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I Will Work With President-Elect, Tinubu – Makinde

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state said he will work with President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu when his government is finally inaugurated in May 29th.
This comes after he secured a re-election by defeating his opponents in last Saturday’s election.
Makinde made this promise in an interview with TVC on Sunday.
He said, “I will work with the President-elect. We will continue to work towards ensuring that Nigeria is united. We will make sure Nigeria is on the path of inclusivity. We will work with the passion to create value in our country Nigeria.”
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC had earlier officially declared Makinde winner of the governorship election in the state.
Makinde polled a total of 563,617 votes while his closest rival, Sen. Teslim Folarin scored 251,230. Adebayo Adelabu of the Accord came a distant third polling 38,757.
Makinde is the last of the PDP G5 or Integrity Group with an election. Already, Governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Samuel Ortom (Benue), who have been in office for eight years each, all lost their senatorial bid while Nyesom Wike (Rivers) who is also completing his second term as Governor didn’t run for any elective post.
With the defeat of three of his comrades, all eyes were on Makinde in the March 18 poll. With his declaration as the winner by INEC, Makinde survived the defeat suffered by other G5 members.
Governorship elections were held in 28 of Nigeria’s 36 states on Saturday. The governorship and state assembly elections were held a week later than initially scheduled after a court case forced INEC to move them forward.
Eight of the 36 states — Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Osun, and Ondo — have governorship elections “off-season” due to litigations and court judgements.
In alphabetical order, the 28 states where governorship elections were on March 18 are Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara.
Of the 28 states, 11 serving governors including Makinde sought reelection while 17 outgoing governors are in the final weeks of their constitutional two-term limits of eight years, having been sworn in on May 29, 2015.
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Governorship Election: I Have No Confidence In INEC — Atiku

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said that he has zero confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, following the conduct of the governorship election.

Atiku said INEC has not proven it can perform better than its previous conduct of elections.

The former Vice President spoke in Jimeta, Yola area of Adamawa State.

“I still don’t believe in INEC. I have seen nothing up to now to believe that their performance will be better in how they handle this election than the last one,” he said.

Atiku lost the 2023 presidential election to Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Following his defeat, he headed to court to contest the outcome of the presidential election, which he claimed was flawed.

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Former Kano Councillor Killed Over Alleged Ballot Box Snatching

Ibrahim Nakuzama, a former councillor of Getso ward, has been reportedly gunned down over alleged ballot box snatching.

According to Daily Trust report, Nakuzama was shot dead by security operatives in Gwarzo local government area of Kano, during the governorship and state assembly candidates elections on Saturday, March 18, 2023.

An associate of the deceased, who craved anonymity, said he could not give details about the incident as he was yet to recover from the shock.

It was gathered that earlier in the day, the deceased brought refreshment for agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) at his polling unit.

Those close to him said it was impossible that he was attempting to snatch ballot boxes.

Nakuzama is survived by two wives and six children.

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Fire Guts Another Market In Borno

There was a fire outbreak at Gamboru Market, in Borno State on Saturday, March 18.

This is coming three weeks after a fire completely razed the largest market in the state, Monday Market, also located in the metropolis.

Punch reported hat the fire flared up at the cooking oil section of the market by 2:30 pm.

Security agents, most of them soldiers, have been deployed to the scene, chasing away a massive influx of people and depriving everyone of entry.

An eye witness disclosed that it broke out from timber and orange sellers sections.

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Guber Poll: Scores Injured As APC, PDP Supporters Clash In Oyo

Several persons sustained injuries in the early hours of Saturday, as supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, clashed in ward 7 of Ibarapa East East Local Government Area of Oyo State as the gubernatorial poll is about to begin.

According to reports, trouble started when some suspected supporters of PDP allegedly attacked a bus carrying some people to the election ground.

In a reprisal attack, some supporters of APC were said to have traced the leaders of the attackers to their hideout where a free-for-all ensued, leaving many people wounded.

At least, one of the wounded was said to be on danger list at an undisclosed hospital in the town.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to contact the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, to comment on the matter, proved abortive, as calls placed across to him were not answered.

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COVID-19 May End This Year – WHO

The World Health Organisation has predicted that the ravaging COVID-19 virus may likely end as a public health emergency in 2023.

The Director General of the Organisation, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus disclosed this at a virtual media briefing on Friday, March 17.

Recall that COVID-19 was declared a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020, when there were fewer than 100 reported cases of COVID-19 outside China, and also no reported deaths outside the Communist country.

A public health emergency of international concern is the highest level of alarm that the WHO can sound under international law.

During the briefing, the WHO chief said there were now almost seven million reported deaths from COVID-19, although the actual number of deaths was much higher.

“We are certainly in a much better position now than we have been at any time during the pandemic. It’s very pleasing to see that for the first time, the weekly number of reported deaths in the past four weeks has been lower than when we first used the word ‘pandemic’ three years ago.

“I am confident that this year we will be able to say that COVID-19 is over as a public health emergency of international concern.

“We are not there yet. Last week, there were still more than five thousand reported deaths. That’s five thousand too many for a disease that can be prevented and treated. Even as we become increasingly hopeful about the end of the pandemic, the question of how it began remains unanswered,” he said.

Ghebreyesus urged China to be ‘transparent’ in sharing COVID-19 data in efforts to determine the disease’s origins.

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MC Oluomo Can Confidently Threaten Voters Because He Is State Backed – GRV’s Wife, Dr Ify Aniebo, Reacts

Dr Ify Aniebo Rhodes-Vivour, the wife of Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has condemned a viral video of Musiliu Akinsanya, the Lagos State Parks Management Committee Chairman threatening Lagosians to sit at home on election day if they do not cast votes for the Lagos State APC governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The governorship and state house of assembly elections are just two days away, however there have been reports of violence in various parts of the country. Some candidates of other parties have complained about either threatened or physically attacked for their choice.

In one video, Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, was filmed warning voters who intend to vote other parties not to do so.

He said: “Iya Chukwudi, if you know you no wan vote for us, siddon for your house o.”

He also told APC supporters that if they notice they are losing in polling units, they know what to do.

Reacting, Ify Aniebo Rhodes-Vivour, whose husband Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour is contesting for the governorship position under the labour party, called on the Lagos State governor to call “his thugs” to order.

She claimed that MC Oluomo can confidentally threaten voters because he is “state backed.”

She shared a video of Oluomo threatening voters and wrote: “This man can confidently threaten voters because he is state backed. This isn’t the first video of him threatening voters but somehow, he still has not been arrested. @jidesanwoolu call your thugs to order. This is a democracy not a dictatorship. @BenHundeyin do your job!”

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Assembly Poll: Adeleke Declares Friday Public Holiday

Gov Ademola Adeleke of Osun state has declared Friday, March 17th as public holiday.

A statement issued by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed on Thursday, stated that the holiday is to enable Osun State residents travel to their polling units to vote on Saturday for the State House of Assembly elections.

The State Governor further advised residents of the state to be peaceful and law abiding as they prepare for the elections.

“This holiday is to enable Osun State residents travel to their polling units to vote on Saturday for the State House of Assembly elections.

“I call on Osun people to file out and exercise their civic rights. This election is very critical as you will be electing lawmakers who will be working with me. You must vote right”, the statement reads.

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Election: INEC Suspends Abia State REC

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has suspended Ike Uzochukwu, its Resident Electoral Commissioner REC in Abia State.

Abia State was one of the states where the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections did not commence as scheduled, following a logistical failure.

Vanguard reports that following the suspension, INEC has consequently directed its Administrative Secretary in the state, Clement Ohia to immediately assume office and ensure the smooth conduct of this Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly election.

The commission had on March 6 suspended its Resident Electoral Commissioner REC in Sokoto State, Dr. Nura Ali, and directed its Administrative Secretary in the state, Hauwa Aliyu Kangiwa, to take over its affairs.

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Japanese Billionaire Masatoshi Ito Is Dead

Popular Japanese billionaire,  Masatoshi Ito has been announced dead at the age of 98.

Ito turned 7-Eleven convenience stores into a global empire, closing the chapter on one of Asia’s most storied retail entrepreneurs.

Operator of 7-Eleven, Seven & I Holdings, announced his death in a statement on Monday.

“We would like to express our deepest gratitude for your kindness and friendship during his life and respectfully inform you of his passing,” the company said.

Ito transformed everyday retail in Japan, turning a US-born company into an international brand, particularly in Asia where 7-Eleven shops are rarely more than a few minutes’ walk away in many cities.

Seven & I Holdings now has over 83,000 stores around the world, including 7-Eleven shops in 19 regions and countries.

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