The women wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has called on the leadership of the party at both the state and national levels to field a woman as the running mate of the party’s candidate, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).
In a statement issued by the coordinator of the group, Mrs Laria Kolo, the group stressed the need for the APC leadership to consider a woman as deputy governor of the state.
Mrs Kolo stated: “since the party did not pick a woman as governorship candidate, the best thing for the party to do is to choose a woman as the running mate to balance gender equality in the new administration to be formed by the party in Ondo State.”
She further maintained that there are many qualified women who are vibrant, hardworking, intelligent and committed members that are fit to occupy the position.
“We are aware that about four women were amongst the nineteen applicants screened for the position of the deputy governor and that is why we appeal to the leadership of the party to ensure that a woman is chosen among them.”
The woman politician said that picking a woman for the post of the Deputy Governor would help to integrate the women folk into the party.
“Knowing full well that women have the highest number of votes during the election, both at the state and the federal levels,
it will be in the best interest of the party to choose a woman as the deputy governor and this will further boost the chances of the party.” she added.
It was however gathered that the candidate of the party, Akeredolu has conceded the choice of his running mate to the leadership of the party.
Akeredolu gave the indication at a public function that the choice of who becomes the deputy governor is the exclusive right of the party.
Jegede assures youths of brighter future
Story from Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming election, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) has registered his decision to make youths in the state employers of labour instead of job hunters.
The PDP standard bearer who assured of brighter future for youths in the state, said his government would give top priority to their empowerment with the aim of making themselves reliant and employers of labour.
Jegede gave the assurance in Akure yesterday when the Ondo State government rewarded the 300 athletes who made the state proud at the 2012 National Sports Festival held in Lagos.
Speaking at the event where he was a guest, Jegede said if elected, his government would encourage youths in the state to look in the direction of becoming self employed and economically fit to accommodate others in their respective businesses.
According to him: “the time has come for us to make our youths realize their potentials, that they can be useful to themselves and be responsible for the financial fortune of others if given the right environment to thrive.
“The present government in the state has done well in this regard especially as it affects young farmers who have practically become self reliant through the various Agro business centres in Ore, Auga and Isuada among others.”
The PDP candidate said young graduates with natural calling would be encouraged to fulfil their calling to excel. “We will give comfort to farmers, leverage on our ability to produce cocoa and train our farmers on how to produce premium Cocoa that will add value to earnings” he said.
Stressing the importance of youths in community and national development, the legal icon promised to use the instrumentality of government to encourage youths in the state to partner with government to ensure a united Ondo State where more progress will be recorded.
He submitted that under his administration, Ondo would be taken as reference point in development.
“We will build a state of our dreams that will be the envy of all as we will ensure that necessary steps are taken to ensure sense of belonging that will motivate all to work toward achieving the ultimate goal of taking our dear state to the place of destiny.”
PDP picks Mafo as Jegede’s running mate
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has accused the state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) of aiding thuggery in the state.
The party alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was keeping thugs in the premises of the NSCDC state command headquarters.
The ruling PDP had earlier accused the APC of harbouring and training thugs to rig the November 26 election but the APC, in its reaction refuted the allegation.
The Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, Mr. Abayomi Adesanya who made the allegation on Wednesday in a chat with our correspondent on phone declared that the party would not allow the PDP to rig the forthcoming election. Adesanya said the party had taken necessary steps to call the Ondo State Command of NSCDC to order not to be used to disrupt the forthcoming election.
He said: “We are aware of the secret training of thugs going on at the camp of the NSCDC, we are doing our findings and that is what is going on there.
‘’We are already putting up our petitions to the appropriate quarters.”
However, the Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC in the state, Mr. Kayode Balogun denied the allegation, saying the organisation was not partisan and could not allow such an illegal activity to take place in its premises.
“ It is not true; we are not partisan, we are doing our work the way we should do it; we are not supporting any political party neither do we train any thug in our premises.” Balogun stated.
But the PDP denied the allegation as it said it was the APC that was involving in the act of thuggery.
The Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Banji Okunomo said: “We don’t know what the APC is saying, we don’t have any thug anywhere: thuggery is not part of the PDP, we don’t encourage it in our party.
“ It is the APC that is involved in thuggery. We all saw how they displayed their thuggery recently in the state after their primary. It is only the APC that has been noted for thuggery. You can never hear of thuggery from the PDP, we don’t encourage it.’’
Meanwhile, the PDP has announced a former Commissioner for Information, Mr. John Mafo as the running mate to its candidate, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede.
The Publicity Secretary of the party, Okunomo said the choice of Mafo was to ensure that the party wins the November election.
He said: “The combination of Mafo and Jegede is going to be a strong force that no opposition party can confront.”
Mimiko’s wife seeks peaceful poll
Ahead of the November 26 election, wife of the governor, Mrs. Olukemi Mimiko has advised women in the state to ensure that they protect their votes and resist attempts to manipulate the election.
The governor’s wife also urged women in the state to warn their children not to allow themselves to be used during and after the election to precipitate violence.
She said: “We need to go back to our various houses to talk to our children and husbands to preach politics of peace, tolerance and love to them so that peace could reign supreme in the state during and after the election.”
Mrs. Mimiko who spoke during an interactive session with women in the state advocated politics without bitterness in order to ensure peace.
She further noted that the roles of women in political development cannot be overemphasized as she noted that they are the anchor of life on which human existence depends.
While thanking the people, especially the women folk for their support over the years, she assured that the present government remains committed to their welfare and development.
“What Mimiko’s administration has done in the last seven and half years has clearly shown that the governor has the people of the state at heart. Our people should always pray to God for the peaceful conduct of the election.”
She pointed out: “in past seven and half years, Governor Mimiko’s administration has touched many lives. That is why we are soliciting for your support for the peaceful conduct of the poll, come November this year.”
