Jonathan fulfilled campaign promises in 2012, claims Okupe

I had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Doyin Okupe 'Jonathan Attack Lion" where he told me among other audience that President Jonathan delivered his  campaign promises in 2012, i can't but look back year 2012, where we had the worst of dividend of democracy, while many thanks to journalism "we are forced to listen to liars many times", here is my published work after the meeting Jonathan fulfilled campaign promises in 2012, claims Okupe   On fulfillment of campaign promises Jonathan's Okupe, refuted claims that President Jonathan has not fulfilled mos t of the promises he made to Nigerians during the election that brought him into power saying, he was optimistic that the year 2013 will be the "year of Nigeria's glory. He also added that Nigerians were seriously lamenting before the coming of Jonathan, but according to him, the lamentations have started to decrease. "To say that Nigerians lamented the most in 2012, that is not true. There were lamentations before. The President on assumption of office said the days of lamentations are over, so in gradual sequence, the lamentations started to decrease. Gladly enough, stage by stage, most of the promises he made are being fulfilled gradually. "2013 is a year of Nigeria's glory. The president has said it. Good things are coming to Nigeria. There will be growth in all ramifications. There will be regular power supply" he said.   On Boko Haram Okupe said even though the President has not foreclosed direct interface with the group, the dialogue would have to be constructive with highest level of sincerity. He said the Federal Government was not against dialogue but that the real representatives of the sect must first of all be identified before genuine dialogue can take place.  "I believe that most Nigerians are interested in dialogue and that this ultimately would be the best way of resolving the issue, but dialogue would have to be constructive. You have to identify genuine people and when the proper stage is set for dialogue, the government would surely be interested", he sai d. Even so, the President said more than 70% of the intended action of the sect is being foiled by security agencies, adding that Aso rock has the capability to secure and protect the people of the country. "The Federal Government has curtailed the insurgency, it's no longer escalating. There is containment with both the numbers and locations. Don't forget that insurgency is not easy to contain anywhere in the world, but the government has a responsibility to protect the people and it's doing just that. "So, we should be careful with the way we criticize the President; we should measure our utterances. You don't destroy a country because you want to criticize the Federal Government. Boko haram only spread to seven states when it began and has been contained to three stat es. How then can people be saying that the country is not safe?" He asked.   On Anenih's appointment as NPA Chairman Reacting to condemnations that trailed last week appointment of Chief Anthony Anenih as the Chairman of th e Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), the Presidential spokesperson said that there was nothing wrong in appointing the veteran politician to use his vast experience to guide the professionals in NPA. He said the various allegations leveled against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain have not been proven in the court of law and that records have shown that they are all lies.  He particularly mentioned the billions of Naira that Anenih was alleged to have collected when he was the Minister of Works, saying that the money was only budgeted by the ministry and was not released. "Why then should people be accusing him of embezzling money when the money was not released?" he queried.    On FG's action on fuel subsidy Okupe assured Nigerians that the coming year will be the country's year of glory and that the Federal Government did not make a mistake in its handling of the fuel subsidy issue in January this year. He said the Jonathan's administration is a very responsive government and that, according to him, explains why the government, after due consultations bow to the wishes of the Nigerian people through the reduction in petrol price from N141 to N97 per litre. "I am not being pompous or irrational but I don't agree that government made a mistake given the way it handled the fuel subsidy issue. As responsible government, if you do something wrong and you come to the realization, you should agree that you make a mistake, but in that particular situation, from government perspective, it wasn't a mistake. I don't think government made a mistake; I am speaking from government's position, I don't think it was an error. Government backed down to the wishes of the people which are a responsible thing to do in a democracy".   On refineries He also spoke on the nation's refineries saying just like an old car, the refineries in the country are old and instead of spending money on frequent maintenance, the best option is to sell it off and purchase a new one. On why the federal government did not partner with those operating illegal refineries in the creeks to raise the refineries to a standard level and make them legal, Okupe said the operation of illegal refineries has nothing to with national growth and development. "The refineries are working and I believe that even in re cent times, the recent figure that we have is that majority of the refineries we have are very, very old. The least of them is about 30 years in age or more. So, we are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. The best thing to do is to do away with these refineries. It is like having an old car and you don't have money to purchase a new" http://peoplesdaily-online.com/index.php/politics/politics/political-interviews/10702-jonathan-fulfilled-campaign-promises-in-2012-claims-okupe

2012: The untold hardship of Nigeria's Manufacturing sector

Ayodele Samuel, Lagos The Nigerian manufacturing sector performed 'poorly' in the out gone year, as experts say the manufacturing sector contributed only 5 per cent to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), in its Business Environment Report 2012 disagreed with the Federal Government's claims of significant economic growth on the nation's economy, while the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) recently said  no fewer than 800 companies in Nigeria closed shop between 2009 and 2011 mainly due to harsh operating business environment.   NACCIMA president, Dr. Herbert Ajayi said, "More than half of the surviving firms had been classified as ailing, which poses a serious threat to the survival of the manufacturing industry in the country. Capacity utilisation in industries hovered around 30 per cent and 45 per cent on the average, with 100 per cent overhead costs. "Political and economic factors contribute greatly to the decline in the manufacturing sectors. For instance, poor infrastructure and epileptic power supply are also key impediments to the industry. The industry as a whole operates on more than 70 per cent of energy it generates, using generators and operating these generators greatly increases the cost of manufacturing goods in Nigeria", he stated. "Other factors include increase in the prices of petroleum products used by industries, multiple taxation, unabated smuggling and inadequate access to finance, both local and abroad", he added. Corroborating Ajayi's views, National President, Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Mr. Chuku Wachuku  told Peoples Daily that many companies operated  below capacity in 2012 because of unstable power supply, inadequate funds and high labour costs. This, he said, has increased businesses' expenses, reduced productivity and hampered economic growth making many firms to shut down or relocated to neighbouring countries. He said the manufacturing sector is facing challenges in the face of the economic crisis that has accentuated the loss of competitiveness against manufactured products from China. The blackouts are negatively impacting the economy, which is grappling with a combination of slow growth, a weak currency, high inflation and the effect of flooding that is expected to drive up food prices. While the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has not released its official position for 2012,  its President, Dr. Kola Jamodu, in  September 2012 said there was an increased investment as well as improved turnover for the industrial sector of the economy within the last one year. His view however drawn conflicting reactions from other stakeholders. According to data obtained from the office of the Director-General, West African Institute of Financial and Economic Management, "In developed countries where the real sectors are thriving, manufacturing contribute as much as between 35 and 40 per cent to the GDP. For instance, in Malaysia, the manufacturing sector contributes about 45 per cent to the GDP. Our manufacturing sector must function optimally to generate more jobs if we are to realise the Vision 20:20:20 target. According to the data,"At present, about 30million youths are unemployed in Nigeria . The economy is growing at  almost 8 per cent, but we still have rising level of poverty of about 70 per cent. The rate of unemployment stands at about 24 per cent, which is about 35 percent among the youth.  Though increasing unemployment rate is a global phenomenon, we must tackle it in Nigeria". "The inflation rate is 12.8 per cent. So, what we are experiencing as economic growth rate is only marginal increase. Every year, government prepares the entire budget depending on income from crude oil. So, the economy is still heavily dependent on oil, while the manufacturing sector, which has the potentials to create jobs and generate more revenue, is not given the required attention. The rate of unemployment is growing faster than the growth of the economy. Increase in rural unemployment is also disturbing" the data stated.  Small and Medium Scale enterprises (SMEs), according to experts, contribute nearly half of the nation's GDP and accounts for over 25 percent of employment in the country. Also, the recent release from the Enterprise Baseline Survey 2012 stated that there are 17 million SMEs in Nigeria , employing 32.41 million persons and making a contribution of about 46.54 per cent to the GDP. Also, the CBN has been in the forefront of building a synergy between the financial and real sector of the economy, in order to enhance accessibility to capital for operators of SMEs in the country. The initiative is to ensure that the operators of SMEs have access to low cost funds to boost their operations and for start-ups to enhance expansion of smaller units of businesses across the country. This will bring about long-term benefit of boosting domestic production capacity for local manufacturers, such that they are able to carry out operations with reduced cost. In April 2009, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) created the N200 billion Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme Fund to stimulate growth in the SMEs sub-sector, with subsequent approval of N500 billion Intervention Fund in 2010 for the manufacturing industry. According to the LCCI report, major challenges faced by the  manufacturing sector was rising cost of production due to high cost of capital and alternative source of power as well as  increasing cost of labour due to scarcity of required skills and new minimum wage legislation expansion, leading to importation of technical skills required by the industries. The report however urge the Federal Government to ensure that SMEs and manufactures get loan at single digit and eliminate delays associated with loan processing, stressing the urgent need to responsibly check the influx of fake, imitation and sub-standard goods into the Nigerian market. http://peoplesdaily-online.com/index.php/business/business/commerce-industry/10775-2012-a-dismal-year-for-nigerian-manufacturing-sector

published in Peoples Daily Newspaper August 16 2012, Page 20

Tobacoo: My Friend ,Our Media

As I settled down with a friend inside a dark corner at Big Brother Café opposite the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba Lagos, South west Nigeria, what was going through my mind was the many workshops I have attended on tobacco at the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN). My friend is a chain smoker. If allowed he will smoke out his life… as he puffed into the air, I changed our topic ‘Ore’ (meaning friend in Yoruba our local dialect) why do you smoke? Daddy and Mum never smoked? Where do you learn how to stick your mouth? “The Media did this to me” how? I wanted to hear more but he wasn’t willing to talk about his smoking habit all he added was “Movies, I watched movies alot when I was young and the ‘best guy’ smokes so I …” my friend puffed away to another table, visibly not interested in my topic. The mass media have a major role to play in rebuilding our societal values, like my friend- who learnt smoking from the media obviously needs help from the same media. What we see has a great influence on our thinking and behaviours but what are we seeing through the media- corruption, prostitution, smoking like my friend many other bad habits. Yes! Children picked them from the media -that movie we watched, that advert we saw coupled with what our ‘broda adugbo’ area uncle did, formed our orientation, we all wants to belong, we want to be ‘happening’. Tobacco is killing a lot of Nigerians, The Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) Africa spokesperson, Philip Jakpor, lamented that the activities of the tobacco industry was particularly noticeable in low and middle income countries like Nigeria which accounts for 80 percent of the annual six million tobacco-related deaths in the world. He said journalists have crucial roles to play in exposing the tobacco industry's efforts at undermining the implementation of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and public education on the dangers of smoking. But Nigeria Independent Tobacco Association  (NITA)  on its part says about 10,000 jobs will be at risk in Nigeria if the World Health Organisation (WHO) goes ahead with its proposal at the World Tobacco Growers’ Day. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/10/nita-members-may-loose-10000-jobs-if/ "There is a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the tobacco industry's interests and public health policy" Jakpor said. The Media majorly movie producers, Ad directors should wake up from their damaging slumber. Portraying people with bad habits as ‘great men’ should stop, our society is losing out its morals- young people believe so much in the media, their daily activities are built around these ‘media mentors’. We need to start building a sane society through sane media content.

In Jalingo: safe water is scarce like petrol, and expensive as gold

"Water, they say is life", and according to science, the human body constitute of 70% of this liquid substance, as such water tops the priority list of the demand of mankind.  The World Health Organization (WHO)  said 80% of diseases plaguing humanity are due to use or consumption of unsafe water.

"Over 1 billion people globally lack access to safe drinking-water supplies, while 2.6 billion lack adequate sanitation; diseases related to unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene result in an estimated 1.7 million deaths every year," WHO report says.

It is generally believed that the accessibility of sufficient quantities of  portable water and safe sanitation facilities to a household determines the quality of life of the people and potential for poverty alleviation. This leads to the welfare improvement and is generally linked to a decrease in infant and maternal mortality, increase nutritional values and environmental hygiene.

In Jalingo, accessing portable water by residents remains a major battle forcing residents of the city to rely on local vendor popularly id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5819394726337101682" />

called Mai ruwa and few streams for water, while public water supply remained exclusive for the rich in the state. Wurom Musa, is a one of the slum communities in Jalingo, and is inhabited mainly by farmers and traders. Here the only source of water for domestic consumption is a local stream about 7 killometers  away. away. What would have served as a safer source of water supply- a two  hand-pump boreholes donated to the community 5 years ago,  had collapsed In another slum community, Barade ward, there are tales of woes and anguish  whenever the Lamorde River, the only source of water in the area,  dries up, typically  during dry season. When this occurs, residents of the  community are left with no other option than to buy from 'Mai Ruwa' water vendors, whose source of water is unknown. In another community, Agangagwasa, a resident, ,  Julian Bala narrated that getting water for domestic use is a major challenge. "because here is a new area with plenty people, water is our problem, when the wells in the area  are dried up, it's a difficult  to get water because, we trek long distance searching for water as if you are looking for petrol, its saddening because water board is not here" Another resident, Mrs. Franca Osita told me that  she starts her day by searching for water, "I  have to wake up early and walk to   the stream to get water, or else buy from the water vendors and then prepare the children for school before resuming business, this is usually difficult for me" She called on the government to show more concern to the untold suffering water scarcity has brought upon the people, by making provision for more boreholes and making sure that the taps are running again. The Ward head of Mayo-Gwoi Village, in peri urban Jalingo, Mr. Aliyu Jassa, said the lack of access to portable water in the city is harming their health. " Due to lack of water from the taps, some of us depend largely on  Mai ruwa, and those who cannot afford to buy, have to depend on the river. Unfortunately we've had cases of cholera that have resulted to the loss of lives, especially pregnant women and children, I almost lost my children too, but thank God for quick intervention" Hamman Yakubu a retired bank official, on his part lamented the hike in price of water by local vendors.  "Me and my family consume not less than three trucks a day at N200 per a truck of ten jerry-cans each, but we are at the mercy of the water vendors, who sometimes hike the price of the water at will," adding that  it's  too expensive for an average citizen in the state who earns less than N18, 000 per month, considering  other family expenses like sending the children to school. Mr. Yakubu also noted that though there are pipes laid down for distribution to homes, but too expensive to embark upon, as it will cost N60,000 for the installation per home; adding  that the pipes have rusted due to non-usage resulting to  health hazard for the few consumers. Other residents across the city bemoan the recurrent shortage of water and overdependence for water supply on Mai ruwa whom sources of water is not known to the consumer. Chairman of Taraba state water vendors, Mr. Muhamadu Ahmed said "there are over 20,000 members of the association scattered in various location of Jalingo" Danlami Musa a water vendor said, he  sells as much as fifteen trucks a day and due to the high demand of the product he often have to go in search of water from the stream, stating that sometimes the water from the borehole is not sufficient to go round. Secretary of the Association of water vendors in Jalingo, Mr. Iliya Jacob who had been in the business for more than 14 years said his service is an alternative to government. " I have been providing water for this entire area for 13 years, people troop in from distances to come here for water, sometimes we have to give them for free, as a humanitarian service, we see the untold hardship on our people, we regard our services as an alternative to the government, because most people cannot afford to buy trucks of water per day, there is no other option for getting portable water"  he added. He identify causes of water scarcity in city as "dryness of well and stream majorly during dry season and well water  changing color during raining seasons, and sometimes due to the activity of the pumping machine, it drains water from the ground which often cause some temporal water shortage from the ground, and leads to dry wells." The Area Manager of Taraba Water Supply Board, Jalingo district,  Mr. Bitrus Rimanshon  admitted to ravaging  water shortage in the city: "the product don't seems to be available, however the government is doing its best to meet up with the challenges." The Government is doing its best, the Taraba water supply board is operational on a daily basis, but coverage is not much, due to the growing population of the city, the coverage area is presently at 32%," Some of the challenges facing the State Water Board according to investigation includes obsolete machines that needs renovation and replacements,  inadequate funding , deficiency in human resource development, and manpower that has reduced from 600 to 324 since the creation of the state. Other challenges according to Mr. Rimanshon  , is the need to upgrade the facilities  for water distribution, stating that  only six out of the fourteen boreholes  in the Board are functional. Calling on the  the government to subsidize water supply, in the state  rather than putting  more money  in providing drugs, Mr Rimanshon  said the proper funding of the Board and efficient supply of safe water will help prevent diseases. A government official who does not want his name in print confirmed that that the State Government recently  accessed a loan from the African Development Bank, to enable it upgrade the water supply  coverage in the state from 32% to 75% . The story is contributed by Ayodele Samuel, and published under the pro poor WASH stories project implemented by the Water and Sanitation Media Network Nigeria, with the support of West Africa WASH Media Network, WaterAid, and Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council.

EXCLUSIVE : Bakare parts way with Buhari, CPC

Ayodele Samuel, Lagos Strong indication emerged yesterday that Congress for Progress Change (CPC), Vice Presidential candidate Pastor Tunde Bakare has parted ways with his presidential candidate General Muhammud Buhari and his party CPC . This followed the ongoing merger process with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and other opposition parties ahead of 2015 election which Bakare was said to be staunchly against. Peoples Daily exclusively gathered that Bakare had before now made his stand known to Buhari that he cannot work with the Tinubu controlled ACN, insisting that the CPC should reorganize itself and go into the next election. A close source to Bakare said since the issue of merger with ACN was not supported by tBakare, his relationship with Buhari caucus led by Buba Galadima , Sule Haman and the party leadership had gone sour . “very highly placed CPC members had been worried about refusal of Pastor Bakare to fall in line with the ongoing merger process which they believe is the only way of kicking PDP government out in the next general election and they are showing him the way out” The source quoted Bakare saying has never been a member of the CPC but was only invited as a running mate in the last election and would not bow to former Lagos state Governor Bola Tinubu for political powers. The source said “he (Bakare) was begged to accept to contest the 2011 election with Buhari, he has never for once been a member, he’s the only running mate that stood behind Buhari after election, during tribunal and after tribunal, but the agreement is over, the coming together was for the purpose of election, which he played his part loyally to the party, Buhari and his conscience. Now he has decided to chart a new course in the country , he now faces his Save Nigeria Group” Peoples Daily gathered that efforts were made by former FCT Minister Mallam Nasir El-Rufia to persuade Bakare not to dump the party but proved abortive. The source said one of such was a closed door meeting between El-Rufia and Bakare last week Sunday in Lagos. Another source in the Party however revealed that Bakare had taken the decision after he had counselled the Ondo State chapter of the CPC not to file any candidate in the state gubernatorial election last October. “he wanted the party in the state to support Governor Mimiko in the October election but the party filed his candidate, when our National Leader (Buhari) was in Ondo to campaign for the candidates, Bakare was not there, he insisted that we should work for Mimiko which he later declared his support for openly.” Efforts to speak to Bakare proved abortive as his media contact said, “the issue is not ripe to be commented on”

Karim: where 5 people die of water diseases weekly

Ayodele Samuel +2348074420617, gtms06@yahoo.com In Karim, 5-10 persons are estimated to be daily diagnosed of water related diseases, while 2- 5 people die weekly of same diseases, Ayodele Samuel Ayokunle, Journalist and blogger at www.ayodelenews.blogspot.com writes.......... My encounter on the road to Karim Village wasn’t a palatable experience for me, the Village had just been ravaged by the deadly flood that swept across the country, bad roads, fear of transportation on water coupled with visible angry flooded villagers. At last I landed in ‘Snake Island’. Karim Village, headquarters of Karim- Lamido Local Government in Taraba state, North East Nigeria. it takes about seven hours by road from Jalingo the state capital, due to bad roads and the vastness of the land, but I took less than 3hours taking waterways using local boat from River Lau, to River Benue to Jen and motorcycle to Karim town. Thou the people of karim Lamido are still battling the effects of flood that ravaged the rustic community, Typhoid and other water related diseases remains another nightmare. Karim village known among visitors mostly Corps Members (a Nigeria government youth scheme for fresh graduates) as Snake Inland due to heavy presence of reptiles. The town is surrounded by water and thick grasses, which makes snakes a common sight , about four different tribes (Karim jo , Jenjo, Bachama, Bambur) made up of the undeveloped Agrarian land with people majorly dealing in rice farming and fishing as source of livelihood. Faced with lack of safe water despite surrounded by River Benue and Lau River, lack of toilets, the people of Karim despite their many problems, has its own uniqueness of peace and harmony among its more than 195,844(2006 census) Christians and Muslims who co-exist peacefully. Water related disease affects the young and the old in Karim because of their nomadic nature, they tend to move from place to place in search of greener pastures for their immediate family, leaving behind available water source .

Major sources of water include rivers, ponds, and open wells which the inhabitants use for their domestic activities and every other water related activity. Available boreholes are: a private owned borehole operated by RABI waters,that sells water especially to water vendors(mai-ruwa) and one at the emirs palace are the only source of water to the people Most Government sunk boreholes and the recently sunk ones under the Millennium Development Goals MDGs are no longer functioning due to what residents describe as “poor execution of the projects.” A resident , Alhaji Abdullahi Umar said that sources of portable water were all blocked and most government boreholes are all dried, “we find it very difficult to have clean water for consumption and domestic use because most government water has dried up, so we drink from the ponds ” However little or no assistance is available on the issue of healthcare, the community is armed with an unequipped primary health care center to abate the water crisis facing the community. According to, the Principal Community Health Officer(PCHO) of only Primary Health Centre, Karim Dr. Isa Nayin , typhoid and other gastro intestinal diseases like dysentery and diarrhea are prevalent in the locality. He said that these diseases is commonly reported from remote areas which includes Karim- Mondi, Ruwan Fulani, Kwanchi and Mutum Daya, the villages about two hours motorcycle ride from the center. Sighting the disease of the F's (Faeces-Flies-Food-Finger) as the major vector of the disease, Dr Isa stressed that these diseases occur because there is no reliable source of water within the locality. He estimated that 5-10 persons are daily diagnosis of water related cases in the hospital, while 2-5 died weekly of same illness, “ because the people still believe in traditional medicine so they usually don't like visiting the hospital because of the cost and distance.” Another problem facing the community is ‘Color change in water’ mostly especially in the rural areas where different activities take place within the village ponds or rivers, pigs are allowed to go play in drinking ponds thereby causing a dramatic change in the color of water changing to red. While a health worker Bumanda Andrew express fear considering the increasing casualties of water related diseases appealed to both local and state Government authorities to come to the aid of the community residents. “Government need to compliment efforts of United Nations in providing social amenities to the less privileged, people here needs help on water and many other social problems”

Commenting on the water problem, Government official, the vice- chairman of Karim Lamido Local Government, Alhaji Ahmad Umar Karim admitted that Government is aware of the peoples plights but assures that efforts are made to reduce their hardship. “The government has done their best in terms of provision of portable water, citing example of a tap water pipe which were laid by the present Government across the local Government headquarters but which were suddenly vandalized by hoodlums without anybody reporting to the relevant authorities.” He said the people should complement Government efforts by protecting Government properties sited in their domain The people of Karim are still hopeless on safe water, basic healthcare among other social amenities, where will respite come their way?

Ondo Election: ……is Mimiko coasting to victory?

Ondo Election: ……is Mimiko coasting to victory? Ayodele Samuel, Akure If the forth coming Ondo gubernatorial is to be judge by crowds  witness at various political rallies by political parties in the state, Labour Party (LP) Candidate and incumbent Governor Olusegun Mimiko might few steps away from victory.  Mimiko endorsement for another term cut across political boundaries and ideologies , from chieftain of the  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Community  Based organization  and several Civil Societies had openly declared their support for Iroko, as he's fondly call. Mimiko recently while expressing confidence that the people will vote for him in the October 20 governorship election based on his track record of performance and longstanding relationship with them. Mimiko who spoke at his hometown in Ondo during one of its overcrowded mega  campaign tour of the ancient city said that he was the most qualified amongst all the contenders for the position having identified with the people, worked for them and above all having brought the State on the path to sustainable development as Governor. The Governor also described the two opposition candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and that of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Olusola Oke and Rotimi Akeredolu respectively as not only political neophytes but strangers and stooges of political godfathers only out to milk the state of its resources. "The people of Ondo State will vote for me because they know me and I live with them. In the last three and a half years, we have been working for the people and we have delivered on our electioneering promises. If you vote for me again, I will continue to work for you. You all know me, I am not a stranger in your midst; I have been your commissioner and when I was your commissioner, I did well for you; I was your Secretary to State Government (SSG); when I was SSG, I did well for you. I was a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and when I was there, I did well for you so you all know my antecedents unlike some people who want to now govern you out of the blues," Mimiko said.  "Let me ask the people of Ondo State: Is it a governor you want or a district officer? If the answer is yes, that you want a real governor as I can hear say; then cast your votes for me on October 20 because I am one of you. "Because you know me; because I have always worked for you; because my heart is with you, I won't take your money abroad. Rather, I will use your money to work for you so that hunger, want, deprivation will be banished from our land. " While Residents of about100 coastal communities, mainly oil-producing areas in the State, joined by artisans and local traders  has vowed to work assiduously for the re-election of Mimiko. The state representative on the governing council of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Dele Omogbemi  said the entire oil-producing communities in the state would work for the victory of the governor in the forthcoming election so that the laudable programmes designed for the people in the area would not be abandoned The former NDDC chief hinged  the support on  the role played by the governor when he was secretary to state government in ensuring that oil companies operating in the area paid compensation to their host communities was a major reason why the people endorsed his re-election. While Action Congress of Nigeria Governor, Edo State Comrade Adams Oshiomole  had said "Unlike other Governors, Governor Mimiko and myself, giving the circumstances of our assumption of office, the whole of the people of Nigeria look up to us for a change and I am happy that here in Ondo State, Governor Mimiko is making a difference. He is showing that there are Governors and there are Governors. I think Mimiko has more than justify the sacrifices made by your people in defense of the popular mandate. In Ondo State, we have seen Governance in action. This is Governance working according to the wishes of the people. He has shown that in democracy, only the people matters." The Convener of the Save Nigeria Group (SNG), and CPC chieftain Pastor Tunde Bakare on his part said "Mimiko has taken care of the needs of the Ondo grassroots people as Mimiko and the Labour Party have demonstrated that they have the capacity to give dividends of democracy to the people in the grassroots.The governor has discharged his responsibilities well and deserved a second tenure. I do not speak for any political party. It is time people know that leadership is not by might or inheritance but by living right as Mimiko has done. This is not about political party but performance. If every state in Nigeria works like Mimiko and Fashola of Lagos, the nation will change. I only met Mimiko for 10 minutes during the presidential election campaign in 2011, saying the endorsement was a support to good governance. Members of the Save Nigeria Group that are on ground assessing the performance of governors in all the states have attested to Mimiko's performance." I therefore advise the Ondo electorates to be vigilant and to defend their votes against rigging or any form of electoral manipulations" While an Abuja based opinion and survey agency, Pollstar, however predicted that the candidate for the PDP, Chief Olusola Oke, maintained his leading position over the other candidates, Pollstar Executive Director (Special Projects), Mr. Obi Benedict Ekene said  "Oke for the third consecutive week, topped the chart with 29.5 per cent with the Labour Party candidate, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, in the second position with 21 per cent while the Action Congress of Nigeria candidate, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu,  came third with 19 per cent. The scores of other candidates as released by Pollstar are: Oluseyi Ehinlanwo of Congress for Political Change five per cent; Adeyemi Bolarinwa of All Nigeria Political Party, four percent; Oladipo Bolanle Lawrence of National Conscience Party, three per cent; Omoreghe Olatunji of Progressive Party Alliance, 1.6 per cent and Abikanlu James Olusola of Nigeria Social Democratic Party one per cent The results of the POP however sparked outrage  as the LP  and ACN rejected it. They described the result as unscientifically conducted because it does not represent the reality on the  ground. If all this praise singing will determine Mimiko Fate at the poll Octobers 20 is just few days away.