Ondo Guber: APC Candidate Lucky Aiyedatiwa Votes, Praises Transparent Electoral Process
<p>APC’s Lucky Aiyedatiwa has casted his vote, commending INEC’s efficiency, security measures, and peaceful conduct in Ondo State</p>
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The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC in today’s governorship election in Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has cast his vote.
Aiyedatiwa exercised his franchise at about 8:55 at Ugbo Ward 4, Obenla community in Ilaje LGA area of the coastal state.
Speaking with journalists after casting his ballot, Aiyedatiwa expressed optimism about the seamless conduct of the electoral process.
He commended the organisation and efficiency of INEC at the polling station, noting that the process was both orderly and transparent.
Governor Aiyedatiwa also addressed concerns over accessibility for voters, urging that all eligible voters be granted a fair opportunity to exercise their democratic rights.
The governor praised the security agencies for their effective handling of potential threats during the election process, highlighting that Ondo State remains one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.
He also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), expressing confidence in the transparency of the process, acknowledging the timely arrival of officials at his polling unit.
The governor expressed confidence in the outcome, indicating his belief that his administration’s achievements in the past 10 months and commitment to the people of Ondo State would resonate with voters.
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<h2>The Bola Tinubu-led government is set to meet with the <a href="https://www.naijanews.com/topic/narto/">Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners</a> (NARTO) leadership to avert the planned suspension of operations.</h2>
<p>Recall that the association had, in a letter dated February 15, 2024, addressed to the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), <strong><a href="https://www.naijanews.com/2024/02/16/fuel-scarcity-looms-as-tanker-drivers-threaten-fresh-strike/">directed</a></strong> all its members to withdraw their petroleum trucks from product-loading activities from Monday, February 19, 2024.</p>
<p>In the letter, NARTO said the high freight rates and cost of operations are responsible for their plan to park their vehicles and stop lifting fuel beginning today.</p>
<p>NARTO’s President, <strong>Yusuf Othman</strong>, said his members and oil marketers had been meeting since Saturday based on the orders of the Federal Government.</p>
<p>Othman disclosed that the downstream regulator and the Ministry of Petroleum would meet with NARTO members and other parties today in Abuja to sort out the issues.</p>
<p>He stated that oil marketers and his executives met about six times in the last two days to avert a threat to halt the lifting of petroleum products in the country.</p>
<p>Othman added that NARTO members are not going on strike but withdrawing their services because they are not employees but business people.</p>
<p>He said: “<em>We are discussing with the marketers, and they have proposed some increase in the transportation arrangement, and right now, we are discussing with our executives with a view to consider the matter.</em></p>
<p><em>“But you know this has nothing to do with the government because the government no longer has a hand in the payment of transportation for products. It is purely for marketers that we provide the services to</em>."</p>
<p>Othman said the letter to the Petroleum Minister, Department of State Services (DSS) and other Federal Government agencies was to alert the government to intervene.</p>
<p>He said: <em>“Yes, it was for them to intervene, not that they should pay, at least for them to see reasons why they need to talk to the other parties because the government naturally has to be an arbiter.</em></p>
<p><em>“In a free market, the government cannot just fold its arms and say everybody should do whatever they like. And this is the time we are oppressed downstream because most of the marketers have increased their pump prices, but they have not increased our freight rates.</em></p>
<p><em>“So since the time we issued the letters, we’ve met with the marketers about four to five times, and we are meeting later this (Sunday) evening. And I do hope we will be able to conclude before Monday, otherwise, we will withdraw our services.</em></p>
<p><em>“It is not a strike, because we are not employees, we are business people, we will just withdraw our services. But I don’t want to believe that it will not be resolved before then because everybody is aware of their responsibilities."</em></p>
<p>On whether NARTO was getting the desired response from marketers, Othman replied, “<em>We’ve met almost six times. Today (Sunday) we met three times, yesterday (Saturday) we met three times and we are going to meet again later this (Sunday) evening.</em></p>
<p><em>“The government has directed them that they must negotiate with us, because they have seen reasons why we have to get some improvement in our freight rates, in view of the high operational cost. So there is hope.”</em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.naijanews.com/2024/02/19/tinubu-govt-to-meet-narto-members-over-fresh-strike/">Tinubu Govt To Meet NARTO Members Over Fresh Strike</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.naijanews.com">Naija News</a>.</p>