Our attention has just been drawn to a statement widely circulated and credited to the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, purportedly endorsing a particular aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The statement, largely laced with partisan interest and fluid narrative was not authored by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN. The intention of the writer, though juvenile, was to drag the Governor into unnecessary declarations, despite public knowledge of his position as the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum.
Nevertheless, Governor Akeredolu has continued to reiterate the stance of his brother Governors in the Southern Nigeria Governor’ Forum on the need for the south to produce the next President of the country in the spirit of equity and fairness.
In clear terms, the widely circulated statement never emanated from Governor Akeredolu. It was, obviously, driven by overzealous partisan interests calculated to exploit the political capital of the Governor for personal gains.
We, however, urge members of the public, particularly, members of the APC and the party supporters to disregard the statement as it does not represent the collective decision of the Southern Governors’ Forum which Governor Akeredolu leads.
Succinctly, Governor Akeredolu as a leader and stakeholder in the Southern Presidency agitation, is committed to the interest of the Southern Nigeria geo-political zone. He will not descend into an arena of partisanship to jeopardize the interest of the forum he leads.
The leadership of Traditional Religion Worshippers Association, Osun State has cautioned politicians against fomenting trouble during the forthcoming governorship poll in the state.
The group said whoever that foments trouble during the election would face the wrath of Sango and Ogun.
The group als called on the stakeholders to shun violence in the overall interest of the state.
This was contained in a statement signed by the TRWASO President, Dr Oluseyi Atanda, in commemoration of his first anniversary in office as the leader of the group.
Atanda, who admonished other religious groups in the state to also begin prayers to ward off violence, said politicians and their supporters must be law-abiding and refrain from acts that could jeopardise peace.
The statement read in part, “As we approach the climax of political interplay in Osun, we as spiritualists will continue to pray to God Almighty and make supplications to the terrestrial to have a peaceful electioneering outing.
“Let me state that it is likely that some desperate politicians will attempt a do or die approach and attempt to set Osun on fire, God Olodumare will not allow this to happen.
“I want to enjoin all other religious groups to embark on prayers for a peaceful transition in Osun and admonish trouble makers to stop, otherwise they will incur the wrath of Sango and Ogun. Osun is peaceful and we want peace for all.”
While reviewing activities of the group in the last one year, Atanda said his administration has strengthened its local government branches, while work has been progressing on the secretariat complex of the organisation.
Tinubu, has claimed that without his support, President Muhammadu Buhari would not have won the 2015 election.
Speaking in Ogun State, Tinubu said, “If not me that led the war from the front, Buhari would not have emerged as the president. He contested first, second and third times, but lost. He even said on television that he won’t contest again.
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“But I went to his home in Katsina, I told him you would contest and win, but you won’t joke with the matters of the Yorubas.
“Since he has emerged, I have not been appointed Minister. I didn’t get a contract.
Honourable member representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa/Kajola Federal Constituency, Hon. Shina Peller has claimed that he Jettisoned his plan to recontest for House of Representatives member in fairness to Iwajowa, Kajola LGs.
This was contained in a statement made available today via his official Twitter account as read in part:
“Many people wonder why I chose not to return to the House of Representatives for the second term. For the sake of integrity, my decision is based on my consideration of other local governments within my constituency- Kajola and Iwajowa who haven’t presented a representative for almost 16 years now. Returning to the House for the second term will mean denying them the opportunity to present a representative for twenty years.
“By 2023 when I will be completing my first term as a member of the House of Representatives, it will make it sixteen (16) uninterrupted years that Iseyin/Itesiwaju have been producing representatives for the constituency leaving out the people from Kajola/Iwajowa.
“My people from Kajola/Iwajowa feel the people from Iseyin haven’t been fair enough to them in this regard, and I share their pain. This was why I made up my mind to throw my weight behind choosing a qualified person from Kajola/Iwajowa to represent our federal constituency in 2023, while I am yielding the call of my people from Oke Ogun to opt for the Oyo North Senatorial District seat. And I cannot be seen leading the liberation of Okeogun people and not fair to the local govts within my Constituency.
“So, to those that feels I should return to the House of Reps, it’s not all about me alone; it’s about putting into consideration my integrity and overall interest of all”.
Ahead of the ruling All Progressive Congress’s presidential primary, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was tipped as the favorite for the party’s ticket in a now-deleted survey conducted by TVC, a Nigerian media channel.
On its official Twitter account Wednesday, the Television Station, which is apparently controlled by Tinubu, held an APC primary-themed poll, asking, “Now that Atiku has emerged as the PDP presidential candidate, who should APC field as their flag bearer?”
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The list included Rotimi Amaechi, the former Minister of Transportation, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, and APC National Leader Bola Tinubu.
After 1,721 votes, Osinbajo took the lead with 43 percent, followed by Tinubu with 40 percent, and Amaechi with 30 percent and Lawan with 9% of the total votes cast, the tweet was deleted, Quest Times reported.
In related news, a Twitter handle “BiggDaaddyy1” known to be a dogged follower of the Asiwaju camp, and who was simultaneously hosting a Twitter space, had to delete his poll which asked: “Refusing Bola Tinubu APC ticket is a betrayal; YES or NO?”.
A total of 1,763 people voted; 73 voted NO and only 27% voted YES.
This is not the first time the Vice President will defeat his opponents in an opinion poll, ODUDUWA NEWS reported.
All Progressives Congress National Leader and presidential aspirant, Bola Tinubu has urged Senator Teslim Folarin, the APC governorship aspirant in Oyo state, to start begging all aggrieved members to win the 2023 general election.
ODUDUWA NEWS reports that Tinubu issued this statement on Thursday when he visited Oyo state to woo delegates ahead of the party presidential primary election.
He said “This crowd is not enough to enthrone you as Governor. You’ll have to beg. You’ll have to meet people and beg them. Go and beg those you struggled it with.”
Our correspondent who monitored the event observed that everyone in the hall were silent and nodding heads when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu issued the statement. Bola Tinubu, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress and a presidential candidate, has encouraged Senator Teslim Folarin, the APC governorship candidate in Oyo state, to begin asking all unhappy members in order to win the 2023 general election.
Tinubu made the statement on Thursday while visiting Oyo state to recruit delegates ahead of the party’s presidential primary poll, according to ODUDUWA NEWS.
“This crowd is insufficient to enthrone you as Governor,” he said. You’ll have to rely on begging. You’ll have to approach strangers and beg them for help. Go and entreat those with whom you struggled.”
When Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu delivered his statement, everyone in the hall fell silent and nodded their heads.
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The former Lagos governor said he is in support of the decision of majority party members who elected the three term senators as the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the party’s candidate.
He urged them to reconcile themselves ahead of the election, saying that he would come back to talk to the aggrieved members on the need to shealth their sword.
He said he was going back to raise the hands of Folarin and campaign for him, advising Folarin to go back to pacify the aggrieved.
He later raised the hands of Adedapo Lam-Adesina; Idris Ajimobi and Olamiju Alao-Akala, APC candidates in Ibadan North East/South East; Ibadan Southwest 2 and Ogbomoso North/South/Oriire federal constituency, asking people to support them.
However, in his reaction, Senator Folarin said “Asiwaju will not agree that we will contest and not win. Baba will make sure we win OYO State back to the progressive.”
According to him, Asiwaju owns Oyo delegates.
He promised to show it in presidential primary Election result.
The lawmaker representing Ede-North/Ede-South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency in Osun State at the House of Representatives, Bamidele Salam on Wednesday, 1st June held a protest walk against insecurity in Nigeria.
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Salam, who was dressed in black, walked barefooted from the Unity Fountain in the Maitama area of the Federal Capital Territory to the National Assembly Complex.
As the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) prepares for its special convention for Presidential Primary, the Chairman of the Southern Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, has charged the party to work hard to retain power by rotating the Presidency to the South.
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Governor Akeredolu, who doubles as the Chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum, was on Wednesday evening announced as the Chairman of Security and Compliance for the party’s special convention.
In a short message via his personal Facebook page on Thursday, the Governor re-echoed the position of his colleagues in the Southern Nigeria Governors’ Forum that power should be rotated to the South.
Governor Akeredolu noted that the APC must be ready to rotate power so as to retain power, adding that to retain power, the party must rotate to the South.
“APC must work to retain power. We must rotate power to retain retain power !!! Rotate to the South. Shikena.” The message reads.
Chairman of the Southern Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, has been appointed the Chairman of Security and Compliance for the All Progressives Congress special convention for Presidential Primary.
Governor Akeredolu’s name was announced on Wednesday evening in a statement signed by the national Publicity Secretary of the APC, Barr. Felix Morka.
The party’s special convention for presidential primary holds at the Eagle Square, Abuja on June 6 and 7, 2022.
Other chairmen of sub-committee announced included: Budget – H.E. Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, Governor of Gombe State; Finance and Logistics – H.E. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State ; Accreditation and Decoration – H.E. Prince Dapo Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State; Election Planning – H.E. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Governor of Kebbi State ; Transportation – H.E. (Dr.) Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Governor of Kano State and Accommodation – H.E. Babagana Umara Zulum, Governor of Borno State.
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Others are: Media and Publicity- H.E. Abdullahi Sule, Governor of Nasarawa State; Medicals – Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment; Legal: Abubakar Malami SAN, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice ; Venue and Site Servicing: H.E. Bello Muhammad Matawalle, Governor of Zamfara State; Election Appeal – H.E. Mai Mala Buni, Governor of Yobe State ; Hospitality and Welfare – H.E. Simon Lalong, Governor of Plateau State ; Protocols – H.E. Aminu Bello Masari, Governor of Katsina State and Digital Communications – H.E. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Governor of Kwara State.
Kola Daisi who recently won Oyo South Senatorial ticket whose mandate was later overturned as a result of rerun primary election that saw Barrister Sarafadeen Alli emerging as the candidate has vowed that he would contest under the platform of APC because he does not recognize the purported rerun.
This was contained in a press statement made available to ODUDUWA NEWS as read in part:
“I thank you all for your support on this novel journey, culminating in the recently concluded Oyo South Senatorial Primaries of May 29, 2022.
At this primary election, I was declared the winner having scored the majority vote of 212 votes, while the closest other contender got 107 votes; even though irregularities were noted.
This election was however arbitrarily cancelled and within 24 hours, a rerun was scheduled to hold on the 31st of May, 2022.
While irregularities were noted at the election of May 29th, any review of the result of that election can only be done through the appropriate electoral appeal process. This appeal process would review any issues raised, invite interested parties to make representations and make decisions based on facts, the constitution of our party and also in accordance with relevant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Furthermore, the appeal process requires obtaining necessary approvals within the party hierarchy to carry out its recommendations.
How all of this can happen without inviting aspirants and in less than 24 hours does not suggest fairness.
The party or its election committees should not unilaterally cancel an election without following due process.
We therefore distance ourselves from the sham of the primary election purportedly held on the 31st of May, 2022, that was tagged a re-run, and we did not participate in it
As far as we are concerned, we have been duly elected as the candidate of the APC for the Oyo South senatorial district having scored the majority votes and should be allowed to prepare for and contest for the general election scheduled for February 2023.
We joined the APC based on our conviction of its progressive policies; that everyone is equal, that every citizen deserves to benefit from the deeds of good governance, providing opportunities for young people, proffering workable solutions to establishing a welfare system for the less privileged, proportional redistribution of wealth through a fairer tax system, and developing innovative and people-centered policies aimed at adequate availability of public goods such as schools, hospitals and necessary infrastructure to make people’s lives easier.
Also, we believe the youth is the future of Nigeria and will be integral to our agenda. About 90% of our population is under the age of 50; therefore, decisions need to be made for the benefit of the next generation. This can only happen when we the youth get to positions where we can either influence or make policies.
On this journey, we toured the whole of Oyo South senatorial district, all the 9 local governments. From Beere to Ayete, Ita Baale to Igangan, Ido to Eruwa, we met our people in all the communities and we thoroughly enjoyed every single moment of this journey.
The events of the last few days have shown why so many youths are left disenfranchised and apathetic towards politics. The lack of internal democracy in political parties discourages willing participants. A fairer system will benefit our party significantly by bringing to the table different ideas as well as different perspectives to finding solutions to issues of today.
Still, I encourage all the youths who have an interest in politics not to lose faith. We need to get involved, our movement JÉKÁ DÁSI, typified by the amount of love and acceptance we received from all corners of the state, should be enough motivation to further fuel your desire to serve.
Our time is now.
I want to categorically state that our journey has only just begun. Not only for ourselves, but to give hope to every other youth looking to DÁSI (get involved) in Nigerian politics and governance for the good of country and the benefit of citizens. We will fight for fairness and we believe we shall be representing our party on the ballot as senatorial candidate for Oyo South come February 2023.
To my fellow aspirants, I say a big ‘Thank You’. It was a tough contest with intellectuals and persons of great standing in our state. We all conducted ourselves in the best manner despite the stiff competition. I learned a lot from most of you and I have thoroughly enjoyed the intrigues and gamesmanship of the contest.
A big thank you to my supporters, the media and everyone who has been following our journey and inspired by our movement. We could not have done this without you. Like I said, the journey has just started. We will continue to fight to represent the people of Oyo South senatorial district and advance the causes that are dear to us.
I thank my team, the DG, the KKD Cabinet (coordinators), the KKD Boys, KKD Babes, the KKD kids and all team KKD. You guys are the best. The road to 2023 is long but we shall make it an easy ride together.
To my family, I sincerely thank you for making this so worthwhile. I’ll surely make you proud”.
