2019 Elections: Sanwo-Olu declares 'I was confident of Lagosians' - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Lagos State Governor-elect, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu said he was confident that the people of the State would choose courage over fear in the just concluded gubernatorial election.

Sanwo-Olu polled a total of 739,445 votes to defeat his main challenger, Mr. Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party, who got a total of 206,141 votes.

Declaring the vote as a referendum by the people of Lagos, Sanwo-Olu said that Lagosians had once again, decided that they would continue to take the path of progress that started in 1999 by voting for APC
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''This election signaled more than a vote for me or any other candidate. It was a vote, a referendum, on how a state and its people would define themselves. Would we be courageous and confident enough to seek our greater place in the world? Or would we turn so scared that we spend the greater number of hours fighting each other instead of joining ourselves in productive cooperation that will uplift the lives of each of us?''

''We were confident that you would choose courage over fear and select cooperation over confrontation. You made this enlightened choice in resounding and clear numbers.''

''Let us be completely frank and honest so that we may quickly clear the air of those things that might pollute and soil our politics if we allow them to linger.'' Sanwo-Olu said.

Making reference to some unwholesome part that played up during the electioneering process, Sanwo-Olu advised political actors to sheathe their swords adding that the time for campaign is over and now is the time to join hands together, build peace and stronger collaboration for the benefit of the State.

''There were things said during this campaign that should not have been said. And tactics employed that were shortsighted and potentially disruptive to the social accord and harmony of purpose we have enjoyed in Lagos.''

''Those who tried to use ethnicity to bring discord in hopes that such tactics might bring them victory have been sorely disappointed. The election is over. I ask them to cease and desist from this unwise conduct.''

''Our people are generous in spirit, compassionate at heart and as fair-minded as any people can be. Despite the challenges that we may face, our people exist in a space that is above hatred.'' Sanwo-Olu declared.

Sanwo-Olu reiterated his total commitment to the unity of Lagos regardless of gender, ethnic nationalities, political and religious differences, pledging to lead with fairness and openness.

''To be the leader of a people such as these is an honour of the highest level and a sacred obligation. A leader befitting this state and its people is one who unites and leads them to greater progress; not one who seeks to pit them against each other.''

Ayo Midele/Editor

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Pix: L-R: Deputy Governor-elect,Kadir Obafemi Hamzat; Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Governor-elect, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu; National Leader All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake, after the declaration of Mr. Sanwo-Olu as the governor elect of Lagos, at Bourdillion, Ikoyi Lagos.

2019 elections: US congratulates Nigerians, urges for patience as INEC collates results - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, William Stuart Symington IV has urged Nigerians to remain patience as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) collates results, reports ITREALMS.

A press statement from the US Embassy in Nigeria, made available to ITREALMS, the ambassador congratulated tens of millions of Nigerians who stood patiently in long lines to vote this week and the hundreds of thousands who worked together with INEC to conduct the elections.

He pointed out that as noted by many observer groups in their preliminary reports, this election was predominantly peaceful, and it was proof of the Nigerian people’s resolute commitment to choose their leaders.

As said by him, the peaceful achievement of millions was shadowed by the violence of a few.

“We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives, and we urge all candidates to honor the Peace Accord they signed. All should convince those who support them to refrain from using force or violence to interfere with INEC,” he said.

Symington also warned that no one should break the law by announcing results before INEC does, or break the peace by claiming victory before the results are final.

“Everyone has a common interest in showing patience as INEC collates and announces the election results,” he said.

Chuks Egbune/DoP

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2019 elections: Internet shutdown looms, FG imports equipment from Israel says Fayose - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose has alleged that the Federal Government of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has concluded plans to shut the telecommunications networks including the Internet for the purposes of manipulating the forthcoming general elections, reports ITREALMS.

Fayose made this allegation through his Twitter handle, @GovAyoFayose, on Tuesday evening.

As said by him, he has it from high authorities that the Federal Government imported jamming equipment from Israel for this purpose.

The telecom infrastructure shutdown, he said, would commence from 5am on Saturday till 5pm on Sunday.

This, ITREALMS gathered, he said, would make it impossible for Nigerians to use the Internet and make phone calls during the elections.

Also, he alleged that the imported equipment from Israel has been installed already and was on trial last Thursday and Friday, when calls were purportedly not going through across networks.

The tweet which has since attracted 1,300 comments and 3,800 retweets had some 5,600 likes as at the time of filing this report.

Chuks Egbune/DoP

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Erelu Fayemi on roadshow, mobilises women for 2019 elections - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has urged Ekitis to vote en masse for President Mohammadu Buhari in next week’s presidential election in order to save the state from needless sufferings, reports ITREALMS.

Erelu Fayemi disclosed this in Itapa Ekiti on Wednesday while leading Ekiti women and youth on a road show in support of the Buhari/Osunbajo Presidential campaign, said the state would be subjected to all forms of ridicule before getting what is due to it in Abuja should the the opposition party triumph in the election.

She pointed out that said Ekiti State had benefited tremendously within the last three months her husband, Dr. Kayode Fayemi assumed office, through cordial working relationship with the federal government.

The road show moved through Itapa, Oye, Ilupeju, Ikole, Ode and Omuo Ekiti.

Erelu Fayemi said all the federal government projects in the state including the rail line and the ongoing federal secretariat, federal housing estate will become reality once President Buhari gets re-elected.

"Since your governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi came on board, he had established good relationship with the federal government and we have started seeing the gains.

" The APC government in the state have being paying salaries and pensions regularly since inception in October 2018. Our workers now get their salaries as and when due unlike the previous government that owed workers several months of unpaid wages..

At the various points, Erelu fayemi and her team took time to sensitise the elderly citizens on voting procedures with sample of the ballot papers.

Ayo Midele/Editor

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FG applauds USA, UK position on 2019 elections - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Federal Government has welcomed the statements from the United States and the United Kingdom demanding credible and peaceful election in Nigeria and threatening punitive measures against election riggers and perpetrators of electoral violence, reports ITREALMS.

In a statement available to ITREALMS from Ilorin on Friday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the Federal Government is particular delighted that the statements came after it alerted the nation to the machinations of some opposition elements who are working to scuttle the 2019 polls through widespread violence.

''A few days ago, we alerted the nation to the plot by the opposition to orchestrate widespread violence in the country, using insurgents and criminal elements within and outside the country. Their plan is to scuttle the election and then push for an interim government, having realized they can't win a free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.

''The fact that those statements came after we issued our red alert, which is based on credible intelligence, shows that the international community is closely monitoring events ahead of the election. We urge them to keep a close tab on the desperate opposition, whose language, actions and undisguised threats are antithetical to the conduct of peaceful polls,'' he said.

Ayo Midele/Editor

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2019 elections: Students top registered voters with 22.3m - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has identified some nine categories of occupation distribution of registered voters for the 2019 general elections in Nigeria, reports ITREALMS.

Occupation is defined as job, day job, profession, work, line of work, line of business, trade, employment, position, post, situation, business, career, vocation, calling, craft, skill, field, province, walk of life of an individual.

This shows that students outnumbered every over occupation categories with some 22,320,900 registered voters.

INEC, ITREALMS gathered also listed farmers/fishermen, housewives, business persons, traders, civil servants, public servants, artisans and others.

According to INEC, students category which has a record of 26.57 per cent of the total registered voters is followed by farmers and fishermen with 13,630,216 registered voters, which is 16.23 per cent.

In the top third category are the housewives with 11,844,079 which accounts for the 14.10 per cent, just as the Business Persons came fourth with 10,810,006 worth 12.87 per cent.

While Traders came handy in the fifth person with 7,568,012 which accounts for 9.01 per cent, followed by others with 6,021,741 with 7.17 per cent.

For the Civil servants with 5,038,671, thus amounts to 6 per cent, even as public servants got 2,292,176 which is a record of 2.73 per cent and finally Artisans having 4,478,202 with 5.33 per cent.

Chuks Egbune/HO

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