Uchechi Kanu, wife of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has visited the Biafra agitator in custody of the Department of State Services, DSS.

She disclosed that her visit to Kanu in DSS custody was facilitated by Anambra South Senator, Ifeanyi Ubah.

Mr Kanu had been in the custody of DSS since 2021, after he was renditioned from Kenya.

Before her visit, it was gathered that Mrs Kanu had been repeatedly denied access to her husband.

Addressing IPOB members on radio in the United Kingdom on Sunday, Uchechi commended Ubah for facilitating the visit.

She said: “Let me use this opportunity to thank Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who moved swiftly to facilitate my visit to my husband in DSS custody. I thank you, sir.

“I thank other Igbo politicians, governors, and political office holders who are concerned about the plight of my husband.

A lot of these elites are concerned about the unlawful detention of my husband, and are working silently to secure a round table discussion for his release. I’m thankful to them.”

President Bola Tinubu is set to inaugurate three critical gas infrastructure projects being undertaken by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) and partners.

A statement by presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, on Friday in Abuja, said that this was in line with Mr Tinubu’s commitment to leverage gas to grow the economy.

“The projects support the federal government’s effort to grow value from the nation’s gas assets while eliminating gas flaring.

“The delivery of the projects was accelerated from the inception of the administration in keeping with the overall objective of deepening domestic gas supply as a critical enabler for economic prosperity,’’ he said.

Mr Ngelale said that the projects are AHL Gas Processing Plant 2 (GPP – 2) – 200mmscf/d.

He said that the project was an expansion to the Kwale Gas Processing Plant (GPP – 1), which currently supplies about 130MMscf/d of gas to the domestic market.

He said that the processing plant was designed to process 200MMscf/d of rich gas and deliver lean gas through the OB3 Gas Pipeline.

“This additional gas supply will support further rapid industrialisation of Nigeria. The plant will also produce about 160,000 MTPA of Propane and 100,000 MTPA of Butane, which will reduce the dependency on LPG Imports.

‘’The AHL Gas Plant is being developed by AHL Limited, an incorporated Joint Venture owned by NNPC Limited and SEEPCO.’’

The presidential spokesman said that the second project is the ANOH Gas Processing Plant (AGPC) – 300MMscf/d.

He said that this gas plant was an integrated 300MMscf/d capacity gas processing plant designed to process non-associated gas from the Assa North-Ohaji South field in Imo.

‘’The plant will produce dry gas, condensate, and LPG. The gas from ANOH gas plant will significantly increase domestic gas supply, leading to increased power generation and accelerated industrialisation.

‘’The ANOH Gas Plant is being developed by ANOH Gas Processing Company, an incorporated Joint Venture owned by NNPC Limited and Seplat Energy Plc on a 50-50 basis.’’

According to Mr Ngelale, the third project is the ANOH-OB3 CTMS Gas Pipeline Project.He said that the project involved the engineering, procurement, and construction of 36”x23.3km ANOH-OB3 Project.

‘’The Transmission Gas Pipeline will evacuate dry gas from the Assa North-Ohaji South (ANOH) primary treatment facility (PTF) to OB3 Custody Transfer Metering Station (CTMS) for delivery into the OB3 pipeline system.

‘’About 600MMscf/d is estimated to be available from two separate 2 x 300MMscf/d capacity gas processing production trains from AGPC & SPDC JV.’’

The three new gas projects, when inaugurated, will increase gas supply to the domestic market by approximately 500mmscf/d, creating a better investment climate and promoting balanced economic growth.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has submitted additional proof of evidence against the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

During the court hearing on Friday, Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo requested an adjournment to review the new evidence before continuing the cross-examination of John Ikechukwu Ayoh, the second prosecution witness.

Ojo accused the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, of engaging in “trial by ambush” and not being diligent in their prosecution.

He told the court that he just received the additional proof of evidence from the EFCC.

He said the new proof of evidence was filed on Thursday, saying he needed to study the additional proof of evidence to cross-examine the prosecution witness.

He told the court, “My lord, there is a need to adjourn this case. We were just served these huge documents by the EFCC in court.

“The prosecution keeps dumping documents on us at every sitting. This is trial by ambush.”

Sharing the same sentiment, the counsel to the second defendant, Adeyinka Kotoye, also said he was served the additional proof of evidence five minutes after arriving in court.

In his defence, Oyedepo argued that they provided documents from a former aide to Emefiele in preparation for his testimony, saying it did not affect the ongoing cross-examination.

He added that it was unfair to describe the service of processes by the prosecution as “ambush by trial”.

Oyedepo emphasised that the additional evidence submitted were documents obtained from the phone of a former aide to Emefiele, John Adetona, who is set to testify as a witness.

He also clarified that these documents were provided in advance for Adetona’s future testimony and that he was not scheduled to appear in court on the present or upcoming hearing on May 9.

“The witness (Adetona) whose device the documents were printed from has not given evidence before the court,” Oyedepo said.

“In preparation for his testimony which is not coming up today or May 9, the prosecution rather waiting for the defence to formally demand the hard copies the prosecution team printed the documents out.

“How does that amount to prosecutorial unfairness?”

Oyedepo, however, requested that the court instruct the defence counsels to conclude their cross-examination of the second prosecution witness.

He clarified that the introduction of new documents does not hinder or impact the ongoing cross-examination of this witness.

However, Emefiele’s lawyer disagreed, stating that he needed time to review the new documents as they may contain valuable information for use during cross-examination.

In his ruling, the presiding judge, Rahman Oshodi, agreed with the defendant’s counsel.

Oshodi then adjourned the matter to May 9.

Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, are currently being tried in a Lagos high court on a 26-count charge.

Both the former CBN governor and Omoile pleaded not guilty to all the charges against them.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has again blamed erstwhile President Muhammadu Buhari, his party man, for the unprecedented economic calamity Nigeria and its people are enduring consequent upon the removal of the petrol subsidy and floating of the naira amid several years of unsustainable borrowings by Mr Buhari’s regime.

Despite several prominent figures opposing Mr Buhari’s wayward economic policies and wanton borrowings, he was egged on by many of his acolytes as even former President Olusegun Obasanjo could not prevail on him to change the nation’s economic course heading for the precipice.

More aptly, on Thursday, Mr Shettima admitted that what Mr Buhari left his successor, President Bola Tinubu, was a “death sentence” economic crisis.

From the get-go, Mr Tinubu’s economic steps faltered, plunging citizens of Africa’s most populous nation into historic stagflation and abject poverty.

The president and his team have continued to harp on the message of hope for a better tomorrow while Nigerians seek immediate remedy to the starvation and poverty that assail them, with their purchasing power eroded.

“The year before we took office, Nigeria’s debt service-to-revenue ratio had grown to 111.8%. The anticipated debt crisis may sound like fancy economic jargon to the man on the street, but you and I are in a better position to understand how such miscalculations have played out in other countries. It’s an economic death sentence,” Mr Shettima said.

The Nigerian vice-president made this statement explaining the reasons for the Tinubu-led government’s removal of fuel subsidy while speaking at the 2nd Chronicle Roundtable organised by 21st Century Media Services and held at Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja.

Lamenting Nigeria’s debt crisis under Mr Buhari’s regime, Mr Shettima said, “In plain terms, our debt servicing was such that if you earned, say, N100,000, the entirety of the money wasn’t only paid to your debtor; you were forced to borrow an additional N11,800 to pay the debtor. How do you intend to survive this, and how many more loans before you become a pariah?” Mr Buhari left office last May.

His predecessor, Mr Tinubu, will clock one year in the saddle on May 29 amid a cauldron of chaos of economic and security crises.

“Can we continue to service external debts with 90% of our revenue? It is a path to destruction. It is not sustainable,” said Mr Tinubu last August at the annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association.

“We must make the very difficult changes that are necessary for our country to get up from slumber and be respected among the great nations of the world.

Governor Mai Mala Buni has ordered the Yobe State Geographic Information Service, YOGIS, to register all land vendors operating in the state.

Buni gave the order on Thursday at the official launching ceremony of the new digital process for land administration and management.

He said the move is to reduce the menace of land-grabbing, racketeering and scams in the state.

“To reduce the menace of land-grabbing, racketeering and scams, I hereby direct that all land vendors must be registered for proper record and security before they are allowed to operate,” he ordered.

Buni, similarly, ordered filling stations, hotels, bakeries, water factories, private schools, corner shops and other commercial businesses in the state, to settle their dues.

“I am optimistic that, with the new process, YOGIS will provide seamless, effective and efficient service to its clients,” he said.

YOGIS was established in November 2020 by Executive Order 1.

Governor Buni assented to the law in October 2021 for effective land administration and management in the state.

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has announced a new minimum wage of N40,000 for the state’s workers.

The governor made this announcement during the Workers’ Day celebration at the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

Mr Otu, who said that the new wage implementation aligns with the realities of the time in the state rather than sentiments, revealed that under his administration, the payment of salaries, workers’ wages, and pension entitlements continues to be prioritized as a first-line charge.

“Owing to the peculiarity of Cross River State regarding its lean finances occasioned by low Statutory Federal Allocation and aggravated by the unfavorable State GDP to Debt servicing ratio, the new wage implementation is in line with the realities of the time rather than sentiments,” he said.

For the backlog of gratuity in the state, which dates back to 2014, the governor appealed for patience, saying, “Government is presently on the verge of concluding necessary arrangements for the staggered payment of outstanding gratuity to its retired workers.”

He stressed that the theme for this year’s Workers’ Day is “People First,” and interestingly coincides with my administration’s mantra.

“Accordingly, whatever action aimed at alleviating the suffering of the workers is readily embraced by me. One of such measures is the payment of a living wage to the workforce. May I, therefore, state categorically that the government of Cross River State, under my leadership, is willing and ready to put smiles on the faces of its workers and in line with the season of sweetness which characterizes my administration,” the governor added.

Anambra State workers on Wednesday expressed anger over the absence of the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo at the worker’s day rally.

Soludo was represented at the Alex Ekwueme Square by Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, the state Deputy Governor.

The workers said Soludo stayed away from the function because he was afraid of addressing the long list of needs presented by the NLC and TUC. They insisted he was not a worker friendly governor.

The workers who initially refused to file out for the usual parade which has become synonymous with the rally, said Soludo’s absence was deliberate.

They repeatedly shouted “No” to appeals for them to file out for the parade, insisting that Soludo has never attended workers’ function since he became governor. They eventually grudgingly undertook the parade.

The Deputy Governor who later addressed the protesting workers after several efforts to calm them, assured that their grievances would soon be addressed.

He said: “Governor Soludo as a worker-friendly governor is aware of your plights. You will definitely hear from him soon.”

Earlier, workers in the state had presented a long list of demands. They called on Soludo to suspend the deduction of the contributory pension from their salaries to ensure industrial harmony in the state.

The state Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Humphrey Nwafor, said the workers are worried over what he called improper introduction and implementation of the contributory pension scheme.

He said, “From the beginning of the scheme, monies deducted were rarely remitted to the Pension Fund Administrators (PFA).

“Before the present administration came on board, the state were deducting only the workers part of the contribution even without remitting same to the various PFA’s and refused to pay the government part.

“The organized labour is dissatisfied with the continued deduction even after the reoccurring May Day prayers by organized labour requesting for the suspension of the scheme.

“We call on the governor, who we believe is not only worker friendly but hate injustice with passion, as a matter of urgency, to suspend the deduction of the contributory pension from the workers’ salary so as to ensure industrial harmony in the state.”

Ebonyi State House of Assembly has passed a bill into law for the establishment and regulation of the Correctional Service.

The bill inculcates effective management of offenders, promotion of reformation, rehabilitation, reintegration and public safety.

The passage of the bill took place at the Legislative Complex, Abakaliki after extensive deliberations on the bill by the members.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Moses Odunwa said the bill was in tandem with the Governor Francis Nwifuru’s People’s Charter of Needs manifesto which placed high premium on the welfare and core needs of the people.

He expressed happiness over the unanimous and speedy passage the House members accorded the bill and maintained that offenders who have turned a new leaf in the correctional centre could be rehabilitated to become responsible members of the state.

Earlier, the Leader of the House, Hon. Kingsley Ikoro said the bill provided for the administration of custodial and non-custodial services in the State.

He emphasized that some of the inmates were innocent of the crimes being accused of and expressed the hopes that their proper rehabilitation and integration into the society would aid productive input to the labour market of the state.

Other members who spoke in favour of the speedy passage of the bill include the member representing Ishielu South, Hon. Arinze Lucas Chukwu, the representative of Ivo, Hon. Onyebuchi Ogbadu and his Ezza South State Constituency counterpart, Hon Friday Ogbuewu.

They commended the Governor, Francis Nwifuru for always prioritizing the interest of the people in his agenda.

There was also a motion for the immediate rehabilitation of a portion of entrance road leading to the Chief Judge of State and the Speaker’s quarters.

The motion was moved by Hon. Abiri Godwin Abiri representing Izzi West Constituency and was seconded by Hon. Oluchukwu Ukie Ezeali representing Afikpo North East.

The Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, adjourned till May 15 for the fourth arraignment of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

Emefiele will be arraigned before Justice Maryanne Anenih in a case, marked CR/264/2024, bordering unlawful printing of naira notes.

It is the fourth criminal case filed against him by the Federal Government since his suspension in June last year.

Although the latest charge was listed in Justice Anenih on Tuesday, neither the prosecution nor the defence was in court.

It was learnt that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which is prosecuting the case, had requested an adjournment.

In the charge sheet sighted by our correspondent, the EFCC accused Emefiele of “knowingly disobeying the direction of Section 19 of the CBN Act, 2007, by approving the printing of N375,520,000.00 pieces of colour-swapped N1, 000 notes, at the total cost of N11,052, 068,062 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

It is the fourth criminal case filed against Emefiele by the Federal Government following his removal from office last June by President Bola Tinubu.

The DSS first arraigned him before the Federal High Court in Lagos for illegal possession of firearms. The case was later withdrawn.

He was subsequently arraigned by the EFCC in November before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Territory High Court on charges bordering on procurement fraud and forgery of the signature of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.

Again, on April 8, he was arraigned before the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja.

The 23 counts against him before Justice Rahman Oshodi border on “abuse of office, accepting gratifications, corrupt demand, receiving property fraudulently obtained, and conferring corrupt advantage.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, dismissed two separate suits challenging the emergence of Asue Ighodalo as the winner of the February 22 governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State.

The court ruled that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to file the suit.

The first suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/195/2024, was filed by one Adizetu Umoru, while the second one, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/196/2024, was filed by Moses Alabi and Christopher Oboarer.

Listed as defendants in the suits were the Independent National Electoral Commission; the PDP; its acting National Chairman,Umar Damagum; Setonji Koshoedo; PDP’s National Working Committee, and the party’s National Executive Committee.

All three plaintiffs, in separate motions filed on February 19, sought an interim order of the court restraining the defendants from using the list of ward congresses held on February 4, for the purpose of conducting the PDP’s primary in Edo State, which held on February 22 pending the hearing and determination of the main suit.

Justice Ekwo, in his judgment, held that the plaintiffs failed to convince the court or show sufficient, direct and tangible personal interest that could lead the court to nullify the primary election.

The court maintained that the plaintiffs did not establish how their individual interests were affected or jeopardised by the primary election.

Justice Ekwo stated that the plaintiffs did not establish whether they were eligible to participate in the election but were prevented or whether wrongdoings were displayed during the election.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, has denied allegation of shooting at pro-Yahaya Bello protesters at its headquarters on Monday in Abuja.

Spokesman for the commission, Dele Oyewale said this while responding to a video trending on social media on the allegation of attack by the EFCC operatives on protesters.

Oyewale told NAN that there was no shooting at any protester at the commission on Monday.

He said the operatives only dispersed the protesters who went to the commission’s headquarters to disrupt activities.”

No arrests were made as claimed by the group.

“Two groups demonstrated at the commission today. The first group came with a letter of commendation in support of the EFCC anti-corruption fight.”

They presented their letter, which was received by the Director of Public Enlightenment Department, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, who promised to deliver their message to the chairman.

Not quite long, another group came, these people were violent and destructive, the men of the commission had to chase them away.

“Nobody was arrested and there was no shoot out,” he said.

NAN reports that the pro-Bello protest was staged by the Kogi Youth Coalition.

They claimed they were attacked by operatives of the commission.

The group claimed that the first group of protesters were allowed into the commission but they were denied entry.

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has increased the minimum wage of workers in the state civil service to N70,000, beginning from May 1, 2024.

Obaseki disclosed this on Monday at the commissioning of the Labour House, built for the organized labour in the state.

The house was named after a former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole.

Obaseki said his administration would increase the new minimum wage for the state’s workers from N40,000 to N70,000.

He also promised to increase the monthly salary of workers to over N70,000 if the Federal Government approved new minimum wage for its workers.

According to him, the details of the new minimum wage would be made known to the public during the celebration of this year’s Workers Day on Wednesday, May 1.

A former Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has asked the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to come out of hiding and answer his case with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission.

Mr Ortom stated this on Sunday in Makurdi during a church thanksgiving service organised by his aides to mark his 63rd birthday anniversary.

He urged Mr Bello to come out and defend his administration, adding that his continuous hiding would bring disgrace to former governors across the country.

The ex-Benue State governor also urged his former appointees to always come forward and give account of their stewardship when called upon, saying that they could only run when they had something to hide.

“I want to use this opportunity to advise my younger brother and friend, Governor Yahaya Bello, not to disgrace former governors. You don’t need to hide. You don’t need to resist arrest or anything. Go there and respond. EFCC are human beings. If they are making enquiries, the laws are there. I have tried to get him on the phone, but I could not. I have tried those around him, but I could not do so. I want this to be noted. So wherever he is, if he can hear me, thank God the press are here, he should come out,” Mr Ortom said.

The former governor appreciated the Benue people for their support throughout his eight years tenure and for celebrating him on his birthday.

He said that being at the top for eight years was not an easy task and called on the people to always pray for their leaders.

Mr Ortom urged Benue youths to stop insulting the elders on social media and take advantage of the internet to add value to their lives and bring development to the state.

He said, “Do not insult the leaders or elders on social media. We all must be part of the process to bring peace so that progress, prosperity and development will come. The youth must take advantage of social media to bring development to themselves and to the state.

“The whole world is in your palms, in your tablets and on your phone. Look at the essence of the internet. Now that you cannot go to the farms, go to the website and see what people are doing in order to be part of the world and to add value and bring wealth to yourselves.”

Mr Ortom expressed gratitude to God for his mercies over his life and family saying he left government house a better Christian, adding that he would continue to be and worship in the house of God.

In their remarks, a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, Chairman, Benue Peoples Democratic Party, John Ngbede, Senator Abba Moro among others appreciated Mr Ortom for his dogged fight for the security of the people.

They prayed to God to give him more opportunities to continue to contribute to the peace and development of the state.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has confirmed the receipt of the refund of $760,000 paid as advanced school fees by a former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello for his children at the American International School, Abuja.

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the development to our correspondent in Abuja on Friday.

“The school has refunded the entire $ 760, 000 to the EFCC’s recovery account,” he said.

Earlier, the American International School of Abuja had asked the EFCC to provide “authentic banking details” for the refund of fees paid for the children of the former governor.

Bello allegedly paid $720,000 in advance as fees for five of his children from the coffers of the Kogi State Government.

The children are in Grade Levels 2 to 8 at the school.

On April 17, EFCC operatives laid siege on Bello’s residence in Abuja in an attempt to arrest him over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud.

While the operatives were at the house, Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, arrived at the property and reportedly whisked Bello away.In a letter addressed to the Lagos Zonal Commander of the EFCC, the school said the sum of $845,852 has been paid in tuition “since the 7th of September 2021 to date.”

AISA said the sum to be refunded is $760,910 because it had deducted educational services already rendered.

“Please forward to us an official written request, with the authentic banking details of the EFCC, for the refund of the above-mentioned funds as previously indicated as part of your investigation into the alleged money laundering activities by the Bello family,” the letter reads.

It added, “Since the 7th September 2021 to date, $845,852.84 in tuition and other fees have been deposited into our bank account.

We have calculated the net amount to be transferred and refunded to the State, after deducting the educational services rendered as $760,910.84.

“No further additional fees are expected in respect of tuition as the students’ fees have now been settled until they graduate from ASIA.”

The school said it would draw the attention of the anti-graft agency if there were any further deposits by the Bello family.

In a statement signed by Greg Hughes, AISA also said, “Ali Bello contacted the school on Friday 13 August 2021 requesting to pay the family school fees in advance until the students graduate from High School.”

The Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, had earlier revealed that the former governor transferred $720,000 from the government’s coffers to a bureau de change before leaving office to pay in advance for his child’s school fee.

Olukoyede revealed this during an interview with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said, “A sitting governor, because he knows he is going, moved money directly from government to bureau de change, used it to pay the child’s school fee in advance, $720,000 in advance, in anticipation that he was going to leave the Government House.

“In a poor state like Kogi, and you want me to close my eyes to that under the guise of ‘I’m being used.’ Being used by who at this stage of my life?”

Governor Abdullahi Sule has approved the appointment of Alhaji Aminu Sulaiman as the new Gomo Babye of Gade Chiefdom in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

This appointment, according to a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Barrister Muhammad Ubandoma-Aliyu follows the successful selection exercise conducted on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

According to Ubandoma-Aliyu, the new Gomo Babye succeeds the late Alhaji Aliyu Baba Daudu who died on Monday, 24th July, 2023.

Describing the new traditional head, he said, “Alhaji Aminu Sulaiman, the new Gomo Babye attended the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Lagos State University where he obtained Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Studies and a Masters Degree in Social Works, respectively.

“Until his recent appointment, the new Gomo Babye was a retired Deputy-Controller of Customs (Federal Operations Unit) and loves community and cultural development, long and table tennis.

“He is happily married with children.”

Gomo Babye is a first-class traditional chief in Nasarawa State.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has decided to withdraw its application at the Court of Appeal against the embattled former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

The EFCC said the notice of withdrawal is predicated on the fact that the application filed has been overtaken by the decision of the Kogi State High Court.

This was made known in court application filed on Tuesday at the Court of Appeal Abuja judicial division by J. S. Okutepa, SAN and others on behalf of the Commission.

The commission said the subject of the appeal has been determined by the Kogi High Court Judge, Justice Jamil J. on April 17, 2024.

The EFCC, therefore, told the court that the notice of appeal was filed out of time and now pray that the appeal be struck out for being filed out of time and incompetent.

The EFCC, on Tuesday stepped up its bid to prosecute the ex-Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello for alleged misappropriation of public funds.

Bello has also been declared wanted by the EFCC, and is alleged to have stolen about N80 billion from the Kogi treasury.

The Ondo State government says it will establish entrepreneurial centres in secondary schools to enable students to acquire vocational skills.

The state commissioner for education, science, and technology, Laolu Akindolire, stated this on Monday in Akure after visiting some schools to assess resumption for the third term of the 2023–2024 academic session.

Mr Akindolire said the ministry would collaborate with the Office of the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Entrepreneurship and Innovation on the initiative.

The commissioner said the initiative would equip students with entrepreneurial skills so that they could have a viable career to fall back on in the future.

Mr Akindolire commended the schools visited for having clean environments.

“I am satisfied with what I have seen in the schools I visited. Their compounds are neat, and the student enrollment is very encouraging and satisfying.

“There is hope for our education sector, and we will advance to the next level in the state,” he said.

The commissioner charged the school administrators to be more committed to their duties and show a good example, stressing that the students look up to them.

Also speaking, Okeowo Ogunleye, the principal of Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure, one of the schools inspected, appealed to teachers to be more committed to their work.

He also appealed to parents to support their children and wards in their educational pursuits.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa praised President Bola Tinubu on Monday for enabling an environment for the peaceful conduct of Saturday’s governorship primary.

Mr Aiyedatiwa stated this in his acceptance speech after he emerged as the APC candidate for the November 16 governorship election.

Governor Usman Ododo, the governorship primary election committee chairman, declared Aiyedatiwa the winner on Monday.

Mr Ododo said the incumbent Ondo governor polled 48,569 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Mayowa Akinfolarin, who had 15,343 out of 95,178 valid votes.

Mr Aiyedatiwa also appreciated the party’s national and state working committee for ensuring that the “best candidate emerged” as the party’s standard bearer.

He also commended other contestants for their sportsmanship and urged them to join hands with him to ensure the party’s victory in the November election.

Mr Aiyedatiea said, “Democracy sometimes comes with discordant tunes. This is not the time to hold grudge against one another, but for all of us to come together so as to remain in power.”

Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has clinched the gubernatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Aiyedatiwa’s emergence from the primaries was announced by Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State, who served as the Chairman of the Primary Election Committee.

With Aiyedatiwa scoring the highest votes of 48,569, the result was declared almost 48 hours after the commencement of the exercise on April 20.

The primaries, marked by controversy and tension, saw Aiyedatiwa’s closest contender, Mayowa Akinfolarin, securing the second position with 15,343 votes.

Olusola Oke came third with 14,915 and Jimoh Ibrahim scored 9,456 to occupy the fourth position.