Author: oduduwanews

A former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni has announced his defection to the Social Democratic Party ( SDP) to contest the June 18 governorship election in the state.

Oni who was governor between 2007 and 2010 in the state lost the January 26 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary to a former chairman of the party, Bisi Kolawole but alleged irregularities that made him dump the party three weeks ago.

Speaking on a private radio station, Voice 89.9FM in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Wednesday, the former governor revealed that the necessary paperwork by the national leadership of the SDP for him to be the party’s candidate and his running mate would soon be concluded with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He noted that his decision to move to the SDP was a result of the continued call by the people for him to contest the June 18 poll as a third force, saying that aggrieved politicians in the two dominant political parties are supporting him in the new political party.

The Ifaki-born politician disclosed that no fewer than four aggrieved governorship aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC), members of a factional group in Ekiti APC, the South West Agenda for Asiwaju 2023 (SWAGA); members of the repositioning group in the PDP and others are forming what he described as a grand collation to win the election.

“I have chosen to advance my ambition in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) because we are looking at the future, not the present. The party has been around for years and won elections in this country, it is a well-known party, that is the reason I chose SDP to contest the June 18, 2022 governorship election in Ekiti state. We have seen the potential in SDP because we believe it is easier to sell as a third force for Nigerians. The process to make me a candidate is ongoing and will soon be completed,” he said.

When asked how the SDP will win without a known structure less than four months to the election, the former governor maintained that the will and aspirations of the people are the most important structure needed to defeat the APC and PDP in the state.

He expressed optimism that his achievements when he was governor coupled with the alleged impunity and injustice in the two dominant parties would sway the votes in his favour.

According to him, “I want to say without any forms of contradictions, that we politicians are coming together for this project coupled with the opinions of people in the streets. We are looking at a familiar terrain and a party with potential and also we are getting support from people that are well known in Ekiti’s political terrain.

“Let me say that for those who are in APC, four aggrieved aspirants are working with us. In PDP, the people called repositioning group, majority of them are working with us. Also, we are working with SWAGA members, SWAGA is a strong force in APC with a strong membership base.

“It is going to be a grand collation that will definitely benefit the people of Ekiti. I believe the goodwill of repositioning group, SWAGA and Segun Oni is almost enough to win the election in Ekiti.

“We must come to the reality of how a party is properly managed, if it is not properly managed, it won’t attract good people, that is the fact. I believe whatever is right is right. I have been around for some time, my antecedents are there for us to see, I am not looking for what to eat but service to the people, that is how I see politics.

“It is the people that will challenge the parties, the people are superior to the APC, PDP. It is what Ekiti people want not the political parties, we are listening to what the people are saying in the streets. I worked for the people with everything I had between 2007 and 2010 when I was governor and the citizens can testify to my achievements.”

Oni who advised the people of the state to reject vote-buying and other forms of inducement ahead of the poll stated that everything possible would be done to discourage voters from trading their future on the altar of peanuts.

“We are ready for Ekiti election. We will campaign against vote-buying because it is illegal. We are not going to fold our arms and allow it to work here. This condemnable act is against the people and our people must learn from what happened in the past. We must support those who can help our society to develop. Will the people still be eating what they got on election day for four years? It is bad and we will campaign against it because the people are not better now in the last four years in the state,” he said.

On what transpired during the PDP primaries, Oni reiterated that the party’s guidelines on the secret ballot system were violated, adding that he reacted to the injustice by leaving the party.

He said, “The PDP primary election was manipulated and devoid of known guidelines in any democracy in the world. What is bad is bad, and we must not be afraid to say the truth at all times. The guidelines say it is a secret ballot but the ballot is being shown to the former governor, Ayodele Fayose by the delegates.

“Let me say, If a party cannot manage their processes, it is the party that should be blamed, not the people reacting to injustice. We are only reacting to the obvious Injustice.

A socio-political group, under the auspices of the Yoruba Ronu Group, has cautioned against involving in campaign of calumny ahead of the forthcoming 2023 elections.

The group also condemned some alleged sponsored online media attacks against one of the presidential aspirants and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement released on Tuesday by Mr Diran Iyantan, chairman of the group, it was stated that mischievous posts online had become a routine, alleging that the source of those publications is well known and traceable to certain misguided politicians and fake human rights crusaders.

Iyatan said, “We have repeatedly stated in our previous releases that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s ambition does not stop other Yoruba or any South-West person from aspiring to the same position. We just feel that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has a better chance than anyone else at clinching the position which is the reason for our support for him.

“It is, therefore, sad to see fellow Yoruba persons casting aspersions on the person of Jagaban for flying high the flag of the Yoruba race. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s interest after leaving office has been to help nurture and consolidate democracy in Nigeria. This, he has done, creditably, well. In addition, he has helped the progressives to attain the country’s presidency.

“We are aware that the stakes are high as the presidential election approaches, and desperate politicians will resort to different gimmicks, basically, to rock the boat. Those who have committed themselves to a sustained campaign of calumny in the media against the person of Asiwaju Tinubu, the former Governor of Lagos State, will labour in vain and they are well known to us.

“We are aware that these cowards and hack-writers have benefited from Asiwaju’s benevolence in the past, only to turn around and sponsor negative publications to impugn his reputation. We charge them to desist forthwith from such callousness because their duplicitous conduct will eventually hunt them down.”

The group urged politicians to promote their political party interest, to conduct themselves with maturity, dignity and mutual respect in the interest of the people of Yoruba-land and, by extension, Nigeria.

The House of Representatives has commenced a probe of the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola. The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, made this known on Wednesday.

Gbajabiamila is a staunch loyalist of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who has declared his intention to run for presidency in 2023.

This development is coming few days after Aregbesola publicly call out Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for turning himself into a god.

Gbajabiamila presided over the plenary on Wednesday, where members resolved that the interior minister and prisons chief, Haliru Nababa be probed.

They are being accused of misappropriating about N165billion funds earmarked for prisons development across the country.

The House resolution came as a result of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Ndudi Elumelu, who is the Minority Leader of the House.

“The House is disturbed that despite this Act and increase in budgetary allocations to the Nigerian Correctional Service to drive its renewed mandate, the tempo and quality of the service have remained the same if not retrogressing,” Elumelu said.

“The House is worried that the working conditions of staff and inmates’ welfare have deteriorated notwithstanding, the over N165 billion budget allocations to the service in the last two years.”

With this, the lawmakers resolved to have its committee on Reformatory Institutions investigate the allegations and report to the House within 12 weeks, for further legislative action.

The Former Osun State Deputy Governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore on Tuesday disclosed that his major focus now is to ensure that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola is re-elected during the July 16 governorship election in the state.

Speaking in Osogbo through the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Yemi Lawal, the Senator said he is not distracted with the activities of some disgruntled elements in the state.

“Whatever anyone is doing to disrupt the peace of Osun State with a view to disturbing Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s re-election is a mere waste of time.

“My only focus, for now, is getting Oyetola re-elected during the July 16 governorship election. The primary is a done deal.

The Chief Press Secretary to Osun Governor, Ismail Omipidan, has declared that former Governor of the State and Interior minister, Rauf Aregbesola, is not God and therefore, cannot determine the fate of his principal, Adegboyega Oyetola.

He said this on Tuesday while fielding questions from journalists in Ila, on the sidelines of the Ila Federal Constituency stakeholders’ meeting.

According to him: “the general belief among most Africans that ‘a man’s life is preordained and ruled by God’ has continued to play out in the political trajectory of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun.

“From 2011 when he was appointed Chief of Staff to 2018 when, against all odds, he emerged, first as the candidate of the APC, and later, Governor of the State, at a time when many thought it was all over for him, it was obvious that he was on a divine political course.

“My Principal has absolute faith in God and the people of Osun. In these last three years plus, the people can tell the difference in terms of responsible and responsive governance and politics.

“Before we came in, Osun West was literally neglected in terms of infrastructure. But since we came in, we have done roads that had been abandoned for close to 20 years in that district. This, perhaps, explains why leaders and critical stakeholders from the area are already appealing to themselves to allow Oyetola take another shot at the governorship for the second term.

“Just about a week ago, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, charged the people of the town to vote for incumbent Governor Oyetola.

“Oluwo, who advised his subjects not to waste their resources and energy working against the re-election bid of the governor, said only those who are not interested in the growth and development of the town in particular and Osun State in general would want to run against Oyetola.

“The royal father said by the special Grace of God and the support of the people of Osun, Oyetola will be re-elected to consolidate the achievements he has so far recorded. Now, Aregbesola’s anointed candidate is from Iwo. So you be the judge.

“As the 2022 governorship contest draws closer, like the saying goes, there is no point comparing the sun with the moon, both shine when it is their time. For now, it’s Oyetola’s sun that is shining by the permission and Grace of God and the power of the people of Osun. And as the majority are already saying, this sun will shine beyond 2022.

“Therefore, it is God and Osun people that will determine Oyetola’s fate, not an individual trying to play God,” Omipidan said.

Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Interior is at daggers drawn with his benefactor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking in Oriade LGA of Osun on Monday, Aregbesola said Tinubu was exalted “beyond his status and he turned himself to a god over us”.

“We exalted him beyond his status and he turned himself to a god over us and we had sworn to ridicule anyone who compared himself to God.

“When he (Tinubu) handed over the present governor to me around July of 2018, he (Tinubu) declared that he (Oyetola) will succeed me and continue my good works. That was what he told me. He knows he has not done so if he is listening now and he has failed to call my successor to order.”

That was how it was in Lagos at a time; a governor derailed and the party members unseated him using the ballot boxes. As it was in Lagos yesterday, so shall it be in Osun today,” he said.

“What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.” He said.