”Sanwo-Olu is Experienced, he wont disappoint Lagosians- APC

Sanwo-Olu

The Assistant Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Mr. Abiodun Salami, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

He said the party was sure that the administration of Sanwo-Olu would consolidate on the strides recorded in the state, but the cooperation of all was needed to enable the incoming government to succeed.

Salami urged residents to support the Sanwo-Olu administration with ideas, and by performing their civil obligations, obeying the laws, and keying into its policies and programs.

The Assistant Publicity Secretary described Sanwo-Olu as a tested and trusted hand in governance, assuring residents he would not disappoint in the delivery of his electoral promises.

”As Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is sworn-in tomorrow, we urge all Lagosians to give his administration all the support to enable him to succeed.

”Sanwo-Olu is a man idea, he is experienced in governance, he knows his onions and he is passionate about a better Lagos.

”We have no doubt he will deliver on his promises; he will not disappoint the people. But residents need to support his administration.

”We need to support him with ideas, by paying our taxes and obeying the laws. We should support the policies and programs of his administration.

”This is the only way to build a better Lagos, the Lagos of everyone’s dream,” he said.


 Salami said the APC had consistently rendered impactful governance in the state and thanked residents for keeping faith with the party.

The Assistant Publicity Secretary also thanked residents for voting overwhelmingly for the party in the last presidential and governorship elections in the state.

”As you supported APC in the election, I urge you to troop to the TBS tomorrow to once again demonstrate your support for Sanwo-Olu as he is sworn-in,” he said.

Owolabi Salis loses bid to stop Sanwo-Olu’s swearing-in

Sanwo-Olu

The Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Chief Owolabi Salis, the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 elections, on Tuesday, at an Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ikeja lost their bid to stop the swearing-in of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the Executive Governor of Lagos State on May 29.

In a ruling delivered at 3.16pm on the eve of the swearing-in, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice T. T Asua said that the petition of AD and its gubernatorial candidate lacked merit.

“The main purpose of an interlocutory injunction as rightly argued by the respondents is to preserve the ‘res’ that is the subject matter of the case.

“In this case, the petitioners have failed to show via their affidavit evidence that the res, which is the governorship seat of Lagos State, is in danger of being destroyed and has to be preserved by the issuance of the restraining order sought.

“An injunction is only issued to restrain a threatened wrong and not to restrain the performance of a legal right,” he said.

Dismissing the application, the Chairman of the Tribunal noted that restraining Sanwo-Olu from being sworn-in as Governor would lead to a chaotic situation in the state.

“To crown it all, restraining the second defendant from being sworn-in as governor of Lagos State when the tenure of the incumbent expires on the 29th of May 2019 creates a vacuum in the governance of Lagos State.

“This throws spanners in the works, causing confusion and leaving the entire Lagos State at the mercy of the first petitioner’s (AD) personal ambition to govern the state.

“Such an ugly scenario shall not be allowed by this Tribunal. In a final analysis, we hold that this application lacks merit and is hereby dismissed,” Justice Asua said.



After the ruling, Mr. Tunde Falola, the counsel to the second respondent (Sanwo-Olu) thanked the Tribunal for its decision.

“On behalf of the second respondent, I thank this Tribunal. This decision has prevented the creation of a chaotic atmosphere in Lagos State. We are grateful sir,” Falola said.

AD and Salis had on April 25 filed a Petition numbered EPT/LAG/GOV/2/2019 which sought to halt Sanwo-Olu’s swearing-in on the grounds that he had a criminal record in the United States and is of unsound mind.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sanwo-Olu, All Progressives Congress (APC) and the INEC Residential Electoral Commissioner were listed as respondents to the Petition.

Other respondents are -The Returning Officer for The Lagos State Governorship Election, the Commissioner of Police and the Nigerian Army.

The AD and Salis in the petition had claimed that, “The second respondent (Sanwo-Olu) is a person adjudged to be of unsound mind and who is not capable to be sworn in as the Governor of Lagos State.

“Sanwo-Olu has records of unsound mind and rehabilitation with the Gbagada General Hospital Lagos State.

“By virtue of section 182(1)(c) of the 1999 constitution as (amended), the second respondent is a person not qualified to be sworn-in as a Governor.

“Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the present Governor of Lagos state and who is the chief security officer of the state attested to the fact in Punch Newspapers of Monday, Oct. 1,2018, that Sanwo-Olu is of unsound mind and not fit and proper to govern Lagos State.

“Governor Ambode equally stated that Sanwo-Olu was arrested and detained for several months and was convicted for spending fake dollars at a night club in America.”

AD and Salis had sought an Order restraining the Chief Judge of Lagos from swearing-in Sanwo-Olu as the Executive Governor of Lagos State.

They had also sought an Order restraining the Chief Judge of Lagos State in the interim from swearing-in Sanwo-Olu as the Executive Governor of Lagos State pending the determination of the Petition at the Tribunal.

Source- Pm news

Nigeria Military: We are not planning to overthrow Buhari

The Nigeria Military through the defense headquarters on has dissociated itself from the circulation of a document calling for the overthrow President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nigeria Military: We are not planning to overthrow Buhari


A statement issued by Muhammed Wabi, the deputy director of defense information, revealed that a group, “Nigerian Continuity and Progress’’ are being behind the document.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to dissociate itself from the rascality and intentions as espoused in a document being circulated by a faceless group named Nigerian Continuity and Progress calling for support of a revolution to oust the current democratically elected government and in its place establish an illegitimate interim government,” the statement read.

“The AFN outrightly condemns the undemocratic and demonic actions of the author of the document.

“Accordingly, members of the public are enjoined to discountenance the content of the documents being circulated by NCP and equally condemned in totality, the call to derail our hard-earned democracy.”

Read the full statement below:

President Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu break Ramadan fast together (Photos)
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS ON THE CIRCULATION OF SEDITIOUS PUBLICATIONS

The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) wishes to dissociate itself from the rascality and intentions as espoused in a document being circulated by a faceless group named Nigerian Continuity and Progress (NCP) calling for support of a revolution to oust the current democratically elected government and in its place establish an illegitimate interim government.



The AFN outrightly condemns the undemocratic and demonic actions of the author of the document. Accordingly, members of the public are enjoined to discountenance the content of the documents being circulated by NCP and equally condemned in totality, the call to derail our hard earned democracy.

It should be noted that the AFN is very mindful of its constitutional responsibilities and will not be misled into any activity that will undermine democracy as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria1999 as amended.

The AFN remains unflinchingly loyal to the Constitution, as well as to President Muhammadu Buhari, President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, all relevant Law Enforcement Agency has been advised to unravel those behind the seditious document for appropriate actions.

Gov Akinwunmi Ambode: I will be Leaving Lagos better than i met it

Governor Ambode

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has said he is leaving Lagos better than he met it, as his administration has grown the economy of the state.

Ambode said the economy of Lagos has improved despite the recession and that his administration has put parameters in place to make Lagos the third largest economy in Africa.

According to him, he meticulously followed the vision embedded in the Lagos State Development Plan, which elapsed 2025, adding that “I am drawing from what has been put there which is also my own dream to make Lagos that financial hub, to make Lagos a safe, secure city, to make it a mega city and also to compare comparatively with all developmental cities.

“So, I met Lagos as the fifth largest economy in Africa, my dream, which I have always said, is that we take Lagos to the third largest economy in Africa. That’s the dream. So, in 10 years, is that doable? I believe strongly that all the parameters that can actually grow the GDP of Lagos are in place and only need to be accelerated. We have done it to a particular stage, we have stabilized it from where we have found it and irrespective of the recession and irrespective of the slow pace of the economy, there has been significant growth in the Lagos economy which is visible.”

The governor, in an interview published by Business Day, added: “But what is the most important part of it also, we have been able to create a night economy which was one of my missions. So, one thing that we should be seeing ahead is an economy that compares comparatively with New York; an economy that actually takes that vantage position right now because we know that the next economic development in the whole global system is in Africa and Lagos is just positioned as a trigger because of its natural advantages not necessarily because of our skill-sets; it’s just positioned there and so the competencies and the skill-sets that will be drawn in terms of governance and leadership is what should see Lagos as the third largest economy and then compare favorably with cities like Mumbai and everywhere that you go. I mean, you want to see Lagos like a Tokyo but you need a lot of investment in technology.”

Ambode also spoke on how his administration was able to grow the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, of Lagos, saying that one of the strategic instruments in that development plan was to create a financial model for Lagos State, explaining that it was not enough for “us to say we are having strategic pillars of development without knowing how to fund it and so in the development plan, a growth plan for revenue generation had actually been embedded in it.

“Fortunately for Lagos, you have statistics that favor revenue growth. Lagos is the commercial capital of Nigeria; the business community in terms of population or location is here and this is like 70 percent of what is happening in Nigeria; we have the market and again Lagos is the most sophisticated. Those indicators were just enough for anybody to carry on from where it stopped and then able to continue.

“Remember also when we came in, the revenue that was generated on a monthly basis was about N12 billion and then it moved to almost like N20 billion. Today, we are having an average of N30 billion to N35 billion a month but it is not as if the expansion is based on increase in rate or taxes, what has been done is just improvement in collection machinery and then expanding the tax net and the ability to be able to put people together and run an efficient civil service system that was able to tap into those things; and then more importantly, investing in technology to be able to carry out some of these collections.

“Yes, revenue has improved tremendously but obviously it is based on focus, and it is based on the ability to match those needs in terms of development and economic growth with how to fund it. Lagos is also favoured by the fact that because of the dynamics that we have, we are likely to be more attractive to the capital market and also more attractive to commercial banks and the ability to pay back would always give you more resources to be able to get funding for most of these projects that we have done. Remember also that 67 percent of the total revenue that accrues to Lagos State comes through the IGR so the best model is to continue to expand the IGR base in order for you to be able to cover your fixed cost and also do every other thing that we have been able to do.”

On why Lagos has always been blessed with good leadership with good vision, the governor said that the state had continually used the same set of objectives and goals in a plan that was consummated into a development plan and that the same set of policy document from one government to the other had remained, asides fact that the same party was still ruling Lagos.

“It is the same party that has been able to run the state in the last 20 years using the same set of the policy document, the same set of development and the same set of specialists so to speak. Luckily enough, the people who have been governors in Lagos have been people who have actually worked in the system and same for Sanwo-Olu that is coming in, he has worked in the system. So, that could be a positive thing to be able to draw so much of synergy from the policy document and if you don’t deviate too much, you are likely to deliver on the set objectives in the policy document.

“So, we don’t expect anything away from that and Lagos is lucky, the next four years should actually see something better than what I have done because there has been a trajectory that if you are using the same set of policy document, whoever is coming in next should actually build on what you have done and I don’t expect anything less from the incoming government,” he said.

source- pm news

Lagos Theatre: President Buhari declares Lagos theatre open for public use

President Muhammadu Buhari with Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday declared open the new 500-seater Lagos Theatre in Oregun, Ikeja area of Lagos State for public use.

The theatre is one the five built by the state government in line with its vision to use entertainment, arts and culture to boost the state’s economy.

The President, who arrived at the venue at exactly 11:30a.m, after the inauguration was treated to a live dance performance by a young group of talented artists before taking his leave.

In his remark, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode said the construction of similar theatres in Igando, Badagry, and Epe, all of which had been completed and ready for unveiling, was meant to harness the potential in the sector and also create employment for youths in the state.

Ambode said that the state was more than ready to take the driving seat for the development of tourism, arts, and entertainment in Africa.

The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said that infrastructural development, regeneration of old and creation of iconic attractions for entertainment, arts and culture enthusiasts were some of the methods used by the state to boost economic activities and improve domestic tourism.

President Buhari will also be at the Oshodi Interchange for a facility tour and check out of the new 820 new buses to kick start the Lagos Bus reform initiative, as well as open the newly constructed 10-lane Airport road, before departing for Abuja, NAN reports.

Buhari unveils Ayinke House with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode

Buhari unveiled Ayinke House, with him is Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and others

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday unveiled the incipiently reconstructed Institute of Maternal And Child Health, popularly kenned as Ayinke House located within the premises of Lagos State University Edifying Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja, describing it as a critical and timely intervention by the State regime in the health sector.

Ayinke House, which is Nigeria’s most sizably voluminous Maternity Hospital, was upgraded from an 80-bed facility to a 170-bed healthcare center with state-of-the-art medical equipment, as well as information technology accommodations.

Aside the entourage of the President which included Ministers and Special Advisers, Governors of Ogun (Ibikunle Amosu ), Oyo (Abiola Ajimobi), Ondo (Oluwarotimi Akeredolu), Ekiti (Kayode Fayemi), Jubrila window, Adamawa, Acting Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu; Lagos State Governor-Elect, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, among others were in attendance.

The President, who landed at the Presidential Wing of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja at about 10: 45am, arrived at Ayinke House about 15 minutes later, after which he unveiled the project, and additionally embarked on a comprehensive tour of the facility.

Verbalizing at the event, the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode described the development as historic, expressing optimism that the facility would provide world-class childbirth and maternal care accommodations to Lagosians and Nigerians at immensely colossal.

Recalling how the peregrination commenced, Ambode verbalized the facility was commissioned precisely 29 years ago, with the tardy businessman and philanthropist, Sir Mobolaji Bank-Anthony donating the first dedicated maternal and child care facility to the State Regime, in the recollection of his mother; hence the christened name “Ayinke House”.

He verbalized the hospital, which commenced with just one surgical theatre anon surmised a life of its own as first-class childbirth and maternal care center in the health sector of Nigeria as well as first cull for expectant mothers.

However, the governor verbally expressed the hospital later became over-stretched beyond capacity and somehow obsolete, while in apperception of the desideratum to sustain Bank-Anthony’s philanthropy, the State Regime, during the administration of former Governor Babatunde Fashola who is now the Minister of Puissance, Works and Housing, awarded the contract for the expansion and reconstruction of the facility.

“Today, seven years after the closure of the facility, the incipient edifice is now a 170-bed facility with 5 surgical theatres. It has a 16-bed emergency care units with 3 organ support facilities, 30-bed special baby care unit, 5 neonatal intensive care units, a plenarily equipped laboratory with support accommodations, laboratories, and a blood bank.

“Beyond the consequentiality for the health sector, this institute is a major contribution to our inculcation sector withal; as it becomes a veritable platform for our medicos in the State University to enhance their exposure and experience with the top-class medical equipment provided,” Ambode verbalized, just as he revealed that Ayinke House had additionally been plenarily digitalized with state-of-the-art medical equipment as well as information technology accommodations fortified by the State Ministry of Science and Technology.

He verbally expressed in view of President Buhari’s tenaciousness of making macrocosmic and rudimentary primary healthcare as one of the cardinal priorities of his administration, the State Regime, under him, had consciously worked to bring quality, affordable and modern healthcare to all our citizenry, among other initiatives in the health sector.

“Just last year, we launched the Lagos State Health Indemnification scheme to sanction denizens access top quality medical care with a little contribution and support from the State regime.

“These and other efforts are directed at ameliorating the lives of our people, especially the women and children; and by extension the productivity of our nation,” he verbalized.

While congratulating President Buhari on his resounding victory at the recent presidential election, Governor Ambode thanked him for finding time to personally commission Ayinke House and other projects in the State, integrating that the completion of the projects would not have been possible without the President’s support, administrative direction and inspiriting.

Besides, Ambode commended the Management and Staff of the State’s Ministry of Health, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, LASUTH as well as contractors for working round the clock and their ebullience in getting the project consummated.

Similarly, the President additionally commissioned the 500-seater Lagos Theatre in Oregun, Ikeja. The ultra-modern theatre is one of the four simultaneously constructed by the Ambode administration to increment arts spaces and engender standard platforms for aptitudinal denizens of the State to showcase their skills.

The President who arrived the venue at precisely 11:30am was treated to a live dance performance by a puerile group of aptitudinal artist afore taking his leave.

The Governor verbalized the three other theatres with the same designations are withal yare for commissioning in Igando, Badagry, and Epe.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday arrived in Lagos State to commission some projects.

 President Buhari Arrives Lagos 

 

The president is set to declare open the “rehabilitated 10-lane Oshodi/Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road, and the 170-Bed Ayinke House (Maternity Hospital) at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Ikeja.

Other projects to be unveiled include the Lagos State Theatre at Oregun in Ikeja, the new 820 Mass Transit buses and the multi-level Oshodi Transport Interchange on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

Upon arrival, Buhari was received by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and other governors including, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.

The president was also received by the Lagos State Governor-elect, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy  Obafemi Hamzat, amongst others.

Breaking: Melaye Reveals Next Step Against Gov. Bello

Dino Melaye To Sue Gov. Yahaya Bello, Kogi State House Of Assembly
Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Dino Melaye, has threatened to drag the Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello to court this week.




The Senator further revealed that he will be joining the Kogi state House of Assembly as well in the legal suit.

He made his intention known on Tuesday in a Facebook post on his personal page as monitored by our correspondent.


Senator Melaye said his move is based on “the illegality of the L.G caretaker chairmen” adding that the world will be shocked by his findings.

See what he posted:

“I’m heading to court this week to sue Yahaya Bello & Kogi State House of Assembly over the illegality of the L.G caretaker chairmen. From my concluded investigation they will all end up in prison for corruption. We are fine tuning our petition and the world will be shocked.”



Meanwhile, aranews had earlier reported that Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has revealed why himself and Senator Dino Melaye, the lawmaker representing Kogi West district in the National Assembly, cannot work together. Bello submitted that their ideologies for joining politics are different.

source- naijanews.com


Read more
Sad News : Asthmatic self-sponsored orphan dies after #NYSC parade

https://www.ara-newstrends.com/2019/04/sad-news-asthmatic-self-sponsored.html

#Buhari Finally Signs N30,000 Minimum Wage Bill Into Law

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday signed the N30,000 National Minimum Wage Bill into law, ending the anxiety caused by the delay.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, was elated on Thursday as he broke the news to State House correspondents soon after Buhari gave his nod to the bill. 

The presidential liaison officer stated that the payment of the N30,000 to workers would begin immediately.

The former senator said, “President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the Minimum Wage Repeal and Enactment Act 2019. “This makes it compulsory for all employers of labour in Nigeria to pay to their workers the sum of N30,000. And this excludes persons who are employing less than 25 workers; persons who work in a ship which sails out of jurisdiction and other persons who are in other kinds of regulated employment which are accepted by the Act.  from @punchnewspapers#aranewstrends

#ruthnewsng

#aranewsfashion  - #news

#instablog9ja

FG declares Friday, Monday public holidays to mark Easter

The Federal Government has declared Friday, April 19 and Monday, April 22, Public Holidays to mark the 2019 Easter celebration.

Atiku Is not a citizen of Nigeria by birth APC Tells Tribunal.

In response to the petition filed before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and it's presidential candidate, Atiku Is not a citizen of Nigeriathe All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted the grounds of the petition.

APC, the third respondent stated that Atiku is a Cameroonian and "not a citizen of Nigeria by birth and shouldn't have been allowed to contest for the election from the get-go"

The APC equally faulted the claim by the petitioners that they obtained the authentic results of the February 23, 2019 presidential election from the Independent  National Electoral Commission's server that they won the election. .

By calculation, Atiku and the PDP claimed to have defeated Buhari by 1,615,302 votes. However, in its reply filed through its lead counsel, Mr. Later Fagbemi (SAN), the APC said the data and computation of results on state-to-state basis were not legitimate. .

The party started that only the results declared by INEC were authentic .

Atiku #atikuabubakar #buhari #apc #pdp #gossipboyz#aranewstrends

Source - tribunal 

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has charged the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Southwest to purge the party of “bad eggs and hypocrites.”

Obasanjo said the people he described as “bad eggs” lack the commitment to return PDP to its lost glory.



The ex-president spoke on Sunday when he played host to PDP leaders from Southwest, led by the party’s National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Dr. Eddy Olafeso, at his Pent-House Residence in Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The former President said many leaders of the party are after “their pockets and stomach.”

He wondered why some top echelon left the party shortly after the results of the 2019 presidential election was announced, noting that other members have lost hope.

According to Obasanjo, Nigeria demands a vibrant voice and opposition in PDP, with a view to building a virile democracy.

Obasanjo said for PDP to bounce back, it must purge itself of hypocrites and bad eggs, and shop for those he called “critical mass of committed people,” who will be “ready to stand with the party, come rain, come shine.”

Obasanjo said, “I knew PDP would lose election in 2015 because it was clear. And I knew PDP will need to be rebuilt after losing the election.

“You need what I call critical mass of committed people, and come rain, come shine they are committed. With that, you can make Nigeria better.

“You see people’s faces beautiful, but you don’t know what each person harbors inside of him.



“If you discover a bad egg, remove such a person. And if such person has learnt his or her lessons, there can still be room to accommodate the person.”

Comparing PDP presidential candidate in the 2019 election, Atiku Abubakar, with President Muhammadu Buhari, Obasanjo said, “If you compare the two of them, with what I know and all I have written about the incumbent which they have decided to cover up, Atiku is better than the incumbent by far. That’s the point I am making. And nobody is perfect.”

Earlier in his address, Olafeso explained that the visit was to celebrate Obasanjo on his 82nd birthday, which he marked recently and to also thank him for his support for the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2019 elections.

“We could not have done well in the last elections in the Southwest without your support. Your voice resonates above all the lies told in the country and you told the world what is actually happening in your country.

“You decided that you are going to stand up and fight. There is nothing we can say here that would compensate for the role you have played.

“You supported our presidential candidate and I know for sure that he won that election, even if the powers-that-be decided to write results for themselves in the North; and I know fully well that God will take this thing back to our party.”

Among those at the meeting were Senate Minority Leader, Biodun Olujimi; Senators-elect, Oyo South Kola Balogun; Ondo Central, Ayo Akinyelure; Rep-elect (Ibarapa North and Central), Hon Ajibola Muraina; former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada; and PDP gubernatorial candidate in Ekiti State 2018 election, Prof. Olusola Eleka,

Also at the meeting were, former Deputy Governor of Lagos, Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele; former Deputy National Chairman, Shuaibu Oyedokun; PDP governorship candidate in 2017 Ondo State governorship election, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), among others.

Source- punch