OYO POLITICS: PRESS RELEASE ON GOVERNOR SEYI MAKINDE

 

12TH MARCH 2023

PRESS RELEASE

MAKINDE’S REELECTION IS NON-NEGOTIABLE, SAYS PDP SOUTH-WEST ZONAL SECRETARY, OWOKONIRAN

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) South-West Zonal Secretary, Hon. Rahman Owokoniran, has said that leaders and members were united for the reelection of Oyo State’s Governor Seyi Makinde on March 18, and the Engineer’s second-term bid remained non-negotiable.

Owokoniran dismissed insinuations of a division in the South-West PDP family following the conduct and outcome of the February 25 presidential election that saw the PDP flag-bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, being declared as runner-up to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking on the chances of Makinde, who is seeking a second term, Owokoniran said: “There is absolutely no shaking or uncertainty about the chances of His Excellency. Since 2019, Makinde has proved to be a great administrator and achiever in Oyo State. His work speaks for him. Under him, Oyo State has harvested massive dividends of democracy in the last four years.

“Not only has the state enjoyed peace in a nation faced with insecurity, Oyo has seen a lot of physical and infrastructural development under Makinde. From the garages to the roads, forests and communities, insecurity has been kept at bay. People of Oyo sleep with their two eyes closed, unlike so many states in this country –all thanks to the provisions Makinde has made to keep all manners of hoodlums at bay through his innovative and pragmatic approach to security issues.”

The South-West Zonal Scribe said that the PDP structure at the state and zonal levels had been working tirelessly to ensure that the incumbent Governor was elected for a well-deserved second term.

“He has shown an uncommon preparation for the leadership of this frontline state. And he has made himself very approachable to the people.  His people love him. His people appreciate him. His people want him to continue the good work he has started,” Owokoniran submitted.

According to him, with the presidential election done and dusted, PDP in the South-West has turned its attention to getting as many of its candidate elected into state governorship and House of Assembly positions in the zone.

“From governing just two states in the South-West, we shall be harvesting massive votes that will earn PDP more governors and legislative majorities in states where elections have been scheduled to take place come March 18 –Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states.

“Our victory in Osun State, last time, is an eye opener to all and sundry. People showed they were fed up with the APC’s misrule that has led to Nigeria being declared the world’s poverty capital instead of its acclaim as the biggest economy in Africa, as at the time PDP relinquished power in 2015.

“APC messed up big time in these last eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari. Nigerians can see the difference. These past years have been years of the locusts and all sectors of the country are coming away with unwanted scars.

“Due to hyper-inflation, petroleum shortage, unemployment, insecurity, lopsided appointments that insult the Federal Character principle, poor Naira performance and several other negative indices afflicting the country, Nigerians in these 2023 elections are saying, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. They want to return power to PDP and return PDP to power. They want a party that will care and cater to their welfare and wellbeing and build a cohesive and united nation. That is what these elections are about and that is what they will achieve.”

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) South-West Zonal Secretary, 

Hon. Rahman Owokoniran

Six things to note when starting a business

 

It’s the era of business. Everyone has something to sell and services to render. You are looking at starting up something, you know exactly what your business is about and you have the funds. Having access to funds is what kills most business ideas , but some people also have access to funds and the business still crumbles, WHY?

Having the funds is not just enough to sustain your business; you must take steps to ensure it does succeed.

1.       Have a business plan: this is a detailed analysis of what your mission and purpose are, the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the venture, your competitors and how you can have an edge. You should look out for what you can uniquely offer, budget is also mandatory. How you plan to raise money, cutting your overhead costs, marketing and sales. It is a comprehensive document.

2.       Be objective: this simply is taking a critical look inwards, set asides emotions and sentiments. What can you offer the business? You have a great product idea, you have the necessary skill set, but you suck at marketing.  If you try to go that route alone, you might end up with goods that are stuck in the warehouse. It’s an investment; you must nurture it to grow. 

3.       Carefully consider your overhead: overhead costs can include rent of office space, employees, taxes, utilities etc. Now, you do not want to kill the business before takeoff, too much expenses will do that.  There must be a pruning to what’s absolutely necessary. Is location a must or can you sell from your home? I would start with my home. How many staffs are ideal in a day to day operation? As your business grows you will expand.

4.       Leverage on your contacts: you have a great business going, make sure everyone who knows you is aware of the business, you can offer commissions on sales. A friend is great at getting people to buy stuffs and you are sure of your product, you can leverage on her marketing skills. Always ask for referrals from your closed deals and sales. In this day and age, social media as a tool is absolutely necessary in promoting your business, if you cannot do it, get someone who can.

5.       Develop a great business personality: having a good product is cool but you must have great interpersonal skills, do not allow yourself get cut up in the heat of the moment and loose future deals because you simply cannot let things go. There will be clients that will irk you, but you can turn things around with your professionalism. Also do not let the euphoria of being a CEO get in the way, your staff is an employee not your servant. Maintain decorum, respect your employees, communicate with them and reward their efforts adequately. Most customers love being recognized in their favorite office, it makes them warm and willing to deal. If there’s a new staff every other day, there’s a higher chance of losing business.

6.       Stay on top of your game: keep a look out for ideas or innovations that will better position your business. Keep in mind your competitors, the industry are there new ideas out there? Invest in yourself; ensure you are physically and mentally balanced. Do the right things at the right time, set a periodical timetable for review of your business. Monitor your account books.

In summary, create a great plan and work towards your dream. Remember to keep observing safety protocols as regards Covid 19.

Tia

What does the Land get?

Let me call this my space, so many thoughts run through my mind at any point in time.  I’m a naturally curious person, I seek to know, I ask questions and I’m open to criticisms.

Nigeria and Nigerians have always been a source of burning curiosity? What makes them tick?

An average Nigerian is an economist, teacher, politician, administrator,lawyer,doctor ,judge,banker,footballer,coach,agriculturalist,spiritualist and what have you because we all possess knowledge about how to properly govern but we all ignore the basic fact: Action speaks louder than words .

I am from the western part of Nigeria and I have been privileged to meet with people from other tribes, religions even people from my own tribe with different variations of our shared language.

I don’t have problems with these individuals beyond normal effects of a healthy relationship. But I have been indoctrinated to believe I should not trust people other than my tribe, I have to always be on guard around them and definitely they are the ‘’real problem of Nigeria.

Taking my thoughts back to pr-independence, generations back; they valued hard work and rewarded good deeds, they dealt with criminals decisively. I heard stories of buying something and just leaving the exact amount beside on the table containing other goods.

Generations came and then naturally things started turning around, with generations come more development.  They had their battles: slave trade, colonial rule etc. It could not have been easy adjusting to being a Nigerian after being an Igbo man for so long etc but they had love for the land and fought for their independence from colonial rule.

They had love for the land: the land gave so much; it was and has always been filled with love for us. It gives but we take and refuse to show back the same love. Just imagine a Nigeria where each of its precious resources are maximized and efficiently managed and utilized. What a beautiful strong country it will be.

God will help us. That’s the prayer everybody prays but then I’m curious: What sort of help do we need precisely? I mean we are told to ask directly and he will answer us. But hey, do we need him to:

Farm the land.

Take us physically to register for and vote during elections as citizens of the country.

Help us in our work ethics: Show up for work, be punctual and perform our duties.

Stop us from identifying and collectively fight against people that import fake drugs and all sorts.

Pay our taxes?

Honestly we expect too much for doing little. Spiritual centers are so much in the country; there are some churches with 3 branches on a busy road. Certainly we must be good and have faith in God; he is a God of impossibility. [I love God and I will write about my love for him].But we do not need his help, we need his mercies.

The leaders of these institutions can see many of their members living below the average line. Why preach faith to him instead of educating him, how many people know their rights and duties as citizens, yes the government has failed but I believe it will benefit my life more if I understand what it takes to be a Nigerian because God cares about me and has provided for me but I have to unlock the blessings and enjoy them only by being a good citizen that knows my right. I have rights and duties also.

I wonder a lot about roads, if roads are constructed the way they should be. Would it affect the life span of a politician? Some roads are awarded to as little as three different contractors under different dispensations just so everyone can get a piece of it.

I’m a Nigerian, if I journey  on a durable road to get to and fro in order to sell my goods and services, I get home and I know there is steady power supply, I cannot control everyone around me and truth be told : some people are biologically criminal minded.

To a reasonable extent I know I can depend on my security agents for justice. I pay a lot and much more for not even having any of the above. Why wouldn’t I pay for the services rendered to me. I should pay for amenities, it is part of my duty to the country.

I’m fighting for survival. I would pay tax to be able to send my child to school and be confident they are being taught adequately with the future of Nigeria in mind. Rather than faith, teach me how to be diligent in my work, so we don’t have a ministry of education employing thousands yet mushroom schools keep popping us as much as bars and churches.

Frankly the youths of nowadays scare me. A thought for another day.

Every day we hear of new killings, so much horror stories. We read, we listen, we see but we do not act. The market women who form the core of politics: who told you the only gain you should enjoy from your efforts is being able to call an honorable and say ‘’ please help my boy, police arrested him. Etc.

If you have access to basic needs and are educated. At the very least is every citizen guaranteed education up to a level where you can read and write and be able to communicate , will it not be of benefit to all. The youths are literally being left to themselves. You have people graduating from institutions without knowledge and before you start pointing fingers at politicians: you bribed to get your son pass JAMB, you encouraged your daughter to sell her body all in a bid to say my child is also a graduate.

We are all complicit in the problems of Nigeria. Every time it’s my vote will not count, why should I make an effort? Think multiplication.

Our silence, avoidance, acceptance of the status quo, lies ,participation, involuntary and voluntary actions in suppressing the voices all went  a long way towards getting us to the point we find ourselves now. Nigerians are a rare breed. Precious and watched by the world because they would rather not deal with us but they can’t help it. We are dynamic and brilliant.

We don’t appreciate ourselves. Our different regions have different strengths and weaknesses, is there no way we can work together. United is always stronger. Politicians are not gods you know. If you serve the people does it mean you become poor?

 To be continued.

Adamawa State Government Warns on New Tactics Employed By Boko Haram

 Speaking at a press conference in Yola the state capital ,  the state commissioner for information, Adamawa state warned that the dreaded boko haram group has effected a new tactic towards terrorizing Nigerians, Ahmad Sajoh, said the terrorists now pretend to be epileptic patients before blowing up themselves and attacking their victims.

New couple alert?........ Temi Otedola and Mr Eazi

 The couple recently shared photos of their visit to Barcelona together, as they visited Barcelona FC for the Camp Nou experience tour.

The pair had sparked dating rumors early this year, when people noticed they often featured on each other’s Snaps and were always around one another, but they neither confirmed nor denied.

Pictures though speak louder than words. Wish them all the best.

Understanding Osun Workers' Salary Issues By abiodun KOMOLAFE

In deference to the dictates of the Holy Book, it is not my practice to jump into issues, especially, when they are laced with politics. However, turning the other eye is always not an option when an organization abandons its core mandate to regale an unsuspecting public with very tepid, hurtfully unfactual and sillily inaccurate assertions that are capable of igniting conflagrations of unimaginable proportion.

A statement, purportedly issued by the Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS) in which Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State was accused of "illegally diverting over N7billion of N11.744bilion out of N84billion Paris Club funds accrued to the state by the federal government" (Thisday, January 6, 2017) refers.

To understand the issues, some questions become pertinent. What is Modulated Salary structure and how applicable is it to Osun state's salary situation? Was there an agreement, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the government and labour on the modulation of the latter's salaries and for what reason? Indeed, what's the salary status of a typical Osun State civil servant as at December 2016?

PIC:Herbalist Attends Gospel Singer's Funeral Dressed In Money Suit

Durban herbalist Andile Dlamini arrived in his trademark money suit in Kwa Zulu Natal to attend the funeral of South African gospel artiste, Sfiso Ncwane.

Sfiso’s funeral was held on Saturday morning at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Pictures of Andile and his popular money suit have been circulating on social media and have caused a stir.

Church Building Collapse: Governor Wike Visits Akwa Ibom.

Acting Rector Dies After S*x Romp With Teenager

The Acting Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa State, has slumped and died at a hotel in Ughelli during alleged sex romp with an unidentified female teenager.

The rector was said to have slumped at his hotelroom in Zekoh Place located at Onoharigho street, Ughelli and was rushed to a private clinic, few kilometers from thehotel were he was confirmed dead on arrival.

Presidency Affirms Buhari Would Run For Second Term In 2019

The presidency has indicated that President Buhari would seek a second term in office despite having  just spent a year and seven months into the four years term of his administration ending in 2019.

A Presidential spokeperson, Mal. Garba Shehu has dismissed suggestions that the masses will desert President Buhari in 2019 as unfounded and utterly ridiculous, and asserted that ordinary Nigerians are the backbone of his mandate and the only reason he ran for the office is to protect them against the rapacious merchants of corruption, who have held Nigeria back for decades.

Reacting to allegations by a former CPC member, Alhaji Buba Galadima that President Buhari would be abandoned by the people in 2019, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said Galadima's calculation and prediction is utterly confused and misleading.

APC Imbroglio: Is Bola Tinubu Guilty? By abiodun KOMOLAFE

Bola Ahmed Tinubu's call on John Odigie-Oyegun to resign as National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) for allegedly derailing from the path of progressives continues to generate diverse opinions in the polity. The call, rather than being misconstrued by Tinubu's antagonists should be seen for its altruistic value and content. It is about saving the soul of a ruling party that is still in its embryo.

But, while waiting to see how circumstances eventuate, some questions keep bothering me and if they are answered dispassionately, they may help put the understanding of the issue in proper perspective. Before all else, was Tinubu wrong in endorsing a candidate? 

Better put, did he, as the National Leader of a foremost party, do something he ought not to have done by allegedly asking all the aspirants to  work for  his preferred choice (Punch, September 3, 2016)? Also, and, in fairness to the facts, is Tinubu gradually losing out in Nigeria's political space and what is the way out? As a matter of fact, what has become of the ruling party in so short a space of time and where lies the place of its founding fathers in all of  this?

40 Year Old Man Rapes And Impregnates His 15 Year Old Step Daughter.

A 40-year-old man, Victor Emafolomi, has been detained by the police for allegedly raping his wife’s daughter, Keji.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspect was apprehended on Sunday by the police from the Agbado division after the mother of the victim reported the case.

Keji (pseudonym) lived with her mother and Emafolomi on Olukososi Street, Jafa, Agbado, in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Six Symptoms Of Imminent Heart Attack.

Your heart is your most important organ and you need to pay attention to it, knowing when this organ is failing is one of your most important tasks, inorder for you to do something about it, which is see your doctor.

Heart attack is  the number one cause of death, which means everyone should know what symptoms to look for before becoming a victim.

Here are some symptoms to look out for , that lets you know when your heart is failing

HIV Positive Lady Who Accused President Zuma Of Rape Dies.

The HIV positive woman, Fezekile ‘Khwezi’ Kuzwayo, who accused South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma of rape 10 years ago, reportedly died on Saturday.

This has sparked major reactions on South African social media, with some people calling for the president’s resignation.

The high-profile case rocked the country about a year before Zuma became president. Named ‘Khwezi’ by South Africans to protect her image, the victim reportedly was the daughter of Zuma’s friend, Judson Diza Khuzwayo, a member of the African National Congress (ANC). The two men had spent 10 years in Robben Island Prison.

In 2005, 31-year-old Khwezi accused Zuma of raping her at his Johannesburg home. He pleaded not guilty and his attorneys reduced her claims to a consensual sex.

Galaxy Note 7: Samsung Halts Production And Sales Over Reports Of Explosion.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. halted sales of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones on Tuesday and told owners to stop using them.

The company said in statement in Seoul that it was investigating reports of fires from the phone by consumers.

“Consumers with either an original Galaxy Note 7 or replacement Galaxy Note 7 device should power down and stop using the device,” the company said.

Samsung is now considering permanently halting sales of its flagship smartphones as an option, a source familiar with the matter said.

Fresh reports of fires in replacement devices prompted new warnings from regulators, phone carriers and airlines.