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Udom’s re election, a pyrrhic victory, says Akpabio

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart and Senator representing Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district , Godswill Akpabio, has described Governor Udom Emmanuel’s victory in Saturday’s governorship polls as a ‘purchased victory which must be reclaimed’.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and re -elected governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel , was on Sunday , declared the winner with a total 519 , 712 votes to defeat his APC candidate , Nsima Ekere who came behind with 171 , 978 votes .

But speaking with journalists on the outcome of the elections in Uyo , Akwa Ibom State on Tuesday,  Akapbio said it was too early for Governor Emmanuel to celebrate his victory, adding that the APC would exploit appropriate legal means to retrieve it .

He claimed that the results collated from the fields were different from the ones declared by the returning officers of the various local government areas of the state, adding that APC won the elections at the polling units but lost at the INEC offices.

“I was shocked when I saw the figures being brandished on the television .

“I wondered if they were the same results we got on the field that they were announcing on the television channels . This shows that Nigeria is in trouble .

“ I want to state categorically that those claiming victory , or those regarded as victors in the last election in Akwa Ibom State on the 9 th of March should regard it as purchased victory . It was money at work . The people’s hopes were dashed.

“So , I want to tell Udom Emmanuel and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that it is too early to celebrate now . We will use appropriate legal means to reclaim that mandate”, Akpabio reiterated.

Akpabio alleged that his local government, which reportedly gave the APC governorship candidate 74 , 000 votes at the local government collation centres, was reduced to only 60 , 000 in INEC office.

He accused INEC of employing PDP members as collation officers, stressing that 99 % of the collation officers , especially , those sent to his local government area , were card – carrying PDP members.

“My prayer is that this is not what would befall Nigeria ; otherwise , democracy is in peril”.

Reacting , Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner , Mr . Mike Igini , described the election as “ free , fair and credible”.

He said , “ When we returned to Akwa Ibom one year , six months and 10 days ago , we promised that we were going to deliver integrity – driven electoral process and that all old things must past away

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From ‘Books to Shops’: Oyo APC Slams Makinde Over ‘Shameful’ Library Conversion

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has criticized the alleged forceful conversion of public reading and learning facilities in Dugbe, Ibadan, into shopping malls and lock-up shops by the state government, describing the development as shameful, ill-conceived, and unacceptable.

 

In a statement released over the weekend by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the APC also raised concerns about the alleged sale of the modern motor park facility at Wema Area on New Ife Road, Ibadan, built during the administration of the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

 

According to the party, the motor park has been sold to a pastor who presides over a popular church near the facility.

 

Residents of Ibadan, the state capital, were reportedly stunned when they noticed the sudden erection of massive private business complexes within the premises of the Oyo State Library Board.

 

The facilities, built by the defunct Western Region government, had served as public libraries and archives for decades, benefitting students, researchers, and tourists until recently.

 

“It is a sad reality that the buildings which used to serve as public libraries and archives in Dugbe axis of Ibadan have now paved the way for the development of commercial and business structures,” Sadare said.

 

“The implication is that education and research development have been relegated to the background in the state by an administration that has done little to address the poor reading culture among young students.”

 

The APC expressed alarm over what it termed the erosion of public heritage under Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, alleging that public properties are being sold or leased to private individuals and groups under questionable circumstances.

 

“How can a government wake up one day and convert public reading facilities and archives into lock-up shops in the name of making money, thereby subjecting society to the dangers of illiteracy and ignorance?” the statement queried.

 

The party also cited other instances of alleged mismanagement of public assets, including the concession of OYSADEP Guest House in Saki and Agbowo Shopping Complex in Ibadan, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to the state’s socio-economic development.

 

“Sad enough, the ignoble activities of the governor and a few other characters around him as they involve mismanagement of land and other resources belonging to the state have paved the way for a surge in land grabbing cases in most parts of the state capital. There are many cases involving appointees of the governor, PDP lawmakers, local government officials, and party chieftains,” the statement added.

 

The APC called on well-meaning individuals and stakeholders in the state to demand accountability from the Makinde administration and halt what it described as the systematic erosion of public resources and heritage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Relief as Rep ‘Lafi’ Empowers 300 Constituents Through Skill Acquisition Programme

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Over 300 constituents of Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency in Oyo State benefitted from a skill acquisition and empowerment programme organized by their representative in the National Assembly, Hon. Akinmoyede Olafisoye.

The event, held at Faith Joe Event Centre, Alegongo, Akobo, Ibadan, aimed to address the challenges of unemployment and economic hardship by equipping participants with practical skills and financial support.

The programme focused on empowering youths, students, and unemployed graduates to become self-reliant. Each participant was provided with a certificate, a Point of Sale (POS) terminal, an umbrella, and ₦100,000 as a startup grant to kickstart their businesses.

The tools and financial aid were designed to enable beneficiaries to establish sustainable sources of income.

Participants received comprehensive training, gaining hands-on experience to ensure they could effectively utilize the tools provided. The POS machines were configured with the personal details of the recipients, ensuring proper use and discouraging unauthorized transfers.

Addressing the participants, Akinmoyede who is the Chairman House Committee on Nigeria/ Mexico Parliamentary Friendship enjoined the beneficiaries to explore the opportunity for their benefit by ensuring that they use the machines for the purpose it was meant for.

He added that all the machines have been configured with the documents of individual beneficiaries which will make it very difficult to transfer to another person.

In his goodwill message, the Oyo Central Senatorial chairman of APC, Hon. Joshua Oyebamiji said comparing what the lawmaker has been doing in the area of dishing out empowerment and palliatives to his constituents, it is difficult to tag him a first-timer at the national assembly.

While appreciating Akinmoyede for his gesture at the event, former APC Deputy State Chairman, Alhaji Isiaka Alimi, Hon. Fatai Awoyoola, and Hon. Akinbode Emmanuel said they were yet to discover the magic wand being used by the lawmaker for his constant and habitual empowerment programmes.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke at the end of the training, Afolabi Kuburat, Akinropo Akindotun, Ajala Abisade Iyabo, and Grace Anuoluwapo Ayinde lauded the lawmaker for giving them the opportunity to be self-reliant at this time when Nigerians are facing economic hardship.

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Oyo: Olafisoye Facilitates Capacity-Building Training for 300 Constituents

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The House of Representatives member representing Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency Oyo State, Hon. Prince Akinmoyede Olafisoye Wasiu has initiated another skill acquisition and capacity-building training for no fewer than 300 members of his constituency.

The initiative which is being organized in partnership with Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan is part of a strategic effort by the lawmaker to foster rural development of cooperative for their economic emancipation and break the shackles of poverty so as to alleviate the impact of the high cost of living among the people in Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency he represents.

The training programme is coming up on Monday 18th November, 2024 at Faith Joe Event Centre hall. Alegongo, Ibadan by 8.00am.

A statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the lawmaker, Alimi Abdullahi stated that the capacity-building is designed to equip participants with essential entrepreneurial skills with a view to building sustainable livelihoods and improve the quality of lives of the people of Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency.

All the participants for the training are expected to be at the venue by 8am so as not to miss any part of the training.

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