Osun Election: NEBPRIL Commends INEC, Caution Political Leaders Over Unguarded Utterances

Osun Election: NEBPRIL Commends INEC, Caution Political Leaders Over Unguarded Utterances

A Civil Society Organisation, Network for Best Practice and Integrity in Leadership (NEBPRIL), has described the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), at the recently held governorship election in Osun state, as progressively transparent and a vitalizing tonic for the deepening of democracy in Nigeria.

According to NEBPRIL, INEC deserves the commendation of all Nigerians for it’s relentless efforts in search of means of improvement in its constitutional duties, by deploying confidence boosting technology in the election processes to ensure that the outcome is increasingly reflective of the will of the people.

It said that the results of the recent elections in both Ekiti and Osun states were glowing testaments that the nation’s public institutions can get it right, by putting national interest above partisan considerations.

NEBPRIL made these assertions in a statement on Monday, in Abuja, by its Chairman, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, former member, House of Representatives.

Ogene also commended the people of Osun for their civility during and after the election that ensured the exercise was rancour free and devoid of violence.

He, however, deployed the recourse to coarse and uncouth language in the last days of the campaigns. He rather enjoined politicians to conduct themselves in civil manner, as that would help oil the wheels of democracy, conviviality and peace in the land, rather than making inflammatory conjectures and utterances that often sends wrong signal and cause disaffection, to the general public.

“Phrases such as ‘fall down and die,’ ‘you will labour to death,’ and ‘do anything to ensure you’re announced winner, let them go to court,’ ought not have a place in our political lexicon,” Hon. Ogene said.

The former Rep said, “As INEC and the Nigerian people are making efforts to enthrone a democracy of our dream that is anchored in transparency and supremacy of the will of the electorate, the political class, especially, those that aspire to lead the people, must be seen to be civil in both actions and utterances. They must be men and women of integrity that encourage and uphold the core values of dignity in labour and legitimate source of livelihood.

“It was most disturbing and disappointing to hear a prominent political leader say that some people would ‘Labour till they die’, just because they do not belong to the same political fold as him. That is not an objective language of a true leader that is interested in building a prosperous nation of productive people.”

The NEBPRIL chairman cautioned that politicians should ensure that the 2023 electioneering period should be devoid of offensive, denigrating and divisive utterances that would make the coming election look like a war rather than a leadership selection process.

WAFCON 2022: Morocco overcomes nine-woman Super Falcons on penalties in Rabat

Super Falcons of Nigeria fought gallantly against Morocco before narrowly losing 4-5 on penalty shoot-out, in a supercharged 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations semi final match in Rabat on Monday.

A total of 45,562 spectators turned the Complexe Prince Moulay Abdellah into a boiling cauldron, and only their experience, guts, grit and determination kept the nine-time African champions firmly in the game all their move was booed while the Lionesses were roared on the moment they had the ball.

The Lionesses, who last played at the Women AFCON 22 years ago, before the current finals that they are hosting, started like a house on fire and pegged the Falcons to the rear in the early minutes. But gangling Ifeoma Onumonu should have given Nigeria the lead in the 13th minute when she was brilliantly set up by Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene.

Three minutes into the second half, Mauritian referee Maria Rivet stopped play for a VAR check, only to return and hand a red card to midfielder Halimat Ayinde. The decision shocked the Super Falcons, who had been been challenged by lasers focused on their eyes by spectators,vsome minutes later, Rashidat Ajibade was issued another red card to leave the Super Falcons play nine against eleven.

Morocco leveled only four minutes after, when Nnadozie failed to deal with a cross by the ubiquitous Tagnaout and Mssoudy gratefully slammed into the net.

Nnadozie made a dozen saves towards the end and in the ensuing extra time, with the Lionesses all over the place, but Nigeria could have won it when Gift Monday beat the hosts’ defence on the counter and crashed a well-measured shot against the crossbar, only for the ball to roll out.

In the penalty shootout, forward Ifeoma Onumonu missed for Nigeria as Rita Chikwelu, Regina Otu, Ashleigh Plumptre and Gift Monday scored. Morocco scored all their kicks, through Yasmin Mrabet, Ghizlane Chebbak, Zineb Redouane, Nesryne El Chad and Rosella Ayane.

Morocco will take on South Africa (1-0 winners over Zambia in the first semi final) in Saturday’s final in Rabat, while the Super Falcons will clash against the Copper Queens of Zambia for the bronze medals in Casablanca on Friday. 

War: Western Sanctions Are Causing Russia ‘Colossal’ Problems – Putin Confesses

War: Western Sanctions Are Causing Russia ‘Colossal’ Problems – Putin Confesses

The President of Russia has admitted that Western sanctions have caused his country colossal problems after it invaded Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin admitted this during a video conference with Russian officials.

The Kremlin chief said the West’s sanctions had cut Russia off from major technology products and conceded the nation could not develop in complete isolation, but added it would be impossible to fully sever Moscow’s connection to the rest of the world.

‘This is a huge challenge for our country,’ the president said today during a video conference with other Russian officials.

‘Realising the colossal amount of difficulties we are facing, we will look for new solutions in an energetic and competent manner.

‘Clearly, we cannot develop in isolation from the rest of the world, but we won’t. In today’s world, you can’t just, you know, circle everything with a compass and put up a huge fence, it’s just not possible.’

Many top tech companies including Apple, Microsoft and Intel suspended their operations in Russia or left the country altogether after Putin sent troops to Ukraine on February 24, leaving Russia with few domestic alternatives.

Putin also said that many fast-growing Russian firms in the sector, such as online retailer Ozon or internet company Yandex, had their growth stunted as their access to Western financing had been severed.

But the warmongering Russian leader said the nation would focus on developing ‘sovereign ‘technology and innovation from domestic companies, calling on the nation’s finance ministry and banks to make plans for major cash injections.

‘I very much look forward to detailed proposals from both the finance ministry and the Bank of Russia,’ Putin declared.

His admission that Western sanctions are crippling Russia’s tech industry came as EU foreign ministers met in Brussels to discuss fresh proposals of yet more sanctions.

Ministers from EU nations are reviewing a potential ban on gold exports, among other things, to further cripple the Russian economy.

The European bloc’s foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said that at the moment ‘the most important thing is a ban on Russian gold’, which is Moscow’s second-largest export industry after energy.

ITF does not sponsor student abroad – Management, says Online publication handiwork of mischief makers

ITF does not sponsor student abroad – Management, says Online publication handiwork of mischief makers

The management of the Industrial Training Fund, (ITF) has stated categorically that ITF does not sponsor student abroad and appealed to media practitioners to verify their stories before going to press.

The ITF management made the clarification while reacting to publication by some Online Newspapers to the effect that the fund is sponsorship Nigerian students abroad.

According to the statement signed by the personal Assistant to the Director General of ITF, Abdul lateef Taiwo made available to newsmen, the ITF management described the said publications as unfounded and handiwork of mischief makers.

The reaction was coming against the backdrop of the listed names of Nigerian public civil servants and institutions for picketing by Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) as part of it’s two-day solidarity strike wherein ITF was mentioned.

The statement reads in part:

The attention of the management of the Industrial Training Funds has been drawn to an online publication alleging that the Nigeria Labour congress, NLC as part of its two-day solidarity strike with members of the Academic Staff Union of Nigeria University, ASUU, has listed names of Nigerians and public civil servants and institutions for picketing.

Our initial reaction was to dismissed the mentioning of the Industrial Training Funds, (ITF) in the purported press statement credited to NLC, but that may further strengthen and serve as a basis for mischief makers whose ignorance could be taken for a fact.”

Established in 1971, the Industrial Training Fund has operated consistently and painstakingly within the context of its enabling laws Decree 47 of 1971 as Amended in the 2011 ITF ACT.

The objective for which the Fund was established has been pursued vigorously and efficiently. In the four decades of its existence, the ITF has not only raised training consciousness in the economy, but has also helped in generating a corps of skilled indigenous manpower which has been manning and managing various sectors of the national economy.
Over the years, pursuant to its statutory responsibility, the ITF has expanded its structures, developed training programmes, reviewed its strategies, operations and services in order to meet the expanding, and changing demands for skilled manpower in the economy.
“In line with the mandate the industrial training fund does not sponsor or offer scholarship to foreign students or any Nigeria schooling abroad, rather it collaborates with other supervisory institutions like the National Board for Technical Education, (NBTE) and the Nigeria University Commission (NUC) in the area of Technical and Skill acquisitions that are in line with the mandate.”
“As part of its responsibilities, the ITF provides Direct Training, Vocational and Apprentice Training, Research and Consultancy Service, Reimbursement of up to 50% Training contribution paid by employers of labour registered with it and administers the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).

It also provides human resource development information and training technology service to industry and commerce to enhance their manpower capacity and in-house training delivery effort.
The main thrust of ITF programmes and services is to stimulate human performance, improve productivity, and induce value-added production in industry and commerce. Through its SIWES and Vocational and Apprentice Training Programmes, the Fund also builds capacity for graduates and youth self-employment, in the context of Small Scale Industrialization, in the economy.
The Industrial Training Fund is a grade ‘A’ Parastatal operating under the aegis of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. It has been operating for 50 years as a specialist agency that promotes and encourages the acquisition of industrial skills.
Continuing , Abdul Lateef , while appealing to media institutions and practitioners whom he described as partner in progress tasks the media not to allow it selves to be used to mislead the public.
The management therefore re-emphasized that it does not sponsor student abroad, appeal to media practitioners to verify their stories before going to the press.
As an institution the ITF like any other Government Agency, parastatals are open to scrutiny, as statutory agency which books are subject of verifications and auditing by the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, (OAGoF), and the Auditor General of the Federation, (AGoF) and budgetary by the National Assembly.

WAFCON 2022: Super Falcons upbeat over their Semi Final clash against host Nation Morocco

The Super Falcons of Nigeria will lock horns tonight with host nation Morroco as they battle for the Final Spot of the Women African Cup of Nation.

The Lionesses of Atlas have been impressive so far at the tournament, proving doubters wrong after winning all four of their matches so far, with South Africa another country to have achieved such a feat in this campaign.

With a place at next year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand already guaranteed, both sides have turned attention to winning the WAFCON title.

After a slow start, which saw the Falcons lose 2-1 to South Africa in their opener, the Super Falcons have grown from strength to strength to revive their title defence, winning their last three games.

While the Super Falcons are chasing the title for a record 10th time, the Lionesses are hoping to lift the trophy for the first time in their history.

Nigeria have taken part in all the past editions of the WAFCON, while the 2022 edition is the Lionesses’ third appearance, but despite the huge gap in class between the two countries, today’s semi-final clash will see fans witnessing an interesting battle between the North and West Africans.

While Nigeria qualified for the semi-final after beating Cameroonian 1-0 in the quarter-finals Thursday night at the Mohammed V sports complex in Casablanca, with the only goal scored by the impressive Rasheedat Ajibade in the 56th minute, Morocco made history with their first-ever qualification for the Women’s World Cup after defeating Botswana in the quarter-finals.

The Semi Final match will kick Off at – 9 PM

WAFCON:Senegal and Cameroon Secure FIFA Women World Cup Qualification Ticket

The Lionesses of Cameroon and Senegal Women national team have secured their place in the inter-continental playoffs for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup, after a narrow 1-0 victory over Botswana in their additional clash at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat on Sunday.

 Ajara Njoya scored the only goal of the game in the first half where Cameroon were largely in control, but finish the game with 10 players after a late red card.

They joined Senegal in advancing to the 10-team global playoffs in New Zealand in February, where they will contest for the three remaining spots available at the finals.

The African duo join Taiwan, Thailand, Haiti and Panama, who have also booked their places in that tournament.

Senegal also defeated Tunisia on penalties in an earlier game at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.

Njoya scored an excellent goal against Botswana goalkeeper Maitumelo Boseja as she had a clear pre-game plan to test The Mares stopper from distance.

She had another goal shortly afterwards that was easier for Boseja before she made it three, on the stroke of halftime.

Njoya unleashed another strike from 30-yards that took a slight deflection off a defender and nestled into the bottom corner of the net.

Botswana offered very little going forward in the first half, though they did have their fair share of the ball.

OsunDecides: Adeleke, Davido celebrate PDP’s early lead

OsunDecides: Adeleke, Davido celebrate PDP’s early lead

Results from the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission have shown that the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ademola Adeleke, is leading in the ongoing Osun governorship election.

The results showed that PDP is leading with over 10,000 votes.

The portal also showed that over 87 per cent of the results have been uploaded.

Among the Local Governments whose results have been fully uploaded are Ilesa East, Ifedayo, Boluwaduro, Odo Otin, Osogbo, Irepodun, Ayedade, Iwo, Olorunda, Orolu, Boripe and Obokun.

The PDP candidate maintained a lead in seven LGAs while Oyetola is leading in four LGAs.

As of 08.45 pm, a compilation of the results showed that PDP had over 94,803 votes and PDP obtained over 81,697 votes.

In a video that surfaced online, Adeleke and award-winning Nigerian singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, were also seen celebrating the opposition party’s early lead.

In the video obtained by our correspondent on Saturday, Adeleke and Davido hugged.

“We did it this time,” Adeleke said, with Davido replying, “yes”.

Also, wild jubilation has engulfed PDP’s situation room.

In Olorunda LGA, Adeleke polled 21, 350 votes while Oyetola secured 18,709 votes.

In Ede South, Adeleke got 19,438 votes while the governor scored 5704.

Adeleke obtained 10,282 votes while Oyetola secured 9,928 votes in Orolu LGA.

The PDP candidate also won in Osogbo. He scored 30,401 votes to defeat Oyetola who secured 22,952 votes.

Adeleke got 14,003 votes while Oyetola picked up 13,482 in Odo Otin LGA.

Oyetola placed second with 16,068 votes in Ifelodun LGA, where Adeleke picked up 17,107 votes.

PDP won Irepodun LGA with 14,369 votes while the APC got 12,122.

The Osun governor won in Iwo LGA with 17, 421 votes compared to the 16,914 secured by Adeleke.

With 14,527 votes, Oyetola also beat Adeleke who had 13,380 votes in Ayedade LGA.

Oyetola also won in Boripe LGA. He scored 21,205 votes to defeat the PDP candidate who had 7595.

Adeleke lost Isokan LGA to Oyetola by a slim margin. PDP had 10,777 votes while APC scored 10,833 votes.

Meanwhile, the caretaker chairman of the PDP in Osun State, Dr Akindele Adekunle, in a statement issued at Osogbo on Saturday evening, claimed the party has secured a majority, as well as more than two third spread across the 30 local governments and area offices.

While thanking the people of Osun State for endorsing and affirming Ademola Adeleke’s governorship bid, the party “sternly warns against any attempt to tamper with the result of the election”.

“We want to assert that Ademola Adeleke has won this election overwhelmingly going by results at our disposal. We warn against any plot by some agents of chaos to doctor the results.

“We specifically call on the Electoral commission to watch fifth columnists within its fold who may have been contracted for the hatchet job. Osun people have decided and their votes must be respected,” the statement added.

Though 15 political parties participated in the election, the top contenders are the candidate of APC, Governor Gboyega Oyetola and the candidate of the PDP, Ademola Adeleke.

This is the second time the two candidates would be meeting.

Both Oyetola and Adeleke contested for the Osun governorship seat in 2018, which Oyetola won after a rerun.

After the rerun election which took place in seven units, Oyetola won seven, while Adeleke won one.

At the end of the rerun, Oyetola polled 255,505 votes while the PDP candidate scored a total of 255,023 votes.

Although Adeleke had led Oyetola with 353 votes at the end of the first round of ballots, but after the rerun, Oyetola won with 482 votes.

The PUNCH had reported that 15 political parties participated in the election with 1,955,657 registered voters.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had also said the election would take place in 332 registration areas across the 30 local government areas of the state.

OsunDecides: Out of 13 LGAs results released, PDP Wins 9, APC 4

OsunDecides: Out of 13 LGAs results released, PDP Wins 9, APC 4

Out of the thirteen Local Government Areas results so far released, Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been declared winner of the Osun State Governorship Election in nine Local Government Areas.

They are Atakumosa West, Ifelodun, Irepodun, Orolu, Odo-Otin, Ife North, Ilesa West, Ede North and Osogbo LGAs.

While Governor Gboyega Isiaka of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has won in four LGAs namely: Ife South, Ayedire, Ife Central, Boripe

Adeleke polled a total of 179,616 votes while Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured 170,931 votes in the election.

COUNCIL BOSS HAILS UGWUANYI’S RURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENDA

COUNCIL BOSS HAILS UGWUANYI’S RURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENDA

Executive Chairman of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, Honourable Obiora Obeagu has once again applauded the visionary leadership of Chief Dr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi which according to him has transformed the rural communities in Enugu State.

Honourable Obeagu gave the commendation at the council Headquarters, lkem during the swearing-in-ceremony of Secretaries and members of the Isi Uzo Development Centres.

The council boss stressed that Governor Ugwuanyi’s developmental strides in communities within Isi Uzo cut across various aspects of social amenities which include education, health and roads among others.

He specifically identified the state government’s intervention in education to include the rebuilding of 55 schools across the communities and the provision of modern learning materials to improve the standard of public schools within the Area Council.

In the area of health, Honourable Obeagu acknowledged the establishment of care centres in several communities and the construction of a brand new cottage hospital with furnishing in Eha-Amufu by the state government to ensure adequate health care delivery for the rural dwellers .

In his words, “Isi-Uzo remains a big beneficiary of Governor Ugwuanyi’s intervention projects. Our governor has constructed bridges, roads, health care facilities including the brand new cottage hospital at Eha-Amufu. He has built over 55 schools across our communities. He also, constructed 8.8km federal road he in Eha-Amufu which has ended our over 35 years of suffering and all these require that we reciprocate srate government’s gestures through absolute loyalty to the administration of Governor Ugwuanyi.”.

He also disclosed that about 438 indigenes of Isi Uzo were employed by the state government under the regime of Governor Ugwuanyi adding that such remained an unprecedented gesture since the birth of democratic governance in the state.

He enjoined the newly sworn-in Secretaries and Members of the Development Centres to show more loyalty and dedication to the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) and the government of Governor Ugwuanyi adding they were chosen based on merit which required that they work with more commitment to the realisation of the party’s vision of transforming rural communities.

Honourable Obeagu further urged them to redouble their commitment to PDP and the current government not only to ensure total victory for the party in 2023 general election but to also ensure that the purpose of creating the development centres which was to bring governance closer to the people was realised.

DIRECT FLIGHT TO CHINA: NNAJI HAILS AIRPEACE

DIRECT FLIGHT TO CHINA: NNAJI HAILS AIRPEACE

….Says it brings relief to travellers

The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Honourable Nnolim Nnaji has applauded the management of a leading Nigerian Airline, AirPeace on the commencement of direct flight between Nigeria and China.

Honourable Nnaji’s commendation was coming on the heels of the airline’s inaugural flight to Guangzhou, one of the commercial cities of that Asian country on Thursday.

He noted that the commencement of direct flight to China by Airpeace would bring a huge relief to Nigerians and citizens of other African countries who travel regularly on business trips to China.

The Aviation Committee Chairman stressed that Nigeria and indeed Africa shared huge business and cultural ties adding that the direct airlink would further strengthen such relationships.

He further praised Airpeace for mustering the courage to begin the long haul flight at the time the entire airlines globally were just struggling to overcome the enormous negative impact of COVID-19 on the aviation sector.

Honourable Nnaji who represents Njanu East/West Federal Constituency of Enugu State in the House of Representatives however assured that the legislature would continue to work with the executive to ensure a robust aviation industry in the country.