Metro
Oyo 2019: Why Senator Buhari is The Preferred Choice || By. Abdulwahab Adegoke
THE scramble for the number one man in Oyo state has started and a lot of contenders are throwing their hats into the ring for the contest. Though many are yet to declare their intention but already there are about 30 people in the race from the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), while PDP and other parties too have numbers of aspirants .
In a time like this, both pretenders and serious contenders will be moving round to convince people , pasting posters and seeking for people’s support, but one thing that is certain is that only one person will emerge and I wish the next governor is Distinguished Senator Abdulfatai Omotayo Buhari
My choice of Fatai Buhari as a preferred candidate and the most competent man to succeed Ajimobi is buoyed by the fact that he has demonstrated his genuine passion in serving the people. He has been tested and trusted and it won’t be out of place to entrust him with the number one position in the state because he will do well.
Apart from adequate representation and contributions on the floor of the house as a member of the the National Assembly, Buhari while at the lower chamber of the National Assembly set an unprecedented record of achievements in Nigeria politics through some of his activities which include: donation of cars for commercial purposes to 47 members of his constituency and organizations, payment of WAEC for students in all secondary schools in Ogbomoso South and Oriire Federal constituency, provision of loan facilities for petty traders and business women, donation of educational supports for students and Bursary award to students in tertiary institution, secure Federal Job for many members of his constituency and many others.
His tenure at the ministry of Water Resources where he served as Special Adviser to the Governor and Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy matter where he served as a commissioner also witnessed some level of improvement. As a commissioner, he ensure that payment of primary school teacher’s salary did not exceed 26th of every month, he made it possible by arranging with banks to release the fund for payment of salary as and when due and retrieve it as soon as the allocation from the Federal Government is released for the state. Many council chairmen, politicians and even technocrats will not forget his contribution to their success stories through prompt response to their demands and support for their council .
Fatai Buhari score card at the Senate in the last three years is another fantastic attestation to his credibility as a politicians who is passionate about his people and the growth of Nigeria at large. He is one of the 10 Senators with the highest numbers of motions and bills, his intellectual contributions to issues at the plenary are always apt and given adequate consideration. For instance, the motion on public debate for president, and governors will go a long way in reshaping the political development of Nigeria.
Another significant bill which is ongoing is that of Establishment of University of Agricultural Technology in Oke Ogun. The bill if sail through will hasten the development of the region and make Oyo state another food basket of the nation. He is also working on making Ikere Gorge dam to function to his capacity, rehabilitation of Oyo-Iseyin road, Okeho- Iseyin road and many others.
His two major empowerment programs are not only the best in term of numbers of items distributed but they were empowerment programs with the largest number of beneficiaries in the history of Nigeria. No fewer than 2,000 people benefited at each program; this asides the one he has been doing without making noise.
For instance , in November, the lawmaker paid WAEC Fees of about 6,000 pupils of secondary schools in his constituency, and also donated mini bus for Federation of Oyo State Student Union and built ICT centres in schools across the 13 local governments in Ogbomoso and Oke Ogun. He has facilitated trainings, skill acquisitions and financed over 3,000 artisans and school leavers and job seekers.
The lawmaker is humble and highly principled, he doesn’t underrates anybody. He is a man loved by the people and his humility and kindness was attested to by many traditional rulers, civil servants and many others. Governor Abiola Ajimobi, last month in Iseyin during the empowerment program held at NYSC camp said, “since I have been meeting people as a governor, I have never seen a humble man like Fatai Buhari, he is humble and hardworking”. The governor said further “it will not be out of place to say Senator Buhari is the best Senator Oyo state ever produced, I was once a senator too and I never did something like this while at the Senate “.
Ajimobi’s statement is an automatic endorsement for Senator Buhari gubernatorial ambition, APC chairman, Chief Akin Oke and other stakeholders who spoke at the program also joined Ajimobi in eulogizing and commending the efforts of Senator Buhari in alleviating the suffering of the masses and contributing to the development of the state, all these statements testify to the claim that the Ogbomoso born Senator is a competent person who will not betray the confidence reposed in him by the electorate .
During his visit to the APC secretariat in November 2017 to declare his intention, he was commended by the party echelon for his support for the party.
“Apart from his regular donations for the party he is also responsive to any request from us . It shows he is a party man and the party is enjoying him and I believe will enjoy him better if given the opportunity to serve in a higher position”, said one of the party chiefs in his comment .
Apart from his wealth of experience and entrepreneur background, the Senator is highly connected at the National level and he has a blueprint for the development of Oyo state. Part of his agenda include: qualitative education, good health care delivery, infrastructural development, youth empowerment, job creations, and many others.
I want to concluded by urging the people of Oyo state to always consider Senator Buhari as the next governor of the state/ He is a selfless leader, a defender of the masses who has demonstrated his genuine intention to move the state forward and an highly connected politician who will use his contacts and links both within and outside Nigeria to develop human capacity, hasten infrastructural development and promote unity and progress in Oyo state .
Abdulwahab Adegoke, writes from Saki, Oyo State.
Metro
Zenith Bank Customers Fume Over Disruptions in Online Services
Customers of Zenith Bank have taken to social media to voice their frustration over difficulties encountered during online banking transactions.
Reports emerged on Tuesday of challenges related to payments and various features, leading to widespread discontent among users on social media platforms like X.
In a statement shared on X on Saturday, Zenith Bank announced that routine maintenance would commence on September 29 and conclude on October 1, running from 12:01 AM to 5:00 AM. The notice, titled ‘Notice of Routine Maintenance,’ stated, “Please be informed that we are currently undertaking routine maintenance of our Information Technology Infrastructure to enable us to significantly improve the quality of service rendered to you.”
However, customers reported that the maintenance did not begin as scheduled, causing considerable inconvenience.
On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, the bank’s Mobile Banking App, USSD Service, Internet Banking, and Corporate Internet Banking platforms remained unavailable for an extended period, specifically between 12:01 AM and 2:30 PM WAT.
One dissatisfied customer, Adetunji Akeem, expressed his frustration, sharing that he was unable to withdraw money for food and transportation to work, which forced him to borrow from colleagues.
“It is frustrating. I haven’t eaten all day because I wasn’t able to withdraw money today. Zenith said they would be undergoing maintenance on Saturday through a pop-up message on the bank app, but they didn’t start until this morning,” he lamented.
Another customer, Adeleye A. P., known on X as #deji4ever, criticised the bank for not scheduling maintenance during the night, especially at the end of the month when many employees are expecting their salaries.
He tweeted, “The worst bank award should be given to Zenith. Why deny customers transfer privileges to other banks on the last day of the month? It’s a bad business strategy to ensure money doesn’t leave its coffers.”
Dave Oriss, tweeting under the handle #orissonline, echoed similar sentiments, adding, “#ZenithBank, you should keep frustrating your customers. Some have emergencies, and you are busy shifting the time for maintenance.”
Metro
Iran Claims to Have Fired 200 Missiles at Israel — State Media Reports
Iran fired 200 missiles, including hypersonic weapons, at Israel in a major escalation of the ongoing conflict, state television reported on Wednesday.
The barrage, which Iran claims targeted military bases near Tel Aviv, came as retaliation for the recent killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah by Israeli forces.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the missile launches, stating that “90 percent” of the projectiles hit their intended targets, which included three military bases.
The footage of the missile strikes was broadcast on Iranian media, showing a significant show of force by Tehran.
The Israeli military countered that 180 missiles had been fired into their territory, with most being intercepted by Israel’s advanced defense systems.
Despite the intercepts, the attack marks the first reported use of hypersonic missiles by Iran against Israel.
Hypersonic missiles, capable of traveling at speeds of up to 15 times the speed of sound, pose a unique threat due to their low-altitude flight path and ability to evade conventional missile defenses.
Iran unveiled this advanced missile technology in June 2023, with then-president Ebrahim Raisi proclaiming it as a cornerstone of Iran’s deterrence capabilities, designed to maintain peace and stability in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded swiftly to the attack, warning that Tehran had made a “big mistake.” He vowed to make Iran “pay” for the strikes, further raising tensions in an already volatile situation.
In Washington, the United States indicated that it was discussing a joint response with Israel.
Meanwhile, Iran’s chief of staff issued a stern warning that Tehran would strike key Israeli infrastructure if Iran’s territory were attacked in retaliation. The region now braces for potential further escalation amid growing fears of a broader conflict.
Metro
Tragedy Strikes as 60 Bodies Recovered in Niger Boat Accident
No fewer than 60 bodies have been recovered following a tragic boat accident in Niger State, officials confirmed.
According to a statement released by Abubakar Dakani, Press Secretary to the Chairman of Mokwa Local Government, the boat was carrying over 300 passengers when it capsised at the notorious Gbajibo River in Mokwa Local Government Area yesterday evening.
Dakani disclosed that the ill-fated boat was en route from Mundi to Gbajibo for the Annual Maulud celebration when the disaster occurred.
The Chairman of Mokwa Local Government, Abdullahi Muregi, acknowledged the recovery of about 60 bodies and confirmed that 10 survivors have been found so far. Rescue operations, involving the State Emergency Management Agency and local volunteers, are ongoing in a bid to recover the missing passengers.
This incident brings painful memories of a similar boat tragedy in September 2023, when a boat carrying over 50 passengers capsized, killing 24 people who were traveling to their farms for harvest.
Authorities have expressed concerns about the recurring boat accidents in the region, calling for urgent measures to improve safety on the waterways.
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