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Ekiti Central Race: NURTW, RTEAN, Okada Riders’ Association Endorse Senator Bamidele for Re-Election

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Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele and Com. Omotayo Joseph Falope, Ekiti State Chairman of the NURTW
Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele and Com. Omotayo Joseph Falope, Ekiti State Chairman of the NURTW
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The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the Motorcycle Riders Association of Ekiti State on Thursday unanimously endorsed the re-election bid of Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele in Ekiti Central Senatorial District.

In a statement issued by Bamidele’s Media Office, the three Unions endorsed the Chairman of the Southern Senators’ Forum in separate meetings held with the groups in Ado-Ekiti ahead of general elections scheduled to hold February 25, 2023.

The leadership of the Unions applauded Senator Bamidele for his support for their unions from time to time and appealed to all their members to vote massively for Senator Bamidele in appreciation of his developmental strides in Ekiti Central Senatorial District.

In his own remarks, the Chairman of RTEAN in Ekiti State, Mr. Adeola Sunday pledged the support of their for Senator Bamidele, Hon. Steve Olusola Fatoba Hon. Ayo Adegbite and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, praying that God will let them succeed in their re-election bid.

In the same vein, Com. Omotayo Joseph Falope, the State Chairman of the NURTW also pleaded with his union members to vote en mass for Sen. Bamidele and other APC candidates in the State.

According to him, “We have seen your efforts and your achievements so far in the last three and half years, we will vote massively for you and our father, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate on election day. Our people will come out massively to vote for All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday, 25th February, 2023.

Equally, the Chairman of the Motorcycle Riders Association in Ekiti State has enjoined the members of his association to re-elect  Senator Bamidele and Hon. Fatoba to enable them bring more dividends of democracy to Ekiti Central Senatorial District from the National Assembly.

In his brief remarks, Senator Bamidele stressed that the National Assembly is a place where seniority matters a lot and his re-election into the National Assembly as a ranking Senator will enhance more opportunities to bring more dividends of democracy to Ekiti State and to influence more developmental strides through the instrumentality of legislation and Constituency Projects. He added that the ranking of a Senator or House of Representatives Member in the National Assembly   usually depends on  the number of years they have spent in the nation’ apex legislative institution

In his words, Bamidele said “I appeal to you to support my re-election  and that of Hon. Fatoba to enable us attract more good things to Ekiti Central Senatorial District. If you re-elect us, we wil attract more developmental projects to the State and we should not to miss this  golden opportunity.”

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NASS Race:  Ajero Releases Royal Blessings As Bamidele Rounds Off Senatorial campaigns

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Yoruba leaders of thought back Asíwájú Tinubu, commend APC over power shift Five days to the Presidential Election, Yoruba Leaders of Thought on Monday formally endorsed the All Progressives Congress Candidate, Asíwájú Bola Tinubu, for the poll, saying he is the most qualified of all the candidates. The leaders, who met with Asiwaju Tinubu at an interactive session at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, also commended the APC, particularly the party’s governors, for embracing power shift to promote unity and belongingness in the country. Speaking at the event, the convener of the group, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, said Asíwájú Tinubu had contributed a lot to this country, promoting democracy, good governance and economic development. Tinubu, who arrived the venue of the interactive session along with his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, thanked the leaders for what he called their labour of love and for waiting patiently for him until he eventually arrived from Abuja. Addressing them in Yoruba, the APC candidate noted that the 2023 presidency was for all of them and other Nigerians, saying “Eyinlokan,” meaning it is your turn. He, however, charged them to reach for their PVCs and ensure they vote in Saturday’s election so they can herald the change envisaged for the country.  In the communique issued at the end of the session, the leaders said: “Yoruba and Southwest leaders made up of Yoruba groups who believe in the oneness of Nigeria based on equity, fairness and justice, a nation where no one is oppressed, held an interactive session with the presidential candidate of the APC Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos on Monday 20th February, 2023. “The meeting commended leaders of the APC for encouraging spirit of belongingness and national unity by honouring the age-long desire of Nigerians for power shift, the principle which led to the overwhelming emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the presidential candidate. “The highly successful interactive session noted the phenomenal successes already recorded by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu both in his pre-political career and in his public life as a politician, administrator and leader. “The meeting concluded that when compared to others in the race for the presidency of Nigeria in 2023, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu stands head and shoulder above the rest. He is the most prepared, the most suitable in terms of competence, character, capacity and the most humane to lead Nigeria to an enviable prosperous status among the comity of nations in the 21st century.  “The meeting commended President Buhari for the achievements he has recorded thus far and for demonstrating that he is a patriot and a man of integrity.  “They, however, called on him to take immediate and radical steps to attenuate the sufferings occasioned by the twin-scarcity of new Naira notes and fuel in the country. “We commend the present and founding fathers of APC for building the party into a formidable vehicle for winning elections. But it must transform from a mere vehicle for attaining electoral victories to an organization that can confidently chart and execute a development path for Nigeria. “In conclusion, Yoruba leaders of thought appealed to Nigerians in general to keep a date with Asiwaju Tinubu on February 25, 2023 to drive the shared prosperity that the Asiwaju presidency is bound to bring to Nigeria.” The communique was signed Prince Olusi and the Secretary of the group, Hon.Adebayo Aina  The session was attended by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu and his Ekiti State counterpart, Biodun Oyebanji, former governors Segun Osoba, Gbenga Daniel and Adegboyega Oyetola, as well as Deputy Governor of Lagos State Femi Hamzat, Dr. Yomi Finnih and prominent traditional rulers across the Southwest. 

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Cross River: APC Grants Gov Otu Automatic Return Ticket For 2027

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Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu
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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River, on Monday, granted Gov. Bassey Otu and his deputy, Peter Odey, an automatic ticket for the 2027 general election.

Speaking at the APC Secretariat in Calabar, the party’s chairman, Alphonsus Eba, urged other party members aspiring for political positions to begin their consultations.

Mr Eba clarified that apart from the governor and his deputy, no other individual had been given an automatic ticket by the party.

He encouraged other aspirants to return to their constituents and seek their support ahead of the elections.

“The State Working Committee and the State Executive Committee of APC met today and resolved that Governor Otu will be the party’s sole candidate in 2027,” he said.

He explained that the decision was based on the principle of continuity, stating, “Nobody changes a winning team. The governor and his deputy will fly the party’s flag in 2027.”

He added that even if Mr Otu was reluctant to run, the party would still present only one ticket with his name, as was done in 2022.

“We appeal to him to listen to the desires of party members and accept the nomination,” Mr Eba stated.

He also praised the deputy governor, currently acting as governor, for supporting President Bola Tinubu’s actions in Rivers.

Mr Eba noted that some individuals had misrepresented the state’s position. He commended the acting governor for clarifying that South-South governors had not consulted him before opposing Mr Tinubu’s decision.

He applauded the president for restoring peace in Rivers and preventing a political crisis.

(NAN)

 

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Tinubu has no hands in SDP – Abimbola, National Legal Adviser

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SDP logo
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As the scheming for political offices in Nigeria for 2027 slowly gathers momentum, especially for the highest office in the land the speculation that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) party is in Tinubu’s pocket has been debunked by the National Legal Adviser of the party, Aderemi Abimbola.

Since the former governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-rufai formally joined the SDP Tuesday, a lot of attention has been drawn to the party and what the shrewd political may be up to in the politics of 2027.

Speaking with Journalists h at the party headquarters in Abuja, the National Legal Adviser said since he joined the party in 2022, he has never seen Tinubu’s hands in it.

Describing El-rufai’s defection to the party as “a blessing”, Mr Abimbola said so many people have been coming even since last year, but maybe because they are not as prominent as El-rufai, that is why people don’t know.

“SDP has been receiving visitors. It’s like every day. In fact, since the beginning of this year, we have received so many from all the states in the north. Before El-rufai came yesterday, the people from APC supporters in Gombe were here. One of them was the DG of even the campaign of the present governor”.

He said the fortune of the party is soaring because “this is the only party you can say without any crisis, no faction. We have our chairman with commitment and he doesn’t take decisions unilaterally anyway. He consults, and people outside here listen to him in the media; they believe in him, too. Many times, some of them come here because they said they have listened to him on television and they believe that this is the party of the future in Nigeria. Nigeria should look up to a party that can salvage the situation for us”.

To buttress his point that Tinubu does not own or control SDP as being speculated, Abimbola said since he joined, he can say categorically that he has not received up to N2 million altogether as salary and as a sitting allowance, which they are entitled to at any sitting because they don’t have it.

“So, if Tinubu is supporting the party, can we be broke? Tinubu was a member of SDP in the 1992-93. Since I joined this party in 2022, I’ve not seen Tinubu’s hand or any of his agents. I know them; I’m from Lagos too. I lived in Lagos for 30 years before coming to Abuja. So there’s no way I can see Tinubu’s ally, and I, you won’t know? None of them has ever been here since I joined”, he said

Speaking on the economic situation in Nigeria today, he said, “How do we find ourselves here? When I was in school, my meal ticket was 10 kobo, 20 kobo. 10 kobo for breakfast, 20 kobo for lunch, 20 kobo for dinner.

This country is still the best. We can still repeat it. It’s a blessed country. If there’s any country that the Bible says is flowing with milk and honey, Nigeria is the only country. Don’t let us deceive ourselves.

According to him, everybody that travels abroad does not have the kind of resources we have. The answer is no. I’ve travelled abroad several times. When I was an undergraduate, how much was the ticket? N250 for students. When I was serving in NYSC, I was travelling with N350 to London. Up to 1985, it was 500 naira to buy a British Airways ticket. All of a sudden, the inflation started and we found ourselves here.

Now, a dollar to a naira exchange rate is N1,500. When this administration came on board, it was below one thousand naira.

People should know that if the present administration had found capable hands like Okonjo-Iweala, we could not have found ourselves this way.

It’s good you have been elected, but you need capable hands to run the administration.

“Obasanjo looked beyond the party to the extent that all the debts incurred by the administration of General Abacha were cleared.

This is a blessed country; nearly all the states in the federation have one mineraresourcees or the other.

The way forward is this: let those powers under the constitution be devolved to the states or the regions to manage.

You will see the difference; the Western region was developed with cocoa money only, and they had the first television station, the first stadium, the first …, you know what I mean? I was a beneficiary of free education in the Western region. Up to the university level, you are not paying tuition. I only paid for accommodation and feeding.

 

 

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How We Lobbied Other Lawmakers To Pass South West Development Commission Bill – Bamidele

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Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele
Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele
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***Says region’s lawmakers provides stability in N’Assembly

***Highlights achievements of S-West APC caucus in N’Assembly

The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele has revealed how federal lawmakers from the South-west states lobbied their colleagues from other geo-political zones to pass the Bill for the establishment of the South West Development Commission (SWDC).

Bamidele, also the Leader of the South-west National Assembly Caucus, disclosed that lawmakers from the South-west APC “have been a formidable force, contributing significantly to the progress and stability of the National Assembly.”

He made these remarks at the 2024 South-west Assembly of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday where he suggested the need to institutionalise the assembly for regular and sustained interaction among stakeholders.

At the regional assembly on Saturday, Bamidele explained how the South-west Caucus worked with federal lawmakers from other geo-political zones to secure majority support for the passage of the South West Development Commission Bill, 2024 at the upper chamber

Specifically, the senate leader highlighted the considerable influence of the South-west Caucus in the 10th National Assembly, pointing out that out of the 18 senators from the ge-political, 15 are from the APC,

This figure, according to him, makes the South-west the largest single bloc of APC Senators in the Senate. This has given us considerable influence, and we have used it effectively for the good of our people.

Bamidele further pointed out that the South-west Caucus in the National Assembly leveraged its considerable influence to ensure the successful passage of the South West Development Commission Bill.

He noted that the push for the establishment of the SWDC was not just a necessity, but a matter of equity, as other regions have similar commissions in place, saying every member of the South West National Assembly, regardless of party affiliation, worked together to ensure this passage of the bill in the Senate.

He said: “We are now awaiting concurrence from the House of Representatives before transmitting it to the President for assent. We recognise that our success is not limited to members of the APC alone. Our colleagues from other political parties have been just as committed to the success of our region.

“This bill, and many others, remind us that when it comes to the development of our people, there is no room for division. We must continue to work together to achieve more,” he explained.

Apart from the passage of the 2024 SWDC Bill, Bamidele revealed that the federal government had approved the dualistion of Ado-Ekiti-Ikere-Akoko road, a 31-kilometre highway that connects Ekiti State to Federal Capital Territory through Ondo, Edo and Kogi States.

He also cited the ongoing construction Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a 700 kilometre project that will run from Victoria Island, Lagos to Calabar, Cross River, which according to him, would unlock limitless opportunities across the economic belt when completed.

The highway, according to him, will pass through Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and terminate in Cross River. The award of contract for the 258-kilometre three-lane carriageway, a component of the 1000-kilometre Sokoto/Badagry Superhighway will be a game changer not just for the South-west, but also for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He, therefore, commended all members of the South West Caucus for their steadfastness during this process, noting that the unity in the rank of the caucus ensured that the geo-political zone did not lose out in the leadership dynamics of the 10th Assembly.

“We have stood firmly with the leadership of the National Assembly, especially when plots were being hatched to bring the leadership to disrepute. We remained united behind the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and his Deputy, Jubrin Barau, even when there were unfounded allegations of budget padding.

“The South West Caucus remains a stabilising force in the Senate. Our zone has also received fair recognition in the leadership of the Senate. I am honoured to serve as the Senate Leader, while in the House of Representatives, we occupy the Chief Whip’s seat and other high-ranking positions.

“This extends to key committee leadership roles, which further amplifies our influence in national decision-making,” the senate leader reeled out the achievements of the caucus with admiration.

He noted that the South West Caucus “has remained committed to President Tinubu’s reform agenda, particularly in the areas of security and economic recovery.

“We gave expeditious attention to the screening of the President’s nominees for various political positions, demonstrating our collective desire for the quick implementation of his transformative policies. We will continue to support his reforms as he steers the country towards prosperity and stability.”

He warned that the South-west Assembly should not be a one-off, recommending the need to institutionalise the platform for regular interaction between APC stakeholders at both the legislative and executive levels.

Such meetings, according to the senate leader, will strengthen our unity and help us align our goals for the good of the region and the country.

He equally commended the cordial relationship between the South-west governors and members of the National Assembly from the South West.

Bamidele said this cooperation “is key to the success of our shared agenda for development. Let us continue to foster this relationship and work together for the greater good.”

He further pledged the continued support of the South West APC Caucus “to President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda. We will work tirelessly to support him and our party at all levels, ensuring that we leave a legacy of growth, peace, and progress in Nigeria.

“Let us remain steadfast and united as we build on the foundation laid by our predecessors and chart a path of continued success for our people and future generations,” Bamidele explained.

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