The Mimiko Campaign Organisation (MCO), Saturday, alleged the plan by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)  to bring Tokyo, the factional leader of the Oyo State National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) into Ondo state ahead of  the gubernatorial election slated for October 20.

In a statement by the MCO’s Director of Publicity and Media Relations, Kolawole Olabisi, it warned Tokyo to stay away from the state, just as it appealed to the national leadership of the NURTW to prevail on the controversial drivers’ union leader not to allow himself to be used by selfish politicians.

The statement: “We are aware of the latest in the dastard plan of those who have vowed to publicly, and unashamedly too, that they will capture Ondo State and merge it with their empire to maim, and possibly kill our members and leaders with a view to striking terror in their hearts. They have been bringing all the known dreaded thugs and killers into our State; one of whom is Tokyo and his gang.

“In Ondo State members of the State Chapter of the NURTW and Road Employers Transport Association of Nigeria (RETAN) are happy with the positive development that the Olusegun Mimiko government had brought to the State. Today, they all have new taxis, buses including one of the best modern Motor Parks in Nigeria built for them by this Government.

”It would now be wrong to bring in a member of the same association in the garb of Tokyo to Ondo State to come and cause trouble. This is akin to setting members of the same associations against one another and the resultant effect is better not imagined.”

“While we are appealing to Tokyo to please stay out of Ondo State, we want to appeal to the national leadership of the NURTW and other transport workers associations in Nigeria to please appeal to Tokyo and his boys not to allow ACN to use them on a journey to perdition. We have no quarrel with the members of NURTW, not with Tokyo or anybody. Those who boast that they are on ground in Ondo State should go and sell their manifestoes to the electorate rather than engaging on media stunts, violence and outright lies. They should emulate us in LP who, despite the fact that we have performed well,  still go about campaigning and soliciting for votes.”

-Vanguard

Security has been beefed-up in Ondo state ahead of today’s governorship election across the
state even as General Officer Commanding 2nd Division Nigerian Army, Major Gen. Mohammed
Abubakar deployed soldiers into the state to provide protection for “voters and electoral officials.”

Addressing the men of the 32 Artillery Brigade Akure, Maj. Gen. Abubakar said there would be no
hunting and fishing on the election day warning  that no one should carry their local hunting guns
under the pretence of going to bush to hunt.

He thus ordered his soldiers to arrest anyone other than security agents who carry guns on the
election day even as he warned them to be vigilant of fake soldiers and policemen who will try to
infiltrate their ranks.

His words “No movement on the election day except for those on essential duties and those on
election duty, No hunting on election day. I don’t want to hear that I am going to the bush to hunt.
Anybody with arms must be arrested. If he resists arrest, shoot him; I give you the order.”

Meanwhile, our correspondent in Ondo reports that armed soldiers have taken over all entry points
into the state to check importation of hoodlums and thugs from neighbouring states.

The three main contenders in the election are: Gov. Olusegun Mimiko, a candidate of the labour
party, who is seeking re-election; Chief Olusola Oke, the flag bearer of the People’s Democratic
Party, PDP; and Rotimi Akeredolu, the flag bearer of the Action Congress of Nigeria (A C N).

The people’s Democratic Party, PDP in Ondo state has declared
that the Ondo state governorship election is “marred by
irregularities” and may go to court to challenge the results of the
election.

In a statement issued by PDP spokesman in the state Ayo Fadaka,
the party says it rejects results of Ilaje Ese Odo area which is
apparently the strong base of its candidate, Olusola Oke.

The statement partly reads: “Provisionally, we declare that this
election is marred by irregularities and if after our findings we
discover that the extent is massive, we will certainly seek redress at
the Election Petition Tribunal.”

“The Party will set up a team of professional investigators to
understudy the conduct of the elections and make their reports
available within 15 days after which the party will now take a
decision on its next line of action.”

“We take serious exception to the fact that election was not
conducted in two wards in Ilaje Local Government and other areas
across the state. This unlawful disenfranchisement of voters
through the negligence of INEC is most inexcusable.”

Meanwhile, the Transitional Monitoring Group (TMG) has given the
conduct of the Ondo polls a pass mark. The group noted that
though there were few noticeable lapses but added that those
issues were not enough to discredit the entire process.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party (LP) was yesterday
declared the winner of the governorship polls with 260,199 votes.
While PDP candidate Olusola Oke came second with 155,961 votes
and A C N’s Rotimi Akeredolu came third with 143,512 votes.

By Raheem Oluwafunminiyi | Ibadan, Nigeria | Oct. 24, 2012 - The gubernatorial elections held recently in both Edo and Ondo states has come and gone with all stakeholders, most especially the INEC as the electoral umpire having learnt one or two things. Even as this writer is of the opinion that there is more to be done as far as holding free and fair elections in the country, what is certain is that Nigerians (perhaps in this part of the country)are beginning to open their eyes to the realities confronting them. Gone were the days when votes were not protected or failed to count. Political consciousness is fast holding sway and it is until perhaps Nigerians begin to understand that it is their constitutional right to vote and also their right to use their vote to annihiliate irresponsible government and politicians at the polls, such is when our nascent democracy will have a head way.

For those who watched and observed with keen interest the Edo gubernatorial election few months ago, it would not be a misnomer to posit that those who wanted to take the back door to win the election at all cost quickly found it expedient to spread apprehension around days into the election, yet failed to make good their plan. The apprehension was quite high that it was thought Edo state would boil and therefore lead to total break-down of law and order, yet the people of the state defied all, coming out enmasse to vote for the candidate of their choice.

The same scenario played itself in the Ondo state election for two reasons. The first being that the three candidates were quite powerful, popular and presentable in their own right and the second that all three represented each the three powerful political parties in the country. With these coupled with the fact that there existed series of vested interests in the election, it was not surprising why thousands of soldiers were deployed to the state to do a job the police and other para-military formations would ordinarily have been made to do in saner climes. At the end, the Ondo election was more than peaceful, even as few troubles were noticed in some places but summarily checkmated.

To keen observers, both election had the incumbents winning a second term in office with massive landslive victories. In Edo state for example, the winner of the election, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole won with 73.7 per cent of the vote while the Peoples Democratic Party, took only 22.3 per cent of the ballots cast. The remaining 4 per cent was split among five other parties. In Ondo state on the other hand, governor Olusegun Mimiko polled 260, 199 votes as against 155, 961 and 143, 512 votes from both the PDP and ACN. The implication of this is that the people had come out to vote despite the threats, unfounded apprehension, stories of insecurity and breakdown of law and order. The people had made their choice and were neither hampered nor schemed out from doing so.

Having said this, it should not be a surprise to many how both incumbents in Edo and Ondo states won the gubernatorial in a land-slide. In Edo state for instance, comrade Oshiomhole had it tough not with the PDP flagbearer this time around, but the series of political godfathers quite powerful within the state and around Aso-Rock. With the likes of these godfathers, it was thought whatever incumbency power Oshiomhole wielded would amount to nothing, yet the pendulum moved in the way of the latter.

In Ondo state, the drama was far more different and quite interesting as not only godfathers dictated the tunes but also the three political parties danced to  a new concordant tune. As if that was not enough, the three political flagbearers are sons of the soil who had proven their worth in their respective fields. They are highly known, respected, quite popular, politically connected and critically intelligent. With an Olusola Oke or a Rotimi Akeredolu as candidates of a political party, it was enough for both to win massively, how much more with Olusegun Mimiko. Their personalities are reminiscent of a sell-out concert. Despite these, the incumbent governor won.

The picture this writer is trying to paint is that godfatherism, threats of apprehension, voter apathy, vote buying, rigging, electoral violence and fraud, ballot box snatching, intimidation, impersonation and  all brands of electoral malfeasance popular in the country and between the ruler and ruled are beginning to be wiped away. This of course was evident in both Edo and Ondo with the people displaying a high sense of maturity and a determination to vote for a square peg in a square hole.

The elections in both states reminds one that in today’s Nigeria, political parties and candidates don’t matter but ‘perfomance’. It is a known fact that comrade Oshiomhole and Dr. Mimiko had both performed during their first term and no matter the lies peddled by propagandists, uninformed groups, political jobbers and sycophants, perfomance certainly made way for their victories. Anambra and Lagos states under Peter Obi and Babatunde Fashola also reminds many of governors who won their second term as a result of performance. This goes to show that in Nigeria, with billions of Naira allocated to a state, miracles could be performed.

The year 2015 is around the corner with what had taken place in Ondo state still fresh in the minds of voters. The days of ‘I wore no shoes’ speech are over. A leader saddled with the responsibility to effect a change in his society must begin to perform else the vast majority of the people ‘will not give a damn’.

Raheem Oluwafunminiyi is a social commentator and public affairs analyst and could be reached via creativitysells@gmail.com

BY Dayo Johnson

AKURE — FOUR leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Ondo State have been arrested and detained at the Criminal Investigation Department, CID, Akure, for allegedly absconding with the money meant for governorship election of the party in the state.

Sources within the party said the suspects after collecting the money running into millions of naira fled.

Deputy Director-General of ACN campaign team in Ondo South Senatorial District Mr. Femi Johnson said this in Akure.

The suspects included a former Special Assistant to a Minister, a legal practitioner in Ilaje Local Government, one local government party chairman in the southern senatorial district and a chieftain of the party in the area.

Mr. Johnson, who however, declined to disclose the specific amount the suspects absconded with, said the leadership of the party would recover the stolen money from them.

He pointed out that the money was meant for the election in the southern senatorial district and was directly handed over to the suspects for distribution until they bolted away with it.

He however denied that he was arrested alongside the suspects, adding that the money released through him six weeks to the election, was disbursed appropriately to the accused

-Vanguard

Gov. Mimiko (Ondo)

By Emmanuel Ajibulu | Abuja, Nigeria | Nov. 4, 2012 |

As expected with every victory, the landslide success of Governor Olusegun Mimiko at the October 20, gubernatorial poll, triggered uncontrollable jubilation amongst the great people of Ondo State and even beyond. In the euphoria of jubilation, the number one citizen was swarmed with congratulatory messages from every part of the world for a victory well deserved. Records showed that on Sunday, (Oct 21) the four walls of Ondo State virtually stood still, as thousands of supporters of the Labour Party defied the scorching sun to embark on a victory procession around the state in celebration of the victory, a testimony to the fact that he is the people’s choice.

The Governor, who participated in the victory jubilation, assured the people of the state that with his re-election, more development would come to every part of the state. He said: “God has blessed our project, it is finished. Now is the time to give thanks to God, that today, a Holy Sunday, the people of Ondo State have spoken across Ondo South, across Ondo Central, across Ondo North. Our people are united by a common desire to build a new Ondo State for a greater future. I thank you for standing on your feet. On our feet, we shall fight for freedom; we shall never go on our knees. You young ones must remember that this fight was and is for your tomorrow.”

Mimiko convincingly won at the polls no doubt, however one cannot forget so soon the various campaigns of calumny which pervaded the pre-Ondo guber polls against the incumbent ‘Iroko’ especially from PDP and ACN. Although, the People’s Democratic Party was slightly fair in its guber campaigns. But, it sometimes attacked the personality of Labour party standard bearer; most of the campaigns were based on denying the good works of Mimiko which were his qualification certificates before the people. Since the people of Ondo State despise deceptions, sadly the party failed to win the hearts of a majority of the principled Ondo people.

On the part of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which its candidate came third in the contest, the first miscalculation of the party was the alleged imposition of Rotimi Akeredolu as its candidate by the party’s leadership. This, to indigenes of Ondo State meant that there was no internally democratic mechanisms that were fair to all in the party; the people also saw the party as cheating against those candidates who were not given equal treatments. Akeredolu could be a very good candidate but the way he was selected was annoying and those who know the people of the state would not be surprised if a kinsman of Akeredolu opposed him for cheating others in the race.

In another token, it was obvious that the ACN did not take its time to study the people. Since they had been succeeding in the other South-West states, the leaders of the party concluded that the same tactics, strategies and weapons used in those states were enough to “capture” Ondo State. At the time the ACN was campaigning, Mimiko was the governor of the state and the people would have wanted him to be treated as such. The people did not like some derogatory and uncomplimentary languages used and also the sheer arrogance and pride displayed against their incumbent Governor. It was therefore true that some of those who had vowed to vote for the ACN actually changed their minds when they heard those disparaging words used against him by the party leaders. Even if money and materials were distributed, the people’s hearts had been fixed against the party.

Also another factor which was identified that worked against the ACN was the perception of Senator Bola Tinubu by the people of Ondo state who saw him as pillar and godfather of all the party’s appointed and elected men and women including the six state governors under ACN platform. The truth is that an average indigene of Ondo State detastes godfatherism and dictatorship. The people will rather like a governor whose administration cannot be hijacked by external interests.

Be it as it may, many political observers still find the Ondo gubernatorial race interesting as a result of the intrigues, upsets and revelations that have trailed past governorship elections in the state. The 1983 election is one that is still very potent in the memories of the people. Unprecedented violence followed the announcement of the result by Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO), the then electoral body. The orgy of violence only subsided when amends were made by the Court of Appeal and Chief Adekunle Ajasin was announced as the winner of the election before his former Deputy, Akin Omoboriowo could be sworn in. Omoboriowo had left the UPN after his boss allegedly reneged on an agreement that he would not seek a second term.

For Governor Olusegun Rahman Mimiko, the journey to the Alagbaka Government House started long before the 2007 elections. Having cut his teeth as the Publicity Secretary of the Ondo Local Government chapter of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in 1983, he ran for electoral office in 1990 when he vied for the Chairmanship of Ondo Local Government on the platform of the Social Democratic Party. His zeal as a party man did not go unnoticed, as he was appointed as a member of the campaign organization of Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua who contested for governorship then. By 1992, he was appointed as the Commissioner for Health by Governor Olumilua. As Commissioner, he facilitated the “Pharmacy Shop” system which ensured 24-hour pharmacy services in the major hospitals in the state then.

Moreover, Dr. Mimiko had already become a major political force by the time the Fourth Republic commenced. In view of his immense contributions to the electoral victory of the Alliance for Democracy in the 1999 governorship election in Ondo State, he was again appointed as the Commissioner for Health by Chief Adebayo Adefarati. He however resigned precisely on the 7^th of November 2002. After quitting as Commissioner, he heeded calls to join the governorship race. He however left the Alliance for Democracy when the party failed to hold primary elections in order to select the party’s flag bearer. He thereafter pitched his tent with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Even as a new member of the PDP, Mimiko was not irrelevant in the scheme of the party. Again in recognition of his being instrumental to his new party’s success at the governorship polls in 2003, he was appointed as the Secretary to the State Government by Governor Olusegun Agagu.

He was SSG till July 2005 when the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him as Minister for Housing and Urban Development. Again, Dr. Mimiko heeded calls to contribute more to the development of his state and he resigned his appointment in December, 2006 to participate in the 2007 governorship election. While many were still wondering how he planned to defeat a sitting Governor at the primaries, Dr. Mimiko presented the Labour Party to the people of Ondo State on December 14, 2006 at the City Hall, Akure and he contested for the election on the party’s platform. Though the electoral commission announced Dr. Agagu as the winner, after a legal tussle which ended with the appellate court, it was affirmed that the election was indeed won by Dr. Mimiko. He became the Ondo State Governor on February 23, 2012.

It was a great joy for the good people of Ondo that the state did not experience the ‘Armageddon’ that actually hung in the air in the Oct 20 polls. In place of doom, the state witnessed bliss, courtesy of a globally-acclaimed free and fair election. In fact, many  individuals and institutions that had, on account of the palpable fear occasioned by pre-election tension in Ondo, been at alert to outdo one another in sympathising with the state, in the event of the undesirable expected, were disappointed. And now that elections are over, we have a re-elected Governor that is competent, progressive, trusted, tested and reliable.

The resounding victory of Mimiko in the election is a product of good governance of his administration, Mimiko stood by the people all through the period, by embarking on various developmental projects that have direct bearing on them. Mimiko’s victory was not bought, but laboured for, and amazingly the governor would not let the people down even in his second term in office. The applause that greeted the victory of Mimiko across the country, shortly after the announcement, especially from the president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan; leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), state governors, including the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and a host of others was an indication that he was the popular choice of the people.

Emmanuel Ajibulu wrote from 3 Arms Zone Abuja emmanuelajibulu@gmail.com

THE Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom in Ilaje Local Council of Ondo State, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan, has given indications that the Federal Government would give a helping hand in rebuilding the burnt part of the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi.

Akinruntan, who led an advanced presidential team on a sympathy visit to the Alaafin on Saturday, said President Goodluck Jonathan was deeply saddened and shocked by the palace inferno.

The Ugbo monarch said he was at the palace in three capacities, as the fore-runner of the emissary by Mr. President, as the Chairman, Yoruba Conflict Resolution Committee and as the chairman of Ilaje Local Government Traditional Council and disclosed that the President specifically asked him to deliver his message to Alaafin, with a promise that he (President) would still send a powerful delegation to deliver his letter of sympathy as well as the necessary assistance towards the reconstruction of the burnt area of the palace.

Oba Akinruntan, who was later conducted round the razed apartments by Alaafin, described the incident as a disaster, not only to the Alaafin and the people of Oyo, but to the entire Yoruba people and urged for concerted efforts by every well-meaning sons and daughters of Yorubaland to rise to the challenge of making the palace the pride of place for all.

Alaafin was full of praises for Oba Akinruntan, whose ancestors he traced to be the first original settlers of the ancient Ife town, recalling that the Olugbo’s ancestors were the Ugbos that gave the Ifes nightmare before they left for their present site in the riverine area of Ondo State.

Oba Adeyemi also commended Olugbo for his untiring efforts to ensure that Yoruba Obas live in unity and oneness through the conflict resolution committee being chaired by him, stressing that he was ready to attend any meeting of the prominent Obas towards living in peace amongst themselves

Alaafin, however, maintained that there had never been a time in the history of Yoruba that Oyo was under any other town in Yorubaland and this had also informed his position, which to some people made him controversial.

-Guardian

Ondo commissioner slaps Director
Tuesday, January 15, 2013

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From TUNDE RAHEEM, Akure

Ondo State Commissioner for Transport, Mr Nicolas Tofowomo yesterday threw decorum to the wind as he openly slapped a director in the Ministry of Works, Mr M.J Afeniforo severally over a trivial issue. The commissioner was said to have approached the director for a tractor but Afeniforo was said to have told the commissioner that the tractors were already on various sites.

It was gathered that Afeniforo also told the commissioner that the Commissioner for Works, Gboye Adegbenro was aware of the development and asked him to call to verify. But Tofowomo, howev,er allegedly the commissioner for works and told him that the director of mechanical had diverted the tractors to his home town.

The director, it was learnt cautioned Tofowomo not to lie against him since he was saying the tractors were diverted to Ilara-Mokin. The commissioner was furious and slapped the director several times for arguing with him, an attitude sources in the ministry said had become common with Tofowomo. The development triggered the anger of workers of the ministry, who trooped out to protest injustice meted out on their senior officer and the commissioner, who sensed danger left hurriedly to his office.

The protest was later hijacked by the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), who converged on the premises of the ministry to protest the assault on Afeniforo. But the intervention of the Chairman of the Joint Negotiation Council, Mr. Solomon Adelegan saved the situation, as workers were poised to show the commissioner the way out of the ministry. The aggrieved workers vowed to deal with the commissioner if he did not stop what they called animalistic behaviour.

The Head of Service, Mrs. Kosemani Kolawole, invited the assaulted director and the permanent secretary, probably with a view to resolving the matter . All efforts to get the embattled commissioner to comment on the issue proved abortive as he did not respond to the calls put to him.

-Punch

Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; his Anambra counterpart, Mr. Peter Obi; and a former Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Rashidti Ladoja, may soon defect to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

Competent sources at the national headquarters of the party said on Friday that the party had concluded arrangements to have these men in its fold.

Mimiko was a member of the PDP before he defected to the Labour Party in 2006 to contest the governorship election in his state.

He had wanted to contest the election under the umbrella of the PDP but then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo insisted that Dr. Olusegun Agagu would run for a second term.

The insistence of Obasanjo made Mimiko to resign his ministerial position and defect to the LP.

Though the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Agagu as the winner of the election, the Court of Appeal sitting in Benin later reversed the decision and proclaimed Mimiko the authentic winner.

Mimiko, who also defeated other governorship candidates, including that of the PDP, Chief Olusola Oke and that of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, in the 2012 governorship election, will be sworn in on Sunday to begin his second term in office.

A member of the National Working Committee of the PDP, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent in Abuja on Friday, said discussions had been concluded with Mimiko on his return to the party.

Mimiko, he said, would be made the leader of the ruling party in the South-West, with the  mandate to reconcile aggrieved members of party in the zone.

Not only that, he said the governor, who after defection, would be the only governor of the PDP in the entire six states in the zone, will also be saddled with the responsibility of mobilising for the party in the zone.

The source said, “Mimiko is coming to the PDP. That is certain. Though we have not agreed on any date for his official defection, I can tell you authoritatively that we have concluded agreements on this.

“His coming would also help us in the South-West because of the coming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states. We need to win at least one of the two states.

“Mimiko is going to be the leader of the party in the zone, because right now, the party is in disarray due to a lot of factions and court cases arising from the zonal congress of the party, which was nullified by the court.”

The plan to have Mimiko back in the PDP was said to have been hatched by Chief Ebenezer Babatope and Senator Bode Olajumoke.

The two men were said to have convinced President Goodluck Jonathan on the need for Mimiko to return to the party.

If he returns, he may do so with members of the LP in both the National Assembly and the Ondo State House of Assembly.

However, Mimiko and Obi said they had no plans to dump their respective platforms for the PDP.

Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said, “There is no iota of truth in the story. It was planted by the opposition to discredit our inauguration.

“We are focused on our inauguration and we will not give in to any form of distraction from anybody or group seeking cheap political relevance.”

Chief Press Secretary to the Anambra governor, Mr. Mike Udah, said, “Governor Obi is sitting pretty in APGA. He is comfortable in the party.

-Punch

By DAYO JOHNSON

AKURE — A female member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Fola Olasehinde was, yesterday, suspended indefinitely for being in possession of fetish objects including miniature coffins.

The suspended member is representing Ose council area of the state constituency.

Her indefinite suspension was announced on the floor of the House by the Deputy Speaker, Dare Emiola after a parliamentary meeting.

Emiola said that the female legislator by her action has brought embarrassment to the Assembly.

Consequently, the leadership of the house, according to him, has set up a five member committee to further probe the allegation against the member by her landlord Chief kolawole Ogunbadejo.

The committee is headed by Fatal Olotu and they are to look into the allegation levied against the lawmaker and report back to the house within the next two weeks.

-VANGUARD

BY DAYO JOHNSON
AKURE —AT least 30 gunmen in the early hours of Sunday stormed the Olokuta Medium Security Prison in Akure, Ondo State capital, and set free about 175 inmates mainly those standing trial for robbery.

A prison officer was shot in the right leg by the gunmen and he is receiving treatment at the Military Hospital, Akure.

Officials of the prison reportedly fled following the bombardment of the cell walls by the gunmen who also fired sporadically into the air.

The gunmen reportedly barricaded the Akure-Ore expressway where the prison is located for hours while the operation lasted.

However, reports said some of the escapees were later picked by the security agents at some of the brothels within the capital city and neighbouring villages near the prison where they were hiding but identified by villagers.

Vanguard learnt that the gunmen armed with machine guns and dynamites arrived the prison premises around midnight and started shooting sporadically in to the air to scare the prison officials on duty.

The operation
It was gathered that the assailants, armed with knowledge of how the prisoners are kept, went straight to the cell where robbery suspects were kept and blew up the walls with dynamite, setting them free.

Dependable source in the Olokuta prison said the gunmen invaded the place purposely to free some suspects arrested during a bank robbery in Akure and have been kept in the prison for over a year without trial.

Others headed for the main entrance but their attempt to blow it up failed so they concentrated on the wall leading to other cells where they set free other inmates.

The Olokuta prison is less than a kilometre to the headquarters of the 32, Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Owena Barracks.

Top security chiefs in the state including the state Commissioner of Police, Patrick Dukumor and the state Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, Eyitayo Jegede SAN have visited the place for on the spot assessment.

It’s unusual — Comptroller
Contacted, the state Prisons Comptroller, Tunde Olayiwola, described the attack as unusual, noting that the culprits will soon be brought to book.

Olayiwola dispelled rumour that the attack was masterminded by Boko Haram as being speculated.

According to him, “we cannot specifically identify those behind the attack, but it was unusual. One of our officers was injured during the attack and he is in the hospital receiving treatment. I am assuring that those behind it will be brought to book soon.”

Speaking with newsmen, the state Police spokesman, Wole Ogodo, confirmed the attack, saying the police command had contacted the prison authority, adding: “All the security agents within the state are working together to track down the criminals and bring them to book.

Meantime, the situation at the Olokuta Medium prison has been brought under control just as security has been beefed up within the prison.

It’s pathetic— State govtMeantime, the Ondo State government has described the jail break as pathetic.

The Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, Eyitayo Jegede, said this in Akure after an on the spot assessment of the incident.

Jegede said the state government would invite the top officials of the prison.

He said that “With what we are seeing here, the state government will look into the incident and if need be, we will summon all the security chiefs and top prison officers”.

Also speaking after his visit, the CP, Patrick Dukumor, described the incident as ‘unfortunate’ and promised that the perpetrator will be brought to book

After storming prison, freeing 179 criminals

From TUNDE RAHEEM Akure

Hell was let loose in the early hours of yesterday in Akure as some armed robbers invaded Olokuta Medium Prison on Ondo Road Akure in the state capital, freeing about 179 inmates and killing 10 travellers.

Eyewitnesses disclosed that the robbers, about 30, and fully armed, gained access into the prison premises around 1am after using an explosive device suspected to be dynamite to break the prison’s wall.

The bandits had earlier vandalized the streetlights from the highway to the gate of the prison gate to ensure blackout during the operation.

The development, however, caused pandemonium among the residents with the news that the prison was attacked by members of the dreaded Boko Haram. Some of the inmates, including condemned criminals, those awaiting trials and others that were already serving terms, took advantage of the situation and escaped through the various bush paths.

It was gathered that over 100 armed robbers who have been jailed as well as those on awaiting trial, escaped during the jail- break along with other criminals who were also in the prison’s custody.The freeing bandits, it was learnt, were some of the robbers terrorizing the people of the state, arrested and prosecuted by the police and were ordered by the courts to be remanded in the prison’s custody

After carrying out the operation in the prisons, and while trying to escape with their colleagues from the scene, the robbers ran into some travellers along Ondo Road whose vehicle had a flat tyre at a point very close to the entrance of the prison. They shot and killed 10 of the passengers instantly, including the driver.

The robbers, after killing the occupants, waited and replaced the flat tyre with the extra before escaping with the mini bus

Speaking with newsmen, the state’s Comptroller of Prisons, Mr. Tunde Olayiwola, described the invasion as unusual and alien to the state. He said the prison service will bring the culprits to book.

Olayiwola confirmed that only one prison warder was injured in the attack, adding that the affected officer was receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

“We cannot specifically identify those behind the attack, but the attack is unusual. One of our officers was injured during the attack and he is in the hospital right now receiving treatment, but I am assuring that those behind the attack, will be brought to book.”

It was, however, gathered that few inmates have been arrested by security operatives as efforts were on to rearrest the fleeing inmates as security agents were seen as early as 8.30 am yesterday combing many brothels in the state capital.

Meanwhile, the state police command has allayed the fear that the attack was carried out by Boko Haram. A statement by the spokesman, Wole Ogodo, said there was no iota of truth in the rumour that the Islamist sect was responsible.

By Dayo Johnson

ELEMOSHO-For leading an illegal duty, a Police Inspector and three other police officers are in soup in Ondo state Police Command.

The four police officers with two drivers and a cash officer are being detained and quizzed for embarking on an illegal duty by escorting a bullion van conveying an unspecified amount belonging to a new generation bank, penultimate Thursday, from one of its branches in Ondo town to its headquarters in Akure, when the hoodlums struck.

The two drivers drove the bullion van and the escort vehicle while the cash officer is a staff of one the bank.

Vanguard gathered that the suspects may have been embarking on such illegal duties before now to make brisk business until nemesis caught up with them.

The bullion van is marked Lagos FST 945 AL, while the escort vehicle has registration number PF 344 SPY.

It was also gathered that the four policemen who embarked on the illegal duty without official approval from the operation unit of the command, are currently being detained and interrogated for conspiracy in the robbery incident which took place at Elemoso village, Ondo East Local Government area of the state.

Dismisssed officers

If culpable, the four police officers may face orderly room trial and may be dismissed from the force before they are prosecuted.

A top Police source said “On a good day, whenever banks want to convey money from one town to the other, they usually write to the operations unit of the state police command and eight policemen would be approved for them.”

However, only four policemen escorted the bullion van last Thursday, which fuelled suspicion of conspiracy. The State Police Commissioner, Isaac Eke confirmed that the command smells conspiracy as the policemen who escorted the van were on illegal duty.

Eke told Vanguard that the suspects failed to follow the due process before escorting bank bullion van, even as it was said that they did not fire a single bullet when the robbers waylaid them.

It was learnt that the policemen fled the scene of the robbery immediately the robbers double-crossed them and fired volleys of gunshots.

Their desperate bid to make quick money for the weekend that fateful day may not only cause them their jobs but send them behind bars. It was gathered that the mobile policemen deployed to the scene of the robbery fished out the suspects while combing the bushes in the village where they fled to.

The bullion van and the escort vehicle were riddled with bullets, while their tyres were deflated by gun shots fired by the robbers.

Speaking to Vanguard, some of the villagers said the robbers were trailing the bullion van from Ondo town until it got to the village where some speed breakers were made before attacking the van and the escort police vehicle.

Escort police vehicle

According to one of the villagers who pleaded anonymity, “a red car pretended to overtake the bullion van while it slowed down because of the speed breakers, only to double cross it and fired volleys of gun shot into the air and on the two vehicles.”

Confirming the arrest of the seven suspects including the four policemen, the state Command image maker, Wole Ogodo said the suspects are helping the command on the investigation.

Ogodo said: “The four of our men that escorted the bullion, the cash officer and the two drivers that drove the bullion van are already with us to help us in the investigation that is already ongoing.

“We will do everything possible to get to the root of the matter and as I am talking to you right now, the Officer in charge of the State Anti Robbery Squad has gone to Bolorunduro where the incident happened as part of the ongoing investigation.”

However, a school proprietor, in the area, who was driving a Sienna bus marked OSUN AA 733 FTD was shot in the eye, when he attempted to make a u-turn at the scene of the robbery. Sources said the robbers after carting the large sum of money, escaped in their car through a village to Ile-Oluji.

-Punch

By Clifford Ndujihe & Dapo Akinrefon

With states like Ekiti (E), Lagos (L), Ogun (O), Ondo (O), Osun (O) and Oyo (O), the six South-West states can also be described as ELOOOO states. The word elo in Yoruba, the indigenous language of South-westerners, means how much.

The issue of elo or how much will play crucial roles in 2015 general polls in the zone especially the February 14 presidential election where the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is hammering out strategies to beat the All Progressives Congress, APC, the dominant party in the region.

Currently, President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP and his APC rival, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) are not leaving any stone unturned to ensure that they emerge victorious in ELOOOO states. They are mobilising funds, men and resources to get the upper hand in the polls. But will ELOOOO states go for the highest bidder or the best candidate? If for the highest bidder at what cost?

On Wednesday, the APC Vice Presidential Candidate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who hails for Ogun State led Nigerians in a road procession in Osun State tagged: ‘’Nigerians Walk for Change.’’

And yesterday, President Jonathan flagged off his re-election campaign at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

As of now, the APC has four governors (Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Oyo) while the PDP has two (Ekiti and Ondo).

In the 2011 presidential polls, the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, one of the three parties that merged to form the APC was in control of three states (Lagos, Ekiti and Osun), the PDP had Ogun and Oyo while the Labour Party had Ondo.

In that year’s presidential election, Jonathan won in five of the six states apart from Osun, which went to the ACN Candidate, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Interestingly, the duo of Jonathan and Buhari participated in the 2011 presidential polls. Jonathan polled 2,786,417 votes in the South-West; Ribadu scored 1,469,943 votes, while Buhari had 321,609 votes.

Buhari had contested on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC.

With the elections around the corner, the two contestants have begun canvassing for votes from every nook and cranny of the country.

However, in the South West, Jonathan would need his good luck and the bulk votes to stand a chance of winning next month’s election.

The zone is probably the only part of the south where they would experience an uphill task in his bid to secure a second term.

Against this background, Jonathan and the PDP have been making frantic efforts to woo the people of the region.

Indeed, the PDP and its strategists in the Presidency are believed to be jittery over the realisation that losing the South-West might cost them the presidential election.

For the PDP, the coming on board of Governor Olusegun Mimko of Ondo state has boosted the chances of the president in the region considering the fact that Ondo is an oil-producing state.

During the June 21, 2014 governorship election held in Ekiti State, the APC failed to retain the state, which it lost to PDP.

The issue of religion will also play up as Jonathan and Buhari belong to the two prominent religions – Christianity and Islam.

In the South-West, Christianity and Islam play prominent roles in the socio-political lives of the people.

Though Jonathan may be banking on his Christian background, Buhari’s choice of Professor Yemi Osinbajo as his running mate may give the APC an edge.

George makes case for Jonathan

In an attempt to make a case for the president, former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the PDP, Chief Olabode George urged the region to vote for President Jonathan “massively because he has kept faith and strengthened the bonds of our national unity despite grave provocations.

Let us re-elect our president for sustaining harmony among our ethnic divides and for the significant growth in the fields of commerce, aviation, power and transportation. The good people must stand together now to protect this democracy.”

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/01/far-can-jonathan-go-eloooo-states/#sthash.maZbsqIr.dpuf

State-by-state projection of their chances

With the presidential election just around the corner, our correspondents write that the battle, which is a straight one between President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari, may spring some surprises

As Nigerians, nay the world, wait for the March 28 presidential election and the 10 competing political parties putting finishing touches to their strategies, the actual contest, political watchers have submitted, is between the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party and Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) of the All Progressives Congress.

How would the scenario look like in the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, when the battle is fought, won and lost?

Abia

President Jonathan of the PDP is expected to win the presidential poll in Abia State as his party remains the dominant one there. The PDP’s strong base in the state coupled with the position of Governor Theodore Orji as the Coordinator of Jonathan’s Campaign Organisation in the South-East zone has further boosted Jonathan’s chances at the poll. Abia parades an army of people and accomplished Nigerians who are of the PDP family and they have been working assiduously to deliver their various localities to the President. Some of them include: Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada, Chief Ojo Maduekwe; former PDP National Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor; former Senate President Adulphus Wabara; Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Gen. Ike Nwachukwu ( retd); among a host of others.

Jonathan’s marital tie with Abia State is also expected to boost his chances. The mother of the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, hailed from Abia and the state enjoys a very warm relationship with the First Family.

Abuja

Abuja, the seat of power, should ordinarily be the star on the crown of the eventual winner of the Presidential elections. However, the territory which some refer to as a city of civil servants is likely to be almost evenly split between Jonathan and Buhari.

Senator Philip Aduda (PDP) is expected to lead other public and political office holders to mobilise votes for the President because the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed; would be required to go back to Bauchi where he hails from to join the governor and the party’s national chairman, Adamu Mua’azu to campaign for the President. Aduda, however, has to contend with a former political opponent, Adamu Sidi-Ali, who apart from contesting for a Senate seat is also mobilising support for Buhari and the APC. That Abuja is where the President has lived for six years counts for a lot but the large number of northerners in the city is also a plus for Buhari. Verdict: It’s too close to call.

Adamawa

It is a state of political gladiators and all of them will want to make a point. The state boasts of ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the APC; Buhari’s wife; former Chairman of the PDP, Bamanga Tukur; ex-EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, among others.

It would have been an easy ride for the PDP, but for the Boko Haram menace that has claimed many lives.

The opinion of political analysts in the state is that despite the successes recorded in Mubi and many other towns, many indigenes are not impressed because they believe that the President launched the late war on the insurgents to score a political point.

Hence, it looks like a tight race between Buhari and Jonathan despite the fact that PDP won the state in 2011.

Akwa Ibom

Both the PDP and the APC are popular in Akwa Ibom State. Each of these two political parties exercises dominance in some sections of the state.

The people of Oro ethnic nationality (the largest ethnic group in Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District with five local government areas) are mainly against the PDP.

The people, who embrace APC hold that if Oro continues to remain in the PDP, the probability for them to produce a governor in the next 40 years will be slim.

Other areas with strong support APC base are Uruan; Ibeno; Ikot Abasi; Esit Eket; Abak Federal Constituency otherwise known as Abak Five; Itu; Ini; Ikono. The party has also encroached into areas like Ikot Ekpene; Essien Udim, where the PDP has strongholds.

However, Governor Godswill Akpabio who is an ardent loyalist of Jonathan is expected to deliver the state to PDP coupled with the South-East support for Jonathan.

Anambra

In 2011, President Jonathan of the PDP polled 1,145,169 million votes or 98.8 per cent of the total votes cast in Anambra State.

From the statistics, Anambra gave Jonathan the highest proportion of votes in the country. His closest rival was the Congress Progressives Congress candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who polled 4,223 votes.

The situation on the ground shows that Jonathan still has an edge over Buhari and will very likely win the presidential election in the state.

The sentiments that worked well for Jonathan in 2011 are still very much around. But the party has lost a lot of followers, who though may not move over to vote Buhari, may remain indifferent.

The factors playing in favour of Jonathan include the incumbency factor. The party in power in the state, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, has also adopted Jonathan as its presidential candidate.

This adds to the advantage of Jonathan being the official candidate of the biggest opposition party in the state.

Jonathan is likely to win but with a diminished margin as against the result in 2011 when he scored 98 per cent of the votes.

Bauchi

With the National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’azu, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed and Governor Isa Yuguda, President Jonathan should expect to garner a substantial number of votes or at least 25 per cent of the votes. However, this can only happen if the three resolve their differences and decide to work together. Buhari’s popularity among the ordinary folk in the state is unlikely to wane before the March 28 election. Buhari is most likely to carry the day.

Bayelsa

In Bayelsa, the home state of President Jonathan, it is almost a taboo to mention any other political party except the PDP.

The emergence of the rival opposition political party, the APC, has yet to change the people’s perception about the PDP. Also, the APC has yet to entrench itself as a formidable party in the state. Observers believe that in Bayelsa, the general election is fait accompli for the PDP as the party has formidable structures in the state compared to the APC and other political parties.

Benue

Here the two candidates’ chances stand at 55 per cent for Jonathan and 45 for Buhari. Though a PDP controlled state, the people of the state complain endlessly of non-payment of salaries which they say has been the bane of the government. The state is agrarian with a high dominance of civil servants in the elite class.

Having the civil servants objecting to any government spells near defeat for such administration. This is what has put the PDP on the path of declined popularity. However, Jonathan still stands slightly higher than Buhari in the reckoning of the people. Also, Senate President David Mark will want to make a good showing in his state.

Borno

In Borno, Buhari has been a political factor since the first day he declared his ambition to contest the presidency of Nigeria in 2007. He has always come first while his opponents, Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua and the current one, Jonathan, came a far second. He is idolised by the people of the state, it can even been said that he is more loved in the state than in his home state of Katsina because he lost there to Umaru Yar’Adua in 2007. He has never lost any election in Borno where he is seen as a role model and anyone that seeks political office has to come via him.

The love for Buhari was said to have started when he was the military governor in Maiduguri, which was the then capital of the North-East state and till date, he is still loved as if those days were moments away.

As it stands today, Buhari will get a landslide victory over Jonathan in Borno.

Cross River

In Cross River State, it is obvious where the pendulum will swing in the March 28 presidential election. This is so because it is one of the few states in the South-South region that is completely controlled by the PDP.

Candidates of the ruling party won the entire senatorial and House of Representatives seats in the 2011 election. The party also produced the governor and 24 out of 25 members of the state House of Assembly. It also has in its kitty, all the 18 Local Government Area chairmen and 196 councillors.

Apart from an almost overwhelming victory for the PDP presidential candidate, votes based on ethnic sentiment might also go in favour of President Jonathan because the electorate thinks that the two-term tenure of a candidate from the region must be upheld.

Delta

In Delta, President Jonathan stands head and shoulders above his closest rival, Buhari.

A number of factors are playing in favour of the President in the state and one of them is the fact that he is from the South-South geopolitical zone. The people of Delta, would rather vote their own than support someone else from another geopolitical zone.

According to Bunor Agbomedarho, a former banker and House of Assembly aspirant, the people of Delta State will not throw away their son for whatever reason. “He is from here and we will give it to him naturally,” he said.

In addition to that, the coastal areas of the state, where block votes usually emerge from to determine eventual winners of most of the presidential and governorship elections are peopled by Jonathan’s Ijaw ethnic group.

Apart from the ethnic factor, those who now control affairs in the coastal areas, fall among the ex-Niger Delta militants that have benefitted heavily from the Federal Government under Jonathan.

Another factor that plays in favour of Jonathan is the incumbent factor in Delta where his party, the PDP, is ruling.

Ebonyi

This is another South-East state where the PDP and its presidential candidate, Jonathan, have an edge over the opposition.

The attempt to impeach Governor Martins Elechi, who has a strong support at the grassroots, at some point threatened to undermine Jonathan’s re-election campaign in the state. There were indications that most of the governor’s supporters would have voted against the President in protest, had Elechi been impeached before the elections.

The dark cloud has, however, cleared after the Ebonyi State House of Assembly reportedly suspended the impeachment process.

Edo

Edo has a total of 1,779,738 registered voters. But the APC currently holds sway as the ruling party in Edo State, having defeated the PDP in the 2007 and 2012 governorship elections.

Like in other states in the South-South, ethnicity is considered a major factor, which would attract support for the PDP and Jonathan in the March 28 poll, as it did in 2011, when it secured the majority votes in the state, irrespective of the political parties.

Since the inception of the opposition party, Buhari has become seemingly popular across the state, compared to 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections, where his campaigns were more pronounced in Auchi, an area largely dominated by Muslims. Also, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has a large following and can swing votes Buhari’s way. The Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, who is from the state will want to prove that he is a chairman indeed despite the political sagacity of Chief Tony Anenih who is a force to reckon with.

Ekiti

Events in Ekiti recently suggest a tilt in the balance between the popularity of the ruling PDP and the opposition APC. Although Governor Ayodele Fayose has continued to enjoy the support of the grassroots, it is observed these days that his large following in the state is fast depleting in ranks. This may not be unconnected with the squabbles over the primaries of the party conducted in December last year. The division in the State House of Assembly is also a minus for the PDP as the legislators who are anti-Fayose are not keen on getting their supporters to vote for Jonathan.

The opposition seems to be gathering momentum especially with the return of the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Opeyemi Bamidele, to the APC.

Bamidele who declared support for Buhari has deployed his political platform, the Ekiti Bibire Coalition, for the mission.

The talk in town is that this general election is different from the governorship election when people mobilised and voted Fayose. It is a common trend to see people shouting ‘sai Buhari’ on the streets of Ado Ekiti.

Enugu

In Enugu, President Jonathan is expected to get more votes than Buhari and other presidential candidates.

This expectation is based on the fact that, among the 36 states in the country, Enugu is arguably one of the states where the PDP has the strongest followership.

There is hardly any prominent politician that is campaigning against Jonathan in Enugu at the moment — even some ‘aggrieved’ former PDP members who joined other political parties in order to realise their political ambitions in the 2015 polls are including the President’s pictures in their campaign posters.

The politicians with the largest support bases in the state are all campaigning for Jonathan — these include Governor Sullivan Chime, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, and a former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, among several others.

Gombe

This is likely to be one of the most keenly contested states in the North because just as General Buhari, enjoys a large following, the state Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, the Minister of Transportation, Senator Idris Umar and the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the ruling PDP, Abdullahi Jalo, who are ardent supporters of President Jonathan, have a point to prove. They will be up against a former governor of the state, Senator Danjuma Goje who is a stalwart of the APC.

Imo

Like other South-East states, President Jonathan waxes strong in Imo. The fact that he has been adopted by main Igbo socio-cultural groups has made him stronger in this state. In Imo, it is Jonathan, even though Gov. Rochas Okorocha of the APC, who is the only South-East governor in the party, will want to show his might and popularity.

Jigawa

Here, there is an impressive followership for Buhari. Many political analysts have submitted that it would not be difficult for Buhari to coast home with victory in the state. However, Gov. Sule Lamido of the PDP will not allow himself to be put to shame.

President Jonathan is looking up to him to deliver the state and he will do everything not to disappoint the President. As a founding member of the PDP, he has a point to prove. Whether he can convince the northern electorate to vote for Jonathan remains to be seen.

Kaduna

This is the state of Vice-President Namadi Sambo, who the President expects to deliver the state. The Secretary of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin, said, “It is the quality of crowd that matters in a rally.”

It was a veiled reference to the scanty crowd of supporters that greeted the PDP Presidential Campaign Train to Kaduna State on January 31,2015.

In that rally, the main bowl of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, was half-filled, thereby sending signals that President Jonathan may find winning the 2015 presidential race, in the state difficult.

But Jibrin allayed the fears as according to him, the PDP as a party believed in a ‘quality crowd’ and not ‘quantity’ which, he argued, characterised the opposition APC presidential campaign.

However, the antagonistic disposition of the people of Northern Kaduna zone, who are pre-dominantly Muslims, will certainly work against the President and be an advantage to the APC candidate. But, Jonathan may get votes from the southern part of the state, a predominantly Christian dominated area. This area has consistently voted en bloc for the PDP since 1999. Buhari won the state with 1.3 million votes in 2011.

Kano

It is an open secret that the presidential candidate of the APC has his strongest support base in the North.

Even before the defection of Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the PDP to the APC, most of the eligible voters in Kano were ardent Buhari loyalists.

A lot of factors appear to be working in Buhari’s favour in the state. The PDP is yet to deal with its internal conflicts while the state governor, and a majority of members of the National Assembly members are members of the APC. The emergence of Lamido Sanusi Lamido as the Emir of Kano seemed to have sealed Jonathan’s fate. The Emir is not a fan of Jonathan and he doesn’t hide it.

It will be safe to say, Buhari will beat Goodluck Jonathan.

Katsina

There is no lenghty expalanation for this. Charity, they say, begins at home. The home state of Buhari is overwhelmingly for him. Though the state is ruled by the PDP, the residents are not leaving their own unsupported.

Kebbi

Carved out from the old Sokoto State, this state has produced governors and members of the National Assembly from both the ruling party and the opposition. It started off as an ANPP state in 1999 but has been under the control of the PDP since 2007. The turmoil within the state chapter of the PDP is likely to cost the party and its candidates dearly. Even without such a conflict, the Buhari phenomenon which has swept most parts of the North is unlikely to change there.

Kogi

In Kogi, the contest according to political observers will be a keen one.The state has been ruled by the PDP for the 16 years of the current democratic dispensation. Though there had been attempts to wrest power from the PDP in the state, such had so far proved futile making the party to record either substantial or landslide victories during elections.

But the scenario appears to be changing with the reported defection of some political juggernauts from the ruling PDP to the APC.

Also with the reported inroad of Buhari into the minds of many people in the northern states, and Kogi being a state near Abuja appears to be catching the bug.

It may not be quite easy for one to accurately predict whether Jonathan or Buhari will convincingly win in Kogi in the March 28 presidential election given the political dynamism of voting, but that Jonathan won there in 2011 is a plus.

Kwara

The PDP had lost the Kwara State to the APC following the defection of former Governor Bukola Saraki and his followers. Those who defected with him to the APC included another former governor and who is also now a senator, Mr. Shaaba Lafiagi; all the members of the House of Representatives, the current state governor, Mr. Abdulfatah Ahmed and his political appointees; the Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly and 19 other legislators.

While Saraki and his followers give the impression that the APC will trounce the PDP, it may not be that easy because of alleged federal might and the perception that Kwara residents are yearning for a change from an alleged Saraki oligarchy.

Buhari is, however, expected to coast home with about 70 per cent of the total votes cast.

Lagos

The APC candidate is tipped to win the election in the state based on the fact that it is the stronghold of the major opposition party since 1999. According to political watchers, even though the ruling party, the PDP, won the presidential poll in the state in 2003 (the main opposition party did not field any presidential candidate that year), 2007 and 2011, the political dynamics had since changed.

Although Buhari is from the North, he is expected to win the state under the platform of APC also because his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is Yoruba. The choice of Osinbajo has been a hit in the South-West states. Lagos is also home to Senator Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the APC and of course Governor Babatunde Fashola one of the highest rated governors in the country.

Recently, the PDP Governors Forum at its meeting in Lagos said the party would win elections in all the states in the South including Lagos.

Overall, Buhari is expected to win Lagos on Saturday.

Nasarawa

While many may have concluded that Nasarawa State is for Buhari, a political analyst who pleaded anonymity in an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH in Lafia, said: “The only thing that might affect the chances of the presidential candidate of Buhari, in the state is the inability of his party to handle the recent crisis that engulfed it in some part of the state in recent times.”

Though controlled by the APC, Jonathan won by 408,997 votes in 2011. The PDP has also suffered major cracks in the state that might affect its chances on March 28.

Niger

The presence of two former Heads of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar who are reportedly opposed to a Buhari government will make the state a tough one for APC to conquer. It is controlled by the PDP even though it is on record that President Jonathan has never won outrightly there. Also, Governor Babangida Aliyu who wants to run for President in 2019 sees this election as a litmus test. However, Buhari won Niger in 2011 and this is significant.

Ogun

In Ogun, the ruling APC has engaged in robust campaigns across the 20 local government areas and the 236 wards. And the campaign has always been led by the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

The APC presidential candidate, Buhari, has more following than the governor, though. The emergence of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as APC vice-presidential candidate, who is from the state has been termed a ‘technical knockout.’

The three-day warning strike by the civil servants under the Joint National Negotiating Council, has affected the rating of the governor.

However, Buhari’s touted aura, integrity and upright lifestyle are working for him in the state. The artisans, taxi drivers, and many market women are rooting for him.

With this going on, the PDP is struggling to patch up the cleavages created by the power blocs in the party. There is the Buruji Kashamu camp working in tandem with the Adebayo Dayo-led state executive of the PDP; the former Speaker Dimeji Bankole’s camp and another power bloc, Jubri Martins-Kuye.

These political cleavages had really polarised the party, and slowed down its wheel of progress.

Ondo

Before the rescheduling of the election, there were obvious signs that Jonathan might lose the polls.

Jonathan, at his campaign rally, faced with the obvious facts of PDP’s house in disarray, raised the alarm, warning that the raging conflict could cost the party the much needed victory at the polls.

When he visited the state, Buhari’s change message was brief to Ondo citizens who thronged the Democracy Park and waited patiently for his arrival. Buhari’s following remains unprecedented in the history of the state since he started his quest for Aso Rock in 2003. The whirl of supporters sent jitters down the spine of the PDP, an ally of the Labour Party. But, time, seems to be turning things around for the PDP, with an additional six weeks, the party has taken the campaign to a new level, going great lengths to weigh down the opposition. Hence, Buhari and Jonathan may be in a neck-and-neck race.

Osun

The presidential election in Osun State is a straight fight between President Jonathan and Buhari but Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s stake in the poll is probably higher than that of other state governors especially in the South-West.

However, the PDP is coming up stronger with the earlier postponement of the polls and declining popularity of the APC among the civil servants and lecturers of the state due to the non-payment of their five months salaries and issues with non-remittance of their pension deductions.

The visit of Jonathan to some monarchs in the state has been described as a good strategy to sway more people’s support to his side during the presidential poll.

But, most of the notable politicians in the state are in the APC and this makes Buhari’s job very easy among voters.

Oyo

With two weeks to the former date of the presidential election, the Buhari presidential campaign train hit Ibadan on January 29 with unarguably more than a million people trooping to the venue of the campaign on Mapo Hill.

But with the six weeks extension, Jonathan has succeeded in bringing all the former PDP politicians together under his fold with the help of Governor Olusegun Mimiko. The list includes another former governor in the state, Rashidi Ladoja of the Accord Party, Adebayo Alao-Akala of the labour Party and Seyi Makinde of the Social Democratic Party. They do not have to leave their new parties; all they were asked to do is to support the presidential ambition of President Jonathan while they can afterwards pursue their individual political ambitions.

It is important to note that Buhari may not poll the huge votes that he would have recorded if the election had been held on February 14, 2015.

Plateau

In Plateau, though the majority of the people may want to loathe the PDP candidate, President Jonathan, they are not for his APC counterpart, Buhari, either.

The reasons may not be farfetched. Plateau has been a traditional PDP state and the people have voted overwhelmingly for the party in the 2011 presidential elections. Indeed, the PDP garnered over one million votes from Plateau then. But the reality is not so today as the party could well be struggling to get the required 25 per cent. Governor Jonah Jang, who is the leader of a faction of the PDP Govenors’ Forum, has the task of delivering the state to Jonathan. Hence, it is not clear if Buhari can pull off any magic.

Rivers

It is a tough call between Jonathan and Buhari in Rivers State as both are popular and they will likely share the votes. Any of them who wins in the state will not do so with a wide margin. Analysts have, however, given it to President Jonathan though it will not be in a landslide like in 2011 when he got about two million votes. This is because the APC has gained a lot of ground in the state.

President Jonathan may win in Rivers as a result of the sentiment that the PDP presidential candidate is from the Niger Delta. Voting along ethnic and religious lines will be pronounced in the state during the presidential poll. The Patience Jonathan factor cannot be ignored. She and Governor Amaechi, who also has a large following, have drawn the battle line and many cannot wait to see the result. The popularity of the PDP governorship candidate, Nyesom Wike, will also be tested.

Sokoto

The seat of the caliphate as it chooses to be called is unmistakably one of the strongholds of the APC in the forthcoming presidential elections. The state started off under the control of the now defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party. So strong was its influence that the PDP had to ask its then flag bearer, Murktari Shagari, to hand his ticket over to Aliyu Wammako who was then candidate of the ANPP to stand for the 2007 elections.

During the PDP primaries of 2011, party delegates from the state voted massively for Atiku Abubakar, when he failed to get the ticket, they cast their votes for Buhari who stood on the platform of little known Congress for Progressives Change. The fact that the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) hails from the state is unlikely to change anything.

The APC governorship candidate, Aminu Tambuwal, who is also the Speaker of the House of Representatives has a huge following in the state.

It’s Buhari.

Taraba

Predominantly Christian, this is another state where it’s tough to predict who will win. The christian factor will be working for Jonathan. However, the northern factor is working for Buhari as northerners feel that they must not fail to seize this opportunity to elect their own. Jonathan won here in 2011. However, PDP is not as strong as it used to be in the state.

Yobe

This is one of the few states that have never fallen into the hands of the ruling party at the centre since 1999. Just like Borno, Yobe has remained the stronghold of opposition politics at all levels.

During his tenure as the military governor of the state state before he was moved to the Ministry of Petroleum in 1976, Buhari built bridges beyond his native Katsina State and perhaps that is his greatest strength today. The people of Yobe State have continuously queued behind him and no matter the strength of his opponent, they have never shifted ground. Even when the governor of the state then, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, tagged Buhari a political liability without shelf value, the people of Yobe were proud to be associated with him.

Hence, in Yobe, it is Buhari.

Zamfara

Zamfara, like Yobe and Borno states, has remained one of the few states in northern Nigeria which is the traditional playground of the opposition. This has remained so even when a one-time governor of the state, Mamuda Shinkafi defected from the then ANPP to join the PDP. His decision to dump the ANPP to join the PDP at the centre did not save him from electoral defeat. When it comes to the question of the presidential election, irrespective of party affiliation, the people appear united in their support for Buhari.

-Punch

The All Progressive Congress Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, has secured a crucial victory over his Peoples Democratic Party rival Goodluck Jonathan in Ondo State, according to results of the Saturday polls released early Monday.

Both presidential candidates won in nine local governments each out of the 18 in Ondo state, but Mr. Buhari got the upper hand having garnered 284,982 votes compared to President Jonathan’s 251, 368 votes.

Mr. Buhari was expected to lose in Ondo, a PDP-controlled state, as he did in neighbouring Ekiti where the former military ruler lost in all the local government areas there.

There were predictions of even a tougher outing for Mr. Buhari in Ondo state where the South West co-coordinator for the Goodluck Presidential campaign Gov. Olusegun Mimiko hitherto held sway.

The announcement of the Ondo polling results took place at the INEC Office in Alagbaka, Akure where Professor Olusola Oyewole, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta served as the Chief returning officer.

A breakdown of the results showed that APC won in Akoko North-East, Akoko North- West, Akoko South-East and Akoko South West.

The party also held sway in Akure North, Akure South, Owo, Idanre and Ifedore Local government areas respectively
On the other hand, the strongholds of Gov. Mimiko in Ondo, East, Ondo West, Ose were all delivered to the PDP.

Also Ile, Oluji/Oke Igbo, Okiti Pupa, Irele, Ese Odo, Odigbo and Ilaje were all captured by the PDP.

The total number of eligible voters in Ondo state stood at 1,501, 549 while the total of valid votes casted was 561,056.

-Premium Times

FROM BAMIGBO­LA GBOLAGUNTE, AKURE

Barely 24 hours after the re­lease of the N a t i o n a l Chairman of the So­cial Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae by his abductors, a re­nowned pastor in Ondo State, Japhet Obafemi has been kidnapped.

Obafemi, who is the Pastor in charge of The Apostolic Faith, Ikare Akoko in Akoko North East Local Government Area of the state, was re­portedly kidnapped yes­terday by gunmen.

The 70-year-old Chris­tian cleric was said to have been abducted along Auga-Akunnu road near the Ondo-Kogi states border. It was gath­ered that the abductors of Obafemi had contacted members of his family demanding the payment of N20 million ransom before his release.

A member of Obafemi family, who preferred an­onymity, told our corre­spondent that the family and the church of the ab­ducted pastor could not afford to pay the ransom.

The caretaker chair­man of Akoko North East Local Government Area, Alhaji Azeez Al-amam confirmed the incident.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area, Mr Musliyu Sogbade said efforts were being made to res­cue the septuagenarian priest.

[Sunnews]

-Vanguard

By Dayo Johnson

Akure—A popular musician, Yinka Ayefele, narrowly escaped being lynched weekend at Ijare area of Ondo State as some hoodlums went on rampage and vandalized his vehicles and musical instruments.

Some of his band boys, however, were not as lucky as they were beaten silly when the hoodlums discovered that their leader had escaped from the scene of a party in the town.

They complained that Ayefele got N3 million for the performance and could not drop anything for the local boys in the town.

Reports had it that about 15 persons were wounded as the hoodlums vent their anger on those invited to a burial ceremony held at Odo Oja street in the town.

Ayefele was in the town to perform at the burial of 85-year-old Madam Ebunoluwa Lydia Odumakinde.

He was reportedly smuggled out of the town as the hoodlums went wild due to his refusal to settle them for performing in the town.

Eyewitness account said the hoodlums reportedly sent their leader to Ayefele band leader to ask for the “ boys settlement” but was turned down.

Angered by the feedback from their leader, the hoodlums were said to have mobilised others to the venue of the party as

another person was reportedly sent to the leader of the band who told them that there was no provision for them.

Sensing that the hoodlums were poised for a showdown, t he band leader pleaded with them to exercise patience till the end of the party when their boss would be informed.

Vanguard learned that the hoodlums after the assurance, placed themselves in strategic positions to be able to monitor the movement of the musician.

Eyewitness said the hoodlums became unruly when they were later told that their boss turned down their request.

The big tent under which the party took place, tables and chairs were reportedly damaged, while bottles were recklessly broken by the rampaging hoodlums.

Vanguard gathered that Ayefele was, thereafter, smuggled out of the venue of the party as the hoodlums surged towards where he was staying ( back stage).

Hell was let loose as the hoodlums descended on those who were eating and drinking after enjoying the performance of Ayefele.

Normalcy was later restored after over one hour of disruption of the party by the hoodlums.

Contacted, the new spokesman of the state police command, Femi Joseph, said there was no official report of the incident.

But a police officer at Ijare, told Vanguard that the timely intervention of policemen in the town saved the situation from degenerating into a full blown crisis.