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Bimbo Ashiru Denies Certificate Scandal Allegation, Upholds Capability, Competence

Published

5 years ago

March 14, 2018

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The media team of Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, and governorship hopeful, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, has reacted to a media report, which labeled the commissioner as having ‘certificate scandal’, saying the report was just ‘a figment of the writer’s imagination’.

The accusation was contained in an article titled “Analysing 12 governorship aspirants in Ogun State”.

A statement signed by Bimbo Ashiru’s media consultant, Mr. Tayo Mabewaje, described as ‘laughable’ the allegation against the Commissioner, saying that his profile is in the public domain for all to see. It noted that it was necessary to correct the allegations in order not to give room to ‘armchair research’.

“In as much as we would not like to join issues with anybody who may engage in armchair research and broadcast such to the public, we are compelled to correct certain allegations levelled against a new breed and visionary politician, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru whose aspiration has been receiving unprecedented approval across the state in recent times.

It is a known fact that Otunba Ashiru has been consulting with major stakeholders in Ogun politics with rewarding commentaries and positive reactions which have given us leverage and audacity to move on.

The article purportedly stated that Otunba Bimbo Ashiru is ‘an aspirant with certificate scandal’. Laughable as the comment may be, we do not want to sweep it under the carpet and hence the need to set the records straight.

Otunba Bimbo Ashiru’s profile is in public domain and the unblemished history of the Ashiru dynasty in Ijebu Ode is open to verification for any body who so wishes. Perhaps, this is the first time an allegation of this magnitude is coming up and we can only term this as a figment of the writer’s imagination,” the statement read.

The statement further described the allegation that Mr. Ashiru bribed his way the screening process as a ‘fallacy’, adding that such insinuation is an insult to the integrity of great statesmen who conducted the screening exercise. The statement further recognised the incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun as a straightforward administrator, who would not condone any act of lawlessness.

It read: “That Otunba Ashiru bribed his way to emerge the APC consensus candidate in Ogun East smirks of nothing but fallacy. It is one mischief taken too far and, with due respect, an insult on the integrity and persons of the calibre of distinguished statesmen who conducted the screening.

“We wish the public to know and it is a well known fact that the incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, FCA, is a straightforward and impeccable character who would not condone any wrongdoing or controversy however minute. For Otunba Ashiru to be serving his second term in his cabinet is a testimony to his capability and competence . Without being immodest, Otunba Ashiru’s achievements are glaring and had even received accolades from critics. We do not need to dwell much on this.

“We wish to state for the umpteenth time that Otunba Ashiru does not see politics as a do-or-die affair but wish to seek people’s mandate to consolidate on the good works of the present administration and realise the dream of the founding fathers of Ogun State.

“We are not in anyway surprised by the unwarranted insinuations as we know the road will be rough and as well prepared for more to come. It is our belief that whoever comes to equity must come with clean hands and that is our cornerstone.

“The issue of Gov. Amosun’s successor rests on the wish of Almighty God and in Him, we trust.” the statement concluded

OBA as he is respectfully called, has been in the service of Ogun State under the present administration since inception, and is known to have contributed immensely to the development of the state, overseeing its revenue generation; a feat that has so far placed Ogun State in the map of rapidly developing states.

It would be recalled that Otunba Bimbo Ashiru was on November 17, 2017, unanimously selected as the consensus candidate for the Ogun East Senatorial district by prominent stakeholders of the zone.

Featured

Labour Party Denounces Suspension of National Chairman Abure

Published

1 day ago

April 1, 2023

Eric

The leadership of the Labour Party on Friday denounced the purported suspension of its National Chairman, Julius Abure, by the executive members of his ward in Edo State.

In a statement signed by the National Secretary of the party, Mallam Farouk Umar, the LP said the purported suspension is illegal and of no consequence.

According to the party’s constitution, Umar said it is only the National Convention that can suspend the national chairman and this must be through a convention called for the purpose of the suspension.

“Again, our Party Constitution is clear on who can suspend and who cannot suspend the National Chairman. They should go and read the party constitution. Only the National Convention can suspend the National Chairman of the Labour Party. It also must be through such a convention called for the purpose of the suspension of the National Chairman,” the statement read.

“We think that the sudden suspension was an afterthought of some opposition parties purely to distract the leadership of the Labour Party at this time. There is no reasonable party member now who will be thinking of such a thing when we are pursuing our presidential mandate in the court and all other mandates including the governorship, Senate and House of Representatives that were brazenly stolen.

“Who will be contemplating the suspension of any national party official now? It is on record that for the first time in the party’s history, the Abure-led leadership has succeeded in changing the country’s political narratives.

“A party from the blues competing with the top two political parties and in the process, winning eight Senate and 34 House of Representatives as well as numerous House of Assembly seats. We also won a governorship seat while we are in court to retrieve other mandates including the presidency.”

Channels TV

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Datti-Ahmed: NBC Slams N5m Fine on Channels TV

Published

2 days ago

March 31, 2023

Eric

In a March 27 letter addressed to Channels Chief Executive Officer and obtained on Friday in Abuja, the NBC said the television station violated broadcasting code.

Titled “Broadcast of an Inciting Interview, A Sanction”, the letter was signed by Balarabe Ilelah, the commission’s Director-General.

It read in part: “The NBC monitored the broadcast of a live interview of the running mate of the Labour Party Vice presidential candidate, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed, by the anchor of Politics Today, Seun Okibaloye, on Wednesday, March 22.

“Dr Baba-Ahmed said it will be unconstitutional to swear in an elected president on May 29, 2023, because of election irregularities,” Mr Ilelah said in the letter.

He noted that the broadcast was volatile and capable of inciting public disorder and therefore violated some sections of the broadcasting code.

This, according to him, includes the section that said no broadcast shall encourage, or incite, be repugnant to public feelings or contain offensive reference to any person or organisation, alive or dead or generally be disrespectful to human dignity.

Mr Ilelah added that according to the broadcasting code, broadcasters shall ensure that no programme contained anything which amounted to subversion of constituted authority.

He recalled that the NBC had engaged Channels Television severally to consider public interest before any programme is broadcast.

This, he said, was to ensure that the country was not plunged into anarchy.

“Consequently, on the following infractions, Channels Television is hereby sanctioned and shall pay a penalty of N5,000,000 (five million naira) only in the first instance,” he said.

He added that any further infraction by the television station would attract higher sanctions.

“You are advised to pay within two weeks from the day of receipt of this letter or the penalty will be graduated,” the NBC Director-General said.

(NAN)

Featured

Olowu Spare Parts Fire: 19 Shops, Goods Worth Nmillions Destroyed

Published

2 days ago

March 31, 2023

Eric

No fewer than 19 shops were burnt and goods worth millions of naira were destroyed on Thursday when fire engulfed the Olowu Spare Parts Market in the Ikeja area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the fire started at midnight.

It was later put out through the joint efforts of emergency responders, including men of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services.

The spokesperson for the agency, Amodu Shakiri, said a call was made to the Ikeja Fire Station at about 3.19am.

He said, “We got there in three minutes of the call time. Unfortunately, we lost 19 shops. The owners of the shops along the street all trade in combustible materials. Most of them are condensers for refrigerators, air conditioners and the like.

“All these are volatile combustibles. It aided the widespread of the fire but we were able to curtail it in time so that we did not record further losses.

“We also asked Alausa Station to join us. Despite the combustibles that were involved, there was no injury because the traders were not around.”

It was further gathered that some of the traders rushed to the scene of the fire early in the morning to salvage remnants of their goods.

Shakiri, however, attributed the fire to power disruption.

He said, “The cause is basically negligence because some people probably left their electronics on before they left the shop or maybe as a result of power disruption.

“People are advised to always switch off their electronic devices and installations. It should also be unplugged from the wall socket when closing for the day.”

The Coordinator of the Lagos Territorial Office of National Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Farinloye, on his part, said the fire affected 13 shops, four warehouses and one restaurant.

He, however, said no injury or death was recorded in the fire.

Farinloye said, “A fire outbreak at Olowu Automobile Spare Parts Market was recorded early this (Thursday) morning.

“The fire disaster which was reported to have started at about 2.30am affected 13 shops, four warehouses and one restaurant.

“The Commandant 9th Brigade, Ikeja met the NEMA team while he was on an assessment visit to the scene. The cause of the fire cannot be determined as of now.

“But the Chairman of the trader association, Bassey Ikpendu while narrating the situation applauded the efforts of the State Fire Service that prevented the escalation of the incident due to the combustible materials that were involved.

“The chairman narrated that one of their apprentices slept in the building and noticed the fire but by the time he got out, the chairman said, the fire had engulfed the building and immediately fire service was contacted which responded promptly.

“No injury or death was recorded.”

The Punch