Agbekoya Endorses Atiku For Presidential Seat

The leadership of  a pan-Yoruba pressure group: the Agbekoya Farmers' Society has pledged support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar in the coming presidential election.

In a meeting with the Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council (South), Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the group expressed their interest in the presidency of Atiku as a result of his developmental policies especially the issue of restructuring which they said will allow every zone of the country to develop at its own pace.

In the words of the National Secretary of the group, Dr. Moses Ogunsanya, "the hardship facing the farmers are enormous and these can only be surmounted if there is a responsive government who will be alive to the yearnings of the people especially the farmers whose contributions to a nation's well being is not negotiable.

"The Buhari led administration has been the worst period for Farmers across the Southern and Middle Belt of Nigeria. Forget all they are saying about making gains with the Agricultural sector, the present administration supervised an assault on us with the Herdsmen attacks. While we were crying, the government looked the other way.

"We have read Atiku's plan on tackling this disease and we are satisfied with it. We also read his plan on restructuring and once he implements that, the fortune of this country will skyrocket," he said. 

Praising the leadership qualities of Otunba Daniel, the farmers expressed their hope that things will change for the better under a government headed by a competent and visionary leader who can guarantee security of lives and property of the citizenry unlike the current situation where the people live in palpable fear and uncertainty.

In his response, Otunba Daniel thanked the group for the solidarity and endorsement of the PDP flag bearer in the presidential race. Their choice of a candidate in Atiku, he said, was timely and of necessity because the Yoruba race must be repositioned to take its rightful place in the comity of States in the nation likewise other zones who will benefit from the restructuring agenda.

"The issue of clashes between Herdsmen and Farmers is one that should be of concern to a government that was elected to protect the people. Having tried a government for a period of four years without any meaningful change but rather, apathy and insecurity, it is high time we did the needful by electing a president who will change the fortunes of the people for the better and ensure equitable distribution of dividends of democracy among Nigerians. And that can only be the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, he concluded.

Present at the meeting were officers of the body which included Chief Titus Olaoye, Sufianu Asuwaju, Baruwa Yusuf, Taofeek Yusuf, Moses Enojiasun, Adewale Jimoh, Alufa Adebanke, Chief Bamidele Olatunji, Olaseni Egbeyemi, Raimi Tunde, Dr. Moses Ogunlana, Chief M. Saludeen and Wasiu Shitu.

PDP-TGM Holds Summit In Lagos As PDP Suspends Campaign For 72 Hours

 One of the Peoples Democratic Party’s support groups, The Grassroots Mobilizers (TGM) held their Southern region summit yesterday, Sunday, January 27, 2019 in Lagos.

The summit which took place at the conference hall of the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja Lagos was observed without fanfare. The event which was already schedule to take place before the announcement of a 72 hours campaign suspension could not be postponed as participants from across the country were already arriving at the venue for the summit.

Despite the absence of most of the special guests and PDP candidates, the summit recorded huge success with all the group national executive members present educating the audience one after the other on the realization of the Atiku plan and its benefits to Nigerians.

The national coordinator of PDP-TGM explained to the listening audience how an initiative by the organization to boost the SME aspect of the Atiku plan has been approved by both the party and presidential campaign council. 

While presenting his keynote address, one of the guest speakers, Bar. Idris Alabi, Chairman Masses Movement of Nigeria explained reasons why Atiku was endorsed by CUPP as a consensus candidate.  

TGM Lagos State Executive Members (Chief Hosts) at the summit 

 Welcoming participants to the occasion, the deputy national coordinator, South, High Chief Olanrewaju Aregbesola gave countless reasons why Buhari deserves a red card come 16th February, 2019. He admonished participants not to be discouraged by the absence of invited guests stating the campaign suspension by PDP is in protest of the unlawful suspension of CJN Walter Onoghen by President Buhari.

Aregbesola informed participants of the management’s plan visit to Abuja on Monday, January 28 to meet with major stakeholders in the party and the presidential campaign council to deliberate on matters of importance to the organization. 

Other speakers present include Mrs Pert Chelsea, TGM national women leader, Comrade Joseph Walk, Bayalsa state coordinator and Igba Gordonz, TGM national publicity secretary.

Questions and contributions were also entertained from participants while the highlight of the occasion was the unveiling of PDP-TGM SME initiative and the distribution of PDP-TGM Campaign souvenirs to participants. 

The summit came to a close with the Lagos state TGM coordinator, Comrade Mrs. Adedayo Aregbesola given the vote of thanks. She also pleaded with all PDP members to stand by their votes on Election Day.

Participants from all over the country, including but not limited to Bayalsa state, Rivers state, Ondo state, Ogun state, Oyo state, Ekiti state, Osun state and FCT attended the summit. 

Some of the TGM Women Leaders Present at the summit

Security: Brigade Commander Pledges To Partner With Lagos Police Commissioner

The Brigadier General of the 9 Brigade lkeja Cantonment, Brigadier General Abiodun Lagbaja on Thursday, January 24, 2019 paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police Lagos State, CP Imohimi Edgal to familiarize with the Command.

Addressing the Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi with his entourage at the Lagos State Police Command Conference room, the Commandant 9th Brigade, lkeja who took over the office of the Brigade on the January 12,2019 said it was important other security agencies in the state for familiarization purposes.

“Having resumed command as the Commander 9th Brigade, I feel it is important to visit military establishments and other headquarters of other security agencies in Lagos in order to familiarize and introduce myself to the head of these establishment and organisations.

Brigadier General Lagbaja also based his visit on recognition of the fact that the two security organisations work together to secure lives and properties within the metropolis.

The Commander who based his visit as very necessary and important also said the familiarity visit is to synergies ahead of the 2019 general election.

 Lagos State Police Commissioner, Edgal Imohimi received his sister agency with pleasure along his men, appreciated the visit and promised to work with the military.

“I sincerely and wholeheartedly welcome you to the Lagos State Police Command. Your deployment to Lagos has come at a better time when the State is in need of service commanders.

Imohimi said the Commandant is conversant with the State having served in other formation in Lagos and that he has actually been deployed to the State when his expatriate and wealth of experience on security is needed for the 2019 general elections.

He also informed the Brigadier General of the security committee which consists of other security agencies and has already started security operations which include joint raid of black spots, sharing of intelligence and other activities and to secure the State not only on land but also the water. He promised to work with him as he worked closely with his predecessor.

Breaking: Buhari Suspends CJN Onnoghen, Swears-in Justice Tanko Mohammed

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has suspended the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, had refuted report that he has resigned his office, describing it as fake news.

In a statement that was signed by his Senior Special Assistant on media, Mr. Awassam Bassey, the embattled CJN, said he would as part of his duties, swear in members of the 2019 National Assembly, Governorship & State Assembly Election Petition Tribunals on Saturday, January 26, 2019.

The suspension of the CJN was revealed in a tweet by Bashir Ahmad, Personal Assistant to the President on New Media.

Mr Ahmad said the suspension was based on the order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Meanwhile, Justice Tanko Mohammed from Bauchi State has been sworn-in today at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria Abuja, 

Governor Ahmed Dedicates Vanguard Award To Kwara Women And Children

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed says his administration has placed Kwara State on a strong and sustainable platform through targeted reforms and people-centered policies.

Speaking while receiving the award of the Governor of the Year 2018 by Vanguard Newspaper from Gen Ike Nwachukwu, former Foreign Affairs Minister at the event which held in Lagos over the weekend, Governor Ahmed who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Dr. Muyideen Akorede said his administration has always prioritized women and children having recognized them as a major component of the population

Reacting to his emergence as Vanguard Newspaper Governor of the Year 2018, Alhaji Ahmed dedicated the award to the women and children of Kwara State.

 According to him, his administration has achieved the feat through revenue reforms at the Kwara State Internal Revenue (KWIRS) that have not only enabled funding of major infrastructure but have also placed the state in a position to meet basic obligations from internal revenue on a sustainable basis.

He stated further that his administration has also strengthened public confidence in governance by completing inherited projects, ground-breaking and completing new ones, including several that are also currently ongoing across the state and are funded through the innovative Kwara State Infrastructure Development Fund.

He pointed to KWIRS’ emergence as the only state revenue agency in Nigeria to achieve ISO certification while growing the state’s internal revenue as further evidence that the administration was on the right path in overhauling its internal revenue process. 

Furthermore, Ahmed said his administration's policies in health, SME funding and functional education have provided Kwarans with the opportunity to economically empower themselves and their families while ensuring their well-being.

 “Our programmes emphasis on health and education and has translated into Kwara State having the lowest infant mortality rate in Nigeria, among other strides.’ He said.

Stoppage Of Governance Negatively Affecting Lagosians - Agbaje

The Peoples’ Democratic Party, (PDP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje has described Lagos as a state on standstill.

Agbaje said the stoppage of governance and related activities which are negatively affecting the people of the state are noticeable in almost every sector. And this, he believes, is direct fallout from the acrimony and bad blood that trailed the selection of a governorship candidate by the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The PDP candidate who spoke on a radio programme in Lagos yesterday therefore called on Lagosians to ensure that they come out on Election Day, not only to vote for PDP but to also defend their votes as this is the only way to take back their state. He reminded the electorates that the needed change can only come when the people are ready to effect it.

According to him, no serious state can afford to leave governance in the hands of a few who are only interested in furthering their selfish and narrow-minded ambitions at the expense of the people. He believes that he represents the change Lagosians long for and is also of the opinion that his candidacy provides a credible alternative as an agent destined to reverse these long years of exploitation and oppression.

Trade Union,ULC Rejects #27,000 Minimum Wage

The Trade Union Congress, TUC and United Labour Congress, ULC in different statements has rejected the minimum wage of N27, 000 as recommended by the National Council of State, describing the decision as unfortunate and shocking.

TUC in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama said the decision must not be allowed to stand because it will set wrong precedence for the future, adding that after statutory bodies have done their jobs, Council of State should do the job of reviewing it.

“Let it be known that N30, 000 minimum wage is a product of negotiation, not legislation, not an advice and not a decree. Minimum wage issue therefore, is moving to a new theatre, the National Assembly. We expect the representative of the people if really they are to do the needful during the public hearing,” Kaigama said.

ULC in her own statement said the emerging news of the unfortunate decision of the Federal Government through the National Council of State to unilaterally propose N27,000 as the new National Minimum Wage is shocking and goes against the grain of all known traditions and practices of industrial relations especially as it concerns National Minimum Wage setting framework.

 “ULC rising from its just-concluded Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting today in Lagos rejects in its entirety the proposed N27,000 which is contrary to the N30,000 agreed by the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee and which has since been submitted to the President.

“We state that the National Council of State in a National Minimum Wage setting mechanism is an aberration. It is also important that we make it clear that the National Council of State does not have powers to approve, confirm, affirm or accept any figure as the new National Minimum Wage. What they have pretended to have done is therefore without any force of Law, standards or other known practices of Industrial Relations the world over”. The Union said.

Comrade Joe Ajaero, ULC President said that it is a mockery of the essence and principle behind the setting of a National Minimum Wage to attempt to segregate it between Federal Workers and State Workers.

“We want to state that workers are workers everywhere whether at the federal level or at the state level. They all have the same challenges; go to the same market, same schools and much more they suffer the same fate. You cannot, therefore, pay them differently.

“Government’s attempt at this dichotomy is an effort at segregation and apartheid in nature. It is an attempt to put a sword within the trade union movement and to further the marginalization of Private sector workers in Nigeria thus seek to weaken the trade union movement in the country.

“ULC saw this coming earlier in January and that was why we distanced ourselves. We will however in the next few days in consultation with other labor centers if they are still in the struggle for a just national minimum wage take steps to ensure that the interests of Nigerian workers as it concerns the National Minimum Wage are protected,’ he said.

The union urged the President to disregard the pronouncement of the National Council of State as it ridicules the statutes and principles governing the nation, saying that the only honorable path he should tread is to transmit the N30,000 figure as agreed by the tripartite committee and even the President on the day of submission of the committee’s report.

“We will not accept the use of any cover of state to jettison the collective will of Nigerian workers and the trade union movement,” the union stated further.