News

Osun PDP, APC bicker on, even as Tribunal starts sitting

Published

2 years ago

September 26, 2022

Afolayan Adebiyi and Damisi Ojo in Oshogbo

Despite the fact that the Osun State Electoral Petition Tribunal will commence its sitting today (Monday 26), there is no let-down in the internecine bickering between the stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and its All Progressive Congress APC counterpart, over the outcome of the July 16 governorship election in the state.

The two parties have been at each other’s throats since July 18, when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the results. The declared results gave Mr. Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke of the PDP victory at the polls with 403,364, while Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola of APC emerged runners-up with 375,227 votes.

Not satisfied with the declared results, APC and its candidate swiftly approached INEC for a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) reports. This was availed to them on July 19. A close study of the reports from the electoral body, however, revealed a huge inconsistency with the declared results.

The reports allegedly showed massive over-voting in 749 units across ten local government areas of the state.

The alleged invalid over-voting votes added some 60,504 votes to the APC total, while PDP benefited with 113,151 votes.

With this, APC and its candidate will head for the Tribunal. But, while the tribunal was yet to sit, the parties had taken to the press, seeking to outdo each other in currying the sympathy of the public.

Immediately the notice of the petition was filed, there were mixed reactions within and outside the state on the propriety of contesting the outcome of the election in the count. But Oyetola defrayed snide remarks against his move by saying his “decision should rather be commended as it was aimed at deepening the country’s democratic values and its electoral system.”

The State Government, and by extension, the APC, scared about the worsening security situation in the state, wrote to the President and the Court of Appeal asking for the relocation of the Tribunal’s sittings to Abuja. The move PDP immediately countered, saying, “We, first of all, commend the judiciary for rejecting the relocation petition as there were no justifiable reasons for such a request. Osun is not only peaceful but the few cases of insecurity were mostly engineered by the state government in its despairing agenda to scuttle peoples’ will.”

He added: “We are therefore elated that the judicial leadership saw through the plot and adopted the position of security agencies that Osun is secured enough to host the sitting of the Tribunal.”

He further disclosed that “we must hasten to add that our objection to the relocation request was premised on the critical need to protect the integrity and safety of BVAS machines and other materials used during the elections. As the machines are likely to be central to the determination of the petition, keeping them safe here in Osun rather than exposing them to tampering and hacking on transit is our official position.”

The party went on to tackle the APC on its claims on BIVAS report.

The Caretaker Committee Chairman, Dr. Adekunle Akindele,

State Caretaker Chairman, said “our party as a law-abiding organisation is however disappointed with the recklessness and utter disregard of Mr. Oyetola and his team for the integrity and credibility of the judicial process. In the last few weeks, the petitioner has launched a series of media publications, first alleging false admission of over-voting by defendants, misrepresenting to the public the fillings of defendants, alleging complicity of the electoral commission through doctoring of court fillings, and lately creating falsified election results to purportedly claim victory.

He continued: “As much as we have attempted to correct the counterfeited claims being an interested party, Mr. Oyetola and his team are so far incorrigible as they persist in their nefarious conduct of wilful pervasion of facts. We have therefore come to the conclusion that ongoing election data manipulation in the public domain, if left unchecked by the Tribunal, is capable of plunging the state into conflict ahead of the November 27 transfer of power. The polity is already overheated, and it is time Mr. Oyetola is called to order before he plunges the state into an avoidable crisis.”

The APC, through the State Chairman, Prince Adegboyega Famodun, would not allow such salvos to go without a reply. He picked the gauntlet immediately. In a statement personally signed, he said, “I wasn’t disappointed with the usual philippic from the ever-controversial, appointed Osun State caretaker chairman of the PDP, Dr. Adekunle Akindele, who was apparently making a mountain out of a molehill over some fabricated and unfounded allegations against our party, the APC, and the easy-going and peace-loving Governor Gboyega Oyetola concerning the ongoing governorship election petition tribunal.

He added: “It was necessary for the ever-loquacious State PDP caretaker chairman to make noise and shout to high heavens in order to cover some of the exposed tracts that translated into the proverbial dead sparrow being flaunted by his party and his obviously downcast and controversial winner in the July 16, 2022 governorship election.

The state caretaker chairman is only acting to type in tandem with a saying that it is an empty drum that makes the loudest noise.

The state APC is not only created on a pedestal of an identifiable rule of laws; it is also not a gainsaying to state that Governor Oyetola is an embodiment of peace, tranquility, and exemplary conduct, which are the qualities that endear him to the people of the state.

He advised the PDP’s Chieftain, “It is high time that Akindele is focused and stops henceforth the needless fouling of the media space with his ceaseless harangue that has succeeded in exposing the talkative state PDP caretaker chairman as a mere busy body who can better be described as an alarmist.”

He traced the insecurity in the state to the activities of the PDP. “Events have shown that whoever his sibling had once been murdered by a madman would always be safety conscious at the sight of any human being putting on dirty rags.”

“The violent activities of the PDP thugs immediately after the declaration of the disputed winner of the Osun State governorship election when the reactionary political hoodlums went into a frenzy, attacking the members of the APC, destroying the billboards of Governor Oyetola, and destroying the property of the APC members in Osogbo and other towns in the state,” he added.

He continued: “Akindele, who has no stake in Osun State as he hails from Ondo State, should stop playing to the gallery and get his declared embattled and controversial governorship election winner and his party prepared for the defence of the controversial mandate, which is a course for action at the governorship election petition tribunal instead of commenting on mundane issues like who is going to the river to fetch water or who is not going.”

Famodun clarified further that “seeking a redress at the election petition tribunal by Governor Oyetola is an indication and indisputable testimony that the amiable governor is a democrat per excellence.”

He further advised that “It is pertinent to inform the motormouthed state caretaker committee chairman of the PDP that he owes Governor Oyetola an unalloyed gratitude as it’s the unconditional love of the governor for peace irrespective of political leaning that affords Adekunle and his co-travellers in the PDP to be operating unhindered and without molestation in the state.”

But Dr. Adekunle insisted: “We repeat for the sake of all lovers of democracy that all false election graphics being circulated by APC are figments of their imagination. The official results of the July 16 elections remain the authentic results. That victory of Senator Ademola Adeleke is what all defendants are defending, as evidenced in their fillings at the Tribunal. We make bold to say that none of the defendants admitted to any electoral error but rather holistically articulated data and facts which authenticated the electoral victory of Senator Adeleke.

He continued: “As the Tribunal commences sitting tomorrow, we challenge Mr. Oyetola to demonstrate a measure of integrity by allowing the Tribunal to treat his petition if he actually believes he has a good case. As the petitioner, his sponsored media trial digs a huge hole in his petition as it signifies a likely judicial defeat, hence his flooding the media space with falsified figures and fake news.

“If the defeated Governor fails to retrace his steps, we urge the Tribunal to invoke relevant sanctions against him and his party for undermining the judiciary, for misinforming the public, for doctoring court documents, for attempting to bring the court into disrepute, and for pre-empting decisions of our lord justices.”

He has a message to the party’s supporters in the state that the mandate conferred on Senator Adeleke is safe and secure. Recent doctored reports are a manifestation of the upcoming final defeat of Mr. Oyetola, as they have no impact on Adeleke’s incoming governorship of Osun State.

He declared that “Osun people have spoken; their votes are resounding, and their governor-elect is Senator Ademola Adeleke. We have deep confidence that our Lord’s Justices will surely deliver fair and equitable trials without fear or favour”.

But speaking with journalists on Sunday (September 25)) Press Secretary to the Governor, Omipidan, expressed absolute confidence in the ability of the members of the Tribunal to do justice in the case before it.

He noted further that the outcome of the petition would go a long way in making INEC fill some gaps that might have been noticed ahead of the 2023 General Elections.

“Make no mistake, our case is not in any way an attempt to impugn the integrity of INEC. That’s not the motivation. It is to further help deepen our electoral system and to help INEC correct any anomalies or gaps that may have been exposed from the conduct of the Osun Governorship Election ahead of the 2023 elections. Most of the reforms we have today as part of our electoral laws were borne out of the decisions of the court. Our observations may as well be part of the future reforms,” the governor’s Chief Press Secretary added.

www.focusmagazinesoline.com(C 2022)

News

A Great Nigeria is Possible, Bola Tinubu Assures Nigerians

Published

8 months ago

November 1, 2023

FocusMag

ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU AT THE 2023 CABINET RETREAT FOR MINISTERS, PRESIDENTIAL AIDES, PERMANENT SECRETARIES AND TOP GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONARIES AT THE STATE HOUSE CONFERENCE CENTRE, ABUJA ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2023

It is a great morning in Nigeria and I am humbled and happy to stand before you on this retreat, with forward-looking determination to embark on a very strong, bold endeavour to rebuild our country’s economy and our people’s hope renewed.
2. Thank you very much for your attendance. With strong determination, we are brought together the best brains, the best hands to navigate the future of this country.

3. We are not looking backwards; we can’t compare and give excuses. This is our country we have to build it; we have to renew the foundation. We have to give hope to the populace, to Nigerians in doubt whether democracy and economic growth will be the pathway to their prosperity.

4. I’m here to assure you and walk with you the best brains we can put together in civil service, the brain that we can put together in our democratic parliament and have been chosen for us by the public.

5. It is a good thing that the chairman of our party is here but the President is the president of all, whether affiliated with some political parties, regardless of religious, ethnic or otherwise, we are one.

6. A great Nigeria is possible, and a greater Nigeria will come under your commitment, guidance, and resolute determination to give the country a direction.

7. I’m with you. And please be assured that this great country is one family in one house, geographically located, partitioned, and living in different rooms. But we are all one family.

8. And we are here to make allegiance and give direction to that one family, making sure that relationships can only be stronger if we give hope to our people. We can only achieve our mission with boldness and strong determination with collaboration.

9. As I’ve stated before, no one succeeds alone. You the civil service, you must not see a minister as he or she will come and go and you will be there. You must make a positive team for the good of this country.

10. Yes! I admit and accept the asset and liability of my predecessor. It’s part of the definition in my professional background.

11. But you are in this ship. You will make good of it but not wreck it. You are a member of a great family; don’t see that minister as opportunistic. See, he or she as a partner that we must take the ship forward. Navigate it through turbulence and clear weather.

12. We are lucky we have a nation; the challenges are all over the world. You can see the chaos all around you. But be focused, like a man driving in the tunnel, don’t see the sky, don’t look up, face your direction. Be committed to the value and principle of results that will affect you, your neighbour, and the entire nation.

13. We’ve spent the last six months reviewing and evaluating ourselves, we’ve come a long way, but we set the agenda. Healthcare is a priority. Education of our people is a must. There is no other weapon against poverty than education. You have the opportunity to change things.

14. Recently, three days ago, we received the Chancellor of the Republic of Germany and his delegation of investors. One of their key complaints and the question is whether they can bring their capital, repatriate their dividend, or, if not satisfied, take their capital away. The Minister of Trade and Investment was called upon by me to explain further, that those obstacles are gone, never to come back again. We are open for business.

15. That is why we established the Result Delivery Unit. At the end of this retreat, you’re going to sign a bond of understanding between you, the ministers, the permanent secretaries, and myself.

16. If you are performing, nothing to fear; if you miss the objective, we’ll review; if there is no performance, you leave us. No one is an island, and the buck stops on my desk.

17. I assure you, you have a free hand. You must be intellectually inquisitive to ask how, why, when, and why it must be immediate. You have the responsibility to serve the people.

18. I’ve taken a young lady very dynamic, Hadiza Balla Usman, to head that delivery unit. If you have any complaints about her, see me. If you’re ready to work with her, stay there. Delivery, yes! we must achieve it for the sake of millions of people.

19. Yes, we are talking about the population of this country. What do you do with it? Make it an asset or a liability? Focus on its progress and come up with bold endeavours. We are great talents around the world, the biggest intellectually sound country in Horn of Africa.

20. Yes, we have challenges in the Sahel, we have challenges of climate change, south and north of Nigeria is battered, with ocean surge, we have desert encroachment in the north, but we are still blessed with arable lands. We can do it; we can build our country.

21. It’s not about theorizing. It’s about practical determination and focused evaluation. Yes, it is our country. We have no other one. Let’s be proud that we are Nigerians. We can do it, we can show leadership, we can fight to make democracy a lasting reference for the rest of Africa.

22. Don’t be afraid to make decisions, but don’t be antagonistic of your supervisor. If they are wrong, debate it. I stand before you and I’ve claimed on several occasions and I’m saying today again as the president, I can make mistakes, point it to me I would resolve that conflict, that error, perfection is only that of God Almighty. But you are there to help me succeed. Success I must achieve by all means necessary.

23. We have great minds, great intellectuals, great intellects, and all that we need.

24. When we were discussing this retreat, I said other than members of diplomatic corps to give us goodwill and inspiration, don’t invite any foreigner to give me a lecture about governance. I’ve been through it, and I believe in Nigeria.

25. It started from the day I was sworn in, and that bold endeavour is only achieved through courage, determination, and focused leadership.

26. We are going through the reform, painfully, and we still have other challenges. Don’t be a clog in the wheel of Nigeria’s progress.

27. Let us look forward. Let us be determined that corruption will go, progress will be achieved, better wages for our workers, and living wages.

28. We will transform the economy to work for millions of our citizens. We must take 50 million people out of poverty. We must build healthcare that works for all. Look around. Don’t be wicked. Look at the standard of education, look at the classrooms, and look at the roads. We can only spend the money, we will find it, we can not spend the people.

29. No crime in borrowing. Thank you, World Bank, for being a lending friend. But let your achievement be homegrown. The determination that Nigeria can do it is here.

30. If it had not started six months ago, we are here to switch off the light, make you included, and make all Nigerians included. Our path for tomorrow is charted for our children and grandchildren. Don’t be selfish about it.

31. Poverty is not a shameful thing. It’s only unacceptable. And we have to banish it because it’s unacceptable. Let’s work on other identifiable areas.

32. Because a memo is submitted to you doesn’t mean that is the end of that matter. Think through it. Be inquisitive. Ask how, when, why.

33. I’m ready to enjoy the retreat going forward. We are not retreating from progress. We are just to talk to one another and chart a path for progress and prosperity of this nation. I’m honoured to declare this brainstorming session open. Thank you.

News

Anxiety in Ondo, As Group Launches Operation Ja Ara E Gba To Rescue Aketi

Published

8 months ago

October 26, 2023

Afolayan Adebiyi

Akure, Ondo State capital will witnessed a huge movement of operation ‘Ja Ara E Gba’, by a group intent to rescued the ailing Governor of the State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Aketi from ‘a cabal holding him down, thus preventing him from seeking proper medical attention’.

The group had finalised all plans to storm Akure tomorrow, (Friday, 27 October, 2023) with the operation ‘Ja Ara E Gba’, either using the State Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press centre, or another auditorium that can contained a huge crowd expected from all the eighteen local government areas of the State.

The theme of the movement is “Ja Ara E Gba”
According to a close source to the group, ‘a group of friends have locked Aketi down. He needed to be rescued from the grips of this cabal, he stated.

The group called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Dr Umar Granduje, the national chairman of the All progressives Congress (APC) to use their good offices to help ‘us get him out of claws of these cabals, so that he can go for proper treatment’.
The group appreciated the national chairman for his reconciliatory efforts between the State House of assembly and the Deputy Governor that has put the impeachment threat in the cooler.

They also urged the Ondo State people not to give up on the ailing governor. They pleaded that they should continue praying for him.

A close source to the organisers of the movement told www.focusmagazineonline.com that ‘there is no denying the fact that Aketi is ill, sick and cannot perform his statutory duties as the Executive Governor of Ondo State’.

According to the source, who pleaded anonymity, ‘the Aketi we know cannot stay for a week without talking. They should free this man and let him go for treatment’, he said.

He explained that this is not a protest really. We shall gathered at the Press Centre, use our materials, read out our prepared press statement. We shall come with all these placards.
While insisting that the governor, Aketi is sick. And that he is helpless, he believed that some people have hijacked him. The president should intervene and get this man to go for treatment.

The source revealed that while some of his friends were saying he might need some twelve months to complete his treatment and all that, but we believe they should let him go, even if for only eight months.

Therefore, he told www.focusmagazineonline.com that as from tomorrow, it is now operation Ja ara e gba that will rule Ondo state.

‘We shall all come wearing the vest and face cap with the inscription, Ja ara e gba’, he said.

Crime

Drambi Vandi, Killer Cop of Lagos Lawyer on Christmas Day, to Die Hanging

Published

9 months ago

October 9, 2023

FocusMag

For Drambi Vandi, the trigger happy police officer who shot and killed a Lagos lawyer, Bolanle Raheem on Christmas day 2022, the long hand of justice ran its full circle early Monday, (09 October) as Justice Ibironke Harrison, sitting in Lagos Division of the Lagos State High Court, pronounced a death sentence on him. He is to die by hanging.

Vandi, since suspended from duty in wake of the reckless shooting and killing of the young mother if two, by the Police authorities, has been facing a one-count charge of murder at the Lagos State High Court since January 2023.

The judge, Ibironke Harrison on Monday found the disgraced police officer guilty of murder and thus sentenced him accordingly.
“The court found the defendant guilty on one count of murder. You will be hanged by the neck till you are dead,” Harrison said.
On 25 December 2022, Mrs Raheem was said to be coming from the Church with other members of her family when they encountered the police check-point under the Ajah roundabout, in Lekki axis of the Lagos State.

Vandi allegedly fired a blinded shot into the car conveying the deceased which hit her and resulted in the death of Mrs Raheem, who was said to be carrying a five months pregnancy at the time.
The police officer was attached to the Ajiwe police division in the Ajah area of the state.
The news shocked the whole nation and instantly, both the police authorities and the Lagos State government swung into action. While the Lagos State Police Command immediately suspended him from its service, the State swiftly filed a murder charge against him at the State High Court.

The Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had presented a one-count charge of murder of the young lady against the defendant and subsequently arraigned him.
The court opened the trial in the case in January, with the deceased’s husband, sister, police armourer, pathologist and seven others testifying against the defendant.
The prosecution also tendered 27 exhibits to supports its case.
The defendant, Vandi did not called any witness. He was the only witness who testified in his own defence.
In his testimony before the court, Vandi told the judge that the bullet presented in court which was said to have killed Mrs Raheem did not come from the rifle he carried on the day of the incident.

He also claimed that he had never seen the bullet until it was tendered in court.