Jonathan in fitness walk, pledges special funds for sports

                                                                                   Abuja presidential exercise

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday promised to institute a special fund for the country’s sports sector if re-elected for a second term on March 28.

Jonathan made the promise while addressing sportsmen and others at a solidarity rally organised for him at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo in his short remark at the event said Nigeria could not afford to be governed by a 73-year-old President.

The event put together by a Non-Governmental Organisation, Desire for Greatness Foundation, saw the President walking from the Presidential Villa, Abuja to the Eagle Square.

He was joined in the long walk by Sambo and President of the Senate, David Mark, among other top government officials and presidential aides.

Tinubu, Aregbesola, Osinbajo tackle PDP at Lagos APC rally

                                                                Lagos one-million-man march

Thousands of members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress, on Saturday, held a ‘one-million-man march’ in Lagos for the March 28 and April 11 elections.

The march began at Maryland in Ikeja, the city’s capital, at 8.20am.

The train moved from Maryland through Ikorodu Road to Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere.

Those who led the march included former Governor of Lagos State and national leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu; Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola; Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji; APC governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; and APC candidate for Lagos-Central Senatorial District, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Tinubu superior to Afenifere leaders —Opadokun

Former Secretary-General of the Afenifere and ex-General Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition, Chief Ayo Opadokun

Former Secretary-General of the Afenifere and ex-General Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition, Chief Ayo Opadokun, speaks on the crisis in Afenifere and the controversial endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by leaders of the pan-Yoruba organisation, in this interview with LEKE BAIYEWU

There are different stories on what led the lingering crisis among the Yoruba leaders under the umbrella of Afenifere. What is your take of the state of the organisation today?

First, I want to remind you that I was the General Secretary of Afenifere for 15 years. We came to irreconcilable relationship in 2001 and since then, I have been out of that body. I have resisted every effort to make me to comment on Afenifere. Mr. Wale Oshun (President of Afenifere Renewal Group, a breakaway faction of the Afenifere) wrote about ‘Afenifere and the Kiss of Death.’ Sometimes in 2000 after we had won (governorship) election in six states in Yorubaland, two sets of middle class of Yoruba people came knocking on my door for almost five months.

Shame on PDP —Senator Tinubu

                                                                       Senator Oluremi Tinubu

The senator representing Lagos-Central Senatorial District, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, at the All Progressives Congress rally in Lagos on Saturday described the way the country is being run by the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration as shameful.

She told SUNDAY PUNCH that the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government had run the country in a shameful way, which had drawn ridicule from the global community.

She described the rally as a march for change.

Tinubu said, “It is the month of March. Here, we are ready for a change in the way this country is being run. Everyone on the side of change has to join the movement.

Jonathan visits Ooni, monarch demands Oduduwa State

                                                                           Jonathan visits Ooni

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, on Saturday, demanded a total representation of the South-West in the cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan and the creation of the Oduduwa State with its headquarters in Ile Ife.

The monarch made the requests among others when Jonathan led notable chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, including the National Chairman of the party, Adamu Muazu, on a visit to his palace in Ile Ife, Osun State.

About 50 other traditional rulers from Osun State and environs were present to receive the president. This is the second time Jonathan would be visiting the palace to solicit the support of the royal fathers and the people of the state to ensure victory in the March 28 presidential election.

The Ooni delegated the Orangun of Oke Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, to speak on his behalf. He said, “ We want total representation. There are ongoing projects in Osun State and we know there is paucity of fund but we want you to finish all the projects.”