Home
ONDO 2024: PDP BLASTS APC OVER ONDO PRIMARY ELECTION
- Calls the poll an anticlimax and a mockery of democracy.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ondo State Chapter described yesterday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in the state as a huge charade and a mockery of democracy.
The PDP, in a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Hon. Kennedy Ikantu Peretei, stated that 48 hours before the primary, five of the aspirants petitioned the APC National Headquarters about irregularities in the accredited members for the primary.
The statement read, “the National headquarters of the party raked in a handsome sum of N830 million from unsuspecting aspirants who took photographs with their Nomination Forms in Abuja with their supporters. Little did they know that, the exercise would be an anticlimax and their aspirations to occupy the number one seat in the State completely eclipsed and all the efforts headed for the dustbin.
“The signs that all would not be well emerged 48 hours before the primary when five of the aspirants petitioned the APC National Headquarters about irregularities on the accredited members for the primary.
“Four years ago, former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) for N85 billion fraud, presided over a similar event in Akure, where none of the aspirants, sighted the Delegates list before the primary.
“As at the morning of the election, it was not clear whether it was going to be Direct or Indirect primary. That was the exercise that produced former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu as candidate of the APC for 2020 Governorship election.
“This time, Gov Ahmed Usman Ododo, Bello’s successor in office has wrecked more havoc than his boss.
“Journalists who tried to monitor the primary were shocked that in almost all the centres that elections were supposed to hold, there were no election materials, neither were there officials to conduct the exercise. The Akure City Hall, one of the supposed centers was empty as at 1.00pm.
“Instead, there were reported cases of violence in Akure South and Okitipupa Local Government Areas, where political thugs had a field day. In one of the videos that was seen online to create impression that the exercise held, the returning officer counted to 400 and jumped to 560. Some of the aspirants have since called for the cancellation of the exercise.
“If the APC cannot conduct a free, fair, transparent and credible primary election for 171,922 of their members, they should perish the idea of presiding over the affairs of Ondo State beyond the eight years in which they have practically stagnated the State.
“It is a shame that, the APC cannot bring only one of their sixteen aspirants to square up with other political parties in the general election through a process that is above board. That alone, is an affirmation that, the party should be consigned to dustbin of history, where it rightfully belongs.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State Chapter will once again demonstrate its superior organizational sagacity and democratic credentials this week, through a Governorship Primary Election that will be covered live by media houses and Non-Governmental Organizations in the full glare of the world.
“As at the early hours of today, Journalists were still waiting for the outcome of the charade that Usman Ododo and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege called a primary election in Ondo State”.
Home
NIGERIAN WOMEN ACTIVISTS SUE MINISTER OF WOMEN AFFAIRS OVER ATTEMPT TO MISMANAGE $500M WORLD BANK LOAN
A lawsuit has been filed in the High Court of Enugu State by two women’s rights organizations against the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Ken Ohanenye over the attempt to mismanage a $500 million loan provided by the World Bank to improve the lives of Nigerian women.
Other defendants included in the lawsuit are the President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Finance, Wale Edun and Director of International Economic Relations Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr Nyeso Stanley George.
The applicants, Amb. Onyinye Joy Mamah, representing Heroine Women Foundation, and Amaka-Ajuzie Ogbu, of NET Bridge Empowerment Foundation, claimed that the previous $100 million loan from the World Bank, intended to empower impoverished Nigerian women, which was released during President Muhammadu Buhari’s government was allegedly squandered on consultancy fees, seminars, and other non-essential activities.
According to the plaintiffs, the funds never reached the intended beneficiaries who are poor Nigerian women.
The women’s activities said they are worried that the $500 million loan is at risk of suffering the same fate as the previous funds, being diverted into private pockets instead of being utilized for meaningful development projects.
Amb. Mamah, the lead plaintiff, emphasized in her affidavit that Nigerian women, who will bear the responsibility of repaying the loan, have not seen any tangible benefits from previous funds.
She warned that failure to utilize the current loan effectively could leave the country in prolonged economic servitude.
“That another 500 Million Dollars has just been provided by the selfsame World Bank for the benefit of the Nigerian women, it is not free manna from the Heavens but still a loan facility to be repaid with interest in due course of time by the teaming Nigerian populace.
“That the enemies of the people are circling again determined to divert the fund, away from the Nigerian women for whom the money is meant and into private pockets. A whole of 500 Million United States Dollars ploughed into useful and meaningful endeavors – agriculture, fishery, trading, making of crafts eic. wi: chase hunger, death, slavery insecurity, prostitution and other vices out of the land.
“It is the bounden responsibility of the respondents to ensure that this fund, intended for the empowerment of Nigerian women, is not misappropriated”.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to enforce the proper use of the $500 million loan for its intended purpose, arguing that Nigeria’s economic recovery, especially the dignity of its women, depends on it.
The plaintiffs argued that if the funds are mismanaged again, it will deepen Nigeria’s economic crisis and perpetuate the nation’s poor international reputation.
The court has yet to set a hearing date for the case.
- Ajube combs PDP structures for APC; pledges to fund election in Ondo South senatorial district
- we will reciprocate Ilaje’s 2023 support for Rep”-Agadagba-In-Council
Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Ondo state, the Ijaw speaking Arogbo Kingdom on Sunday, boosted the chances of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the Kingdoms Traditional Council endorsed his candidature.
Governor Aiyedatiwa is also the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom’s endorsement came as Niger Delta Peace Ambassador and entrepreneur, Senior High Chief Bibopere Ajube pledged to fund the governors election in the six local government areas of the south senatorial district of Ondo state.
The Agadagba and Paramount Ruler of Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom, Pere(Barrister) Zaccheus Doubra Egbunu, Opukutu 111, who made the endorsement pronouncement said the decision hinges on the massive support the Ilajes gave to their son, Hon Donald Ojogo during the 2023 House of Representatives election.
“Our governor is our son in Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom because he is our closest neighbour. There is no way we will not give him maximum support especially as an Ilaje man.
“In Ijaw land, we value and reciprocate good gestures; we cannot forget in a hurry how the Ilajes mobilized hugely for our son, Hon Donald Ojogo to win the House of Representatives seat in 2023. For the very first time, an Ijaw man is in the Green Chamber. So it’s our duty, it’s an obligation for us to massively vote for this Governor who happens to be our Ilaje son”, the monarch said.
Ajube, who is the Pathfinder of Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom while playing host to Governor Aiyedatiwa at an elaborate ceremony where over 2,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the APC pledged his commitment to fund the election
“Mr Governor, your election is our election and that of the president because it is the first governorship election in the Southwest since the 2023 presidential election that produced our own President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
“As such, it is of great consequence to the President, and we cannot afford to play with it. We will not disappoint our president and that is why we have demolished all the ward structures of the PDP in our Kingdom.
“So Your Excellency, just leave the six local government areas in the southern senatorial district of the state for me to provide the money. Just keep the little money you have for other senatorial districts. I have the capacity. I am an Ijaw man. We don’t deceive people. If we say, we will do something, don’t doubt it, we will do it.
The Governor, while receiving the defectors, appreciated them for joining the APC family of the true progressives where everyone’s voice counts. He thanked all the party leaders for their support and announced various initiatives of his administration aimed at improving the lives of the people of the state.
The Chairman of Arogbo LCDA, Hon Caleb Ebi Molos, in His welcome address, expressed appreciation to the Governor for his concern for Arogbo Kingdom and assured him of the total support of the people of Arogbo LCDA.
The event was attended by Hon Donald Ojogo, member of the House of Representatives representing Ilaje/ Ese-Odo Federal Constituency; Hon Agabra Atili, Deputy State Chairman of APC; Hon Toyin Allen, House of Assembly Member representing Ese-Odo State Constituency; Hon Samuel Twatimi, Head of the Ondo State Office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme; Hon Kolade Akinjo, former member House of Representatives, among other leaders.
