President Goodluck Jonathan and Presidential candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Presidential candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, the two that have been on each other’s throats as February 14 Presidential election approaches, today, buried the hatchet and went for peace ahead of the election. They signed what was called “Abuja Accord” supervised by former Secretary-General of the Coomonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Kofi Anan and other local and world leaders at Sheraton Hotel and Tower, Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.
Here also are chairmen of the two combatant political parties: Chief John Odigie-Oyegun of All Progressives Congress (APC L) and Alhaji Mua’zu Adamu of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP R). [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan and Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, Presidential candidates of other political parties as well as their chairmen signed an Abuja peace accord today ahead of February general elections. The stakeholders in the elections, which also included the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega and the security agencies made an undertaking that they would allow peace to thrive before, during and after the elections. The peace accord was drafted by the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, with the former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Kofi Anan and other local and world leaders witnessing the signing by the stakeholders. Among the Party chairmen who signed the accord were Tunde Anifowoshe Kelani of Action Alliance (AA), Rafiu Salau of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Chief Ralphs Okey Nwosu of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun of All Progressives Congress (APC), Ambrose Albert Owuru of Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and Professor Oluremi Sonaiya of Kowa Party (KP). Others were Dr. Yunusa Tanko of National Conscience Party (NCP), Dr. Mua’azu Adamu of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barrister Godson Okoye of United Democratic Party (UDP), Chief Chekwas Okorie of Unity Progressive Party (UPP) and Alhaji Gani Oseni Galadima of Alliance Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN). The Presidential candidates of all the parties also appended their signatures to the peace accord, after which they took a group photograph. President Jonathan took the opportunity of the workshop and signing of peace accord to inform Nigerians that his government had paid compensation of three billion naira to the victims of Kaduna post election violence, even though about N15 Billion was due to the victims He said that other states affected by the post-election violence got between five and seven billion naira, adding the level of destruction in Kaduna state was almost more than all the other parts of the country put together. “So that is the kind of thing the country faces. At the end of elections, we do not need to kill people. We do not need to get our houses or industries burnt. I believe we will get there if we are sincere to do what is right in this country. The emphasis here is electoral violence not electoral malpractices. With electoral malpractices, the Courts can help. To some extent but there is nothing the courts can do about electoral violence. If a property is burnt, it is burnt. If you identify the person, yes, he can go in for arson charges. It is often difficult convicting people.” The President took a look at the history of election in Nigeria and said: “for people of my age and above, we were told that there were electoral violence by the people of south west. And that violence led to the collapse of the first Republic. “In the second republic which I was old enough to observe as a student, we noticed that at the beginning, political parties, the key actors were even relating. After the elections, Governors from different parties were even relating. But as the second round of elections were coming on board, the behaviour changed and people started insulting themselves. I remember a particular day, I was worried because as President Shehu Shagari was approaching one state, even the commentators on the radio were abusing him. “Of course, I was not surprised that, that second republic did not last. Once the politicians start abusing themselves, insulting every institutions, it is just like what late Tai Solarin referred to as “the beginning of the end” “So presently, we are talking about what is coming up. “If you look at the 2011 elections, we approached it differently. I am happy that Civil Society people are here, they did mention that 2011 election was much better than any other conducted by the country. “Even then, at the end of the election, violence still ensued in some parts of the country. Even in Kano and Bauchi, properties and houses were burnt down and in Bauchi, 10 young innocent Youth Corpers were slaughtered.” President Jonathan pleaded to politicians to stop hate preaching that could instigate crises and threaten others. “Provocative and inflammatory statements by people whether they are traditional or religious leaders, or ethnic nationalities leaders must stop. We must stop this. We can practice politics without bitterness. “We must accept that the struggle to rules is not struggle to conquer. Whenever you win election, you will rule the whole country and not only your political party members so that at the end of the election, everybody must be your friend and follower. “We must stop the hate issues then of courses these violence will begin to reduce. We must also strengthen the security.” [myad]
The APC Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has asked the PDP to explain to Nigerians how five trillion Naira in oil and gas revenue has gone down the drain. In a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, in Abuja today APC challenged President Jonathan to explain why over N5 trillion in oil and gas revenue vanished under his supervision, through fraud and embezzlement. “This government must answer the questions posed by the different Committees and Task Forces that probed the Oil and Gas Sector between 2011 and 2012. By this, we mean the Nuhu Ribadu-led Petroleum Task Force Report, the Minister of Trade and Investment’s report on stolen crude; the House of Representatives fuel subsidy report coupled with the investigations into the ecological fund, SIM card registration and frequency band spectrum sale.” The APC Campaign recalled that a prominent newspaper, The Punch, had in the 25th of November, 2012 edition alerted Nigerians on how over N5 Trillion oil money had been stolen under Jonathan’s tenure. It bemoaned the shock that the nation’s economy is currently going through as a result of the free-fall of the oil prices, adding that waste and graft associated with the management of our oil and gas revenue has further compounded Nigeria’s economic predicament. The APC Campaign reminded Nigerians of the report of Punch Newspaper private investigation in 2012, http://www.punchng.com/news/n5tn-stolen-under-jonathan-investigation/ which was never responded to by the government. It noted that if the above scenario was frightening, what followed in the last two years has been worse and most flagrant. According to the APC Campaign, “industrial theft of oil surged from 250,000 to 400,000 barrels per day and remains unabated. The issue of corruption was also repackaged and lowered to the status of petty stealing. Worse still innocent whistle-blowers were hounded out of office.” [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan has disagreed with the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) over what used to cause electoral violence in Nigerian. Buhari had said today, at a stakeholders’ workshop on violence- free 2015 elections held in Abuja, that rigging and falsification of election results have been the main cause of post- election violence. But Jonathan countered by saying that post election violence is often caused by inflammatory statements made by politicians and religious/ ethnic leaders as well as a weak system which allows people of questionable character to join politics. President Jonathan reminded the audience that after the 2011 Presidential election, serious violence broke out majorly in Kano and Bauchi states where he had performed very poorly. “The emphasis here is electoral violence, not electoral malpractices. With electoral malpractices, the courts can help. To some extent but there is nothing the courts can do about electoral violence. If a property is burnt, it is burnt. If you identify the person, yes, he can go in for arson charges. It is often difficult convicting people. “If you look at the history of election in this country, for people of my age and above, we were told that there were electoral violence by the people of south west. And that violence led to the collapse of the first Republic. “In the second republic which I was old enough to observe as a student, we noticed that at the beginning, political parties, the key actors were even relating. After the elections, Governors from different parties were even relating. But as the second round of elections were coming on board, the behavior changed and people started insulting themselves. I remember a particular day, I was worried because as President Shehu Shagari was approaching one state, even the commentators on the radio were abusing him. “Of course, I was not surprised that, that second republic did not last. Once the politicians start abusing themselves, insulting every institutions, it is just like what late Tai Solarin referred to as ” the beginning of the end “If you look at the 2011 elections, we approached it differently, I am happy that Civil Society people are here, they did mention that 2011 election was much better than any other conducted by the country. “Even then, at the end of the election, violence still ensued in some parts of the country. Even in Kano and Bauchi properties and houses were burnt down and in Bauchi, 10 young innocent Youth Corpers were slaughtered. “Violence in that election erupted when election results were still being announced. As we were approaching the end, it was clear that a particular candidate was likely to win and violence erupted in Kano and Bauchi. “The only thing one can deduce, because we cannot say there were malpractices to favour the candidate that won because in Kano, I only got 16% and in Bauchi 15% of the total votes cast. Even in states where we got more than 50 percent, there were no violence. So, violence are not necessarily caused by electoral malpractices.” [myad]
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organisation has raised eye-brow over the appointment of Chief Mike Omeri, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in the Jonathan campaign organisation, saying that it is an act of impunity, and violation of the NOA Act. The Campaign organisation argued that his appointment into a purely political position is in violation of Part 2 Section 6 (2) of the National Orientation Agency Act which expressly prescribes that the Director General of NOA should be “non-partisan.” The Campaign organization describes this behavior as unbecoming and designed to compromise and undermines the rules and principles on which the nation’s public service was founded. It added that this action jeopardises the neutrality, reputation and position of the service as an institution of governance. In a statement signed by Mallam Garba Shehu, Director of Media and Publicity of the organization, the APC Campaign condemned the inclusion of Mike Omeri who is currently serving in one of the federal government agencies, in the Media and Publicity sub-committee of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation. According to the APC Campaign, the action is in bad taste and contravenes the public service rules to which all public servants including the DG of the NOA is bound. The statement said that the publication of the name of the NOA DG in some national dailies with other members of the PDP publicity sub-committee is insensitive, reckless and in poor taste. The campaign organization made it clear that the unprecedented step of co-opting public servant of any cadre into a political party’s campaign structure “amounts to making the concerned public officer partisan and therefore a calculated attempt to pollute the reliability and appeal of the public service.” It called on the President to remedy this blunder by ensuring that Mike Omeri is dropped from the PDP Media and Publicity sub-committee without delay, considering that it contravenes Part 2 Section 6 (2) of the rules and regulations for the appointment of the DG of NOA. The section, APC explained, states, inter alia that the DG of the agency shall be non-partisan. “In this election season, the helmsman of the NOA by the law establishing it, should be in the forefront of the campaign for peaceful and credible election and not to be seen to be collaborating with the ruling PDP,” the APC Campaign said. [myad]
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega has announced that the commission has registered a total number of 68,833,476 voters for the February general elections. He said that over four million Nigerians who were involved in multiple registrations across the country had had their names struck out of the register.
Professor Jega, who spoke today at the meeting with national leadership of all the 23 registered political parties in Abuja said: “in line with the provisions of the law, the commission has just announced the publications of the register of voters that will be used for the February 2015 general elections.
“The total number of voters registered for the elections is 68,833,476.”
Jega said that over four million Nigerians were involved in double registration and that because of this, their names had been deleted from the register.
He said 38,774,391 Nigerians had collected their Permanent Voter Cards out of the 54,341,610 that were ready as at Monday last week.
He, however, said that the commission had ordered more PVCs and that some of them are already waiting for collection.
“The commission has taken delivery of additional PVCs from the contractor, and we are positive that we will have all outstanding cards with us by 28 January, 2015.
“For the avoidance of doubt, possession of PVCs is a strict condition for anyone intending to vote in the 2015 elections.”
Asked about the resolutions passed by the House of Representatives, asking the commission to use TVCs, he said he was not aware of such resolution.
He said however that the commission is working with the intent of using only PVCs for the elections.
Professor Jega regretted that many Nigerians refused to collect their PVCs, adding that in order to address this, the commission had directed all resident electoral commissioners to further decentralise the distribution of the cards to the ward level.
The time for the distribution, he added, had also been fixed from 8.30am to 5.30pm, from Monday to Saturday.
He said that contrary to the doubt being entertained in some quarters, the electoral umpire would use card readers for the elections.
“INEC will use card readers for the elections. Th commission has taken delivery of more than 130,000 units of these card readers, and we are on schedule to receive the remaining quantity before the end of January.”
He announced that deployment of the cards to states had commenced, adding that there are about 150,000 polling points in the country. [myad]
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has told President Goodluck Jonathan bluntly that there is no way he would support him for his second-term bid in the February election after he had referred to him as Motor park tout.
This remark has brought President Jonathan’s attempt at reconciling and getting the former leader’s support for the election at a closed-door meeting last night to a disastrous end.
Obasanjo was said to have emphasized that having referred to him as a “tout” it would be hypocritical for Jonathan to turn around to describe him as the best president Nigeria ever had.
It would be recalled that President Jonathan while receiving members of the Northern Elders Council in Abuja, said that some of the past Nigerian leaders, possibly including Obasanjo were not qualified to be called statesmen.
“Some people call themselves statesmen but they are not, they are just ordinary politicians,” Jonathan told his guests, adding: “to be a statesman is not because you have occupied a big office before, but the question is what are you bringing to bear? Are you building this country or are you a part of people who tell lies to destroy the country?”
Obasanjo was said to have expressed his feelings to several of his aides following a late last night meeting with President Jonathan at his home in Abeokuta. Obasanjo had invited Pastor Adejare Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and Bishop David Oyedepo of Winner’s Chapel to witness his meeting with the President.
It was learnt that a few hours after meeting with Jonathan, Obasanjo met with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, during which time he made it clear that he will support the best candidate regardless of party affiliation.
Upon arriving at the meeting with Obasanjo today, Jonathan tried to turn on the charm, lavishing praises on Obasanjo as he blamed the escalation of attacks on him as the work of his (Jonathan) aides.
President Obasanjo apparently did not buy such praises but waited for a vantage moment to make it clear that he would not change his position on Jonathan’s presidential bid.
Obasanjo’s subsequent and open display of affection towards the APC leadership has reportedly sent shock waves in the Jonathan’s camp, where it is regarded as confirmation that the conciliation efforts with Obasanjo have collapsed, leaving him in grave political danger with the election just one month away.
It was learnt that before the meeting with Buhari today in Abeokuta, the former president had written a letter to Buhari to smoothen their relationship. [myad]
Today, January 13, 2015, is another in history that we should remember to celebrate the lives of our late parents, Otunba Raheem Adegbola Komolafe, popularly known as Baba DHL, and his dear wife, Chief (Mrs.) Aduke Nimota Komolafe (nee Momodu), popularly known as Alhaja and Yeye Oba. Otunba Komolafe was born on June 8, 1938, while mummy was born on February 8, 1944. They were both born in Ilesa, Osun State of Nigeria into staunch Moslem families. Otunba Komolafe was born to Theophilus and Barikisu Fadeiye. His Father was a farmer and his mother a petty trader. His wife was the only child of her mother. She lost her mother at a tender age of two. Her father, Ajagbe Momodu, was a very wealthy gentleman of Nupe origin (Tapa), who had settled in Ilesa, and her maternal grandfather was the Oba Odo of Ijesaland. Otunba and Mrs. Komolafe met at the shop of a photographer who was a tenant to Mrs. Aduke Komolafe’s father and they took a photograph together on the very day they met. We, their children, still have this photograph in our possession. Mrs. Aduke Komolafe, then Aduke Momodu, was later scolded by her senior brothers for taking a photograph with a strange young man from a poor family. However, the relationship blossomed into love and they married at Otapete in Ilesa in 1960. Our parents were fondly referred to as popsy and mumsy by us their children. Our mother, Mrs. Nimota Aduke Komolafe, was a woman of great character. Though very simple in her outlook, she was a very disciplined, enterprising and energetic person. She married at 18 and joined Baba DHL in the UK, where she worked hard while her husband studied. She was a faithful and dutiful wife who contributed immensely to the success of her husband. While in the UK, she registered with Richard and Richard Textiles and got involved in the export of fine textiles to Nigeria from Europe. It was while on a business trip to Austria that she met with some representatives of DHL International who were seeking to establish a foothold for the company in Nigeria. The enterprising Aduke took the bull by the horns and introduced the officials to her husband, who joined DHL International and founded the company in Nigeria in 1979. The couple thereby became indigenous shareholders of DHL International Nigeria Limited. And from then onwards, their fortunes were made. Alhaja was extremely generous and tended to several charitable causes. She was passionate about helping people. So she did all she could for the underprivileged. She would purchase several mill grinders and sewing machines to distribute to the less privileged to make a living from and was very fond of distributing clothing and food to the beggars at Agege railway line and Ebute Metta. Alhaja Komolafe would take in people she does not even know and accommodate them in her home. She loved to have people around her and always made sure that they were well provided for. Her motto was: No one leaves my presence in a position of lack or bitterness of soul. Her husband loved to call her Iya Charity. It was due to the love and care that Aduke had shown to the Oba of Ifewara during his youth time that he made her his Yeyeoba when he became king. At the inauguration ceremony, the oba said Alhaja Komolafe had been extremely kind to him as a youth. He said whenever he visited her house in those days as a young man, she would within an instant serve him a plate of amala. Alhaja Komolafe was a loving mother to six children namely: Sheri, Tunde, Rasaki, Mutiu, Adepeju and Demola Komolafe. She was a disciplinarian and encouraged her children to be very humble and respectful to all. In her early forties, she went to Mecca on holy pilgrimage and there, one of her fellow pilgrims had a dream about her. He later expressed the opinion that she was in the wrong religious denomination and told her that in his dream he had seen her jubilating and giving thanks to God among people of a white garment church. The dream shocked her. When she ended the pilgrimage and returned to Nigeria, she, out of curiosity, tried to find out about the white garment churches. At that point in time, she had no knowledge about the white garment churches and therefore tried to search for information about them. She later met with Senior Evangelist Taiye Irojulaiye, the Shepherd of Celestial Church of Christ, Jedidiah Parish, Oke Ira, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos and joined the Church. This was about 36 years ago. She worshipped in that church for several years and later became the Matron of the Church. After converting from Islam to Christianity, she told her daughter, Sheri Edu, that what she loved most about being a Christian was that the music gave her soul great peace and joy. She loved to worship God and sing thanksgiving songs. She was fond of financing church projects and buying land for Shepherds and Evangelists to build churches on. She did most of this anonymously. A few years before her death, she founded Christ the Saviour Church, Oluwagbamila Parish, under The Sacred Cherubim & Seraphim Church of Nigeria and Overseas, headed by Primate Alao. Three years before her passing on to Glory, she was bestowed with the title of Senior Rev. Apostolic Mother by Primate Alao in the church that she financed and built. And in honour of her good works and contributions to the C&S Church, her daughters, Sheri and Olatunde, were anointed with this same title on the first anniversary of her death. Many will remember the late Yeye Oba as being the Managing Director of Aduk’s Drycleaners at Oluwaleimu Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos State. She was extremely friendly and made a great impact on whoever she met. She was also a great counsellor and could speak to anyone to the extent that their problems would seem to vanish. She was a peacemaker and would always put herself out to help others. In Aduke Komolafe’s bid to help the under priviledged, she became politically active and involved herself in the June 12 struggle during the incarceration of Chief M.K.O. Abiola. During this time, she became very close to the late Alhaja Kudiratu Abiola and stood by her as a source of encouragement until her untimely death. Our late mother slept in the lord after a protracted illness on Friday, January 12, 2000 at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, Lagos, Nigeria. Otunba Komolafe, who had attended Obokun High School, Ilesa for his secondary education, later gained a UK scholarship through his prowess in the sport of boxing and proceeded to the United Kingdom – Leicester Technical College. During his boxing days, he gained a lot of popularity and was known as SPIDER RAY. It was during the time in Leicester that he and his wife gave birth to their first child, Sheri. After living for 13 years in the United Kingdom, Otunba Komolafe and his wife returned to Lagos, Nigeria and established Adekomolafe Nigeria Limited, a cargo clearing and forwarding company. In 1979, he had the opportunity, through the assistance of his dear wife, Aduke Komolafe, to bring into Nigeria DHL International, a giant multinational courier company. He was appointed as an Executive Director. This was a position which he held until 1992 when he was elevated to the position of Vice Chairman of DHL Nigeria Limited, a position which he held until his retirement in 2006. It is laudable to note that during his time as Vice Chairman, DHL International Nigeria Limited grew tremendously, spreading its branches all over Nigeria. DHL became the best courier company in Nigeria even to the extent that it acquired its own private cargo aeroplanes. Otunba had 11 children and he loved all of them very much. He was a very loving father who related to his six senior children born by Aduke Komolafe as if they were his brothers and sisters and he dotted on his little children. He was the type of father who would drive his children to school by himself though he had employed several drivers. Simple to a fault, Otunba Raheem Komolafe was always extremely positive and would always answer to a greeting by saying: “I am 100 per cent okay!” Though Otunba was a Moslem, when his daughter, Sheri, was ill and on life support in hospital, he made a vow to God that if God would spare her life, he would actually get a white prayer garment sewn and wear it to offer thanks at her church with her. He fulfilled this vow and gave thanks with her at a massive thanksgiving ceremony at Celestial Church of Christ, Ife Olu Parish, Aboru, Lagos in July 2000. Otunba Komolafe was a godly person who after the death of his late wife acted as the parochial chairman of the church she founded. Otunba Adekomolafe also singlehandedly financed the building of Zumuratu lIslamiyah Central Mosque, Ilesa. Till date, this is one of the biggest Mosques in Ilesa. Otunba Ade Komolafe was a philanthropist, socialite and a sports lover. He was the Otunba of Ifewara and the Owaseye of Orogba Ijesaland. Apart from being a member of many social clubs, he was the Patron of Ilesa Sports Club and also Grand patron of The Dart Federation of Nigeria. Otunba Raheem Komolafe was flown to London by his family after having sustained multiple injuries from a brutal attack on him and some members of his family after he was assaulted at a fuel station by the then Chairman of Ilesa West Local Government Area, Ibukun Fadipe, popularly known as IBK, during the fuel scarcity in Ilesa, Osun State. The incident occurred on November 15, 2009. He was admitted at a Lagos hospital for a while before he was transferred to a London hospital after his condition became bad. Otunba Komolafe was assaulted alongside his wife, Bolaji, and his mother-in-law, Mrs. Olagunju, by Fadipe and his thugs after they were prevented from jumping the queue at a petrol station. The thugs were alleged to have used cutlasses, bottles and guns during the assault. Investigations revealed that Otunba Komolafe and his wife, Bolaji, had gone to rescue his mother-in-law and driver from being assaulted by Fadipe and his thugs when they suddenly descended on them too. Nothing has been heard of the matter since then. Otunba Raheem Komolafe died at the Bupa Cromwell Hospital at Earls Court in London on January 13, 2011. This was exactly 10 years after the death of his wife.
. Sheri Edu is the first child of late Otunba Raheem Ade Komolafe. [myad]
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) formally kicked off its campaign in Delta State today with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan expressing confidence that the party will emerge victorious in all the elections in February. Flags of the party were presented to the candidates for senatorial, House of Representatives, at the Oghara Township Stadium. Governor Uduaghan said that the PDP has a history of victory in the state and its track record of project delivery in the state and the country has given the party campaign materials. The Governor who presented the PDP gubernatorial candidate for the elections, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to Ethiope East local Government Area traditional rulers’ council at the Palace of the Ovie of Oghara shortly before moving to the Oghara Township Stadium, said: “we have always won elections and we will win again because the PDP has a lot of things on ground to campaign with.” Senator Okowa at the occasion, said he will consolidate on the achievements of Governor Uduaghan’s administration and that of former Governor James Ibori. He assured the traditional rulers that when elected, his administration would encourage government partnership with them for the development of the state. The Ovie of Oghara, Oyibo Etsemitan, commended the PDP for its unity and commended Governor Uduaghan for providing good leadership to the party. Ovie of Mosogar, Omene , Urie 1 said that the traditional rulers have endorsed the candidature of Senator Okowa stating, “we are moving away from politics of ethnicity, we are moving to the politics of development and we know that Senator Okowa will ensure development when he becomes the governor.” At the campaign rally at the stadium, Senator Okowa assured Deltans that his administration will continue to build bridges of unity in the state, asserting, “we will remain as one united Delta.” He said that his administration will develop the agricultural sector, accelerate industrialization of the state, restructure the education sector and improve on the programmes of Governor Uduaghan’s administration. The PDP Chairman in the state, Chief Edwin Uzor who presented flags to the candidates observed that the PDP has done a lot for Nigerians, especially in Delta State and urged Deltans to vote for the PDP to enable the party continue with its development stride. Others who spoke at the rally include the state’s Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN), Senator Okowa’s running mate, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, the South South Chairman of the PDP, Dr Cairo Ojougbo, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr Steve Oru, the Chairman of the PDP campaign committee, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, the Chairman, Presidential Campaign contact committee for Delta State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyesegha, among others, urged Deltans to vote massively for the PDP in the interest of the nation and the state in particular. [myad]
Exodus of defections from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC) is said to have taken place early today in Ondo state. Confirmed sources said that all the former Speakers in Ondo State House of Assembly, five Commissioners in Mimiko’s administration and eight local government chairmen in Ondo State defected to APC. A rally in Akure, which was held in the APC state secretariat, was turned into a harvest of defection, with scores of local government councillors shifting from PDP to APC. They were led by former Chief of Staff to the late Governor Segun Agagu, Mr. Femi Agagu. Sources said that the greatest shock at the rally was the defection of former Speaker Victor Olabimtan, who is a director in President Jonathan’s Campaign Organisation and also a current member of the Federal Civil Service Commission. It was learnt that at the last count, no fewer than 48 PDP leaders in Ondo are leading thousands of their supporters to APC. [myad]
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Here also are chairmen of the two combatant political parties: Chief John Odigie-Oyegun of All Progressives Congress (APC L) and Alhaji Mua’zu Adamu of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP R). [myad]
