CONDOLENCE MESSAGE!!!

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee in the South West has commiserated with the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Dr Peter Ayodele Fayose on the death of Mrs. Moji Ladeji who passed on to the great beyond on Monday 21st September, 2020.

The sudden occurrence was shocking but our consolation is that the sister of the former governor Fayose lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation.

Mrs Ladeji, no doubt, was a totally GOD-fearing individual who was very humble, generous and kind to whoever that came in contact with her, in one way or the other.

Indeed, the deceased would be greatly missed not only by her family members alone but also people whom she had impacted positively while alive.

May GOD console one of our leaders in the Zone, governor Fayose, her immediate family and all her loved ones. May GOD grant her eternal rest and give her loved ones the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss, AMEN. 🙏

Our Condolences!

Signed:
Hon. Akintan Daisi
Zonal Secretary
PDP South West Caretaker Committee.
On behalf of the PDP South West Caretaker Committee

OSUN STATE GOVERNOR PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR NUJ

Osun state governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola has assured Nigeria Union of journalists, Osun state council of his readiness to support the Union in the rehabilitation of its press centre.

Governor Oyetola stated this in Osogbo while playing host to the state executive committee of the Union led by the Acting chairman, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu, yesterday evening.

The governor who identified paucity of fund as major challenge of his administration promised government intervention in the facelift of the Union facilities.

He described NUJ as a formidable Union that was central to the promotion of the activities of his government and urged the union to continue to support his government through balance reportage of government programmes and policies.

Mr Oyetola said journalists are respected professionals who deserved a place in governance of the nation hence the appointment of six members of the Union into political offices.

He noted that his administration was committed to people oriented programmes that would improve economic life of the citizenry as well as placing priority on regularly payment of salaries and pension of the retires to make life more bearable for the working class.

The state helmsman charged the Union to always uphold principle of professionalism in the discharge of its duties and use their reportage to promote good of the society without any element of bias.

In a remark,the Acting chairman of Nigeria Union of journalists, Osun state council,Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu said the essence of the visit was to appreciate the governor for the appointment of six of its members into his government.

Comrade Ajadosu noted that the feat was last recorded ten years ago as the Union would continue to cherish the honour and respect as well as the confidence reposed in his members by the governor.

He however commended the governor for his intervention during the crisis that erupted the Union four years ago,noting that the Union would continue to appreciate the gesture.

The Acting chairman however pledged the support of the Union to the governor and his administration and promised that the union would continue to promote professionalism.

OSPOLY STUDENTS RESUME MONDAY MONDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER, 26 OCTOBER

The Management of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, has drawn a schedule of resumption for its students on Monday, 21st September and Monday, 26th October, respectively.

A release by Registrar of the Institution, Mr Busari Salawu, which was made available to Nigerian Platform in Osogbo, stated that all students of the Polytechnic in the National Diploma (ND1&2) of the Daily Part programme are to resume on Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd September.

Those in the ND 2 of the Full Time programme of the Polytechnic are also directed to resume on the Monday, 21st September to complete their lectures and First Semester Examinations.

The Registrar explained further that students in ND1, HND 1 and HND 2 are expected to resume on Monday 26th October, 2020 to commence their Second semester lectures.

Mr Salawu added that the Weekend Part Time Students would commence their lectures on Friday 25th September.

The release enjoined all students to abide by the schedule of resumption stated above.

ALHAJA AWAWU MOJIRADE APEKE LAID TO ETERNAL REST

Friday, September 11 shall forever be a day of psitive reckoning as the children of Alhaja Awawu Mojirade Apeke were gathered during a Fidau prayer for their mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

The events was held at her residence located at Iludun area, opposite VIO’s House, Osogbo.

Alhaja Awawu Mojirade Apeke was born at Amuloke’s Compound in Osogbo.

Mama spent many eventful years on earth before she gave up the ghost at the fulfilled age of 98 years.

Alhaji Yusuf Abajaoro who spoke about Mama’s life maintained that she used to donate to the growth of the Mosque when she was alive.

She also used to give needful things to the Alfa of the Mosque and many other people of diverse walks, who came in contact with her.

May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen

PDP ZONAL CONGRESS :
SWC, OTHERS IN PEACE PARLEY IN OSOGBO

In furtherance of the preparation for the forthcoming South West Zonal Congress, reconciliatory team of a former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Ayodele Fayose continued its move on Friday in Osun State Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with the attendance of the leadership of the party, the State Working Committee led by Elder Sunday Akanfe.

Flanked by the Zonal leaders that cut across the six States of the South West Zone are four PDP State Chairmen, the 30 Local Government Chairmen and notable stakeholders in the rank and file of the Osun PDP.

The meeting, well attended by PDP faithfuls, was to broker peace and charge a positive course for the survival and prosperity of the main opposition party in Nigeria.

The representative of Dr Deji Doherty from Lagos, Hon. Sikirulai Olawale Ogundele (Ogun), Chief Bisi Kolawole of Ekiti and the acting Chairman in Osun State, Elder Sunday Akanfe (Atidade) were in attendance for the sake of unity, peace and progress of the opposition party in the Zone.

While speaking, Ogun PDP Chairman, Hon. Ogundele stated emphatically that all the delegates of the party in his State are solidly behind the reelection bid of Dr Eddy Olafeso and Rev. Bunmi Jenyo as the Zonal Chairman and Secretary respectively, in the forthcoming Congress.

Osun State acting Chairman, Elder Atidade while reaponding, charged the PDP members to embrace peace and progress of the party in every nook and cranny of the South West.

Dr. Eddy Olafeso in his response thanked Osun PDP stakeholders present at the meeting and charged them to encourage one another towards the attainment of peace, tranquility and unity of the party.

According to Olafeso, Engr. Seyi Makinde remains the overall leader, being the only PDP produced Governor in the Zone. He however, challenged all and sundry to sue for peace.

He also expressed happiness at the impressive turnout of the delegates and relevant stakeholders to ratify certain decisions concerning free, fair and credible Congress of the South West Zone.

SOUTHWEST PDP LEADERS REJECT AUTOCRATIC TENDENCIES, BID FOR EQUITY IN ZONAL CONGRESS

Notable leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South West led by a former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Ayodele Fayose have jointly rejected any act that does not respect democratic norms in the procedure to organise a hitch-free Congress, coming up in the Zone soon.

This decision was arrived at Abeokuta, Ogun State after a thorough deliberation of a Committee of South West PDP Chairmen, on Wednesday.

The meeting which had in attendance critical stakeholders of the opposition party also had four State Chairmen from Ogun, Ekiti, Lagos and Osun in attendance.

In a Press Statement jointly signed by Hon. Sikirulai Olawale Ogundele (Ogun), Chief Bisi Kolawole (Ekiti), Engr. Deji Doherty (Lagos) and Elder Sunday Akanfe (Osun) which was made available to Nigerian Platform, the party stalwarts stated that Dr Eddy Olafeso led Executives must be returned to office, in the forthcoming Zonal Congress, to give equity a chance.

The Chairmen who maintained that the leadership of the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde was not in question however said that each of the six States in the Zone must be allowed and appropriately carried along in the decision making process of the party in the Zone.

According to them “It must be noted that each state has its own leaders as politics is local and its leadership structure must be respected, but no state is ruled or governed by another”.

They emphasized that their parley was to stand against impunity and to place the PDP in a better position of victory in the forthcoming and future elections.

“We Chairmen of the PDP in States of the South West Zone, alive to our responsibilities to the party and its teeming supporters, wish to place on record our deep commitment to its well-being and success at all times”.

“We reject any style of leadership that does not respect democratic norms. Everybody must be carried along for the sake of equity and fairness”

The PDP leaders also solicited for a hitch-free Zonal Congress that is going to be free, fair, transparent, credible and acceptable.

“We seize this opportunity to let the National Working Committee know that it is nothing but free, fair, transparent and non-violent Congress is what is acceptable to us and we are ready to comply with all legitimate processes to determine the outcome of the Zonal Congress”.

“All we are saying is that we must give peace a chance and allow the South West take its rightful position in the PDP and Nigeria” the statement concluded.

Ogun State leader, Hon. Ladi Adebutu also said that the positions of Women Leader and Organising Secretary zoned to the state must not be tampered with as it remains non-negotiable.

JOURNALISTS TO BE EQUIPPED TO FORESTALL HARASSMENT

Journalists in Nigeria have been advised to submit themselves to adequate knowledge about the nitty-gritty and ethics of their profession to forestall unethical conduct or harassment from powers that be in the society.

This was disclosed on Thursday by a political and communication strategist, Dr Festus Adedayo at the virtual training held at https://meet.google.com/xnu-ukim-dsj for Media workers to equip themselves to tackle varying challenges in the course of their duty.

The virtual discourse which was with the theme “Journalism Under Siege in Nigeria, The Urgency and Justification for Media Activism” frowned at Chief Femi Fani-Kayode’s outburst against a Daily Trust Newspaper Correspondent in Cross River State, Mr Charles Eyo in Calabar recently.

Dr Adedayo had suggested the immediate need for Press Constitutional Conference to chart a new modality and template for Media workers to further entrench professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

Some members of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State Council had converged at the Press Centre, Iwo/Ibadan road, Osogbo to join in the virtual discourse.

Also, another speaker, Mr Suleiman Aledeh who encouraged professional Journalists to bend over backwards to maintain their stand without compromise maintained that journalists were expected to stage a walk-out on whoever intends to harass them in the line of their constitutional obligation.

Mr Aledeh solicited for constant training and retraining of Journalists to distinguish themselves amidst the crowd as well as having multiple streams of income to maintain self-confidence and self-esteem in the media practitioners.

He berated some owners of Media outfits who are endlessly owing their professional workers, thereby subjecting them to economic hardship, noting that this has increasingly made the professionalism to come under a serious attack in Nigerian Journalism practice.

Earlier, Osun NUJ Council acting Chairman, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu has expressed appreciation to the facilitators for the opportunity and hope that the one-day workshop was expedient to enlighten Journalists on how to tackle unprecedented challenges in the face of provocation

JOURNALISTS TO BE EQUIPPED TO FORESTALL HARASSMENT

Journalists in Nigeria have been advised to submit themselves to adequate knowledge about the nitty-gritty and ethics of their profession to forestall unethical conduct or harassment from powers that be in the society.

This was disclosed on Thursday by a political and communication strategist, Dr Festus Adedayo at the virtual training held at https://meet.google.com/xnu-ukim-dsj for Media workers to equip themselves to tackle varying challenges in the course of their duty.

The virtual discourse which was with the theme “Journalism Under Siege in Nigeria, The Urgency and Justification for Media Activism” frowned at Chief Femi Fani-Kayode’s outburst against a Daily Trust Newspaper Correspondent in Cross River State, Mr Charles Eyo in Calabar recently.

Dr Adedayo had suggested the immediate need for Press Constitutional Conference to chart a new modality and template for Media workers to further entrench professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

Some members of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State Council had converged at the Press Centre, Iwo/Ibadan road, Osogbo to join in the virtual discourse.

Also, another speaker, Mr Suleiman Aledeh who encouraged professional Journalists to bend over backwards to maintain their stand without compromise maintained that journalists were expected to stage a walk-out on whoever intends to harass them in the line of their constitutional obligation.

Mr Aledeh solicited for constant training and retraining of Journalists to distinguish themselves amidst the crowd as well as having multiple streams of income to maintain self-confidence and self-esteem in the media practitioners.

He berated some owners of Media outfits who are endlessly owing their professional workers, thereby subjecting them to economic hardship, noting that this has increasingly made the professionalism to come under a serious attack in Nigerian Journalism practice.

Earlier, Osun NUJ Council acting Chairman, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu has expressed appreciation to the facilitators for the opportunity and hope that the one-day workshop was expedient to enlighten Journalists on how to tackle unprecedented challenges in the face of provocation

PDP, NLC, OTHERS CRITICISE NEW PUMP PRICE, ELECTRICITY BILL

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the fresh increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) and electricity tariff.

The opposition party stated this on Wednesday in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.

The Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) had on Wednesday adjusted the ex-depot price of PMS twice within a few hours.

The new price of N147.67 was made public shortly after the PPMC announced an initial increment to N151.56 per litre from the erstwhile price of N138.62 per litre.

Earlier before the PMS price hike, the electricity distribution companies (DisCos) across the country on Tuesday began the implementation of a new electricity tariff regime of N66 per kilowatt.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which represents the interest of Nigerian workers, has also condemned the increase amidst rising economic plight of most Nigerians.

Reacting to the increase in prices of the basic commodities, the PDP said it demands an immediate reversal of the new hikes to avert a national crisis.

It said the increase will result in upsurge in costs of goods and services and worsen the biting hardship being faced by Nigerians.

Feelers across the country have also expressed shock and disappointment in the Federal Government over the incessant hike in the essential commodities in Nigeria in recent times.

According to the opposition party, “Our party asserts that by increasing the price of fuel from the N87 per litre it sold under the PDP to an excruciating N151 while at the same time allowing the hike in electricity tariff from N30.23 per kwh to over N66, the APC has left no one in doubt that its agenda is to inflict pain and hardship on Nigerians to satisfy their selfish interests.”

“The unjustifiable increase in the price of these essential supplies, coming barely a week after the APC brazenly posted a support for fuel price hike, while attempting to rationalize the excruciating hardship being suffered by Nigerians under the Buhari administration, has further confirmed that the APC is at the center of the harsh policies of the Buhari Presidency.”

“It is distressing that the APC administration increased the cost of essential commodities at the time the leadership of other countries are offering palliatives to their citizens to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is instructive to add that our nation is doomed under the APC watch.

“We know that the APC is an unfeeling party but it is indeed shocking that it could go to the extent of approving such a hike at this trying time, when many Nigerians are struggling to afford staple foods and other necessities of life,” the main opposition party lamented.

The PDP challenged the APC and the Buhari administration to publish the parameters with which it arrived at the new fuel price.

“Our party further challenges the APC-led Federal Government to publish details of its sleazy and over-bloated oil subsidy regime, including the involvement of APC interests in the claimed under-recovery for unnamed West African countries, running into trillions of naira, while Nigerians are made to bear the burden of high fuel costs.

“Moreover, the APC and its government have failed to allow an open investigation into allegations of fuel price overcharge as well as the fraudulent subsidy regime through which over N14 trillion had allegedly been frittered by unscrupulous individuals in the APC.

“Our fear is that the APC is pushing Nigerians to the wall with its obnoxious and anti-people proclivities and we caution that nobody should misinterpret the peaceful and law-abiding nature of Nigerians as a sign of weakness.”

The party further called on the National Assembly “to save the nation by calling the APC and its administration to order before the nation plunges into chaos”.