Nigerian Gazette

RE: Eleka in a "Come-and-Chop arrangement with Makinde"......a balderdash - Oluwole Olusola The founding father of Ekiti Grassroots Movement, Hon. Oluwole Olusola has called on well meaning indigenes of Ekiti to disregard the poorly constructed propaganda being circulated by some faceless miscreants to downplay the integrity of Prof. Kolapo Olusola who has served Ekiti selflessly, adding that Fayemi has failed in his responsibility to deliver on his campaign promises. In a text message received from Oluwole yesterday, he challenged the faceless group and those behind it to identify themselves and stop acting cowardly. "We know the poorly constructed write up emanated from some disgruntled elements in the APC who are seeking relevance after being denied access by their pay master, Dr. Kayode Fayemi" "There is no doubt in the fact that the last governorship election in Ekiti was marred by violence, external power, massive rigging and other undemocratic means whic...

Ekiti PDP Chairmanship: Kolawole Urges Issue-Based Campaign Among Aspirants  A frontline contender for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state chairmanship position in Ekiti State, Hon. Bisi Kolawole has urged other aspirants for the chairmanship position to reach out to party members across the State as he is doing,  and make their campaign issue based. Speaking at Ise/Orun and Ikere Local Government areas on Monday, Hon. Kolawole said the party should welcome many aspirants to the fray as this would help the process of mobilisation towards rebuilding the party.   According to the former lawmaker representing Efon Constituency, "it is high time we make it real competitive by encouraging as many people as possible to fight for available positions and this will give a strong signal that our party is democratic, unlike other parties that would just select their executive members. "However,  the aspirants for various positions in the State Executive Committee must avoi...

Group Restates Akwa Ibom Govt Commitment To Retirees' Welfare The Akwa Ibom Democratic Initiative (AIDI) has restated the commitment of the Governor Udom Emmanuel led administration to the welfare of retirees in the State,  urging the retirees to avoid being used as political tool.  According to a statement today,  by AIDI Spokesperson, Obong Henry Akpan, "even though the payment of retired teachers is purely within the purview of Local Government Councils, Governor Emmanuel has always ensured that retired school teachers are paid their entitlements as with other retired civil servants."  The statement read; "Earlier today, Monday, December 16th, 2019, a small group of retired primary school teachers organized a protest to the gate of the Government House in Uyo.  "It is worth noting here that Akwa Ibom State Government under the leadership of Governor Udom Emmanuel has endeavoured since he was sworn in, on May 29th, 2015, to pay the pensions and gratuities of r...

APC's Vote Inheritance Request: Is Akpabio Dead? The recent request by the defeated APC candidate for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, Sen. Godswill Akpabio for an illegal substitution in the ordered rerun is Essien Udim buttresses the level of impunity in the country and the disdain to which due process and respect to our laws. Shortly after Sen. Chris Ekpenyong was declared winner of the election, after convincingly leading Akpabio in nine out of ten Local Government Areas of the senatorial district, Akpabio in his usual arrogance bragged on national television that it was not possible for him to loose election because he thinks that he owns the people of Akwa lbom. He immediately filed a suit in a federal high court to compel lnec to issue him a certificate of Return despite his woeful loss at the poll. Even as a lawyer he ought to have known that after election only a tribunal could entertain any question on return made . Shamefully, he withdrew the suit and moved t...

Gov Fayemi Ordered Sack of  Workers,  Not Me,  EKSU VC Replies Critics  The Vice Chancellor of the Ekiti State University, Prof. Edward Olanipekun has blasted his critics over the sack of over 1,000 workers of the University, saying "The University's Visitor and Governor of the State, Dr.  Kayode Fayemi authorised the sack and half of what the governor instructed that I should do to reduce wage bill are yet to be done." EKSU Governing Council appointed by Governor Fayemi, had approved the sacked of over 1,000 academic and non-academic staff, claiming irregularities in the employment of over 600, over aged, and others. In a press statement personally signed by him today, Prof Edward Olanipekun advised the affected staff to seek redress in a competent court of law if they feel cheated with the decision of the University Council. "The University Management has set up panels that will look into different complaints from the affected staff. "We only carried out the i...

APC Governors intensifies move for Oshiomole’s outster, picks Ex Zamfara Gov,  Yari as successor Some of the Governors under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have pushed for former Zamfara State governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari as the replacement of Adams Oshiomhole. Despite the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari, the APC governors have returned to the trenches in their bid to unseat the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, zeroing in on the former governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, as his replacement. It was learnt last night that about 10 of the party’s 17 governors have resolved to deepen their push against the national chairman, who has been under intense pressure to stand down over sundry accusations, including his style of leadership, which his traducers claim has left the APC more divided than ever. Pressure from the governors had forced Oshiomhole to summon the meeting of the National Executive Committee three weeks ago, having not b...

Ekiti University May Lose Accreditation Of Over 50 Courses Over Fayemi's Sack Of Over 1,000 Workers  Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti  may soon lose accreditation of over 50 Science and Technology courses owing to the sack of over 90 percent duly employed technologists, staff of the institution. The staff members, who spoke to newsmen on Thursday and pleaded anonymity for fear of being haunted, also claimed that those of them who were technologists were employed through due process and ought not to be among those axed for irregularities in their employment and credentials. They further claimed that most touching of the whole saga was the fact that 90 percent of the technologists who were employed for the purpose of accreditation of some science, technology and education related courses, were also sacked. To this end, they raised the alarm that the school will soon lose accreditation if the dismissal was not reversed. A staff, simply identified as Okufemi, said: “It was...

RE: Michael Itok’s detention, Governor Udom Emmanuel has no hands in his travails We are constrained to address the above matter in spite of our initial decision not to join issues with those who have latched on to the issue and caused to be published especially on the social media and a section of the conventional media, several false narratives. Here are the unvarnished facts:  For some time now, some individuals motivated and edged on by certain political entities have taken to the social media to cause to be published several scurrilous and criminally libellous materials on the person and the Office of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel. Some of these manufactured lies are so odious and morally reprehensible that they gall the soul.   In plain language,  these maliciously atrocious materials had crossed the lines of decency. In all of this, Governor Udom Emmanuel had, as a democrat refused to join issues with the purveyors of these sick tales. Whe...

Akwa Ibom Senatorial Rerun: Why INEC must not allow APC to replace Akpabio with another candidate The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been warned to avoid allowing itself to be used to perpetrate illegality by accepting a new candidate from the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Akwa Ibom North West rerun election to replace the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who has formally notified the party of his intention to withdraw from the election. Akpabio, had reportedly written a letter dated December 2, 2019 to the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, saying that he could not abandoned his assignment as a minister in pursuit of a rerun election and urged the party to write INEC, in line with Section 33 and 35 of the Electoral Act, 2010, and submit a replacement to run in his place. Reacting, the ETG, in a statement on Wednesday, which was signed by its Convener, Dr. Kazeem Adekunle, said political parties can only substitute candida...

BREAKING: Akpabio pulls out of Akwa Ibom N’West re-run, says "I prefer being a minister" Former Minority Leader of the Senate and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has pulled out of the planned Akwa Ibom North East senatorial re-run election. In a letter addressed to the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole and dated 2nd of December, 2019, Akpabio said as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, a huge responsibility had been placed on him. He said he couldn’t abandon a critical assignment placed on him by President Muhammadu Buhari in pursuit of a re-run election. He urged the party to write the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in line with Sections 33 and 35 of the Electoral Act, 2010, and submit a replacement to run in his place. Details later…

BREAKING: Fresh Crisis rocks Presidency as Aisha Buhari attacks Mamman Daura, Garba Shehu Nigeria’s First Lady has accused a close relative of President Muhammadu Buhari of issuing a presidential directive behind her husband. Aisha Buhari, in a statement she signed and sent to Daily Trust newspaper, accused Mamman Daura of issuing a directive to a presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, not to recognise her office. Mr Buhari had before his election in 2015 said he would not allow for the office of the First Lady. During Mr Buhari’s first term in office, the presidency repeatedly referred to Mrs Buhari as the ‘wife of the president.’ However, after the president’s re-election, Mrs Buhari released a statement saying she should henceforth be referred to as the First Lady and her office as the ‘Office of the First Lady’. Since then, the presidency has referred to Mrs Buhari as the First Lady and President Buhari has also assigned official aides to her office. The Controversy On Wednesday, ...

Akwa Ibom Senatorial Rerun: For fear of defeat, Akpabio plotting to substitute name, Group alleges         The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has been accused of plotting to get the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to substitute his name as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial rerun election. According to the Elections Transparency Group (ETG) in statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, and signed by its Convener, Dr. Kazeem Adekunle, “Information available is to the effect that Senator Akpabio is plotting with INEC to substitute his name as the APC candidate for the Akwa Ibom North West rerun election, fearing he will lose. He was at INEC office on Monday, December 10, 2019 where he held closed door meetings with some top officials of the commission to substitute his name during the forthcoming rerun election.”  INEC will conduct rerun election in Essien Udim L...

DOCUMENT: See list of over 1,000 sacked Ekiti State University workers  DOCUMENT: See the list of over 1,000 sacked Ekiti State University workers  The management of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) has finally released the names of workers affected by the decision of the school Governing Council Ekiti State University Governing Council had last week, amidst uproar, considered and adopted the report of the staff audit, carried out by a firm of external auditors commissioned to undertake a general auditing of staff in the university which recommended the disengagement of workers employed by the previous administration. Most affected are those employed between 2016 and 2018, whose employment had been confirmed and enjoined necessary promotion. Here are the names of the affected workers of the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti (EKSU) recently  See list:

Stop fighting INEC REC Igini; come and test your popularity, group urges Akpabio, APC A socio-political group, the One Nigeria Movement (ONM) has advised the Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio to come and test his popularity at the re-run election in Essien Udim rather than hiding behind the cover of a nebulous group, the Forum of APC Aspirants to malign the sterling reputation of the Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini. Earlier this week, the so-called group, Forum of APC Aspirants, in a press release riddled with grammatical errors and disjointed grammar, asked for the removal of Mr. Igini as the Resident Electoral commissioner in Akwa Ibom State. Reacting, the ONM, in a statement on Tuesday, by its Convener General, Ahmed Sodiq-Mugoro, advised Akpabio to come out to test his popularity in the rerun senatorial election instead of hiding behind nebulous groups to push his sinister plot to get Mr. Igini removed as Akwa Ibom State REC...

Stop Your Crocodile Tears On Murder of PDP Member By APC Thugs, Group Blasts Ekiti PDP Chairman  …….Calls for Ekiti PDP SWC resignation Ekiti Grassroots Movement (EGM) has blasted the People's Democratic Party (PDP) State Working Committee under the leadership of Barrister Gboyega Oguntuase over the murder of Mr. Dotun Kosedake in Ikere Ekiti on Saturday,  during the local government elections, saying the PDP chairman and his ilk in the SWC were only shedding crocodile tears.  Dotun Kosedake was shot dead by rampaging APC thugs led by one Dele OPC, while three others, Ayeni Olumide (Salvation), Ayeni Gbenga (Special) and Abiodun Bukola sustained gunshots injuries and were rushed to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital,  Ado Ekiti. Reacting to the 7-day mourning declared by Oguntuase, EGM Publicity Secretary, Comrade Adebisi Adeola called on well meaning party faithful to demand an unreserved apology from the PDP state chairman for leading the party to a war o...

Nsima Ekere Allegedly Writes Buhari, Seeks Manipulation at Supreme Court The 2019 gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Obong Nsima Ekere, has written to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in his case at the Supreme Court.  Ekere in a leaked letter allegedly addressed to President Buhari on Tuesday, December 3, pleaded for leniency and intervention from the presidency.  Respectfully, I write to solicit your Excellency’s intervention in my case at the Supreme Court. The letter reads in part:  “You would recall, your Excellency that my political ambition suffered a deep setback since the results of the just concluded governorship election in Akwa Ibom state was announced in favour of the opposition Party – PDP”.  “Sequel to that, I stopped at noting to ensure an upturn of Judgements which followed the Tribunal and Appeal Courts ruling, all to no avail”. The former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) noted th...

Fresh Armed Bandits Attack: Niger Gov, Sani Bello Orders Air,  Land Survelance ...Vows to fish out culprits  Consequent upon the renewed armed banditry attacks on Kukoki and other communities of Shiroro and Rafi Local Government Councils in Niger State, the State Governor,  Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has directed the immediate  air and land surveillance by security personnel in Kukoki, Manta, Mangani and Gurmana and other affected areas to fish and flush out the bandits terrorizing the communities. Governor Sani Bello, who condemned the armed banditry attacks, added that the state government was fully supporting the joint security taskforce to chase the armed bandits out of the state. In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mrs. Mary Noel Berje, the Governor expressed dismay over the unfortunate attacks, noting that the criminals were taking advantage of the vastness and difficult terrain of the forestland to unleash terror on innocent people. The govern...

Ighalo, Osimhen, Chukwueze nominated for CAF awards.. See full list Super Eagles’ Former Striker, Odion Ighalo is the only Nigerian player in the latest CAF 10-man shortlists for the African Footballer of the Year Awards. This means that Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi and Lille’s Victor Osimhen are no more in the running for the prize. Barcelona’s Asisat Oshoala is among five players competing for the Women’s version of the award and she has to see off the challenge of Ajara Nchout (Cameroun & Valerenga), Gabrielle Onguene (Cameroun & CSKA Moscow), Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi & Jiangsu Suning) and Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa & Beijing Phoenix FC). Osimhen will take solace in the fact that he is still in contention for the Youth Player of the Year along with four other candidates namely Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze, Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund), Krépin Diatta (Senegal & Club Brugge) and Moussa Djenepo (Mali & Southampton). The updated Men’s Coa...

Senate kicks over $195m contract to Israeli firm to control Nigeria’s waterways Members of the Senate Committees on Navy, Marine Transport and Finance on Tuesday faulted the control of Nigeria’s waterways by an Israeli firm, Systems and Technology Limited. The contract was signed with the Israeli firm in 2017. It is worth $195.3 million. The involvement of the Israeli firm in securing the Anchorage Area of the Nigerian Ports in Lagos came to the fore during the investigative hearing of the joint committees on alleged illegal security activities of Messrs Ocean Marine Solutions Limited at the ports. Speaking at the Investigative hearing, the Chairman of Joint Panel, Senator George Sekibo, asked the Nigerian Navy whether it was aware that NIMASA had given a contract called Deep Blue Sea to an Israeli company, HLSI, to the tune of $195.3 million for promoting security of the riverine area. But Rear Admiral Tarioworio Dick, who represented the Navy, said the security outfit was expecting a...