DAILY DIGEST

By Bisade Ojoye

Nigeria and Portugal have expressed determination to take relations to a whole new level with concrete deliverables, emphasizing the need for stronger ties 46 years after the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Buhari in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity, Garba Shehu said that in spite of the existing cordial relations between the two countries, there was the need for greater collaboration.

According to the President, ten agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) were signed during his State visit to the European country.

These include: “The Establishment of an Atlantic Research Centre; Air travel; Political Consultations; Diplomatic Training; Cultural Cooperation; Investment Promotion; Chambers of Commerce Cooperation; Women and Child Development; Youth and Sports Development and Digital Economy Cooperation.

‘‘The world is at a crossroads. The decisions we take as leaders could make or break the world as we know it.

‘‘We face existential challenges with climate change, food insecurity, conflict, health, and energy among others.

‘‘We look to Portugal as an influential country and partner to play an important role in helping to pull the world back from the brink.’’

The President thanked the Portuguese leader for the role his government played during his tenure as President of the European Union, in securing EU and International Monetary Union financial support for Africa.

Highlighting that this year marks the 46th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Nigerian leader said: ‘‘We are delighted that we can count Portugal as a valued and reliable friend and partner.

‘‘We share the same democratic values and look to increase and broaden cooperation in various fields at the bilateral and multilateral levels.’’

The President added that there would be a Nigeria-Portugal Business and Investment Forum with the participation of over 80 representatives from Nigerian public and private sector companies, agencies and organizations.

By Olufemilade Oyinade

Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun has inaugurated a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to undertake a comprehensive review, analysis, and investigation of land allocation, documentation and general land dealings in the State for the past eleven years.

A statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin in Abeokuta on Thursday said the inauguration of the 8-member Commission was done on Wednesday evening.

According to the statement the Commission head by Justice S.A Olugbemi (Rtd), Chairman has three months, in the first instance; to carry out its assignment.

The other members of the Commission are a lagal practitioner, Adetunji Onabowo; a former Commissioner of Police, CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun; the Chairman, Ethics Committee, Nigerian Institution of Surveyors

By Olufemilade Oyinade

The former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose and a member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that the next president of Nigeria must come from the South.

Fayose, who contested in the PDP presidential primary but lost to Alhaji Abubakar Atiku made this known in a series of tweets on Wednesday.

PDP has fielded a Northerner, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential flagbearer, the ex-governor argued that the PDP constitution supported the idea of rotational presidency.

“The PDP Constitution provides for a rotational Presidency. Section 3(c) provides that the Party shall pursue its aims & objectives by “adhering to the policy of the rotation & zoning of Party & Public elective offices in pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness,” he wrote.

Fayose also threw his weight behind the calls for a Southerner to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, saying in Yoruba “awa South lo kan” which means “it is the turn of the South”.

“The current President of Nigeria is a 2-term Northern Presidency, thus implying that it MUST be a Southern Presidency in 2023 or NOTHING. Awa ‘South’ lo kan’. Nigerians should await details soon,” he said.

It is believed that, with Fayose’s statement that he would be backing the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

By Olufemilade Oyinade

The leadership of All Progressives Congress, Ogun State has dispelled what it described as rumour the news of compromise with the foot soldiers of the immediate past Governor of the state, senator Ibikunle Amosun.

In a release issued Today and signed by its Publicity handler, the party stated, contrary to the fake news, there was no proposed “agreement for power sharing” with anyone or group by the APC in Ogun State, adding there could not have been any agreement or sharing formula with people or groups that, from all intents, purposes, actions and utterances, were not members of our party.

The release read in part;

The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to a story planted in an online medium, by some so-called loyalists of the immediate past governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, insinuating that an imaginary peace accord between him and Governor Abiodun was proposed.

We want to alert members of the general public, especially members of our dear party, All Progressives Congress (APC), that contrary to the fake news, there was no proposed “agreement for power sharing” with anyone or group by the APC in Ogun State. There could not have been any agreement or sharing formula with people or groups that, from all intents, purposes, actions and utterances; are not members of our party.

It is well known that this set of disloyal politicians not only resigned their membership of the APC in the build up of the 2019 governorship election, which was clearly won by the present Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, their touted return to the APC was mere talk as their actions had consistently shown.

These serial complainants and endemic petitioners are, in their usual character, aim to blackmail the leader of our party and the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, in a desperate attempt to continuously cause confusion and possibly reap from where they did not sow. That is why they have been churning out serial falsehoods.

Confirmed intelligence reports have always pointed to the fact that members of the embattled Amosun group have always been hand-in-gloves with members of the opposition parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It is therefore not unexpected that they want to return to the PDP, which they actually worked for in 2019. It is on record that the Amosun group, after defecting to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in 2019, went ahead and signed an MOU dated 7th March, 2019 with the PDP. It is this expired MOU that the insatiable Amosun group simply wants to renew.

We commend notable former members of the group like the Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Senator Lekan Mustapha; former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Jide Ojuko; former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, and many others who have since seen the light and have returned to the mainstream Ogun APC, pledging their loyalty to Governor Dapo Abiodun.

We urge our members not to be misled or distracted by the antics of these sore losers who are still sulking, three years after losing the March 2019 governorship election. Our focus as a party, is to support our government to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the good people of Ogun State and to win the forthcoming general elections overwhelmingly.

By Olamide Yinusa

Sagamu Youths have reached compromise with Ibadan Electric Distribution Company’s (IBEDC) management after 7 days ultimatum to improve their services in Sagamu and environs or incur the wrought of their anger.

The call, according to a statement issued on Thursday, signed by Comrade Kayode Segun-Okeowo on behalf of Concerned Sagamu Stakeholders had warned them that failure to comply with the demand would result to shutting down of all their offices across Sagamu local Government Area.

The group which recently had Peaceful Protest on three points lingering issues such as; Say no to cult killings in Sagamu, say no to IBEDC extortion/ crazy bills in Sagamu local government and say no to high rate of unemployment in Sagamu and its environs
disclosed that compromised was reached after their present improved services to the Sagamu Local Government Area and promised to meet all the demands forwarded to the management of IBEDC.

Their demand forwarded included:

1. We hereby mandate IBEDC to stop the unlawful imposition of outrageous estimated billing systems on the electricity consumers in Sagamu and it’s environs.
2. IBEDC must ensure and begin a process of supply of free prepaid meters to all electricity consumers in Sagamu.
3. Cancellation of all questionable accumulated debts based on estimated billings prior to the mandated installation of prepaid metres.
4. We say Enough is Enough to IBEDC exploitations and extortions on the good people of Sagamu.
5. We hereby use this medium to send a very strong warning to IBEDC management not to attempt to disregard any of our demands.
6. We demand that IBEDC points to community social responsibility (CSR) if any, being a private enterprise.
7. That IBEDC hasn’t been customer friendly with the people of Sagamu.
8. We say NO LIGHT NO BILL.

The release stated that, having promised to continually keep the entire youths and general public posted as events unfolded on the three pivotal points agenda, below were our resolutions during the Concerned Stakeholders’ meeting with IBEDC management on Sunday, June 26th, 2022.

1. The IBEDC management shall henceforth be customer friendly with the people of Sagamu.
2. That IBEDC shall work on the unlawful imposition of outrageous estimated billing system and ensure that the energy cost on the estimated billing system is drastically reduced to the barest minimum starting from this coming month until the national grid resolve the issue of generating energy.
3. That they shall manage the megawatt given daily to ensure that no area in Sagamu is cheated.
4. On metering, all the people in Sagamu are enjoined to exercise patient till the meters are in available so that all houses can be metered freely. However, anyone who can’t excercise patience could approach or visit IBEDC Office and pay through MAP, and they will refund the money spent on meter back through energy consumption. (i:e, if you purchase energy of 2000, you will get energy of 4000 till all your money is dully refunded.
5. There shall be information dissemination from IBEDC to the general public on any power outage within Sagamu metropolis.
6. That IBEDC exploitations and extortions on the good people of Sagamu in any form shall stop.

Concerned Sagamu Stakeholders said, in view of the above resolution they had suspended the 7-day ultimatum given to IBEDC during the peaceful protest and press conference.

They used this medium to assure the youths and people of Sagamu that they would continually do follow ups on their demands till they were all met and actualized.

By Bisade Ojoye

The Director General of Asiwaju Tinubu Presidential Campaign Organization (ATPCO), Barrister Adebayo Shittu has received the leadership and representatives of National Coalition Group, (NCG) who visited him to register their readiness and determination to support the presidential ambition of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Director General who hosted the youths based political support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential ambition at ATPCO office at David Jemibewon Crescent, Apo Zone E, Abuja on Thursday, 30th June 30, 2022 welcomed their support.

The leader of the delegation who is the BoT Chairman, Mr. Tosin Shoga said their purpose of visiting was show their commitment, readiness and support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s aspiration, highlighting the group’s strength, structure, network and preparedness towards bringing Nigerian youths together for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The visit of the representatives of NCG witnessed technical presentation of political/election monitoring signal device to be used by them to canvass votesfor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential Campaign and election.

The Director General, ATPCO, Barr. Adebayo Shittu expressed appreciation to the group for their readiness to give maximum support to the campaign organization in order to reach out to Nigerian youths through their various youths initiatives, projects and empowerment programs.

Other members of the NGO attendance were; Favour Abayomi, Simbiat Odali, Hyacinth Horvel Turnoe and Alhaji Dr. Bako Mohamed.

Some dignitaries in attendance were; Alhaji Isaiq Ajibola, Fmr. Managing Director, DailyTrust; Dr. Akeem Adetokun, HoD, Banking and Finance Depart, Airforce University, Kaduna; Mallam Adamu Abubakar, Alhaji Yusuff Tahir, Hon. Musa Isiaka and Omo’ba Abiola Ogundeko.

By Bisade Ojoye

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has invited Organised Labour in the State to a meeting on Wednesday to resolve the industrial action embarked upon Tuesday by government workers.
The meeting is expected to discuss all issues contained in the list of grievances raised by the workers for embarking on the indefinite strike action.

A statement in Abeokuta on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Odusile, said the governor is taking personal charge of resolving the grouse of the workers as part of his personal and Administration’s commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of workers in Ogun State, which has been amply demonstrated since the inception of the Administration.

“I am personally committed to ensuring an improved welfare of workers in Ogun State and will do all that is necessary to achieve this”, the statement quoted the governor as saying, adding that: “this is a workers’ friendly Administration and will remain so under my watch”.

“One of the first duties I performed on my first day at work as the Governor on May 30, 2019 was to approve the immediate payment of salaries of our workers, which had not been paid by the immediate past Administration until then. I also made a vow that salaries of workers in the State will be paid on or before the end of each month. And we have been doing that religiously ever since.

“Even in the face of dwindling resources, rising needs and this strike, the salaries are being remitted. I am sure they will start receiving bank credit alerts in the next 24 hours for the month of June. We are one of the few States in the country not owing workers salary and paying as and when due”, the statement quoted the Governor as saying.

It further explained that the whatever issues being raised by the aggrieved workers would be expeditiously addressed: “Most of their complaints were inherited from the previous Administrations, but as a responsive and responsible Government, we are tackling them one after the other, even as we are being hampered by paucity of funds.

“The money accruable to us from the Federation Account and sundry sources have been dwindling for a long time now and this is affecting our ability to meet some of our obligations but even at that we have been prioritising the interests of our workforce”, Governor Abiodun added.

He however assured workers that he would do everything within available means to address issues of concern to the workers, whilst urging them to show understanding with the Government and call off the strike.

By Bisade Ojoye

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has invited Organised Labour in the State to a meeting on Wednesday to resolve the industrial action embarked upon Tuesday by government workers.
The meeting is expected to discuss all issues contained in the list of grievances raised by the workers for embarking on the indefinite strike action.

A statement in Abeokuta on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Odusile, said the governor is taking personal charge of resolving the grouse of the workers as part of his personal and Administration’s commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of workers in Ogun State, which has been amply demonstrated since the inception of the Administration.

“I am personally committed to ensuring an improved welfare of workers in Ogun State and will do all that is necessary to achieve this”, the statement quoted the governor as saying, adding that: “this is a workers’ friendly Administration and will remain so under my watch”.

“One of the first duties I performed on my first day at work as the Governor on May 30, 2019 was to approve the immediate payment of salaries of our workers, which had not been paid by the immediate past Administration until then. I also made a vow that salaries of workers in the State will be paid on or before the end of each month. And we have been doing that religiously ever since.

“Even in the face of dwindling resources, rising needs and this strike, the salaries are being remitted. I am sure they will start receiving bank credit alerts in the next 24 hours for the month of June. We are one of the few States in the country not owing workers salary and paying as and when due”, the statement quoted the Governor as saying.

It further explained that the whatever issues being raised by the aggrieved workers would be expeditiously addressed: “Most of their complaints were inherited from the previous Administrations, but as a responsive and responsible Government, we are tackling them one after the other, even as we are being hampered by paucity of funds.

“The money accruable to us from the Federation Account and sundry sources have been dwindling for a long time now and this is affecting our ability to meet some of our obligations but even at that we have been prioritising the interests of our workforce”, Governor Abiodun added.

He however assured workers that he would do everything within available means to address issues of concern to the workers, whilst urging them to show understanding with the Government and call off the strike.

By Bisade Ojoye

Lord Olukayode Ariwoola was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2011. His Lordship was a Justice of the Court of Appeal between 2005 and 2011 after having been elevated from the State High Court of Oyo State. His Lordship was first appointed a Judge of Superior Court of record in Oyo State in 1992 from private legal practice.

Justice Ariwoola started his educational career in his home town Iseyin at the Local Authority Demonstration School, Oluwole in Iseyin Local government of Oyo State between 1959 and 1967. He was in the Muslim Modern School in the same town between 1968 and 1969 before proceeding to Ansar-Ud-Deen High School, Saki in Oyo North of Oyo State.

His Lordship studied law at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile Ife and bagged Bachelor of Laws degree with honors in July, 1980. In July 1981, Olu Ariwoola was called to the Nigeria bar and got enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Solicitor and Advocate soon thereafter.

His Lordship was a State Counsel on National Youth Service (NYSC) at the Ministry of Justice, Akure, Ondo State and later as Legal Officer in the Ministry of Justice of his home state Oyo State until 1988 when he voluntarily left the official bar of the State Civil Service for private practice. His Lordship worked as Counsel in-Chambers of Chief Ladosu Ladapo, SAN between October, 1988 and July 1989 when he established Olukayode Ariwoola & Co – a firm of legal Practitioners and Consultants in Oyo town in August, 1989 from where he was appointed in November, 1992 as a Judge of Oyo State Judiciary.

Hon. Justice Ariwoola was born to the Ariwoola family of Iseyin over 60 years ago. While His Lordship was born on the 22nd August, he was sworn in as a Judge of the High Court on 2nd November, 1992, as a Justice of the Court of Appeal (JCA) on 22nd November, 2005 and again was sworn in as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (JSC) on 22nd November, 2011.

Justice Ariwoola served as Chairman, Board of Directors, Phonex Motors Ltd – one of Oodua Investment conglomerate between 1988 and 1992. Chairman, Armed Robbery Tribunal, Oyo State between May 1993 and September, 1996 when he was posted out of the headquarters, Ibadan to Saki High Court. His Lordship served on the Election Tribunals in Zamfara and Enugu States in 1999. On Election Appeal Courts in Port-Harcourt, Enugu, Benin, Yola and Ilorin at various times.

Before his elevation to the Supreme Court, his lordship served as Justice of Court of Appeal in Kaduna, Enugu and Lagos Divisions. He is also a fellow of International Dispute Resolution Institute (FIDRI) having been inducted in Dubai, U.A.E in 2014.

His Lordship has attended many International and National conferences and workshops in France, Atlanta Georgia, UK and Dubai, UAE.

Lord Ariwoola is happily married with children and he loves reading, listening to good music, photography and shopping.

By Olamide Yinusa

Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has been sworn in by President Muhammadu Buhari as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The swearing-in of Justice Ariwoola was as a result of the sudden resignation of Justice Ibrahim Tanko on health grounds.

Ariwoola by this appointment becomes the third individual to occupy the top Judiciary job of the country in the life of this administration.

It will be recalled that Justice Walter Onnoghen also served as the CJN in the President Buhari administration before he resigned from office.

The Nigrian President administered the oath of office on Olukayode Ariwoola, accompanied to the ceremony by some Justices of the Supreme Court at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Before the brief ceremony at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Justices that followed were told to conduct Covid-19 test at the Old Banquet Hall

By Our Reporter

Ogun State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Kikelomo Longe has made a renewed call on entrepreneurs in the State to register their businesses on the Business Premises Permit (BPP) portal, businesspermit.gov.ng, as the registration is mutually beneficial to businesses and the government.

Longe made the call during a Stakeholders’ Engagement and Training Programme on Business Premises Permit Automation, in Ijebu-Ode for entrepreneurs in Ogun East Senatorial District of the State.

The Commissioner stated that the BPP registration is in line with the Business Premises Amended Law 2006, adding that registering on the portal would enable the government to gather data and plan better for businesses operating in the State, while information available on the database would be used to reach the registered businesses when there are interventions and programmes.

She said the present administration’s drive to improve the Ease of Doing Business through an automated process, would make the process simpler and more convenient, adding that the registration could be done online within a day instead of an average of 18 days when it was done manually.

“As you know in Ogun State, the law requires that all entrepreneurs should register their business premises and renew the registration annually. Before 2021, it used to be done manually. Now with the portal, it can be done online to the convenience of business operators in the State. I encourage entrepreneurs to go online and register their businesses. It is to the benefit of all if you log on to the portal and process the business premises Permit”, the Commissioner said.

In her presentation, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Industry, Trade and Investment, Ms. Sola Arobieke said the programme was organised to enlighten business operators about the benefits of registering on the portal and get feedback from the stakeholders.

She said the automation would help eliminate any form of extortion of business owners, as well as help entrepreneurs register and renew their BPP in a transparent, fair and convenient manner.

Reacting to a request for the manual process to be continued, Arobieke urged stakeholders to own the automation process and align with global best practices, assuring that the Ministry would provide relevant technical support that would respond to requests in a timely way.

Earlier in their separate goodwill messages, Chairman, Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists, Ogun State chapter, Mrs. Yetunde Doyin-Bello and President, Hotelier Association, Ijebu-Ode, Otunba Segun Timi lauded the State government for the imitative, calling on entrepreneurs to embrace the process.

Participants at the event, Mr. Olasunkanmi Ola-David and Mrs. Ayokunle Oshin described the programme as enlightening and appealed to the government to extend the sensitisation programme to local small-scale businesses that were yet to be reached.

By Sunday James

Incumbent Senate President has lost out as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised Bashir Sherrif Machina as winner of All Progressives Congress primary for Yobe North Senatorial District ahead of the 2023 election.

Our impeccable source said, in the heat of the controversy surrounding who truly won the ticket, Machina stormed INEC’s office in Yobe State to obtain certified true copy of the primary election result which the commission monitored.

In the document, it was stated that Machina scored 289 votes out of the 300 votes cast by the delegates.

The document certified by the electoral office on June 23, 2022, did not mention Ahmad Lawan, the Senate President.

In a twist, the National Chairman of the ruling party, Senator Adamu had declared on a national television that the incumbent Senate President, Lawan participated in the primary, adducing this to why his name was submitted to INEC as the winner of the primary.

Machina has insisted that Lawan who took a shot at the presidential ticket of the APC did not participate in the primary.

Machina who claimed that he had been approached by some people to relinquish the ticket, has also vowed not to relinquish it.