News
Death rumour: Akeredolu is alive, says Ondo state government
Ondo state government today asked Nigerians to ignore the rumour of the demise of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Speculations were rife that the governor who had been indisposed for a while, passed on this morning.
But the state information and Orientation Commissioner, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, in a statement in Akure, made the clarification.
The statement reads “We have been inundated with calls and messages concerning the state of health of the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON.
“We had chosen to ignore this wicked fabrication until it appeared that certain persons seek to draw political mileage from the disinformation.
“Though the Governor has been indisposed, he has been attending to state matters and delegating functions to functionaries of the Government, when necessary.
“We enjoin the members of the public to ignore the rumour. Aketi is very much alive.
However, both the Social Democratic Party and the People’s Democratic Party, have raised concerns over the governor’s health.
While the SDP, state chairman, Stephen Adewale kicked against the secrecy of the health conditions of the governor, the spokesperson for the People’s Democratic Party, Kennedy Peretei, said the governor’s whereabouts should not be a secret.
Adewale said that ” There are now serious doubts about Governor Akeredolu’s capacity to continue to govern the Sunshine State as his medical conditions remain shrouded in secrecy.
“It is quite disturbing that the state of the governor’s health has become a topic of state curiosity and concern.
” This situation continues to undermine the ability of the State government to fulfil its obligations and commitments, including those requiring the government to provide economic pathways to millions of people facing absolute poverty and uncertainty in the Sunshine State due to the reckless and insensitive removal of subsidy by the APC-led federal government.
“Ondo SDP call on Arakunrin to respect the good people of Ondo State who have voted for him twice by presenting his medical records to the general public.
“We strongly believe that the good people of Ondo State have the right to know about the medical conditions of Arakunrin Akeredolu.
On it’s part, the PDP’s Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, in a statement, said that ” those hiding the governor should tell the people where he is to save the state from speculation.
“As mortals, any human being can fall sick. Whether in public office or private life. Rotimi Akeredolu is employed by the people of Ondo State and maintained with taxpayers’ money. So, it is criminal and a great disservice to keep mum over his health status and his whereabouts.
” In 2010, when then-President Umar Yar’Adua was incapacitated due to ill health, Akeredolu was one of the most vociferous voices, calling for his resignation and allowing the then Vice-President to take over.
” If for whatever reason, Akeredolu can no longer discharge his official responsibilities, the most reasonable thing to do is to hand over to the Deputy Governor as required by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“Our party joins millions of Ondo State people to pray for Akeredolu’s quick recovery, but nobody should play politics with his ill health.
Peretei added that “Nobody should ground the state beyond its present state. Let Akeredolu resign if he is no longer fit to be governor.
News
Explosion rocks Rivers APC secretariat as LG poll holds
Buildings and other property were shattered in the early hours of Saturday as explosives suspected to be dynamite shattered the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress along Aba Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
The explosion brought down the gate of the secretariat while doors, windows and other property were destroyed.
This is the second time the Chief Tony Okocha-led APC would be experiencing such an attack at its secretariat this year.
This came as the local government elections is set to hold in the state today as the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission said on Friday that all sensitive materials have been distributed to the various local government areas.
A viral video of the incident scene seen by our correspondent showed some workers at the facilities going round to ascertain the extent of damage.
When contacted, the spokespetson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she had yet to get a report on it but promised to revert.
The party has yet to make a statement on the incident.
News
‘She was everything a man wished for’ — Umo Eno speaks on wife’s death
Umo Eno, governor of Akwa Ibom, has eulogised Patience Oluwakemi, his wife who died last Thursday after an illness.
The Akwa Ibom first lady died in a hospital in the presence of her family.
In a broadcast on Friday, Eno said his wife’s passing left a vacuum in his life.
“Kemi was everything a man could ever wish for in a virtuous woman,” the governor said.
“My prayer partner, counsellor, cheer-leader, best critic, home maker and permanently smiling. I will miss her for a life time.”
The governor thanked Nigerians for the outpouring of love, support, prayers, and words of encouragement through phone calls, condolence messages, and visits.
Eno thanked Oluremi Tinubu for the “motherly role she played since my wife fell ill till her demise”.
The governor assured that all projects that his late wife initiated would be completed, adding that he would continue to govern the state well.
“The Golden Initiative for All (GIFA), as well as all other initiatives she had started, will be sustained and expanded,” Eno said.
“The machinery of state will continue to function seamlessly as government will continue to be alive to her responsibilities.
“Our focus will not be shifted from rendering services to our people with renewed strength as this is what Kemi has always prayed for.”
Eno said announcements on the burial arrangements will be made public at the appropriate time.
News
Whistleblower PIDOM released from Kuje prison
Bristol Tamunobifiri, popularly known by his X name PIDOM, has been released from the Kuje correctional centre in Abuja.
Tamunobifiri regained his freedom on Friday after he perfected his bail conditions.
Omoyele Sowore, an activist, shared images of the whistleblower outside the Kuje prison on his X handle on Friday.
Last Friday, Emeka Nwite, a judge at the federal high court in Abuja, granted PIDOM N5 million bail with one surety in like sum.
Nwite said the surety must be a resident of Abuja and depose to an affidavit of means.
He said the surety must also provide evidence of three years of tax clearance with two passport-sized photographs.
The judge also ruled that the defendant must deposit his passport with the court.
PIDOM was arraigned on September 3, on a nine-count charge brought against him by Olukayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police.
He was accused of “mobilising and soliciting support to unduly compel the government to act or abstain from certain acts through the #EndBadGovernance protest”.
The police said the whistleblower allegedly laundered N970,000 deemed to be “proceeds of an unlawful act”.
In August, the police said the whistleblower was arrested at his hotel room in Rivers.
The police added that PIDOM was arrested for “committing serious offences that undermine the integrity of government operations”.
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