Author: oduduwanews

Adebanjo, has described the meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with the former leader of the group…

Leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has described the meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with the former leader of the group and a prominent Yoruba leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, Ondo State, as diversionary.

He said the “real Afenifere” has made its position known about endorsing the candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, and that has not changed.

Pa Adebanjo said the intent was to create a wedge between him and Pa Fasoranti and he was not bothered about it.

Tinubu had met Pa Fasoranti where he presented his 80-page manifesto to the nonagenarian with other prominent Yoruba leaders in attendance.

The meeting came after Adebanjo endorsed a South-Easterner as the preferred candidate of Afenifere in 2023.

Speaking with Daily Trust, Adebanjo said Fasoranti called him over the phone yesterday and he warned him.

He said, “The Yoruba People know their leader. I’ve spoken, the National Secretary has spoken. This is not the time to engage in polemics. The way forward is my position.

“What happened was a diversion. They want us to be engaged in arguments. Is that the issue now?”

He insisted that in the interest of fairness and justice, it is the turn of the South East to produce the next President.

“Can he (Tinubu) deny it that the South-West has not had its turn? Can he deny it South-South has not had its turn? They should answer that. As far as I am concerned, the meeting does not concern us as Afenifere.

“Afenifere is not divided. That was why I said I don’t want to engage in polemics. They want to throw a wedge between me and Pa Reuben Fasoranti and I won’t allow it. The man phoned me yesterday and I warned him, don’t get yourself involved,” he said.

Adebanjo further stated that those in attendance at the meeting were Yoruba APC chieftains.

Popular Nigerian actress and producer turned politician, Funke Akindele, has called out the Lagos state government over the recent flood scare.

This comes after several warning signals were sent out on a predicted flood about to hit the state.

Funke Akindele tagged the Lagos state Government irresponsible for not declaring a state of emergency, especially in the riverine communities in the state.

She took to her Instagram page and wrote, “After speaking with people in several wards across the state, I feel compelled to share my concern about the safety of Lagosians in all areas of the state. The Lagos state government put out a flood warning for several parts of the state but it is yet to announce a state of emergency or share a detailed response plan in the event that flooding endangers the lives of citizens. The fact that lagos state has not declared a state of emergency, especially in the riverine communities, is extremely irresponsible & puts so many Lagosians at risk. Our riverine communities do not have functional gutters, flood canals built to channel flood water are filled with silt & blocked by refuse and our water ways are overrun by water hyacinths. It is a disaster waiting to happen.”

Funke Akindele futher noted that securing the lives of Lagosians is more better that campaigning. “While campaigning is important, securing the lives and properties of Lagosians takes precedence. In light of the present flooding in other parts of the country and the advance warning delivered by the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NMA), it is imperative that the Lagos state government ensures that citizens are protected by declaring an ecological state of emergency.”

She then advised that agencies should focus on unclogging flood canals in the state in order to ease flow of the water, “I would advise the state government to redirect its agencies, LASTMA and LAWMA to focus on unclogging the major flood canals so rainwater can be safely redirected out of the city & temporarily relocate citizens already displaced by the flooding in parts of the state until the flood waters disperse and work to decongest drainage channels in all densely populated areas before we face another flood disaster.”

She continued, “Emergency numbers should be broadcasted on all state media channels, citizens should be educated on present emergency protocols and encouraged to report any missing persons or damage to properties. We cannot in good faith ask our citizens to care about elections when their lives are at risk. I strongly urge Governor Sanwoolu and the Lagos state government to intervene and mitigate a potential tragedy.”

Funke Akindele’s fans took to the comment section of her post to react. One Bolatito_Apatira wrote, “For weeks now LAWMA didn’t come and pack refuse yet they have the gut to increase the bill”

One FeyosayoRichards wrote, “We should be prepared for a general flooding problem coming especially for areas below sea level…Government should please do something about it ASAP we are begging…every life should matter in a sane country”

Feyisayoichards added, “Honestly speaking, I really ask myself of what use exactly is this present government to us all, what exactly have we benefited from this present government, it keeps getting worse…just couple of weeks ago I was robbed at 2nd rainbow at about 1:30pm and as if that wasn’t enough, just last week I was driving towards igando from Ipaiye Iba, only for some guys to throw something in my car on motion,I thought it was a stick not knowing it was a Snake…we keep battling with different sad occurrences everyday, from insecurities to bad infrastructure to lack of employment to flooding crisis”

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde on Sunday sent a subtle solidarity message to the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress(APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general election.

This was made known by the Deputy governor of Oyo state, Bayo Lawal who represented Seyi Makinde in Ondo State at the reception of Tinubu by the leader of Afenifere, Pa Fasoranti.

Recall ODUDUWA NEWS had earlier reported that Fasoranti and the leadership of Afenifere, the Yoruba cultural and political organisation to present his Action Plan on how he intends to tackle the economic and other problems the country is grappling with.

Lawal noted that though separated by political affiliation, but united by strong ethnic bonds.

Seyi Makinde and four other PDP governors believed to be aggrieved over party leadership tussles have been at loggerheads with the Chairman of the People Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Iyorcha Ayu over the zoning of the party’s chairmanship seat.

Makinde and notably, Rivers state governor, Nyesome Wike boycotted Atiku’s campaign launch in Akwa Ibom state including a recent campaign held in Edo state, moves believed to have heightened tensions in the camps of Atiku’s loyalist

Political pundits predicted defections with many believing the five aggrieved PDP governors, including Makinde might pitch their tents with the APC presidential candidate, Tinubu.

Speaking in the Yoruba language at the event, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Mr Bayo Lawal who represented Gov Makinde, stressed that the people of his state will stand with the decision of Yoruba leaders as regards the 2023 presidential election.

His words: “ Since Makinde became governor, he doesn’t joke with anything that concerns the Yoruba people, whenever baba (Pa Fasoranti) calls him, he is always available.

“Whenever there is an event, either organized by Afenifere or any other Yoruba group, Gov Makinde will always be supportive. Though we are not of the same political affiliation, but we are bound by ethnicity”.

“The message he sent me to deliver here is that, whatever you are doing in Yorubaland, Makinde, Oyo people are in support of it.”

After ending his speech at the event, Lawal sang a song Yoruba song, “…Asiwaju ni wa, Asiwaju ni wa” which literally means “We are the one who leads” and the same song can be interpreted as a pledge to Tinubu (Asiwaju)

Vanguard reported that Bola Tinubu visited Afenifere leader, Pa Fasoranti where he unveiled his action plan and was blessed by the Yoruba leader who dismissed Ayo Adebanjo to labour party’s candidate, Peter obi.