The Osun State House of Assembly is heading to loggerhead with Governor Ademola Adeleke, who was sworn-in yesterday, November 27, over the decision to, among others, rename the state from “State of Osun” to Osun State.
The Assembly argued that the anthem, crest and flag of the state was an enactment of a law assented to on December 18, 2012, and that no person can exact force to change it.
Adeleke, had, during his inauguration, reversed the name of the state from “State of Osun” to “Osun State” and also reversed its appellation from ‘The State of the Virtues’ to ‘The State of the Living Spring.”
Adeleke also reversed all appointments made by the immediate past governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, effective from July 7, 2022.
He also ordered that all government bank accounts be frozen, and that all actions of the Oyetola-led administration from July 17 will be revisited.
In a reaction to the governor’s decision, the House, through the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, Moshood Kunle Akande, frowned at the governor’s action.
The statement read: “The State of Osun House of Assembly having reviewed the inaugural speech of the Governor and the activities of the inauguration hereby resolves as follows: “The usage of the State Anthem, Crest and Flag is an enactment of the law and as such, its usage is a matter of law and not choice.
“The enactment “State of Osun Anthem, Crest and Flag Law, 2012” assented to on December 18, 2012, contained in Schedule 1, II, III, IV and V, which carefully details every component of this law is not in ambiguity.
“Schedule I is the State Anthem, Schedule II has to do with the State Crest, and Schedule III is the symbolic significance of the elements in the Flag.
“Lastly, we are aware of a court judgment in effect.”
The lawmakers said that the state will continue to be described as the “State of Osun” and “Ipinle Omulabi” (State of the Virtuous).
Barely 24 hours after he was sworn-in as the sixth Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke has sacked a total of 12,000 workers and ordered the dethronement of three monarchs. The Governor announced the sack of the State’s Independent Electoral Commission’s Chairman, Segun Oladitan and his members. The Governor also nullified the appointment of 30 Permanent Secretaries and suspended the chairman and members of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC). The affected monarchs include Akinrun of Ikinrun Oba Yinusa Akadiri; Aree of Ire Oba Ademola Oluponle and Owa of Igbajo, Oba Gboyega Famodun. He also ordered the monarch to vacate the palace, asking security operatives to take over. The purge is contained in a statement today, November 28, by the Chief Press Secretary to Adeleke, Malan Olawale Rasheed, indicating that the new Governor signed the Executives orders which covered chieftaincy matters, appointments issues, setting up of review panel, staff audit and employment matters.” The statement reads in part: “All employments in the service of Osun State Government made in any capacity into any capacity in all the Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards and Parastatals after July 17th, 2022 be and are hereby nullified. “Executive Order number five on Chieftaincy Affairs and appointment of traditional rulers. All appointments of traditional rulers made by Osun State Government after 17th July, 2022, are hereby ordered to be reviewed to ensure there was strict compliance with due process of chieftaincy declarations and native law, custom and tradition relating to such chieftaincies. In the case of Ikirun, Iree and Igbajo, to avoid further breakdown of law and order, the appointments of Akinrun of Ikinrun, Aree of Ire and Owa of Igbajo are hereby put on hold pending review. Subsequently, the palaces of Akinrun of Ikirun, Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo should remain unoccupied, while security agencies are hereby ordered to take charge.” Recall that Adeleke’s predecessor, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola employed over 12,000 workers and appointed 30 permanent secretaries shortly before he handed over to Adeleke yesterday, November 27. Another statement by the Secretary to Osun State Government, Tesleem Igbalaye, also announced the suspension of the chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Segun Oladitan and its members. Others are: Yusuf Oyeniran, Suibat Adubi, Prince Yinka Ajiboye, Abosede Omibeku, Dosu Gidigbi, and Wahab Adewoyin. The statement noted that the suspension was sequel to several petitions bothering on financial impropriety, dereliction of duty, absenteeism and abuse of office against the said Chairman and members of the Commission. Source: The Eagle online.
The Group F football match between Belgium and Morocco, in Brussels, today, November 27, ended in violence as Morocco defeated Belgium 2-0 in the ongoing World Cup competition in Qatar.
Reports said that dozens of people were attacked while some fans smashed shop windows, threw fireworks, burnt vehicles, with police using water cannon and teargas after coming under attack from football supporters who brought havoc to the centre of Brussels.
It was said that even before the end of the match, “dozens of people, including some that wore hoodies, sought confrontation with the police, which compromised public safety,” Brussels police said in a statement.
A spokeswoman said some fans were armed with sticks and a journalist “was injured in the face by fireworks”.
About a hundred police officers were mobilised while residents were warned to avoid certain areas of the city centre. Metro stations were closed and streets blocked to limit the spread of the violence.
The Mayor of Brussels, Philippe Close tweeted: “I condemn in the strongest terms the incidents of this afternoon. The police have already firmly intervened. I therefore advise against fans coming to the city centre. The police are doing all they can to maintain public order.
“I have ordered the police to carry out arrests of the troublemakers.”
The Leader Of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has made clear to the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi cannot win the 2023 presidential election on the basis of large crowd he pulls at campaigns.
In a statement by his Media Aide, Oluwatosin Osho, the clergyman said: ‘’Obi should not work on the crowd alone. He should work on the election technicality.
“He doesn’t really need to work on reports but results. He should be more diplomatic and technical. He will understand what I am saying.
“If he wants to win, he must take his focus from the crowd and work seriously on the election technically.’’
Primate Ayodele said that there will be no run-off as being speculated, saying: “many things will still change before the election. Not all the crowd gathering will vote for them, they need to work extraordinarily.
“Let’s forget about run-off or inconclusive, the winner will win and the losers would win.”
Editor-in-Chief and co-founder of the defunct Newswatch magazine, Dan Agbese has described as unique, a book, titled: The Letterman: Inside the ‘Secret’ Letters of former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, put together by the Editor-In-Chief of the PREMIUM TIMES online newspaper, Musikilu Mojeed, to be publicly presented in Abuja on December 1st .
Many other high and mighty, including former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku; the Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah and a former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Ifueko Omogui Okauru, also commended the work.
Commendations have also come for the book from Toyin Falola, renowned professor and the Frances and Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at the University of Texas at Austin; Dan Agbese, respected columnist and writer, who was also the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Newswatch, a foremost and trail-blazing investigative magazine; and Kadaria Ahmed, founder/CEO at Radio Now 95.3FM Lagos, television host, and former editor of NEXT newspaper.
The Letterman, a 492-page, 25-chapter narrative non-fiction, curates some of the most significant and historical letters written and received by former President Obasanjo, which compellingly tell the story of his life, as defined by and defining of the story of his country, Nigeria and the larger African continent. A number of these letters, written to dignitaries in Nigeria and around the world, have never been publicly seen.
The book will be presented to the public on Thursday, December 1, in Abuja.
The book chronicles the life of Obasanjo as General Officer Commanding the Third Marine Commando and his wartime efforts, through his tenure as military head of state between 1976 and 1979, his continental liberation struggles and political activism from the 1970s to 1999, his civilian presidential term from 1999 to 2007, as well as his post-presidency era.
Below are excerpts of their comments:
“In the book, The Letterman, Musikilu Mojeed introduces a new genre in Presidential history and record-keeping. No single Nigerian has captured and traversed the memories of Nigerians like President Obasanjo. Straddling generations, famous for his role in the civil war through accepting the instruments of surrender of the Biafran army, noted for having the longest period of service as Nigeria’s Head of State and President, complex, forceful or brash, he stands out as the only person to have put down almost his every thought in writing.
The Letterman takes the reader through President Obasanjo’s complex, intricate, even serpentine mind, captured by the contents of his no-hold-barred letters. The author has offered readers a precious piece of recorded history that will stand the test of time and occupy a special place in Nigeria’s rather barren shelves of presidential writing.”
– Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Nigeria..
“I am amazed by the sheer quantum and depth of records accessed to write this book and the record-keeping ability of the letter writer, which is worthy of emulation. This book is truly a treasure trove of information. Musikilu Mojeed demonstrates a knack for seeking the deep, unusual and insightful perspectives and presents this to his readers. He provides, through a review of letters written or received by President Olusegun Obasanjo, spanning from 1952 to 2020, an insight into history – especially Nigerian history, a fair portrayal of the consistency of the man behind the letters, and most importantly the cyclical nature of the challenges of governance in Nigeria and Africa. This is a must and captivating read for all persons seeking to build a prosperous Nigerian nation and a truly great African continent.”
– Ifueko M Omoigui Okauru, MFR, former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
“Mojeed has miraculously uncovered treasure troves of letters and meticulously analysed momentous moments, mindful of the place of the documents in our country’s history. The Letterman reveals values and character, in strong prose that exposes the workings of the inner mind of Nigeria’s most complicated leader, self-assured nationalist, versatile entrepreneur, and belletrist. This is a book for keeps — what historians categorise as an archive with an imperishable quality. This book will become both the source and preface to a series of other books on the language of politics and the politics of language. It is a masterpiece to understand the anatomy of authority, the conventions of power, and the intensity of intra-elite intrigues.”
– Toyin Falola, Frances and Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities, the University of Texas at Austin, and author of Understanding Modern Nigeria by Cambridge University Press.
“I believe that the Olusegun Obasanjo letters will find a prominent place in the chapters of Nigeria’s contemporary history as informative insights into the national affairs of the country when they were written. I therefore recommend this book, The Letterman, by Musikilu Mojeed to the reading public.”
– Chief Emeka Anyaoku CFR, CON, GCVO, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
“Musikilu Mojeed has written an engaging biography of the former Nigerian president entirely from his letters. Obasanjo used his letters to persuade, educate, and chide international and local political leaders and fight for justice at home and abroad…
“I cannot recommend this book highly enough for all those who want to see the Balogun of Owu kingdom in his elements. I commend the author for charting the unique path in biographical writing and character study in our country. I repeat: this is unique.”
– Dan Agbese, Editor-in-Chief and co-founder of Newswatch, a foremost and trail-blazing investigative journalism magazine, is one of Nigeria’s most respected columnists and writers.
“This most important book provides significant insight into the philosophy and politics (life and times, head, heart and soul) of one of the most consequential post-colonial African leaders, former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Mojeed has created a timeless resource that will enrich important conversations on nation building and Pan Africanism, today and years into the future.”
– Kadaria Ahmed, Founder/CEO at Radio Now 95.3FM Lagos, a television host, and former editor of NEXT newspaper.
“Journalistic reporting, particularly its biographical genre, has earned a hefty lift in Musikilu Mojeed’s The Letterman, an exploration of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s fascinating, if even provocative literary, social, cultural and political journey.
This extraordinarily well-researched and revelatory work is not only a huge addition to our repertory of insight into the texture and complexion of leadership in the country, but also a major addition to knowledge creation in our political history.
Thankfully also, in this work, readers will finally come to appreciate the depth of intellect that has defined Musikilu’s craftsmanship and professionalism as one of the most gifted editors in modern Nigerian journalism.”
– Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher and CEO of Premium Times newspaper.
Newly sworn in Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has directed that all the operational bank accounts of the state should be frozen till further notice.
He also ordered the reversal of policies introduced by former Governor Rauf Aregbesola and vowed to review all appointments by his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola since his defeat in July.
Adeleke gave the directives yesterday, November 27 shortly after he was officially sworn in as the sixth Governor of the state.
The new governor under he canopy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), promised to deliver on his campaign promises to the people, even as he reversed the official name of the state from “State of Osun” to “Osun State” as well as its appellation from “The State of the Virtues” to “The State of the Living Spring.”
He said: “I am well aware of the fact that my responsibility as governor and chief security officer entails meeting the expectation of our people.
“Under my watch, I will correct past injustice, corrupt acts or policies by previous administration which are against the collective interest of our people.”
Meanwhile, before he bowed out, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, who has presided over the affairs of the State, said that he left N14 billion in the state’s coffers for Ademola Adeleke.
In his farewell message today, November 27 through Ismaila Omipidan, his media aide, Oyetola said that his administration paid N97 billion of the debt it inherited in 2018, when he assumed office.
Oyetola, who governed the state under the canopy of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that his administration did not borrow any money from anywhere to finance the state’s economy, adding that he kept faith and maintained fidelity with his electoral promises throughout his tenure.
“We are leaving behind cash balance of more than N14 billion. In addition to the N14 billion cash, another N8 billion is being expected between December and January 2023 from our performance in States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability programme (SFTAS) and from Internally Generated Revenue.”
“For four years, we did not take any bank loan. We benefitted from the N3 billion monthly interventions by the Federal Government to all the states for six months to cushion the effect of deductions of budget support facility and salary bailouts taken by the previous administration.
“We paid N97 billion from the total debt we inherited in 2018.”
The outgone governor said that the state was also expecting 72 million dollars from other programmes and from the NG-CARES programme of the Federal Government, among others.
“These are earned, based on performance. And we have indeed performed to earn them.”
Oyetola said that his administration put the state’s economy on a surer footing through its myriad people-centred and masses-focused projects, promptly executed to make life worthwhile for the people.
He stressed that Osun’s economy stabilised during his tenure as manifested in the astronomical increment in the GDP of the state.
He affirmed that Osun was more stable economically than he met it in 2018 in spite of all the visible socio-economic challenges that confronted the state.
He stated that he contained the fears and evils of fiscal indiscipline and lack of implementation which hampered the execution of projects and delivery of services.
“As I step aside today following the conclusion of the four-year tenure you freely gave me, I thank God and I thank the people of Osun for your support, cooperation and prayers over the years.
“I recall how the journey began four years ago; how by your belief in me and your conviction in the plans and programmes of our party, the All Peoples Congress (APC), you exercised your right to vote for me.
“As we draw the curtains on this first tenure, we are convinced that we neither reneged on our promise nor disappointed you. We kept faith with you and maintained fidelity with our electoral promises.”
Oyetola said he wished to continue to serve the people of Osun, but was constrained by the outcomes of the July 16 governorship election, which, he said he was already challenging in court.
“As a law-abiding citizen and government, we are stepping aside to allow the law to take its course.
“We look forward to continue to serve you in no distant future. We have absolute trust in God that we shall be back soon as we have implicit trust and confidence in the Judiciary to do justice in the case before it.”
Oyetola stated also that he was confident that this period of temporary political eclipse would pass.
“The sun shall shine again, brighter and warmer and the sustainable development and participatory governance that we enthroned, which were applauded by local and international organisations, shall be restored and put on a surer and better footing.
“There can be no substitute to people-oriented and development-savvy governance in a democracy.
“The taproots of the unprecedented good governance, inclusive and participatory governance that we introduced, which delivered massive equitable projects and programmes, are too strong to be uprooted.
“As we end our first term, rest assured that Osun is more stable economically than we met it in 2018 and it remained the most peaceful state in the country under our leadership.”
Oyetola stressed that he went through stewardship to let the people know that Osun was sustainable and that he did it through fiscal discipline and personal sacrifices.
“On behalf of our team, I appeal to you all to continue to be law-abiding and to work assiduously to build the Osun of our dreams.
“Together, we shall continue to mend the broken walls of our dear state and restore her glory for our collective good and that of posterity,’’ he stated.
Contractors handling the first Digital Industrial Park (DIP) project in Kano State, has given a commitment to complete it by January 2023.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, obtained the commitment Friday, November 25, when he paid an inspection visit to the site in Kano.
The Friday’s inspection visit by the NCC’s boss was part of the routine visits to ensure close monitoring and effective supervision of important projects that will have great impacts on the country’s socio-economic development.
A statement today, November 27 by the Director of Public Affairs of the NCC, Reuben Mouka, said that during the visit, the Executive Vice Chairman emphasized the need for the contractors to expedite efforts in completing the project on schedule.
Professor Danbatta told the contractors that both the Federal and the State governments are following the progress being made at the construction site with keen interest owing to the value addition it would make not only to the economy of the North-West geo-political zone but to the country.
“This is a project that Nigerians are eagerly waiting to be completed. The Federal Government and the State government are following it with keen interest, and at NCC, our responsibility is to ensure that there’s no further delay in delivery as we have been doing everything possible to ensure that we have the project commissioned in the next few months.
“While I promise you that we will give you all the support you need, I also demand that progress report to be sent to me fortnightly over the two months period in order to ensure effective monitoring by us at NCC.”
The NCC Executive Vice Chairman commended the State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje for proving land at a prime location in Kano for the project, which he said, is an indication of the value the government attaches to the project.
The statement said that the Digital Industrial Parks are currently being built across the six geo-political zones of the country by the NCC and are expected to provide Innovation Labs and Digital Fabrication Laboratories (Fablabs) for use by digital innovators and entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into products and prototypes.
It said that the parks are also designed to provide broadband services and to have access to constant power supply.
“This is not the first time the NCC boss would pay a visit to the construction site of the project located at Audu Bako Secretariat in the ancient city, which doubles as the commercial nerve centre of northern Nigeria.
“The EVC’s latest visit was sequel to a similar visit to the construction site in July 2022 and other visits he had made much earlier, essentially to assess the level of work that has been done so far to ensure that the project is delivered within the set deadline.
“During the July 2022 visit to the construction site, Danbatta pointed out that the project was conceived to support the Federal Government’s digital drive by facilitating the availability and accessibility of digital services across the country, and promoting their adoption and usage across all sectors, as well as providing youth employment in the country.
“The idea of putting these two things (i.e., skill acquisition and innovation) at the forefront of this very important initiative is to produce youths that can be self-reliant, generate employment for themselves and other Nigerians.”
The statement said that Professor Danbatta had also stressed that no part of the country would be left out in benefitting from the initiative.
It quoted him as saying: “the project is another move to boost youth digital skills acquisition, promote innovations, provide jobs for the teeming Nigerian youth and ultimately support the overall digital economy agenda of the Federal Government.”
The Executive Vice Chairman was accompanied to Kano on Friday by the NCC’s Head of Projects, Philip Eretan and the EVC’s Chief of Staff, Malam Hafiz Shehu, among others. Special Adviser to the Kano State Governor, Professor Yusif Alhassan was also in attendance.
President Muhammadu Buhari has praised many traditional rulers in the country, who he said, have ensured a healthy mix of modernization and the traditional ways of life of the people in ways that norms and cultures are not eroded in the face of an expanding modernity.
The President, who spoke through the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello during the celebration of the 25 years of the ascension to the throne, of the Ona of Ababji and chairman of the FCT Council of Chiefs, Alhaji (Dr.) Adamu Baba Yunusa, said that as custodians of traditions and customs, traditional institutions have remained bastions of stability and continuity in communities across Nigeria.
President Buhari acknowledged that the traditional institutions in the FCT through the efforts of the Ona of Abaji have not only maintained their relevance but have deepened their roots as well.
He commended the efforts of the monarch in ensuring that the Federal capital Territory remained a welcoming home for all Nigerians.
“The FCT has remained a home for all Nigerians and I have no doubt that the all-embracing and welcoming nature of the Ona of Abaji and other traditional leaders have ensured this possibility”
The President called on traditional rulers to use their enormous clout and authority to ensure a peaceful electoral process in 2023, by positively engaging the people, especially the youths on the need to shun all acts of violence or actions that might negatively impact the electoral process.
He appreciated the Ona for ensuring that his domain remained peaceful even as he reminded Nigerians that nothing positive can come from an atmosphere of rancor and violence.
He called on them to make conscious efforts to ensure that peace and tranquility prevails as the general elections draw near.
This was even as the Minister, whose address was delivered by the Permanent Secretary in the FCT Administration, Olusade Adesola, said that in the 25 years of his reign, the Ona of Abaji has provided guidance to his subjects and sterling leadership to all the traditional rulers in the Federal capital.
“He has used his position as the foremost traditional ruler to provide a robust leadership and uphold the principles of unity and love for country which guided the establishment of the Federal Capital Territory.
“His wisdom and guidance has ensured that the FCT remains a home for all Nigerians at all times, so much so that Nigerians, from all works of life who have decided to make the FCT their home are made welcome.”
He also described the Ona of Abaji as a very committed member of the FCT Security Committee and an active participant in the implementation of government policies particularly those that involved mass sensitization and galvanization of public action such as immunization and public health programmes as well as national elections and census.
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has promised to recruit more Nigerians into the security system of Nigeria as one of the first measures he will take to eliminate Boko Horom insurgents, terrorists, bandits and other criminals if he is elected in the next year’s election.
“The first approach will be to expand the numbers of security personnel, train and equip them to restore law and order.
“In the medium range, we intend to involve state governments that are willing and can afford to have state police to do so.
“This will require constitutional reviews and we must also secure safeguards that will ensure that those state police institutions are not abused.”
The PDP Presidential candidate, at an interactive session with leaders of corporate Nigeria, said: “there are facts about the current state of our economy that should dictate to us whether we should continue with the present reality or move far away from it.
“The first is the National Bureau of Statistics data which continuously shows that we are declining in critical sectors of the productive areas of the economy.
“The second is the report that 133 million Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor which means that more than 60 percent of our people are not just poor, but equally lack access to education and good healthcare.”
Atiku said that his engagement with the private sector is to forge partnership with corporate leaders and seek their intervention in reversing the trend.
“These facts are the reasons why we are engaging with the private sector today, and it is an engagement that seeks a partnership with the private sector to create more jobs and their intervention.”
Responding to the issue of security around oil and gas installations, Atiku referred the question to his running mate, Okowa, who he acknowledges has done very well in security installations in his state and making Delta State, the highest oil producing state in the country.
The PDP Vice Presidential candidate noted that it is important to carry the communities along in any security apparatus that is being considered.
“On the issue of security around oil installations, it is important that we understand what the issues are and those issues have to be situated properly.
“The engagement with the local communities is very important and while doing that, we don’t leave those communities behind in terms of infrastructure and development, which creates hope and partnership with them,” Okowa said.
On the fiscal and monetary regulation, Atiku promises a convergence of the foreign exchange market, ensure price stability and promote trade deals that will inject more foreign exchange to the economy, as well as ensuring the independence of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
On power, he noted that his administration will pursue short, medium and long term projections in the power sector.
Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has called on Nigerians not to allow the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) go anywhere near the Nigeria’s commonwealth again because of the plundering of the resources which its leadership did to the country.
Tinubu, who spoke at APC Presidential Campaign’s mega rally in Lagos yesterday, recalled how Lagos gave him a chance to deploy his talents for national progress and preservation of progressive politics.
“I thank the Almighty Allah and the good people of Lagos State for a place to stand, from which I could deploy my talents to mobilize like-minded Progressives to defend this great city.”
The APC Presidential candidate said that his party’s campaign is a broom revolution, and invoking the spirit of his late mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, the Iyaloja-General, he followed up with a folksong, singing in Yoruba, “Dagunro o se je, Tinubu o se pa,” meaning literally that he can not be killed.
Tinubu said he would continue with progressive government where Nigerians will not be forgotten in education, healthcare and employment generation.
The former Lagos State governor who spoke partly in Yoruba took a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, describing him a veteran aspirant who should go home and rest.
“Atiku contested in SDP, he contested in PDP; he contested in ACN when we rescued him from Obasanjo. Now he is contesting again in PDP. He should go home and rest,” adding that Nigerians should never allow him and his party near the country’s commonwealth.
“Atiku has been running. Use your PVC to vote him and his party out. Use your votes to retire him permanently this time. We must never again allow the rapacious and visionless gang of Peoples Destroying People to come near our commonwealth again. They were in government for 16 years, they didn’t remember Badagry Expressway, they didn’t remember East-West Road, they didnt remember 2nd Niger Bridge.”
Tinubu noted that Governors of Kano, Kastina, Kaduna, Kwara, Kebbi and other APC Governors were with him, unlike his opponent who could not hold his party together.
He used the opportunity of the rally to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to the development of Nigeria and Lagos State.
“I specially thank President Muhammadu Buhari for the unprecedented Federal support and commitment to Lagos State. We have come a long way from Presidents whose sole obsession was to capture or conquer Lagos in do-or-die fashion, to a President who loves the state greatly and is keen to see it do very well.
“Lagos has benefited tremendously in terms of infrastructure development, whether it is the Lagos-Ibadan Railway line, or the Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonsoki Expressway, the revamped National Theatre, the new International Airport Terminal or the support that has made the Lekki Deep Sea Port possible and the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Plant, as well as the Red Line of the Lagos Metro, which is sharing part of the Federal corridor.”
Addressing the rally on the importance of sustaining the progressive governance in Lagos State, Tinubu urged Lagosians to vote for Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, for second term.
“Dear Lagosians, my appeal to you today, is to ask you to renew the mandate of Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat for another 4 years. Do not let the execution and implementation of the bold vision of more than two decades be aborted or suspended.”
For the stability of Lagos State, Asiwaju Tinubu called on the youths and students to vote for Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat.
“The lives of over 22 million people are too important to be subjected to tragic experiments in the hands of kindergarten politicians. Babajide Sanwo-olu and Obafemi Hamzat have been schooled in the finest tradition of people-management and development planning.”
Present at the rally were the party’s National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima, and Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kebbi, Atiku Bagudu.
Others included the Director-General of the Tinubu/Shettima Campaigns and Governor of Plateau State, Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, as well as Governors Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq and Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti). Also present were Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare, former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi
There were also members of the APC National Working Committee, National Assembly members and Ministers.
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The Osun State House of Assembly is heading to loggerhead with Governor Ademola Adeleke, who was sworn-in yesterday, November 27, over the decision to, among others, rename the state from “State of Osun” to Osun State.
