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Violence; Akwa Ibom People Will Respond With A Resounding Victory For APC

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Former Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday in Abuja, said that the answer of the people of Akwa Ibom State would give to the   lies, outright falsehood and sponsored violence by the state government against APC members, would be a resounding victory of the party at the polls in February, 2019.

 

Akpabio stated this while speaking with news men at the National Assembly, shortly after Plenary.

A release from the media office of the Senator quoted him as saying, ” my people will answer the PDP- led government  in my state with a resounding victory over the PDP  in February. I dont know of your own states, but I know of my state. ”

Akpabio, who was reacting to an allegation by Senator Bassey Albert, that the  state chapter of the APC was planning to disrupt elections in the state, challenged him to produce evidence of plans, saying” what evidence has Senator Albert on the alleged plan by the APC to use Federal might to win or disrupt  the February elections in Akwa Ibom State?”

The  action of Akpan, he noted, ” was simply the  aggressor playing the role of the victim. I believe strongly that there is no evidence to proove such spurious allegation as raised by the PDP senator.”

“Since my defection to the APC in August, there have been massive movements from PDP to APC in the state. It was that spurious and unfounded allegation that I wanted to react to on the floor of the Senate, before I was interrupted.” Akpabio disclosed.

Speaking further, Akpabio noted that ” I can tell you today that even though the government in Akwa Ibom State is PDP, the voters are 80 percent APC. ”

He revealed that , “it is actually the PDP that is causing insecurity in the state and not APC, because in the very recent past, a lot of government appointees had resigned from office, thereby, causing instability and fear in the government, hence the recent attacks on them.”

Akpabio listed, the various  attempts on the life of a former aide of the governor on Electoral Matter, Barrister Mfon, less than 24 hours after he granted an interview to Thisday newspaper, where he revealed  that over 200 of the governor’s aides would soon resign and join the APC.

He also made mention of attacks on his Ukana residence few days after his defection, attacks on the residence of the the MD NDDC, Obong Nsima Ekere, a day after his emergence as the APC governorship candidate, not forgetting attacks on his former aide on Dispora Matters, Mr Clement Ikpatt, for being critical of the Emmanuel-led administration.” All these attacks, he stated had been reported to the state police command and other security agencies and investigations are  ongoing”.

Akpabio called on his colleagues, in the National Assembly to use the platform for the betterment of Nigerians, saying,” let us use the platform of the Senate to discuss national issues that would be beneficial to generality of Nigerians  and not trivial things that you have no proof of. I believe strongly that it is not he, who reports to the Police first that wins a case, but through the thorough and careful investigation of the matter by the police and other security operatives, that the truth would be unveiled,” he said.

Senator  Akpabio advised those who defected from one political party to another to borrow a leaf from him as a former minority leader, saying he honourably resigned the position when he defected from PDP to APC to pave way for PDP to elect their minority leader.

“It’s a tradition all over the world that when you defected to another party even as a Senate President like Saraki did, to resign from the office of the Senate President.

“APC is still the majority party and they need to form a new leadership. The Senate President should honourably resign just like I did,” Mr Akpabio insisted.

Speaking further on his experiences as a member of the APC, he said, he was fulfilled being a member of a ruling party, adding that he defected to the APC in national interest.

He further explained that his advice and suggestions must not be looked at with suspicion being a part of the ruling party now.

 

He came hard on his former party, PDP for doing nothing in the South-South in the last 16 years, adding that PDP government did not construct a kilometre of road for those years.

“Having moved from PDP to APC, I felt fulfilled. My advice and suggestions in the national interest would not be looked upon with suspicion by the government in power again.

“I moved to APC in national interest. I don’t believe in bringing government into being and will not support that government to succeed.

“In the last 16 years, I did not see one kilometre of road done by PDP government in Akwa  Ibom state, but today, APC government is constructing the road from Akwa Ibom to Calabar.

 

“The road has been a death trap and I must thank this government for that.

“From the national and local perspectives, people look at me as a leader and I must tell you that in 2019, it would be difficult for any other party to penetrate the South-South.”

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Oyo Speaker, Debo Ogundoyin Fuels Guber Ambition Talks (begins consultation)

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There are whispers around Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State regarding the ambition of the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Debo Ogundoyin to take over from the Governor, Seyi Makinde in 2027.

 

Those in the know claimed Debo, one of the sons of late socialites, Tina Ogundoyin is hinging his hopes in his cordial relationship with Governor Seyi Makinde and some other stakeholders in the State to achieve his ambition.

 

The Oyo Speaker, 36 is said to have began consultations towards this amidst his calculations of leveraging on his influence within the PDP and his hold on the Assembly.

 

Pundits had predicted a narrow chance for the young politician, putting down likely names of the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu and FIRS boss, Zaccheus Adedeji as better contenders in the APC than the youthful Speaker.

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Parrot Xtra Publisher Celebrates Hassan Fatungase At 60

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 Publisher of Parrot Xtra Magazine/PMParrot.com, Olayinka Agboola has sent out expressive greetings to his long-time friend and brother, Alhaji Hassan Taiwo Fatungase, former Bakers’ World, Ikeja, Lagos Director on the occasion of his 60th birthday anniversary.

 

In a statement  personally signed by Agboola, former Nigeria Coordinator for Ovation International Magazine described Alhaji Hassan Fatungase as the most selfless Nigerian he has ever encountered.

Agboola continued, “Hassan is not only selfless, he is intelligent, forward looking, hard-working, vibrant, resourceful, compassionate and above all, very God-fearing.”

The Ibadan-based media entrepreneur then went ahead to submit that the astute technocrat is a man who appreciates human beings and the value of friendship.

“Those who attended the University of Lagos with him in those days will attest to it that ‘Fatuu’, as he used to be called then would sacrifice anything to keep a working-relationship.

 

“Even when he joined one of the five-star hotels in Abuja in the early 90s, it did not take long before he was promoted to become the very first African to occupy a managerial position before he joined the Bakers’ World family business in Lagos. His records are still there till today.

Feats At Bakers’ World

“While running Bakers’ World located on Allen Avenue in Ikeja, Lagos, journalists, broadcasters, creative young Nigerians and others were encouraged by him. The records are also there for people to verify. There is almost no big name in the entertainment/media industry in Nigeria today that has not directly and/or indirectly benefitted from Hassan’s large-heartedness. As a matter of fact, he used to settle quarrels when differences and ‘head-on-collisions’ were reported to him!”

Agboola also went ahead to describe how the celebrant of the day has been faring since he became the chairman of Abimbola Awoliyi Estate, Oko-Oba in Lagos where he presently lives.

“Hassan is team-player and a man who keeps improving in good-naturedness even as a semi-retired bureaucrat. Residents of Awoniyi Estate will tell his story better. Since he became the chairman some three years ago, living standards have since improved.

“Together with other executive members, the Estate has been winning awards as one of the best in the whole of Lagos State. Solar lights, good roads, fibre-optic-source of internet, faultless security architecture and enhanced sociability…and other achievements have been recorded by the Fatungase-led team.”

Agboola, who was also a pioneer staff at Thisday Newspaper concluded “Dear friends and colleagues, please join me to pray for this quintessential lover of fairness and equity. May Allah continue to be with him, grant him sound health, more prosperity, divine protection and long life. May his wonderful family comprised of ‘Iyalaje’ Doyinsola and the children- Tomisin, Ahmed, Ibrahim and Idris continue to enjoy divine grace too. Happy birthday to our Director at Parrot Xtra Media Network, many happy returns of this day, September 26.”

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‘our silence is not an act of cowardice’ Olugbon Replies Obasanjo

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-Ayotunde Ayanda
The Olugbon of Ile-Ogbon, Oba Francis Alao has reacted to the recent public ridicule where former President Olusegun Obasanjo ordered some Oyo monarchs to stand up.
Some people interpreted it as a reprisal of an attack from the Olugbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao against the former President in a radio interview where the monarch condemned Chief Obasanjo for opposing the ambition of President Bola Tinubu.
Chief Obasanjo was unapologetic as he defended his actions claiming the monarchs disrespected the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
The Olugbon in  his response  called  it  an internal issue and hinted it will be addressed in the Oyo Council of  Obas next meeting.
Below is the message from the Olugbon’s palace…
The outburst of former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo against traditional rulers in attendance at the inauguration of the Iseyin Campus of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) on Friday September 15  has generated anger and varied responses from true sons and daughters of Oduduwa in all sections of the society.
First and foremost, I will like to emphasize that the inauguration ceremony was a huge success while the road and campus projects represent another milestone in the development strides of Governor Seyi Makinde who has been working hard to take Oyo State to the next level of development.
All the royal fathers involved understand the pain caused by the incident and appreciate the well-placed reactions.
I wish to state that the incident is an internal affair which will be properly reviewed at the next meeting of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
Let me assure all Yoruba, and other well-meaning Nigerians who have respect for the traditional institution, and who feel concerned about the incident that our silence since Friday is not an act of cowardice. When we sit down with the Governor, and hold our next meeting, we will review and respond appropriately.
Our Governor respects us, and traditional rulers in Oyo State also hold him in high esteem.
I, therefore, sue for calm over this issue.
We want everybody to apply decorum in line with the Omoluwabi ethos for which Yoruba are greatly respected. Ile Yoruba land shall remain peaceful. Our unity is sacrosanct. These ethos must reflect in our day-to-day activities.
Let it, however, be well noted that traditional rulers in Oyo State have no regret in supporting Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde in the last election, and will be willing to support them even in the future.
This is the clear position of monarchs in Oyo State. Any other information from anywhere that is contrary to this should be disregarded.
E-signed:
Oba Francis Olushola Alao
Olugbon of Orile-Igbon
Deputy Chairman,
Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs
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