BUHARI, OSINBAJO AND APC GOVERNORS STORM EDO STATE

As at the 16th of August 2016 when the Apc in Edo state flagged off their campaign for the september 10 governorship election in the state, most parts of the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium was still unroofed but which because the president, V.P Osibanjo and the Apc governors will storm on tuesday, the 5th of September, 2016, showing their support for the Apc candidate, Godwin Obaseki towards the grand finale campaign for the governorship poll in the state, is now wearing a new look!

Mr Anslem Ojezua, the state chairman (Apc), disclosed to sea of journalists in benin the capital city of Edo state, while speaking to them on monday, that the national campaign council for the election headed by governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state is already in benin.  All necessary arrangements are put in place to ensure a hitch free campaign rally. Visitors and supporters will be taken care of. And you know anytime the Apc is campaigning, we always have a mass mobilisation. Now that the president is coming, the people of Edo state will come out in their numbers, he said. Security operatives are already mounting strategic locations in and around the stadium. But how loved is president Buhari in edo state will be the big question of the day.

Written by Anita Aluya and Posted by Michael Uchegbu

INEC POSTPONES EDO STATE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS

After several deliberations on the supposed guber election in Edo state which was initially slated for the 10TH of september,2016 in the state, the major reason for the postponement came as a shock to the entire world as the police and dss decided to check the level of insecurity around the time of the election owning that there are plans by the insurgents/extremists to attack the vulnerable communities or even soft targets during the sallah celebrations which falls on the 12th and 13th of september respectively.
Therefore, we can rightly say that the postponement did not officially come from the INEC or the stakeholders (Political parties) but rather by the security agencies in the country.It can be recalled that the DIG from the force headquarters, Abuja, assured the people of Edo state that they are in safe hands as they are deploying over 25,000 police officers to the state!

The INEC's national chairman. Mahmoud Yakubu explained that the electoral umpire was set for the election But now that the security agencies have expressed their concern on security matters, who can still question the postponement of the election?

There is one man that actually find it very funny though and that is the spokesperson of the national caretaker committee of the PDP, Mr Dayo Adeyeye. In his words he said:  It is therefore lamentable to hear from these same security agencies that election cannot be held in a state where in less than 24hours, the president, Apc leaders and members had an uninterrupted rally.
The Edo state poll has been postponed by two weeks.

Written by Anita Aluya and posted by Michael Uchegbu.

AKEREDOLU EMERGES ONDO APC GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE

The severally shifted Apc primary in Ondo state finally took place on saturday the 3rd of September 2016, at the Dome International event centre in Akure, Ondo state, the same venue were the PDP primary took place. Unlike the PDP primary were  few aspirants participated, the Apc aspirants appeared more. The aspirants were 24 in number. And from all indication, it appears the Apc is more desperate and more determined to capture the state this time around. 

But the big question is: How can a divided house stand in a competitive atmosphere?
Gdev News has been closely observing the Ondo state politics for a while now and we can categorically tell of what is going on in the state's polity. Let's recall that a few day to their primary, the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said in his words: 'However, we (Apc) cannot accomplish this great deed through petty bickering  or by allowing our very opponents to sow discords among us. Our mission is too important and humane to allow ourselves to be divided or sidetracked! We must remember what is truly at stake.
In the end only one person will be chosen.'

Chief Rotimi Akeredolu

Chief Rotimi Akeredolu

And just two days to the just concluded primary, two aspirants were made to step down for chief Segun Abraham ( The supposed anointed of the party), who won 635 votes. Engr Tunji Abayomi won only 5 votes, Bode Ayorinde won 67votes, Borofice Ajayi won 471 votes, Oke Olusola won 574 votes and Rotimi Akeredolu won 689 votes. Others had their votes too. Akeredolu emerged the party' s candidate!  Will the outcome or result of the primary shock the Asiwaju since he was the one who chose the anointed for the party? Let's leave that for the people of Ondo state to answer. Going further on the outcome of the primary, the venue also witnessed sporadic shoot out by security agents who misunderstood each other but later calm down when effective communication took place.

On thursday August 18th 2016, the warring members of the party had a shoot out amongst themselves at the party's Secretariat and on the 30th of August 2016, fetish images were placed at the front of the party's Secretariat, yemekun road, Akure.
The primary was conducted by governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa state who was chairman, primary election committee that monitored the exercise. Total voters accredited was 2,774.

Written by Anita Aluya and Posted by Michael Uchegbu.

PDP CRISIS: BOT ENDORSES MARKAFI'S FACTION

It is no longer news that the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has two warring factions.The Ahmed Makarfi led National caretaker committee faction and the Ali Modu Sheriff's led faction. But what is now news and is clear to everyone is the fact that BoT (Board of Trustees) of the People's Democratic Party has passed a vote of confidence on Senator Ahmed Makarfi led caretaker committee and has also urged them to continue with their good works! The meeting was held at the Musa Yaradua Centre, Abuja and was chaired by Senator Walid Jubril. 

Deliberations from the meeting was focused on issues such as the outcome of the National Convention in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state on the 17th of August 2016. Therefore, the BoT arrived on the conclusion that the forthcoming national convention should be held in Abuja, the federal capital territory and to make this happen, a new national convention committee should be constituted by the National Caretaker Committee and approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC). The BoT also want the party to raise adequate  funds for the party and perfect reconciliation amongst aggrieved party members. PDP governors should project more of people oriented projects in their States in other to maintain the party' s manifesto to the people urged BoT.

And finally, BoT advised that the National Executive Committee should approve proposals in order to move the party forward.

Written by Anita Aluya and posted by Michael Uchegbu.

APC CRISIS IN ONDO STATE RAGES ON

The APC Secretariat in Ondo state yesterday was spoilt with an eyesore which raised a lot of dust! The state chairman D.I Kekemeke who is also a lawyer by profession was said to have been chased out of office by some aggrieved members of the party and same aggrieved members stormed the Secretariat with what they call African powers, (Juju)! All sorts of fetish images were placed in front of the secretariat as a sign of their disapproval of what is going on amongst them!

Barricaded APC Secretariat  with Juju in Oyemekun road, Akure.

Well, Gdev News got on line with a reliable source to abreast herself with exactly what is going out there and the reliable source said: 'Yes, fetish images were placed out there but earlier today they were all gone! And when asked about the state chairman, he said the chairman is intact in office but has not been seen anywhere near the Secretariat today'.

Barricaded APC Secretariat  with Juju in Oyemekun road, Akure.

Apc Ondo state slated their primary election for the 3rd of September 2016, tentatively to be held in Democracy park in Akure. This is the third time they are shifting the date for primaries.

Written by Anita Aluya and posted by Michael Uchegbu.

AMAZING STORY OF BABY PRECIOUS

It is no longer news that baby Precious was caged by her auntie who has seven children of her own and yet to chose to maltreat this innocent child growing under her care simply because baby precious' parents died and left her in this wicked world!  The difference here is that, Gdev News was at Special Children Centre Akure, capital city of Ondo state and spoke live to the ASP in charge of the centre. Here you will find out the truth surrounding the story of baby precious.

May we meet you ma?
My name is Asp Ojumu Olayemi Olatosi. I'm in charge of Special Children Centre, A division, Akure, Ondo state.

Tell us briefly what this centre is all about?
Well, the centre is all about the Children, husbands and wives. But because we said it is for children, therefore it is for children. Our focus is on child abuse cases and trafficking. If you look round, you see the ills and wickedness being dished out on these children by some wicked persons or even their parents! So what we normally do in case of any report, we move into action, bring the abused child or children here and then wait for the outcome of the case.

Abandoned cage where baby precious stayed

Abandoned Cage.

 Is this an initiative of the ministry of Women affairs or in collaboration with them? And who is funding this initiative?

The centre is in collaboration with the ministry of women affairs. United Nations and Unicef. Presently, none of these organisations is funding the centre. We are managing it the little way we can. The police is the one funding it for now. We thank God for our Cp(s) and the D.P.O, A division. If we have any challenge, we quickly run to them and they assist us. But for the ministry of women affairs, we are still asking them to assist us because children is everybody's business.

So, can we be right to say, this is an initiative of the NPF(Nigeria Police Force)?

Yes, Special Children Centre is currently one of it's kind in the whole country. The NPF had JWC (Juvenile Welfare Centre) before now. Therefore the police is not all about security alone but also about welfare of children.

Baby Precious BEFORE

Baby Precious BEFORE

Right, we also observed that you have an interesting case right now at the centre and that is on baby precious. Can you let us into herstory?

Well, glory to God for baby precious is doing so well now. An information got to us on the 13th of June 2016 that a child was caged at Imafo. So rushing down there, we met the child inside the bush not even inside the cage. That was where she slept! Cages are built for animals but in this case, cages are built for babies eg Baby precious. We rushed her out and took her straight to police clinic. Thank God for the police doctor we met on duty. Immediately they attended to us, asking for blood donation for her. Myself and the audley to the D.P.O, "A" Division donated some pants of blood and the treatment was done. 
Thank God baby Precious is hail and hearty!

Somebody most be responsible for this wicked act. Was it any of her relatives?

Yes, the woman in question is her aunt. She said she suspected baby precious is having Hiv disease which she got from her late parents. So for her own children not to be affected, she had to relocate her out in a bush.

But is it true, baby precious is having the disease?

No. From all indication, no result showing such evidence. 

What is the police department doing in this case now? 

The case will soon be in court Soon. The police can only charge the case, it is left for the magistrate to prosecute it. I know everyone will be interested in this case. Even if they free her from the court, how about the punishments that awaits such a criminal act from the almighty? Anyways, baby precious is doing so well! Even if the case of adoption comes up now, I will let it be.

Baby Precious NOW

Baby Precious NOW

Is your centre into adoption of children?

No, we are not. But if a child is brought here to us and no one surfaces after some time, we take them to OSRC ( Ondo state Radio Corporation) for publicity and if no one comes thereafter, we transfer them to government homes with a legal letter.

Madam, as head of the centre, what is your advice to women and the society? 

"You see, children are our future. They are what we have.  No one knows which of our children will become great in the near future. Therefore we should take care of them properly. They are gifts from God.  No woman should say, this not my child therefore, I won't take care the child. No you shouldn't do that. Every child is everybody's business. As for the government, according to a proverb: Kekere ni won ti kpeka Iroko to ba da gba tan. You know, it will begin to collect many things. If we follow our children from the grassroots, we will enjoy them. Lastly, I want to beg the government to assist the centre because the police is trying. In fact, I love all my Cp(s) and D.p.o,
they are really trying in terms of these children. Our IGP, Ibrahim Idris MNI, is wonderful! They are fathers and mothers at hearts!  The way they ate assisting us here is beyond my expectations. I still want to urge everyone especially the Ondo state government to assist us with vehicles. I know they are trying. I want them to assist us more just to boost our morales and motivate us more. For instance, there was a case of a child being thrown into the water at Omi ala, before we could get out there, it was too late because we didn't have vehicles of our own. They child had given up. If we have vehicles of our own, if a report comes to us we will move immediately. So I pray the government of Ondo state will help our centre to perform more and do better". She rounded off.

Interview by Anita Aluya and posted by Michael Uchegbu

ONDO 2016: JEGEDE EMERGES PDP GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE

Seasoned and dynamic lawyer who was appointed notary public by chief justice of Nigeria and elevated to senior advocate of Nigeria less than ten years , Barrister Eyitayo Jegede SAN, former attorney general of Ondo state, who resigned shortly before the gubernatorial election in his state to pursue his political ambition under the platform of the People's Democratic Party, PDP, emerged candidate and flag bearer at the just concluded PDP primary in the state, held at the Dome international centre in the capital city of Akure, Ondo state. In his words he said: "It is time we talk about the economy since the outgoing government has laid a foundation for them to build on. For me, it is team work and I shall carry the flag to victory come 26th November 2016 here in Ondo state."

Eyitayo Jegede had 760 votes while his opponent, honourable Oluwasanmi Saka Lawal had 23 votes .  And on top of that, the SAN's joy knew no bounds as he was full of optimism that he was going to be the next executive governor of the state come November 26, 2016.

Barr. Eyitayo Jegede

Announcement of the Results

Hilarious scenes of showmanship,

Hilarious scenes at the party primaries

From all indications, the legal luminary per excellence appears to have the full support of the incumbent governor Gov. Mimiko popularly called "the Iroko" of Ondo state.

Written by: Anita Aluya.