PRESS STATEMENT
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, has congratulated the new leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association(NBA), led by the President, Mr Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau,SAN.
Governor Akeredolu commended the Association for the smooth transition of leadership. He urged the new President to be above board and hold the tenet of the Law Profession with dignity.
The Governor also saluted the outgone leadership of the Association led by Mr Olumide Akpata for consolidating on the gains recorded by the past Presidents and toeing the path of integrity and courage the NBA is known for.
“I congratulate Mr Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau,SAN. The NBA, over the years, has continued to safeguard human rights and promote the rule of Law. We owe it as a duty not to lose sight of this onerous responsibility.
“As a former President of the Bar, I am aware that the people will always look up to you to speak on their behalf. The Bar has an active role to play in the socio-economic development of the country. We can’t afford to let the people down.
“As lawyers, it is important to always prosecute your convictions with courage and be the voice of the people. When you speak, you do so with authority.”Akeredolu said.
The Governor appreciated the NBA for recently naming the Association’s Institutes Building after him and his Professional Mother, Chief Folake Solanke,SAN.
Signed:
Richard Olatunde
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State.
July 18, 2022.

RIVERS TO AWARD CONTRACT FOR TWO MORE FLYOVERS-WIKE
Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has said the Rivers State government will award contract for two additional flyovers to reduce traffic congestion in Port Harcourt and its environs.
He disclosed that two flyovers which will be the eleventh and twelfth to be awarded by his administration since 2019, will be located at Rumuokuta and NTA-Choba Road in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area and completed within the next ten months.
Governor Wike stated this after inspecting on going construction work at the Dr. Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, the Ogbum-nu-Abali sandfill, Rumueprikom , Orochiri-Worukwo, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo flyovers in Port Harcourt on Monday.
The governor maintained that his administration’s huge investment in infrastructure in the past seven years has undeniably laid solid foundation for sustainable growth of Rivers State.
According to him, the sterling performance of his administration will indisputably ensure the electoral victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates for the office of the governor, Senate, House of Representatives and State Assembly in the 2023 general election.
“We are going to award 11th and 12th flyovers any moment from now. I have made the promise before and I am not going to go back. It will be record breaking in the history of this country that a State government was able to embark on 12 flyovers, not in 8 years. You’ll remember these flyovers started in 2019, my second tenure. It is not that we started in 2015.
“For you to do 12 flyovers in four years time, I don’t see who has broken that kind of record. It is commitment. This is the campaign for us. This is the campaign for those who are running for Senate, campaign for those who are running for House of Reps, campaign for those who are running for House of Assembly, campaign for those who are running for governor. We have shown to the world that we can do it and we have done it.
“And I do know my successor will take from what we have done because he is part of what is going on in government. He knows everything. He will not want to bring down the standard. The standard we have set in this state, it will be difficult for anybody to bring it down. For me, I am very happy.”
Governor Wike revealed that State government will through an irrevocable standing order fund the two additional flyovers from its Internally Generated Revenue. He expressed delight that his administration has been able to fulfil its social contract with the people of Rivers State, whose support in the last seven years have been overwhelming.
“You must give the people the best. Rivers people deserve the best and whatever it takes for me to give Rivers people the best I will do it, it doesn’t matter how much it will cost me. What is important is Rivers people getting the best in their lives. And nobody in Rivers State today, except you’re very wicked, except in your DNA is wickedness, that will not be happy with what we have done.”
Governor Wike remarked that Nigerians are beginning to prove that politicians can no longer take them for a ride by making promises that they cannot fulfill. According to him, the PDP in the State has performed and Rivers people can attest to it.
The governor declared that Rivers people will never allow those who conspired with their cronies to defraud the State of its assets while in office to impose a governor on them.
“In Rivers state, what is our campaign? Rivers people, have we delivered or we have not delivered? Not people coming to tell Rivers people I will do this, no. I was a minster, what did you bring to your people? What you are bringing to us is somebody whom you connived with to carry our money to be governor. Rivers people will say no they’ll not agree. So everybody show your work. What have you done. What have given to Rivers people.”
The managing director of Julius Berger, Dr Lars Ritcher, who accompanied the governor during the inspection assured that the projects will be completed on record time.

I’M IN ROBUST GOOD HEALTH, SAYS ATIKU

Our attention has been drawn to a report and a video in a section of the media purporting to be of an “ailing” Atiku Abubakar being helped strapped to his car seatbelt by an aide.
Nothing can be further from the truth. For the records, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in robust good health.
We would not ordinarily have responded to this mischief, but for the impression that it will create in the minds of Nigerians which is exactly the objective of the purveyors of this fake news.
Signed: Paul Ibe
Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar Presidential Candidate of PDP and Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007
Abuja

Oyo State: Rauf Olaniyan out, Adeleke Lawal in
Abdulroheem Adebayo Adeleke Lawal, a politician, lawyer and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was, on Monday, sworn in as the Deputy Governor of Oyo State.
He replaced Rauf Olaniyan who was impeached by the House of Assembly earlier in the day.
Oyo State House of Assembly, on Monday morning, impeached the Deputy Governor, Mr Rauf Olaniyan, at its plenary.
Olaniyan was found guilty of all the allegations levelled against him following the reports of a seven-man panel constituted by the state Chief Judge, Justice Munta Abimbola.
The Chief Judge had on Thursday constituted the panel to investigate the allegations levelled against the deputy governor by the lawmakers.
The panel was said to have began its sitting immediately and worked all through the weekend.
The House Majority Leader, Mr Sanjo Adedoyin, read the panel’s reports at the plenary.
The lawmakers, after considering the panel’s recommendations, pronounced the impeachment of the deputy governor and that it should take immediate effect.
The House had in June directed Abimbola to constitute a panel to investigate Olaniyan.
It served the deputy governor with a notice of impeachment over allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, financial recklessness, among others, following his defection from PDP to APC.
Fashanu, had also jointly taken the state House of Assembly; the Speaker, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin and Clerk of the House to court over the impeachment move by the lawmakers.
He said: “We appeal for an order of injuction restraining the respondents from enforcing or implementing the judgment on Thursday.
“This is pending the determination of the appeal lodged against the said judgment.
“It’s expedient that an order of injuction be granted so that the outcome of the appeal will not be rendered nugatory.”
Fashanu, however, stressed the need for Nigerians to respect the court processes, being the fundamental principles of the rule of law.
“It is no longer news that His Lordship went ahead to constitute the panel in spite of the clear notice of pending appeal and application for Stay of Execution.
“With Respect to His Lordship, the Honourable Chief Judge, as number one citizen in the Judiciary, should have respected the judicial process,” he said.
At the swearing in, held at the Executive Chamber, Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan, were Governor Seyi Makinde, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Debo Ogundoyin; Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola; Lawal’s wife,
Ajibola; Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Segun Ogunwuyi; former Speaker of the House Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu; members of House of Assembly and some Service Commanders, among others.
Makinde charged Lawal to see his position as a responsibility to deliver good governance to the people of Oyo State.
Lawal is a former Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice as well as the immediate past chairman of the state’s Housing Corporation.
Makinde admonished the new deputy governor to put the interest of the state first and serve the state diligently in his new capacity.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted him as saying that the Housing Corporation, Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency, (OYSTROMA) and the Ministry of Justice will be under the supervision of the new Deputy Governor.
The governor said: “I want to start by welcoming our new Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Barrister Bayo Lawal, to the Oyo State Executive Council.
“I know you operated from this Exco chamber from 1999 to 2003 and I am sure a lot of things have changed between then and now.
“As we all know, you are already a part of this administration as the chairman of the Oyo State Housing Corporation.
“Your new position is evidence that you excelled in your role. But for us, as the saying goes, the reward for hard work is more work, and that is why we are giving you more work.
“The position is that of trust. Our masters are the people of Oyo State and our responsibility is to continue to serve them to the best of our abilities and deliver good governance to them.
“Let me encourage you to put the interest of the people of Oyo State first. You will continue to supervise the Housing Corporation even from this position. Also, the Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency, OYSTROMA, will be under your direct supervision.
“Finally, you have operated as the Attorney-General of this state before. So, the Ministry of Justice will also be under your watch.
“Our people expect so much from us because to whom much is given, much is expected. This is the campaign season but here in Oyo State, we will continue to work for the good of our people throughout this season.”
The governor added that the administration is looking forward to benefiting from the wealth of wisdom and experience of the new deputy governor, so that together, they could continue the task of moving Oyo State people from poverty to prosperity.
“We look forward to benefiting from your wealth of wisdom and experience. This is what I say most of the time and this is what this administration is all about. We want to move our people from poverty to prosperity. So, you are welcome on board,” the governor added.
While speaking to newsmen shortly after the swearing-in cerrmony, Lawal appreciated Makinde for nominating him as his running mate for the 2023 governorship election, saying that his debt of gratitude is limitless.
“I have to give my gratitude to His Excellency, the Governor of Oyo State, who nominated me as his running mate towards 2023. My debt of gratitude is limitless.
“As you have witnessed this happen, I did not notice he was monitoring my activities as the chairman of the Housing Corporation, but it manifested today.”
He vowed not to abuse the privilege given to him as Deputy Governor, as according to him, the position of the Deputy Governor is meant to advise and assist the governor of the state and a trust to the constitution and the governor of the state.
“This is a challenge to me as a person and to all of us in Oyo State to cooperate, with the view of moving the government forward in all ramifications.
“We are already entering the campaign season but jumping into the season is not enough, we have to trace back to the last three years and see what has been achieved.
“So, this is what I have come on board to complement the already established achievements provided by this administration,” Lawal added.
Earlier, the House of Assembly approved the appointment of Lawal as the new Deputy Governor, following the impeachment of Olaniyan.
The approval followed the nomination of Lawal to the lawmakers for consideration by Makinde as replacement for Olaniyan.
Lawal, the Chairman of the State Housing Corporation had served as the state Attorney-General.
He hails from Kisi in Irepo Local Government area.
Lawal’s nomination is contained in a letter by the governor to the lawmakers, which was presented at the plenary.
The House had gone on a short recess shortly after the impeachment of Olaniyan as the deputy governor.
The lawmakers later reconvened about 12.15 p.m to consider the appointment of the new deputy governor.
The Speaker, Ogundoyin, while reading the letter from the Executive, said it was in response to an earlier letter sent by the lawmaker to the Governor dated July 18, informing him of the impeachment of Olaniyan.
Defending the nomination of Lawal, the House Majority Leader, Sanjo Adedoyin, said that the nomination should be favourably considered, approved and adopted in view of his antecedents in contributing to the progress of the state.
Seconding the motion, Kazeem Olayanju, representing Irepo/Olornsogo State Constituency, said that the House should confirm Lawal as the new Deputy Governor of Oyo State.
In his remarks, the speaker put the nomination to a voice vote, which went the ways of the “ayes”.
According to him, with the vote, Lawal has been approved as the Deputy Governor of the state.
The House, however, adjourned plenary until July 21.