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French polls: Macron, far-right rival Le Pen face runoff

French polls: Macron, far-right rival Le Pen face runoff

French polling agencies projected Sunday that incumbent Emmanuel Macron and far-right nationalist Marine Le Pen are heading for another winner-takes-all runoff in the French presidential election, with their fierce political rivalry and sharply opposing visions pulling clear of a crowded field of 12 candidates in the first round of voting.

If confirmed by official vote counts expected later Sunday night, the pollsters’ initial projections mean France is teeing up for a repeat of the 2017 head-to-head contest that put Macron into power — but there is no guarantee that this time the outcome will be the same.

The election’s result will will have wide international influence as Europe tries to contain the havoc wreaked by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Macron has strongly backed European Union sanctions on Russia while Le Pen has worried publicly about their impact on French living standards. Macron also is a firm supporter of NATO.

Macron, a 44-year-old political centrist, won by a landslide five years ago to become France’s youngest president. But he is bracing for a far tougher runoff battle this time on April 24 against his 53-year-old political nemesis. Le Pen is promising seismic shifts for France — both domestically and internationally — if elected as the country’s first woman president, and appears closer than ever to have a chance of reaching the presidential Elysee Palace.

The projections showed both Macron and Le Pen on course to improve on their 2017 first-round showings, highlighting how French politics have increasingly become polarized. The projections showed Macron with a comfortable first-round lead of between 27%-to-29% support, ahead of Le Pen, who is expected to capture 23%-to-24% of the vote.

The projections showed hard-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon — one of half a dozen candidates on the left — falling short of the runoff, heading for third place.

Le Pen thanked her supporters Sunday night, saying the “French people honored me by qualifying me for the second round” on April 24. She called on those who didn’t vote for Macron in the first round to join her for the second.

Some presidential candidates who were defeated Sunday were so alarmed by the possibility of Le Pen beating Macron in the runoff that they urged their supporters to shift their second-round votes to the incumbent. Melenchon, addressing his supporters, some of them in tears, repeated three times that Le Pen shouldn’t get “one single vote.”

Describing herself as “profoundly worried,” defeated conservative Valerie Pecresse warned of “the chaos that would ensue” if Le Pen is elected and said she has never been so close to power. Pecresse said she’d vote for Macron in the runoff.

Le Pen this time tapped into the foremost issue on many French voters’ minds: living costs that have soared amid the disruptions of war in Ukraine and the economic repercussions of western sanctions on Russia.

Pollsters suggest that just a few percentage points could separate the familiar foes in the second-round vote. That nail-biting scenario sets up a runoff campaign likely to be far more confrontational and volatile than during round one, which was largely overshadowed by the war in Ukraine.

Le Pen gave a little wink Sunday as she dropped the blue envelope containing her choice into a ballot box in the northern town of Henin-Beaumont. Afterward, she said “given the situation in the country and in the world,” Sunday’s election outcome could determine “not only the next five years, but probably the next 50 years” in France.

In the 27-member EU, only France has a nuclear arsenal and a U.N. Security Council veto.

Macron for months looked like a shoo-in to become France’s first president in 20 years to win a second term. But National Rally leader Le Pen ate into his polling lead in the campaign’s closing stages, as the pain of rising gas, food and energy prices became a dominant election theme for many low-income households.

To beat Le Pen in the runoff, Macron must pick apart her years-long rebranding effort to make herself seem less extreme, a makeover that has including showing off her love of cats. Macron has accused Le Pen of pushing an extremist manifesto of racist and ruinous policies. Le Pen wants to ban Muslim headscarves in French streets and halal and kosher butchers, and drastically reduce immigration from outside Europe.

Her softer image won over some voters but made others even more suspicious.

Yves Maillot, a retired engineer, said he voted for Macron only to try to counterbalance Le Pen. He said he fears that her long-standing hostility to the EU could see her try to take France out of the bloc, even though she’s dropped that from her manifesto.

“I don’t think she’s changed at all,” he said. “It’s the same thing, but with cats.”

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Development

Abiodun Promises More Infrastructural Development, Commissions Siun-Owode Road

L-R: Ogun State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya; Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Yemi Sanusi; a member of the House of Representatives, Olumide Osoba; Kwara State Governor, Mallam Abdul-Rahman Abdul-Razaq; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; his Deputy, Engr. (Mrs.) Noimot Salako-Oyedele and the Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon Oludaisi Elemide, during the commissioning of the 6km Siun-Owode Road in Obafemi Owode Local Government area of Ogun State on Thursday.

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun on Thursday said his government will continue with its infrastructural drive, especially in the area of road construction as a catalyst for economic growth and development.

Abiodun spoke at the commissioning of the six kilometres (first phase) of the Siun-Owode-Ofada road in the Obafemi Owode Local Government of the state.

Speaking at the event, which was attended by the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahaman AbdulRasak, Governor Abiodun emphasized the importance of road construction in the overall development of the state.

The governor described the newly rehabilitated road as an alternative to the ever busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, adding that it would also impact positively on the socio-economic development of communities along the road.

He said the construction of the road was a testimony to the dedication to strategic and methodical development of infrastructure across the state to enhance the socio-economic landscape as enshrined in the “Building our Future Together” agenda of his administration.

“The road represents a vital link between communities to boost local economies and connect all those coming from Abeokuta to Siun, Owode up to Mowe. This local government is where people work in Lagos but reside and commune daily.

“The road is an alternative for people from Abeokuta to Lagos. It will significantly impact the socio-economy development of the state,” the governor noted.

He added that the road is the first to be commissioned this year, just as the Mowe-Ofada road has been completed, adding that his administration would soon commissioned more roads including the Ilaro -Owode road and the Gateway International Cargo Airport at Ilisan.

Governor Abiodun listed Obantoko, Gbonogun, Ikorita Meje-Aderinde-Olokotutu, Olomore-Sanni, Somorin- Kemta-Idi-Aba, Panseke-Adigbe as well as the Olusegun Osoba-Toyin- Agbado as some of the roads that have been attended to in Ogun Central Senatorial District, even as he pledged that more roads would be put in good shape soon.

Abiodun who spoke on why some road projects were delayed, blaming the development on the high price of construction materials.

He said: “We have had a slow down on construction due to the situation of things in the country in the last few months which has not allowed for objective pricing of construction materials.

“But for us, construction represents a lot. Besides the fact that road construction allows for movement of goods, services, and people, the construction industry is the largest employer of labour. So, we will continue to prioritize construction.

“We have harvested priority roads in each local government area. We will begin our reconstruction all over again as a result of the price stability. Our contractors will go back to sites. All the roads harvested during our last town hall meetings, you will begin to see construction on the roads.”

He called on the people to take ownership of the road and other infrastructure provided by the government by protecting them as they were commonwealth and taxes were used in providing them.

The Kwara State Governor, who is also the Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Alhaji Abdulrahaman Abdulrasak, praised Governor Abiodun for the infrastructural revolution going on in the state.

According to him, the Abiodun-led administration has judiciously invested the commonwealth of the people.

He said he has visited other states in the country but was impressed with the level of development in Ogun State.

He called on his colleagues from other parts of the country to take a cue from Ogun State by providing their people with the needed infrastructure to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

The Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Shuaib Afolabi Salis, recalled that the road was pencilled down for reconstruction in 2022 and expressed appreciation to the governor, for not abandoning the road like his predecessors.

He called on the people to make good use of the road as it belongs to them.

The state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Yemi Sanusi, described the road as historic to the Egba people because of its interconnectivity to various communities and its importance to the commercial activities in the communities along the road.

The Chairman, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Hon. Adesina Ogunsola appreciated the state government for reconstructing the road and for providing a 7.5 KVA transformer to Owode to restore power to the town.

In his welcome address, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya said the road, which was in bad shape for many years, was reconstructed with a standard drainage system to conform with the federal government’s specification for highways.

The event was attended by prominent dignitaries, including the Deputy Dovernor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, former deputy governors, members of the National and State Assemblies, traditional rulers, party stalwarts, among others.

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GOVERNOR AIYEDATIWA NOMINATES 12 NEW COMMISSIONERS

Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa

The Governor of Ondo State, Honourable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has nominated twelve individuals for the position of Commissioner with the aim of enhancing the efficiency of governance and fostering continued progress across various sectors

According to a press statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, the announcement underscores Governor Aiyedatiwa’s unwavering commitment to fortifying the state’s leadership framework. The nominees, representing a diverse range of talents and expertise, have been selected based on their demonstrated dedication to the advancement of Ondo State.

The list of nominees, forwarded by Governor Aiyedatiwa to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Honorable Olamide Oladiji, includes: Pastor Segun Ayerin, Mr. Olaolu Akindolire, Alhaji Hamidu Takuro, Dr. Banji Ajaka,
Mr. Boye Ologbese, Mr. Sunday Akinwalere, Deaconess Lola Fagbemi, Mr. Saka Yusuf Ogunleye, Mr. Rasheed Badmus, Mr. Olayato Aribo, Mr. Adewale Akinlosotu and Barrister Gbenga Olaniyi

Each nominee brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and dedication to public service, underscoring Governor Aiyedatiwa’s commitment to assembling a proficient and capable team.

Governor Aiyedatiwa emphasized his confidence in the nominees’ capabilities to serve the state diligently. He urged the House of Assembly to expedite the confirmation process, recognizing the significance of having a fully constituted executive team to address the needs and aspirations of the people of Ondo State effectively.

As the state embarks on this pivotal phase of governance, Governor Aiyedatiwa reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to transparency, accountability, and inclusive decision-making processes that prioritize the welfare and progress of all citizens.

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Kano State Government subsidises Hajj fares

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has extended a helping hand to intending pilgrims by subsidising their Hajj fares.

Under the auspices of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, each Kano intending pilgrim is set to receive N500,000 to facilitate their journey for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.

The Director General of the Board, Alhaji Lamin Rabiu Dan Baffa, announced this while addressing journalists on Wednesday.

Dan Baffa emphasised that the decision was prompted by the recent hike in Hajj fares by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, attributed to the volatility of the forex exchange rate.

Acknowledging the prevailing economic hardships, Dan Baffa underscored the significance of easing the financial burden on intending pilgrims.

He urged all beneficiaries to settle the balance before March 28, 2024, in compliance with NAHCON’s directives.

He said the subsidy initiative targets those who have already initiated part-payments with the board, benefiting over 2,900 intending pilgrims thus far.

NAHCON’s recent announcement of a N1,918,032.91 increase in Hajj fares brings the total to N6,617,032.91. Fresh intending pilgrims are required to pay N8,254,464.74 for the full Hajj fare this year.

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