Jimmy Akintunde, 2,000 LP Members Join ACN in Mimiko's HomeTown

By Femi Oladapo

 

A CHIEFTAIN of Labour Party (LP) in Ondo West local government area, Hon Folajimi Akintunde has defected alongside two thousand of his supporters into the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN).

The defection, which took place recently at the ACN secretariat, Yaba, Ondo was witnessed by leaders of the party, from within and outside Ondo state as well as numerous well wishers and friends of the defectors.

Akintunde, popularly known as Jimmy OK and his supporters were officially received into ACN by the party’s leaders from within and outside Ondo state.

Among the leaders of ACN that received the defectors are, The Vice Chairman of the ACN in Ondo Central Senatorial District, Dr Bayo Ademodi, chairman of the party in Ondo West local government area, Hon Ademulegun Adeala, Chief Olorungbotemi Ogundolire, Secretary, ACN, Ondo West local government. Others are Special Adviser to the Osun state governor on Environment and Sanitation, Hon Bola Ilori, ACN Contact and Mobilisation Committee Chairman, Hon Ade  Adetimehin as well as the state Auditor of ACN, Hon Mrs. Lola Fagbemi.

While addressing the defectors, Hon Bola Ilori commended them for taking a decisive action by coming to join ACN, which he described as the only progressive political party in Nigeria.

His words, ““I salute your determination for moving from a sinking rudderless boat of the LP  voyage to Eldorado with a party better known for its pedigree of performance and developmental agenda, here is a haven of peace devoid of deceit”. 

The ACN Contact and Mobilisation Committee Chairman, Hon Ade Adetimehin, also congratulated the new members and advised them to start working for the victory of ACN in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

In a chat with THE PLATFORM, Hon Folajimi Akintude said he decided to leave Labour Party because of the sel-centred policy of the Ondo state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, whom he claimed had failed in all his promises to the people of the state.

He said he could not refuse to join the Action Congress of Nigeria, which, according to him, is the only progressive party in Nigeria.

Ondo State Unemployment Rate Hits 1.2 Million ….as Ekiti, Osun and Oyo States Create 450,000 Jobs within 100 days

By Mike Edet, (with agency reports)

THE NUMBER of unemployed people in Ondo state, over the last three years, has risen to an alarming rate of 1.2 million.

The figure emanated from an independent survey, carried out across the eighteen local government areas of the sunshine state by some assessors that comprise civil society groups, which revealed that the present Ondo state government, under the leadership of Dr Olusegun Mimiko has been paying lip service to employment matters, unlike the ongoing massive job creation initiatives in other states of southwestern part of Nigeria.

It will be recalled that Governor Mimiko, after taking his oath of office as the governor of Ondo State on Tuesday, February 24, 2009, said no resident of the sunshine state will go to bed, hungry again. He promised to tackle unemployment in all the nooks and crannies of the state by creating jobs that will surpass those of previous administrations, within 100 days of his assumption of office.

However, contrary to Mimiko’s promise of job creation, the survey showed that, out of the 3,441,024 million of the official residents of Ondo state, comprising 1,761,263 Males and 1,679,761 Females, 1.2 million are roaming the streets of Ondo state without any source of livelihood, while the incomes of many of those, who have work, are not enough to take care of their basic needs.

The survey also revealed that, In Osun state, over One hundred and fifty thousand, (150,000), jobs were created by Governor Rauf Aregbesola within 100 days that he assumed office, while Governors Kayode Fayemi and Abiola Ajimobi of Ekiti and Oyo states respectively have created over three hundred thousand   (300,000), jobs and are still doing more to encourage massive industrialization of their states in order to engendered job creation, especially for the youths of their states. However, reverse is the case, as far as Ondo state is concerned.

The survey exposed the fact that the present government in Ondo state has not employed up to three hundred (300) people since its inception and it looks as if there is an embargo placed on employment by the ruling Labour Party government.

A source at the governor’s office, Alagbaka, Akure told THE PLATFORM that Dr Olusegun Mimiko has warned all the Caretaker Chairmen in the eighteen local government areas of the state and other governmental departments and agencies that, they must not employ additional staff in other not to increase the monthly overhead cost of the government, and that whoever violate the order would be sanctioned.

The source added that the governor believed that the capital projects being carried out by his administration may be affected if the issue of employment creeps into his programmes.

Efforts by this paper to speak to any of the government spokesmen were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, no fewer than Nine thousand, One hundred and Eighty Six (9,186) elderly citizens in Ekiti State have joined the rank of the beneficiaries of the Social Security Scheme of the Ekiti State Government.

The new beneficiaries have started collecting the N5,000 (Five thousand Naira) monthly stipend which the state government monthly pays existing 10,084 citizens aged sixty-five years and above.

Speaking recently, at the flag-off of payment for the Batch B beneficiaries of the scheme at Ekiti East Local Government area of the State, the State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi said the scheme which was employed by his administration to address adult poverty challenges was already hitting at the target as more elderly citizens who had once thought the programme was a mirage are now subscribing.

“I am happy to note that since the inauguration of the Scheme in October 2011, the accruing benefits have been providing succour to a total of 10,084 indigent elders who have been receiving monthly stipend of N5,000 each. Today, a new set of 9,186 senior citizens is being injected into the scheme bringing the total beneficiaries to date to a little less than 20,000.

This novel approach which has been applauded across political, ethnic, social and economic divide is a tool being employed by this administration to battle poverty challenges,” he said.

Dr. Fayemi said the scheme was conceived to improve the living condition of the senior citizens and serve as a poverty reduction strategy in favour of the deserving poor through the provision of regular income and free health care; adding that this was a fulfillment of his electioneering campaigns.

The Governor said the emergence of the second batch of the beneficiaries became necessary so as to capture as many qualified elderly citizens as possible who did not participate in the first enumeration exercise partly due to skepticism arising from the weariness of failed promises by politicians.

“Being a major public issue, the implementing Ministry was directed to conduct another enumeration of the elderly citizens in February 2012. The exercise brought out over 34,000 elderly citizens from whom another batch of Nine thousand, One hundred and Eighty-six thousand beneficiaries have been selected. This to me, is another evidence of a promise kept”, he said.

On how the State Government has coped despite its meagre resources, Fayemi said the scheme was not conceived because Government has abundant resources but due to “the will to positively affect the lives of the toiling masses for whom this government is in authority”; saying that the administration was always propelled by the need to make life meaningful and comfortable for the elderly.

While stressing that the scheme would now cost Government a sum of One hundred Million Naira monthly, the Governor said elderly citizens should rest assured of continued care and support from government, even as he said that the Scheme now has a strong legal backing so that it can outlive the present administration.

Fayemi who hinted that the programme was dear to him charged all Council Assistants to the Governor to be alive to their responsibilities so that the programme could run more effectively and efficiently; adding that “all hands must be on deck for the smooth implementation of the scheme to ensure its holistic success as any deviation would be sanctioned.”

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Labour, Productivity and Human Capital Development, Mr. Wole Adewumi said the scheme was not aimed at undermining the ultimate responsibility of families to care for their aged ones but should see it as a reward for the past contributions of the deserving elderly citizens.

Adewumi added that people would foster social solidarity through a regained sense of citizenship that will enable them contribute to the society and enhance citizens-government relations, even as government is acknowledging its own roles and moral commitment to the welfare of citizens regardless of party affiliation.

Thanking the Governor for the stipend, one of the existing beneficiaries, Madam Abigael Oyedele who collected her May stipend commended the Fayemi-led administration for remembering the elderly citizens and confirm prompt receipt of her stipend.

Madam Oyedele prayed for the success of the Fayemi-led administration.

ACN Will Disgrace Mimiko In October-Omojuwa, Ex OSOPADEC Boss

Chief Adewale Omojuwa, a former leader of Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP)  in Ondo State and an ex- Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), in this interview with PLATFORM NEWSWIRE, spoke on why he defected from PDP to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), as well as on other important issues:

Chief Adewale Omojuwa

 

Excerpts:

Sir, you used to be one of the frontline leaders of the  Peoples Democratic Party in your local government and the state, why have you decided to leave the party for the Action Congress of Nigeria ( A C N)  now that some of the leaders of the party said they were making effort to rebrand it for better performance in the forthcoming governorship election in the state?.

Thank you so much for that question. It is true that I have been one of the prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo state but you see sometimes in 2009,   I had an accident and was on the hospital bed for a long time moving from hospital to another. It was a ghastly accident but I thank God for sparing my life. That is why I am alive today and that is the reason why I will continue to appreciate God.

However, when I left the hospital bed last year, I looked round and discovered that PDP was in disarray, things were no longer at ease in the party. When I realized this, I made effort to call some leaders of the party together to see what we can do to salvage the party. So, I started consultations, I called on  Hon. Ayo Ifayefunmi, D.I Kekemeke, Chief Olusola Oke, Chief Tayo Alasoadura as well as Dr. Olusegun Agagu, the leader of the party to tell them of my observation. During the consultations, I emphasized to the leaders the need to reconcile our differences and come together to a round table as one family to address the problems facing the party. I told them very frankly that a house divided against itself cannot stand.

The discussions I had with them was positive. Thereafter, I called Hon. Ayo Ifayefunmi to come to Abuja where the three of us, Hon. Ayo Ifayefunmi, Chief Olusola Oke and I met at the legal  office of Chief Olusola Oke in Abuja. At the meeting, we had lengthy discussions during which we resolved on the names of those that will be invited to a meeting we scheduled for Akure.

However, because of the state my state of health at that point in time when we had the meeting   as it was not long after I was discharged from the hospital, I told my leader Chief Olusola Oke to take over the reconciliation process. As soon as Chief Oke took over, we had about two, three meetings before we were able to reconcile. As we made progress in the meetings, we however discovered that some people who were in the party were not sincere; they were not honest with what they were doing. So, from there, there was infighting and insincerity in the party leadership. This led to divisions and in that situation, there is no way the PDP can win any election in the state because a house that is divided against itself can never stand. Again, couple with what is happening at the centre especially at the national leadership of the party and the presidency it appears it will be practically impossible for the party to win. In fact, the presidency is not helping the situation  because what belongs to the PDP has been given to the ruling  party in Ondo state couple with crisis in the party, up till now there is still crisis as there are two parallel executives in the state. When I looked at this situation and the inability of the party leadership in the state to resolve the problem, I conclude within me that there is no way the party can win any election in this type of situation. After many persuasions and they refused to listen to the words of elders, I felt it is the right time for me to leave the party. Election has been slated for October 20 and from the look of things, it appears PDP is not prepared to unseat the ruling government in the state that is why I decided to leave the party.

Sir, when one examine the PDP and other political parties in the country, one will see that inspite of its loss of the states in the South-West, the party still controls the greatest numbers of states in the country and the Federal Government. Don’t you think that your decision to leave the party for the one that controls lesser states at this crucial time would amount to political miscalculation?

There is nothing like political miscalculation in the step that I have taken. What I have done is a divine call by the Almighty God. Let me tell you, PDP in its present state in Ondo State is not prepared for the 2012 governorship election in Ondo state neither is it ready to take over the government in the state. In fact, I can say without any fear of contradiction that things have gone wrong in the state but the PDP is not prepared to correct the anomalies that are going on in the state. Everything is standing still in the state, it is motion without movement. So, when you look at the whole situation, you may be forced to ask yourself a question as to which party  is ready to take over the state from the ruling government, my answer to that question is that the Action Congress of Nigeria (A C N) is the only alternative that can do it. It is the only party that is ready to challenge the government; it is the only one that is ready to take over the affairs of the state in order to correct the anomalies in the state. That is why the ideology, the regional integration policy and so many things being put forward attracted me because I know the policy would help to move the state forward and this was my reason for joining the party. My decision would not amount to political miscalculation. It will never, I have taken the right step.

The Labour party administration is presently controlling all the 18 Local Government in the state including those at the Ondo South senatorial district where you come from, how popularly is the A C N in the area?

Before now, the A C N was not popular but let me tell you that things are changing drastically in Ondo South senatorial district in Ondo state as people are trooping in and moving enmass into the party every day. You will see what will happen   on May 28 when I will do my declaration at Igbokoda. You will see the hands of God. You will also see   how God is moving and working on that day.

Sir, you have expressed optimism that your new party the A C N would unseat the incumbent government  in the state, don’t you think your dream could be affected by the fact that the incumbent government has some factors at its advantage mostly the power of incumbency  which could work in its favour ?.

Let me tell you today that the ruling party in the state and even Mimiko himself who is the governor knows that he is going to be defeated. Having seen the handwriting on the wall, I am sure he has started preparing his handover notes.  He knows that he is going. Let me also state that the people of Ondo state are highly intelligent, educated and they know if you are performing as a governor or not.  That is a fact. They know that this government is not performing. Go to Ilaje Local Government and see what I am talking. I was a former Chairman of Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC). I knew what we did when we were in government but now we know what is happening. I know 40 percent oil derivation that is available to OSOPADEC, where is the money?. There is no development on ground, nothing is moving in that place. So our people understand what is happening and they know that this government cannot take care of their interest. They are worried that the government cannot develop the oil producing communities; they are also worried about the neglect of the people of the area. In fact, some of the people who feel aggrieves about the situation were of the views that they are not part of the present government in the state. As a result of this, they have realized that it will be better for them to go to where their yearnings and aspirations can be met and that is why people are moving in large numbers into the A C N. You will see what is going to happen, God is at work and by his grace the party will triumph in the forthcoming election.

Now that you have dumped the PDP for the A C N, if eventually the party wins, what plan do you have for the people of your area and Ondo state in general?

Thank you very much. As a politician who knows what the people need having lived and dined with them, I believe in development. Because I have been in government as Chairman of OSOPADEC for two years, I knew what I did as the chairman of the commission. During my tenure, I was part of the initiation, planning and execution of Igbokoda / Aiyetoro road. When the project was initiated I was among the commissioners on the board of the Commission but I completed it. Similarly, I also initiated and completed Abutu / Olokola road as well as the electrification project from Igbokoda to Ugboland. I also awarded electrification project from Ugbonla to Igu.  We awarded the project at the rate of N3billion and the contractor was mobilized to site with the total of 50 percent of the contract sum. We gave him N1.5billion as I am talking to you; the project is yet to be completed. When we were there, the contractor after receiving the mobilization fee brought his equipment to the site and went the government the equipment was left there and up till now no job has been done. The N1.5billion is with the contractor as I am talking to you. So, nothing is moving at all. I am sure by the special state of God that if we get into power development will be our target. We have a vision and mission for our people. We want to develop that area and the entire state. People are jobless; the applicants are roaming about the streets looking for jobs. We want to establish industries so that our youth can have employment. We hope to harness the agricultural potentials of the state and provide portable water for the people of our state because there is no water in the state. We are going to have a road map because the present governor do not have a road map, the man will  just wake up one day say this thing occur to me in the night let me  go and do it without planning or stating how he wants to achieve it. We will not do that kind of government, we will sit down, plan and draw a road map to progress and systematically we will be following it.

Sir, there is this common saying that too many cooks spoil the broth, with the A C N having more than 30 aspirants  coming forward to contest its primary  election where a candidate will be chosen to fly the banner of the party   in the governorship  election , don’t you think the process could result in crisis?.

Well, thank you for that question. However, what I want to say is that if somebody is aspiring for an election and that person is from a particular village or a community, definitely, his people will have sympathy for him and that is the beauty of democracy, the more the merrier. I am very sure there is no problem at all because when the time comes, the leadership of the party will know how to address the matter. Similar scenario once happened in Osogbo where many people came up to participate in the primary election for the governorship seat but at the end of the day, somebody was chosen and all others who competed with him later supported him, that is Aregbesola. The same thing also happened in Ogun state, the present governor in the state was in ANPP before he joined the A CN but because they wanted to win, the leaders of the party called all other aspirants who wanted to contest with him and talked to them at the end of the day the man was given the ticket and he won. So, it has been done in so many states in the South-West, hence Ondo state will not be an exception. The same thing is going to happen in the state. That was why I said the more the merrier. Members of the A C N are working tirelessly that is why you see the membership increasing by the day because they believe the party is going to capture power in Ondo state.

By October 20 this year, election will be coming up in Ondo state, what advice do you have for the people of the state?

My advice for the people of Ondo state is that they should remain peaceful. The people of the state as we know are very educated and I want to advise them to vote wisely because the state is stagnant now .We have got  to move forward by joining others in order to make progress in the state. In the light of this, I want to advise that they embrace the only party that can move us forward and take us to the desired Promised Land which is the Action Congress of Nigeria (A C N).

What about the youth?

I want to advice the youth that there shouldn’t be violence. We should try to educate them that we don’t need violence in the state. I also want also to advise parents not to allow their children or wards to be used as thugs to forment trouble. That is why in our party, A C N, because we don’t believe in recruiting youth for thuggery ,  we have told our members to go to their various communities and work and ensure that they defend their votes during the election.

Ex IGP, Ehindero Storms Wesley University, Ondo-Advises Govt to Dialogue with Boko Haram

A FORMER Inspector General of Police, Chief Sunday Ehindero has advised the Federal government to dialogue with the dreaded Islamic group, Boko Haram, in order to solve the security problems Nigeria is currently facing.

He stated this recently, while speaking as the guest lecturer, at this year’s Founder’s Day celebration of Wesley University of Science and Technology, (WUSTO), Ondo.

Prof Tola Badejo, Vice Chancellor, WUSTO, Ondo

 According to the former IGP, who spoke on the topic, “Impact of Science and Technology on National Security and Sustainable Development in Nigeria,” the modern approach to security and security threats is to broaden the concept to include protection from threats to life and means of livelihood; safety from bodily harm, and freedom from fear and diseases, unemployment, violent conflict and human rights violations.

The Ogbagi Akoko, Ondo state-born legal practitioner, while quoting Robert McNamara on what security is, said, “Security means development. Security is not military hardware, though it may include it; security is not military force, though it may involve it; security is not traditional military activity, though it may encompass it. Security is development, and without development, there can be no security…Development means economic, social and political progress. It means a reasonable standard of living.”

Speaking further, Chief Ehindero stated that environmental degradation, over population and the collapse of educational and health institutions and systems are the major root causes of the nation’s security challenges.

“Together, these factors and their different and dynamic contexts define the character and dynamics of contemporary security challenges, which invariably impact in the downward pull on economic performance and therefore on political stability. These underlying causes of turmoil are often ignored; instead, government addresses the poverty and instability that are just symptoms of the real causes of insecurity,” he said.

According to him, “Boko Haram poses a strategic terror that everybody is a potential victim. However, rather than the old strategic concept of massive military response, the present situation needs a lot of non-military content. Dialogue is needed to dissuade disaffected groups from choosing terrorism as a tactic to achieve their goals. The cumulative neglect by past leaders in areas where Boko Haram reside culminating in underdevelopment and miss-education calls for a new approach of reconciliation, education, poverty alleviation and development.

The programme, which was held, under the chairmanship of Ambassador Omotayo Ogunsulire, was attended by important personalities from within and outside the country, among who were,Oba (Sir) Dr. Samuel Adeyemi Akinmusire, the Oludoko of Idoko, High Chief (Sir) Dr. Olabanji Akingbule, the Odunwo of Ondo Kingdom, High Chief Fagbamiye, the Lisa of Ile Oluji, Prof Adeyemi Aderoba, the Lotujama of Ondo, Chief Olusola Gilbert, Reve Canon DM Akindojutimi, Provost of The Cathedral of Saint Stephen, Oke Aluko, Ondo as well as students and Academicians from WUSTO and other institutions across Nigeria.

Ondo State Cannot Avoid Southwest Integration -Ademodi

THE VICE Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in charge of Ondo Central Senatorial District, Dr Bayo Ademodi has thrown his quite considerable weight behind the idea of integrating the entire south western part of Nigeria for the promotion of socio-economic development of the region.

Dr Ademodi, who is also the Ondo state coordinator of Afenifere Renewal Group, (ARG), the group that produced the roadmap document, entitled, “Development Agenda for Western Nigeria,” (DAWN) made this known recently, in a chat with  PLATFORM NEWSWIRE at the ACN secretariat, in Akure, when he advised the people of Ondo state to vote for ACN in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state, so as to benefit from the gains accruable from the integration of the entire southwest.

According to the foremost Associate Professor of Engineering, “This is the best time for the Yoruba speaking states in the western region of Nigeria to work together through the integration of our economic and social activities in order to bring back the glories of the past, when the late Premier, Chief Obafemi Awolowo used the resources of the old western region to develop the entire southwest, to the envy of the entire African continent.

“It is a proven recipe,” the erudite Professor emphasized.”

Ademodi averred that the southwest had witnessed a lot of setbacks over the past years because of the selfishness of “mainstream” political leaders in the region, adding that the emergence of ACN governments in Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun Osun and Oyo, and states had since engendered openings to the much needed breakthrough for the region, through the introduction of people-oriented programmes in the ACN governed states.

Dr Ademodi then implored all stakeholders in Ondo state to join hands in voting an ACN government into power so that the sunshine state would be able to join its counterparts, towards the realization of the total development of the Southwest region through economic, cultural, social and political integration in order to continue with the great dreams Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his able team, which included past leaders and governors of Ondo state, Late Pa Adekunle Ajasin and Chief Adebayo Adefarati, had for Yoruba land.

“It is a worthwhile legacy that must be maintained,” he concluded.

PHOTO NEWS-Students' Riot At Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Nigeria

Mimiko is jittery, says Agunloye

Former Minister of Power and Steel Dr. Olu Agunloye has condemned the alleged destruction of bill boards, posters and campaign vehicles belonging to the opposition by agents of the Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State.

The former Head of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and governorship aspirant of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) said the alleged attacks are signs that the LP government is jittery.

Agunloye spoke with reporters yesterday at his Bodija home in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

He said no amount of unprovoked attacks would deter Ondo people from voting out the LP administration on October 20.

Agunloye urged the people to be resolute in their determination to effect a change in government.

He said: “Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s administration has spent a lot of money, which could have been used to develop the state, on media propaganda. It has created a sense of progress outside Ondo State using the media, but that is not the true situation of things in the state.

“Go to Ondo State, interact with people in the market and on the streets, and you will realise that the Mimiko they know is not the same Mimiko you see on the African Independent Television (AIT), Channels and so on.”

Agunloye alleged that Mimiko has spent over N300 million of public funds on the acquisition of 54 awards and “wasted N420 billon on the dressing of projects that were executed by former Governor OluSegun Agagu”.    

He said: “What is the essence of being awarded the best governor of the year; the best swagger governor of the year etc, when you have not impacted positively on the life of your people.

“Instead of wealth creation, Mimiko has done what can be described as wealth cancellation and annulment. He met N420 billion in the state’s coffers and spent it without creating any industry, farm settlement or creating jobs.

“The effect of this is telling on our young people, who are carrying arms everywhere. All he has done are oju aiye (cosmetic projects). It is the same with the mega schools, mega hospitals and so on. They all smack of mega fraud. 

“If Mimiko believes he will win the October 20 election, he will not be destroying the posters, bill boards and campaign vehicles of other candidates. 

“Three of my campaign buses were destroyed on April 28 on my way to a rally in Igbokoda. That is not something people who are winning will do. The brains behind LP have defected to the ACN and many LP members will still do so.”

Source:The Nation

Tension in Ondo, As Adeyemi College Students Protest Mysterious Death of 13 Colleagues -20 Vehicles, Administrative offices Destroyed

STUDENTS of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo this afternoon embarked on a violent protest over alleged complicity by the management of the institution in the mysterious deaths of about 13 students of the institution over the last two weeks.

Some of the damaged Vehicles at the office of the Provost of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo.

Some of the aggrieved students told PLATFORM NEWSWIRE that they have informed the management to look into the matter for the past two weeks and no concrete effort was taken to solve the problem, leading to their protest that was occasioned by their bottled up grievances.

One of the protesting students, who gave his name as Mike told our reporters that the leadership of the institution are into occult practices, all because of their quest to remain in power at all cost, adding that, “God will help us to deal with whoever among members of staff of Adeyemi college that intend to use any of our students for rituals to gain power.”

In his reaction, the College’s Public Relations Officer, Rev Olusola Akinfolarin dismissed the report of the death of 13 students, claiming that only four students of Adeyemi College died.

“I can confirm to you that only four students, and not thirteen, died and we have held a management meeting today to see what we can do on the issue,” he said.

………..More reports later.

TUC condemns registration of another Labour movement

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Rivers council, has condemned the registration of another Labour Centre in the country.

The state TUC Chairman, Mr Chika Onuegbu, said on Monday in Port Harcourt that the creation of another labour centre would be disadvantageous and a waste of resources.

According to him, the plan by politicians to weaken the trade union movement is not the way out of corruption and is capable of weakening the transformation agenda.

“It is important for the Federal Government to demonstrate its seriousness on the fight against corruption and insecurity in the country.

“And as such, President Goodluck Jonathan should distance his administration from the continued plot by some political jobbers to weaken the Nigerian labour movement.

“Creating another labour centre will be inimical because the key industrial unions that cover the most crucial aspects of the Nigerian economy and polity are still loyal to TUC and NLC.”

Onuegbu said that combating insecurity would ensure the much-desired transformation and urged the Federal Government to focus on ways of cushioning the effect of the subsidy on the workers.

The chairman, however, said  the union would always support anything that would enhance the nation’s development. (NAN)

Plateau State Journalists plan govt boycott over unrest

Journalists in Plateau state in Nigeria said Monday they would halt coverage of government activities in protest at the failure of the authorities to stop years of deadly violence.

The journalists also accused the state governor Jonah Jang of failing to protect journalists from threats and attacks, at an emergency meeting in the state capital Jos.

“The journalists… expressed disgust at the experience of continually counting corpses and visiting grave sites of victims of the endless sectarian violence in Jos and its environs,” they said in a statement.

They called for a boycott of all government activities in the crisis-prone state, to protect their own lives and those of their families.

Government spokesman Pam Ayuba said everything was being done to try to end the violence in the state.

“There is a serious security challenge in the state, especially in Jos. The government will try its best to arrest the situation and secure lives and property, including those of journalists,” he added.

Jos and its environs have witnessed several deadly cycles of sectarian and communal clashes that have claimed thousands of lives in recent years.

Last week, suspected Muslim herdsmen hacked and shot to death seven sleeping family members in a Christian village near Jos, which lies in the middle belt region dividing the mainly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south of Africa’s most populous nation.

(AFP)