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GOVERNOR MIMIKO ACCUSES INEC, APC OF PLANNING TO RIG ONDO ELECTION

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Mimiko-2010
 
Governor of Ondo State has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the opposition of planning to rig the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ondo State.
 
This, Mimiko disclosed when addressing a press conference today in Akure.

The Governor revealed that his meetings with President Buhari in recent weeks were aimed at intimating the President of the “challenges to law and security in the state owing to the activities of some political players whose sole intent is to subvert the electoral process and short change the people of Ondo State”
 
Mimiko also raised alarm that INEC were using the same strategy and team used to rig the election in Edo State, for the Ondo election which comes up on the 26th of November, 2016.
 
Below is a full text of Mimiko’s statement;
 
Recall that in the last few weeks, I have engaged with Mr President at least twice to appraise him of the challenge to law and security in our State owing to the activities of some political players whose sole intent is to subvert the electoral process and short change the people of Ondo State.
We have just been told that the same team of election ad hoc staff, which masterminded the largely controversial Edo election have been sent to our State to deliver a preconceived result for Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, the APC candidate.
 
I have to state this here and now, that our people will not accept the method, men and process unleashed on Edo. We reject unequivocally the mission of this team in our State.
The Edo team did not only call off collation by 9pm on election day, party agents, monitors & journalists were ordered out of the centres allowing for final subversion of the will of the electorates. We shall not allow such an ungodly process to be repeated in our dear State.
 
We must say that the above is not all that INEC and those who want a particular candidate to emerge have done. Efforts have been concerted by INEC & forces within the APC to prevent the emergence of a credible and electable candidate for the PDP.
 
For the avoidance of doubt, this ungodly process started when INEC, in flagrant disregard of extant laws governing elections removed the name of Eyitayo Jegede on the basis of a Justice Okon Abang order that has since been declared as a fraud by the S’Court.
 
We wondered why INEC removed the name of a man who emerged from a party primary that was conducted in a free, fair and open environment We wondered why INEC removed the name of a man who emerged from a party primary that was conducted in a free, fair and open environment.
INEC discarded all legal advice not to substitute Eyitayo Jegede by its own chosen consortium of lawyers! Several other hurdles were placed on the ways of the PDP candidate, Eyitayo Jegede to the extent that he did not become a candidate until about 48hrs to election, on the directive of the Court of Appeal
 
INEC did not release the list of voters register to the PDP until yesterday. This is a clear infraction of its own laws and against its advertised ‘Time Table and Schedule of Activities” for the Ondo election.
INEC refused to publish Eyitayo Jegede’s name for 30 days as stipulated in Section 34 of the Electoral Act 2010. INEC denied Eyitayo Jegede the right to submit his Party agents’ list at least 7 days before the election as stipulated in Section 45 of the Electoral Act 2010 among many others.
As we speak, tags for Ward Collation officers are not available for PDP Ward agents, this is unacceptable.
 
More than the above, the agents on INEC list are agents submitted by a man, already aptly described by the courts as an impostor, a man who openly showed he is working as a fifth columnist in the Ondo election.
 
We were expected to run a race with our hands tied behind our back while INEC also goes ahead to foist a “wuruwuru to the answer” result.
 
Every resident of Ondo State knows we are free & fair people who however abhor impunity & open rape of justice. We shall not take this. In this instance, injustice stares us in the face and we are about being treated like slaves and a conquered people in our own country. INEC is being forced to subvert its processes, and imperil the Ondo election.
 
The team it sent to Edo, which it is sending to Ondo is peopled by rabid supporters of APC, people that have displayed their brazen disdain for justice and fair play in the Edo election.
If INEC was truely objective, it would have erred on the side of caution & safe Ondo from the polluting influence of this ad hoc team. INEC would have as a matter of fact, shifted this election to present a semblance of a free, fair and open contest.
 
I am by this asking you the good people of Ondo State to be vigilant and insist on the sanctity of the ballot. We must not allow any alteration of result either at the Ward Collation Centre or anywhere along the line.
 
We are a proud people, we can make our choices for the good of our State. We need no manipulation of any kind to exercise our inalienable right to choose our leaders.
We also do not want anything to remind us of the inglorious past of violence and bloodshed precipitated by injustice and impunity.

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KFC apologises to Gbenga Daniel’s son over discriminatory treatment

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Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Nigeria, an international fast food restaurant chain, has issued an apology to Adebola Daniel, son of Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Ogun state, over discriminatory treatment.

In a statement on its X page on Thursday, the fast-food chain expressed deep regret for the distress experienced by the customer and pledged swift action to address the issue.

On March 27, Daniel posted on his official X page about his experience at the KFC outlet at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) branch.

According to Daniel, the restaurant had stopped him and his family from entering, stating that “no wheelchairs were allowed”.

Following his statement, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on March 28, said it had shut down KFC over discrimination against Daniel.

FAAN instructed KFC management to tender an unreserved apology, in writing, to Daniel, and a policy statement of non-discrimination be written and pasted conspicuously at its door post at MMIA before it resumed operation.

Reacting to the accusation, KFC reiterated its commitment to opposing bias or discrimination in any shape or form, with inclusivity and respect as fundamental principles of its values.

“KFC is unwavering in our stance against bias or discrimination in any form, with inclusivity and respect as non-negotiable pillars of our values,” the company said.

“However, this recent incident has underscored the pressing need for immediate action. We have embarked on efforts to address the situation.

“We deeply regret the frustration and distress experienced by our guest and extend sincere apologies to those affected.

“In response, we are urgently implementing inclusion training for all our employees. This incident is not reflective of our standards, and we will act swiftly to rectify it.

“We are actively exploring actions to equip our team members and restaurants better to ensure that every guest feels genuinely welcomed and that we deliver empathetic customer service that proactively addresses the diverse needs of each guest.”

‘FCCPC CONDEMNS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CONSUMERS’

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) condemned the discrimination against Daniel.

In a statement on Thursday, Adamu Abdullahi, FCCPC’s acting executive vice chairman (EVC) and chief executive officer (CEO), said the commission strongly condemns any form of discrimination against consumers, especially those based on disability.

Abdullahi said the commission would work with relevant authorities to ensure appropriate redress for the aggrieved consumer.

He said the commission would also ensure KFC took full responsibility for its actions.

The EVC said section 17 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) emphasises the obligation to eliminate practices detrimental to competition and consumer welfare to safeguard consumer interests.

Abdullahi said discriminatory actions, such as those witnessed at the KFC outlet, undermined their principles and would not be tolerated.

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FRSC to impound vehicles transporting animals and humans together

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The Bauchi command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it will prosecute owners of vehicles conveying animals with humans, after impounding the trucks.

NAN reports that Patrick Ikaba, FRSC sector commander in the state, said this on Thursday.

Ikaba said the command has been mandated by the FRSC headquarters to seize vehicles conveying animals and passengers at the same time.

Ikaba said this has become imperative because in the event of a crash, the animals fall on the passengers, compounding the fatality rate.

He added that animals and humans must be conveyed separately.

The sector commander urged the public to desist from the act, adding that FRSC is setting up mobile courts for the offence.

“It is either you are carrying animals or you are carrying passengers and this is very common among big trucks as they have adopted it as a method of loading, which is very dangerous,” Ikaba said.

“We advise that henceforth, where you need to load them, they should be separated.

“It is only just one person that is allowed to take care of the animals while they are being transported from one place to the other.

“The move we are making in this regard is to begin to organise mobile courts where any culprit will be made to face a magistrate and explain why he has to contravene the laws of the land.

“This is very serious and we are going to swing into action any moment from now as we are liaising with the courts and we have the magistrate already on ground to take our cases.”

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FAAN shuts KFC outlet that humiliated Gbenga Daniel’s wheelchair-bound son

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The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has shut down a KFC outlet at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

This move came less than a day after the airport branch of the fast-food restaurant allegedly humiliated a wheelchair user, Adebola Daniel, the son of former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel.

Sharing his experience, on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, Daniel said he was “made to feel “less than human” because of his disability.

He said while passing the time alongside his wife and siblings, at the restaurant ahead of his flight, a manager of the restaurant told him to leave the premises because “No wheelchairs allowed.”

“To be disabled in Nigeria is to be undesirable, unwelcome and unaccepted. As I’ve said before, it’s a lonely, scary and isolated place. Never has this been more true than it has ever been today where I faced the worst sort of public humiliation that I have ever experienced. To think that this happened at an international brand, KFC at an international airport – Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos – is unthinkable,” he said.

Reacting, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, announced in a statement on Thursday, March 28, 2024, that the restaurant has been shut down.

According to the statement signed by Obiageli Orah, the law clearly states, “A person shall not deprive another person of access to any place, vehicle, or facility that members of the public are entitled to enter or use on the basis of the disability of that person.” This legislation underscores the seriousness with which the Nigerian authorities view discrimination, particularly in spaces accessible to the public.

The incident came to light after a Passenger with Reduced Mobility (PRM) reported on social media the unfair treatment they encountered at the KFC outlet within the airport premises.

Reacting to these allegations, FAAN’s MD/CE, Olubunmi Kuku assembled a team to investigate the claims. The team included other officials of the agency such as the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, and the Regional Manager South West, Sunday Ayodele, among others.

Following the investigation, FAAN said the allegations were confirmed to be true and proceeded to close the KFC facility implicated in the discriminatory act.

As part of the corrective measures, KFC management has been instructed to issue a written apology to the affected individual and to publicly display a policy statement of non-discrimination at their facility.

This statement must be visibly placed at the entrance of the KFC outlet at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport before the establishment is allowed to resume operations.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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