Osun govt tasks citizens on prompt payment of taxes

The State Government of Osun has called on citizens, groups and corporate organisations doing business in the state to be up and doing in the fulfillment of their civic duty by paying their taxes regularly

Government made this call after its weekly executive council meeting on Wednesday. A statement by the Media Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Sola Fasure, said this became imperative after Council was informed that some organisations and business concerns had their premises sealed off for contravening the state’s revenue law. Council warned that the state will no longer condone any act of economic sabotage by individuals and corporate organisations, which avoid or fail out rightly to perform their civic obligations to the state. According to the statement, lack of fulfilment of such obligations might cause untoward repercussions to corporate entities and individuals if government wields the big stick. 

The Council noted that in as much as government is doing everything humanly possible to provide conducive atmosphere for doing businesses as well as guaranteeing security of lives and properties, it behooves on citizens and business organisations to also pay their taxes promptly for government to be able to carry out its own obligations properly. The statement averred: “This is clearly an avoidable situation.

 Council frowned at this and enjoined all residents and organisations doing business in Osun to be good corporate citizens by fulfilling their obligations to the state to avoid unpleasant consequences.” In another development, Council approved the commissioning of Ilesa Government High School, which comes up on Tuesday 24th October, 2017.

 Ilesa Government High School is one of the 11 state-of-the-art High Schools being built by the government across the state. The commissioning, according to government, is in continuation of the government policy of expansion of the education space in the state for the turnaround of the sector. As a follow up to this, the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), also distributed large consignments of instructional aid and sporting equipment to middle schools in the state.

 The statement noted that the inclusion of sporting equipment is in tandem with government’s efforts at developing the total man (and woman) through learning and physical exercise. In a similar development, Council congratulates and commends an indigene of the state, Islamiyat Yusuf, who represented Nigeria at the just concluded African Youth Games in Uganda where she participated in the event of weightlifting. She won three gold medals for Nigeria. She had earlier represented Osun at the Nigerian Youth Games in Ilorin where she won three gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

Governor says APC is corrupt

The Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike has said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is corrupt.

He made the comment while on a courtesy visit to the Governor of Abia state, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

This is coming on the heels of an alleged $26b scam in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The minister of state for petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu had earlier written a letter to President Buhari alerting him of some alleged under-handed activities in the NNPC.

In the letter, Kachikwu also complained that the NNPC boss, Maikanti Baru disrespects and humiliates him.

Speaking on the minister’s revelation, Wike said “When they said judges were accused of corruption, they were told to step aside. They have not told anyone to step aside so that they can conclude investigation. When you are in office, investigation will be compromised.

Wike said “So many promises were made, but none has been fulfilled. Everyday, what they have to say is corruption, corruption, no other statement. Corruption from day one and corruption till the day they will leave office. What have they achieved? No roads, no infrastructure. I could not come to Abia by road. It is not possible.

“They are working to see that there is disunity amongst the governors. But we have realised that we must work together because of the country. We will do everything possible to make PDP stronger.

“It is not by propaganda. No amount of blackmail will make the governors to shy away from taking Nigeria to the level Nigerians want it. We are going to work together to ensure that PDP emerges victorious in 2019.”

Anambra must fight godfatherism in the coming election

One dreaded monster all Anambrarians are united in condemning is political godfatherism in the state.

This is a monster that have denied the state its rightful place in the country. It is a phenomenon that concentrates power, state resources and machineries in the hands of one man. States where godfatherism still exist in Nigeria are next in the lines of poverty stricken states in Nigeria.

That Anambra State is godfathers-free state in Nigeria today is as a result of prayers and sacrifices made to God by all Anambrarians.

With the coming of Mr. Peter Obi, the state heaved a sigh of relief; not because Mr. Obi was outstanding in his performances nor because he was a rocket scientist, but simply because God used the judiciary to end godfatherism in Anambra State with Peter Obi being the first beneficiary.

But, in demonstrating what many commentators describes as ''African Malaise,'' Mr. Obi is now trying to make himself the new political godfather of Anambra State politics through the PDP candidate, Mr. Oseleka Obaze.

Ngige, Amaechi, Onu lead APC campaign in Anambra State

Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress on Thursday inaugurated its Anambra Governorship Campaign Council ahead of the governorship election in the state on November 18.

They seeks to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Anambra, South-east Nigeria.

The National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, while inaugurating the 48-member committee said the party remained the best option for South-east to actualize its presidency aspiration in the nearest future.

He also challenged the committee to work and bring the South-east into the main stream of Nigeria’s politics and into “the progressive family”.

He also charged the committee to mobilise the entire citizens of Anambra for victory.

Osita Chidoka chooses Mercel Okeke as running mate

Chidoka, through the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Ogbuehi Dike, in Abuja on Monday, said the selection of Okeke followed extensive consultation among party leaders.

Chidoka said, “Okeke brings administrative expertise and private sector experience required to deliver dividends of democracy in the state.

“Okeke brings wealth of first-hand knowledge on how to build modern economy.

“His work as Chief Economist of one of Nigeria’s biggest bank, brings a network of contacts in international financial centres that would be of relevance for the transformation we intend to deliver,’’ he said.

Chidoka, a former Minister of Aviation, said that the running mate would be a strong partner in the commitment to transform the public service in the state to meet peoples hope.