Author: oduduwanews

The SouthWest Agenda 2023 group has said that the National Leader of All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, already have 12 million votes in the bag ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

The chairman of the pro-Tinubu group, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, made this known on Friday as a guest on Channels TV’s ‘Politics Today’ programme monitored by ODUDUWA NEWS.

Though Tinubu has yet to declare his intention to contest any office in 2023, there have been reports and veiled indications that he might be interested in the exalted seat.

Speaking on the television programme on Friday, Adeyeye, a former Minister of State for Works and Housing, boasted that just like Buhari who raked 12 million votes from the North before the 2015 elections, Tinubu also has at least 12 million votes from the South-West.

He said traditional rulers in the South-West are also in support of Tinubu’s 2023 presidential bid.

The SWAGA chairman, however, said his group was not commissioned by Tinubu but they are prodding the ex-Lagos governor to run for President in 2023.

Adeyeye said, “When this movement started, we wanted our candidate who some people particularly in Abuja and some circles have been saying have no home base; he is no longer popular and all that. We wanted to prove to them that the man is very acceptable, not only in his home base but throughout the country.

“We want everybody in the South-West to rally around this man and support him and so far we have been very successful.

“We have moved round the palaces to see most of our top traditional rulers who have endorsed him.

“Charity begins at home; we wanted to solidify the Homebase. Once the home base is solidified, I believe other Nigerians, particular in our party, will feel more comfortable to field this candidate, knowing that he can win the election for them.”

Speaking on the chances of Tinubu in the 2023 elections, the APC chieftain said, “Don’t forget that one of the selling points for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 was that he already had 12 million votes in his pocket (in previous elections) particularly in the North-West and North-East. So, it was easy with support from a few other places for him to win the presidency.

“We are also saying that come 2023, the man we are projecting already has at least 12 to 13 million votes in his pocket and so it will be easy.”

Asked how sure he was about his statistics, Adeyeye said, “I am giving it (figure) based on what I have seen on ground having to transverse the length and breadth of the South-West and having seen people from political parties saying that when it comes to the issue of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, they will shed their partisan toga and embrace him and vote for him. I have seen that in the palaces of the Obas, amongst artisans and market women.

“When it comes to the issue of the Presidency in 2023, all of these people in unison, they will shed every differences and vote for this man.

“The votes in the South-West is more than 20 million votes. I am only saying 12 to 13 million votes is already assured and I say it with all sense of responsibility without fear of contradiction that those 12 to 13 votes are already in the bag.”

Former Governor Alao Akala-led Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Advisory Committee has suffered another big blow as a potent group within the party, The Core Progressives, described the committee as an illegality which must be disbanded immediately for the party to consolidate on the gains recorded so far in its reconciliation and reengineering process.

The Group in a statement in Ibadan on Thursday declared that the advisory committee without any locus standi or any authority whatsoever to constitute any committee for the party was already usurping the powers of the Caretaker Committee of the party, a development, it said was inimical to the growth of APC in the state.

According to the statement signed by Alhaji Musibau Ahmed, Chairman of the group, the Core Progressives said the Alao Akala committee has so far remained a cog in the wheel of progress of the party and should therefore be disbanded forthwith by the Caretaker /Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party for APC to have real progress in Oyo State.

The group stated that it has now been vindicated over its earlier rejection of the committee based on the lopsidedness in its composition which gave edge to old members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with known records of hijack and disruption of peaceful process, maintaining that the obviously biased zoning committee released by the committee has cleared all doubts over the intent of the Akala’s advisory committee to hijack the party for PDP.

The group commended the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare for coming out boldly to reject the committee, stating that with the rejection, Chief Dare has further proved that he is a committed party man and a patriotic Nigerian who would always ensure that the right things are done in consonance with the constitution.

The Progressives urged the Minister as the representative of the National Leader of the party, President Muhammadu Buhari in Oyo State, to work closely with the Caretaker Chairman for the state, Chief Akin Oke and come up with the right strategy that would be acceptable to the majority of the members and put the party on strong footings in the state.

“We are highly impressed with the prompt and bold rejection of the Akala’s PDP infested Zoning Committee by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Chief Sunday Dare. By rejecting the committee, Chief Dare has shown courage, sincere commitment to the party and the ideals of the progressivism of inclusive politics. It is leadership per excellence. We only want him to remain steadfast and work with the caretaker Chairman and other genuine masses friendly leaders of the party and give us a strong and virile party that will clear all the elections in 2023. We are solidly behind these bold steps of the minister.”

The Ooni of Ife has debunked the rumour flying around where it was alleged that the former gubernatorial aspirant, Senator Ademola Adeleke had promised to get Ooni a private jet.

This was contained in a statement released by the Director of Media and Publicity, Prince Moses Olafare as read in part:

“The Directorate of Media and Public Affairs of the Ooni of Ife’s Palace wishes to inform the general public to disregard a viral report where the spokesman to the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, Comrade Moses Olafare, is reportedly quoted as stating that a gubernatorial aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke, during a courtesy visit on Wednesday promised to procure an aircraft for the Ooni.

“To set the record straight, no such report was issued from the palace despite the fact that the politician’s speech was twisted by some writers with hidden intentions including to drag the respected stool of the Ooni in mud.

“While further clarifications could be sought from videos that emanated from the visit, the Ooni’s singular request was for a credible election devoid of crisis for the betterment of all, which the PDP chieftain agreed to.

“Going further, it is a statement of fact that, in the usual character of all political office aspirants and party’s candidates without exception, the visiting Senator Adeleke made several promises including the reconstruction of roads in Ile-Ife and completion of the Osun State Airport project at Ido-Osun among others. Sadly, these developmental bullet points were mischievously ignored in the viral news reports.

“On the controversial “Private Jet” it is a common knowledge that the Adeleke family has a fleet of private aircrafts which could have been the basis for the governorship hopeful to have lightly said, “Baba Private Jet tee ma gun Gan n be n’le. BABA, PRIVATE JETS YOU MAY NEED FOR YOUR TRIPS ARE READILY AVAILABLE”.

“While it is ridiculous to see such misinformation trend on supposed credible news platforms including national dailies, the palace of the Ooni wishes to caution the general public from erroneously believing the false report as it is a lie from the pit of hell.

“Adeleke’s visit was not the first and would never be the last political visit to the Ooni and other traditional rulers in the state as we are already approaching the election year in the state of Osun while other aspirants including the incumbent governor are still coming to make their promises as usual. Why the hullabaloo?

The political unit of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu – literally stood still on Thursday for the formal launch of Southwest Agenda 2023 (SWAGA ‘23) in Lagos State.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu joined full political machinery in the State to host the carnival-like event held at 10 Degree Event Centre in Oregun and attended by political leaders from all divisions of Lagos.

SWAGA, a group being led by Senator Dayo Adeyeye, is a political movement building support base for the former Lagos State Governor in anticipation of his interest to contest for president in the 2023 general elections.

Sanwo-Olu was accompanied by all members of the State Executive Council, lawmakers in the State House of Assembly, and members of Conference 57 to formally unveil the political group.

Declaring total support for the group’s agenda, Sanwo-Olu said SWAGA was formed based on the belief in Tinubu’s vision and political philosophy that prioritise development of human capital and economy.

The Governor described the APC National Leader as a “core political thinker” of the contemporary generation, noting that Tinubu’s constituency in progressive politics stood him out as a beacon and rallying figure capable of delivering directional leadership to the country in the next dispensation.

He said: “Asiwaju Tinubu’s story has been a legend in vision, passion and action. These three values stand him out among his contemporaries in national politics today. It is no wonder the man stretches his arm of fellowship beyond Lagos, the State he led for eight years as a Governor and in which he bequeathed the legacy we are building on. He is nationalist in thinking and progressive in action.

“The SWAGA we are launching in Lagos today is a demonstration of Tinubu’s enduring political principles and strong vision. Those behind the movement took the three values and push them with passion. What we are witnessing today is the action from the vision and passion; this is what SWAGA represents. By the grace of God, we will drive this agenda to logical end and we will all witness the inauguration of our political icon come 2023.”

Sanwo-Olu assured the proponents of the movement of his continued support, promising to mobilise more political support for the group. He said he would join hands with SWAGA coordinators to take the agenda beyond the Southwest region and make it a national movement.

Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, said Tinubu personified the progress the Nigerians had been yearning for, drumming support for the APC National Leader.

“If we want true progress, employment, security and development, we all know who is capable of creating these opportunities for us. He is Asiwaju,” Dr. Hamzat said.

Senator Adeyeye said Lagos was the last State to be visited since the movement started last December, noting that all political and traditional rulers across the State have been carried along.

The Oke-Ogun Council of Elders held its meeting yesterday at the residence of the President, former Minister of Agriculture, Otunba Bamidele Dada, OON to deliberate on various issues affecting Oke-Ogun specifically on the areas of economy, security and social issues.

The meeting played host to Prof. Tunji Akande, former Director General of Nigerian institute of Social and Economic Research NISER briefing the Council on economic development of the region and Hon. Dele Adeola, member representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju State Constituency who also briefed the Council about the efforts the Oke-Ogun caucus of lawmakers at the State Assembly are making to ensure that the region gets its own fair share of development activities.

The president, Otunba Bamidele Dada, OON while giving his remark admonished all sons and daughters of Oke-Ogun to ensure that they contribute their own quotas towards the development of the region.

In his words, Prof. Tunji Akande, spoke on the solutions to economic development of Oke-Ogun, and implored the people of the region to join hands together towards the development of the region. He averred that Oke-Ogun can only be developed if both natural and human resources endowed to the region are well utilized for meaningful development.

He however frowned at some economic saboteurs who continually aid illegal miners to rip off the region of its endowed natural resources.

Comrade Jare Ajayi, the Spokesman of the Council while speaking to the correspondent of ODUDUWA NEWS, said the essence of the meeting was to agree on proactive steps that could be taken to harness both human and natural resources endowed to Oke-Ogun towards its development.

He used the ocassion to appreciate the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde on his efforts at ensuring that development comes to Oke-Ogun.

The Council commended Gov Makinde for siting LAUTECH Satellite Campus in Iseyin, the ongoing construction of township road in Saki and his concerted efforts at ensuring that the projects that have Federal Government input are speedily done for the benefit of the populace.

The elders however alerted the State and Federal Governments as well as all stakeholders to be security conscious and prevent the region from being used as safe haven or refuge camp of the remnant of bandits currently being dislodged from their various hideouts in the Northern region.

The Council further used the ocassion to unanimously request the establishment of Oke-Ogun Development Corporation in order to speed up development and also implored the State Government to ensure that the Local Government councils are fully operational so as to be holding them accountable for the development lacuna in the State.

The meeting had in attendance some eminent personalities from the region included Prof. Tunji Akande, former Director General of NISER; Prof. YK Yusuf, OAU, Ile-Ife; Comrade Jare Ajayi, Elders Council/Afenifere Spokesman; Alh. Abu Gbadamosi Olododo, former TESCOM Chairman, Elder Olalere among several others.