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Tag: Rotimi Akeredolu

  • Akeredolu reacts after winning Ondo election

    Akeredolu reacts after winning Ondo election

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has described his reelection as the reward for hard work, dedication, focus, honesty and patriotism.

    Akeredolu was reelected with 292830 votes to defeat the candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Eyitayo Jegede, who had 195791 votes at the just-concluded Ondo governorship election.

    Akeredolu made the assertion in Akure on Sunday shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him winner of the election which he won by a margin of 97,039 votes.

    He said that his reelection was an indication of his administration’s performance in the last three and half years.

    The governor also said the outcome of the election was an eloquent testimony of his acceptance by the people of Ondo State.

    “It affirms that the confidence reposed in our administration remains unshaken.It is also a challenge to us for rededication to service in the interest of our people. On this, we shall not relent.

    “We set out on the first leg of this political adventure with the determination to make the whole state our constituency.

    “We have not relented on our mission to bridge the huge infrastructural deficit inherited on assumption of office.

    “We hold the axiom as evident that the welfare of the people should be the only justification for the existence of government.

    “We have allowed this admonition to be the guiding principle of governance. We are elated to receive a scorecard through this state-wide plebiscite,” he said.

    The governor also said the few dissenting voices of protest were heard loud and clear, while all genuine grievances would be addressed.

    He reaffirmed his commitment to continue to focus on the development of the state, with the people at the centre of all decisions.

    “We will proceed with our administrative style of ensuring transparency and accountability.

    “We are determined to set our state, progressively, on the path of real development. Self-reliance is attainable. Our state has no business with poverty.

    “Sincere, purposeful and focused leadership should have little difficulty in harnessing the vast resources, both human and natural. We will put in everything to justify the trust reposed in us,” he said.

  • BREAKING: INEC announces Akeredolu winner of Ondo election

    BREAKING: INEC announces Akeredolu winner of Ondo election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced Rotimi Akeredolu as the winner of the Ondo State Governorship election.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Akeredolu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled a total of 292,839 votes to win the election.

    While Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) garnered 193,585 votes, leaving a margin of 99,254, Agboola Ajayi of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) came a distant third with 60,051 votes.

    Below are the votes of the three leading parties across 18 LGAs:

    Ile Oluji

    APC:13,287

    PDP: 9231

    ZLP:1971

    Akoko north-east

    APC:16,572

    PDP: 8380

    ZLP:3532

    Akoko south-west

    APC:21,232

    PDP:15,055

    ZLP:2755

    Akoko south-east

    APC:9419

    PDP:4003

    ZLP:2004

    Akoko north-west

    APC: 15,809

    PDP: 10,320

    ZLP: 3,477

    Irele

    APC: 12,643

    PDP:5493

    ZLP:5904

    Ose

    APC:15,122

    PDP:8421

    ZLP:1083

    Ifedore

    APC:9350

    PDP:11852

    ZLP:1863

    Owo

    APC: 35,957

    PDP:5311

    ZLP: 408

    Okitipupa

    APC: 19,266

    PDP: 10,367

    ZLP: 10,120

    Akure north-west

    APC: 9,546

    PDP: 12,263

    ZLP: 1046

    Idanre

    APC: 11,286

    PDP: 7499

    ZLP: 3623

    Akure south-east

    APC: 17,277

    PDP: 47,267

    ZLP: 2,236

    Ondo east

    APC:6485

    PDP:4049

    ZLP: 3221

    Ondo west

    APC: 15,977

    PDP: 10,627

    ZLP: 10,159

    Odigbo

    APC: 23,571

    PDP: 9,485

    ZLP: 6,540

    Ese Odo

    APC: 13383

    PDP: 4680

    ZLP: 4760

    Ilaje

    APC: 26657

    PDP: 11128

    ZLP: 4405

  • Ondo poll: INEC announces results in 12 LGAs

    Ondo poll: INEC announces results in 12 LGAs

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has won in nine of the 12 local government results so far declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with a total of 166, 368 votes.

    His closest rival, Mr Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), won in three local government areas, with a total of 133, 607 votes.

    The candidate of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Agboola Ajayi garnered 32,057 votes to come a distant third.

    The nine local government areas won by the APC were Ile Oluji/Oke-Igbo, Irele, Akoko North-East, Akoko South-West, Akoko North-West, Ondo East, Owo, Idanre and Akoko South-East.

    The PDP won in Akure South, Akure North and Ifedore local government areas, while the ZLP did not win in any local government.

    The breakdown of the results showed that Akeredolu scored 13, 278 votes in Ile Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government area to beat Jegede and Ajayi, who polled 9,231 and 1,971 votes respectively.

    In Irele Local Government area, Akeredolu won with12,643 votes, followed by Ajayi, who polled 5, 904 votes ahead of Jegede, who scored 5,493 votes.

    Akeredolu also won in Akoko North-East Local Government area with a total of 16,572 votes, while Jegede and Ajayi tagged along with 8,380 and 3, 532 votes respectively.

    Similarly, the APC candidate won in Akoko South-West Local Government area with 21, 232 votes, followed by the PDP candidate, who polled a total of 15, 055, while their ZLP counterpart scored 2,775 votes.

    The story was not different in Akoko North-West Local Government area, where Akeredolu garnered 15,809 votes, with Jegede having 10,320 votes and Ajayi 3,221.

    Akeredolu also won in Ondo East Local Government area with 6,485 votes, closely followed by candidates of the PDP and the ZLP, who polled 4,049 and 3, 221 votes respectively.

    It was a landslide victory for Akeredolu in his Owo Local Government area, where he garnered a total of 35,957 votes to beat Jegede of the PDP, who scored 5,311, and Ajayi of the ZLP, who scored 408 votes.

    Also in Idanre Local Government area, APC won with a total of 11,286 votes, PDP 7,499 and ZLP 3,623.

    The APC candidate also recorded victory in Akoko South- East Local Government area with a total of 9,419 votes over candidates of the PDP and ZLP, who scored 4,003 and 2,004 votes respectively.

    It was, however, a different story in Akure Local Government area, where Jegede of the PDP recorded a resounding victory with a total of 47,627 votes to beat Akeredolu of the APC, who polled 17,277 and Ajayi of the ZLP, who scored 1,046 votes.

    Results from the remaining six local government areas are still being expected to be announced by the INEC.

  • Ondo 2020: Akintola predicts victory for Akeredolu

    Ondo 2020: Akintola predicts victory for Akeredolu

    Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) has predicted that Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu will emerge victorious in the Oct. 10, governorship election in Ondo State.

    The APC chieftain told newsmen on Sunday in Ibadan that Akeredolu would emerge in spite of the gang up against him.

    He also dismissed a report that he discredited the late former governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration over the rehabilitation of Agbowo Shopping Complex in Ibadan.

    He was reported to have discredited the administration of late Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, at the recent independence anniversary lecture, organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council.

    Akintola, who chaired the NUJ lecture, had commended Makinde’s effort at renovating the 47-year-old edifice through a ‘Build Operate and Transfer’ system, but faulted the 50 years agreement on the contract.

    He had said that all successive administrations in the state did not revisit the shopping complex except the late Ajimobi who signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the complex and now Makinde.

    The renowned legal luminary said that it was mischievous and erroneous for anyone to misquote him on the matter.

    Mr Ademola Babalola, the State NUJ Chairman, who alongside some members of his executives paid a thank-you visit to him, expressed regret over the mischievous report.

    He pleaded with the legal icon to forgive the error which he described as unethical and unprofessional on the part of those culpable.

    Babalola urged members to continue upholding the ethics of the profession and ensure their facts are thoroughly crosschecked before going to press.

    The NUJ chairman thanked Akintola for his support to the union, saying renovation works has commenced at the union’s Pen Group of Schools.

    “I am happy to inform you all that our efforts to reposition the pen group of schools has commenced.

    “Those who are close to the press centre must have noticed that we have commenced renovation work at the school. In a few weeks time, we shall put it into proper and befitting state,” he said.

  • Ondo 2020: Akeredolu announces running mate after Deputy’s detour

    Ondo 2020: Akeredolu announces running mate after Deputy’s detour

    Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu has picked and official announced his running mate for the October 10 election to hold in the State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Akeredolu picked Lucky Aiyedatiwa as his running mate for the election and announced him via his official Twitter page on Wednesday.

    The choice of Akeredolu was communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday, TNG learnt.

    Ayedatiwa is a former representative of the State on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    He is a native of Obe-Nla, an oil-bearing community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    Recall that Akeredolu’s deputy, Agboola Ajayi recently decamped from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Efforts to impeach Ajayi as Deputy Governor had failed.

    However, his bid to contest the governorship election hit the walls when he failed in the PDP’s primary that produced Eyitayo Jegede as governorship candidate.

    Meanwhile, Akeredolu has expressed optimism that he would win the October 10 Ondo state governorship poll.

    Akeredolu said this shortly after meeting with the APC Election Appeal Committee at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja on Monday.

    He advised the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Eyitayo Jegede, to focus on issue based campaign without resorting to violence.

    “Jegede is my friend. We are colleagues and both members of inner bar, I don’t have anything against him and I just pray that our campaign should be issue based without violence.

    “I know that he (Jegede) knows that it will not be easy for him. Yes, it may not be easy for me to win, but by God’s grace, I am going to win.

    “I can assure you that as it was in the beginning, so it shall be now and forever more. We will win this election by the grace of God,”Akeredolu said.

    The governor said the defection of his deputy, Mr Agboola Ajayi, to the opposition PDP would not affect his chances at the poll.

    “For me, the deputy leaving the APC to return to the PDP is good radiance to bad rubbish.

    “We thought we could accommodate him in the APC, but since he returned to where he truly belonged, it is all well and good. I always wish people the best I can.

    “From what I have been told, he has lost the ticket and I pray he won’t jump to another party, but if he does, all well and good.

    “However, for his own sake and as a big brother, I will advise him to stay with Jegede and support him very well,” Akeredolu said.

    According to him, Ajayi has made a case that he helped me to win, let him help Jegede to win this time around and that will confirm that he is popular.

    “What I know is that he is of no importance, he has no hold on any local government, I can assure you that when the election comes, I will defeat him in his local government and he will never recover from it.

    “Let me advise him again to stay with Jegede and let us see what happens,”the governor said.

    He said he was at the National Secretariat to respond to some issues at the Election Appeal Committee.

    “I am here at the secretariat because people lodged appeal against my election and emergence from the party primaries and that is why I came around to answer the committee.

    “I was told that two aspirants approached the committee to file appeal against me and my mission here is to reply to those appeal,” he said.

  • Ondo 2020: Aide addresses Akeredolu’s ‘disqualification’

    Ondo 2020: Aide addresses Akeredolu’s ‘disqualification’

    Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State says he is still in the State’s Governorship race in the October 10 election.

    This follows rumours of his disqualification from participating in the July 20 governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Mr Ojo Oyewamide, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, in a statement on Sunday in Akure, said the rumour was a ploy to distract supporters of Akeredolu.

    He explained that it was another distraction “unleashed with the aim of deceiving the unsuspecting public and diverting attention from the self-imposed pains on the part of those behind the story.

    “They are scavengers and will stop at nothing to sustain their trade of deceit. Ignore them, remain firm, be dedicated and prayerful.

    “Akeredolu is not just participating at the party primary. He shall be re-elected by the Grace of God, come October 10, 2020.

    “The governor, therefore, appeals to all his supporters to ignore the rumour and dedicate this period to God for His continuous grace, favour and protection,” he said.

  • Ondo 2020: 32 aspirants gun for Akerodolu’s job

    Ondo 2020: 32 aspirants gun for Akerodolu’s job

    … PDP 17, APC 15

    …as Incumbent Gov battles to secure ticket

    …Edo and Ondo share a common political affinity

    32 aspirants predominantly in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and All Progressives Congress, APC are gunning for Governor Rotimi Akerodolu of Ondo’s job.

    The ruling party, All Progressives Congress, APC has slated July 22 for the state’s guber poll primaries.

    The incumbent has not really gotten the blessings of the bigwigs in the party and this has snowballed into the Edo scenario.

    While in Edo it’s almost fait accompli that the powers that be had zeroed their minds to dump the incumbent, in Ondo Akeredolu is still scheming to remain afloat.

    If he gets the right connect which might be difficult he might just get the ticket and run under the platform of APC.

    But most of his political detractors are within his ruling APC in Ondo and the headquarters in Abuja and this could be a very disturbing signal for the incumbent Governor.

    Many of the party bigwigs in the state, their followers across the 3009 units, mobilizers in the South West and Abuja are sworn adversaries of the governor who believe Akeredolu should go back to his law practice rather than govern the state.

    Ondo shares a common political affinity with Edo, recall how the PDP traded Edo and Ondo in 2008 when Senator Oseirhemhen Osunbor and Late Olusegun Agagu were removed via the courts in 2008.

    Today both states have staggered guber polls because of the court verdicts that altered their guber polls.

    As it’s if Ondo APC denies the incumbent a ticket his possibility of migrating to PDP the second strongest party might be difficult as the political turf there could be very turbulent for him.

    The incumbency factor is gradually waning because of strong individuals who weild enormous political influence atimes to the detriment of the party.

    Akeredolu got into trouble because of his political firmness over political issues with the foundational fathers of APC.

    It was sheer miracle that fetched him the party’s ticket three and half years ago as godfathers of the party were against him.

    Same miracle now mayybe a scarce commodity this time around going about the strong political alignment and re-alignment on-going in the state.

    Those eyeing Akerodolu’s job:

    Isaac Kekemeke who is from Ese-Odo Local Government has declared his intention to replace him, he was a former commissioner for works in the state. He has also served as Secretary to the State Government.

    Also in the race is oil business magnate Jimi Odimayo. Odimayo was one of his biggest promoters for the 2016 election.

    Another strong APC chieftain from the state who is set to shove him aside is the Executive Director of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Ife Oyedele.

    Before the appointment of Alasoadura he was highly positioned and favoured as the right man for the ministerial job, considering his closeness to President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Oyedele was a strong member of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) before the birth of APC after the merger of political parties but lost out in the struggle to make the ministerial list.

    Oyedele, who hails from Okitipupa Local Government Area, was said to have played a crucial role in the formation of APC in 2013 and he was being groomed and nurtured to take over the mantle of leadership in the state in 2020 from Akeredolu.

    Many of his political friends like Banji Ayiloge, his Campaign Director in 2012; Abdulsalam Taofeek, former Speaker and commissioner; Sola Amodeni, a commissioner too, who left the cabinet, have turned against him.

    The same political chess being played in Edo is already in place in Ondo and Akerodolu may just be heading for another platform if elders of APC refuse to crown him come July 22.

  • COVID-19: Gov Akeredolu confirms Ondo 6th case is a murder suspect arrested in Edo State

    COVID-19: Gov Akeredolu confirms Ondo 6th case is a murder suspect arrested in Edo State

    Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has confirmed the sixth Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case in the State is a murder suspect arrested in Edo State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Akeredolu made the confirmation on Monday during the State weekly update on COVID-19.

    In his address during the live broadcast, Akeredolu said the suspect was arrested in Edo and transferred to Ondo for trial of crime earlier committed in Ondo.

    “As you are aware, Ondo State recorded five more Cases of Covid-19 infection over the weekend. The fourth and fifth Cases occurred on Saturday while the sixth, seventh and eighth Cases were discovered yesterday, Sunday.

    “The fourth and fifth Cases are officers of the Nigerian Police Force, serving under the Lagos State Police Command while the sixth case is a murder suspect who was arrested in Edo State and transferred to Ondo State for trial of crime earlier committed in Ondo State.

    “The seventh case was a female civilian who sneaked into the State from Abuja. Meanwhile the eighth case was discovered in Owo and samples taken were confirmed positive late last night,” the Governor narrated.

    He further stated that he had directed the activation of a wider process to trace, isolate and test all primary and secondary contacts of COVID-19 in the State.

    “In order to curtail a further spread of the infection through these Cases, I have directed the activation of a wider processes to trace, isolate and test all primary and secondary contacts with all the Cases while at large in the State.

    “The Nigerian Governor’s Forum has consistently reviewed the trends and patterns among the 36 States. We are seriously worried about the implications of the existing measures on the self-preservation, well-being and prosperity of our people.

    “Already, the mass production and free distribution of facemask by Government has commenced and is gaining traction satisfactorily. I am confident that in a matter of days, all the critical sectors of our society will have been covered.

    “I have also been briefed of efforts of public spirited individuals who have also been providing and distributing face masks and food items as palliatives to the public, particularly the people in the vulnerable category.

    “Government notes such charitable efforts with satisfaction and expresses its gratitude to every individual and body captured in this category.

    “Finally let me again thank all our health workers, the media and other stakeholders for the great sacrifice and dedication. I sincerely pray that God almighty will see us through these challenging times”.

  • South West Governors formally admit Lagos into O’dua Investment Group

    The six Governors of south west region under the auspices of the Western Nigerian Governors Forum on Wednesdayformally admitted Lagos State into the O’dua Investment Group with a total of 115million shares thus growing the share equity of the company to 690million.

    The Governors – Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo) and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), in a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day quarterly meeting held at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja, also ratified a document allowing Lagos to acquire land in their respective states for massive rice cultivation and production.

    Specifically, all the Governors resolved to embark on a Rice Accelerated Program for Integrated Development (Western RAPID) to further consolidate actions on food security and job creation in the region, while a Regional Agriculture Summit to be sponsored by Lagos State, was agreed to be held in Ibadan in May 2018.

    The forum, which is being coordinated through the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, also signified interest in the concession of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

    Reading the communiqué to journalists, Director General of DAWN Commission, Mr Oluseye Oyeleye said: “The States of the Region as a bloc will be monitoring the process for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Concession into a world class infrastructure.”

    He said the Governors also resolved that DAWN Commission, Focal Representatives and Agriculture Commissioners of the region would hold a technical session with Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) and develop a state by state roadmap in four weeks before the Regional Agriculture Summit scheduled for May 2018.

    It was also agreed that DAWN Commission should work on reviving Regional Inter-School Football Competition, and as well conduct a study on the successes in Education in Ekiti State for peer learning/adoption among the Western Nigeria states.

    Also, the Governors directed the DAWN Commission and the Focal representatives to structure a programme on the Omoluabi Ethos of the Yoruba people.

    However, Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, who represented Governor Amosu, raised some reservations about the land deal, saying that the State Government on account of previous issues with Lagos on the similar subject matter would be refraining from releasing land to the State until the said issues were resolved.

    Nonetheless, Onanuga said: “We will be prepared to sign this memorandum later when some of these issues are straightened out.”

    When asked by journalists on way out of the issues raised by Ogun State, Governor Ambode said he was optimistic that all the States would join in the effort to ensure food security and create jobs for the people.

    He said: “What has happened is that we wanted to expand the agric output of our rice mill and in doing so, we decided that all the south west States should be able to cultivate rice and supply paddy to the proposed rice mill that is coming up in Imota in Lagos.

    “So, what we have done is that four other States have agreed to sign the Memorandum of Understanding which they have actually done today and so what is happening between Lagos and Ogun is that there were some minor issues that were outstanding before and based on that they could not sign today but you could also hear that they are committed to signing when those issues are resolved.

    “We are having a 32-ton per hour rice mill in Imota and we are going to require 32,000 hectares of paddy cultivation which even the whole of the south west cannot even provide but because we are interested in integration and also independence, it is important that beyond going to Kebbi or Kano, all the south western states should also benefit from it and the idea is that we are trying to procure land there but we will also use the people and the farmers in the respective states to cultivate the land and by so doing we have created employment in those States and we will be off-takers to the paddies that they are producing and so I am able to buy it and also use it for my own rice mill and then sell it in Lagos and so I create employment across the region and at the same time put money into the pocket of our people,” Governor Ambode said.

    Earlier, Governor Aregbesola described the incorporation of Lagos State into the economic framework of the south west region as historic and long coming since 1948, adding that the development would strengthen the O’dua Investment Group and drive the development of the region.