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Ondo Guber: Deputy Gov May Resign, Defect This Week, As Borofice, Oke Fight Dirty

Published

3 years ago

June 7, 2020

There are indications that the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Ajayi Agboola may resign this week to pursue his political ambition.

It was also gathered that some APC lawmakers in the Ondo State House of Assembly would also resign their membership of the APC and join the PDP.

Sources said resignation of the Deputy Governor was to enable him defect to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) where he is expected to contest for the governorship.

However, spokesman for Agboola, Babatope Okeowo, said it was not true that his boss would resign this week, as he said his boss could contest whether in the PDP or the APC without resigning from office.

Recall candidate of the PDP in the 2016 governorship election, Eyitayo Jegede, had disclosed on the defection of Agboola last week when he picked his nomination form.

Jegede stated that the coming of Agboola to the PDP “demonstrated that the APC has collapsed and Agboola needs to look for a good house.”

He said, “If APC was and is good, Agboola Ajayi would not leave APC. If PDP is bad, he would not say he is coming to PDP.”

The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, speaking in an interview last week on the feud between the Deputy and his principal, said Governor Akeredolu was not interested in impeaching or removing the Deputy Governor.

He said, “Mr. Governor believes that whoever wants to leave his government can leave at any time. He will not raise a finger to push anybody out.”

Relationship between Agboola and Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has since collapsed over issues of trust and betrayal.

In a related development, governorship aspirants under the APC in the state, Chief Olusola Oke and Senator Ajayi Borofice, representing Ondo North Senatorial District, have accused each other of working for the second term bid of Governor Akeredolu.

The war of words between them followed the emergence of Oke as the consensus aspirant of the Unity Forum.

The Unity Forum, headed by a former Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, was the platform through which aggrieved APC chieftains in Ondo hoped to stop the second term bid of Akeredolu.

Cracks emerged in the forum when Oke was announced the consensus aspirant.

However, in a fight back, Borofice outrightly rejected Oke as the forum’s consensus aspirants and said it was a ploy to give Akeredolu an easy second term in office.

Senator Borofice, who doubles as the patron of the Unity Forum, in a statement, urged other aspirants to prepare for the primaries, alleging that the plan was for Oke to step down few days to the primaries after getting assurances that Akeredolu would hand over to him in 2024.

The statement convened through his media aide, Kayode Fakuyi, reads: “The media report suggesting that Unity Forum has adopted a consensus candidate to represent the Forum in Ondo APC governorship primary election is misleading. The fact is that Unity Forum has no consensus candidate.

But the Unity Mandate Group said Borofice was only playing politics of divide and rule to frustrate successes of the Unity Forum.

Just last week the Unity Mandate Group came harder on Boroffice by accusing him of creating the template of crisis in the Unity Forum so as to either allow Akeredolu go for another term or install a puppet governor in the person of Dapo Adelegan.

Senator Borofice however described the allegation as laughable and described the group as faceless and not credible.

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Wike/Dokpesi Faceoff Deepens As AIT/Ray Power Port Harcourt Station Receives Demolition Notice

Published

1 hour ago

March 23, 2023

Editor

Rivers State Government has issued Daar Communications, owners of African Independent Television/Ray Power notice to vacate the land housing it’s Port Harcourt transmission station or have it demolished within 48 hours.

The development is believed to be induced by lingering political feud between Governor Nyesom Wike and Daar Communications owner, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, but the governor has maintained AIT/Ray Power has no title to the expansive premises it occupies in the Rivers state capital city and the eviction order has no political undertone.

The latest eviction notice was issued 20 March 2023 by the Permanent Secretary, Rivers Ministry of Works, Mrs Ebere Dennis-Emenike, “To Whom It May Concern” and titled “Proposed GRA Phase 5 Ozuoba, Port Harcourt Demolition Notice”.

It reads, “Following the imminent commencement of the above project, all structure(s) impacting on the right-of-way of the project have been earmarked for demolition including your own. Consequently, you are by this notice requested to remove such structure(s) within forty eight (48) hours to allow for speedy progress of work.”

On intervention, the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) has urged the state government to rescind the decision to demolition the transmission station of Daar Communications.

NUJ Rivers State Council, in a statement signed by Stanley Job, Chairman and Ike Wigodo, Secretary, appealed to the state government embrace dialogue with the media organization for mutual resolution of the dispute.

NUJ statement reads, “We appeal to the Rivers State Government to review the quit notice given to Daar Communications Plc, owners of AIT and Raypower Radio Station. The Press and the Rivers State Government have come a long way as partners in progress.

“We believe proper negotiation and peaceful resolution of the land dispute will serve the Government and people of Rivers better. Whatever the merit of the quit notice, we would not want the world to see the Press in a fight with the Rivers State in view of the long standing mutual relationship.

“NUJ will not be happy to see a Media House in Rivers State demolished over a land dispute that can be resolved peacefully and amicably”

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Buhari Redesignates State House Clinic Into Medical Clinics

Published

14 hours ago

March 22, 2023

Editor

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the re-designation of the State House Clinic back to the Medical Centre.

Permanent Secretary of State House, Tijjani Umar, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja after a pre-commissioning inspection of the new Presidential (VIP) Wing of the State House Medical Centre.

The commissioning was done by Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF.

“Now, with the improvement in the problem areas and the addition of the new VIP Wing with state-of-the-art facilities, we can no longer operate as a Clinic. It is now to operate as State House Medical Centre,” Umar said.

Umar disclosed that all is set for the President’s inauguration of the new world-class facility to add to this administration’s growing number of completed and commissioned legacy projects.

He added that the calibration, equipment testing and training of medical personnel are ongoing.

He said the presidency is determined to ensure that the Centre remains fully operational and well-maintained after the inauguration.

In 2019, Buhari had downgrounded the facility owing to infrastructural deficit.

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Ramadan: Buhari Sends Message To Muslims As Fasting Begins

Published

14 hours ago

March 22, 2023

Editor

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent greetings and best wishes to Muslims as they commence 30 days of Ramadan fasting.

Buhari urged Muslims to use the season “to project the best and finest virtues of Islam by personal conduct, and not precept.”

In a goodwill message to mark the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, Buhari says “let us use this opportunity to put the best teachings of Islam into practice, such as kindness and the love of humanity.”

According to the President, “This is an occasion for deep reflection and greater fear of Allah and avoidance of all evils that harm humanity.

“Ramadan is characterised by abstention from food and drinks from dawn to dusk, which brings both the rich and poor to share the experience of hunger together, thereby strengthening the bonds between haves and have-nots.”

Buhari explained that “as we begin these 30 days fasting season, let us not forget that Ramadan is not only about abstention from eating and drinking, but it is a reminder to refrain from all kinds of evil and transgressions that harm humanity.

“I am particularly aware of the activities of traders who artificially increase the prices of their goods, including food at the beginning of every month of Ramadan. This kind of exploitation is against the spirit of the Ramadan and the spirit of Islam.”

Buhari added that “while we are observing this important occasion in the spiritual life of Muslims, let us share food and drinks with the less fortunate, because by sharing our blessings with others, Allah will multiply our rewards for good deeds.”