Politics

OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS WOULD HOLD SOON- GOV. DAPO ABIODUN

Published

4 years ago

November 4, 2020

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has assured the people of the State that the much anticipated local government elections in the State is around the corner and would commence as soon as the State’s Electoral Commission is formed.

Prince Dapo Abiodun who disclosed this during an interactive Ogun Youth- Government Townhall Meeting, with the theme, ‘Youth, Skills and Insecurity: Connections, Costs and Opportunities, held at the June 12 Cultural Center, Kuto, Abeokuta, said that what the State would be having is an election and not a selection process.

Abiodun while charging the youths who were already agitating for spots in the upcoming local government elections to leave all sorts of agitations and start preparing for the election, urged them to show leadership by endearing themselves to their people and registering with political parties.

He further disclosed that the State government would soon begin the process for the election by constituting the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, which he said would be responsible for rolling out the calendar for the election.

“In the process of an election, you have to begin to participate, you have to come and register with a political party, you have to begin to campaign, you have to show leadership, you have to demonstrate you are responsible, a local government chairman is what they call a Mayor in America, it is a big position, you are the Governor of a local government, you also have your own cabinet, you will not become a local government chairman by just talking or by agitating, you have to sell yourself to your people, you have to endear yourself to their heart, so if you want to become a local government chairman, the time is now to begin to find your way to your local government and begin to endear yourself into the heart of the people”, the Governor explained.

“We will soon be constituting the Ogun State Electoral Commission, the commission has to be established first because they are the ones that will be conducting the local government elections and this will happen very soon, sooner than later and they will role out the timetable for the local government elections, so, I want to enjoin you to begin to work towards it,” Abiodun said.

On the State government’s plan to empower two hundred and fifty youths across each of the twenty local government areas of the State, Governor Abiodun said that the OG-YES initiative aside giving the beneficiaries a token every month, would also give them access to job opportunities, adding that a single digit loan would be made available for the beneficiaries who had successfully undergone the training process through the Central Bank of Nigeria’ AGSMIS’ scheme.

“OG-YES is an empowerment program which aims to empower our youths, once you are identified and you qualify, you are within the first 250 in your local government, we begin to pay your allowance immediately, that allowance is a form of empowerment, but the real empowerment is the skill and training you are going to be getting and the job opportunity that will follow, that is the real empowerment.

“For those of you that will learn other trades that will require recruitment, the State is also facilitating a loan through the Central Bank of Nigeria, it is under the ‘AGSMIS’ scheme, so we will train you, you will be certified in that trade, if you are trained as an hairdresser or a welder and what you require are equipments like hair dryer, welding machine and other equipments, we will give you a loan to buy that equipment that you will repay over a seven year period, we will train you, and give you a loan to buy equipments, it is a digit loan,” he said.

On the recruitment process for teachers through the State Universal Basic Education Board(SUBEB), Governor Abiodun said that the process for the recruitment of the one thousand five hundred teachers would soon commence with the issuance of appointment letters to the successful applicants, adding that the State government had not been able to conduct exams for applicants for teaching jobs through the Teaching Service Commission because the Covid-19 pandemic had stalled the process of conducting exams for the applicants.

“We had computer based exams for those we wanted to take into our basic education cadre, we got thousands of applications and a thousand five hundred of them have emerged, we are now about to release letters for those one thousand five hundred, if you are one of them, be getting ready to expect your letter, we didn’t want to work on letters while we are still working on minimum wage, so, at least they will resume now and they will enjoy the minimum wage,” he said.

On the state of the Atan-Lusada road, the Governor disclosed that his administration has gotten the blessing of the President to begin construction work on the Federal road which is very critical to lots of industries in the corridor.

“My last visit to the President is on record, I went to the President for two things, I delivered to him the copy of our compendium showing what we did in fifty-two weeks and I also delivered to him a letter, the letter said Mr. President, this is to advise you that we in Ogun State have decided to take over the Atan-Lusada road, we are taking it over and we are constructing it by ourselves, he was very gracious enough to say Ogun State Governor, if that is what you want to do, you have my blessing, so for those that have been concerned about the state of the Atan-Lusada road, very soon, you will begin to see activities on that road,” he said.

The Governor while answering a question on whether he would be going for a second term, said that he would want to continue with the trust building relationship as well as continue in the relationship of promise keeping of noiseless performances, adding that when the times comes, it would be the people that would decide if he would be going for a second term or not.

“So to answer that question, am just a year and a half old into this administration, let us continue with this relationship, this trust building relationship, let us continue in this relationship of promise keeping of noiseless performances, let our performances continue to speak for us, when that time comes, it is you that will tell me if I am going for second term or not,” he said.

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Politics

NNPP Southwest Chieftain Ajadi Slams Ogun LG Polls, Calls for Judicial Review By Ibrahim Kegbegbe

Published

24 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Sahara Weekly

NNPP Southwest Chieftain Ajadi Slams Ogun LG Polls, Calls for Judicial Review

By Ibrahim Kegbegbe

The local government elections conducted in Ogun State on November 16, 2024, have been marred by allegations of malpractice, delays, and voter disenfranchisement, according to Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, the Southwest Chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

Ambassador Ajadi, an advocate for political stability and good governance, described the election as a sham, emphasizing that results announced by the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) could not reflect the will of the people. Speaking to journalists in Abeokuta, he accused OGSIEC of bias and collusion with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Any numbers declared in Ogun State were fabricated,” Ajadi alleged. “No votes were counted at many polling units, and the exercise was riddled with irregularities. If OGSIEC announces any results, it is a fraudulent act that must be challenged in court.”

Voting Disruptions and Missing Officials

Ajadi recounted his personal experience at polling unit 027 in Adebimpe, where he waited until 4:15 PM without the arrival of OGSIEC officials. Similarly, his wife, Mrs. Oyindamola Ajadi, was unable to vote at polling unit 090 at Mr. Biggs in Ibafo due to the absence of electoral officers.

“The lack of organization was glaring,” Ajadi said. “How can we talk about credible elections when basic logistics were ignored? This is an affront to democracy and a betrayal of the people’s trust.”

Reports from NNPP Polling Agents

Ambassador Ajadi revealed that NNPP agents stationed across the state reported widespread delays and harassment. In Ofada Ward, OGSIEC officials arrived at polling unit 07 at 1:45 PM, but polling unit 08 saw NNPP agents intimidated by individuals allegedly linked to the APC, reportedly with the support of law enforcement officers.

In Orimerunmu, OGSIEC officials eventually showed up at polling units 012 and 013, but voters remained stranded due to missing materials. Meanwhile, polling units 035 in Ibafo and 019 at Asese Primary School were completely unattended throughout the day.

Ajadi added, “Our agents reported that at most locations, OGSIEC officials showed up as late as 2 PM with only 50 ballot papers for Councillors and 50 for Chairmen. Where are the missing ballot papers? This suggests rigging was already in motion before the process began.”

Accusations of Intimidation and Collusion

Ajadi further alleged that armed thugs, purportedly working for the APC, disrupted voting in several wards by chasing away NNPP members. “No results should be declared from polling units where elections did not take place,” he insisted. “Our party agents monitored the process diligently, and the evidence is clear—this was an exercise in futility.”

The NNPP chieftain accused OGSIEC of failing in its constitutional duty to conduct free, fair, and credible elections. “The commission’s incompetence and bias have disenfranchised countless voters and undermined democracy in Ogun State,” he lamented.

Call for Judicial Intervention

Ajadi called on the judiciary to ensure that justice is served and warned against the announcement of any manipulated results. “The good citizens of Ogun State deserve transparency and accountability. Announcing fraudulent results would amount to robbing the people in broad daylight,” he said.

Public Reaction

As reports of electoral irregularities continue to emerge, stakeholders and political observers have joined Ajadi in questioning the credibility of the election. Many are demanding a thorough investigation into OGSIEC’s conduct and immediate reforms to prevent a recurrence in future elections.

Efforts to reach OGSIEC for comments on the allegations were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report. Meanwhile, the NNPP has vowed to pursue legal redress to protect the integrity of the democratic process in Ogun State.

Politics

Go out and vote, it’s your right – Ogun APC charges electorate

Published

4 days ago

November 14, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Go out and vote, it’s your right – Ogun APC charges electorate

As the party campaigns for the 2024 Local Government election in Ogun State draws to a close midnight of today (Thursday), the All Progressives Congress, APC, has charged registered voters in Ogun State to go out and exercise their fundamentals rights on Saturday “without any fear whatsoever”.

Addressing the grand finale of APC in Odogbolu Local Government, the Publicity Secretary of the party in Ogun State, Tunde Oladunjoye said, “APC has done very well under the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun, and we are poised to win the chairmanship and councilorship elections overwhelmingly come Saturday”.

Oladunjoye, who is also Senior Media Consultant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Media, thanked the Odogbolu people for showing massive support to the APC in the local government.

“With what I have seen here, victory is sure. I want to thank you on behalf of the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON and the Chairman of APC in Ogun State, Chief Yemi Sanusi. “Come out and vote peacefully on Saturday. It is your constitutional duty and obligation.”

Oladunjoye added that people should learn from the chairmanship candidate of the party in Odogbolu local government, Dr. Babatunde Oyetola Diya, who vied for the office about three and half years ago and did not get it, but remained faithful in the party and continued to reach out to people with his humanitarian efforts.”

Politics

Anthony Ojo congratulates Gov Okpebholo, confirms Edo Central Senate aspiration

Published

4 days ago

November 14, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Anthony Ojo congratulates Gov Okpebholo, confirms Edo Central Senate aspiration

Influential Edo State politician, Anthony Ojo has congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo after being sworn-in as the new Governor of the State.

In his congratulatory message, Ojo expressed confidence in the abilities of Gov Okpebholo to bring the dividends of democracy close to the people of Edo State.

“The people of Edo State have total trust in your five-point agenda, capacity as a leader, and this is evident with their immense show of love. We have no single doubt that under you, this state will progress to the promised land,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, Anthony Ojo has confirmed his aspiration to contest the Edo Central senatorial seat under the flagship of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a position previously held by Senator Okpebholo before he was elected governor.

He cited that sharing the same leadership ideologies with Governor Okpebholo, and the keen desire for transformative human and capacity developments in Edo State are the reasons behind his ambition.

He promised to work closely with the Governor to provide succour to Edo citizens.