Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola APC governorship candidate in Osun State
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Gboyega Oyetola winner of the Osun State governorship election.
The election held on Saturday was declared inconclusive by INEC, which necessitated a rerun on Thursday.
INEC’s Returning Officer, Professor Joseph Fuwape declared Oyetola winner, having polled majority of votes in the election, to defeat Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Oyetola polled 255,505 votes to defeat Adeleke, who got 255,023 votes.
In the rerun election, the APC polled 1,160 votes won massively in all contested wards and polling units despite outcry of alleged rigging and intimidation of the opposition party, while PDP got a paltry 325 votes.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), has vowed to shut down the Lagos airport and other facilities in the state, following the organisation’s directive to commence a nationwide strike.
The NLC Vice President, Amaechi Asugwuni, who was addressing journalists on Thursday, while aggrieved workers embarked on a protest in the Alausa area of Lagos, said the decision was in compliance with directives of the national leadership of the union.
“From here, we are going round Lagos to ensure that every institution is indeed shut down. Today if the airport is opportune to open today, I am very sure that they will not open tomorrow. Nobody flies in this country,” he said.
The comments come less than 24 hours after the Federal Government held a meeting with the national leadership of the NLC to reach a conclusion over the new minimum wage.
The meeting, however, ended in a deadlock.
Consequently, the NLC directed all its members and affiliate unions to commence the industrial action.
NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, had insisted that there was no going back on the nationwide strike, as the Federal Government had failed to meet their demands.
The VP, Asugwuni maintained that the workers in Lagos State would ensure full compliance with the industrial action.
Lagos NLC
Furthermore, he accused the Federal Government of being insensitive to their needs and denying workers an opportunity to an enhanced wage across the federation.
He said, “The indefinite adjournment of the minimum wage is a ploy to deny Nigerian workers an opportunity to earn an enhanced wage. We will refuse it, we will resist it and we will do everything within our power to ensure that indeed struggle and liberation come by what we are doing.”
The workers are demanding an upward review of the minimum wage from N18,000 to between N50,000 and N65,000.
[dropcap]G[/dropcap]enerally, deities and spirits represent an important aspect of traditional religion in virtually all African societies. Although the names of these deities and spirits, their method and time of worship vary from society to society, their significance and relevance in traditional observances cut across all the cultural contexts of Africa. The names and worship patterns in any given African society are basically dictated by the culture of the given society. the worship of deities and spirits, hierarchy in the cultural context of Ibusa, in Oshimili North Local Government of Delta eState, south-South Nigeria. Ibusa, like any other traditional African society has no classical work or records about her religious practices.
Therefore, the research relied mostly on oral interviews, direct observations, group discussions, and interactive sessions with elders and traditionalists for data collections,analysis and inferences. In adapting this approach, we were able to ascertain the names of these deities and spirits, their individual and collective roles, the hierarchical organization, as well as the worship methods as strictly adhered to by the practitioners.
According to the people of Ibusa, deities are god’s representatives on earth and sacrifices and prayers are offered to God through them.“God is the Supreme Spirit, the Creator of everything… but this Supreme Spirit has made many inferior spirits who are nearer to man and through whom man normally offers his worship to Him.” As regards the spirits,it is believed that they are of many different types populating the universe In all African traditional settings, the people recognize the existence of the Supreme God,called deities and spirits.The worshiping of deities and spirits in Ibusa community has gotten to the climax that even the government cannot protect it citizens against this evil ancient traditional practice.
After years of either speaking from both sides of the mouth or outright refusal to comment, the commissioner of Police , in Delta State of Nigeria has practically admitted the helplessness of the officers of his Command over the deity, Ogwugwu-Uja, a traditional practice in Ibusa of Oshimili North Local Government of Delta State whereby pre-teenage or teenage male children are ‘chosen’ to serve the Chief Priest as heir apparent to the traditional throne and the forceful circumcision of sisters of the Child Chief Priest. Declining to go into specifics, Delta State Police Chief, admitted that failure of the Police Force to protect victims of the traditional practice remains a contradiction and a huge challenge “you may look at this from the perspective of clash of modernity and ancient practice. As Area Command; we have an obligation to cultivate and maintain cordial relationship with the traditional rulers but also protect the human rights of citizens. It is obvious that the law takes precedence over traditional practices and we are therefore obliged to step in when any law is contravened. The challenge is that so far no victim has managed to show evidence of any law being broken”Confronted with the recent and specific cases of master Tobechukwu Jude Nweke ( 11 years) and his 9 year old younger sister Joan Nnamaka Nweke who were sought after for the traditional ritual but their parents, who are known staunch Christians, resisted strongly leading to all manner of torture, the Delta State Police chief declined to comment, saying “the Nigerian Police Force does not comment on individual cases but I can assure you that all matters in the nature that you have described are investigated in collaboration and consultation with the traditional rulers and if anyone is found to have contravened the law, actions will be taken” Asked how many cases his Command has prosecuted since inception or at least under his watch, the DPO declined to provide details. Meanwhile information available to us has it that apart from the notorious Nweke saga, there are over the past 20 years no less than 5 reported incidents, one of which resulting in the death of the 5 year old sister of the child Chief Priest due to complications from the gruesome circumcision she was put through. The child Chief Priest disappeared two years later, unknown today whether he is dead or still alive hence the hunt for a new one.
The Nweke case is said to be complicated by two factors. Firstly the child’s grandfather is a member of the community Traditional Ruling Council and by implication, one of the custodians of the age long practice. He is suspected to have given his tacit approval and suspected to regard the choice of his grandchildren as an honour. Having fallen out with his son, Mr Esogbuzie Nweke, the father of the children in question, he made overtures to the High Priest, Ohene, to soft-pedal on his family but was promptly abducted, extra-communicated from the community for two market weeks but released unharmed and placed under “house watch”. Secondly, Esogbuzie Nweke and his wife Mrs Judith Nweke, are known serious Christian believers. Indeed Mrs Judith Nweke is the President of the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO)in a Lagos archdioceses who had announced in her inaugural speech that she is resolved to confront such practices against children and the girl child. Her husband resisting the abduction of the child Chief Priest led to his torture and release to enable him produce the child for consummation of the traditional ritual. When he absconded and would not produce the child on the appointed date, a delegation was sent to Lagos, their base, to fetch them. The Nweke’s are said to have escaped out of the country, possibly to the United States of America.
All efforts to trace them have so far failed. The grandfather could not be reached for an interview after initially
agreeing to one but would not honour the appointments made.
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]dultery is no longer a crime, India’s Supreme Court ruled Thursday, declaring a colonial-era law that punished the offence with jail time unconstitutional and discriminatory against women. The more than century-old law prescribed that any man who slept with a married woman without her husband’s permission had committed adultery, a crime carrying a five-year prison term in the conservative country.
A petitioner had challenged the court to strike down the law, describing it as arbitrary and discriminatory against women. “Thinking of adultery from a point of view of criminality is a retrograde step,” unanimously declared the five-judge bench of the Supreme Court.
Women could not file a complaint under the archaic law nor be held liable for adultery themselves, making it solely the realm of men. The court said it deprived women of dignity and individual choice and “gives license to the husband to use women as a chattel”.
“It disregards the sexual autonomy which every woman possesses and denies agency to a woman in a matrimonial tie,” said Supreme Court Justice D. Y. Chandrachud.
“She is subjugated to the will of her spouse.” It was the second time this month the court overturned Victorian-era laws governing the sexual choices of India’s 1.25 billion citizens.
Earlier this month, the court struck a ban on gay sex introduced by British rulers in 1861.
The bench argued that Section 377 had become “a weapon for harassment” of homosexuals and “history owes an apology to the members of this community and their families”.
On adultery, government lawyers argued it should remain a crime as it threatens the institution of marriage, and caused harm to children and families. But in its ruling, the court said extramarital affairs — while still a valid ground for divorce — were a private matter between adults.
In 1954, the court upheld adultery as a crime arguing “it is commonly accepted that it is the man who is the seducer, and not the woman”. But in their ruling on Thursday, the judges said this narrative no longer applied, noting also that Britain did away with its own laws penalizing adultery long ago.
“Man being the seducer and women being the victim no longer exits. Equality is the governing principle of a system. Husband is not the master of the wife,” the verdict added.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused the pan-Igbo Socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, of betrayal and sabotage of Igbo interest.
The group said that Ohanaeze has not achieved any tangible thing that has benefited the entire Igbo land rather it allegedly connived with the perceived enemies of the Ndigbo to proscribed and tagged IPOB a terror group while the Fulani herdsmen go about killing innocent citizens.
A statement by the Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful, said alleged that Ohanaeze leadership were working for their pockets and not necessarily for the interest of the people.
Powerful said, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo has left a destructive trail of blood, betrayal and sabotage of wider Igbo interest, to the extent that nobody in Nigeria has regard for the honour and dignity of a once proud race. Only those born with a deep sense of betrayal, Lagos-Abuja domiciled traitors and fellow collaborators will have respect for Ohaneze as presently constituted”.
“To date we are yet to come across one person who can confidently point to one tangible achievement of Ohanaeze Ndigbo that benefited the entire people. The truth is, there is none. They work for their pockets and well-being of their children and relatives and nothing more”.
“That IPOB was perversely tagged a terrorist group in the eyes of the laws of Nigeria, when Fulani terrorist herdsmen are free to roam and kill at will, is the exclusive making of Ohaneze Ndigbo and South East governors. Ohaneze Ndigbo and South East governors consider IPOB a threat to their livelihood and was determined to accept countless cold blooded executions of innocent IPOB members in order to prove to their Fulani masters they are good Nigerians”.
“For those in doubt as to the true motive behind the formation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo by the caliphate must bear in mind that Ohaneze has fought and have continued to fight anybody with the interest of the masses of the east at heart. Ohaneze, in keeping with the template drawn up by the caliphate, once fought Dr. Azikiwe into irrelevance”.
“They reduced him from Zik of Africa to mere Owelle of Onitsha, even when Zik realised the errors of his ways during the war and wanted to industrialise the east in the Second Republic. This same Ohaneze Ndigbo repeatedly conspired against Ojukwu and crowned his humiliation by denying him a seat on Abacha’s constituent assembly” Powerful stated.
Efforts to get to the Public Relations of Ohanaze Ndigbo Mr. John Okuku to speak on the allegations proved abortive as he said that he won’t speak until he gets approval from the President General. But when he was contacted again after some hours he did not pick the phone calls put across to him.
[dropcap]G[/dropcap]overnor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has for the umpteenth time warned parents and guardians to stop carrying out Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting (FGM/C) as it destroys the healthiness of girl children. Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has for the umpteenth time warned parents and guardians to stop carrying out Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting (FGM/C) as it destroys the healthiness of girl children.
This issue of ending FMG/C in Imo state was again re-echoed during the sensitization/training programme organized by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with Ministry of Gender and Social Development with support from UNFPA/UNICEF’s Joint programme on FGM/C Abandonment Accelerating Change, as the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Angela Uwakwem noted that the need to continue to talk about FGM/C cannot be overemphasized.
Dr. Uwakwem furthered that the program has taken place in ten LGAs of Ehime Mbano, Ideato North, Ihitte Uboma, Ikeduru, Ngor Okpala, Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema, Orlu, Owerri Municipal and Owerri West, saying that FGM/C was the partial or total removal of external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons and implored parents and guardians to take advantage of the program.
Speaking on the guidelines and case study on FGM/C, Ugochukwu Anozie of CYDI noted that there are four types of FGM/C according to WHO, type 1, Clitoridectomy which is partial or total removal of clitoris and/or the prepuse, type 2, Excision which is partial or total removal of clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora, type 3, Infibulation which is narrowing of the vaginal orifice with creation of a covering seal by cutting and repositioning the labia minora and/or the labia majora with or without excision of the clitoris and type 4, unclassified which is other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for nonmedical purposes for example pricking, pulling, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterization.
Anozie posited that there is no medical, not even biblical reason for FGM/C as in Genesis 17:10-14 only stated that male children be circumcised, while calling on all and sundry to pull Imo state out of the five states where FGM/C is high in Nigeria, adding that Imo state ranks 68% according to 2013 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey.
In her speech, the FGM/C Desk Officer/Focus Person, Ministry Of Health, Mrs. Tetla Ejionye who spoke on protocol noted that the way and manner health workers attend to patients who are suffering from negative effect of FGM/C, (Ibi Nwanyi Ugwu) especially those suffering from keloid, injury, hemorrhage, genital tissue swelling, painful sexual intercourse, menstrual problems among others also matters. She urged them to kindly and softly attend to patients to enable them open up on their cases for subsequent attention.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Independent National Election Commission, INEC, returning officer in the 2018 Osun State Governorship election, Professor Adeola Joseph Fuwape, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Technology, FUTA, Akure, has declared the election inconclusive. Fuwape said that his decision is based on the nation’s constitution.
According to him, the difference between the two leading parties was a mere 353 votes as compared with the 3498 votes cancelled in some polling units as a result of irregularities.
He then declared that the INEC will announce a rerun of the election on 27th September ,2018.
Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP polled 254698 votes while the All Progressive Congress, APC candidate, Gboyega Oyetola scored 254345. Other major contenders are Senator Iyiola Omisore of Social Democratic Party, SDP, polling 128049, Moshood Adeoti of Action Democratic Party, ADP, polling 49744 and Fatai Akinbiade of ADC polling 7681.
The tension soaked declaration of election results took several hours as some of the results generated controversies and the returning officer had to supervised a recalculation of some of the results.
Prince Eze Madumere, The Deputy Governor of Imo State
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]n Owerri High Court presided over by Justice Benjamin Iheaka on Tuesday nullified the impeachment of Imo Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere. Iheaka, in his verdict, said the seven-man panel set up by the Chief Judge of Imo, Justice Pascal Nnadi, to investigate allegations against Madumere erred in its duty.
He said the panel did not comply with the provisions of Section 185 of the constitution in discharging its duties.The judge also said the panel was constituted only after seven days prescribed by the constitution, making the panel illegal. Iheaka urged the Imo government to immediately reinstate Madumere as deputy governor of the state.
In his reaction, counsel to Madumere, Ken Njemanze (SAN), thanked the judge for what he described as sound ruling. He said the judgment would serve as deterrent to unlawful politicians in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Madumere was impeached in August following indictment by the panel set up by Nnadi.
Madumere, however, challenged the report of the panel at the Imo High Court and urged the judge to nullify his impeachment. The decision of the court had, however, continued to generate reactions in the state.
A notable legal practitioner and human rights activist, Mrs Blessing Iweajunwa, said the decision of the court was well-deserved. She advised politicians to always adhere strictly to court orders whether they were positive or negative. The lawyer also commended the judge for taking a bold step in resolving the case.
Hon.Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu,Member Representing ,Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n Nigeria politics today, it’s rare, if not difficult, to see elected public officials who have decided, through diligence to do things positively different. For many of our politicians, the central narrative of public office is easy to summarise. Very often, it has become hard to see a typical Nigerian politician answer these base line questions: why am I in public office? Is it for public good or for personal aggrandizement?
That’s one of the reasons why many of our elected officials when they leave office, there is nothing to show they impacted in the lives of the people. They squander public trust while in office, they pursued simple, personal things, all with zeal while approaching critical matters of governance, either half-heartedly or completely unattended to.
“The true worth of a man is in the way he treats people who are absolutely in need. If you care about people in need, you are actually making a contribution to the development of the nation. We need to give life back to the people; democracy is important in governance. We need to see how we can use the available resources for everybody; create opportunities for all and care, especially for those who are truly in need. The gap between the rich and the poor should be bridged. Those of us blessed with material resources need to share with others. We must strike a balance with our resources.” This is the Philosophy of our principal, Hon Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu according to “ABUNDANCE TEAM”.
“ABUNDANCE TEAM” has practically described Hon Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu, their principal as a good leader, with the character of humility, passion for service, respect, fairness, accountability and a model others can follow. Hon Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu is a quintessential leader and gentleman. He is the embodiment of cerebral articulation, the essence of unparalleled philanthropy, the epitome of intellection and breathtaking simplicity, the personification of undiluted humanness, the perfect example of leadership symbolism, the paragon of idealism, the soul of humanity, the heart of warrior, and a perfect gentleman.
Chief Hon Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu and his lovely wife Mrs Roseline Idimogu receiving award
Indeed, some leaders are born, some achieve leadership, and some have leadership thrust upon them, while only very few have all three embedded in them. Hon Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu is one of those very few good men; a true philanthropist, an accomplished Politician and a man of valour. In the gallery of great leaders and great men, he is without doubt,a rare masterpiece. Hon Idimogu is elegant and unblemished in the magisterial lithe and athleticism of folkloric Kings and heroes, with unfettered, excellent diction and oratory; his brilliant smile like sparkling sun radiating from crystal clear eyes and he cuts the dapper, debonair figure and personality of the complete man he has truly metamorphosed into for many years.
In this interview with the Grassroots Publishers, ABUNDANCE TEAM” discussed extensively why Hon Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu will be re-elected as honourable member representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly.As a matter of fact, Idimogu is a star, a beautiful bride that should be the selling point of APC government in Lagos State especially when one considers that he is the only Igbo man (though married to firebrand Yoruba woman- Roseline Idimogu) in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Excerpts:
Hon.Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu in a group picture with Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker and other members
What is “ABUNDANCE TEAM” all about?
“ABUNDANCE TEAM” is a name culled from our principal’s nick name, Hon. Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu. The team is made up of people of integrity, men and women of great valour, vibrant youths who have made mark in their various areas of careers. We have Medical Doctor, Lawyers, Entrepreneurs and so many others. We came together to form this team because we believe in our Principal, his ideology, and antecedents.Hon. Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu is a vibrant man who started his political career from the grassroots; who is solidly rooted and grounded and he has successfully served in various capacities.He is a grassroots mobilizer, philanthropist, and a man of integrity.
Pictures of some Hon. Idimogu Constituency Projects
Why the choice of your principal, Hon. Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu?
Hon. Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu is a grassroots politician , A very loyal fellow who has been given several opportunities to serve the people in the past. He has always delivered in any assignment he was given to carry out.This is due to his proactiveness and hard work. So, I must tell you confidently that ABUNDANCE TEAM is already out to make sure that our Principal continues his good work come 2019 for the grassroots to enjoy the dividends of democracy and that is why we are creating the awareness for the good people of Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II to re-elect him as the Lagos State House of Assembly Member because our people still need a vibrant voice and a quality representative.
What can you say are his achievements so far as Honourable member representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II?
I have just focused on him, not necessarily because he is the best in the State or from another planet but because within the last three years of his stewardship, Idimogu was able to define his boundaries, set out his goals, and respond with speed, diligence and clarity of purpose and also the essentials of governance. That is to say that governance is a human enterprise. In this regard, Idimogu has shown unparalled strength that neatly fits into the weakness that his predecessors in Oshodi/Isolo Constituency ll had shown while in the same office.It doesn’t require argument that Hon Idimogu has a good story to tell. It is a story that perhaps surpasses everything else since politicians have been occupying the seat in his constituency.
Idimogu, having won in a keenly contested elections in 2015 without controversy, swung into action to redeem all his campaign promises. Firstly, he organised free and compulsory computer program for the students in his constituency which no fewer than 400 students benefitted from. Seeing the level of poverty among the youths, he empowerd over 20 indigent youths in his constituency. It is really a measure of the pragmatic step that Idimogu’s administration has used to add value to the lives of the downtrodden. In order to tune down the number of unemployed youths, he gave over 30 unemployed youths job in Lagos State.
Recently, the people of Ilamuse Estate were thrown into perennial power outage occasioned by faulty Transformer for over 6months which crippled economic activities of the area, having known the economic importance of electricity, however, he quickly donated a brand new 500KVA Transformer to the community.
Hon. Idimogu
Hon Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu, the Igbo political apex leader in Lagos State had attracted so many roads in his constituency within 3 years of his representation among which are:- 1. Nwachukwu Drive, off palace way, okota, which is under construction now, 2. Olusesi Street, Ifoshi Road, from Iyana-Ejigbo to Oriniowo last bus stop, which has been awarded and the contractor is yet to start work. 3. Egbe/Idimu road (after bridge to Jakande Gate-Both side) 4. Egbe road (from NNPC to Egbe bridge-both side) 5. Coker bus stop/Lafenwa/Moshalashi Street. 6. Peter Agha/Allimi Bada. 7. Pedestrian Bridge at Ladipo/Toyota yet to commence work by the contractor, Baale Shekoni Street, Chivita Avenue is not left out, which is the major cause of gridlock at Canoe/Kudirat Adenikan Street, was also given a facelift. Even some of Idimogu’s most rapid critics agreed that he has given the constituency a massive face-lift in terms of representation.
Hon.Idimogu, it must be said, is a man of high taste. He doesn’t settle for second best. Visit the two Boreholes that he facilitated in Ejigbo and Isolo respectively, you will be forced to give him a “Thumbs up”. Before now, the aforementioned areas where the boreholes are sited were in desperate need of portable water before the intervention of the Honourable. It is his passion even before he was elected to give education a facelift. In the light of this, he bought and distributed Jamb/GCE Forms to students in his constituency to alleviate the burden on the parents. However, Indigent students are not left out in his magnanimity, he gave full scholarship to students at the tertiary level in his constituency and host of others.
In spite of all these achievements, Idimogu has not deviated from his ideology to make his constituency a better place to live, rather he brought confidence back to governance by closing the gap between the elite and the downtrodden.That is why he beats his chest that he is delivering dividends of democracy in every nook and cranny of his constituency. But he needs to make the general public see these ground breaking achievements, at least for the doubting Thomases to access.
Hon. Idimogu inspecting Roads with Hon Shamsudeen Abiodun Olaleye, the Executive chairman of Isolo LCDA
Hon.Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu,has left a landmark which no one can beat for now. When the land crisis in Ilamose resurfaced in 2015, he lives among them, he was everywhere, he was entering houses he shouldn’t have entered, prostrated before people he ought not and stood before a rampaging bulldozer. His personal property was not involved, yet he stood for his people, used diplomacy, court and force when and how it was necessary until normalcy returned. This is what we call effective representation.
Some of the shuttle vehicles we see today from Ajao Estate to Iyana Ejigbo are possible through his Empowerment Scheme, the uncountable number of people under his scholarship, the stomach infrastructure he organises as a matter of monthly routine.He bought and distributed Rice and Ram to Muslim brothers and sisters for them to savour the festival in euphoria.
If you drive past his house every morning, you will see hundreds of people in his gate, definitely some of them will get their problem solved and because he cannot meet everyone’s demand, some will go home disappointed but the disappointed still go home happy because at least they have spoken to a listening ear. They have come close to their representative and have hope.We have seen Hon.Idimogu in action, he is always there for his people ,he has met with various government agencies like LASTMA, LAND USE TRIBUNAL, PHYSICAL PLANNING, KAI etc to personally intervene and got result on issues he was convinced that his constituent was being maltreated. He has visited churches and mosque donating money to help raise building in God’s name.
What makes you think that your Principal will be Re-elected?
Thank you very much. You know our Principal, Hon.Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu is a grassroots man, a political mobilizer and loved by everybody both young and old. We have earlier talked more on his achievements in the past and present.He is one man who does not wait for even a minute to implement his plans to produce positive results for any assignment given to him. If you witnessed all his consultation meetings and campaigns at the local government and wards ,both youths and aged cherished him and they were all calling on him to continue the good work.We therefore state categorically that it will be a great disservice to the good people of Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II if we fail to vote for this grassroots man; pillar of the masses because Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II needs a grassroots representative and a vibrant voice.
distributed Rice and Ram to Muslim brothers and sisters for them to savour the festival in euphoria.
What can you say about other aspirants and what do you have to tell the electorate?
Well, anybody is free to contest for any position of his or her interest. As an action man, our principal is ever ready to go for the contest at primary level and hopefully at the election proper and we also enjoin other aspirants to come on board for the contest and whoever emerges winner at the primary level according to the people’s choice should go ahead with the election proper. The electorate should also not be afraid to support a man who is ready to make a stand with them; who has the interest of the grassroots at heart. I know that other aspirants are afraid of our Principal, Hon.Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu because he is a grassroots man and mobilizer.
Are you assuring our people that Hon.Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu is battle ready to defeat any opponent?
(Laughs) We know what we have; we know our principal’s antecedents. The “ABUNDANCE TEAM Agenda” is not in war with anybody. The upcoming election is just a race not war but we strongly believe that the masses are much awake and exposed now. It is no longer going to be business as usual. The masses will decide.
There is a debate if not Hon. JUDE IDIMOGU, Then Who?
I want to put some words across over the on going debate whether Hon Jude Idimogu member representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly deserve second term or not. politically speaking, there is nothing wrong with such debate, but it loses its taste when germaine issues are reduced or motivated by tribal or ethnic sentiments/reasons.
For many years, it has been the policy of APC even right from their ACN years to give second term ticket to the incumbent that got the job done. In my opinion, the question of whether APC will give him ticket should not arise, instead it should be whether he can win the election proper if given the ticket? That is whether he is saleable or not? This question, we all know the answer. YES!He is a saleable candidate which a progressive party like APC needs. I am not exaggerating, he is on ground. He has worked, at least he is with his constituents 24/7, sun or rain. Unlike what was applicable in the past whereby our representative disappears into Ikeja GRA once elected only to come back to share expired Thai rice and unwholesome vegetable oil to a few when another election draws near.
Chief Hon Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu with beneficiaries of his Scholarship
How ready is your Principal financially as you know that election in Nigeria these days is money?
Well, my Principal is fully ready to finance all his campaign and we want to assure you that the electorate are wiser now. So if any aspirant is thinking or planning of buying the electorate over, he or she is making a mistake because we need a voice and not a concur member and you know that our Principal, Hon.Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu does not fall in that category.
What is your message to the good people of Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II?
People should know that we need proactive continuity at this time and should not be bought over with money as it has always played out in every election period. They should look out for the most popular and grounded candidate who has been giving us voice in the House of Assembly; a man that will always open his gate to the masses and not a representative we cannot reach.
Elder Acho G. Nonyalim, Group Chairman , Junic Group of Companies
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n a move to encourage students in schools in Ibusa, Delta State, a Philanthropist, and an indigene of the Ibusa, Elder Acho Godwin Nonyalim,The Group Chairman of Junic Group of Companies,a Peace Ambassador and founder of the Junic Foundation, has indicated that he has donated 10,000 exercise books,school bags, shoes and other educational materials to primary and secondary school pupils in Ibusa and Oshimili North local government areas of the state.
Speaking to Grassroots Publishers, Elder Acho said his decision was borne out of the desire to ensure that as the schools were resuming for a new session, no child would have any reason to drop out of school.According to him, it had been part of his mission to give hope to the less-privileged students, noting that the writing and reading materials would help develop the pupils as well as assist indigent parents who may not be buoyant enough to purchase necessary books for their wards.
Books and Educational materials for studentsBeneficiaries of Junic Educational MaterialsJunic Foundation distributing Educational materials to students
Junic Foundation, yesterday gave books, school bags, shoes and other educational materials to students in the Isieke High Street, Umuekea, Ibusa in Delta State.Some indigent pupils were also awarded various categories of scholarships by the foundation at a Children Peace Concert to mark the 2018 Children’s Back to School. Over 4000 students drawn from various schools within and outside Ibusa received one form of educational item or the other at the children’s fiesta which was held at the Isieke High Street. Elder Acho Godwin Nonyalim,said the gesture was part of the ‘Peace Education Campaign’and ‘Educational Materials for Every Child Initiatives’ of his organisation.
“This is part of our efforts to empower and unite Nigerian children through charity fiesta, peace education and Children’s back to school celebration. In line with its mandate of advocating peaceful one Nigeria, and of giving hope to every child, Junic Foundation has decided not just to celebrate the Nigerian child today. The comic books and other school items given out are our own way of saying we support the education and joy of the Nigerian child, irrespective of their background; students were drawn from both private and public schools from the Isieke and other quarters of Ibusa to attend the event. The foundation worked with different school authorities to ensure that pupils were made available for the empowerment,especially the less privileged. There is no discrimination,children here came from all quarters of Ibusa”, he said.
“When we make our children understand that they can get help and acceptance from any one and part of Nigeria, then a peaceful and a united nation of our dreams will be guaranteed. Some of the beneficiaries expressed delight, saying the kind gesture extended to them by the foundation was a major inspiration they needed to fulfil their dreams. Miss Ifeoma Okobi, a student of Ibusa Girls Secondary,said: “I am happy to be celebrated and given this educational materials today,and I pray God to bless the foundation.” Also, Master Chigbue Emeka, a pupil of Anioboshi Primary school,Ibusa, who was given notebooks,school bags, shoes and other educational materials,said the foundation had made the Children’s back to school more meaningful to him. Elder Acho G. Nonyalim is a father,the man of the people, gift from God to all students in Ibusa. We will always remember him as our pillar of educational empowerment,a beneficiary said.
Elder Acho G. Nonyalim stated that he is committed to taking out-of-school children back to school and giving scholarships to street children or orphans who cannot continue with their education to further their education, since the initiative began some years ago.He urged the Delta State government to emphasise the importance of reading in public schools, assuring that he would compliment and encourage more public schools to dedicate their time to learning.
He also called on other well-meaning Nigerians to participate in equipping schools with needed materials, adding that his gesture will continue as long as God continues to bless him.
Elder Acho G. Nonyalim also called on individuals, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other corporate bodies to do more in the area of assisting pupils in rural communities, adding that the initiative was established to cater for such poor children by providing them educational materials.
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