By: Segun Lawal

Following the apprehension that has greeted the scheduled visit of President Muhammadu Buhari for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential rally on Saturday, the Lagos State Government on Friday allayed fears of residents assuring that there would be no road closures as earlier announced.

Briefing journalists at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, the State’s Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Ladi Lawanson said the earlier statement announcing diversion and road closure had been reviewed, adding that residents were free to go about their businesses.

Lawanson, who is also a member of the transport sub-committee for the Presidential visit and the APC rally, said Lagosians should jettison an earlier announcement by the committee to the effect that there would be road closures.

He said: “Lagosians have been very apprehensive that there will be traffic gridlock and we got a lot of feedbacks that we intend to grind Lagos to a halt. People are apprehensive; they think we are going to shut down Lagos; they think movement would be restricted and they are bracing themselves for what they anticipate would be the hardship that would be visited on them by the president’s visit and our own activities.

“The purpose of this press conference is to clarify that and to state emphatically that there will be from zero to minimal adverse effect of the President’s visit tomorrow. I repeat, there will be between zero to the barest minimum amount of disruptions to the normal movement that Lagosians undertake on a Saturday like tomorrow.

“So, there will not be any road closures in Lagos tomorrow and Lagosians are free to go about their normal businesses tomorrow, Saturday,” Lawanson said.

He said adequate arrangement had been firmed up to ensure free flow of traffic, but that residents should expect tight security around the routes which the President is expected to pass through in the course of his visit and the venue of the rally.

“We would just like to communicate that because we are expecting a high caliber personality no less a person than the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the normal security precautions that attend a visit of this nature should be expected.

“The President would visit Lagos tomorrow with the full retinue of security aides that protect him and his entourage but there will not be any road closures and there will be zero to minimal disruptions of normal activities,” the Commissioner said.

Lawanson, who addressed the briefing alongside the General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr Wale Musa and the Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Hyginus Omeje, said there would be huge presence of officials of the police, LASTMA, FRSC and other agencies to ensure free flow of traffic around the Surulere axis.

“Around the venue of the rally which is the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere and the adjourning streets are traffic management agencies such as LASTMA, FRSC, Police and other agencies that would support them tomorrow.

“They will handle the traffic management around the venue tomorrow and so people can expect to see a huge presence of our traffic management officers fully on ground to ensure that there is free flow of traffic. We consider it important to clarify this so that we can communicate to Lagosians and give them the assurance that Lagos and especially Surulere would not be on lockdown,” the Commissioner said.

Also speaking, Musa said LASTMA would be deploying tow trucks to promptly evacuate any broken down vehicle and adequate personnel to tackle any gridlock that may arise from the President’s visit and the activities around the Surulere.

By: Babatunde Alaran

US ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington, says the words spoken about the election are as important in the democratic process as the elections themselves.

In a video message to Nigerians, the US envoy said citizens must vote to have an effect on the country’s electoral process.

“The elections are a remarkable opportunity for all Nigerians to come together and for every citizen to express their will. What the United States hopes to see in your elections this year 2019 are elections that are free, fair, credible and, above all, transparent,” he said.

“In this process, I know one thing: it is absolutely important for the citizens of Nigeria to personally take part, beginning right now by knowing what your rights are.

“On election day, you won’t have an effect unless you vote. It’s important that you work together to make sure that your votes are counted.

“As we get ready for your elections, one of the most important things is that there is a level playing field, meaning that no officials, no security forces, no electoral officials, no politicians seek to influence you in a way that is not consistent with the Nigerian law.

“Elections are only one part of the democratic process. The words and the actions that happen in these final days and all the work of government afterwards, are as important to democracy as the elections themselves.”

On the same day Symington’s video was released, Nasir el-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna state, made death threats to foreigners attempting to interfere in Nigeria’s elections.

Speaking during an NTA Live programme on Tuesday evening, el-Rufai said as an independent and sovereign state, Nigeria would never bow to foreign powers.

“Those that are calling for anyone to come and intervene in Nigeria, we are waiting for the person that would come and intervene, they would go back in body bags,” he had said.

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has replied Nasir el-Rufai, stating that it would continue its mission to Nigeria, not minding the threat.

The US has remained silent over the matter.

By: Openiyi Anuoluwa

In a bid to ensure total victory is attained in the forth-coming General election, the APC Ikeja LGA Chapter staged a massive and mega rally campaign which was held in Olowu Junction by Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos. The campaign rally started with the door-to-door campaign in which the Party Executives led by Honourable Dally Adedokun alongside other party Executives and party faithful and supporters moved about different locations within the Ikeja environment going from house to house to campaign on behalf of the Party for the forth-coming General elections.

The door-to-door campaign and rally was not without the Number one Mayor of Ikeja Land, Engr. Dr. Mojeed Alabi Balogun who alongside his team of legislative members joined other party faithful in the house-to-house and door-to-door campaign activities. The Ikeja Council Chairman gave notable reason to members of the electorates reason why they should come massively to vote the Ruling Party for continuation in Governance so as to continued the beneficial advantages of the dividends of democracy the citizens have been enjoying over time.

The campaign train finally moved to the campaign ground at the Olowu Junction where members and supporters were already waiting and seated in their large numbers waiting to the commencement of the campaign. The campaign process kick-started by the Secretary to The Local Government, Hon. Akeem Dauda by introducing the Executive members present as well other party dignitaries who were present. Also, the candidates representing Ikeja Federal constituency for the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Abiodun James Faleke and Hon. Ademola Richard Kasunmu, candidate representing Ikeja constituency at the Lagos State House of Representatives were also introduced to party members. Both candidate present were unanimous in their speech which is the orientation they gave to all the supporters to vote the APC party candidates on the day of election.

Also, another notable personality present was the APC South-West Women Leader, Madam Kemi Nelson, Yeye Sewa of The Universe. In her speech, ‘’I would urge you all party members and supporters to know that we are yet to go out to vote for the election. Therefore, in order to ensure total victory is gotten, I want you all to go out and vote massively for all our candidates and for the APC Presidential candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari in the forth-coming general elections’’.
Other Politcians present were; Chairman of Ojodu LCDA, Hon. Olumuyiwa Oloro and Chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA, Hon. Babatunde Oke. Both Chairmen came to support the host and overall Council Leader of Ikeja Local Government Area, Engr Dr. Mojeed Alabi Balogun.

The APC Ikeja Party Chairman, Hon. Dally Adedokun also opined that votes must be deliver for the State and at the Federal Level in the forth-coming election by Ikeja LGA. He further noted that this is the only way total victory can be achieved. He however expressed hopes and optimism in all the supporters of the party that they would surely do the needful in victory for the Party.

Signed;
Openiyi Anuoluwa,
BOS ICG IKEJA Media aide,
Ikeja Local Government