Ekiti 2018: Fayose charges INEC, FG on credible poll

​Ekiti State Governor, Chief Ayodele Fayose, has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Federal Government to conduct credible governorship poll in the state next year. He expressed optimism that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will emerge victorious. This is just as he also warned the Federal Government against the use of force or manipulating devices and plans in the the election, adding that democracy needs a virile opposition to thrive. He stated this in Ado-Ekiti on Friday while reacting to the announcement by INEC that the governorship election in the state has been fixed for July 14, 2018. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, he quoted the governor as saying that he and his party were fully prepared for the poll. “We are happy, prepared and expectant of the date for the election and it has come. I only want to appeal to INEC to live to the expectation of Nigerians by conducting a poll that is not manipulated. It must be credible. free and fair. The one we had in 2014 was rated high by local and international observers. “In fact, the United States Government commended it and said it should be a benchmark for other elections in the country. I am aware of plans being hatched by some failed politicians that they would use INEC and federal might to take over Ekiti. “We are on ground and nobody can use any foul means to take over Ekiti State. If they have been doing that elsewhere that won’t work here. We are on ground and we want to let them know that we will resist any attempt to manipulate anything here. Already part of their plan is to cripple the state financially and they have started that by illegal arrest and detention of our people, but the power of the people will prevail in the end. “They are also planning to begin electronic transfer of election results with Ekiti State, no one can use us as a Guinea Pig for one useless experiment. The voters and the people of the state must decide who they want to govern them,” he said. On whether he was jittery that his party could lose the election, Fayose debunked such a claim, saying if the election was held today, his party and candidate would win hands down. “I am the voice of the opposition in Nigeria and nobody can muzzle me. We cannot all head in the same direction. “We need a virile opposition for our country to reap good and great dividends of democracy. “Some All Progressives Congress leaders are boasting that they had input into the appointment of some INEC top shots and that they would do their bidding, but that won’t work, the choice of the people and their voice must prevail and be heard,” he added.

Biafra: What Ooni of Ife said about proscription of IPOB

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has disapproved of the declaration made by South-East Governors that members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, are terrorists. Ogunwusi said members of the group should not be seen as terrorists because they were only seeking justice and equity. The monarch made the remark on Friday when he paid a courtesy visit to Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu. Ogunwusi also referred to the Nnamdi Kanu-led group as the Indigenous People of Brighter Nigeria, IPOBN. The monarch urged government should tap and channel the energies of agitators towards building a better Nigeria. He advocated for proper re-orientation as a panacea to negative tendencies. According to Ogunwusi, “There is something that is bordering them; there is something that is making them to cry. “We should not throw them away; we should draw them closer because the youth of this country are the future, the energy, they are the heartbeat of this country. “We must chart the course of doing things with positive energy. I want to let you know that you are not alone in this. “We stand by you positively in a very progressive manner. We stand by you; we all must come together to build a united Nigeria. We don’t want any war; we don’t want any disintegration. “The problem confronting Nigeria remains the inability to harness the potentials and weld together the diversities to create a strong, united country.”

2019: APC members reject El-Rufai’s sole candidacy

Some members of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Kaduna State known as Kaduna Restoration Group, has vowed to resist moves some APC stakeholders to present Governor Nasir El-Rufai as the sole candidate for the 2019 gubernatorial elections. This was contained in a statement signed and made available to newsmen by the chairman of the group, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Ramalan. Ramalan in the statement said the governor was under the illusion that Kaduna State was an extension of ‘El-Rufa’i and Partners.’ It read in part: “If he feels that way, then he can be excused, after all he has spend most of his adult life outside Kaduna and may not have a proper understanding of the present political permutations and variables that makes Kaduna State the hotbed of political radicalism in Nigeria. “In their desperations, they assembled people who themselves are soon going to face opposition in party congresses and primaries to endorse them without a contest. Those who criticized PDP over these undemocratic ideals are the ones sponsoring it for their own selfish interests. “All the funds that had accrued to this government from federal allocation, internally generated revenues, bailout funds, Paris Club refunds have been wasted on patronage and propaganda such that what is on ground do not justify the billions that came into government coffers within the last two years. “We are by this release appealing to the electorate both at party and general level to remain unperturbed but steadfast. The Governor in his desperate attempt to hoodwink the party and the general populace having suddenly realized the dismal failures of his government policies and programs which have been largely antiparty, anti people and which lack human face. “He is now flying the kite of self acclaimed endorsement by Mr. President. We have every confidence that Mr. President will never do anything in violation of the Nigerian Constitution.”