Category: Politics

Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), during the Osun 2018 governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke has told Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to start preparing his handover notes, saying his days as Governor are numbered.

This as the former Senator disclosed that he is ready to flagg off his campaign without blocking those interested in contesting the PDP governorship ticket from in the state from gunning for it.

Adeleke who was speaking at a welcome rally organised by the party at it Secretariat in Osogbo urged interested parties to be modest with their campaigns in the interest of peace in the party and state in general.

“The ruling party has messed up the state since coming to power. I am appealing to the Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola to start preparing his handover notes because his days as Governor are numbered.

“I am back and ready to kick start my campaign. PDP belongs to everyone, I can’t stop anyone interested in the party’s ticket from contesting it, but l appeal for decency among everyone for peace within the party and the state”, he said.

Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday September 6, 2021 committed the bill on open grazing to the committee on agriculture after it scaled second reading.

The House also read for the first and second time the state’s Value Added Tax bill and asked the committee on finance which is handling it to report back.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, described the ‘Prohibition of Open Cattle Grazing Bill’ as timely and one that would ensure harmonious relationships between herders and farmers and protect the environment of the state and the southwest zone.

The Speaker also suggested that the bill should make provision for the registration of herders and prepare them for ranching.

“Allocating percel of land is not enough but there should be training of those who would go into ranching,” he said noting that ranching is expensive and required adequate preparation.

Concerning the bill on VAT, Speaker Obasa said it would lead to “increase in revenue and increase in infrastructural development. This is in line with fiscal federalism that we have been talking about.”

Obasa said the VAT law when passed, would help the state meet challenges in its various sectors. He also urged the Lagos State government to do everything legally possible to ensure the judgement of a Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, is sustained even up to the Supreme Court.

He lamented a situation where about 500 billion is generated from Lagos State while 300 billion is generated from other southwest states and paltry amounts are disbursed to them in return.

“It is an opportunity for us to emphasise again on the need for the consideration of true federalism,” he said.

Speaking earlier on the bill on open grazing, Hon. Bisi Yusuff (Alimosho 1), lamented the havoc that herdsmen had caused in the southwestern zone.

According to him, farmers have continuously become afraid to visit their farms thus causing shortage of food. He also said many farmers had become indebted as they now find it difficult to pay back loans they secured.

He said it was lamentable that cattle roam the streets causing accidents and embarrassing people.

He advocated for stiffer penalties for herders caught carrying firearms.

His position was supported by Hon. Kehinde Joseph (Alimosho 2) who said open grazing in the 21st century is an aberration.

Joseph said the bill would ensure peaceful coexistence, reduce crime and help to guide the activities of herders.

On his part, Hon. Olumoh Saad Lukeman (Ajeromi-Ifelodun 1), suggested that the high court should be made to handle cases from the enforcement of the bill when passed or that the state should establish special courts for such purpose.

Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, in his contribution, described Lagos as a cosmopolitan state and, as such, having to see cattle in the streets is worrisome.

He expressed support for the bill because, according to him, it would give a level of security to the state and help reduce economic losses. He added that Lagos has 250 hectares of land in Ikorodu and another 750 hectares on Epe for ranching.

Hon. Tobun Abiodun (Epe 1) said it was common to see cattle going to school as if they want to learn while Hon. David Setonji (Badagry 2), recalled “a time we went on oversight function in a school here in Lagos. We were embarrassed by cattle. We had to wait for the herder to move the cattle before we embarked on our oversight function.”

Setonji suggested a collaboration between men of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the police in the implementation of the law when passed and assented to.

Other lawmakers who contributed during plenary include Hon. Adedamola Richard Kasunmu, Hon. Rasheed Makinde and Hon. Sanni Okanlawon.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has said the Nigerians need Bola Tinubu to guide us on the right path of democracy.

Socio-political organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has described Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the protector of people of the Southeast, who is needed to guide Nigerians in the right path of democracy.

Ohanaeze’s Deputy Secretary-General, Dimm Uche Okwukwu recalled that Tinubu was a fair leader who appointed Igbos into his cabinet during his administration as Governor of Lagos State.

In a statement he signed and made available to the media on Tuesday, Okwukwu said Tinubu is needed for the unification of the Southern bloc.

Lagos Reporters reports that Okwukwu also wished the APC National Leader a quick recovery from his illness.

He said: “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu represents many things to different persons and groups. To Nigerians in general, he is one of the authors of this democracy we enjoy today. He put in so much energy as chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, to make sure that Nigeria was returned to democracy in 1999. To Yorubas, he is a home-grown leader. Southern Nigeria sees him as a patriot and foremost unifier.

“Igbo people see Asiwaju as their protector. We remember that as governor of Lagos State, he appointed an Igbo man from Anambra State, Ben Akabueze, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget for eight years, 1999-2007. The import of his gesture was not lost on Igbos all over the world and we are very proud of Asiwaju. Indeed, we call him “Nwanne di na mba,” a brother in foreign land.

“Ndigbo pray God Almighty grants Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu quick recovery, particularly now that Nigeria is in serious transition. We need him for the unification of the Southern bloc of Nigeria. We need him to mentor the younger generations. Nigerians need Asiwaju to inspire them. We need him to guide us in the right path of democracy. Nigerians want him home in good health.”

Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti on Monday added his voice to the calls on the police to fish out the killers of Mr Olajide Sowore, younger brother of publisher and rights activist, Mr Omoyele Sowore.

Olajide, a student of Igbinedion University in Edo, was reportedly killed by suspected kidnappers on Saturday on the Lagos-Benin Expressway.

In statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Yinka Oyebode in Ado-Ekiti, Fayemi described the killing as unfortunate.

Fayemi urged the police to urgently find the killers and rescue five people reportedly abducted by them.

According to him, killing of innocent citizens is a cause for concern.

“It is time security agencies, with the support of the citizens, put an end to this wastage of precious lives.

“My sincere condolences go to the Sowore family, especially the brother of the deceased, Omoyele Sowore,” he said.

Fayemi, also the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, urged security agencies to intensify efforts in tackling insecurity.

He advised Nigerians to volunteer information that would help security agencies to tackle insecurity.

The National Committee for Local Government Congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun has announced results of the congress held in all the 30 Local Government Areas and One Area Office in the State.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye who announced the results at a press conference in Osogbo on Monday, disclosed that the results were compiled and announced in line with the Constitution of the party, having satisfied all the constitutional requirements and party’s principles and guidelines.

He also reiterated that there was no Congress in Osun other than the one the Committee conducted and that was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and security operatives.

Elegbeleye, therefore, described as illegal, null and void results of any other purported congress held in the State. He added that the Committee was sent by the national secretariat of the party to conduct LG congress for Osun APC and not a group within the party.

According to him, the Committee was not informed of any other Congress except the one its members witnessed and supervised across the State.

Elegbeleye who described as fallacy, the purported claims of another Congress held by some members of a group in the party, said “an election can only hold if the dissenting members sufficiently and appropriately informed the Committee of the need to do so”.

He added that “the Committee resolved to hold a Stakeholders’ meeting as part of efforts to register their presence in the State, ratify the decision of the leadership of the party as to either a consensus arrangement or election would be adopted and inform any member or group of people in the party who may opt for election the need to do so having properly being informed as the case may be.

“We have the results of the 30 Local Government Areas and Ife-East Area Office with us. We were here yesterday for the compilation of the results coming from the Local Governments.

“As you all know, we are here to conduct the Local Government Congress for All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State and not for any group. We were sent by the National Secretariat, Abuja to come and conduct Local Government Congress for APC in Osun and not for a group or members of a group in the he party. And not a single member of this Committee is aware of any group in the party as being speculated.

“All we know at the Secretariat is that there is one APC in Osun, that is why we were sent to conduct the Congress, and as you can see, we are at the Secretariat of the party not elsewhere. This is the party Secretariat known by the leadership and every member of the party.

“We were here last Friday to hold Stakeholders’ meeting where we had leaders of the party. So also today, as you can see, we equally have leaders of the party here present for the Press Conference.

“In our visit to some of the local government areas, we couldn’t see any other place rather than the designated centres where the Congress was supposed to be held and nobody contacted us in contrary. Nobody or group of persons informed us there will be Congress elsewhere.

“As far as we are concerned, none of the Committee members was informed of any other venue other than where the exercise was genuinely held across the State. We are seven in number and all of us are here. We all witnessed the election.

“Myself and my colleagues use this opportunity to thank members of the press and the party’s leadership in the State for your cooperation and support and for the peaceful conduct of the Congress.

“I believe that the APC in the State now have the new executive members at the various Councils to pilot the affairs of the party for the next four years,” Elegbeleye said.

When asked if the Committee was aware that some members of the party agitated for election instead of consensus which was largely adopted by the leadership of the party, the Committee Chairman said during the Stakeholders’ meeting, there was no motion against the popular consensus adopted by the party.

He added: “On Friday, we held a Stakeholder’s meeting and I said the party had opted for consensus but in area where there are disagreements and people want to really go out and vote, they are so much allowed and for someone to insist that he won an election, he must have notified us that in a particular area they want to vote, and as I said, nobody, I mean nobody till now gave us any notification of any other Congress elsewhere.

“Nobody notifies us they don’t want consensus, nobody notifies us they want election till this present moment. Nobody notifies us that there is a crisis in any Local Government that requires election. What we are not aware of, we can’t act on it.

“We are not from Osun and every member of the party knows the procedure, they know we are around. Nobody can claim that he doesn’t know we are around that was why a stakeholders’ meeting was held to further announce our presence.

“So, as far as we are concerned, any Congress outside the one we supervised, monitored and subsequently announced its results is a nullity.”

In his remarks, the Caretaker Chairman of the APC in the State, Prince Gboyega Famodun, commended the members of the Committee for ‘a job well done’.

Famodun who expressed displeasure over the conduct of some members of the party, noted that “no pressure group in APC can equate its strength to that of the party itself that is fully registered and constitutionally constituted.”

Ahead of the ward, local government and state congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated the Local Organising Committee for the congresses.

Makinde maintained that the party will allow internal democracy to reflect in the processes and all its actions.

He stated that though he has purchased all the nomination forms for the congresses, anyone interested in taking the forms from the national secretariat should approach the national headquarters of the party.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the caucus meeting had in attendance stakeholders from all the organs of the party, including serving and former National Assembly members, serving and former presiding officers of the House of Assembly, BOT members, former aides of the president and members of the party’s State Working Committee.

The statement added that the Caucus reaffirmed its confidence in Makinde as the leader of the PDP in Oyo State, while it equally appreciated Makinde for purchasing all the nomination forms for the congresses.

A communique signed by the chairman of the Oyo State PDP, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha, which was made available to newsmen at the end of the meeting, indicated that the caucus made a commitment to ensure a rancour-free congress that will bring unity to the party.

The communique read in part: “The Oyo State PDP Caucus appreciated Governor Seyi Makinde for purchasing all the nomination forms for Oyo State 2021 Party Congresses at all levels.

“The Caucus reiterated its commitment to a rancour-free, peaceful and united congress where every necessary stakeholder will be carried along.

“The Caucus of the Oyo State PDP also accepted the nominations of Dr. Saka Balogun, Senator Hosea Agboola, Hon. Oluyemi Taiwo, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, Alhaja Bose Adedibu, Alhaji Hamid Gbadamosi, Chief Bayo Lawal, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha, Alhaji Wasiu Adeleke, Rt. Hon Maruuf Atilola and Micheal Ogunsina as the Oyo State 2021 Local Organizing Committee for the congress.

“The entire Oyo State PDP Caucus reaffirmed its belief and trust in the leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde as the leader of the PDP in Oyo State.”

Ogun State has stepped up efforts to stop the spread of cholera after an outbreak in Magboro in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, said in a statement issued on Monday in Abeokuta that the reported outbreak was predominant among motorcycle riders and scavengers.

She stated that the index case was reported to have returned to the state from elsewhere, while the public toilet used was the channel of transmission.

The commissioner explained that the causative agent had not been confirmed because appropriate samples could not be collected as there was no active case.

She added that a number of persons were receiving treatment and expressed consternation that an unregistered clinic ran by a quack had contributed to the spread by not reporting cases it had been managing.

Dr Coker stated also that a treatment centre had been set up at the Magboro-Akeran Health Centre, adding that the suspected public toilet had been sealed for sanitisation.

She said neighbouring communities had been sensitised on steps to take and where to seek care or report suspicious cases.

The commissioner also stated that traditional rulers in the area had been engaged for their support in keeping their communities safe, while healthcare workers continued active surveillance in the affected community.