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Oyebanji lifts 48 indigent citizens with N20m

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Oyebanji lifts 48 indigent citizens with N20m

 

 

 

 

In his drive to reduce poverty among indigenes of the state, Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has empowered another set of 48 indigent citizens of the state with cash and material support to the tune of N20 million.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disbursing the fund on behalf of the Governor on Wednesday at the Conference Hall of the Governor’s office, Ado-Ekiti, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Governor’s Office, Mrs Sola Abe, said the intervention was in line with the fulfillment of Governor Oyebanji’s campaign promises of shared prosperity and reduction of poverty among the populace.

 

 

Mrs Abe who explained that the intervention ranged from payment of school fees, medical bills, expansion of businesses with necessary equipment among others, is a way of providing succour to vulnerable indigenes of the state who are in serious need of financial assistance to improve their livelihood.

She noted that Governor Oyebanji is passionate about helping the less privileged even before he became Governor, and hence, he had earmarked certain amount from his personal purse every month for this cause.

This, according to her, is a way of reaching out and rendering a helping hand to the needy indigenes that are not employed but have some vocational skills.

The Governor’s aide charged all the beneficiaries to spend the money and utilize the equipment judiciously, adding that what they all requested for were given to them without any reduction.

She also stated that a monitoring team would visit them regularly to know how they are faring and see that they are using the money and the equipment for the purpose for which they were given.

Among the beneficiaries of the largesse were tailors, drycleaners, traders and hairdresser who were given full equipment to start or boost their businesses.

On modalities for disbursement, Mrs Abe said, “We receive request from indigenes asking for assistance and it varies from tuition, medicals or expansion of businesses, so we do our investigation, market survey, verify claims and disburse.

“We have 48 beneficiaries today and the mode of selecting them is that they write letter to the Governor and he charges them to our office, we then call the applicants, ask questions and confirm if they actually learn the trades. We also ask if they are already in the business or they want to start afresh before we eventually verify their claims.

“March next year will make it a year that we have started the programme, so, we will assess how the programme has fared in one year by going out to monitor activities of beneficiaries to be sure that its actually meeting the needs and plugging all holes in homes. The only criteria we ask for is that you must be from Ekiti. No political colouration.

“This is more of the Governor’s personal project, this is what he is doing himself to ensure he reach out to people in his own way. In fact, he has been doing this before he became Governor. And I think people now know about it, so the volume of requests that come to him has become enormous. he understands the impact this is having on the people, he understands the hardship going on with the people. This is own way of helping the people from his own personal purse.” She added.

Some of the beneficiaries including Mr Abiodun Olatoye, Mrs Yemi Adefemi and Miss Odunayo Obafemi spoke glowingly about the love Governor Oyebanji has for the less-privileged in the state and prayed that God would continue to bless him.

Mr Abiodun Olatoye, a Barber said he just wrote for assistance from the Governor and was surprised to receive a call to come to Governor’s office to receive equipment he needed for his business and money to rent a shop.

He expressed appreciation to the Governor for making life easy for him as he did not have any helper who could assist him get a shop and purchase equipment for him.

 

Oyebanji lifts 48 indigent citizens with N20m

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TAIWO OYEKAN To Empower Lagos Island Vulnerable Residents With N20 Million

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*TAIWO OYEKAN To Empower Lagos Island Vulnerable Residents With N20 Million*

*• Nigeria Police Force To Receive Patrol Vehicle*

*• Others To Be Gifted Assorted Food Items, Filled Gas Cylinders*

In his continued effort to upscale the Standard of Living of Residents across Nigeria”s Premier Local Government Area, Hon. Prince TAIWO AJIBADE OYEKAN has concluded plans to gift Twenty Million Naira (N20,000,000) to Widows, Elderly Locals, Physically Challenged Persons, Petty Traders, Artisans and Technicians.

In addition, The Deputy Leader of Lagos Island Local Government Legislative Arm will donate a Patrol Vehicle to the Nigeria Police Force to improve security architecture on the Island.

Hundreds Of Bags Of Rice and Filled Gas Cylinders will also be distributed.

According to Hon. Oyekan, the Socioeconomic Intervention Initiatives are designed to complement the efforts of the State and Federal Governments in Poverty Alleviation and Security of Lives and Property.

“I am passionate about uplifting the vulnerable in our communities and I will not relent. We must brighten the hope of the people and make the world a better place”. He said.

Recall that the Iconic Council Legislator had in March disbursed N10 Million and in May, N5 Million respectively to the Indigents and Small Scale Business Owners to promote local economy and Residents’ standard of Living.

In December 2023, A Utility Bus was presented to a Lagos Community Security Outfit (The Isale-Eko Community Security Team,
Folumo), an intervention geared towards promoting community Policing.

Hon. OYEKAN’s Action Plans were commended by Community Leaders, Party Chieftains and Stakeholders in the State.

The Date and Venue of the much-talked about MEGA PLUS ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT will be announced soon.

… It’s About The People And Our Communities

… Determined To Do More For Betterment Of Humanity

*© PTO Media & Strategy Centre*

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Christmas In Delta: Organizers Announce Second Edition Of Africa’s Most Anticipated Event

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Christmas In Delta: Organizers Announce Second Edition Of Africa’s Most Anticipated Event

 

 

The organizers of “Christmas in Delta” have officially announced the second edition of the much-anticipated 45-day Christmas festival.

Set to take place in the oil-rich Delta State, the sequel of the inaugural edition of Christmas in Delta follows a highly successful inaugural edition celebrated in 2023, attracting about a million enthusiastic guests.

Scheduled to run from December 1, 2024, to January 14, 2025, the festival is expected to attract over one million visitors, promising a season of celebration, community, and unforgettable memories.

Organised by Omu Resort, a respected name in entertainment and event management known for creating immersive theme parks and unique experiences, this year’s festival is expected to further establish Delta State as a prime holiday destination in Nigeria

Synonymous with Christmas, this year’s festivities will begin with a grand Christmas light-up ceremony at Asaba’s Christmas Village, graced by the presence of Delta State Governor, His Excellency Sheriff Oborevwori. The event promises a rich mix of entertainment, culture, and commerce, with the potential to significantly contribute to Delta State’s economic growth.

Festival highlights include a friendly soccer match featuring Super Eagles players of Delta origin against Delta Nollywood stars, as well as the captivating “Asaba Art Exhibition”. Additional events lined up to delight attendees include an exhilarating Car Drifting Show featuring top drifters, the colorful “Warri City Carnival” on December 22, and an immersive “Warri Christmas Experience’, complete with the inspiring “Shekere Praise & Worship” on December 24. The festivities will culminate in a grand synchronized fireworks display, lighting up all local government areas in Delta State during the much-anticipated “Delta Fireworks Display Night”. Further excitement will be provided by a DJ Rave and the “Osubi End-of-Year Concert” to bring the celebration to a spectacular close.

Project Manager, Daniel Eguyenga, highlighted several exciting new attractions for this year’s edition. Among the fresh additions are car drifting exhibitions, thrilling bike displays, and a novelty soccer match, promising an even more engaging experience for all attendees.

Eguyenga also noted the expanded schedule of events in Warri, with “The Warri Experience” added as a new centerpiece. This includes a vibrant gospel concert and the inaugural “Warri Festival”, a celebration of the rich cultural diversity of the region. Combined with returning favorites, such as Africa’s tallest Christmas tree, these additions ensure an enchanting experience at “Christmas in Delta”.

Emmanuella Osakwe, a member of the “Christmas in Delta” organising committee, expressed similar excitement, assuring that the Delta festival will be a memorable event. “We’ve made every effort to ensure that guests will enjoy a wide array of exciting activities and experiences,” she shared.

With the upcoming “Christmas in Delta”, this festive season promises a dynamic blend of tradition, celebration, and community spirit for all in attendance.

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EFCC: AS THE NATION AWAITS THE SUPREME COURT By Tunde Nasir

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EFCC: AS THE NATION AWAITS THE SUPREME COURT

By Tunde Nasir

Since the new EFCC Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede assumed office about one year ago, the fight against corruption, financial and cyber crimes, has taken a new heightened and reinvigorated dimension to the admiration of those who are genuinely concerned about fighting the cankerworm of corruption that has bedeviled our nation almost to a standstill.

Ola Olukoyede, a Pastor, seems to be following the Biblical injunction, as he declared from the outset his intention to combat the evil of corruption vigorously as a means of fostering economic development of the nation.

Perhaps, following the promise of God in Joel 2:25: “I shall restore to you the years of the locust, the cankerworm and the caterpillar have eaten…”

However, knowing the certification, experience, prowess and international connection that Olukoyede was armed with and bringing into the office, it was not surprising that opposition to his appointment started as soon as his name was announced by President Tinubu on October 12, 2023 and his confirmation by the Senate on October 18, 2023. Those who did not object to Olukoyede’s previous appointments as Chief of Staff to the Chairman of EFCC and also as a Secretary to the Commission, suddenly turned around to say that he was not qualified to be appointed as chairman!

However, Olukoyede has continued to soldier-on, delivering on his mandate, undeterred and undaunted. Within 12 months, a record 3,455 convictions were secured and monetary recoveries from October 2023
to September 2024 stood at
N248,750,049,365.52 (Two Hundred and Forty-Eight Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty Millon, Forty- Nine Thousand, Three hundred and Sixty-Five Naira, Fifty-Two Kobo), $105,423,190.39 (One Hundred and Five Million, Four Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand, One Hundred and Ninety Dollars, Thirty-Nine Cents) and £53,133.64 (Fifty-Three Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty- Three Pounds, Sixty-Four Pence); apart from recoveries in other foreign currencies.

On the Issue of corruption trials, Olukoyede revived or initiated court cases against high-profile politically-exposed persons, including former Ministers and Governors. Among the politically-exposed personalities who were hitherto considered untouchable and now on trial for corruption are former governors Yahaya Adoza Bello(Kogi), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), and Darius Dickson Ishaku (Taraba). Former Ministers Saleh Mamman and Olu Agunloye have been put on trial too.

Correspondingly, the Commission has faced the biggest ever campaign of calumny, blackmail, public protests by sponsored NGOs, simulated attacks in the media and well-oiled, sponsored litigations to undermine the operations of the Commission and its unrelenting Chairman.

Chief among the litigations against Commission is the lawsuit initiated at the Supreme Court by Kogi State Government challenging the establishment and constitutionality of the EFCC. The suit, according to the plaintiff, posited that the establishment of EFCC was an affront on principles of federalism.

About 15 other states reportedly joined Kogi State in the suit and asked that their grievances against the EFCC be consolidated. There have also been comments and actions for and against the court action instituted by Kogi State Government and its collaborating governors.

A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has written to the National Assembly about constitutional issues related to anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria and factors inhibiting the government’s objective of abolishing corruption, as stated in Section 13 of the Constitution.
In two separate letters to the Senate and House of Representatives, dated October 14, 2024, he said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was “an unlawful organisation that he believed was unconstitutionally established.”

However, in the contrary, respected lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana (SAN), countered Agbakoba. Falana said: “For me, the ICPC and the EFCC like the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) have come to stay. What we should be demanding are measures to make these institutions autonomous and not under the control of any government,”

He added: “And the Supreme Court has maintained rather repeatedly concerning the EFCC and ICPC, that these are crime fighting bodies, and should not be under the control of the Federal Government. They are agencies to fight economic crimes in our country, to fight financial crimes in our country, to fight corruption in our country.”

However, with the controversy generated by the Kogi State’s suit against the EFCC and its discussion in the court of public opinion, some states who initially applied to join the suit have beaten a quick retreat, applying to the Supreme Court to withdraw from the suit. Among the states that have withdrawn are Jigawa, Anambra, Adamawa, Ebonyi and Benue states, who have separately filed motions before the Supreme Court, saying they are no longer interested.
In the case of Benue State, Governor Hyacinth Alia suspended the State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Bemsen Mnyim, for acting “unilaterally in joining the suit without the approval of his principal.”
The development came on the heels of the declaration by the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, that the state was neither aware nor part of the suit challenging the legality of EFCC.

In the case of Ogun State, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluwashina Ogungbade denied ever initiating any case or being part of Kogi State’s suit against the EFCC.
Speaking to newsmen in Abeokuta, Ogungbade wondered why some sections of the media continued to include Ogun state in the list of the states in court against the EFCC.

“We don’t have a suit against EFCC. We never filed any action against EFCC challenging its constitutionality. We already issued a statement to that effect clarifying that we never had any suit attacking the EFCC’s constitutionality and that we did not join the suit filed at the Supreme Court filed by some other states in that regard. So, I am surprised that some media outlets are still running reports that include and mention Ogun State as one of the states challenging the EFCC’s existence when that is not the case.“

According to the statement by Ogun State government, “the constitutionality of the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) had since been determined by the Supreme Court, and Ogun State considers discussions on the issue closed.”

The Ogun State government stated that it had “no factual reason or recent development to reopen the question of the EFCC’s constitutionality.”
It added that “as a federating unit with law enforcement agencies of its own, it had no desire to undermine the Federal Government’s law and order objectives.”

One of the vociferous anti-corruption groups, the Vanguard for Credible Representation (VCR) has lauded those states that have withdrawn from the Kogi’s suit against EFCC at the Supreme Court. In a statement signed by VCR’s Head of Mission, Onche Ugbabe, the group said it was “heartwarming that some state governors were dissociating themselves from the suit and lending their support to the fight against corruption.”

The statement reads: “It is heartwarming that Governors Hyacinth Alia and Dauda Lawal have publicly dissociated themselves from the suspicious move orchestrated by some state governments. We also commend the Governments of Anambra, Adamawa and Ebonyi states for heeding the voice of reason and withdrawing from the suit.”

The group hailed erudite lawyers like Mr. Femi Falana SAN and Kayode Oladele who have faulted the suit and its backers.
“It is highly gratifying that erudite lawyers like Mr. Femi Falana SAN and Hon. Kayode Oladele have publicly condemned the unpopular move, citing a plethora of judicial decisions of the Supreme Court on the legality of the anti-corruption agencies.

“It is in the light of this that all well-meaning individuals and institutions should lend their support to the war against corruption and not seek to thwart it by any scheme or schism,” the group said.

As the nation awaits the Supreme Court verdict, it is expected that more Governors will see reasons and withdraw like others who are not participating, or have withdrawn from the suit. As at now, there are more state governments that have distanced themselves from the suit than those who are before the Supreme Court. The bell ticks!

Tunde Nasiru, a Public Policy Advocate based in Abuja, sent this through [email protected]

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