Author: oduduwanews

A former aide to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Doyin Okupe on Wednesday announced his withdrawal from the 2023 presidential race and declared his for the aspiration of former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Peter Obi.

Okupe, who made the declaration while addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said, the move was to ensure equity, justice, and fairness between the Northern and Southern parts of the country.

Okupe, who was Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Olusegun Obasanjo and Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan, said, he has consulted far and wide with the political stakeholders in the South before taking the decision.

Speaking on zoning arrangement of the presidential ticket in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Okupe said “I observed that the leadership of the PDP seems to be driving us all towards a fait accompli. The most central consideration concerning the presidential primaries is the issue of zoning”.

“The matter has been referred to a committee of 37 members with a member each from every state of the federation and the FCT Abuja. One would have expected that the mandate of this committee would be such that it would discharge its duties and report to the NEC of the party within a maximum of 5-7 days. Sadly, this has not been so”.

“It is clear to me that those at the helm of affairs of the party are trying to hoodwink those of us aspirants from the South to commit ourselves to obtain the requisite forms before coming up with the original position that ‘every zone can contest the presidency’”.

“This position is politically fraudulent, unjust and inequitable”.

” As a politician, I have come to accept the ill-defined zoning arrangement, and still forge ahead with my unrepentant call for a rotation of power to the South”.

He added that his position was in line with the position of the Afenifere.

“We Yorubas, right from the time of the late Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, have always stood for honour, integrity, truth and justice no matter the situation”.

“The Action Group which was largely a Yoruba political platform was used by the leadership to fight for justice and oppose injustice everywhere in the country”.

“This was the basis of the cooperation of the Action Group with the UMBC in the middle-belt, and similar groups in the mid-west and Calabar”.

“It is this spirit of fairness, forthrightness, and courage that made the Yorubas embrace the Afenifere, which was neither a mass movement, nor a political group. It was an association of men and women who stood for truth, equity and justice”.

“This is an heritage we the Yorubas must not allow to be diluted in the presence of so much shenanigans and political dishonesty and lack of integrity that has become the hallmark of our new political ethos.

“In aligning myself with the wish of our elders and in the interest of equity and justice, I publicly admit that the 2023 political race must be conceded to the South-East; that is, the Igbos”.

“I, therefore, here and now proclaim that I am, as I have said publicly several times, withdrawing from the presidential race and I am declaring my support for the best aspirant not only in Igboland, but in Nigeria as a whole”.

“I and my supporters within and outside the PDP are teaming up with His Excellency, Peter Obi”.

“At the same time, I want to enjoin all other aspirants from the South; Chief Dele Momodu, Senator Anyim, and His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike to come with me and let us team up with Peter Obi. So we can give the South the best possible chance”.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I am not fanning the embers of division, rather I am by this action lightening the torch of unity by establishing political stability on the pillars of truth and justice upon which the Bible tells us that even the throne of the Almighty God is founded”.

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has charged everyone connected with the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti and who desire the best for the 40-year old institution, to support one of its old students and former Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, to win the June 18 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State.

Oyebanji who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the June 18 election graduated from the university in 1987 and later took up lecturing job there before his foray into politics. He was until recently a member of the University Council.

Speaking in his capacity as Life Patron of the EKSU Alumni Association at the 40 Years Anniversary Dinner and Award, in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, Oba Ogunwusi said considering Oyebanji’s pedigree and contributions to EKSU as an alumnus, former lecturer as well as his contribution to the state in general, he was convinced that the APC standard bearer remains a good choice for the number one position.

The Ooni, who was represented at the event by Alara Odaye of Ara Land, Ife, Oba Adebisi Segun Layade, congratulated all the stakeholders of the University, especially the Vice Chancellor, Prof Edward Olanipekun, for their efforts, over the years, to make sure the institution remains a university of choice in Nigeria.

“As someone who is familiar with history of Ekiti State as a lover of education, I am not surprised about the feat the Ekiti State University has achieved over the years. Today, I am bold to say anywhere that I’m related to one of the best universities in the country. To this end, I congratulate our young and dynamic Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olanipekun for his quality leadership which is daily germinating in the lives of the products of the school and I appreciate, sincerely, members of the alumni association, for always looking back and willing to contribute their quota,” Ooni said.

Speaking further, Oba Ogunwusi described the emergence of Oyebanji in the political scene as God’s design to perfect the good work he had started in EKSU and called on the entire university community and the alumni association to see Oyebanji’s candidacy as their project and work tirelessly to see him crowned as Ekiti State Governor, come October 2022.

“When I first heard about Hon. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, my first attraction to him was the fact that he attended and had lectured in our University. Going further, I discovered he has done a lot towards the development of Ekiti, including serving as Chief of Staff to a former governor and two term commissioner under Dr Kayode Fayemi and later as Secretary to the State Government. To me, his emergence on the Ekiti political scene is not by accident, it’s timely as God wants to use him to perfect his job in the growth trajectory of the 40-year old school. I charge everybody, who is connected to EKSU, one way or the other to support Oyebanji because I see him as God’s sent at this time to our great institution,”
The monarch also invited Oyebanji to the podium for royal blessing and prayed for his success at the June 18 poll.

Earlier at the event, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olanipekun, who spoke glowingly about Governor Kayode Fayemi’s erudition and commitment to the institution, also called on all members of the alumni association and the university community, to bury their political differences and adopt Oyebanji, a former student of the institution, as their sole candidate in the forth coming guber election.

Prof. Olanipekun said, “First, let me commend the visitor to the University, our hard working Governor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi for his commitment to making EKSU become the best it can be in Nigeria. Governor Fayemi is not only investing in the University, he’s daily following our progress and suggesting various ways to lift the school. Having said this, I want to call on us all, those who want the best and further development in the school to bury our various political differences and adopt one of us, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, as our own sole candidate in the June 18 gubernatorial election.

With Oyebanji as Governor of Ekiti State, I believe and I’m convinced that the future is bright for our school because he is a committed alumnus of the institution.”
At the event, Oyebanji, together with Prof. Bamitale Omole, Chairman Governing Council of the University; and the two Deputy Vice Chancellors- Prof. Patrick Tedela and Prof. Adewale Olajide, were honoured with the Distinguished Service Award of the alumni association.

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Oyebanji commended the Engr. Dipo Bamisaye-led alumni association for the efforts being made daily to attract development to EKSU and appreciated the association for considering him worthy of the award.

“Today is important to me because I’m being honoured in my own home. It’s often said that a prophet doesn’t get recognition in his home but I’m happy that today’s event has negated that saying. I commend the leadership of our association, especially our Global President, Engr. Bamisaye, for the effort they have put in taking us thus far. I appreciate the VC for his purposeful leadership and I promise to always be a good ambassador of our great institution.” Oyebanji said.

Raheem Akingbolu
Media Assistant

One of aggrieved members and a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party PDP, in Oyo State, Alh. Bisi Olopoeyan has resigned his membership from the party.

The confirmation of the resignation letter was made known this evening via a chat to our correspondent.

Alhaji Olopoeyan said it is imperative for him to take a bold step and leave as his intuition directed him.

He hinged his resignation from the party on the crisis rocking the party in Oyo State.

He however stated that he would communicate his next line of action to the public soon.

Details later.

National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has extended the sale of nomination forms for all offices from the previous deadline of April 1, 2022, to April 8, 2022.

The National Organising Secretary of the party, Umar Bature, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the last day for the return of already completed forms and screening exercises for both the state House of Assembly and National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) are rescheduled to April 10, 2022, while the screening of state House of Assembly and National Assembly aspirants was also moved to April 12 and 14, 2022, respectively.

The party had fixed its nomination and expression of interest forms for presidential aspirants at N40 million while state House of Assembly expression of interest is N100,000. The nomination form for state House of Assembly goes for N500,000. House of Representatives’ expression of interest form is N500,000, while  nomination form is N2 million.

“Senate: Expression of Interest, N500,000; Nomination Form, N3,000,000. Governorship: Expression of Interest, N1,000,000; Nomination Form, 20,000,000.

“President: Expression of Interest, N5,000,000; Nomination Form, N35,000,000,” it added