TheNewsGuru

Tag: Mega Rally

  • Defection: APC shifts mega rally to Ize-Iyamu’s residence

    Defection: APC shifts mega rally to Ize-Iyamu’s residence

    The controversial defection of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to the All Progressives Congress (APC), will go ahead as planned, but at a different venue.

    The much talked-about Ize-Iyamu’s defection to the APC with hundreds of his associates, has generated more than enough controversy, confusion and chaotic atmosphere in the ancient city of Benin in the last few weeks.

    A faction of the party, loyal to the nation chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, had arranged a mega rally to hold at Garrick Memorial School, Ekehuan Road, in Benin, at which Ize-Iyamu and his associates would be received.

    But as at Thursday night, it was no longer certain if the rally will still hold or not, following the release of two different letters from the office of the Inspector-General of Police, Abubakar Adamu Mohammed.

    One of the letters which was addressed to Adams Oshiomhole, and signed by the Principal Staff Officer to the IGP, ACP Idowu Owohunwa, expressed approval for request for police deployment for security at the rally.

    The second letter titled Re: Request to stop the purported All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Benin city, Edo State, and addressed to the State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, was also signed by ACP Owohunwa.

    “In cognisance of the security consequences of the proposed mega rally, I am to confirm that the Inspector-General of Police has directed the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, to emplace appropriate security framework that is directed at suspending the rally until further notice,” the letter said.

    Hundreds of youths believed to be members of the APC loyal to Godwin Obaseki, also created tension in the state capital on Thursday, as they set bonfires at several spots on the two sides of the busy Airport Road.

    Several persons were reported wounded and we’re hospitalised, even as unconfirmed sources had it that two vehicles were burnt down in a reprisal attack by loyalists of Oshiomhole.

    As at Friday morning, Garrick Memorial School grounds were empty, except of few police operatives that were roaming the large school field, with the stage still intact.

    It was however gathered that the venue has been shifted to the house of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, where the reception will now take place.

    An aide of the former governorship candidate of the PDP in Edo state who did not want to be named insisted that the event will hold, not minding the IGP’s order stopping the rally.

    “Yes, we are aware of the order from the office of the IGP. But that will not stop the defection of Ize-Iyamu and thousands of his followers.

    “The IGP’s order said we should not meet at Garrick Memorial School, but it did not say that we should not meet inside his house. At least we don’t need his approval for that.

    “The event is not a hidden one, it will be beamed life on national television channels,” the source added.

    As at the time of filing this report, the house of Ize-Iyamu is a beehive of activities in preparation for the defection.

  • 2019: Lagos reverses self on road closure for Buhari’s mega rally

    2019: Lagos reverses self on road closure for Buhari’s mega rally

    The Lagos State Government has reversed itself over the closure of 18 routes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) mega rally to canvass votes for President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday.

    The rally holds at the Teslim Balogun stadium, Surulere with the state initially declaring some roads will be closed to ensure easy passage for Buhari and his entourage.

    But the government said there would be no more road closure, urging Lagosians to go about their normal businesses on Saturday during the rally.

    It, however, declared residents should expect an increased presence of traffic personnel at Surulere and adjoining streets because of the mega rally.

    Many Lagosians have expressed apprehensions the proposed closures would lead to a complete lockdown of the nation’s commercial nerve.

    Commissioner for Transportation Ladi Lawanson gave the clarification in chat with reporters at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa on Friday.

    Also present at the briefing were: General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Mr Wale Musa and the Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Hyginus Omeje.

    Lawanson said the earlier statement announcing diversion and road closure had been reversed, adding that residents were free to go about their businesses.

    He said the state government was reversing its earlier position in conjunction with federal operatives and the APC to ensure minimal discomfort and minimal disruptions of businesses.

    The commissioner, who is also a member of the transport sub-committee for the Presidential visit and the APC rally, said “Lagosians have been very apprehensive that there will be traffic gridlock and we got a lot of feedbacks that we intend to grind Lagos to a halt.

    “People are apprehensive; they think we are going to shut down Lagos; they think movement would be restricted and they are bracing themselves for what they anticipate would be the hardship that would be visited on them by the president’s visit and our own activities.

    “I repeat there will be between zero to the barest minimum amount of disruptions to the normal movement that Lagosians undertake on a Saturday like today.

    “So, there will not be any road closures in Lagos today and Lagosians are free to go about their normal businesses today, Saturday,” Lawanson said.

    He said adequate arrangement had been firmed up to ensure free flow of traffic but residents should expect tight security around the routes which the President is expected to pass through in the course of his visit and the venue of the rally.

    “We would just like to communicate that because we are expecting a high caliber personality no less a person than the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria the normal security precautions that attend a visit of this nature should be expected.

    “The President would visit Lagos tomorrow with the full retinue of security aides that protect him and his entourage but there will not be any road closures and there will be zero to minimal disruptions of normal activities,” the Commissioner said.

    He, however, said there would be huge presence of officials of the police, LASTMA, FRSC and other agencies to ensure free flow of traffic around the Surulere axis.

    “Around the venue of the rally which is the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere and the adjourning streets are traffic management agencies such as LASTMA, FRSC, Police and other agencies that would support them tomorrow.

    “They will handle the traffic management around the venue tomorrow and so people can expect to see a huge presence of our traffic,” the commissioner said.

  • Anambra 2018: Buhari endorses Nwoye, to attend mega rally in November

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday received the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Tony Nwoye in the forthcoming polls in state at the Presidential Villa.

    The President assured that he would personally make out time to attend the final campaign rally scheduled for November 2017.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled November 18, 2017 for the governorship polls in which 37 candidates, including incumbent, Governor Willie Obiano declared interest.

    Bauchi State Governor, Muhammed Abubakar, led Nwoye to the Presidential Villa.

    He said, “I am the chairman of the national campaign Council of the APC for the Anambra governorship election that will be taking place on 18th of November this year.

    “We have had our primaries and we have settled all the appeals, we have done reconciliations. It is therefore time to present to the father of the nation, the President of Nigeria, the candidate of the APC in Anambra state, Tony Nwoye.

    “The President received us very well and has promised us that he will personally grace the grand finale of the campaign in Anambra state”.

    Nwoye who spoke to State House correspondents after the meeting with Buhari, alleged that funds meant for the local government areas were being siphoned by the current governor, Willie Obiano who is also seeking re-election.

    According to the Anambra APC candidate, if he clinches power, one of his core mandate would be to ensure a transparent leadership.

    “I am not God but based on the parameters and the indices of the Anambra political terrain and based on the campaigns that we have done so far, I am confident that by God’s grace, because God gives power, we are going to win”.

    Asked what new initiative his administration would bring to the state if he clinches power from Obiano, he said,If elected, Anambra people should expect a transparent government that would bring all the people to an enviable height.

    “We will alleviate poverty. Our local government funds are being siphoned every month since this current administration took over. Many key areas like agriculture and others are paid lip services. I will give them special attention if elected. We are going to take governance to the grassroot people,”he said.

    On threats by IPOB to boycott the elections, he explained, “we are not afraid of the threat. Our youths are unemployed, people are wailing and crying. These are the symptoms of what you are seeing now. Our people are seeing reasons why there should be elections.

    “Some of them who may have been brain washed, we are engaging them to see reasons why they should allow people to elect people whom they want to lead them.” he said