A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
Media Personality, Wofai Samuel among others recently bagged mentorship endorsement from Barr. Funmi Falana, following a recent visit to her chamber with the kids club.
Speaking at the event, Falana expressed excitement on the kids visit to her chamber even as she prayed for the kids, she enjoined Wofai Samuel and other mentors to be role models, adding that she is always open to supporting all of them.
On her own, Wofai promised to be good role model to the kids , as she encourage them to follow their dreams and emulate good characters.
MomentwithSandra Fan club is set up to bring out the best in children in which the child learn a lot as regards academics, career, morals, culture and talent hunt.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, has refuted allegations by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the Edo State governorship election, that he (El-Rufai) visited the state today, during the ongoing elections.
Recall that Ize-Iyamu had alleged that El-Rufai and his Lagos State counterpart, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode were in the state on Wednesday.
But, the Lagos State Government swiftly debunked the allegation, saying Ambode was overseas, and could not have been in Edo State.
A statement by the Special Assistant to the Kaduna State Governor on (Media and Publicity), Samuel Aruwan, on Wednesday, said: “Malam Nasir El-Rufai did not visit Edo State today, Wednesday, 28 September 2016. Contrary to the fiction peddled by one of the candidates who made the accusation on live television. Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has kindly rubbished the lie and made clear that Malam Nasir El-Rufai is nowhere near the state.
“This clarification is made only to affirm a material fact. But it is important to stress that the laws of this country do not prevent any citizen from being in any part of the country. While movement may be restricted on election days, that is not the same thing as construing the presence of any citizen in a state holding elections as illegal, unusual or irregular.
“A specious attempt, similar to that made by a candidate in Edo today, was made by chieftains of a political party during the last governorship election in Anambra State. During the Anambra elections, security agents tried to cast a Nigerian as alien simply for being in another state during an election, restricted Malam El-Rufai to his hotel room.
“Malam El-Rufai challenged this violation of his right in court. And a court ruled in his favour. Those who are seeking power should be careful not to be violating constitutional rights in that quest. And they should not say what they do not know to be true.”
By Evelyn Usman The Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team ,IRT has arrested two suspected members of the kidnap gang that abducted four residents of Oshorun Heritage Estate, in Isheri North area of Lagos, a fortnight ago.
The arrest as reliably gathered, was made Tuesday, in Ondo state .
Vanguard was informed that the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, directed the team to go for the manhunt of the perpetrators of the abduction which threw residents of the peaceful estate into panic.
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday dismissed allegations made by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu alleging that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his Kaduna State counterpart, Mallam Nasir El Rufai were in Edo State for the election.
In a statement signed by the State's Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, the government described the allegations by the PDP candidate as reckless and disgraceful.
Ayorinde while clarifying the position of the government said Ambode was presently overseas for an official assignment and in any case had no business being in Edo State on Election Day.
"The Lagos State Governor served as the chairman Campaign Council constituted by the All Progressives Congress and his duty ended 24 hours before the election because no campaign was supposed to hold 24 hours to the election and having completed his assignment which included appearing with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Grand Rally in Edo State earlier in the month, Governor Ambode has no reason to return to Edo State on election day and for this sort of lie to have been peddled by a candidate who is supposed to be a pastor, is reckless and disgraceful," he said
Ayorinde said Governor Ambode had clearly enumerated his position on the election during the grand finale of the campaign when he said that like Lagos where continuity has moved perfectly well, Edo State also deserved continuity in governance.
"That message has been passed and has been accepted by majority of Edo indigenes and therefore there would not be any need for the Governor to return to Edo on Election Day. The general public and security operatives are hereby advised to ignore the desperate lies of Pastor Ize-Iyamu," Ayorinde said.
South African tennis player Joshua Chetty was banned for life on Wednesday after being found guilty of match-fixing charges, the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) announced.
The 21-year-old, ranked at 1,857 in the world, admitted offering another player $2,000 (1,800 euros) to under-perform in a singles match, and $600 in a doubles match, during a third-tier Futures event in Stellenbosch, South Africa, in November 2015.
“The player approached by Chetty, whose identity will remain confidential in accordance with the provisions of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP), rejected the corrupt offers and reported the matter to the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU),” said the statement.
Chetty reached a career-high of 1,370 in June 2015.
“The lifetime ban from all professional tennis applies with immediate effect and means the player is not allowed to compete in, or attend, any tournament or event organised or sanctioned by the governing bodies of the sport,” added the TIU.
BlackBerry announced Wednesday it would halt in-house production of smartphones, marking the end of an era for the once-dominant Canadian tech firm.
Ontario-based BlackBerry said it had reached a deal to outsource production of its phones to an Indonesian partner, and would instead concentrate on software and services.
BlackBerry-9720
Handsets with the BlackBerry name will be produced under license by PT Tiphone Mobile Indonesia Tbk, a statement by the firms said.
BlackBerry, which a decade ago was among the world’s largest smartphone makers, has seen its global market share slip to less than one percent as Apple and Android devices have dominated.
As the market shifted, BlackBerry has sought to refocus on software, including security applications, and the latest announcement takes the company out of the handset market entirely.
“We are reaching an inflection point with our strategy. Our financial foundation is strong, and our pivot to software is taking hold,” said chief executive John Chen, pointing to a doubling of software revenue in the last fiscal year.
“The company plans to end all internal hardware development and will outsource that function to partners. This allows us to reduce capital requirements and enhance return on invested capital.”
The Waterloo, Ontario-based company has made several efforts in recent years to find new customer niches as its smartphone handset sales continued to stagnate in the face of competition.
It had hoped its first Android-operating smartphone launched last year would help restore the company to its former glory.
But sales were lackluster.
Earlier this year, BlackBerry announced it was killing off its Classic smartphone with a physical keyboard — once the workhorse of the smartphone market — as part of a modernization of its lineup.
But the company has continued to bleed red, posting on Wednesday a US$372 million loss in its second quarter ending August 31.
Revenues also fell to US$334 million, from US$490 million during the same period last year. The company did not report details on its smartphone shipments.
– Rebooting BlackBerry –
Some analysts praised the decision to get out of smartphone sales, at a time when the worldwide smartphone market has turned relatively flat.
“The devices business has been a distraction for both BlackBerry and investors for a number of years now,” International Data Corporation analyst John Jackson told AFP.
The end is “good news,” he said, noting an uptick in BlackBerry’s stock price in morning trading.
Shares rose more than four percent to US$8.22 in New York at 11:00 am local time (1500 GMT). This price, however, remains far below a five-year high set in October 2011 of US$23.97.
Originally known as Research in Motion, the company introduced its first internet-connected devices in the early 2000s, and earned a dedicated following of “CrackBerry” addicts.
But its luster faded with the introduction of the iPhone in 2007 and the large number of low-costs Android handsets that followed.
By moving out of hardware, BlackBerry can focus on its various business services such as messaging, cybersecurity and tracking connected devices.
Jackson said the move “should help investors, BlackBerry customers, and the company itself focus squarely on the software and services business which is fiercely competitive in its own right, but also the business that BlackBerry has been in all along.”
However analyst Michael Walkley at Canaccord Genuity said the new strategy has risks as well.
“We believe the lowered focus on hardware could have an adverse impact on its installed base of loyal BlackBerry hardware customers, potentially switching to new software and security solutions on competing smartphones over time,” he said in a research note.
Edo election: Some Observers and party agents have commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the smooth conduct of the Edo governorship election.
They made the commendation while monitoring the election in some parts of the state on Wednesday.
Mr Owolabi Andrew, an observer with Enough Is Enough (EIE) organisation, said in Benin that there was improvement in the delivery of election materials at the various polling units.
Andrew also lauded security presence at the polling units and orderliness among voters.
" I am impressed with the electoral process put in place by INEC. It is indeed, a great improvement from the past and I encourage the commission to keep it up," he said.
Mr Oben Okhionkpamwonyi, a member of Progressive Youth Observer Group, said the process had been impressive in all the units he visited.
" The electoral process is an improvement from past elections. Election materials arrived at the units in time, security was tight while voters were orderly.
" INEC did well in the conduct of the election," he said.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) agent at Ward 7 unit 1, Orhiomwon Local Government Area, Mr Laurence Ewere, said he was satisfied with the conduct of the election in the area.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agent, in the same Ward, Mr Matthew Erunse, also commended the electoral process.
" So far, we are impressed with the conduct of the election here. INEC should keep it up," Erunse said.
*Worse than unsafe sex, drug abuse, alcohol and tobacco use combined
By Sola Ogundipe
What could be worse for your health and wellbeing than unsafe sex, alcohol dependence, drug abuse and tobacco use?
Researches say poor nutrition could be more hazardous to health that all of the listed factors put together.
Already, an estimated three billion people across 193 countries have low-quality diets, which contribute to poor nutrition and health outcomes, while also slowing growth and development.
A new report by the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition – an independent group of influential experts with a commitment to tackling global challenges in food and nutrition security – says that the burden of malnutrition is equivalent to that of experiencing a global financial crisis every year.
The report entitled: "Food Systems and Diets: Facing the Challenges of the 21st Century" outlines the toll that malnutrition takes on individuals and nations today, while also forecasting the expanding costs and consequences if these trends continue.
Toll of malnutrition The report, launched last week by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), gives guidelines for governments and decision-makers to change course through action and investment to create food systems that promote health and deliver quality diets.
Noting that sale of ultra-processed food and beverages rose from one-third of those in high income countries in 2000 to more than half by 2016, the report remarks that today's food systems are too focused on quantity and not enough on quality.
It points out that low-quality diets are a driving force in increasing rates of overweight, obesity and chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, while also fueling non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Already there are concerns that without immediate action, the situation is set to worsen dramatically over the next 20 years as population growth, climate change and urbanization converge on food systems.
Without significant changes in policies and investments by 2030, the number of overweight and obese people will have increased from 1.33 billion in 2005 to 3.28 billion, or one-third of the projected global population.
Reactions In a reaction to the development, former President of Ghana and co-chair of the Global Panel, John Kufuor, says nutrition is not about just feeding people, but about powering life and the growth of individuals, communities and nations.
"If we do not reshape food systems to prioritize nutrition, we are missing an opportunity to create a stronger, healthier and more prosperous future," Kuffor stated.
President of the African Development Bank and member of the Global Panel,Dr. Akinwumi Adesina argues that nutrition is not just a health and social development issue, but an investment that can spur economic growth.
"We must rethink how we look at nutrition and food systems. Nutrition fuels grey matter infrastructure-the minds of the next generation that will drive progress and innovation."
Former UK Chief Scientific Advisor and co-chair of the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition, Sir John Beddington, stated: "The level of effort required to address this problem is not dissimilar to fervor with which the international community confronted HIV/AIDS, malaria and other pandemic diseases. If we do not act, we will fail to unleash the full potential of millions of people around the world," he warned
Report Author and Chair of the Project's Lead Expert Group, Lawrence Haddad, says the world's food systems are failing. "The foods that are produced, affordable and chosen have been changing fast and will continue to do so. Now is the time to take action to ensure that food systems and nutrition are helping to power fuel development-not hold it back."
Income vs hunger Data from the report shows that while income growth can help to alleviate hunger, it does not guarantee accessibility to healthier, quality diets. While many people today have better diets than before, the intake of foods that undermine diet quality has increased even faster.
The report calls for food systems to be at the centre of global action, including the Sustainable Development Goals, observing that while policy must be tailored to meet country needs, priority actions at the global and national levels should also include prioritisation in other areas.
With Africa needing over US$30 billion to close the infrastructure deficit and in the light of dwindling Government expenditure on Healthcare, experts say it has become imperative that the private sector gets involved in closing these gaps.
Meanwhile, a Medical Credit Fund Nigeria has been introduced by PharmAcess Foundation to ensure quick access to bank loans by health professionals and owners of health businesses.
The experts who spoke in Lagos also lamented poor health financing in the country, adding that high out -of -pocket payments have marred health care delivery service in Nigeria and amounts to 90 percent in West Africa.
In his lecture entitled, "Healthcare Financing in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges", a Health Financial Specialist, Health in Africa Initiative International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group, Dr. Olamide Okulaja noted that Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 11 percent of the world's population, yet bears 24 percent of the global disease burden and commands less than one percent of global health expenditure.
Quoting a figure from McKinsey & Company, Okulaja said available estimates show that over the next decade, $25-$30 billion in new investment will be needed in health care assets, including hospitals, clinics, and distribution warehouses, to meet the growing health care demands of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Okulaja who spoke at a function by PharmAccess Foundation and partners to strengthen healthcare businesses regretted that of total health expenditure of $16.7 billion in 2005, roughly 60 percent in Africa, were predominantly out-of-pocket payments by individuals.
Noting that health systems in Africa are caught in a vicious circle between lack of demand and supply, he stressed the need to focus on creating virtuous circle towards system transformation through Public Private Partnerships, PPPs.
"Leveraging the efficiency of the private sector will improve supply chain management of much needed healthcare commodities. Private sector investments in local regional manufacturing of Healthcare commodities can ultimately lead to reduced stock outs and costs. This will also lead to increased employment opportunities in Healthcare," he affirmed.
Lamenting attitude of health practitioners and health business owners towards Bank loans, Country Director for PharmAccess Foundation, Mrs. Njide Ndili disclosed that a Medical Credit Fund, MCF, has been introduced by PharmAccess Foundation to ensure quick access to Bank loans by health professionals and owners of health businesses.
Ndili explained that the workshop was organised to introduce and showcase the Medical Credit Fund established by PharmAccess, for onward lend financing to healthcare.
"We are also building capacity of healthcare owners, medical practitioners who may be interested in borrowing money or who need money to expand their businesses or facilities.
"The workshop would provide them an opportunity to be better equipped and have enough information to get resources to expand quality improvement initiative within their facilities."
Ndili explained that under the scheme, the practitioners would be given a special rate by their Bank partners unlike what they would have gotten in the commercial setting.
She disclosed that under the scheme, they have been able to give out over 16 million dollar loans in Africa, adding that, the repayment rate is put at 96 percent.
She said healthcare financing in Nigeria is still at its minimal level, adding that a lot of Banks have wrong impression about healthcare business and they are unable to give loans to them.
Edo election: Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the ongoing Edo governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has described as worrisome the presence of governors Akinwunmi Ambode and Nasir el-Rufai in Edo state.
Ize-Iyamu who said this after casting his vote on Wednesday, also alleged that the APC has been using security agencies to harass his supporters.
He said, "You know that they have been using security agencies to harass our people, even till last night, trying to arrest them and detain them on very flimsy excuses.”
"But we have also spoken to their superiors, who assured us that those who are doing so are doing so on their own and they will call them to order. For now, we are satisfied with that assurance.”
"We are also aware that the governors of Lagos and Kaduna states, Ambode and el-Rufai, are also in Benin and this is worrisome because if the security agencies can declare restriction on movement even for those in the state, we are wondering why two governors not from Edo State will relocate to our state.
"We think that the reasons cannot be genuine; we have gone through the period of campaigning and expect that Edo people will be left alone to vote,” he said.
Edo election: Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo has commended the electorate in the state for turning out in large numbers to cast their votes in Wednesday's governorship election in the state.
Oshiomhole made the commendation shortly after casting his vote at Unit 2, Ward 10, in his Iyamho community in Estako West Local Government Area of the state at about 11 a.m.
"I am very impressed with the turnout of voters in these polling units. What is happening in these three polling units is a perfect example of what election should be," he said.
He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for adopting simultaneous accreditation and voting, adding that it was an improvement on the part of the commission's performance.
"I have always wondered why INEC wanted people to get accredited first and vote hours later.
"The poor people who are used to hardship had to carry the burden of our democracy by waiting the whole day.
"I believe INEC has made a sensible improvement in the election process. This is a civilised way of doing election and a victory for the middlemen who cannot wait on the line.
"God wants us to enjoy democracy and I believe we the politicians should allow the people to have that.
"My joy is that people are ready to celebrate democracy by the way they have queued for the election," the governor said.
He, however, expressed sadness over the alleged snatching of card readers from electoral officers in some parts of Edo Central Senatorial District by some thugs who reportedly shot indiscriminately.
"I don't know how that happened because there ought to have been enough security in the polling units.
"At this point, it will be too difficult for one to draw a conclusion because this happened in only one unit of the over 2,000 polling units in the state," he said.
Edo election: Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo has expressed sadness over claims that some thugs shot indiscriminately and snatched away some card readers from electoral officers in some parts of Edo Central Senatorial District in the ongoing governorship elections in Edo state.
Oshiomhole expressed his sadness shortly after casting his vote at Unit 2, Ward 10, in his Iyamho community in Estako West Local Government Area of the state at about 11 a.m.
He said, "I don't know how that happened because there ought to have been enough security in the polling units.
"At this point, it will be too difficult for one to draw a conclusion because this happened in only one unit of the over 2,000 polling units in the state," he said.
The family of the former Inspector General of Police, Sir Etim Okon Inyang, on Wednesday, confirmed the passage of the non-nonsense police chief.
In a statement made available to Vanguard in Abuja, the family confirmed that their father passed on at the Reddington Hospital, Lagos on Monday night.
In the statement signed by the son of the late IGP, Inyang Etim Inyang, the family said their bread winner died at the age of 85.
"We write to formally announce the call to Glory of our father, grandfather, uncle, brother and friend, Ovong (Sir) Etim Okon Inyang, NPM, KJW, GCON, Inspector General of Police (rtd) which event occurred at the Reddington Hospital, Lagos on September 26th, 2016.
"He was 85.
"Sir Etim Okon Inyang joined the Nigerian Police Force on October 1st, 1949. He rose through the ranks, becoming Commissioner of Police in Kano and old Bendel States.
"In 1984, he was appointed Inspector General of Police and served meritoriously until his voluntarily retirement in October 1986. He was appointed Vice Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee in 1987.
"He was conferred with the National Honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). He is survived by his wife, Mary, and five children," the family said.
Edo election: A combined security team set up to monitor the Edo governorship election has arrested six persons for disobeying restriction of movement order.
Mr Amadin Osayande, Edo Comptroller of Prisons and member of the team, told newsmen in Benin that the suspects were arrested at Welfare junction, Upper Sakponba road, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, on Wednesday.
Osayande said that four men and two women were arrested inside a commercial bus during the election.
He also said that the suspects said they were aware of the restriction of movement order, yet they went about their normal businesses.
Osayande added that there was restriction of movement and yet they were driving around the city.
"Actually, we all know that there is always restriction of movement during election, yet the suspects were parading the city.
"Apart from the restriction order, the suspects looked suspicious and needed to be investigated," he said.
Other members of the combined security team are; the state Commissioner of Police, Commander, 4 brigade of the Nigerian Army, state Comptroller of Prisons, representatives of the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) .
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts and Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, has, Wednesday, urged President Muhammadu Buha and the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Magu to extend their anti-corruption fight to the Middle East and Far East where he alleged some corrupt Nigerians ferried Nigerian's looted treasury to.
Sani, spoke in Kano during a courtesy visit to elder statesmen, Alh Tanko Yakasai and Alh Yusuf Maitama Sule.
According to him, "hundreds of billions of taxpayers' money have been stolen over the years and we have a duty to recover them, but it is very evidently clear that the idea of looted funds and the recovery from outside Nigeria seems to be beginning and ending with Abacha as if it is only Abacha that stole money and he is the only person whose money should be returned back to Nigeria."
"I believe that we should go beyond that and check on how our own money was filtered away and taken to countries of the Middle East and also the Far East."
Sani who is also a front line Civil Society Organisation (CSO) leader also said that, "it is disturbing that at this very critical moment of our country's history, we have been faced with a series of economic challenges that clearly if not managed very well will lead us to self-destruction."
"In the last four to five decades, we have been dependent on oil revenue and we have seen how over the years, the resources accrued from such revenue have not reflected or have not tallied with the level of social and economic development we have seen on the ground."
"We have seen how a culture of waste and mismanagement over the years, how a culture of lack of saving has made it impossible for us to address some issues that are facing us as a country. It is a fact that Nigerians are suffering and the country that was seen to be very promising in Africa in the past is now lacking the capacity to stir the ship of our state and to lead other African states."
He equally noted that "It is disgraceful that our political ruling elite over the years have not been able to save for the rainy day. It has reached a point today whereby states can no longer pay salaries; they go deeper and deeper into debt; and it also looks as if there is no clear plan on ground to exit ourselves from the problems we have found ourselves," he concluded.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick and Secretary General Mohammed Sanusi have arrived in Cairo for Thursday's Extraordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football.
The Extraordinary General Assembly, to be addressed by CAF President, Alhaji (Dr.) Issa Hayatou, will take place at the imposing Marriott Hotel Zamalek in Cairo's city centre.
Among items on the agenda is the election of two additional African members to the FIFA Council (formerly known as FIFA Executive Committee), as well as a proposal by the Football Federation of Djibouti for the modification of article 18.3 of CAF Statutes regarding the candidacy to the Presidency of CAF.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick with CAF President, Alhaji (Dr.) Issa Hayatou
CAF's two vice presidents, Suketu Patel and Almamy Kabele Camara, as well as Ghana FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi, are among those in the race for the two slots to the FIFA Council.
Article 18.3 of the CAF Statutes, which the Football Federation of Djibouti is seeking modification, reads: Only member associations are empowered to propose candidacies to the function of CAF President. A candidacy to the function of CAF President is valid only if it is supported by at least five member associations. The candidate with the declaration of support of at least five member associations, a candidate to the function of CAF President must have played an active role in football as an official member of a member association, during four of the last five years preceding the submission of candidacy, and the candidate will have the obligation to go undergo an eligibility check.
ABUJA – MEMBERS of the House of Representatives Wednesday suspended ousted Chairman Committee on Appropriation, Rep Abdulmunin Jibrin for 180 legislative days.
Abdumumin Jibrin
The committee of the whole sat and considered the Rep Ossai Ossai led Ethics and Privileges committee report clause by clause and nailed him for one legislative calendar year.
The Committee had on Monday concluded its assignment, after prolonged waiting on Jibrin who declined to honour the invitation of the Committee.
By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA – Former Vice President and a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Atiku Abubakar Wednesday waded into the altercation between the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and another leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement issued by his Media Office in Abuja, the former vice president said the leadership of the party cannot make rules only to discard it while the game is on.
He charged “the APC on the promotion of rule of law and due process in the conduct of its affairs noting that they are germane to the unity and stability of the party”.Oyegun, Tinubu and Buhari
According to him, “it is imperative for the national leadership of the party to live by the rules of internal democracy and respect for democratic consensus”, warning that “you cannot break your own rules without creating problems.”
Abubakar spoke in light of the face-off between Messrs Oyegun and Tinubu following the party’s decision to jettison the majority report of its Appeal Committee on the primary election in Ondo state which recommended a cancellation of the exercise that produced Mr Rotimi Akeredolu.
Retrace your steps
Abubakar also told Odigie-Oyegun to urgently retrace his steps in order to build confidence among aggrieved members.
He urged aggrieved members of the APC in the Ondo election “to exercise restraint in seeking redress to the crisis, while also urging the leadership of the party to retrace its steps and do the needful to restore confidence among the conflicting parties in the state for the overall benefit of the ruling party”.
He said the party is supposed to be an impartial entity in the arbitration of crisis among its members in any given election, contending that “since the APC found veritable reasons to review the outcome of the gubernatorial primary election it conducted in Ondo State, and was able to establish valid grounds to cancel that election and call for a fresh one, the decision to deviate from its own resolution is a negation of due process and an unfashionable hollow in democratic best practices.
“It was wrong for the APC to have set aside a resolution it had reached aimed at resolving the crisis in our party in Ondo State. It is a recipe for acrimony and division”, he stated.
The former Vice President also added that glossing over such a problem could only worsen the situation, advising the leadership of the party to do a soul-searching and address the issues at stake.
According to Atiku, the party leadership should always be guided by respect for the rules, fairness, equity, neutrality and respect for democratic consensus.
When contacted, an aide of the embattled chairman said the former vice president cannot exonerate himself of culpability in the emergence of Mr Akeredolu.
Though the aide pleaded for anonymity, he said, “we got reports that Atiku and some other party bigwigs actually bankrolled the Akeredolu campaign.
We are at a loss as to his recent romance with Tinubu but the president is the overall leader of the party and his decision on this matter is what would be our guiding principle especially because we do not have a functional Board of Trustees BOT in place as of now”.
A female police officer who was caught by an agent of the APC while collecting money from a chieftain of the PDP at unit 28, ward 7 in Ikpoba Okhai LGA was arrested by APC supporters who handed her over to the police.
The female police officer was locked up at Ugbekun police station after her action caused a little tension in the polling booth.
