his selfishness and personal gratification against our common interest which have turned him to an inconsistent leader”.

    The group alleged that the seven man screening committee was singlehandedly constituted by the former Deputy Governor, saying that he had made the appointment of the Committee members so much lopsided that most of the aspirants had doubted its integrity from inception. It also said Alhaji Olanusi has taken bribe from many sources to do the bidding of a particular aspirant from the Southern Senatorial Districts, Chief Olusola Oke, SAN.

    Report has it that Alhaji Olanusi connived with four out of seven members of the screening committee, against the common interest of the entire members of the Unity Group, to take over 100 million from different sources as bribe to influence the report of the group for Mr. Olusola Oke, who was revealed to have had the least performance in all of the screenings conducted for the 10 aspirants within the group.

    “We are not sure if Alhaji Olanusi, as an old man, is thinking of posterity and his grave but we need to state clearly that we were decieved into believing that he is now a reliable elder statesman. We now understand that has remained as poltically miserable as he is due to ephemeral gains” the group stated.

    The group berated the embattled seven man screening committee of the Unity Group, headed by a former Senator from Ondo South Senatorial District, Yele Omogunwa, saying it has lost its credibility the moment it was induced with bribe to influence its report.

    “A committee whose mandate was to screen aspirants suddenly began to refer to itself as Candidate Selection Committee against the purpose for which it was constituted” the group said.

    The UG Foot Soldiers said the committee was hijacked by Sen. Yele Omogunwa, Elder Michael Adeyeye, Mr Afe Olowokere, and Mr. Boye Adegbemisoye with the influence of Baba Ali Olanusi to do the bidding of Olusola Oke. It said four members had come up with the report without the prior knowledge of the other three members of the committee-Mrs Iyontan, Prince Solagbade Amodeni, and Prof. Ehindero, who is the secretary of the committee.

    The group said it will be an effort in futility to try to lobby Chief Oke through the back door as the consensus aspirant of the group, saying there are enough reasons to pose Oke as a waste of effort if considered for such position.

    “Oke is inconsistent and greedy. He has contested in virtually all the leading political parties just to satisfy his desperate political yearnings. A man jumping from one political party to another to quench his ambitious thirst can’t be trusted” It said.

    “His losing streaks is spiritual. And he has a long history of diverting monies meant for election for private use. His choice will amount to a waste of time”

    The group said if the Unity Forum desires to be victorious in the forthcoming APC primary, it must look beyond the choice of Olusola Oke SAN.

    The UG Foot Soldiers said the entire members of the APC Unity Group should reject the bid of Alhaji Ali Olanusi, Sen. Yele Omogunwa and Boye Adegbemisoye, saying the trio are more determined about doing the bidding of the PDP in the APC as against the interest of the Party and the State.

    “Zebras cannot wash off their stripes. These men are what they have always been, they destroyed the PDP and jumped to the APC. The APC has suffered enough internal crisis and we cannot allow their sheer desperation for power to further break the Party” the group said.

  • #COVID19: Gov. Emmanuel Leading The fight From The Frontline

    #COVID19: Gov. Emmanuel Leading The fight From The Frontline

    Richard PETERS

    The whole world has finally come to realize that humanity is threatened by an enemy, who has no respect for life, irrespective of class, religion or race. In the recent count, almost all countries of the world have had a harsh and harmful romance from the virus, with a dark, dreaded and unstable economic future of the world in sight.

    Research institutions, experts, corporate organizations, etc. have been working day and night to ascertain which love song the virus would submit to, yet the World Health Organization (WHO) still keeps us in suspense, waiting eagerly, perhaps endlessly to know what our fate would be, and which vaccine should be adopted from the myriad available.

    In the midst of this, many great leaders have wept like babies as the pandemic has devastated almost what they had worked for over the years. Others act as a confused mother whose baby is convulsing for the first time: confused, fearful and tearful. And just a handful of them have stood their grounds to confront the enemy squarely. The last category of leaders have given hope to the people by stationing all the medical weaponry strategically to confront our common enemy. The results are monumental. What separates the last set from previous ones is their mindsets, and Akwa Ibom state governor, Udom Emmanuel falls into the last category.

    Even before the first case of coronavirus was recorded in the state, the governor went ahead of his peers to equip two isolation centers, in addition to the upgrade of medical facilities across the three senatorial districts of the state. His “proactiveness” in handling the pandemic in the state has made many to believe that he is a prophet: A man who sees tomorrow.

    How then will you explain to someone that a governor since assumption of office, almost 5 years ago prioritised in upgrading health Care facilities in the state, with state-of-the art medical equipment as if he saw the coming of coronavirus? How will you describe a man who on assumption of office also tilted our attention to the richness of Agro-economy by creating food banks for the future? This manifested in the establishment of Ibom Agricon Rice Mill at Ini LGA, Flour Mill at Onna, cassava processing Mills, cocoa, plaintain and tomato plantations across the state, to mention but a few. Today, his foresight has saved the state from hunger as almost everything we use are derived from the state. During the total lockdown in the state, palliative was provided by the state government to ease the effect of the decision on the citizens, and most of the items given were Akwa Ibom made. What a beautiful time to measure performance. Many are still asking, is Gov. Emmanuel also among the prophets? Your guess is as good as mine.

    Not quite long, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) commended Gov. Emmanuel on his expertise and activeness in contact tracing which has greatly helped to reduce the number of cases in the state. Recent reports have equally attested to the fact that Akwa Ibom is one of the few states that are front-runners in the recovery rates arising from COVID-19 pandemic. The latest is from The Emergency Digest report. The feat is not magical, it is a result of purposeful leadership, honesty in handling state affairs and accuracy in delivery of his campaign promises.

    Without mincing words, the management of covid-19 in Akwa Ibom is the best so far, as the governor meets with the covid-19 incident Management team on a daily basis to evaluate the situation and take informed decisions to safeguard the people. This, he does without playing to the gallery. He doesn’t want his involvement to be blown beyond proportion like the tradition of many is.

    This is what one gets when the state’s covid-19 response team is working in strict adherence to the NCDC procedures, as the body had been in the state for 2 weeks to give first-hand directive on how to conduct test for coronavirus and address other vital issues. It is not magic.

    The 300 bed isolation center at Ituk Mbang is near completion, and the State government has already taken delivery of 100 beds from an agency, while the state will provide the remaining 200.

    For record purpose, Gov. Emmanuel had seen the future before now, and at the mercy of exaggeration, coronavirus is surprised that Akwa Ibom had already prepared for its ill- triumphant entry into the state. The state can boast of well-equipped hospitals, isolation center with beds plus modern facilities, 19 ventilators, functional Intensive Care Unit, digitalised and functional situation room and call center manned by 50 medical experts, in addition to 407 medical doctors and 2000 nurses as foot-soldiers, readily available to defeat the enemy. No wonder the enemy is always defeated at sight in Akwa Ibom, to the amazement of sister states.

    As it stands now, the active covid-19 patients are all in good condition. This is not rocket science, but the product of excellent and transparent leadership. Nobody hides anything. Nobody plays politics with human life in Akwa Ibom. When it comes to naming patients at the isolation center, one must understand that there are ethics in every profession, and the confidentiality of the patients which is a serious ethical issue in the medical field, remains paramount. It must be respected by all means, except otherwise stated by the patients.

    However, this fight demands collaboration. No commander fights and wins alone. It is always the collaborative efforts of other soldiers that gives victory. Hence, everyone must join hands in this fight. Citizens’ adherence to precautionary measures against coronavirus is paramount. As the state chief executive is at the Frontline, bombarding the enemy’s camp from all angles, the citizens must obey his commands, for our collective safety and victory to be guaranteed.

  • Nigeria Debuts at Eurovision!

    Nigeria Debuts at Eurovision!

    For the first time in history, Nigeria is going to be debuting at the Eurovision Song Contest. The legendary event that has produced superstars such as the sweedish band ABBA and best selling Canadian artiste of all time, Celine Dion is set to hold as Eurostream as a result of the ravaging Covid19 pandemic.

    Eurovision has been running for 63 unbroken years and this year, they’d be having Eurostream a virtual live concert version of the event. An estimated 250 million viewers are expected around the world to livestream the event as against 180 million global audience last year.

    Nigeria will be represented by no other person than the 2020 Afrimusic Contest Winner and reigning African Champion, our own Dhortune Thatondoboy! Dhortune is a multi instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and performing artiste. The ACI entertainment signed rising superstar shall be performing his winning song at the Afrimusic contest, Yèmi (My Mother) alongside other songs from his upcoming EP to millions of music lovers all over the world during the break time of Eurostream 2020. Yèmi is sung in English and native Ondo-Yoruba dialect of where the artiste hails from.

    According to ACI entertainment boss, Mr Wole Adeniyi, plans are already on the way to collaborate with other African artistes in order to produce the French version of Yèmi in other for francophone speaking countries to also enjoy the universal theme of the rich song.

    The Grand finale of Eurostream 2020 feat Dhortune Thatondoboy from Nigeria holds on May 9, 2020 by 8pm Nigerian time. You can visit www.eurostream for the livestreaming

    By Ogbeni La

  • Ikale People’s Struggle for Electricity; Time for Akeredolu’s Intervention is Now By Mike Adeniyi Omogbehin

    Ikale People’s Struggle for Electricity; Time for Akeredolu’s Intervention is Now By Mike Adeniyi Omogbehin

    Ordinarily, I would have ignored the fabricated falsehood being  peddled by some persons in government over the blackout in some local governments in Ondo South senatorial district especially in Okitipupa and Irele Local Governemnt Areas but for the sole reason that undiscerning members of the public may mistake the fiction being traded around for facts.

    I also wish to state unequivocally that this intervention became imperative against the background of the falsehood and misinformation being deliberately shipped around by some political mischief makers who are bent on distorting our recent history concerning the electricity palaver in the district for the purpose of unmerited self-glorification and perhaps to mine some undeserved political benefits.

    Going by the above, it is essential at this very juncture to educate our people and also set the record straight. If we must get an immediate solution to this ugly situation which we all seriously crave, we must know where we’re coming from.

    It should be recalled that sometime around 2013, there was a crisis between the people of Odigbo Local Government and BEDC officials long before my assumption of office on June 9, 2015 as the Federal Lawmaker representing Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency, leading to the mass disconnection of almost every part of Ondo South, except Ileoluji/Okeigbo lG from the  National Grid.

    As a matter of fact, I inherited it and upon my resumption, I took it up to the Federal Ministry of Power then under the supervision of Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN, and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. This was after a joint motion moved by Hon. Kolade Akinjo on the floor of the house calling on relevant stakeholders to ensure power was restored to the district. It’s rather very pathetic to note that while Odigbo, the epic centre of the crisis has gotten their light restored, the rest communities and towns of the senatorial district who were not involved in the crisis are still languishing in darkness.

    On 20th June 2016, I wrote an official letter to the Federal Ministry of Power  advocating  the forthwith restoration of electricity supply to the good people of Ondo South which had been thrown into total darkness in the last 6 consecutive years. On 25th July 2016, the then Honourable Minister, Fashola, responded to my letter where he directed relevant agencies on the evaluation of  electricity distribution facilities within the vicinity of Omotosho Power as a temporary measure.

    For further engagement, not totally satisfied by the response of then Minister,  I also wrote to the National Electricity Regulatory Commission and copied the then House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dogara, to draw their attentions to the fact that my constituency as a host community to Omotosho Power Plant had been without public electricity supply for years.

    After noticing some delay from both sides, on 17th January 2017, I fired  back another letter to then Minister of Power to humbly seek to meet with him, alongside prominent citizens and some selected traditional rulers to address the issues raised therein. By 1st March, 2017, the Ministry reverted to me. The meeting was scheduled to hold on 7th March, 2017. At this point, a coalition of the then Local Government Chairmen, our prominent sons and daughters including Hon. Abayomi Sheba, former Acting Chairman, federal character commission, Elder Akin Arikawe, former permanent secretary, federal ministry of finance and pioneer Chairman debt management organization and the then Ondo State House Assembly speaker Rt. Honourable Jumoke Akindele and our traditional rulers from the two local council areas was put in place for the meeting and subsequent struggles. The two serving local council chairmen, Larry Ogunmusire and Hon Elumaro, in conjunction with the Bring Back Our Light(BBOL) put together an account  reconciliatory committee to reconcile the purported debt allegedly owe to BEDC. It’s very important to lay this background to enable Nigerians appreciate the community efforts that have been put into this struggle while the state government just watches from the sides till date.

     In the meeting, the then Honourable Minister advised the representatives of the affected Local Government Areas to forward an official complaint, stating the observed sharp practices of the officials of BEDC, leading to the arbitrary disconnection of our areas from the National Grid. In compliance, 26th April 2017, we forwarded the official position of our people to the honourable minister and to the NERC.

    On June 2017, NERC wrote to my office to inform me that an ALL PARTIES meeting in respect of our agitation had been convened. The purpose of the meeting was to deliberate and proffer solutions aimed at bringing the matter to a logical conclusion. At this point let me appreciate the sacrifices of Hon. Solomon Bitire, Hon. Aderehinwo and that energetic young man Mr. Olumide Akinrinlola for always taking  the risk of traveling by road with documents to Abuja for all meetings with NERC. By July 6 2017, we had the meeting together with the NERC officials and Ministry of Power representatives where the resolutions below were reached.

    1. BEDC to reopen its offices within the communities and commence rehabilitation work on their network.

    2. BEDC to immediately reconnect customers that were illegally disconnected based on commercial issues.

    3. BEDC to schedule a meeting with the communities with the aim of reconciling outstanding bills and revert to the commission with a report on the reconciled amount.

    4. TCN/MO to ensure installation of energy meter at Ondo transmission substation upon confirmation that the breakers have been replaced thereby facilitating the activation and commissioning of the BEDC 33kV feeder to Odigbo and other communities.

    5. BEDC to submit the requested documents as contained in the Commission’s letter of May 26, 2017 immediately.

    6. The communities are to ensure the safety of BEDC staff and installations in their communities.
    Subject to directive no.3 above, our reconcilatory team meet with BEDC, a position was reached and report submitted to NERC.

    After waiting for months without taking appropriate steps, On 6th November 2017, I wrote back to the NERC informing them of the flagrant disobedience of BEDC on NERC directives to restore power supply to the affected communities.

    Before then, BEDC had complained of    infrastructural decay, vandalisation and damage especially in Okitipupa, Irele and their environs. In order to ease this burden off the neck of BEDC, the Niger Delta Power Holding Company(NDPHC) accepted to fix the decayed infrastructure through the intervention of Hon. Minister of Power and instrumentality of Engr. Ife Oyedele, Executive Director(Technical and Engineering Services).

    As of the last time I checked, NDPHC has fixed almost 90% of the damaged infrastructure in the aforementioned Local Government Areas. So, the question that is  agitating the minds of everybody is why has BEDC not reconnected Ondo South back to the National Grid after the decayed infrastructure has been fixed by the Federal Government.

    Again, it’s important to remind the state government that they can’t continue to sit on the fence over this matter. Our people deserve to be protected from the impunity of BEDC. We’ve been patient enough as a people. We can’t be having electricity plant in our land and continue to live in perpetual darkness even when corporate organizations, foreign and local, are alredy taking advantages of the power plant in our domain. The governor must deploy his political will to compel BEDC to obey the commercial terms of agreement it had with electricity consumers in Ondo South and the directives of NERC by restoring power to us immediately.

    The Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency , Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, must emulate his counterpart in Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, who stood his ground and insisted BEDC must restore light to his people before anything else or move their business out of Edo State when the distribution company was defaulting in distributing electricity to some parts of the state.

    It’s indeed a very sad narative that Mrs. Funke Osibodu, CEO, BEDC,  a native of Ondo State, will be happy that her organisation is perpetuating this evil in some parts of the State. She’s leveraging on her relationship with the State  Government to defy agreements and directives properly issued to BEDC by the Federal Ministry of Power and NERC.  A stitch in time saves nine.

  • The Gruesome Murder of Elder Enikanoselu by Oladun Micheal aka Mickey Jagga: The Tacit Truth and Justice for the Dead

    The Gruesome Murder of Elder Enikanoselu by Oladun Micheal aka Mickey Jagga: The Tacit Truth and Justice for the Dead

    The Family of the late Elder Enikanoselu ( Adam & Eve) hereby call on the Ondo State Government and the Inspector General of Police  to immediately investigate the frightful murder of our kingsman ( Elder Enikanoselu)   by a notorious and serial Jailbird popularly known as Mickey-Jagga on the 2nd day of May 2020.

    It is a truism that Mr Enikanoselu was with a friend at at Bakko Hotel, in the Ebuté area of Okitipupa on the said date when he suddenly received a telephone call from  Oladun Michael aka Mickey Jagga. While revealing the details of the conversation to the said friend, he opinionated that our Kingsman should not honour Mickey Jagga’ s invitation.

    He however decided to honour Mickey’s  invitation due to an unresolved  land dispute between them. The Subject matter is a plot of land sold since 2012 from the acres of land rightfully and legally acquired with title. Mickey Jagga claimed he acquired same plot of  land from an unknown person and sold it to another lawyer without tittle document. The lawyer started building illegally on the said land and Mr Enikanoselu through legal means stopped the said lawyer from carrying out further action on the land. Mickey has expressed readiness over the phone  to settle the matter amicably and pay compensation to the tune of One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira ( 1,500,000) as earlier agreed by both Parties and this was why the deceased left for Oladun Micheal’s (Mickey Jagga) house on the unfortunate day.

    Getting to Mickey Jagga’s house, the narrative changed, argument might have ensued and Mickey aggressively stabbed Mr Enikanoselu with a broken bottle ( as proven by medical records) on his arm. The deceased picked up his phone and called Mr Bakko to inform him on the level of violence melted on him by the scoundrel. As if that was not enough, Mickey Jagga left grievous bodily harm on the body of Elder Enikanoselu with deep cuts on his  Neck and Head.

    Whilst Mr Bakko was on his way to Mickey’s house to rescue the deceased, Mickey Jagga’s wife had already called the Police stating that his husband is about to injure someone. Before the Police got to the scene, Mickey has already taken the deceased  to Omosanya Hospital for treatment, sadly the Doctor declined treating Elder Enikanoselu on the account that he’s not interested in any Police case.

    He was immediately rushed  to the Okitipupa General Hospital where members of his immediate family were contacted and one of his Sons was able to meet him before he gave up the ghost after losing so much blood.

    As a family, we painfully bring this facts to the fore due to the contradictory lies being peddled around by Oladun Michael aka Mickey Jagga and the statements tabled before the Police. Mickey earlier affirmed that the deceased fell from his storey buiding and later he changed his statement alledging that Mr Enikanoselu slipped off his floor. This are two contradictory statements and both excuses cannot validly outweight the medical evidence/record from the Okitipupa General Hospital and the call made by the wife.

    We implore the Ondo State Governor and the Inspector General of Police not to allow this matter be swept under the carpet as usual. Its in the public knowledge that Oladun Micheal aka Mickey Jagga is a Political thug and have severally been tried and convicted for various criminal offence since 2003 till date. Mickey never stopped inflicting pains and causing more havoc to the people of Okitipupa Local Government and his environs. He has been banned severally by the Oba’s in Ilaje, Irele and Okitipupa local government but will always  find his way back due to his Political influence in the State.

    Justice must not only be done on this matter, it must be seen to be done, so we don’t have too many deaths from one single miscreant who goes out killing people unapologetically, recidivistically and unremorsefully. The dead cannot cry out for Justice, it is the duty of the living to do so for them.

    More importantly, we are not seeking revenge, we are seeking Justice. We will stand to see that no other family suffer similar fate from the hands of a Villain like Oladun Michael aka Mikky Jagga.

  • #Ondo2020: INEC Meets Today over Edo, Ondo Gov Elections

    #Ondo2020: INEC Meets Today over Edo, Ondo Gov Elections

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would meet today to review the situation in its offices across the country and take a decision on whether or not to review the dates and guidelines for the gubernatorial elections in Edo and Osun states.

    The commission was also expected to fix dates for the elections to fill vacant senatorial, House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly seats nationwide.

    It would also clarify the resumption modules of activities that would be adopted at the meeting in line with the announcement by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

    INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, had said the commission would meet today to take decisions on these issues.

    Okoye said the meeting would deliberate on some issues, including preparations for the conduct of governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states scheduled for September 19 and October 10, 2020, respectively; the forthcoming by-elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Plateau states and plans for resumption of normal activities at the commission’s offices nationwide.

    The electoral body had before the outbreak of the pandemic fixed September 19 for the governorship election in Edo and October 10 for the gubernatorial poll in Ondo State.

    In the timetable for the election activities for Edo State governorship election, INEC stated that the conduct of primary election and resolution of disputes arising from primaries would be between June 2 and 27, while the campaign would start on June 21.

    INEC had fixed September 17 for the end of the campaign, stating that “Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides 90 days for the commencement of campaigns by political parties and end of same 24 hours before polling day.”

    Okoye, however, urged all stakeholders to wait for further communication from the commission on the resumption of normal activities.

  • COVID-19: 339m people living with asthma globally — Report

    COVID-19: 339m people living with asthma globally — Report

    No less than 339 million people are living with asthma globally with an estimated 176 million asthma attacks reported globally every year.

    The COVID-19 pandemic is creating concern and uncertainty for many people around the globe, including those with asthma. The disease can affect the nose, throat, and lungs, cause an asthma attack, and possibly lead to pneumonia and acute respiratory disease.

    As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark the 2020 World Asthma Day, people with moderate to severe asthma who may be at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, have been urged to take extra precautions to protect themselves.

    Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes periods of wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. It is a major contributing factor to missed time from school and work, with severe attacks requiring emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Sometimes these asthma attacks can be fatal.

    The respiratory community has urged persons with asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases, to ensure the disease is effectively controlled by preventing attacks, and keeping well and out of the hospital where possible.

    There is currently no specific treatment for or vaccine to prevent COVID-19 and experts say the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus.

    People with asthma should continue their current asthma medications and discuss any concerns with their healthcare provider even as scientists struggle to learn more about COVID-19 and to develop specific treatments and vaccines.

    A study shows that asthma doesn’t raise the chances of getting infected with the COVID-19. But if you do get sick, your symptoms could be worse than other people’s because you already have trouble breathing.

    If you have shortness of breath, how can you tell what’s causing it? Pay attention to your other symptoms. Early studies have found that 83 per cent to 99 percent of people with COVID-19 have a fever, although it might be mild. There’s no treatment for COVID-19, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones. Keep taking your asthma medicine.

    Stay home as much as possible even though the lockdown is being gradually lifted. This lowers your chance of coming into contact with the coronavirus. It’s a good idea to have a long period of supply of food, non-prescription drugs, and other household goods on hand.

  • OPINION: Chief Olu Alabi Goofed, His Knowledge Of Osun PDP Questionable

    OPINION: Chief Olu Alabi Goofed, His Knowledge Of Osun PDP Questionable

    The Yoruba aphorism which states that the Elders can not be in the market where the child’s head will be bended is suitable not until Chief Olu Alabi fouled the social space this afternoon. It was then that the wisdom prevailed that the Yoruba language custodians ought to have included a conditionality by saying good Elders. Beyond the surface value, Chief Olu Alabi has ever been more of liability to the PDP in Osun State than a blessing really. Those who may want to argue are challenged to state without cracking their head what Chief has done for PDP. It is not controvertible that they will find none until eternity except Chief changes tomorrow which is doubtful.

    Without being rude, it is unarguable that Chief Olu Alabi was only distracted and carried away by his established political infidelity and hobnobbing with the ruling party. Otherwise, how could Olu Alabi who handles the contract job of waste disposal at the VGC in Lagos courtesy of the APC led government of that state grow the audacity to divide the PDP? Maybe it was another avenue to lobby for new contracts by the dual faced Politician. It will be unpardonable if it is not espoused to the public that the Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola was at the GRA residence of Chief Olu Alabi on his last birthday where he presented gifts that will suggest more than ordinary. Some of the Oshogbo elites who were present could not hide their bizarre over such ungodly disloyalty on the part of Chief Olu Alabi who is now a veteran hater of the famous Adelekes in Ede judging from his wicked assaults against the dynasty at any given opportunity.

    Chief Olu Alabi is from the background checks carried out upon his caustic press texts certified to have dubiously lied by bringing the names of some credible Elders in the PDP to his diatribe venture by falsely suggesting that all the BOT Members from Osun State are with him on his ruinous ambition to wreck the PDP. The second republic politician and former minister of transport has dissociated himself from the stage managed press interview which Chief Olu Alabi was purported to have granted. It will therefore be kind to posterity if other eminent personalities mentioned by Chief Olu Alabi to be in the business to bury PDP can wash off their hands in order not to soil their images.

    It is unfortunate that a BOT member of the party such as Chief Olu Alabi lacks the appropriate knowledge of the internal workings of the PDP to the extent that he could not differentiate between a normal procedural methodology in corporate organisations. This was why he did not phantom that the suspended Chairman of Osun State PDP, Mr Soji Adagunodo was yet to be proclaimed guilty. What has happened is to offer PDP as a party that will not joke on internal democracy. If Chief Olu Alabi could unfairly condemn the zonal leadership in that odious manner in the public, the harm that Chief has done secretly against the party can best be imagined.

    Happily, Chief Alabi recognized in his commercial interview that the party Candidate in the 2018 election truly won but was denied his mandate by the powers that be. Chief Olu Alabi may have been suffering from old age syndrome when he failed to appreciate that the supreme court had earlier pronounced Senator Ademola Adeleke as fit and eligible to contest for governorship position and the high court up to the apex court washed his hands off any offence of criminality over certificate issues. May God heal Dr Olu Alabi of his disdain for humanity. If the court had cleared Adeleke of any wrongdoing, and the same Dr Alabi admitted Adeleke as the Winner for the election before manipulation set in, why is Baba again double speaking. The notary public notes the humanitarian services being provided by the Adeleke family and if Chief Olu Alabi can not praise them, he should stop his badmouthing if he has conscience at all. On this note, it is therefore not difficult to observe that the PDP NWC acted in line with the laws setting up the party and in consonance with the expectation of the overwhelming party members when it said that the suspended Chairman must proceed on leave pending when he clears his name of the established allegations of malfeasance, anti party and other vices.

    The place of Governor Seyi Makinde as a very credible and distinguished leader of the southwest PDP remains unblemished. To that extent, His Excellency will not be misled into making a decision that will appear to discourage a family that is giving all their all to support the masses of Osun State and especially the PDP across Osun State.

    Chief Olu Alabi is enjoined to act honourable, while it is trite that he does not further make nonsense of his academic pedigree by assuming that the supreme court which had cleared Senator Ademola Adeleke can reverse itself especially when no new evidence was adduced.

    Conclusively, Dr Olu Alabi should be ashamed to say that he was working to deny his own State of her due allotment in the offices of the party at the zonal level. If he can do such magnificent disloyalty against the state’s interest, it is now clear where he draws his inspiration to bury the PDP in Osun State and destroy those who have stood and remain standing with the party. At Dr Olu Alabi’s age, he is advised to return to God and start to live a life of true service devoid of inducements both morally and immorally.

    The party will stand no matter the antics of the butchers. If there is anything the national NWC of the PDP has done well in recent times, it was its decision to stop impunity and financial leakages in the administration of the party in Osun State. For this, no thanks can be enough to the national leadership….

    Pastor Abayomi Olukunle Ojo.
    Olorunda Local Government.

  • #Ondo2020: I Will Contest And Win – Olafeso

    #Ondo2020: I Will Contest And Win – Olafeso

    The National Vice Chairman (Southwest) of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Eddy Olafeso, has said that he is still very much in the race to pick the gubernatorial ticket of the PDP in Ondo State ahead of the gubernatorial election in October 10, this year.

    Olafeso spoke through his campaign Organisation in a statement issued on Monday, by Wande Ajayi, in Akure, the Ondo State Capital.

    “We hereby inform the good people of Ondo State, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the entire South West Zone of our party, that, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, is still very much in the race to become the next Governor of Ondo State ahead of the election in October 10, this year.”

    “It is instructive to note that Dr. Olafeso has been working vigorously to pick the gubernatorial ticket of the PDP and his ambition is gaining massive ground. Without prejudice to other candidates, it is certain that he will clinch the PDP ticket to contest as the candidate of the party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ondo State”.

    “We urge our teeming supporters to please disregard the rumour being peddled by Sen. Olu Alabi. It is nothing but a farce. At no time did Dr. Olafeso discuss his gubernatorial ambition with him. Therefore, he lacks the locus standi to make any pronouncement on behalf of Chief Olafeso.”

    “Dr. Olafeso’s gubernatorial ambition is independent of his subsisting position as the National Vice chairman of the Party and would not negotiate it with anybody.”

    Chief Olafeso is resolute in his bid to free Ondo State from the shackles of incompetence and maladministration of the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu led administration.”

    “Chief Olafeso would not be deterred by mere rumours that carry no iota of truth,” the statement said.

    We can report that an elder statesman and member of the Board of Trustees of the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP) in Osun State, Senator Olu Alabi, on Monday declared to the public through an interview he granted the Nigerian Tribune Newspaper, that Dr. Eddy Olafeso, is no longer contesting for the Ondo 2020 governorship election.

    It was learnt that Senator Alabi said in the Newspaper that Chief Olafeso, has already informed the leadership of the PDP in Southwest that he is no longer interested to contest for the party’s primary ahead of the October governorship election in Ondo state.

    Olafeso has however urged his teeming supporters to disregard the statement credited to Alabi which he also described as rumour.