Category: Politics

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday charged candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming local government elections to replicate the political victories of the party being witnessed across the country in the poll.

Sanwo-Olu, who stated this at the handing over of party flags to the 20 local government and 37 local council development areas chairmanship candidates ahead of the local government poll at the All Progressives Congress secretariat located in Ogba area of the state, said the party’s current successes across the country, culminating in the mass defections of political top echelons to the party showed the acceptance of the party by the people.

He said: “This is a very important and significant event, which is the official handing over of our flags to all of our candidates. We are handing over the flags to the chairmen and the vice chairmen, of course supported ably by the party’s LGA chairmen so that they all can go back and do the same with their councillors and ensure that we have a resounding victory on the 24th of July, 2021.

“They are to go forth to the various local governments and campaign in all the nooks and crannies of the state. We are believing that this significant event will signpost our seriousness in our next local government election. And we are certain that the success we’re are currently enjoying at the national and states will also be translated at the local government elections as well.’’

The governor added that the local government is a critical arm of government, saying “We have three tiers of government and everybody has their roles and responsibilities. But as a state government we will continue to ensure that our development agenda is spread across the state and because we own all the local governments we will ensure it is reflective in all local governments and that is what we are doing.

“So what we expect from them is to key into our agenda. So that when they come in, they can also hit the ground running in all of the wards that we have. We expect them to start work immediately. The state government will carry out some projects in the wards but we expect complimentary roles from these chairmen; we expect them to compliment that and do more.

“There will be quarterly monitoring of their activities. The deputy governor and Speaker have that responsibility, and we expect this to create a healthy rivalry among the councils.

“We pray that APC will come tops; we hope these candidates will do well and they will not disappoint the people that would vote them in.”

Earlier, the party’s Caretaker Chairman in Lagos State Honourable Babatunde Balogun said the party is optimistic of sweeping the local government poll in the state.

Balogun said the ruling party led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the state has endeared the party to the electorate through massive infrastructure development and provision of basic amenities to the residents of the state, saying the party expects the electorate to reciprocate the gestures with votes.

“We expect all of you to be victorious in the next six days with the support of the Lagos electorates by the grace of God.”

The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin says Nigeria’s present predicament is a test from Allah and it will soon end in joy and happiness.

The Speaker who stated this in his 2021 Eid-el-Kabir message said just as Allah surprised Prophet Ibrahim on the Mount of Arafat by replacing his son Ismail with a ram, Nigeria will soon be rid of its many challenges and it will be a success story at last.

He therefore urged Nigerians to continue to demonstrate strong faith and engage in more devotional and sacrificial acts saying Allah has promised ease after hardship and succor after tribulations.

“The story behind Eid-el-Kabir festival was one that demonstrated total obedience and submission to Allah. Prophet Ibrahim had already blindfolded his son Ismail and was already moving the knife up and down his neck but Allah replaced Ismail with a ram and his son was unharmed. I am sure another opportunity has presented itself for all of us in Nigeria to use this year’s Eid-el-Kabir to renew our faith in Allah. We should never lose hope in the sincere believe that all will be well with our nation soon. Prophet Ibrahim laughed and rejoiced at the end of his trial , we shall also live to see a better and more prosperous Nigeria which will be devoid of all the present crises. ” Oyo Speaker prayed.

According to him, Nigerians should imbibe other significant lessons of Ileya festival like having and demonstrating strong piety and the act of sharing and caring for the needy.

“We should learn to extend love to ourselves all the time. During Eid-el-Kabir, meat and food are shared among ourselves and most importantly among the poor people. This will no doubt promote love, togetherness and peace amongst us. Let us remember that our meat and food do not get to Allah but our piety . We should constantly support the needy and the downtrodden amongst us so as to make life easier and meaningful for them too. ” Hon Ogundoyin counselled.

While calling on Islamic faithful and indeed all Nigerians to use this festival to pray for an end to insecurity across the Country, the Speaker said the situation is more worrisome now than before.

He used the medium to specially felicitate the people of Oyo State as well as the teeming Muslims in Ibarapaland on this year’s Ileya festival, and prayed to Allah to accept the sacrifice and the prayers of the entire Islamic faithful.

” Our people in Oyo State are already experiencing new lease of life. Special thanks to the people friendly policies of Governor Seyi Makinde. I want to urge the residents of the State to increase their prayers for this administration so that more developmental strides will be achieved. ” He added.

The APC gubernatorial aspirant in 2019 General Election and 2023 Oyo South Senatorial hopeful, Dr. Sola Ayandele (Eruobodo) has rejoiced with Muslim faithfuls over the celebration of Eid-il-Kabir.

In a statement personally signed by him and made available to ODUDUWA NEWS today, he expressed his joy over the festive period. “It’s my utmost joy to celebrate Ileya festival with my people, most importantly Muslim brothers and sisters across the globe and Oyo South in particular. The celebration is a sign of love of Allah and the lesson learnt from Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.W).

While expressing his view on the essence of Eid-El Kabir, he said, “The festival is to remind us that, in our service to Allah, we will face trials and tribulations. It is then up to us to decide whether or not we will triumph over whatever trials Allah puts before us. When we face a series of trials, it is not to weigh us down or make us renounce our faith. Rather, it is to build us ahead of temptations that the Devil may bring our way. I therefore enjoin my Muslim brothers and sisters to put the lesson of this period into practice.”

Dr Ayandele further admonished party members to remain focused and united as they prepare towards the upcoming Congress. “Congress should unite us because a divided house will hardly achieve something tangible. Our focus is development and we must all strive for it,” he said.

While concluding the message, he reiterated his commitment towards adequate and proper representation as consultations for his aspiration continue.

Barka De Sallah!

The members of Oyo State House of Assembly have come out to break silence on the report by one online newspaper in Oyo State that they held secret Plenary to hurriedly and secretly approve N100bn for the executive arm of government.

The members said they did not have skeleton in their cupboard and as such it had no hiding agenda when it called an emergency meeting on Friday to re-approve N100billion loan request by Governor Seyi Makinde.

The rejoinder came on the eve of insinuations making the rounds on the social media that the lawmakers had approved another loan request at a secret plenary which was attended by only 13 members on Friday.

The Chairman House Committe on Information, Hon. Kazeem Olayanju while denouncing the report claiming that 13 out of 33 members were present at the Plenary to hurriedly and secretly approve the loan for the executive arm, said contrary to claims, 23 out of the 33 members of the Assembly were in attendance at the emergency plenary.

He further added that all the lawmakers were duly informed of the plenary but that due to the fact that the House do not usually sit on Fridays, many of the members had travelled out of Ibadan but took permission not to attend the emergency plenary when they were informed on Friday.

Explaining the rationale behind the decision of the House leadership to hold the emergency plenary, Olayanju said the house had adjourned till July 27, and the time would be too late for the urgency required of the re-approval.

He said, an earlier N100billion loan request approved for the Governor to be accessed from the Central Bank of Nigeria could not meet up last year due to delay in tidying up the processes but that the effort of the Governor and his relationship with the CBN authorities made the window to be re-opened.

He added that, if the lawmakers will have to wait until the July 27 adjourned date, the opportunity would be lost again which made the option of an emergency plenary inevitable.

Olayanju said “Sometimes, towards the end of last year, there was a loan request sent to the House for approval. It was a N100billion loan from the CBN.

“We approved the bill but was not granted by the CBN due to time lapse.

“Since then, the governor has been mounting pressure on them. And with his rapport and pleading with the CBN, they gave him another opportunity to access it and we had to re-approve the request so that they would continue with the processing.

“So, it was the same loan request earlier approved but which we could not meet up with the timeline to access. It was the same one we revisited and re-approved.

“As soon as we got the information from the governor that a new window has been opened for the state to re-apply for the loan, we had to call for an emergency plenary.

“But, because we don’t usually sit on Fridays, many of our members had travelled out of Ibadan. So, the information was passed to all members on the WhatsApp platform, many of them took excuse that they had travelled. Some who were around also could not meet up with the timing due to their earlier schedules.

“Those available came and there was no hidden agenda and it was not a secret meeting. All the members were aware and even those that attended were not prepared to be at plenary but for the exigency.

“The members in attendance formed a quorum that legitimises the decisions. Twenty-three out of 32 members of the Assembly made the emergency plenary. We started the plenary around 1:30PM on Friday.

“We wanted to avoid what happened sometimes ago that our processes almost led to the delay in passing the bill and we had also adjourned till July 27 for all members.

“Delaying the passage till that time could again caused the state losing the opportunity that was why we surmounted an emergency meeting.”

Speaking on what the loan is meant to be used for, the Assembly spokesman said “The governor is getting the money for five major purposes including: upgrading of alakia airport, fixing the Oyo-Ogbomosho road, Ibadan circular road, dry port at Moniya and upgrading of three hospitals across the state to international standard.”

The Ogun State House of Assembly has disclosed plans to pass a bill that will bar traditional rulers in the state from attending political rallies.

The Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, said this on Wednesday during a public hearing on the Traditional Council Bill 2021.

The bill seeking to regulate burial and installation rites of traditional rulers has generated controversy in the state.

But the Speaker said the proposed legislative framework goes beyond the burial rites of the monarchs.

Oluomo insisted that any politicians that need the support of a king should go to his palace to solicit for it rather than inviting them to rallies.
The Speaker, who lamented that the Yoruba traditional institution had been abused by some intruders, noted that it is “a disgrace for traditional rulers to be attending rallies with politicians.”
The Speaker however stressed that it was important to bar traditional rulers from attending political rallies so as to return the institution to its pride of place and honour.
He added; “they now turn our king to politicians; when they want to do a campaign, it is a must for a king to follow them which is not proper.
“You will see some kings in Ogun State following a governor to rallies; they will be following the governor to anywhere he is going.
“We call them kings and a king must be at his palace. When the governor or president wants to campaign, they should go and meet them at the palace.”

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has congratulated the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for emerging as the Vanguard Newspaper’s Personality of the Year 2019/2020.

Gbajabiamila said he was not surprised at Sanwo-Olu’s choice by the Vanguard Newspaper as the governor’s superlative performance in office speaks for itself.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker said Sanwo-Olu would go down as one of the most dedicated and committed leaders Lagos State has ever produced.

Gbajabiamila congratulated the people of Lagos State for having Sanwo-Olu as their governor at this time and thanked the Vanguard Newspaper for giving honour to whom it is due.

The Speaker said he believed the award of Personality of the Year would spur the Lagos State governor to do more for Lagosians.

The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, on Friday pledged that the multimillion naira worth Ife Grand Resort and Industrial Park, was established for youth development and capacity building.

Ooni Ogunwusi who made the position known at the official opening of the facility along Ife/Ibadan expressway, Ile-Ife, explained that direct employment has been created for over one hundred youths while indirect employment opportunities have equally been created for over five hundred others.

In his address through a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Ooni Ogunwusi urged stakeholders especially those in leadership capacities to create platforms capable of engaging the youths productively, to discourage them from involving in criminal acts.

“Our father the Ooni is sending a strong message through Ife Grand Resort and Industrial Park to all of us here that we should engage our youths and offer them dependable mentorship. This is one among several activities of the Arole Oduduwa and I want us all to emulate this enviable gesture.”

Delivering his address, the Executive Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, lauded ‘Ooni’s exemplary passion for socioeconomic development’.

Governor Oyetola said the initiative is in tandem with his administration’s development agenda which is focused on revitalising the economy and stimulating the local socioeconomic indices for maximum growth.

“For anyone familiar with Kabiyesi’s trajectory and passion for youth and socioeconomic development, this indeed would not come as a surprise.

“In 2019, he organised a Summit on Addressing Growing Youth Unemployment in Nigeria: The Significance of Made in Nigeria and Buy Nigeria, to rally Nigerians to patronise made-in-Nigeria goods.

“Ooni Ogunwusi donated motorised Local Fumigators to States across Nigeria during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also partnered with Afe Babalola on clinical research to develop drugs and vaccines to combat the Coronavirus pandemic.

“As a Government, we are immensely proud of your achievements since your assumption of the throne of your forefathers. This sprawling edifice is another worthy feather in this regard.

“I must note that this resort, no doubt, is in tandem with our Administration’s Development Agenda, which is focused on revitalising our economy and stimulating the local economy for maximum growth. This we are doing by leveraging, in the first instance, our comparative advantage in tourism and culture, mining and agriculture.

“Our infrastructure development plan is also carefully targeted at ensuring that we open up the latent economic potential of our towns by ensuring that our people are supported with the requisite social amenities for a decent living.

“Therefore, we are immensely grateful to Kabiyesi for joining forces with us to strengthen our economy. I urge other royal fathers to take a cue from Kabiyesi by using their influence and instrument of office to support the development of our State.

“Let me employ this medium to stress that initiatives such as Ooni is creating and attracting to Ile-Ife will only thrive and be sustainable in an atmosphere of peace. I therefore appeal to our youths and people to continue to allow peace to reign so that they can enjoy the dividends of the enterprise,” he added.

The same vein, the Vice-President, ARM Africa; an internatiional firm partnering the Ooni on the project, Mr. mark Tampoya, said, “We at ARM Africa are proud to have you as our Chairman and we assure you of efficient service delivery.”

The event which was heavily attended by top dignitaries including the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, ex governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Ife-born former Deputy Governor of Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore, ex Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Erelu Olusola Obada, Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi, also had traditional rulers, business tycoons and other top dignitaries in attendance.

The Ife Grand Resort and Industrial Park is spread on over 1,000 acres of land, consisting of facilities for lodging/accommodation, a 3, 000 seating capacity Meeting Incentives Conference and Event (MICE) Centre branded ‘Ojaja Arena’ and multiple industrial parks.

Governor of the State of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, has again appealed to Muslims and Traditional worshipers in the State to give peace a chance and allow the ongoing judicial process run its full course.

Oyetola had in the wake of the clash between a group of traditional worshippers and Muslims in a part of Osogbo, the State capital, condemned the development and directed the Police to get to the root of the matter and ensure that justice was served.

In a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, on Friday, the Governor noted that Osun and her people were known for peace and urged all to avoid acts that could tarnish the enviable recognition.

He further asserted that religious intolerance was injurious to the unity and collective peace of Osun, stressing that residents and citizens must respect the State’s unique diversity.

While appealing to both parties involved in the court case to allow the judicial process run its full course, the Governor also said that government would not tolerate any act of criminality or violence in any part of the State under any guise, including religion.

“I appeal to both parties to sheathe their swords and toe the line of peace and the law.

“Since the matter is already in court, both parties should remain calm and allow the process to run its full course. We are known for peace as a people. We should all do all in our powers to sustain that recognition in our collective interest,” the Governor said.

ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that the self-styled activist, Sunday Igboho who was declared wanted by the Department of State Security DSS during a raid on his house where two people were killed has been confirmed by Federal Government to have been trying to acquire a new passport to flee the country.

Recall, that the government during the raid on Igboho’s house has placed him on watch and and stop-list in order to facilitate his arrest and directed the security agencies to apprehend him anywhere he is found.

In the security circle, a person whose name is on the stop-list is denied all constitutional rights and privileges a citizen is entitled to.

The Federal Government’s directive against Igboho was contained in a letter by the Nigeria Immigration Service dated July 9, 2021, addressed to the Director General, Department of State Services, the Inspector General of Police and the DG, National Intelligence Agency.

The activist, a spearhead of the separatist agitation for the Yoruba Nation, had been declared wanted by the Department of State Services on allegations of stockpiling arms to destabilise the country, which he has since denied, but his whereabouts remain unknown.

The whereabouts of Igboho, a lead figure in the separatist agitation for the Yoruba Nation, has been unknown since he narrowly escaped arrest during the July 1 midnight raid by the secret police, ahead of a major rally in support of the call for Yoruba Nation in Lagos.

Following the bloody raid on Igboho’s Sooka residence, the DSS arrested and detained 13 of Igboho’s associates, adding that during a “gun duel,” it had killed two of Igboho’s supporters later identified as Adogan and Alfa.