- Lauds Kogi governor for working hard to handover to Ododo
- Uzodimma planning to rig Imo election, LP alleges
- Obasanjo praises Diri for sterling performance in Bayelsa
President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, in Abuja, appealed to all candidates participating in the November 11 governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States, as well as the electorate to ensure free and fair elections.
According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the president presented the party flags to Timipre Sylva for Bayelsa State; Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, who is seeking a second term in office, and Ahmed Ododo for Kogi State.
Tinubu said, “All I am pleading for is for free and fair elections. I believe we will do well.”
The President expressed optimism about the party’s chances of victory in the off-season elections, noting the hard work and records of the candidates, as well as the collective efforts of party officials, members of the party’s National Working Committee, and its National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.
He said the collective efforts of the party men were factors inspiring his optimism in the forthcoming elections.
To the Kogi candidate, he said, “I want to thank the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who is working hard to ensure a handover to our candidate, Usman Ododo.
“We are happy to have Hope Uzodimma, the great hope of our party and chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum. Thank you for the good job you are doing,” the President told the Imo candidate.
To the Bayelsa governorship candidate, he stated, “Timipre Sylva, congratulations on what you have achieved as a former governor and former minister.
“We are all facing this crusade for democracy, particularly in this time of elections. It is our hope, and we have Hope Uzodimma as a candidate, that we will always come out victorious.”
The Nigerian leader also thanked the national leadership of the party, the NWC and the chairman whom he described as “hardworking” for their active roles.
“He is doing a good job, and I thank him very much,” Tinubu remarked.
Addressing State House Correspondents after the flag presentation, the APC National Chairman said the court judgments which sacked several governors in the past since 1999 necessitated off-season elections like those held in the three states on November 11.
He commended the President for endorsing the candidates and for taking time out of his busy schedule to present the flags to them.
“Taking you back to the memory lane in 1999 when democracy came back to Nigeria again, there was a general election in which produced the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and…the governors of the states…but later on due to litigation and court processes and judgments, a new dimension was created that resulted into off-season elections.
“We visited the three states (Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi) and inaugurated the campaign councils. Today, Mr. President has given his endorsements and also provided the flags to the three gubernatorial candidates,” he noted.
Uzodimma planning to rig Imo election, LP alleges
However, the leadership of the Labour Party in Imo State has accused the state governor, Hope Uzodimma, of plotting to rig the scheduled November 11 governorship election in the state.
At a press conference in Owerri, the state capital, on Thursday, while condemning the arrest and brutalization of the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, in Owerri, on Wednesday, the state chairman of LP, Calistus Ihejiagwa, said that Uzodimma was clamping down on all opposing voices, including union leaders, journalists and activists.
The LP chairman said that the arrest and brutalization of Ajaero on Wednesday in Owerri was further confirmation that Uzodimma was desperate about his reelection ambition.
He said the plan by the state government to use N5bn to rent all the hotels in Owerri from November 4 and November 11 was the All Progressives Congress’s led administration in the state plot to use thugs to rig the scheduled governorship election in the state on November 11.
The LP demanded the immediate redeployment of the heads of the security agents in the state before the polls, adding that the security chiefs in the state had not hidden their bias for Uzodimma ahead of the election.
He said, “You are not strangers to the atrocious, obnoxious, suppressive and tyrannical occurrences in this Imo State under the current administration of the outgoing Governor Hope Uzodimma.
“You are all also aware of what happened in Owerri yesterday. We wish to unequivocally condemn the Gestapo-like arrest and brutalization of Comrade Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress by thugs allegedly led by state government agents and operatives of the Imo State Police Command.
“Rather than focus on developing sustainable policies, programmes and opportunities that elevate as well as provide a meaningful living to workers and the people, the governor continues to champion discriminatory, divisive, dictatorial and violent policies that depress and dehumanize workers and citizens.
“The latest arrest of Comrade Ajaero calls to mind the destruction at Ikenga Ugochinyere’s home in Akokwa, Ideato North LGA, the abduction of a seasoned journalist, Nonso Nkwa, and several others, including the traditional rulers that have tragically lost their lives in the last three and half years.
“We hereby draw the attention of the security agencies, INEC and federal authorities to this unfortunate development and insist that steps must be taken to ensure that nothing is done to scuttle or compromise this all-important election in Imo State,” LP said.
In reaction, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Communications, Collins Ughalaa, said that the LP in the state was chasing shadows.
He said that the state governor was ready to win the election on November 11, having performed credibly and campaigned in the length and breadth of the state.
.Obasanjo praises Diri for sterling performance in Bayelsa
Also, former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, has praised Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, for his sterling performance saying that the state was making significant strides in all areas of development.
He particularly commended the governor for consolidating the legacies of his predecessor, Seriake Dickson, which he said has contributed to the peace, security and political stability under Diri’s leadership.
Obasanjo stated this on Thursday during the 12th Bayelsa State Thanksgiving Day at the Ecumenical Centre in Igbogene-Yenagoa.
The 86-year-old former president said, “What I saw is more than what I expected. What you have here in Bayelsa that you have to cherish is peace. Comparatively, you have greater peace than other parts of the country.
“You have security. Peace without security is no peace. Security without peace is no security. Here you have security, you have peace and you have stability.
“If what is happening here is replicated in all other states in Nigeria, then we will say we have a good country.”
In his remarks, Governor Diri expressed appreciation to Obasanjo for honouring and identifying with the people and government of the state.
Governor Diri attributed his achievements largely to the support and cooperation of Bayelsans and to divine grace.
According to him, “Bayelsans want peace and development. The former governor laid the foundation upon which we are building and everybody who comes to the state acknowledges the peace and security. So, we cannot go back to the era of violence, impunity and brigandage. The essence of government is to bring peace, development and progress.
“Today, we have added value to the development of Bayelsa. We are embarking on meaningful projects and programmes and we thank God for His grace to do these things.”
He also appreciated leaders of the state, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, noting that he would have attended the event if he had not travelled out of the country.
Also, the Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District and immediate past governor of the state, Seriake Dickson, appreciated Diri for sustaining the legacies of his administration, particularly the road projects, the annual thanksgiving, morning devotion in Government House and the monthly praise night.
Dickson said he was a fulfilled man because he successfully handed over power without rancour and the state is peaceful and on the path of development.
The guest preacher, Pastor Lazarus Muoka of The Lord’s Chosen, Charismatic Revival Movement, delivered a sermon with the theme: “Blessed Are You.”
Pastor Muoka described Bayelsa as a blessed land where God had bestowed mineral resources that were the economic live-wire of the country.
He lauded the government and the people for setting aside a special thanksgiving day to appreciate God for His blessings upon the state.
In another development, Obasanjo inaugurated the second phase of the ongoing Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie senatorial road from Igeibiri to Angiama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
The former president applauded the developmental efforts of Dr. Jonathan, who started the project as well as Senator Dickson for continuing it.
According to him, that is the importance of continuity and if you have a horse that is winning in a race, there is no need to change it in reference to Governor Diri’s second term bid.
Obasanjo described the construction of the senatorial road as a symbol of one of the positives of state creation to address development challenges.
He also flagged off construction of the Angiama-Oporoma-Ukubie section with a spur to Otuan community.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Moses Teibowei, recalled that the 36-kilometer Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie road was awarded by the Jonathan administration in 2006 following the completion of the Ekoli bridge at Swali-Yenagoa.
He explained that the project was re-awarded in December 2012 by Senator Dickson and was inherited by the present administration.
Teibowei further stated that the Igeibiri-Angiama section of the road measures 10.75km with completion of a 40-metre bridge as well as 150-metre bridge at Aguobiri with a 533-metre road single carriageway to Angiama community.
He also said the Igeibiri-Angiama section was awarded in 2021 and completed in 2023 with the sum of N23.656 billion, which had been fully paid.
