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Osun Poll: INEC Declares Adeleke Winner …Governor-Elect Dedicates Victory To Electorate …As PDP, Buhari, Atiku Praise Outcome

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the winner of the Osun governorship election.
The Returning Officer for the election and Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, announced that Adeleke got a total of 403,371 votes, beating the incumbent, Prof Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who got 375,027 votes in a keenly contested race, last Saturday.
He said, “I declare Adeleke Ademola Jackson Nurudeen, on behalf of the chairman of INEC, of the PDP, having satisfied the requirement of the law, is hereby declared the winner, and he is returned elected.”
According to the total votes recorded by the electoral umpire, the PDP won 17 of the 30 local government areas of the state, while the APC won the remaining 13.
The PDP won in Ede North, Ede South, Ifelodun, Boluwaduro, Egbedore, OdoOtin, Osogbo, Ila, Atakumosa West, Olorunda, Ilesa West, Obokun, Oriade, Orolu, Ife North, Irepodun, and Ejigbo LGAs.
The APC, on the other hand, won in Boripe, Ilesa East, Ayedire, Ifedayo, Ife Central, Ayedaade, Iwo, Olaoluwa, Isokan, Atakumosa East, Irewole, Ife South, and Ife East LGAs.
Adeleke and his nephew, award-winning Nigerian singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, were seen in a video that surfaced online, celebrating an early lead when the counting started.
Meanwhile, in the Situation Room of the PDP, there was also wild jubilation as the PDP claimed it was winning the election even before the final results were announced.
Although many believed the Osun governorship election was a two-horse race between Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and Senator Ademola Adeleke, no fewer than 15 political parties partook in the election.
Other candidates included Akin Ogunbiyi of Accord Party; Lasun Yusuff of Labour Party; Oyegoke Omigbodun of Social Democratic Party; Segun Awojide of African Action Congress; Kehinde Atanda of Action Democratic Party; Awoyemi Lukuman of Allied Peoples Movement; Adebayo Elisha of All Peoples Party; and Adeleke Adedapo of Boot Party.
Rasaq Saliu of New Nigeria Peoples Party; Abede Samuel of National Rescue Movement; Ayowole Adedeji of Peoples Redemption Party; Ademola Adeseye of Young Peoples Party; and Adesuyi Olufemi of Zenith Labour Party also participated in the election.
The election was held across 3,763 units in the 30 LGAs of the state, and witnessed a huge voter turnout and was largely peaceful.
Of the 1,955,657 registered voters in the state, 1,479,595 Permanent Voter Cards were collected before the election.
To keep the peace in the state, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali, had deployed about 21,000 police operatives, apart from other security outfits also present which included the military and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The poll was, however, characterised by massive vote-buying, which drew the condemnation of some candidates and civil society organisations.
Reacting to his victory at the poll, Senator Ademola Adeleke assured Osun State residents of greater things ahead.
Speaking to newsmen, yesterday, Adeleke assured that Osun State would move forward, describing himself as the governor of the people.
“The people of Osun should expect great things to come to Osun State. This governor is for the people, for the grassroots.
“They supported me, and Osun State will never again go backwards, they will keep moving forward, and I can assure you once again, I’ll not disappoint the masses that stood by me.
“I’ll go ahead and make sure Osun is great again. I’ll bring good tidings to Osun.Thank you to everyone.”
In his reaction, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Iyorchia Ayu, said with the result of the Osun State governorship election, the residents of the state have spoken.
Ayu said like, in Osun, Nigerians would also speak in 2023 by electing its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
In a statement, yesterday, PDP national chairman alleged that Oyetola and the APC did everything to frustrate their chances.
He alleged they were denied the use of any public facility in the state capital for their mega-rally.
The statement partly read, “We had to use the party’s state secretariat. As it were, we couldn’t have access to the stadium, but we had access to the people’s hearts, loyalty and votes.
“Twelve years ago, specifically on November 26, 2010, the PDP lost Osun State – not through the ballot-box – but via a judicial coup (ruling).
“That coup (ruling) terminated the action-packed tenure of Olagunsoye Oyinlola. And since then, Osun has been frozen in executive misrule and underdevelopment.
“Four years ago, the PDP won the governorship, but our Candidate, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, was robbed of victory in broad daylight. We went back to the drawing board, and today, we have reclaimed our victory.
“Today is, therefore, not just a day of double restoration – it’s a day of redemption too. It restores PDP to power and redeems the Osun people from the scourge of mediocrity, empty promises and excuses.
“I congratulate the two-time winner, the tenacious Adeleke. I congratulate the good people and residents of Osun State. I hail every party stakeholder who stood with us in action, prayers and hope.
“You have kept faith with the PDP. You refused to be intimidated. You refused to be bought over with foodstuffs and 30 silver coins. You said no to thuggery and vote fraud. You have done well.
“I thank the PDP National Campaign Council for the Osun State Governorship Election, headed by Governor Duoye Diri, for a superlative performance. I thank our Vice Presidential Candidate, Governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa for the tireless work.
“You have helped to return PDP to power after 12 years. You have returned hope to Osun State. But beyond this, you have renewed the quit notice on the reigning APC-led Federal Government. PDP first issued the quit notice in December, last year, when this present leadership assumed office”.
Ayu, who described the election as a referendum on the disastrous APC stewardship, said it also proves that Nigerians want the PDP back.
PDP national chairman also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as security agencies for toeing the path of neutrality and ensuring that the votes counted.
Also reacting, President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated Senator Ademola Adeleke, following victory of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Osun State.
A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Femi Adesina, yesterday, said, “With the election over, the President expresses conviction that the people of Osun have expressed their will through the ballot, and the will of the people must always matter and be respected in a democracy.
“President Buhari notes that the successful conduct of the election is a further testimony to the maturity and commitment of all stakeholders – the electoral body, security agencies, political parties, the media, civil society and the electorate- to further strengthen the integrity of the electoral process in the country.
“The President reassures the nation that the commitment of this administration towards having credible elections remains unshaken”.
In the same vein, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has described the Osun State governorship election victory of the party as a light that has come to the state.
Atiku congratulated, especially the people of Osun State, for proving that power actually belongs to the people.
The former vice-president also congratulated Senator Ademola Adeleke for winning the governorship election in the state, saying it was a well-fought success.
Atiku celebrated the candidate and the party in a post, yesterday, saying, “Light has come to Osun. Congratulations, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on a well-fought victory. Also, hearty congratulations to the PDP family and all stakeholders who came together to make this possible.
“Most importantly, congratulations to the great people of Osun State for proving that power, indeed, belongs to the people.”
The former vice-president, during the governorship campaign rally, last Thursday, had said that Osun was a PDP state, and solicited that citizens should guard their votes from being whisked away.
He stressed that allowing any manner of rigging in the election would return the state into darkness.
The PDP also felicitated with the candidate of the party, Senator Ademola Adeleke on its official page in a message tagged ‘Breaking News! #OsunDecides2022’
The party said, “The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared the official Peoples Democratic Party Nigeria Guber Candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke as winner of the 2022 Governorship Election in Osun State. Adeleke defeated the All Progressives Congress (APC) Candidate, Adegboyega Oyetola with 403,371 votes. It’s a new dawn #ImoleDe.”
In a statement, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, had before the declaration, urged INEC and the APC to play by the rules guiding the election.
PDP said, “Our party charges the Independent National Electoral Commission and the APC leadership in Abuja to note that the course of the election is already known to all and that the people of Osun State will never accept any outcome to the contrary.
“We also congratulate all democratic institutions, stakeholders and all patriots who stood by the people to achieve this great shift.”
Also appreciating the victory of the PDP candidate, vice-presidential candidate of the party, SenatorIfeanyi Okowa, in a Tweet, congratulated the PDP, people of Osun and the winner of the governorship election.
“I congratulate the people of Osun State and my brother, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the @OfficialPDPNig candidate for a decisive victory at yesterday’s polls.
“This is why, as we prepare for the arduous task ahead, I pray that our party can sustain this drive into next year, as we work to elect AlhajiAtikuAbubakar as the next President of Nigeria. Congratulations to the people of Osun! Congratulations to my brother, Senator @AAdeleke_01! Congratulations to our great party, the PDP!”
In 2018, the APC candidate won the election by 255,505 votes to defeat the candidate of the PDP, who polled 255,023 votes, after an inconclusive election on September 22, and a rerun was conducted across seven polling stations in four LGAs on September 27, in which INEC declared the candidate of the APC as the governor-elect of the state.
Meanwhile, the Interior Minister, OgbeniRaufAregbesola, has deleted comments on his social media handles wherein he earlier reacted to the outcome of Saturday’s governorship election in his home state, Osun, stating that he never authorised the messages.
Media Adviser to the Minister, Sola Fasure, in a tweet on the minister’s verified Twitter handle, yesterday, said the messages have now been deleted.
“It has come to the attention of the media office of the Minister of Interior, OgbeniRaufAregbesola, that an unauthorised message was posted on his Verified Twitter & Facebook Pages at about 8:00am on Sunday, July 17, 2022.
“The unauthorised messages have now been deleted. Members of the public, especially the media, are advised to ignore!”,Fasure stated.
Waxing spiritual, Aregbesola had on his verified Facebook page, yesterday morning, said God gives power to whoever he wills.
The now deleted post read; “Osun Le Tente. This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. – (Daniel 4:17)”.
Expectedly, the post had generated several reactions with many praising him and others from his party, APC, knocking him for not supporting the incumbent, GovernorAdegboyegaOyetola.
In the lead up to the election, the Osun APC had engaged in a war of attrition, with Aregbesola controlling one faction and his successor, Oyetola controlling the other faction.
The situation was such that many APC members moved to the PDP.
Consequently, in Saturday’s election, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator AdemolaAdeleke was declared winner, having polled 403,371 to defeat Oyetola and the APC with 375,027 votes, while Lasun Yusuf of Labour Party (LP) polled 2,729

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No Level Of Sabotage Can Make Me Surrender Our Mandate -Fubara …Promises To Prioritise Development In Education, Entrepreneurship, Agriculture …Asks For Sustainable Peace Across The State

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Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has asserted that no level of sabotage staged in some quarters will make him abandon the mandate given to him to serve, protect and advance the fortunes of the State.
Speaking while declaring open the 115th and 116th combined Quarterly General Meeting of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt yesterday, Governor Fubara reaffirmed his commitment to serve with humility, sincerity of purpose and accountability.
”Although these are trying times, let us not forget that Rivers State is our collective inheritance, presently under my watch, to protect, defend and advance it as the Governor.
”I assure you that I will not fail in this responsibility nor will I surrender our mandate and progress to intimidation, blackmail and deliberate sabotage. I reaffirm my earlier statement and recommit myself to the path of peace as there is nothing to gain in a state of needless crisis.”
Governor Fubara said drastic measures will be taken to strengthen education, healthcare and other social services across the State, so that no part, including the rural areas, will be left behind.
In advancing these human capital development efforts, the governor said the 2024 budget of the state will prioritise and provide sufficient funding to create universal access to affordable and quality education and healthcare services in Rivers State.
”We will also take deliberate steps to unlock the entrepreneurial spirit among our teeming unemployed youths through viable initiatives on skills development, entrepreneurship training and targeted investments in commercial agriculture.”
Sir Fubara urged traditional rulers to be upright and royal fathers of integrity who do not compromise their neutrality.
He also enjoined them to be courageous to speak truth to power so that they do not lose their moral authority and legitimacy before their people.
”We must all be worried about the plight of our youths, especially those in rural communities, most of whom are poor, neglected and almost forgotten in the government’s development plans, policies, and actions.
”As we all know, no human society can progress without peace and security. I will therefore urge you to continue to work tirelessly for the preservation of peace and security to attract sustainable development to your communities.”
The governor also harped on the need for everybody to have faith in the renewed hope agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration at the federal level, asserting that President Tinubu has shown determination to pull the nation out of the prevailing economic nightmare and usher in a new era of sustainable economic progress, which is very reassuring.
In his address, the Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse declared the firm support of the council to the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara who was elected as the best and trusted to lead the State.
Ohna Awuse urged troublemakers who are fanning the ember of discord to cease the acts and allow the governor to concentrate and do the work he was elected to do.
Also speaking, Rivers State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Charles Amadi said his ministry has continued to maintain a harmonious relationship with the council and will continue to collaborate with them to ease the discharge of their duties in their roles as royal fathers in peace-building efforts in their domains.

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Return To Bodo-Bonny Road Project Site, FG Orders Julius Berger …Sets April 2024 New Deadline For Project’s Delivery

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The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has ordered the contractor handling the 35-kilometer Bodo-Bonny road and bridge project in Rivers State, Julius Berger PLC, to return to the site and ensure its timely completion.
The minister emphasised the urgency and significance of the directive, noting that the project, initially awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc by the previous administration at a revised cost of N199billion with a completion date of December 31, 2023, is crucial for economic transformation in the region, being approximately 84percent complete.
Umahi expressed bewilderment over the contractor’s absence from the site despite their commitment under the agreement to meet the revised completion date.
He set April 2024 as the new deadline for the project’s delivery.
Hosting a delegation from the Bodo–Bonny Road Peace Committee on Monday, December 5, 2023, Umahi assured the project’s host communities that the Federal Government, under President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope administration, is committed to ensuring the project’s swift completion.
As stated by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Uchenna Orji, the minister highlighted a partnership agreement in 2017 between the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Works and Nigeria LNG (NLNG) outlining the funding modalities for the project.
He faulted the contractor’s stance on project variations, highlighting that they had previously committed to completing the project without seeking additional variations, saying, “No equipment must be allowed to be moved out of site, they must complete that project as agreed and as signed and nothing has removed that responsibility which they willingly on their own signed.
“I implore you the Peace Committee to report to me the progress that has been made on that road.
“Bobo-Bonny project was augmented to 199billion, I am told by the Ministry and NLNG Limited that there was a document signed by Julius Berger that the project cannot be varied which means that the project cost cannot be increased, the project is about 35 kilometers”.
The minister, however, praised the host communities for maintaining peace with the contractor despite project delays while urging them to persist in their peaceful approach towards contractors working on projects in their vicinity.
He assured the delegation that the ministry would ensure the completion of the Bodo-Bonny road project by April 2024, saying, “Nobody will hold this country to ransom if they cannot do it, another person will come and do it and finish it even better but the only charge I give to you is not to allow any equipment out of sight until they complete the project”.
Umahi also assured that the Federal Government would manage a coastal road in the same region, facing even more significant site challenges, and the cost would be less than what the government is currently paying Julius Berger.
“I respect them for their quality and commitment, but we shouldn’t be taken for granted” “It is a character of arrogance for them to demobilize from site,” he added
Federal Director Bridges and Design, Engr. O. O. Awosanya, gave a brief history of the award and funding of the project by Julius Berger.
According to him, the initial date of completion of the project with 13 bridges was supposed to be December 31, 2023, saying, “We have three main bridges and we have nine mini bridges and one bridge over the pipeline.
“The project completion as of today is about 84percent and the contractor has requested for a review which is against the spirit of the propagated agreement that was signed between the Federal Government, the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, and JB in 2021.”
Leader of the delegation and acting Chairman of the Peace Committee, Chief Charles John Jumbo, appreciated President Tinubu and the minister for the massive interventions and efforts they are bringing to the road sub-sector and changing the narrative of the road infrastructure in Nigeria.
He said the delegation was in the minister’s office to register their displeasure over the sudden demobilization from the site and abandonment of the Bodo-Bonny Road and Bridge project by Julius Berger Plc despite the huge funds committed by the Federal Government through NLNG.
Jumbo implored the timeouts intervention of Federal Government to avert the imminent hardship to be faced by the people of the area.

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RSG Plans Media Village …As Johnson Wants Journalists To Be Objective On Unfolding Devs In Rivers

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The Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, plans to create a Media Village where all state-owned media houses would be located.
Office spaces, technical, power, other operational facilities and staff quarters are to be part of the ambitious project.
The large expanse of land at the Elelenwo transmission stations of both RSTV and Radio Rivers, is being proposed for this laudable project.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Warisenibo Joseph Johnson, dropped the hint in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, while playing host to the leadership of the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), who paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
This was contained in a statement by the Technical Assistant, Press Relations to the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Communications, Abraham Dukuma.
According to the commissioner, “The purpose of this move is to minimize the cost of operations of the outfits, increase efficiency and optimize the utilization of facilities through colocation as well as build synergy for effective performance, while creating some economic, social and commercial benefits, especially for people of the area where the activities of the proposed media hub shall be sited in particular, and people of the state in general.”
He thanked the NUJ, Rivers State Council, on behalf of the State Government, for identifying with Fubara-led administration.
The commissioner noted that fierce war has been raging in the media against Governor Fubara for some time, and charged members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm to be professional by accurately situating the unfolding development the way it is for posterity.
He informed that Fubara loves journalists, adding that the state Chief Executive is open to a robust, cordial working relationship with media practitioners.
To buttress his point, the commissioner cited the governor’s swift response to the recent requests from the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), when they were preparing for their recent national conference/election, where Dr. Lillian Okonkwo-Okagu was re-elected as the National Vice President of the Association.
He said the same friendly gesture was extended to the South-South Zonal leadership of the NUJ, as well as the Federated Correspondents Chapel.
Johnson also said that his recent familiarization visits to government-owned media houses and others is aimed at building better working relationship with the media in order to promote a healthy government-media partnership.
He disclosed that plans have been concluded for the governor to hold a media parley with journalists soon to enable him interact with them as partners-in-progress.
“To this end, the Rivers State Government under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, is determined to make a clear departure from the past dispensation, when they (media practitioners) were unfairly treated, by ensuring that the media play critical roles in the government’s pragmatic development agenda”, he said.
He declared that the NUJ needs proper support to serve its preeminent leadership role as the galvanizing force in the media space.
Johnson noted that the recent upward review of salaries of civil servants in the state, among other people-oriented policies initiated by Fubara are clear indications of realistic commitment of the governor to change the fortune of Rivers people and those resident and doing business in the state, which according to him, will ultimately become visible to all at the end of the day.
He, therefore, enjoined all and sundry to join hands with the state government to build a better Rivers State.
Commenting on the ongoing political imbroglio in the state, Johnson said that; “We are not in any kind of inter-ethnic debacle. Therefore, no ethnic sentiment should be introduced into our system.”
Earlier in his speech, Chairman, NUJ Rivers State Council, Stanley Job Stanley, who led the delegation, congratulated Johnson on his appointment into the Rivers State Executive Council by Governor Fubara as the Chief Information Manager of the state, describing it as well deserved.
He commended Johnson for continuing to fraternize with the NUJ, even after his appointment as a commissioner, noting that Johnson was indeed a good member of the NUJ family.
The NUJ chairman also applauded the commissioner for his swift action in visiting government-owned media houses to ascertain their state/condition, with the aim of addressing their challenges for efficient and optimal performance.
He also conveyed NUJ’s appreciation to the state government for the support extended to the state chapter of NAWOJ during preparations for their recent national conference at Abuja, and formally informed the commissioner that Dr. Lillian Okonkwo-Okagu was re-elected as the National Vice President of NAWOJ.
Stanley solicited the support of the State Government in hosting NUJ’s Press Week, which he said had not seen the light of the day for a long time.
He also sought the assistance of State Government towards the rehabilitation of the NUJ Secretariat.
The NUJ leader requested for a solidarization visit by the NUJ to the the governor to enable them rub minds with him with a view to finding a common ground for collaboration, exchange of ideas, support and partnership.
The NUJ chairman regretted that all efforts by the Union to have an audience with the immediate past governor of the state and current FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, failed throughout his eight-year stay in office, and expressed the hope that things would not be the same in the present dispensation.
The NUJ delegation was made up of the state Chairman, Stanley Job Stanley; Vice Chairman, Okechukwu Maru; Secretary, Ike Wigodo; and Treasurer, Doris Tom Morrison.
Others are Auditor, Omunimi Wokoma; Ex-officio and Chief of Staff to the NUJ chairman, Boye Salau; and Financial Secretary, Fubara Miebaka Amadi.

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