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APC chieftain, Alao congratulates Tinubu, Shettima over Tribunal victory
A gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress APC (APC) in Oyo State in the last election, Engr. Oyedele Hakeem Alao, on Sunday, congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on their resounding victory at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.
Recalled that the 5-man Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) panel headed by Justice Haruna Tsammani, had ruled that various petitions filed by the former vice president and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; a former governor of Anambra State who was also the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) at the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, as well as that of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), lacked merit.
The Tribunal, then in a unanimous decision, upheld the victory of Tinubu in the February 25 presidential election, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Asiwaju of Irokoland in a statement he personally signed and made available by his Media Office, described the verdict of the tribunal as an affirmation of the will of over eight million Nigerians who cast their votes for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, in the February 25 presidential election.
According to him, Nigerians had spoken through the ballots with the party working hard for the victory, noting that the court with the judgment has validated the decision of the citizens who have confidence in President Tinubu and his team to deliver the real dividends of democracy to Nigerians through the ‘Renewed Hope agenda’.
He maintained that the judgment was sound, detailed, and comprehensive, stating that the judges displayed unmatched courage in the discharge of their duties without succumbing to intimidation by the opposition who deployed various antics to sway the judgment in their favour.
He said, “I congratulate the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the leadership of the party at the national level, the state and the teeming members of the party across the country, on this well-deserved victory at the Presidential Election Tribunal Court.
“The unanimous judgment by the Justices
was an affirmation of the trust Nigerians reposed in President Tinubu when they massively voted for him during the presidential election believing that he would take the country to the next level through the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“I sincerely believe that the judgment is a further testament to the fact that the judiciary is the last hope of the people of this great country of ours.”
US car giant Ford on Wednesday announced 4,000 more job cuts in Europe, mostly in Germany and Britain, in the latest blow to the continent’s beleaguered car industry.
“The company has incurred significant losses in recent years,” Ford said in a statement, blaming “the industry shift to electrified vehicles and new competition”.
The move will affect 2,900 jobs in Germany, 800 in the UK and 300 in western Europe by the end of 2027, a Ford spokesman told AFP.
“It is critical to take difficult but decisive action to ensure Ford’s future competitiveness in Europe,” said Dave Johnston, Ford’s European vice-president in the statement.
The company also said it was adjusting the production of its Explorer and Capri models, resulting in reduced hours at its Cologne plant in the first quarter of 2025.
Europe’s car industry has been plunged into crisis by high manufacturing costs, a stuttering switch to electric vehicles and increased competition in key market China.
Germany’s Volkswagen has been among those hardest hit, announcing in September that it was considering the unprecedented move of closing some factories in Germany.
“The European automotive industry is in a very demanding and serious situation,” Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said at the time.
Ford had already announced in February 2023 that it was planning to cut 3,800 jobs in Europe, including 2,300 in Germany and 1,300 in Britain.
The company said then it was planning to reduce the number of models developed for Europe, concentrate on the profitable van segment and speed up the transition to electric vehicles.
Ford currently has around 28,000 employees in Europe with 15,000 in Germany, according to the company’s works council.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, and the removal of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, and Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike.
The council, chaired by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, comprised five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.
A statement released on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the council was dissolved following reports of procedural violations in appointing the vice-chancellor.
According to the statement, the council had allegedly appointed an unqualified candidate, disregarding due process, which triggered tensions between the university’s Senate and the council.
The Federal Government expressed dismay over the council’s actions, emphasizing the need for adherence to the university’s governing laws in decision-making.
“The council’s disregard for established rules necessitated the government’s intervention to restore order to the 33-year-old institution,” the statement noted.
In a related development, President Tinubu also approved the dismissal of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
Salami was accused of suspending the university’s Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures, a move the Federal Ministry of Education had previously directed him to reverse.
Despite the Ministry’s directives, Salami reportedly refused to comply and resorted to issuing threats and abusive remarks towards the Ministry’s officials, including the Permanent Secretary.
The Federal Government reiterated that the primary role of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of academic activities, strictly adhering to the laws establishing each institution.
Tinubu warned university councils against engaging in actions that could destabilize their institutions, as his administration remains committed to enhancing the nation’s education system.
The Ekiti State Government has reached an agreement with labour leaders in the state, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
Addressing journalists at a brief ceremony in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, the Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, announced that the payment would commence immediately.
She lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for prioritizing the welfare of workers despite the state’s limited resources.
“This development demonstrates the governor’s commitment to improving the livelihood of our workers,” Dr. Olomojobi stated, highlighting the proactive measures taken by the administration to ensure prompt implementation.
In their remarks, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Comrade Sola Adigun, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Comrade Olatunde Kolapo, expressed their appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for fulfilling his promises to workers.
They confirmed that the new minimum wage would apply to all cadres, including employees in ministries, parastatals, agencies, and pensioners.
The Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), Comrade Femi Ajoloko, described the implementation as a fair and commendable adjustment.
“This decision reflects the governor’s magnanimity and his dedication to fostering a productive workforce in Ekiti State,” he said.
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