Author: oduduwanews

The National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said he is aware that Nigerians are angry over years of leadership failure in the country, and the inability of the current government to improve their quality of life.

He however, pleads with the people to not give up, but instead, give the ruling party another chance in the next presidential election to correct the wrongs.

Tinubu who is going all out for the presidency in a potentially political career ending contest, has been up and doing, making consultations and seeking support from influential persons across the country.

His most recent jaunt saw him visit elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, who confirmed that the APC National Leader not only informed him of his desire to contest in the next presidential election, but also “asked for my support.”

“He (Tinubu) just came to visit me but actually I have two of them (presidential aspirants) that I have earmarked right from the beginning and I made a vow that any one of them who came to ask for my support first is the person I would support. Tinubu is the first person, ” he told told Saturday Punch.

It is believed that Tinubu is determined to contest in the next election even if it means running on a different platform should the APC fail to give him the party’s ticket.

Speaking in Kano in what would be seen as a political statement from a man who hopes to succeed Buhari in 2023, Tinubu is already laying the ground work, promising to address the many challenges currently facing the country.

When you see the social media today, you see the minds of our youths. They are angry, but we appeal to them that we will listen to them,” Tinubu said in the statement.

He said the poor state of the nation’s economy has forced Nigerians into compulsory fasting, adding that the current government need to do more to address these urgent issues.

“Your own employment rate is 33% and you ask us to keep on fasting. The one we are fasting spiritually is voluntary. We have been fasting for so many years.”

He added that sovereignty is that of Nigeria and it is only the federal government that has the sovereign power and must use it to improve the quality of life of Nigerians. – Nigerian Pivot

About three weeks after Governor Seyi Makinde ordered its withdrawal owing to irregularities, a new list of Secretaries, Supervisory Councillors and Special Assistants for the 33 Local Government and 35 Local Council Development Areas in Oyo state has been released.

Nigerian Tribune reported that the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters, Chief Bayo Lawal released the new list to Chairmen of the local government areas and local council development areas at State Secretariat, Ibadan, on Wednesday.

It will be recalled that Makinde had ordered the immediate withdrawal of the lists of local government appointments three days after he approved them following complaints that the lists had been manipulated.

Upon its release on Wednesday morning, Chairmen of each of the 33 local government areas continued to visit the office of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters for the list for their respective local government.

The release of the new list followed the conclusion of screening by the committee set up to look at the appointments across all the local councils.

In presence of the Bayo Lawal among other party stakeholders, the screening involved leaders of each local council affirming or not affirming with names of nominees as they are reeled out by the chairman of each local government.

During the screening sessions which ran into days and nights, objections were listened to with necessary adjustments done when objections are considered credible.

In some local government areas where some leaders got up to five slots in the earlier withdrawn list, they were prevailed upon to let go of some slots so as to accommodate other tendencies.

In the screening sessions, there were hues and cries by some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that members of the coalition parties seemed to be getting a lot but the state governor’s state that 30 percent of the slots be reserved for the coalition parties was allowed to prevail.

In local government areas where there were still unresolved issues, governor Seyi Makinde constituted another three-member committee comprising former deputy governor, Engineer Hamid Gbadamosi, Dr Kola Balogun and party Chairman, Honourable Dayo Ogungbenro to prevail on leaders to accommodate the various shades of political opinions.

It was gathered that Governor Seyi Makinde was present at some of the screening sessions to prevail on the various leaders to compromise on the filling of the slots.

The Governor of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Tuesday, said his Administration had strengthened the fundamental ties between the three arms of government as reflected in the peaceful cohesion existing in the State.

He said the Administration has given the other arms of government a pride of place to operate without being internally or externally influenced, saying they occupied a conspicuous place in the ranking of Osun as the most peaceful State in Nigeria.

The Governor pledged to continuously strengthen independence of the judiciary, noting that the right mechanisms had been put in place for that arm of government to perform its role as the hope of the common man.

This is even as the Chief Judge of Osun, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, noted that the Administration of Governor Oyetola holds the judiciary in high esteem as evidenced in his continuous support and commitment to strengthen the administration of justice and guarantee the welfare and well-being of judicial officers.

Governor Oyetola spoke during the Special Religious Services and Inspection of Guard of Honour at the Grand Finale marking the beginning of 2021-2022 Legal Year of Osun State Judiciary, at State High Court, Osogbo.

Oyetola who had earlier identified with the members of the judiciary at the Osogbo Central Mosque and Osogbo Anglican Church Cathedral for inter-denominational prayer sessions, acknowledged the harmonious and cordial relationship between the three arms of government in the State.

According to him, the Osun Judiciary has demonstrated on all fronts that it is on the side of the people at all times and it is incumbent on the government to allow the testimony to persist.

The Governor who noted that the judiciary had been part of the success story of his Administration, said “we are lucky in Osun for having harmonious and cordial relationship between the three arms of government as the existing symbiotic relationship has yielded positive impacts and unprecedented transformation in the last three years of our Administration.”

He implored members of the judiciary to continue to dispense justice and uphold the ethics of their profession.

“I therefore urge you to sustain this confidence by always allowing the fear of God and truth to be cardinal considerations in the dispensation of justice.

“You must also ensure that you sustain professionalism and the ethics of your profession that have stood you out as the friend of the common man and the hope of the people in a democracy.

“Our Administration holds the Judiciary in high esteem. We shall always ensure that the right mechanisms are put in place to ensure its independence at all times so that it can perform its role as the hope of the common man and the people.

“The three arms of Government have been remarkably united in serving the people without compromising their independence and distinctive roles under our Administration.

“The Judiciary occupies a conspicuous place in the ranking and recognition of Osun as the most peaceful State in Nigeria in view of its commitment to ensuring that justice is served in all situations and at all times. I thank the Officers in the Temple of Justice for this display of professionalism and patriotism,” Oyetola said.

He said his Administration has been working hard to ensure social inclusion and sustain peace hence the need to institutionalise inclusive and participatory governance.

Oyetola stated further: “The ultimate goal of instituting these laudable objectives is the delivery of a stronger, more prosperous and better Osun. This is only achievable in an atmosphere of peace.

“We invite the Judiciary to continue to complement our efforts by dispensing justice in a manner that will not only ensure peace but make the people to believe in and trust government.

“As you have wisely committed this Legal Year into the hands of God, I have confidence in the Almighty that it shall be a peaceful, eventful and successful year and a prosperous and rewarding one for Osun.”

In her remarks, the Chief Judge of Osun, Hon. Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, expressed gratitude to Governor Oyetola for giving the judiciary the pride of place to operate without interference or hitches.

Justice Ojo lauded the Administration of Governor Oyetola for continually allowing mutually-beneficial relationship between the three arms of government, this, she said had helped to retain and sustain the relative peace existing in the State.

She appreciated the Governor for always coming to their aid, saying this had gone a long way to ensure smooth dispensation of justice at all levels.

“The relationship between the Osun State Judiciary and other arms of government remains ever cordial with mutual respect for each other. We must commend Mr. Governor for his good sense of leadership duty and for his prompt response to issues affecting the Judiciary as occasions call for them.

“We are equally grateful to Mr. Governor for his unending love for Osun State Judiciary and we know that with Your Excellency’s support, this new legal year will be best ever in our history,” she added.