Makinde: why we have not prosecuted Ajimobi, aides

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has explained that the need to follow bureaucratic processes has been delaying the decision to drag key leaders in the administration of former governor Abiola Ajimobi before the state anti-corruption agency.

The governor disclosed this through his Chief Press Secretary Taiwo Adisa while featuring on Southwest Political Circuit, a political interview programme on Ibadan-based Fresh F. M. 105.9 at the weekend. He featured along with the Special Adviser on politics and Strategy Babatunde Oduyoye.

The governor established the Oyo State Economic and Financial Crimes Commission within his first six months in office to send signals to government officials about his seriousness to run a corruption-free government. But the agency is yet to get members of the board to manage it.n the first three months of his tenure, Makinde constantly accused his predecessor and his aides of committing infractions while in office.

When asked why Ajimobi and his aides have not been prosecuted in spite of claims of misdemeanor, Adisa explained that government procedures are long and compulsory, adding that jumping any stage of the process can jeopardize an entire policy or project, no matter how lofty. He said Makinde’s administration has a list of the infractions committed by members of the past administration as well as documents to prove them but that the process of establishing the agency, appointing people of impeccable character and ensuring that it is properly set to succeed is long and must be followed. He assured that they would be brought to justice at the right time.

Adisa also denied that Makinde’s administration was deliberately defaming Ajimobi because of his laudable achievements in infrastructural development, stressing that the new government was only performing the duty of updating the public about the state of governance in the state.

While answering questions on the issues that have been troubling the coalition that produced Makinde’s victory in the last election, Oduyoye said there was nothing to worry about because the diverse interests within the coalition were being addressed everyday successfully. About Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola and others, Oduyoye said talks were going on with them with signs of positive results.

The Nation

Nigeria coronavirus Hits 12,233 cases - NCDC

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, became the third African country to record over 10,000 cases of COVID-19. The milestone was reached on May 31 when 307 new cases took its tally to 10,162.

As Africa’s biggest economy, the federal government has continued to enforce regulations across the board even though most state governments have moved to relax restrictions.

Lagos is rolling out a progressive reopening of the economy. It is the most impacted state with over 5,000 cases as of May 31. Only Cross River State had yet to record a case.

The national response is led by the Presidential Task Force, PTF, led by SGF Boss Mustapha along with a national coordinator and relevant ministers – chief among them, Health, Foreign Affairs and Education ministries.

Africannews

Trump says the economy will cure the 'very sad problem' of police killing blacks

Over the past two days, President Trump has twice been asked how he plans to address the systemic racism in U.S. police departments spotlighted by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and both times he has made clear that he believes the solution is a healthy economy.

In a Thursday radio interview with Fox News host Brian Kilmeade, Trump was asked about his reaction to the fact that just 36 percent of African-Americans say they trust local police, compared with 70 percent of whites. “How do you change things?” Kilmeade asked the president.

“Well, I think it’s a very sad problem,” Trump replied. “As you know, as a Republican I’m doing very well with African-Americans and with the vote, with the — in polls and everything — especially, I mean, I haven’t seen one very recently because you had the plague come in from China, so that changed things up, but we had the best economy ever. We had the best numbers for African-American employment and unemployment in history. Best homeownership, best everything. We had the best numbers in everything — not only African-American, but the African-American numbers were great.”

Kilmeade, who is friendly to Trump, briefly pressed the president further. “But how do you handle the law enforcement part of this? How do you handle the law enforcement part of this?”

Trump went off on another tangent in his answer, complaining that he didn’t get enough credit for his remarks about Floyd’s death during an unrelated speech about space exploration. He did not address Kilmeade’s question about systemic changes.

“Well, I think you have to get better than what they’ve been doing. I mean, obviously that was a terrible thing,” Trump replied. “And I’ve spoken about it numerous times in various speeches. And you know, it’s interesting, I spoke about it when we launched a very successful rocket — a tremendous program that culminated on that day and obviously it goes on from there. But I then made a speech and it was a speech about the rocket, and I devoted 25 percent of the speech, probably, to what happened — or more — to what happened with respect to George — George Floyd — and it was ... and then you listen to news, ‘He doesn’t talk about George Floyd.’ The rocket went off, then I made a speech and I talked about George Floyd, but they said he didn’t talk about George Floyd. Half, maybe even almost half of the speech, but a large portion of the speech was devoted to that.

Stakeholders back Uzodimma on new Imo University of Agric

Stakeholders from Umuagwo in Imo State,  have lent  their  support to Governor  Hope Uzodinma’s  plan to establish  a new Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences on their land.

The stakeholders had hitherto vehemently battled with past administrations against the establishment of the university because of the provision of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) and multi campus arrangement in the law establishing the university.

The stakeholders said they believed that the PPP provision was  a ploy by a former governor to take over the university after leaving office, insisting that it must be 100  percent owned by the government.

Lagos To Begin Meter Production

The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, is working towards local production of affordable smart meters to improve electricity supply in the state.

Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Olalere Odusote, an engineer, said the state was targetting innovative metering solutions.

He spoke at a briefing on the 365 days of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Lagos.

Towards achieving the administration’s agenda, the ministry has accelerated a light-up programme, electrification of public infrastructure, clean energy initiatives, local capacity building and oil and gas interventions.He said the accelerated power programme aimed at facilitating electricity distribution to under-served and unserved communities will be implemented in phases, with the first phase focusing on low-income communities.

Odusote said the governor has approved the procurement and installation of 20,000 metres for communities in Lagos, adding that the ministry has also concluded an electricity franchising agreement with distribution companies.

“We have also launched a smart meter design programme to increase meter penetration in the state by leveraging local capacity towards improving electricity distribution and monitoring,” the commissioner said.

The Nation

Nigeria may lose 24 councils to new UN state

‘Obasanjo, Biya ceded territories in 2003’

By July 10 this year, Nigeria may lose 24 local councils, by way of ceding, to a new country to be known as United Nations Organisation (UNO) State of Cameroon at its borders with la Republique du Cameroun.

The Guardian learnt that the withdrawal of his country’s soldiers by President Paul Biya from the southern part of the planned UNO State of Cameroon has set the stage for the creation of the new state being spearheaded by the UN.

The Guardian

Egypt Opposes Okonjo-Iweala’s Nomination for WTO’s Top Job

The nomination of former Minister of Finance under the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the World Trade Organisation top job seem to have run into troubled waters as Egypt has requested that her nomination to contest for the office of the director-general should not be recognised.

In a letter to States of the African Union, Egypt contended that her nomination was out of time and therefore flew in the face of the rules of nomination which import they said, was that Nigeria no longer had a candidate for the position.

The Guardian