INEC postpones elections in Kogi LG

The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Saturday, postponed the state House of Assembly election across Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi state.

The Electoral Officer, Mopamuro LGA, Mr Opanachi Ojodale, told the News Agency of Nigeria, at the INEC office in Mopa, that the election was postponed to Sunday, March 10, due to wrong ballot papers that were taken to the area.

According to Ojodale, the ballot papers belonging to Akpa LGA in Kogi East, were taken to Mopamuro LGA, development that was discovered in the early hours of Saturday (election day).
He told NAN that the new ballot papers for Mopamuro would arrive at the LG office later in the day, from Abuja

NAN reports that INEC’s office in Mopamuro on Friday night distributed election materials to Registration Area Centres at the ward level across the LGA.

Meanwhile, some youths of Orokere community had earlier on Saturday conducted a peaceful demonstration to the palace of their traditional ruler, to protest against the alleged importation of thugs to their community by suspected opposition party members.

The youths alleged that the thugs were imported by some politicians in the area to cause mayhem and disrupt the electoral process.

Mr Segun Peter, the youth leader, who spoke on behalf of the youths at the palace, urged the monarch to call the politicians to order so as to forestall a breakdown of law and order during the elections.
“The thugs threatened to disrupt the electoral process in the community, and unleash terror on members of opposition parties.

“The thugs also threatened that voters, who have decided not to vote for their candidates should not bother to come out to vote.

“We are peace-loving people, our youths are ready to stand firm and resist any form of intimidation to protect our votes,” Peter said.

I'll Resuscitate OGD's Legacies, APC's Guber Candidate

The Ogun State governorship candidate of the All Progressive. Congress. Prince Dapo Abiodun has promised to return Ogun State to the glorious years as experienced during the reign of Otunba Gbenga Daniel who ran a highly focussed and qualitative administration with the people as the centrepiece.

Prince Abiodun said this as he met teeming followers of former Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel who gathered at the Asoludero residence to declare support for the APC governorship candidate.

Thanking Otunba Daniel for  providing the platform to meet with his people, Abiodun  said he shares many things in common with the former Governor which dwelt on mapping out policies that will turn the fortunes of the State and that of the people around for the better.

According to him: "This is why we have carefully put together a policy plan for a very effective administration that will enhance qualitative governance and create enabling environment to encourage public private partnership which was the hallmark of Otunba Gbenga Daniel's administration between 2003 and 2011".

In his response, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who described the meeting as a moment of history, stated that governance of a State especially a sophisticated one like Ogun is for a matured  mind who cannot be pushed against his will.

Continuing, he said that after consultation with his followers cutting across all political divides and major stakeholders in the People Democratic Party both at the State and national level and weighing the available options, "we have come to the conclusion that to rescue the State from the hands of those who held it down in the past eight years and move it forward, Prince Dapo Abiodun stands the best chance to sustain the progressives policies which were not fully tapped".

This development, Daniel reinstated, "is not about a particular political party or individuals. There comes a time when one must rise up and take a decision. I count it as a disservice to my people and it will be against my conscience if I cannot provide leadership to my people at this crucial period. That is why, we therefore came to the conclusion that  we are going to work together and ensure victory for governorship candidate of the All Progressives Party, APC, Prince Dapo Abiodun on Saturday", he concluded.

You're On Your Own, Ladi's Father Fires Back On Amosun's Endorsement

Recent move by factional governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ogun State, and lawmaker representing the Remo Federal Constituency, Hon. Ladi Adebutu adopting opposition Allied Peoples Movement, APM candidate Abdulkabir Akinlade has drawn the wrath of his (Ladi) biological father who pronounced that he is on his own.

In his reaction to the news which he said he received with a shock, Sir Kessinton stated that he cannot think of any reason whatsoever why his son took such step without informing him.

"I wasn't privy to his meeting with Governor Amosun neither did he inform me. I heard the news like any other individual and wondered what could have gotten over him.

According to Sir Adebutu, who is currently out of the country for his medical check up, he has been inundated with several calls by well meaning Nigerians asking if he knows about the unpopular decision of his son to adopt the candidate of the APM. He maintained that he is not aware and the decision also did not have his blessings and endorsement.

Hon. Ladi Adebutu has been engaged in legal battle with Senator Buruji Kashamu for over two years on who becomes the party's standard bearer which he has lost serially before his decision to adopt incumbent governor Amosun's  candidate.

Ladi Adebutu’s action to support Governor Amosun’s candidate in APM, it was gathered have become the most unpopular popular political decision as several stakeholders in Ogun State have condemned it.

Ogun2019: Opposition Party Disowns 'Traitor' Adebutu

Further crisis has engulfed the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party on thursday as party stakeholders have kicked against the move by a Chieftain of party and factional Governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu to support the party of the State Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun; the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and it's governorship candidate, Abdulkadir Akinlade.

At an expanded meeting of the PDP leadership at Legacy House, Onikolobo, secretariat of the faction loyal to Adebutu, leaders of his faction kicked against the move and walked out of the meeting.

Some of the leaders it was disclosed confessed that Ladi Adebutu is not the kind of leader the party envisaged and cannot give directive on their political fortune, maintaining that the planned support for Amosun’s APM is only for Adebutu’s personal agenda and cannot be in the collective interest of the people.

According to one of them, “We don’t know what Ladi Adebutu take us for, we are not his boys that he can just reel out directive as he pleases because he got us (PDP) to where we are in the political equation of the State. Adebutu destroyed the political career of many young men and women for his personal agenda and he cannot be allowed to take us through another political misadventure because of his selfish interests.”

On Wednesday, the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, passed a judgment putting paid to Ladi Adebutu’s gubernatorial ambition and confirming the candidacy of Buruji Kashamu.

According to one of the leaders who attended the meeting, "Even attempts to bribe some of us with mouth watering price will not sway us."

Leaders who stormed out of the meeting includes: Hon. Waliu Taiwo, Director General Ladi Adebutu Campaign Organization; Chief Mrs Iyabode Apampa, PDP Apex Chairman; former Deputy Governor, Alhaja Salmot Badru; Alhaji Bisiriyu Popoola, PDP National Ex-Officio; Engineer Seni Ayorinde, Leader PDP Ogun Central; Chief Ogunjobi amongst others.

Saraki: Kwarans define leadership

By Tunde Ajose

The term leadership could simply be defined as exemplified between the good people of Kwara State and their leader, the Nigerian senate president, Bukola Saraki, especially due to the result of the last presidential election.

Saraki, instead of being sad over the results, where the opposition party won massively, knew there was need to calm his people's nerves and addressed their grievances. This is in order to find a lasting solution to the lingering peace of the state that's being threatened by the opposition party's 'do or die' attitude.

In the last 5 days, the senate president has touched base with his people and both have realised where there are needs to make amends, agreed to work together to shame those who used money and power harassment to sway votes.

The interactions led to revelations and self assessments.

Kwara electorates discovered to their chagrin that the alternatives they wanted to dump Saraki for don't have the best interest of the people at heart, but to fight political foe and heavyweight, Bukola Saraki.

Saraki's performance at the national assembly has been rated the best ever for any senate president, but the executive wouldnt want that as his predecessors used to be rubber stamped. Saraki stood his ground and ensured all bills followed due process, despite presidency embarrassments and character assassinations.

Also, his contributions to the civil service state like Kwara are massive as governor and representative.

In terms of development, overlooking the trademark of sabotage by the opposition party in painting a government in bad light as witnessed in the treatment of Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of Lagos State; where roads were intentionally destroyed and government contractors were threatened, Saraki's love for the people and Kwara can't be compared to someone like the current Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, who dreams everyday of becoming a political leader of some sought through the bad door.

Lai Mohammed lacks the qualities expected of a leader. Aside from the fact that he lies at will, he is a selfish man whose only contribution in Kwara were only personal.

It is on record that proposals submitted to him by Kwarans were either ignored or diverted to his son. The only people that could boast of Lai's presence in the presidency are his immediate family, even his Oro clan has bad tales of him.

Lai's love for Kwara is only to sell the good people to his paymaster in Lagos to steal its resources. If this is not true, Osun State, which is already sold to Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, couldnt boast of being a success.

The case of the gubernatorial candidate is even more worrisome because his sudden connection with presidency got him juicy NNPC contracts, and since the windfall which runs into millions of dollars, he has been oppressing them with his new wealth and status. This is someone, who is also from a notable wealthy background but has never bothered to spread the wealth like Saraki does.

The people have therefore resolved to stick with Saraki no matter what.

The mistake has been made, but the effect could still be corrected. Saturday's gubernatorial and house of assembly elections give room for redemption and hence the needed meeting with true political leader in Kwara, Sen. Bukola Saraki.

May Kwara people win.

Tunde Ajose is a political analyst. He writes from Lagos.

Ogun 2019: Tinubu, a toothless lion

By Tunde Ajose

Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu has been hailed in many quarters as being a ranging bull across the country especially the southwestern part of Nigeria.

He has lived in the fake euphoria of his greatness for so long, he has forgotten where to pull the plug. And like the proverbial oba agbaragunmi, who asked all villagers to pause and pay homage whenever he sneezed and the towncrier rang the bell.

Tinubu only listens to sycophants and fools who are busy pointing him to where next to enslave.

Amongst all Yoruba states, Ogun State has always stood its ground against the slave master and this has been due in part to the quality leadership being provided by Sen. Ibikunle Amosun.

The rest lies with the resolve of the Ogun people to never bow to any demi god.

Tinubu and his minions' conspiracy against the governor of Ogun State dated back to the first coming of the governor. And neither would the next governorship election in Ogun State be the first time Tinubu would bite dust in his attempt of assuming more than his small frame!

He was beaten back in Ondo State when Rotimi Akeredolu became governor, he was beaten back when he sent one of his errand boys to contest Ogun State gubernatorial primary, just as he did successfully with Rauf Aregbesola in Osun State.

Lekan Adeola, popularly called Yayi was sent packing to Lagos where he was compensated to contest for the senate again.

Yayi's misadventure led BAT, as he's known, to collaborate with Adams Oshiomhole, the APC's illegal national chairman and fostered Dapo Abiodun on the people.

Amosun, out of respect for the party and love for the president, advised the authentic winner of the APC primary election and people's choice, Abiodun Akinlade, to seek redress by claiming his mandate on the platform of Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

It's on record that Buhari's victory at the recent Presidential election in Ogun State was the handiwork Of Amosun, who also contested the Senate seat defeating the so called “anointed”ADC senatorial candidate, Titi Oseni silly shaming Tinubu and his co-conspirators, Chief Segun Osoba, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, and Adams Oshiomole the controversial Chairman of the party.

The sudden claim by the Vice President that he is a political player in Ogun State is very laughable, same for Osoba whose son rode on Amosun’s political sagacity to clinch the House of Reps slot, as he (Osoba) had to beg followers to vote APC at the last minutes when he realised that voting otherwise would spell doom for his son.

The electorates are becoming more aware and tired of Tinubu's overbearing leadership as a political leader in Lagos, hence, the #OtogeLagos is already gathering momentum. And it's only a matter of time, the hen comes home to roost.

As empires rise and fall, it is obvious that the reign of Tinubu is nearing expiry by his do or die attempts on the peace loving gateway state. And as his plans to embarrass the president of Nigeria, Mohammadu Buhari, failed at the presidential rally in Ogun State, Tinubu and his conspirators would bite the dust once again.

<em>Tunde Ajose, a political analyst, writes from Lagos.</em>