The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the state Governor Ademola Adeleke of being guilty of using religious deceit and fakery to fraudulently advance his political endeavours in the state.

The state chairman of the APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, who stated this in a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, today, observed that Governor Adeleke is breaching a vital part of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended by presenting himself as both a Muslim and Christian contemporaneously.

Lawal pointed out to Adeleke that  though it is his inalienable right to be a Christian or a Muslim or an atheist but posturing for combining all the faiths is a fraudulent act which is a typical hallmark of a disingeneous and duplicitous character scripted and acted to dupe the public.

The state APC chairman explained that it is dishonourable for the Osun State governor to be claiming to belong to all the faiths moreso that there is a gross deficit of his fraudulent claim in both his actions and inactions as a private and public citizen of this country.

Lawal pointed out that the handlers of Governor Adeleke have much work to do as it is insulting to the credibility of the state executive to always be the first to be dancing, singing and beating the drum in both churches and mosques in order to falsely project to the unsuspecting public the qualities he does not possess.

He explained further that his observation of Governor Adeleke portrayed him as someone who believes in using his fake religious attachment as a tool to advance and sustain his political aspiration which subsequently is to the disadvantage of the overall development of the state.

Going through the political history of the state, Lawal stated further that the late governor’s brother, former Governor Isiaka Adeleke, declared  his faith as a Muslim; former Governor Abdulkareem Bisi Akande is also a Muslim; ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola is a Christian; former Governor Rauf Aregbesola is a Muslim; former Governor Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola is a Muslim in deed and action while Governor Ademola Adeleke’s own column about religion is pretty difficult to fill.

In the words of the state APC chairman: “As the incumbent state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke owes the people of the state a duty of the declaration of his faith and ultimately playing double membership of both Christianity and Islam with the ulterior aim of fraudulently harvesting their votes during the elections.”

“One of the reasons it would be pungent clear that Governor Adeleke has not being faithful in belonging to two faiths is that he has been frustrating the moslems and the christians with his privileged position as the state Chief executive.”

“For instance, what manner of a governor would stop the 12-year-old free train ride of the Osun State citizens from Lagos during the statutorily recognized religious festivities which was religiously prioritized by former Governor Aregbesola and faithfully sustained by ex-Governor Gboyega Oyetola despite the verifiable paucity of the Federal Government allocated funds to the state during their tenures?”

“Would Governor Adeleke had diverted the 1,200 bags of rice gifted to the Osun State chapter of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government during the last Christmas/New Year festivities as a palliative to reduce the effects of the fuel subsidy removal if he were to be a genuine adherent of Christianity?”

“It is high time Governor Adeleke stopped his flagrant playing ostrich and come up clear with his real faith as he won’t be the first or the last person worldwide whose parents shared different faiths”, Lawal stated.

By Titus Atondu, Makurdi

The Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Tactical Air Command (TAC), AVM Francis Edosa, has revealed that the continuous conduct of research and development will help in resolving most of the challenges confronting Air Force.

Edosa, represented by the Chief of Staff, TAC, AVM Emeka Ashiegbu, made the disclosure  in Makurdi at a one day Intra Command Research and Development Competition.

He explained that  through research  the service had deployed several platforms to quell crises in most troubled parts of the country, adding that it also build the capacity and enhances service delivery.

The AOC further explained that in the military industry, research involves the continuous development and upgrading of prototype of new military systems without necessarily going into full scale development or production.

Edosa said that the competition “is germane  to our effectiveness as a service and imperative to the myriad of security challenges confronting our country. ”

He charged participants to contribute meaningfully at the competition to implore the service.

The Guest of Honour at the occasion, Air Commodore, Albert Bot, charged them to contribute their quota through research and development to advance the service to greater technological heights.

He said such contributions would help in curbing the menace of insurgency faced in most parts of the country.

Bot commended the Air Force for the application of air power in joint and interagency counter insurgency operations, which he attributed to modest outcomes in research and technology.

He said through research and development crisis had been brought down speedily across many troubled parts of the country.

He also commended the Federal Government (FG) for having deep interest in research and the promotion of local content.

Dr Ernest Mupwaya, Deputy Managing Director, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), has assured its customers of fairness and transparency in electricity bands classification.

Mupwaya gave the assurance on Friday in Enugu at the ongoing three-day Customer Complaints Resolution Meeting organised by NERC for electricity consumers, customers and stakeholders in the South-East.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) recently classified electricity consumers into various bands.

The classification starts from Band-A (a minimum of 20 hours supply per day) to Band-E (a minimum of four hours supply per day).

The EEDC boss said that the company was strictly following laid-down NERC regulation on the bands classification.

“The EEDC has never intended to collect any unjustified money from its esteemed and valued customers within the South-East, its franchise area,” he said.

According to Mupwaya, all customers within the 44 feeders classified as Band-A feeders in EEDC network, meant to have at least 20 hours electricity supply per day, will be treated fairly and transparently.

He said that this was to ensure that they got value for money and they are not overcharged.

The deputy managing director revealed that plans are underway to provide prepaid meters to about 12,381 unmetered Band-A feeder customers in its network within the next three months unfailingly on no-cost basis.

“It will be free-of-charge or they will initially pay for it and later be refunded through pay-back electricity unit credit given to them over some months,” he said.

Mupwaya said that the company had constituted technical Quick Response Teams to attend to local technical issues of all Band-A feeders and customers.

He said that within minutes of calls, both on weekends and during holiday seasons, electrical faults of Band-A customers are resolved without waste of time.

“For those Band-A feeders receiving less than 20 hours per day for two consecutive days; we will send a text message to the customers directly,  explaining the challenges to them.

“For customers on Band-A not receiving 20 hours constant electricity supply for seven days; the feeder and customers concerned will be demoted from Band-A to a lower band.

“We are daily monitoring the situation and on our own as a responsible company, we will ensure no customer is shortchanged or overcharged,” he said.

The deputy managing director also assured all customers in EEDC network that very soon the quality of supply would improve tremendously as the authorities and other electricity industry players are working to ensure improved and more steady supply.

He made it clear that EEDC totally gave out all supply received to its network through the national grid.

He emphasised that the recent shortfall in supply was never the fault of the company and not as a result of local technical challenge within its franchise area.

“Before the recent fall in supply and recent band classification by NERC, you customers can agree with me that some customers do enjoy over 20 hours steady supply and beyond.

“By the grace of God we will return to that era once more soon,” he said.

Speaking, the Commissioner, Consumer Affairs, NERC, Mrs Aisha Mahmod, said that the commission organised the meeting to educate and sensitise electricity consumers on their rights, privileges and obligations.

“NERC, as a regulator, will ensure no electricity consumer or customer is shortchanged.

“Rather, it has provided mechanisms for disagreement and conflict resolution in the electricity industry by ensuring parties abide by laid-down laws and regulations,” Mahmoud said.

She said that the new band classification and tariff was meant to reflect the economic realities of the day.

“NERC is here for three days to listen and proffer practical solutions to your electricity challenges and complaints, which will be practically resolved here,” she said.

The meeting is being attended by hundreds of electricity consumers within the South-East, which include Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States.