Metro
MC Oluomo, APC Hold Solidarity Rally for Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu in Lagos
The Chairman of Lagos State Parks and Garages Management Committee, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly called MC Oluomo, led different groups at a rally on Sunday in support of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.
The rally was also organised in support of the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat for their re-election next year.
Various Tinubu support groups in Lagos have described the mammoth crowd that turned out at the rally as a sign of the party candidates’ popularity and dared other parties to do the same.
The solidarity walk was attended by MC Oluomo himself along with a large number of supporters and Nollywood actors as thousands of participants converged at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere and walked to Bolade-Oshodi in support of the APC candidates.
Security operatives, including the operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, were also present at the rally to protect the residents.
The five-million march themed, ‘Mother of all Rallies,’ was the second pro-Tinubu rally held by the Lagos APC.
The first rally was held on Monday, October 3, by women who embarked on a solidarity walk to show their support for the APC presidential candidate.
Addressing the supporters, MC Oluomo said the walk became imperative to demonstrate the massive support for Tinubu’s presidential ambition.
Akinsanya said the former Lagos state governor has the character, capacity and competence to provide leadership that everyone would be proud of in the country.
One of the leaders of the APC support group in the rally, Mr Waheed Seriki, said, “Asiwaju Tinubu is prepared to change the narrative of the challenges facing the nation.
“Some areas that will enjoy priority of the incoming Tinubu’s administration include insecurity, power generation and employment creation.”
In his reaction, the Lagos APC spokesperson, Mr Seye Oladejo, told The PUNCH on Sunday that the large crowd of participants at the rally indicated the popularity of the APC candidates.
“This is one of our preparations in the countdown to the February election. We can see the acceptability and popularity of our various candidates, such that we could have millions of Lagosians marching for APC candidates at various levels, on a very rainy day. That is not a coincidence; it is the plan of God.
“It shows that the APC is the people’s choice, not only in Lagos State but also in Nigeria. So, we need to commend those who took part in the rally, and we want to tell them to get ready with their Permanent Voter Cards when the election comes. We dare any other party to attempt that, rather than the destruction we are seeing all over the place,” he said.
The founder of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Sanwo-Olu Project, Mr Emmanuel Amuwo, said during a telephone interview with The PUNCH on Sunday that “the response of the rally is no doubt mind-blowing and a strong signal that Asiwaju is more than a candidate but also a solution and an answer to the call of Nigerians. This is just a way of testing the microphone because Tinubu’s camp is more than ready to knock out any candidate.
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is no doubt a unifier, and we are more than ready to mobilise and enlighten Nigerians on why Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the best for Nigeria in this sensitive period.”
On his part, the National Coordinator, Nigeria Intellectual for Tinubu, Lagos State chapter, Temitope Kolawole, in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Sunday, described the rally as a demonstration of loyalty to the former Lagos State governor.
He said, “What we see today is simply an act of loyalty for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is very hard to find in any politician in Nigeria that can gather such influence. Tinubu is a selfless leader who is majorly committed to any assignment, and a vote for Asiwaju will be a step towards taking Nigerians to the Promised Land.”
The Punch
In the wake of a good number of road traffic crashes that resulted into fire outbreak in recent times, and the urgent need to bring the menace to an end, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Federal Fire Service (FFS) have entered into a historic partnership aimed at eliminating fire-related crashes on Nigerian roads.
A statement by the FRSC’s Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), the groundbreaking collaboration will witness the joint training of personnel from both agencies, joint enforcement patrol, as well as improved data sharing to enhance response times and effectiveness.
The partnership, which was formalized by the Corps Marshal, FRSC, Shehu Mohammed and the Controller-General, FFS, Engr. Jaji Olola Abdulganiyu at the national headquarters of the Corps, marks a significant milestone in the quest to reduce the incidence of fire-related crashes on Nigerian roads.
Speaking during the visit, the Controller-General noted that the Federal Fire Service is committed to protecting lives and properties, and this partnership will enable the two services to respond more effectively to fire-related emergencies on the roads. He showed optimism as he looks forward to working closely with the FRSC to achieve shared goals.
Responding to the Controller General, the Corps Marshal highlighted that the partnership is a testament to the Corps’ commitment to safety and determination to explore innovative solutions to the challenges facing the nation’s transportation sector. He noted that by combining expertise and resources, the agencies can significantly reduce the risk of escalation of fire-related crashes and make the roads safer for all users.
The joint training program will focus on equipping personnel from both agencies with the skills and knowledge needed to respond effectively to fire-related crashes. The program will cover topics such as fire prevention, fire fighting, and emergency response.
In addition to the joint training program, the partnership will also involve improved data sharing and effective patrol operations between the two agencies to enforce compliance on having fire extinguishers in vehicles. This will enable them to share critical information on fire-related crashes, including incident locations, response times, and outcomes.
By combining their strengths and resources, the FRSC and FFS are poised to make a significant impact on road safety in Nigeria. This partnership serves as a model for future collaborations between agencies and underscores the importance of interagency cooperation in achieving shared goals.
The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has taken more proactive action towards tackling the spate of tanker crashes in Nigeria, as he visits the national headquarters of Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch-National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Employers (NUPENG-PTD) in Abuja on Wednesday.
The visit, according to a statement by the Corps’ Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), which was a prelude to the forthcoming critical stakeholders meeting organised at the expense of the Corps Marshal to discuss possible ways of bringing to an end, all challenges confronting the safety of lives and properties in the road transportation sector of the country.
While appreciating the support the Corps has received over the years from the Union, the Corps Marshal laid emphasis on the greater need for more collaboration and partnership, especially in the area of training and retraining of Petroleum Tanker Drivers and complying with minimum safety standards in haulage operations.
The National Chairman of the Union, Comrade Augustine Egbon who received the Corps Marshal, commended FRSc’s proactive approach towards enhancing safety in haulage operations in Nigeria. He accepted the need for more collaboration with the Corps in the area of training and retraining and further registered the readiness of the Union to support the Corps through mass media sensitisation campaigns.
The visit amongst other things forms part of Corps Marshal’s ongoing effort to ensure that all stakeholders play critical role in enhancing safety on the nation’s highways.
The meeting had Members of Management of the Corps as well as the Deputy National Chairman of the Union, Alhaji Shuaibu Leba, the National Trustee NUPENG-PTD, Otunba Salmon Akanni Oladiti as well as other Excos of the Union.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, on Wednesday, engaged one another in a physical fight during a meeting of the party’s Board of Trustees, BoT, at the headquarters.
The altercation began when Sunday Ude-Okoye, a party chieftain, was ejected from the meeting.
Samuel Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye are contending over the position of National Secretary of the party.
Ude-Okoye had arrived the venue of the meeting before Anyanwu and acting National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum.
But, when Anyanwu arrived, Ude-Okoye was forced out of the meeting by suspected thugs, a situation that led to an altercation.
