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Tag: aregbesola

  • Minister of Interior, Aregbesola launches another passport front office in Lagos

    Minister of Interior, Aregbesola launches another passport front office in Lagos

     

    Rauf Aregbesola the  Minister of Interior has launched another passport front office of the Nigeria Immigration Service in addition to the one he inaugurated in the Alimosho area of the state on Monday.

    According to him, about half of the passport applications in the country are made in Lagos state, hence the need for more front offices.

    Aregbesola said the Alimosho front desk office will ease the pressure on the three existing passport control offices in the state and curb shortages in the issuance of passports.

    He said, “We are committed to expanding our Passport Issuance operations to bridge the shortage gap we face usually in urban centres like Lagos. It is this need that gave birth to the Alimosho Front Desk Office to ease the ever-increasing pressure on the three existing Passport Control Offices domiciled in Lagos.

    “We promise to speed up the expansion process despite the challenge of limited resources.”

    Continuing, he said the Alimosho front desk office is not an express centre or a full-fledged passport office like the ones in the Ikoyi, Alausa and FESTAC areas of the state but a place where biometric data of applicants would be collected.

    He said, “A front office is where applications will be made and biometric data of the applicant will be collected. It is a non-judgemental centre, meaning that no decision will be made here, no passport will be produced here and no further processing will be done here, but the application and biometric data of the applicants will be collected and forwarded to the NIS for processing and issuing.

    “We certainly need more of this in Lagos. This is because half of all passport applications are made in Lagos. At no time are less than 100,000 applicants from Lagos on the NIS portal applying for passports. We will therefore need not less than 15 of these front offices in Lagos alone, to be able to cut the application waiting period to one week.

    “But due to funding challenges, the government may not be able to provide these desk offices. We will therefore need private partners that will provide the lounge. Their only involvement will be to provide the space. The offices will still be manned by NIS personnel. Having these offices will remove the bottlenecks that lead to exploitation and eliminate all the challenges we face in urban centres where applications are unusually high.”

    In his remarks, Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Isah Idris, urged the pioneer officers of the Alimosho office to live above suspicion in all their dealings with customers and to be courteous and professional in the discharge of their choice duties.

    “The Passport Office remains a no-go-area for touts, passport racketeers, fake breeder documents harvesters and all sorts of undesirable elements. I wish to warn that the long arm of the law and its full force will be visited on any person who by an act of commission or omission infringes on the Passport Offences as stipulated in Section 10(1a-h) of the Immigration Act, 2015”, he added.

  • Investigation concluded into Kuje prison break – FG

    Investigation concluded into Kuje prison break – FG

    The Federal Government has concluded investigations into the attack on Kuje Correctional Centre in which 600 inmates escaped.

    Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the fourth edition of the PMB Administration Scorecard 2015-2023 Series, organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture.

    Aregbesola however said that details of the investigation would not be made public, “as it is still a security document”.

    The minister said some of the escapees had been recaptured and returned to the centre, while efforts were on to arrest other escapees.

    According to him, the greatest legacy of the Buhari administration was the degrading of insurgents and retaking of areas hitherto under their control.

    “In 2015, the insurgents were holding territories in some local governments in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.

    “But as we speak, they have been dislodged. Yes, there are challenges here and there, but there is no nation without challenges,’’ he added.

    Aregbesola assured that the challenges being encountered in the issuance of passport were being addressed.

    “We don’t have enough processing and data capturing centres across the country. This is the major challenge.

    “For example, we have only three centres in the whole of Lagos, but I can assure you that before this administration leaves by May 29, next year, Lagos will have 20 processing centres.

    “We will open a processing centre in Daura,  Oyo, Zaria, Alimosho,  Defence Headquarters,  Head of Service office, and one in the Ministry of Interior,’’ the minister said.

    On the protection of the nation’s critical assets, he commended the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for the wonderful job they have been doing.

    Aregbesola said that the NSCDC has performed creditably well in monitoring and deployment of security before, during and after the conduct of every general election in the country.

    “The service has also been involved in the protection of lives and property of Nigerians especially along the major expressways across the country.

    “The NSCDC has also succeeded in establishing and training a special squad, popularly called ‘agro rangers’ whose responsibilities is to monitor and give protection to farmers in their various farms across the country,“ he said.

    Aregbesola said that the Federal Government has established Fire Service Centres in the 36 states as well as zonal offices.

    The minister added that the fire service had organised outreach programmes in the FCT on how to manage fire outbreaks and its impacts on lives and property.

    “The service has succeeded to manage about 10, 659 fire outbreaks across the country that would have ordinarily resulted into serious casualties,’’ Aregbesola added.

    This, feat he said, was achieved through the unflinching support of President Muhammadu Buhari who approved the procurement of world class fire equipment and recruitment of firemen.

    The minister assured that the ministry remained committed to tackling any threat to the nation’s internal security.

  • Maina is feigning ailments to escape from custody – Aregbesola, NCoS tell court

    Maina is feigning ailments to escape from custody – Aregbesola, NCoS tell court

    The Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, and Haliru Nababa, Controller General (C-G), Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), say Abdulrasheed Maina is feigning ailments to aid his escape from lawful custody.

    The minister and the C-G made the allegation in their joint counter affidavit in opposition to Maina’s originating motion filed before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja.

    In the application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1719/22, dated and filed Oct. 31, the duo said “it has become glare from intelligence report at their disposal that the applicant (Maina) only feigns the ailments for him to be taken out of the custodial facility to aid his escape from lawful custody.”

    The application was deposed to by Chief Superintendent of Correction, Diamond Bako, who was an officer in charge of clinic at Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Maina, the former Chairman, defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), had, on Oct. 17, filed a motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1729/2022.

    Maina (the applicant) listed the minister and the C-G of NCoS as 1st and 2nd respondents respectively, in a motion dated and filed on Sept. 27.

    Maina, who is currently serving an eight-year jail term at Kuje Prison for pension fraud to the tune of N2 billion, had told the court that he is suffering from a life-threatening disease in the prison and he needs urgent medical attention.

    The ex-pension reformed boss prayed court for an interim order directing the minister and the C-G, via their staff or agents, to immediately take him to a reputable and recognised hospital for treatment of his life-threatening diseases pending the hearing and determination of his originating motion.

    Reacting, the respondents, in the counter affidavit, said contrary to Maina’s claim, he was never refused access to medical services, but that Maina would not be allowed to hide under medical services to escape from lawful custody.

    They described the medical reports he produced as “self-induced.”

    “The exhibits attached to the affidavit in support of the applicant (Maina)’s originating motion only goes to shows that, contrary to the claims of the applicant that he was denied access to medical facilities, the applicant had access to medical attentions at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, where he has severally been attended to; and the exhibits amply bore out these facts.

    “Contrary to paragraph 13 of the affidavit in support of the applicant’s originating motion, there was no time the applicant collapsed in Kuje Medium Security Custodial facility;

    “The applicant, on several occasions, made self-induced complaint about his health and he was taken (not rushed) to a specialised and reputable hospital for medical services.

    “He was kept in the hospital for several hours without any sign of readiness on the part of the hospital management to attend to him.

    “While in the hospital, he was visited by several friends and relatives who sat with him, chat with him and he was engulfed in conversation with them, laughing occasionally, without any sign of any ailment and/or pain.

    “When after several hours of waiting and effort by the operatives of the 2nd respondent (NCoS’ C-G) to the management of the hospital to come forward and attend to him failed, it became obvious that the referral to the hospital was a mere gimmick to take the applicant out of lawful custody.

    “It was at that point the operatives of the 2nd respondent received a confidential, top secret intelligence report that the applicant must as a matter of expediency quickly removed from the hospital and return to the custodial centre, otherwise, armed gunmen suspected to be loyal to the applicant will strike and take the applicant away to unknown destination,” they alleged.

    “It was on the face of this high power spy, intelligence report bothering on possible plan to snatch the applicant away from the few operatives of the 2nd respondent on ground at the hospital, and in order to avoid this imminent danger that the applicant was returned to the yard to forestall the danger of attack,” they alleged.

    They said that Maina, who was arraigned on Oct. 25, 2019, on a 12-count charge though pleaded not guilty, he, however, jumped bail after being granted the bail on health grounds.

    They said that Sen. Ali Ndume, who stood as Maina’s surety, was remanded in Kuje prison until Maina was rearrested.

    The minister and the C-G told the court that Maina was only raising false health alarms.

    Upon resumed hearing on Wednesday, Maina’s lawyer, Ibrahim Idris, SAN, informed that the respondents’ lawyer, Abdulmumin Muhammad, had just served him with his application.

    Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until  Nov. Friday for hearing.

  • Insecurity will end before end of year – Buhari assures

    Insecurity will end before end of year – Buhari assures

    Insecurity will be brought to an end before the end of the year, President Muhammadu Buhari assured in Ile-Ife, Osun, on Saturday.

    He gave the assurance at the grand finale of the 2022 Olojo Festival.

    The Olojo Festival is an ancient festival celebrated annually in Ile-Ife. It was once described by Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi as a festival that celebrates the Black race all over the world.

    In a message sent through the Minister of Internal Affairs, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the president said, however, that all Nigerians must be part of the war to end insecurity.

    He noted that the war against insecurity could not be left to only the security agencies to handle.

    “All of us must be concerned about security. The government will play its part; we must work together with security agencies to overcome the challenges of insecurity,’’ he said.

    Buhari commended Oba Ogunwusi for contributing immensely to the fight against insecurity.

    Earlier Osun’s Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola commended the Ooni for his will and capacity to sustain the rich heritage of his forebears.

    Oyetola, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Benedict Alabi, said the annual Olojo Festival is phenomenal in the history of Ile-Ife and that of Yoruba race.

    “This is arguably the only clime where the dawn of a new day is celebrated.

    “Without mincing words, this festival clearly accentuates the place and the importance of Ile-Ife to creation and to humanity. We must all join hands together to celebrate it and accord it its rightful place,’’ he said.

    He applauded the Ooni on the successful completion of the rites and the grand finale of this year’s festival.

    Oyetola lauded Ooni Ogunwusi for his sacrifices and for interfacing with the ancestors by performing the necessary cleansing, productivity, security, and other rites for the benefit of the Black race and that of mankind generally.

    The governor said his administration believed that the state’s economy should be repositioned by boosting cultural tourism for youth employment, wealth creation, and the preservation of Yoruba cultural heritage.

    The governor challenged the people of Osun to intensify efforts at preserving the cultural heritage, entrench peaceful co-existence, and eschew politics of bitterness.

  • Aregbesola gives details of how terrorists attacked Kuje prison, faults security agents

    Aregbesola gives details of how terrorists attacked Kuje prison, faults security agents

    The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has revealed that the terrorists that attacked the Kuje Correctional facility disarmed 31 military personnel protecting the prison.

    At an investigative hearing by the House of Representatives Joint Committee investigating the Kuje Custodial Centre attack, Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola admitted, for the first time, that security agents failed in countering the terrorists.

    Mr Aregbesola said he would have disclosed the type of weapons at the disposal of the men, however, he would not be doing that in the presence of the media. He called for an executive session.

    “On the night of the attack, Kuje accommodated 994 inmates out of which 64 were terror suspects, Boko Haram, ISWAP, and others. No fewer than 888 inmates escaped during the attack, among them were 554 awaiting trial persons. 71 were convicts, 36 were on death row and 17 were on life imprisonment and 106 refused to leave the facility during the attack.  About 28 inmates who left the facility, voluntarily returned between the 6th and 15th of July.

    “In that facility on that day of the invasion were 31 military personnel of the Nigerian army, five personnel of MOPOL 21, five personal of MOPOL 50, two personnel of counter-terrorism unit of the Nigeria police, two personnel of Kuje police division, seven personnel of Nigeria Immigration Service, three personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), 10 personnel of correction armed square.

    “These 65 people were there for the specific responsibility of assisting and preventing any attack and they were all armed.

    “These 65 people were posted to protect the prison from any attack and they were all armed. Because of the presence of the press, I will not mention the specific arsenal at their disposal.

    His comment led to a mild drama when the committee members debated on whether or not reporters should cover the hearing.

    The short drama ended briefly with reporters being allowed to cover the proceeding.

  • Osun: Adeleke reveals Aregbesola’s involvement to secure victory

    Osun: Adeleke reveals Aregbesola’s involvement to secure victory

    The Osun State governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke has reacted to reports that that the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola worked for his victory

    Recalled Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Sunday, emerged the winner of the governorship election in Osun State, defeating the incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola.

    Aregbesola, who had a face-off with the All Progressives Congress, APC presidential candidate Bola Tinubu, was said to have worked for the opposition party.

    However, speaking with Channels TV on Monday night, Adeleke said he never spoke with Aregbesola prior to the poll.

    He said, “I did not work with Aregbesola, I did not even speak to him, but I know some APC members and his allies that joined us. I can’t tell whether Aregbesola asked his associates to support me or not because I never had a conversation with him”.

    Asked to assess the election process, Adeleke said, “it is not easy to defeat an incumbent anywhere in the world.”

  • Osun Battle: It’s a two-horse race as Oyetola faces old rival Adeleke 

    Osun Battle: It’s a two-horse race as Oyetola faces old rival Adeleke 

     

    …will Atiku or Tinubu triumph?

    … expected factors to shape outcome of guber poll

     

    …the Tinubu and Aregbesola challenge

     

    As state of Osun citizens prepare to vote in another governor on Saturday, it is going to be a straight two-horse race between two political foes who had encountered each other in an election that was declared inconclusive in 2018.

     

    TheNewsGuru com, (TNG) in this analysis will take a sharp and deep analysis of the major determinants of the guber poll that’s an acid test for two presidential flag bearers of Nigeria’s two major political parties, the APC and the PDP.

     

    Serving Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress APC and Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP are known political foes who cannot easily ignore each other.

     

    While Oyetola has the Jagaban, Asiwaju Oba the lion of Bourdilion, former Governor of Lagos State Bola Ahmed Tinubu and APC presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections as an ‘egbon’ who in the first place miraculously made it possible for him to become a governor in 2018, Senator Ademola Adeleke is from a family  arguably adjudged as one of the richest in Osun State.

     

    Apart from having a billionaire family background, his brother in-law, Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential flag-bearer in the 2023 elections, former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki who is also a brother, PDP governors, his nephew, talented music icon, Davido are solidly behind him to match the Jagaban factor vote for vote, cash for cash to change the narrative tomorrow (Saturday).

     

    DETERMINING FACTORS;

     

    There are 30 local governments and three senatorial districts in Osun State properly oiled and serviced by Oyetola. The three sitting senators of the State are of APC extraction.

     

    Definitely this is a big minus to the PDP camp of Adeleke if he has not done enough ground work to strategically put his trusted men in the senatorial districts to galvanise votes for him.

     

    This could signal a massive defeat for PDP if the three senators are on ground definitely they will mobilise who is who in their districts to rubbish PDP.

     

    THE TINUBU FACTOR:

     

    Osun State is Tinubu’s ancestral home, the candidate is his blood brother and above all Tinubu grabbed the state from PDP and enthroned his prodigy Rauf Aregbesola the current Minister of Interior as Governor.

     

    Osun is like Lagos to Tinubu, a defeat by the PDP in his ancestral home will amount to a collosal loss as same could be replicated at the national level next year.

     

    Armed with this fear factor, the Jagaban will relocate mountains to ensure Osun is delivered on Saturday. Anything short of that spells doom at the national level.

     

    The south western enclave of Nigeria is predominantly an APC affair with five serving governors at the beck and call of Tinubu, nothing short of a victory must prevail.

     

    THE ATIKU FACTOR:

     

    Atiku is related to Osun by marriage. His wife Titi is a daughter of the soil and this could help in no small way. Atiku on the other hand knows that a victory in Osun could translate to half a victory for him in 2023.

     

    But coming from abroad 72hours to the battle might not be enough to help him mobilise soldiers for Adeleke to unseat Oyetola who just last week paid Osun pensioners outstanding N1.6billion  payments. This definitely was a political strategy to make the oldies show up at the polling booths on Saturday.

     

    THE CASH FOR VOTE FACTOR:

     

    Take it or leave it, cash for vote is the weapon with which Nigerian politicians deploy to win elections in this clime.

     

    Trader money was introduced to make it look legal in Nigeria but certainly no sane Nigerian will venture into politics at any level without having a war chest to conquer the electorate.

     

    Both major parties, PDP and APC will match each other to deliver cash to garner votes on Saturday.

     

    The apex electoral body, INEC on Wednesday has declared that cash for vote does not fall within its purview and the security operatives who are very hungry may just look the other way while politicians grease the palms of voters.

     

    This is a critical determinant in the Osun guber election as cash will flow in all directions.

     

    THE INEC FACTOR:

     

    There were 1, 256, 569 PVCs produced for registered voters in Osun State ahead of the distribution exercise.

     

    By the end of the exercise on 9th March, 697, 574 cards (55.5%) were collected by verified holders, comprising 327, 388 (46.9%) males and 370, 186 (53.1%) females.

     

    The unclaimed cards were at the end of the exercise taken to respective local government office of INEC in the state for onward collection by holders. More recent records show that a total of 736, 570 cards, representing 59.6% of the total volume produced for the state, had been collected by verified holders as at 23rd April, 2014.

     

    This left a balance of 519, 999 cards as at that date.

     

    For the Continuous Voter Registration, 149, 089 new registrants were recorded in Osun – pending removal of multiple registrations and the application of INEC’s business rules for printing Permanent Voter Cards. This figure was made up of 70, 024 (47%) males and 79, 065 (53%) females.

     

    The above represents the available PVCs for the Osun guber election. INEC has a major to play. Already a coalition of NGOs on Thursday accused INEC of perfecting plans of massively rigging the election to favour APC on Saturday.

     

    INEC is yet to deny this allegation and this portends danger ahead of the election that may play a pivotal signpost on how the 2023 general elections will look like.

     

    The electoral body had promised that within 12hours the Osun guber election results will be ready.

     

    THE AREGBESOLA FACTOR:

     

    It’s a known fact that former governors are demi gods in the Nigerian political firmament.

    Yes it’s the truth.

     

    The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola cannot easily be shoved aside. If it’s true as being speculated in many quarters, it’s not going to be an easy ride for Oyetola back to government House.

     

    Aregbesola as an immediate past governor of the State of Osun most likely will play a damaging role that could unsettle the Tinubu camp in Osun.

     

    The former Minister apparently to show his anger was not at the mega rally to finally sell Oyetola to Osun citizens. This is an ominous sign ahead the election on Saturday.

     

    WILL TINUBU OR ATIKU TRIUMPH?

     

    This would have been an easy question to answer but given the fact that the APC camp is divided against itself while the PDP remains a  united front, it might not be a walk over for APC.

     

    The Tinubu camp has the incumbency factor working for it to emerge victorious while PDP will rely on its old glory that’s fast waning.

     

    Either way, the Tinubu camp looks good to overshadow the Atiku camp tomorrow (Saturday).

     

    There are 16 political parties registered to run the guber race, none except for Labour Party that made a little foray last week and little noise in the media has the followership of PDP and APC in the State.

     

    The other 14 political parties are onlookers in the Osun guber battle.

    Osun Battle: It’s a two-horse race as Oyetola faces old rival Adeleke

    …will Atiku or Tinubu triumph?

    … expected factors to shape outcome of guber poll

    …the Tinubu and Aregbesola challenge

    As state of Osun citizens prepare to vote in another governor on Saturday, it is going to be a straight two-horse race between two political foes who had encountered each other in an election that was declared inconclusive in 2018.

    TheNewsGuru com, (TNG) in this analysis will take a sharp and deep analysis of the major determinants of the guber poll that’s an acid test for two presidential flag bearers of Nigeria’s two major political parties, the APC and the PDP.

    Serving Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress APC and Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP are known political foes who cannot easily ignore each other.

    While Oyetola has the Jagaban, Asiwaju Oba the lion of Bourdilion, former Governor of Lagos State Bola Ahmed Tinubu and APC presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections as an ‘egbon’ who in the first place miraculously made it possible for him to become a governor in 2018, Senator Ademola Adeleke is from a family arguably adjudged as one of the richest in Osun State.

    Apart from having a billionaire family background, his brother in-law, Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential flag-bearer in the 2023 elections, former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki who is also a brother, PDP governors, his nephew, talented music icon, Davido are solidly behind him to match the Jagaban factor vote for vote, cash for cash to change the narrative tomorrow (Saturday).

    DETERMINING FACTORS;

    There are 30 local governments and three senatorial districts in Osun State properly oiled and serviced by Oyetola. The three sitting senators of the State are of APC extraction.

    Definitely this is a big minus to the PDP camp of Adeleke if he has not done enough ground work to strategically put his trusted men in the senatorial districts to galvanise votes for him.

    This could signal a massive defeat for PDP if the three senators are on ground definitely they will mobilise who is who in their districts to rubbish PDP.

    THE TINUBU FACTOR:

    Osun State is Tinubu’s ancestral home, the candidate is his blood brother and above all Tinubu grabbed the state from PDP and enthroned his prodigy Rauf Aregbesola the current Minister of Interior as Governor.

    Osun is like Lagos to Tinubu, a defeat by the PDP in his ancestral home will amount to a collosal loss as same could be replicated at the national level next year.

    Armed with this fear factor, the Jagaban will relocate mountains to ensure Osun is delivered on Saturday. Anything short of that spells doom at the national level.

    The south western enclave of Nigeria is predominantly an APC affair with five serving governors at the beck and call of Tinubu, nothing short of a victory must prevail.

    THE ATIKU FACTOR:

    Atiku is related to Osun by marriage. His wife Titi is a daughter of the soil and this could help in no small way. Atiku on the other hand knows that a victory in Osun could translate to half a victory for him in 2023.

    But coming from abroad 72hours to the battle might not be enough to help him mobilise soldiers for Adeleke to unseat Oyetola who just last week paid Osun pensioners outstanding N1.6billion payments. This definitely was a political strategy to make the oldies show up at the polling booths on Saturday.

    THE CASH FOR VOTE FACTOR:

    Take it or leave it, cash for vote is the weapon with which Nigerian politicians deploy to win elections in this clime.

    Trader money was introduced to make it look legal in Nigeria but certainly no sane Nigerian will venture into politics at any level without having a war chest to conquer the electorate.

    Both major parties, PDP and APC will match each other to deliver cash to garner votes on Saturday.

    The apex electoral body, INEC on Wednesday has declared that cash for vote does not fall within its purview and the security operatives who are very hungry may just look the other way while politicians grease the palms of voters.

    This is a critical determinant in the Osun guber election as cash will flow in all directions.

    THE INEC FACTOR:

    There were 1, 256, 569 PVCs produced for registered voters in Osun State ahead of the distribution exercise.

    By the end of the exercise on 9th March, 697, 574 cards (55.5%) were collected by verified holders, comprising 327, 388 (46.9%) males and 370, 186 (53.1%) females.

    The unclaimed cards were at the end of the exercise taken to respective local government office of INEC in the state for onward collection by holders. More recent records show that a total of 736, 570 cards, representing 59.6% of the total volume produced for the state, had been collected by verified holders as at 23rd April, 2014.

    This left a balance of 519, 999 cards as at that date.

    For the Continuous Voter Registration, 149, 089 new registrants were recorded in Osun – pending removal of multiple registrations and the application of INEC’s business rules for printing Permanent Voter Cards. This figure was made up of 70, 024 (47%) males and 79, 065 (53%) females.

    The above represents the available PVCs for the Osun guber election. INEC has a major to play. Already a coalition of NGOs on Thursday accused INEC of perfecting plans of massively rigging the election to favour APC on Saturday.

    INEC is yet to deny this allegation and this portends danger ahead of the election that may play a pivotal signpost on how the 2023 general elections will look like.

    The electoral body had promised that within 12hours the Osun guber election results will be ready.

    THE AREGBESOLA FACTOR:

    It’s a known fact that former governors are demi gods in the Nigerian political firmament.
    Yes it’s the truth.

    The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola cannot easily be shoved aside. If it’s true as being speculated in many quarters, it’s not going to be an easy ride for Oyetola back to government House.

    Aregbesola as an immediate past governor of the State of Osun most likely will play a damaging role that could unsettle the Tinubu camp in Osun.

    The former Minister apparently to show his anger was not at the mega rally to finally sell Oyetola to Osun citizens. This is an ominous sign ahead the election on Saturday.

    WILL TINUBU OR ATIKU TRIUMPH?

    This would have been an easy question to answer but given the fact that the APC camp is divided against itself while the PDP remains a united front, it might not be a walk over for APC.

    The Tinubu camp has the incumbency factor working for it to emerge victorious while PDP will rely on its old glory that’s fast waning.

    Either way, the Tinubu camp looks good to overshadow the Atiku camp tomorrow (Saturday).

    There are 16 political parties registered to run the guber race, none except for Labour Party that made a little foray last week and little noise in the media has the followership of PDP and APC in the State.

    The other 14 political parties are onlookers in the Osun guber battle.

  • Allow Nigerians with expired passports to return home – Aregbesola orders NIS

    Allow Nigerians with expired passports to return home – Aregbesola orders NIS

    The Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), to allow Nigerians in diaspora to return to Nigeria with their expired International Passports.

    Aregbesola gave the directive on Wednesday, in Lagos, while responding to a complaint by a Nigerian-American citizen, Mr Jamui Kasumu, at the Alausa Passport Office during his unscheduled visit to the facility.

    He said Nigerians in diaspora were free to come back home with expired or non-expired Nigerian passport.

    The Minister said no Nigerian needed travel certificate to come back home, except children, whose parents were Nigerians, but their identity were yet to be established according to immigration rule.

    “I am using this medium to instruct all Nigeria Immigration Officers World-Wide to accord Nigerian travellers with expired Passport use such passports to return safely back home henceforth,” he said.

    The Minister also advised Nigerians in diaspora to update their travel document ahead of time to avoid rush during emergency.

    Earlier, a Nigerian-American citizen, Mr Jamui Kasumu complained to the Minister that the Nigeria Immigration in America and Delta airline prevented him from coming to Nigeria because of expired Nigerian passport.

    Kasumu said he was able to return to Nigeria after he got travel certificate he obtained through a relation in Nigeria.

    “I am appealing to you sir that the Immigration should allow Nigerians with expired Passport to come back to their country,” he said.

  • Nigerians in U.S. writes FG on scarcity of passport booklets

    Nigerians in U.S. writes FG on scarcity of passport booklets

    Nigerians in New York, U.S, have written the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola on the scarcity of passport booklets in Nigerian Consulates and embassy in the U.S.

    In the letter, jointly signed by Mr. Francis James, a board member of the Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN, inc) and other leaders of 16 Nigerian associations, they expressed the frustration Nigerians went through to get their passports.

    A copy of the letter, made available in New York, stated the frustration of Nigerians applying for passports in its missions in the U.S. due to lack of passport booklets.

    OAN had on June 29, held a virtual Town Hall meeting to discuss the challenges Nigerians faced in getting their passports and deliberated on ways to address the challenges.

    OAN had summoned the meeting based on the information that prior to June 28, passport issuance had stopped for four weeks at the Consulate in New York, according to James, OAN liaison with the Nigeria Consulate in New York.

    The meeting agreed that a letter would be written to the minister of interior and other key relevant officials to communicate the three-point resolutions from the meeting.

    Meanwhile, Aregbesola, had on June 16 denied shortage of passport booklets in Nigeria, saying the country was contending with “human challenges”.

    “We are requesting your Excellency to work together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama and facilitate the provision of adequate passport booklets.

    “This will enable the Consulate in New York to clear the backlogs at all processing locations and ensure that Passport processing from application to issuance is completed within a reasonable time frame of not more than three months.

    “The ministry should expand the number of available appointments on the central portal to at least 100 each day, or to the number each Embassy or Consulate has the capacity to handle.

    “It should also hold Innovate1, the vendor managing the payment portal, accountable to improve their service and deliver a more customer friendly platform to Nigerians,’’ it stated.

    According to them, by taking the three steps, the Nigerian Community will be well served and there will be little or no friction at missions, noting that Nigerians will be very proud of their Embassies and Consulates.

    “Nigerian Consulate in New York has come a long way in improving consular services to the Nigerian community, and we would hate to see all their efforts go to waste.

    “OAN, Inc. and other Nigerian Organisations have worked diligently with the Consulate in New York to improve the delivery of consular services to Nigerians who need such services and the Consular officers have responded very well to Nigerians seeking their services.’’

    The organisations emphaised that there were tremendous service improvements in the New York Consulate before the shortage of passport booklets set in.

    “Unfortunately, all the service gains made over several months in the past are in jeopardy of being lost, due to the consistent chronic shortage of passport booklets.

    “When booklets are eventually released, the number is grossly inadequate to serve the large number of applicants.

    “If this shortage of passport booklets should continue, we are afraid that the safety of the Consulate officials, as well as the Nigeria House, New York and other Nigerian Missions in the United States, may be in grave danger.

    “The recent unwarranted aggression towards our fellow citizens working in our Consulates is not an aberration. It is the product of consistent Consulate’s inability to provide basic consular services to them.’’

    In addition, they condemned in strongest term, the needless suffering of Nigerians due to the constant shortage of passport booklets, adding that it was a basic service that any government can effortlessly deliver to her citizens.

    Confirming the development, an official at the consulate, who pleaded anonymity, said that the mission received 2,000 booklets on June 29 and had resumed its passport issuance immediately after stopping for four weeks.

    The source confirmed that the consulate had a backlog of 7,000 passports to clear, and that a steady supply of 2,500 booklets monthly, would be enough to meet the needs of its citizens in New York.

    According to the source, the consulate normally receives 1,000 booklets monthly sometimes 500, explaining that insufficient booklets is responsible for the backlog.

  • How I made Mimiko, Aregbesola, Fayemi governors – Tinubu boasts

    How I made Mimiko, Aregbesola, Fayemi governors – Tinubu boasts

    The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the presidential aspirant, Bola Tinubu, on Friday disclosed how he made Governor Kayode Fayemi and former governors; Rauf Aregbesola and Olusegun Mimiko to become governors of their respective states.

    The former Lagos State governor also revealed that he had helped President Muhammadu Buhari to chase out PDP from Aso Rock in 2015.

    Tinubu made this disclosure during a visit to the traditional rulers in the three senatorial districts of Ondo State, seeking their support for his 2023 presidential aspiration.

    Speaking at the palace of the Deji of Akure, the former governor said he had helped many people in the country to achieve their political goals.

    Among the beneficiaries of his political benevolence, Tinubu mentioned a former governor of Osun and Ondo States, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Dr Olusegun Mimiko respectively. He also mentioned Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and the President Muhammadu Buhari among others.

    Tinubu said, “I helped Mimiko get his mandate through court after two years that he was elected. I helped Fayemi get his mandate after three years. It took Aregbesola three years and 10 months to get his mandate. We have helped many people like that.

    “We helped Buhari sack them (PDP). We supported him to complete his eight-year term and I have told him I want to succeed him. He said I should go ahead, that is why I came to seek the support of the traditional rulers.”

    Tinubu promised to solve the various problems of the country if given the opportunity to be the next president.

    “Lagos State was the worst state in Africa when I became governor, we generate meagre revenue then but we did our best. Look at Lagos now, it generates over N40 billion in revenue.

    “Division is one of the problems in Nigeria too but there is no division in Lagos because any tribe or religion is welcomed as they can contest and win elections. That is why Lagos is thriving.

    “Nigeria has the potential to compete with Russia in oil and gas exploration. If we harness our resources properly and if there is stable electricity, Nigeria will also compete with other nations in manufacturing.

    “I am here to seek the blessing of our royal fathers for my presidential ambition because I know where the problems are and if given the opportunity in 2023, Nigeria will be ranked among the best nations in the world. I am imploring all eligible voters to get their Permanent Voters Card revalidated for them to exercise their civic responsibilities,” Tinubu stated.

    Responding, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, described Tinubu as a person who could solve the country’s problems.

    In Okitipupa, where Tinubu met with the monarchs at the Ondo South Senatorial District, the Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Fredrick Obateru-Akinrunta, who spoke on behalf of other traditional rulers, saluted the courage of Tinubu for declaring his presidential ambition, saying he has the charisma and ability to turn the country to a better place.