Category: Politics

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday called on the federal government to engage agitators across the country rather than employ the use of force.

This is as the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, argued that the use of the military in an attempt to quell agitations for secession would not yield the desired result since it is part of democracy for a people to speak out concerning how they are governed.

Obasa, who noted that the 22 years of unbroken democracy being enjoyed by Nigeria is worthy of celebration, however, said there many things yet to be done after so long adding that these had led to the tension in the country.

The Speaker, who made the comment during the debate on a motion about the 22 years of unbroken democracy in Nigeria raised by Hon. Setonji David, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing an executive order granting autonomy to state legislatures and judiciary and for honouring the late MKO Abiola with the declaration of June 12 as democracy day.

Noting that democracy is a wholesome package, he added: “It is not about electing us alone. Those that elected us also have freedom, they have the right to protest where they think things are not working.

“The right to protest should not be taken away from them as long as such right is not taken for granted.

“There is no crime in seeking for separate nations within an existing nation,” he said as he mentioned some countries where the citizens have called for disintegration.

“Those representing the people through the ideology of social contract must listen to the people,” he said urging the government to engage the groups and calling on the National Assembly members to go beyond weeping on the floor of the House and truly rejig the constitution.

“For the southern governors, having stated their position, they should not go to sleep. They should follow it through,” he urged.

Concerning the issues of insecurity, the Speaker said: “We will continue to cry that we have state police and devolution of power.”

He said restructuring, which he described as part of the solutions and not a problem, should have addressed economic challenges and poverty level just as he lamented that the Naira has continued to fall against the Dollar.

He praised Lagos as the true example of democracy and promised that the state would continue to lead in this area.

The House observed a minute silence in honour of the late MKO Abiola and all those who lost their lives in the course of the struggle for democracy.

Earlier in his contribution, Hon. Rotimi Olowo described the current constitution as fraud.

“This 1999 constitution amended so many times can no longer be embellished. It is fraud,” he said as he called for the semblance of regionalism where the interest of the minority is taken care of.

To him, the current amendment is another effort in futility and a new constitution reflecting the will of the people has to be produced.

Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu suggested an overhaul of the constitution while noting that some items on the exclusive list be devolved.

On his part, Hon. Bisi Yusuff noted that Nigeria’s democracy is not a true reflection of the will of the people adding that the constitution was promulgated through a decree.

Supporting the motion, Hon. Desmond Elliot said Nigeria will not progress more than it is now if the constitution is not overhauled.

Other lawmakers who spoke concerning the motion include Hon. Tobun Abiodun, who complained that states are not allowed to manage their resources, and Hon. Kehinde Joseph, who noted the high level of insecurity in the country.

The House also called on the National Assembly to ensure true federalism while it urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the government to engage in enlightenment of the people on security consciousness.

As the race to battle for the seat of Agodi power house in 2023 draws closer, there have been inuendos, backlashes and politrickings among the political gladiators in Oyo State.

As the politicians scheme and make frantic efforts to ensure they are picked as the gubernatorial ticket of All Progressives Congress APC, a group of professionals in the party has taken it upon itself to x-ray happenings within the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly as it relates to their slogan of Rescue Mission in the Pacesetter State in 2023.

In a statement received by ODUDUWA NEWS has the group’s statement as highlighted thus:

“Now that the stakeholders have started positioning themselves ahead of the all-important election, we are obliged to sound early Notes of Warning on the different gladiators seeking to fly our party’s flag in 2023.

“One of such aspirants, whom we have seen as a wolf in a sheep’s skin is Senator Teslim Folarin. How this three-time Senator of the Federal Republic, who flew the flag of the conservative Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 has suddenly become a possible flagbearer of the progressive camp remains a big surprise to many followers of our party. And that is why his name is the quickest to prop up on the barometer for x-ray.

“Only the fainthearted would submit that the battle to unseat the Governor Seyi Makinde in Oyo State would come like a childsplay.

“Here is a man who has openly told members of the House of Assembly that though they have the constitutional power to remove the governor, the governor equally controls the park managers.

“With such a man, whom former Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State described as “quiet but deadly” the APC must guard its loins tightly to pose a serious challenge.

“But it was agreed that following the peace initiatives of our leaders, the APC in Oyo can only put its best foot forward in the 2023 battle. That cannot be done with a man whose root remains in the PDP.
If there is any iota of doubts about where this Senator stands, the recent analysis by the authoritative Nigerian Tribune is instructive.

“The Tribune said the choice of Folarin would not only return power to the camp of the late strongman of Ibadan politics, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, since his henchmen remains Bosede Adedibu, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja and Auxilliary. These are the same people working closely with Makinde.

“If we present Folarin as candidate, what option are we giving progressives? It means we want to kill the legacies of our leaders like Bola Ige, Lam Adesina and Abiola Ajimobi,” the newspaper analysed.

The Tribune further noted: “Folarin is aligned with former Governor Adebayo Alao Akala and the talk in the APC is that they have shared all available offices among themselves. Akala’s son, Olamiju is slated to be the Deputy Governor. Lowo Obisesan, Ajimobi’s Commissioner for Environment famous for demolition of people’s houses, is slated to become the Secretary to the State Government while Mogaji Akogun, another of Akala’s boys, is listed to be the Chief of Staff. They have chosen their three senators and 14 representatives.”

“The note of warning from the Oyo Governance Barometer is to note that picking Folarin as gubernatorial hopeful is returning power to the PDP as his mind, soul and body remains with the PDP”, said the group.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had moved the country’s democracy day celebration from May 29 to June 12 to honour the late Abiola.

Abiola, who is the spokesperson for the family, declared that since the declaration by Buhari, the family is yet to benefit anything from the Federal Government.

The Secretary, who lamented the death of Abiola, the breadwinner of the family, said the Federal Government has failed to fulfill all the promises made to the family.

He, however, commended the Federal Government for honouring Abiola with the award of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic and the family for declaring June 12 as Nigeria Democracy day.

He said, “We are happy indeed that President Muhammadu Buhari deemed it fit to honour Abiola by giving him the GCFR and made June 12 official Democracy Day. Kudos to that.

“So far so good, we have not benefitted anything from the Federal Government.

“Ogun State Government right from Chief Olusegun Osoba to Governor Gbenga Daniel, to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, and now to Governor Dapo Abiodun, they always honour MKO Abiola every June 12.

“Ogun State Government will always come with all the machinery to mark the day. Our breadwinner has gone. We have not seen promises from the FG yet.

“On June 12, the state government is trying its best. I give kudos to them on June 12. Governor comes here always to pay solitary to the house and empower us to make sure June 12 is celebrated all the time.”

Meanwhile, Governor Dapo Abiodun has called on those calling for the disintegration of Nigeria to shelve the idea and embrace unity in the spirit of June 12.

The Governor, who stated this at an event organised by the State government to mark the celebration of democracy day, said, “MKO Abiola and his mandate should serve as a reminder to all of us that we are stronger together as a Nation.

“He (Abiola) broke all barriers such as religion and ethnicity that are being used in Nigeria today to divide us. He won across the length and breadth of this country, even at the backyard of his main opponents. It was a phenomenon that should remind us that we are greater than our challenges.

“Unless and until we embrace the essence of the MKO persona, internalize belief in self, faith in a united country, and other initiatives that help to engender a sense of shared heritage amongst Nigerian people, we will continue to be a country in search of Nationhood.

“Let us push all the negative and divisive forces and policies on the back-foot and embrace the symbolism of June 12. Let us join hands to make Nigeria work for all Nigerians.

“This will end all quest for self-determination and other sectarian agitations and calm frayed nerves. June 12 represents what will strengthen the country’s unity, indivisibility, and oneness.”

Nigerians in the United States have taken to the streets to join the June 12 Democracy Day protest.

In a video that surfaced online, the protesters were seen carrying a banner that boldly read, ‘Yoruba Nation America’.

Other protestors with placards written, ‘Yoruba Nation Now’, ‘1999 constitution is a fraud’, amongst others marched on the streets of Washington DC for the protest.

“We have come to draw your attention to what is going on in Nigeria…Crime against humanity is going on… Pay attention to Nigeria now before it is too late,” a voice said in the video.

The protest occurred alongside nationwide protests across Nigeria.

Several digital flyers, widely circulated on social media on Friday, had publicised meeting points in Lagos, Gombe, Calabar (Cross River), Yola (Adamawa), Bauchi, Abeokuta (Ogun), Yenagoa (Bayelsa), Port Harcourt (Rivers), Ibadan (Oyo), Ilorin (Kwara), Enugu, Akure (Ondo), Yobe, and Zaria (Kaduna).

One poster by #RevolutionNow read, “Join the June 12 protest. No more poverty, hunger and insecurity in Nigeria… Enough Is Enough! Nothing can stop an idea whose time has come.”

Another poster for a protest in Kaiserslautern, Germany read, “Buhari must go! Let’s come together to say no to government funding terrorism: Boko Haram terrorism and banditry, one litre of petrol equals N165, bad roads, poor hospitals, kidnapping, economic recession, police brutality, disregard for the rule of law, poor health sector, poor education.”

Similar flyers targeted at protesters in New York (US), Kaduna State and the Federal Capital Territory listed the same points but added, “N30,000 minimum wage, N13.5m senators’ salary, Nigeria is over N30tn in debt.”

One poster for a protest tagged ‘Buhari Must Go Party’ was aimed at supporters in London, United Kingdom. Similar ‘Buhari must go’ posters also targeted protesters in Toronto (Canada), Austin (Texas, USA), Calabar, Kebbi, and Lagos.

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde did not organise the June 12 rally in Ibadan on Saturday contrary to claims by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), the governor’s media aide has said.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, while reacting to the statement credited to the APC said that it was mischievous for the opposition party to attempt to rope the governor into an event that was clearly organised nationwide by pro-democracy groups.

The statement read:

“Contrary to the wild claims by the APC, Governor Seyi Makinde did not organise the June 12 protests in Ibadan. He only ran into the protesters at Osuntokun Junction in Bodija and addressed them.

“As the Chief Security Officer of the state, it behoves the governor to calm down the protesters and ensure they only protest peacefully. And that was what he did.

“What the APC need to do is to advise its members to stop the perennial display of sadism by celebrating every unwarranted incident in the state.

“It is on record that APC elements, rather than join the push to ensure the sanctity of lives and property in the state, has been busy fuelling embers of discord in their bid to gain political benefit from perceived fallout of the crisis they are surreptitiously engineering.

“The APC should forthwith desist from wishing evil for the state. In a short while the veil will be lifted off those who are fanning the embers of discord.”

The Yoruba Appraisal Forum (YAF) has warned those planning a nationwide protest on June 12 Democracy Day to stay away from the South West.

The group said people of the South West would neither support, tolerate nor join such protests, as the June 12 Democracy Day should be for celebration and not protests.

The warning came against the backdrop of alleged plans by various groups in the country to protest challenges in the nation on the June 12 Democracy Day.

The National Coordinator of the group, Chief Adesina Animashan, in a statement in Lagos on Friday, said the South West would never allow dissidents to mar the peace and peaceful coexistence in the region.

Animashaun alleged that those influencing the move for protests were enemies of state, who had been behind the many insecurity challenges bedevilling the nation.

“The people of South West and other civil society groups in Nigeria were at the forefront of agitations for the Federal Government to name June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, which was given by the current administration, led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Nigerians should not forget so soon that past administrations ignored the calls to honour the late Chief M.K.O Abiola, acclaimed winner of the June 1993 annulled presidential election that later died while in incarceration.

“Therefore, it will be an abomination for the South West which holds the day sacrosanct to see disgruntled persons and hoodlums mar the day rather than celebrating it,” he said.

The YAF national coordinator urged Yoruba youths to shun such calls or protests and should rise up to the challenge by reporting any groups or groups in their domain planning to disrupt the peace in the South West via protests to security agencies closest to them.

He also urged traditional rulers in the South West to speak to their people in their domains against being part of such protests.

“We have enough challenges in Nigeria as it is. Any further action to take to the streets either on presumed peaceful protest will be counter-productive.

“Those bankrolling such moves should get their children and immediate family to embark on such protests as the South West cannot afford to lose their youths on a mundane and irresponsible protest that may likely lead to breakdown of law and order, killings and destruction of property, ” Animashaun said.

ODUDUWA NEWS reports that June 12 is a significant landmark in the political history of Nigeria and the declaration of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day by President Buhari in 2020 further buttressed the importance of the day.

On June 12, 1993, the country witnessed an election that many claimed was the fairest in the nation’s history, however, the results of the election remain unknown as the election was annulled by the then military head of state, retired Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

The APC Governorship aspirant in 2019 and 2023 Senatorial hopeful, Dr. Sola Ayandele has visited Igangan town in Ibarapa North to commiserate with the community leaders and families of the bereaved over the unfortunate incident that happened in the late hour of Saturday.

Recall that unknown fulani herdsmen attacked Igangan community on 5th June 2021 where innocent lives were killed unjustly and property worth millions were burnt, including the palace of the traditional ruler of Igangan.

Dr. Ayandele, during the visit, commiserates with the Asigangan of Igangan land and the families of the bereaved in sad mood, describing the incident as unfortunate.

In his reaction to an interview by newsmen present im the community, he said, “If we are saying that government is on top of this issue, we are not being fair to our people because if government is serious about our lives here, things of this nature will not happen. This is not the first time in our region. The destructions here are too numerous to mention. Government should provide adequate and functional security because we campaigned on adequate security, robust economy, and corruption-free government.”

He spoke further, “We can’t go back and tell our people that government has provided the security because lives were lost and property burnt down. What we beg government for is provision of security. We are not saying that Fulani or other tribes should not exist in our land but their existence should not be at the detriment of our people. Our people can’t go to their farms because of the fear of herdsmen.”

In his closing remarks, Ayandele promised to facilitate NEMA for quick intervention for the damages recorded in the community as well as intimate the Minister representing Oyo State to follow up the processes.

He donated cash for the upkeep of the burnt palace and to some bereaved families he visited.

The Federal Government has declared Monday, 14th June, 2021 as public holiday to mark this year’s Democracy Day celebration.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated Nigerians on this occasion and urged all citizens to support the present administration in its efforts at ensuring a United and prosperous Nation.

Aregbesola said any form of agitation that threatens the unity of the country should be shunned for the good of all, saying the space known as Nigeria would be a haven of peace, unity and progress if all citizens love his or her neighbour and embrace the spirit of brotherliness.

“As we mark another Democracy Day in the history of our dear country, let us reflect on the efforts of our founding fathers and ensure that Nigeria remains one United and Indivisible Entity. No development can take place in an acrimonious environment,” he stressed.

“With the challenges we face in Nigeria today, I see an opportunity for us not to break up or break down but to break open; open up to ourselves in truth so that we may appreciate each other, understand each other, honour each other and live together in peace and prosperity,” Aregbesola reiterated.

He assured that with the concerted efforts being put in place by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration to secure the lives and property of Nigerians and stabilise the economy, the nation will continue to get better.

“There will surely be light at the end of the tunnel,” he stated.

The Minister wishes all Nigerians a happy Democracy Day Celebration.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has condemned agitators of disintegration of the country saying that that it will be “almost idiotic” for Nigeria to disintegrate at a time like this when Africa is trying to reintegrate for political, social, and economic development.

He insisted that the country is better together for all the ethnic groups in the country to remain together as one indivisible nation with fairness and equity and where all Nigerians will feel proud, rather than for each tribe to go its separate ways.

The former Nigerian leader spoke at the luncheon and investiture organised by the Nigerian Institution of Surveyor, Ogun State chapter, held at the premises of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Abeokuta.

The former President called on all agitators for the disintegration of the country to shelve the idea and work for the unity and oneness of the country.

‘It Will Cost Us Less To Work For Our Unity’
While admitting that the present situation in the country is not palatable, he stressed that calling for the disintegration of the country is not the solution.

He expressed the optimism that, Nigeria will come out stronger from all the challenges currently confronting it if all citizens shelve their personal interests and work together for the unity and progress of the country.

The former president who cited Pakistan, Yugoslavia, and Sudan as countries who have broken away, but are yet to find solutions to their problems, said Nigerians should blame themselves for the country’s woes rather than blaming God.

“If there is any Nigerian who does not feel apprehensive on the situation of the country, the person is a human being without being human.

“Any Nigerian who is human will be apprehensive, if not frustrated with the present situation in the country. We are apprehensive about security situation, apprehensive about economic situation, apprehensive about our political situation and the drum we are hearing is that of disintegration of the country.

“I am a strong believer of one Nigeria, but not one Nigeria at any cost, but one Nigeria where every Nigerian can feel proud that he or she has a stake in this country.

“No Nigerian is born a slave in this country. No Nigerian is born to be oppressed in this country and those of us that have shared part of our blood and sweat for this country, we did that because we wanted a country that every Nigerian can claim as his or her own.

“One thing that gives us strength is our diversity. If all that we have is Republic of Oduduwa for those who said so, their position is understandable. If that is all we have, members of that country will be diminished compared to be a citizen of Nigeria. Citizens of Oduduwa Republic or any other republic from Nigeria will be diminished compared to citizens of Nigeria.

“In this age and time that we are talking about the reintegration of Africa for economic development, disintegration of any country will be almost idiotic if we have Igboland as an independent country, Yorubaland an independent country and Fulani/Hausaland an independent country.

“And as a friend of mine in the military used to say then, what will become of the over 300 minorities – the Jukuns, the Gbasamas? Where will they belong? The only reason they can raise up their heads is because they belong to Nigeria. Are we thinking of them or are we are just being selfish? It doesn’t matter what we do, we will still be neighbours.

“We had seen it before, India was broken into India and Pakistan, they are still at war till today. Yugoslavia was broken into how many countries, they haven’t sorted it till today. Sudan was broken into Sudan and South Sudan, I don’t believe South Sudan is better for it and that is the truth.

“I believe it will cost us less to work for our unity, there are many things wrong, but those things are correctable if we make efforts to correct them and hold us together than what it will cost us to break up and be perpetually at war and all our money will be spent in building an army. I know what an army contains, I know what it means to keep an army, an army that may not be productive, let us think about it”, Obasanjo stated.

Speaking on the importance of survey to national development, Obasanjo said, the entire country should be surveyed to achieve economic development and transformation.

He, therefore, charged the national body of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors to draft a proposal on the national survey of the country to the Federal Government.

“When I was the president of the country, the project of surveying the entire country began, but it got stuck and I don’t know where the project is now”, Obasanjo noted.