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
A stray bullet has allegedly killed a student who was heading to the examination centre to sit for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination being organised by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The incident happened on Gbagi market road in the Egbeda Local Government Area of the state when a stray bullet allegedly fired by a police officer in pursuit of a suspect hit and allegedly killed the student on Tuesday.
Investigations revealed that the boy was on a motorcycle with his father and twin brother when the incident struck.
The student, according to multiple eyewitnesses, was on his way to the examination centre.
One of the sources, simply identified as Ajani, said, “A police officer opened fire while chasing a fleeing vehicle. One of the bullets reportedly hit the student. The student was riding on a motorcycle with his father and twin brother.
“The victim was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Another witness said, “The deceased was on his way to the examination centre alongside his twin brother when the tragedy happened.”
Meanwhile, irate youths took the student’s lifeless body to the state Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, to demand justice and called on Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene.
The deceased body has been deposited at Adeoyo Hospital morgue.
As of press time, authorities have not released an official statement on the incident.
The Punch
The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU)and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have condemned the recent distribution formula for the N50 billion earned allowance approved by the Federal government for university-based unions.
The unions expressed their displeasure in the sharing formula in a jointly signed statement by the President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, and the General Secretary of NASU, Peters Adeyemi on Sunday in Abuja.
The Federal government last month approved the release of N50billion to universities as earned allowances.
The N50billion is to be shared between the Academic Staff Union of Universities; NASU, SSANU and National Association of Academic Technologists.
The statement said: “We wish to make it clear that this is not a contest of supremacy among unions. Rather, it is about fairness, recognition, and the equitable treatment of all workers who form the backbone of the Nigerian University system.”
The unions further demanded a review and reversal of the allocation formula, which they describe as “grossly unfair” and “totally unacceptable.”
The unions argued that the distribution was capable of creating industrial disharmony and accentuating the teaching/non-teaching dichotomy in Nigerian universities.
They vowed to stand united in demanding justice, fairness, and recognition of their rightful place in the university community.
They warned that going ahead with the unfair distribution will breed resentment and trigger widespread industrial disharmony.
“Non-Teaching staff of Nigerian Universities are not second-class citizens but are critical stakeholders who contribute immensely to the day-to-day functionality, administrative efficiency, research excellence, technical operations, and overall development of the Nigerian Universities system.
“A harmonious and productive academic environment can only be achieved when all stakeholders are treated with respect, dignity, equity, and fairness,” the statement added.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police incharge of Zone 2 Command, Onikan (comprising Lagos and Ogun States) on Saturday led Police officers on a fitness walk to enhance their physical wellness, mental health, and emotional well-being. The Walk which stretched from the Zone 2 Headquarters in Onikan to Eko Atlantic City turning on Ahmadu Bello Way, to Adeola Odeku and back to the Zone 2 covered about 10.2 km, the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) can report.
The exercise, which was undertaken to complement the job of police officers as it demands high level of fitness and health, was to avoid breakdown and collapse, while in and out of duty.
Police officers are known to be on constant move throughout the day, standing for long hours under the rain and sun, and are always under intense pressure in the cause of performing their duties, hence the need for the walk.
Addressing a cross section of NAOSNP members after the tasking but refreshing fitness walk, AIG Adegoke Fayoade stated: ‘This walk is a strategic instruction of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun that we need to be healthy for the job. The Police job is a very tasking job and we require fitness and health to do the job. That is why we decided to do this Walk on a regular basis, it helps us to perform our job effectively which is round the clock.’
‘My charge to our Police officers is that we need to be fit for the job. During leisure, take out time to engage in exercise. It lowers blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol. Today we did about 10.2km, last time we covered 8.5km, maybe next time, we will do 15km.’
The Zonal Police PRO, Zone 2, CSP Umma Tunni Ayuba added: ‘This Walk plays a vital role in mental fitness which impacts what we do on a daily basis. It is also a means to unite us as officers and engage with members of the public. You can see that some members of the public join us because it goes a long way in the health of an individual.’
‘I didn’t know we did as much as 10.2km because it was fun and enjoyable with good music, like they say, ‘music is life’. I encourage officers to continue to engage in exercise, don’t wait for something to happen to your body before you look for what to do.’
The walk was spearheaded by the Zonal Sport officer, SP Mattias and Lagos State Command Sport Officer, ASP Abayomi Sonaike, SP Mattias and Supol Alex of Zone 2. ‘We thank God that we have an agile AIG who is concerned about our fitness and health. Our AIG Adegoke Fayoade knows that walks will help our agility to do the job better,’ ASP Abayomi Sonaike remarked.
