Category: Politics

The ALADO of Ado-Awaye land and the paramount traditional ruler in Araromi LCDA,Oba Revd Ademola Olugbile Folakanmi, on Thursday 27th May,2021 organised Children day party in commemoration of his fourth year anniversary on the throne of his forebears as the ALADO of Ado-Awaye land.

Delivering his welcome address,Oba Folakanmi said that,” this year anniversary has been designed to celebrate our children and to bring out the “gold and diamond” in them towards the development of our community through various children varieties as included in the programme of event.

Kabiyesi ALADO, retorted further that, “this year programme is significant as it gives birth to “AYILOKE CULTURAL FESTIVAL”, with the objectives of uniting the people of Ado-Awaye together in a joint efforts to develop our father’s land, to celebrate our various heroes who have made indelible mark on the growth and development of Ado-Awaye kingdom, to harness the ever increasing numbers of sons and daughters in diaspora who are yarning for a link to their root, and finally, to appreciate the cultural heritage of Ado-Awaye people, especially Iyake suspended lake which remains the only one of its kind in Africa and one of the two in the world in order to develop our town. He concluded by appreciating everyone for coming.

The Aare-Ona kakanfo and the generalismo of Yoruba land ,while delivering his goodwill message, appreciated His Royal Majesty
for inviting him as the chief guest of honour for the day. Speaking further, Iba said that, “I appreciated ALADO for his strong determination to develop his community through heritage and festival promotions and it was the major reason why I have decided to be his friend”. Aare Gani Adams while highlighting the prospects in heritage and festival promotions said,” (1) It would registered the image of Ado-Awaye community to the global awareness,(2)It would enhance the economic value of the people of Ado-Awaye and boost the revenue generating potential of both the local and the state governments,and(3) more importantly encouraging love and unity for right purposes among the indigienes of the town. “Before he concluded, Are Gani Adams, upon the above stated merits of heritage and festival promotions advised the people of Ado-Awaye kingdom to always support Kabiyesi ALADO in his determination to transform Ado-Awaye to a better place of living and warned against rebelling him in the interest of community development and for the betterment of the indigienes and he appealled to the duo of Oyo state and the federal governments to provide necessary supports for the development of Ado hill tourism center.

Speaking at the occasion,the chairman, Oyo State Tourism Board, Elder Adebowale, applauded Oba Folakanmi for his consistent efforts towards developing his tourism heritage and community as a whole, not minding any stumbling blocks in his ways. Elder Adebowale stated further and he said that, “kabiyesi you were much aware of the good governance of Engineer Seyi Makinde in Oyo state, therefore, you are expected to continuing leading your people in an atmosphere of peace, love and care, not allowing any element of deceit, political propagandist, agent of destabilisation in your domain”. He submitted by reiterating Oyo State Government commitment towards the development of Ado Hill Tourism Center, through public and private partnership, as he enjoined every indigiene to support Governor Seyi Makinde led administration in his efforts at turning Oyo state to its pace-setter status.

Other notable invited dignitaries at the event were,Mr Wole Okunoye,ably represented by Alh.Kamorudeen with cash donation on his behalf,Pastor Tunde Shittu,HLGA Araromi LCDA,among others.Royal fathers in attendant were Alawaye of Awaye,Oba Amidu Okunlola,ALADO in council.Others were religious and community leaders,market women leaders, artisans, pressmen and security personels.

The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has warned major stakeholders in the country especially leadership of the national assembly that the ongoing public hearing to resolve the nation’s challenges particularly in the security sector may not yield the desired results if the youths are not involved.

Ooni Ogunwusi who is the Co-chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), sounded the warning on Wednesday at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Abuja, during the opening of a National Submit organized by the House of Representatives.

The Ooni who lauded the initiative, emphasized the inclusion of Nigerian youths in the system to help salvage the country.

“Our dear country Nigeria is the binding force for each and every one of us here today. We don’t have any other place. The nation belongs to all of us. We are here talking.

“In our dear country that has brought all of us together here, the youngest serving governor is only 46 years old. And we all know the demography of this country.

“The demography of this country is above 50 all the way to the age of dependency is less than 30 per cent. But between the age of 18 and under 40, we have them in numbers of more than 70 per cent. And we are talking about security here.

“Who are the active participants whenever we have a breakdown of law and order? It is the average age of 18 and 39, and that is the truth. Are they ghosts? Are they invisible? The answer is no. They are human beings.

“But every time we are talking the talk, the Number 2 man, Number 3 man, Number 4 man, they are all saying the same thing the way His Eminence said it. And the participants are not faceless; they are not ghosts. It is very idiotic and stupid for us to be doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. We will continue to get the same results.

“Let us be very truthful and honest to ourselves in this country, we all know the problems. How well are we carrying along with these people in that age bracket? Who is representing that age bracket in this hall? The answer is no one. We are not engaging them at all. But whenever we want to go for political posts and appointments, we go back to them. We know the good, the bad, and the ugly in their category.

“As traditional rulers, they are the most active in our system. Let us tell ourselves the truth, they are hungry and they are angry. I repeat: they are hungry and they are very angry. All of us that are here, I will be very happy if anybody can raise up their hand and say ‘I can go to my constituency, my local government area, and I can stay there in peace for one week.’ Who can do it here? Including our gatekeepers, who can do it here? Including the Senate President, including the Speaker.

“But you left the traditional rulers; you left district heads, the baales to continue to stay there. And you are saying all will be well in this country. We are the ones facing these youths; we know their problems and we have been talking every time. You sit in beautiful offices and you all think all will be well? Let us be very truthful in this country. Look at this beautiful building; as beautiful as this building is, if the foundation is wrong, the entire building will collapse because the foundation has a problem.

“In this gathering, the Senate President mentioned the key factor – the collapse of local government. It has collapsed. Let us be very truthful to ourselves, it has collapsed completely. That is the only arm of government that is the foundation of this country; you don’t have any other foundation. We are only building on a castle that has completely broken down. That is the foundation that will gather the most active age bracket for you in this country. You say we have 774 local governments and several wards. Where do we have the wards being put together?

“It is under the local government’s constituency. They are underfunded; you don’t even reference them for anything; you don’t even care about their administration. Where did we get it wrong in this country? We all have faults – all of us here. If we keep talking, we will not get any results. It is getting worse.

“They are getting more emboldened. They are not very bold and they are ready to face anybody because they are hungry and they are angry. Let us change our strategy. Let us change our style. You leave this age bracket. If there will be problems, you give them guns to start to move around. You will never see anybody above our age in our comfort zone here that is really ready to face the music.

“It is very important for all of us to know that we are not all safe; we are not safe at all. Let us engage a lot of youth organisations that are very relevant; that understand the local government administration and governance within every district and locality of this country. It is very important for us to continue to engage them in every programme we do in this country. You have neglected that category completely. In the hall we are right now, you have neglected them because they are not represented here; they are not at all. So, what are we going to come out here to talk about? And that is our foundation. It is our foundation.

“We should be very serious in this country. We should talk very seriously. This issue of security is not the problem of the service chiefs; it is not the problem of the lawmakers; it is not the problem of the executive arm of government; it is a problem of all of us.

“How many of this active population that is under you that you are taking care of? What is the essence of you being a politician that you cannot even move around freely? You cannot! Do you think only Abuja is Nigeria? Or Lagos? Thirty-six states of this country, people are there and you left them. You abandoned them. And you are making laws and administering. What are you administering? I do not know.

“So, let us talk to ourselves very seriously. The people that are not ghosts; these people that are agitating left and right, we need to engage them. We need to actually engage them and separate the corn from the chaff. We know the good and the bad amongst them.

“We can easily separate them by engaging them. Draw them closer. If we engage the people that are active, it will be a lot easier for us. On this note, I want to thank the organisers and I want to tell is that enough of talking the talk, let us walk the talk”, he said.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday rendered account of stewardship of his administration in the last two years, saying that his administration has delivered on the THEMES developmental agenda as promised the electorate.

He said the totality of his administration’s efforts are geared towards ensuring a safe and secure society, where youth employment is guaranteed.

Speaking at the “2021 State of the State Address” held at the Lagos House, Ikeja, which was attended by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, members of his cabinet, traditional rulers, political gladiators, captains of industries and media Executives, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the Greater Lagos collectively envisioned by Lagosians is closer now than ever before.

“We are exceedingly happy with the progress we have made in the last two years. Our accomplishments have placed us at a vantage position from where we can now catch a Glimpse of the Greater Lagos we envisioned together.

“As a government, we have consistently matched our word with action and worked tirelessly to transform into reality our shared aspiration of making Lagos one of the most functional and habitable cities in the world. We can do it; we will do it. We have laid a very solid foundation for the transformation of our State through strategic interventions and meaningful executions beyond this period,” he said.

The Governor said his administration is working tirelessly to deliver the Fourth Mainland Bridge, Imota Rice mill, Integrated Mass Transit System, which includes the blue and red line rail projects, water transportation, Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) as well as other infrastructure to Lagosians within next two years.

He said completing the projects within the next 24 months will bring absolute transformation to the livelihoods and the economy of our dear State, noting that his administration spent the last 729 days laying the foundation for all these to happen seamlessly.

Speaking on his Government’s plan for Lagos State, Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagosians should expect to see the first passenger movement on the rail transportation before the end of his administration, adding that the incumbent government will build and complete intermodal bus terminals at Ajah, Abule Egba, Iju, Ojota and Anthony Village before the end of his tenure.

He said: “As a government, we have undertaken several innovative means of ensuring that citizens’ travel experiences are palatable. We, therefore, believe that the construction of the 37km 4th Mainland Bridge will significantly change the face of transportation and movement in Lagos State.

“The ground-breaking for the construction and building of the Bridge will happen before the end of this year. Our PPP concessionaires appear committed as they enter the final stage of the qualification process.

“From this day on, we are certainly heading in the direction that our city will become so connected by an Integrated Mass Transit System that a trip to the farthest part of the state will be reduced by half of the current travel time. We are focused on activating an intermodal transport system that gives Lagosians the options of commuting by Water, Road and Rail.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu also assured Lagosians that the Imota Rice mill is scheduled for completion this year. “Upon completion, the production capacity of the Mill will be among the largest in the world and largest in Sub-Saharan Africa, producing 2.5million bags of 50kg rice annually. At full-capacity, the Rice Mills will provide a steady supply of 2.4million bags of 50kg rice to Lagosians and create more than 250,000 jobs,” he said

The Governor also noted that: “The totality of our efforts is geared towards ensuring a safe and secure society, where youth employment is guaranteed. With more than two-thirds of Lagos State population falling below age 30, it is undisputable that the future of our State is the empowerment of our youth and security of their future. Our administration is committed to working with the youth and providing a safe environment for all to thrive.

“On Security, we are currently working with the various state security operatives to determine additional operational and infrastructure needs that the state can support with. In this regard, I shall, in the coming week, be handing over operational vehicles, communication gadgets, ballistic vests and helmets, anti-riot water cannon vehicles and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to our various security operatives to further enhance and improve their operations which will ultimately have a positive impact on the security status in the state.

“We will also be recruiting additional men in the coming weeks, into our Neighbourhood Security Watch to complement the efforts of our existing security personnel.”

I have just come across the Facebook post of Mr Joe Igbokwe, a member of the Lagos State Executive Council as Special Adviser to the Governor, to the extent that the Lagos Judicial Panel made a finding that nobody died from the Lekki Toll Gate Incidence of October 20, 2020. I was thoroughly embarrassed as I was diminished, by the said post, coming as it were, from someone who should know better.

I’m a member of the Lagos Judicial Panel. The Panel NEVER EVER said this. No such finding came from the Panel at all. As a matter of fact, the Panel has just opened the cases of EndSARS protesters, who have video evidence with which they hope to disprove the claims of the Nigerian Army that nobody was shot.

So, I truly don’t know where Mr Joe Igbokwe got his story from, but it’s certainly not from the Panel of which I am a member.

We are even yet to take evidence from the Lagos State Government, from the Chief Pathologist, we are yet to conclude the testimonies of the hospitals where it was alleged that people with gun shot wounds were treated.

So, how on earth can we conclude as a Panel that people died or people did not die when we are yet to hear the whole testimonies of those involved?

I do humbly appeal to all Nigerians to disregard the statement from Mr Joe Igbokwe which had no verifiable source. Members of the Panel are people with proven integrity and I can assure all Nigerians and indeed the entire world, that our findings will be based on truth; if people were killed at Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020, we will say so loud and clear and heavens will not fall, but if otherwise, we will also says so, clearly.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday demanded a special economic status for Lagos, saying the progress and prosperity of Nigeria is inextricably linked to the progress and prosperity of Lagos State.

The Governor also demanded for a State Police and entrenchment of true fiscal federalism in Nigeria.

Governor Sanwo-Olu made the demands at the opening of the two-day Senate zonal public hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution under the leadership of Senator Oluremi Tinubu, held at Marriot Hotel, Ikeja in Lagos State.

The Governor also commended the leadership and members of the National Assembly for responding to the concerns of Nigerians on the need to carry out a review of the 1999 Constitution to reflect current realities.

“For us in Lagos State, the issues of State Police and fiscal federalism are at the top of the priority list for us, in this ongoing review process. Equally fundamental, particularly for us in Lagos State, is the issue of a Special Economic Status for Lagos, considering our place in the national economy and the special burdens we bear by virtue of our large population and limited land mass.

“I believe the need for this Special Status has been sufficiently articulated and justified. It suffices for me at this point to restate that this request is by no means a selfish one, but one that is actually in the interest of every Nigerian and of Nigeria as a nation.

“The progress and prosperity of Nigeria is inextricably linked to the progress and prosperity of Lagos State. A Special Status for Lagos State therefore must be a concern not only for the people of Lagos State alone, but for all Nigerians.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu also called on all Nigerians within the zone being covered by the Senate Committee on Constitutional amendment to embrace the opportunity of the zonal hearing so that their voices and opinions will count in the amended constitution that will emerge.

He said: “This constitutional amendment process will provide Nigerians the opportunity to express their minds on the issues they want to see reflected in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, either by way of amendments to existing provisions, or entirely new provisions.

“This is another opportunity to build on the work that has been done so far. I should note that many of the issues that have been agitating the minds of the various stakeholders in the Nigerian project are already in the public domain. However, this Zonal meeting provides an opportunity to articulate and express them again, in the hope that this particular process will produce favorable outcomes.

“According to the National Assembly, the primary issues on the table for this Public Hearing include: Increased Participation of Women and Vulnerable groups in governance, Local Government Administration and Autonomy, State Police, Fiscal Federalism and Revenue Allocation, Judicial Reforms, Electoral Reforms, Residency and Indigene-ship, Constitutional Roles for Traditional Rulers, and many more.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu who commended the leadership and members of the National Assembly for responding to the concerns of Nigerians on the need to carry out a review of the 1999 Constitution to reflect current realities, assured them of the Lagos State Government support in any way necessary to make the assignment easier and highly rewarding for all Nigerians.

Speaking at the events representatives of several states, town, communities, associations and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) spoke passionately on several issues that have to do with States creation, gender equality and special status, among others.

CAPTIONS:

PIX 1 L-R: Senator Olamilekan Solomon; Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Senator Ibikunle Amosun during the opening of the senate committee zonal public hearing on the review of the 1999 constitution at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.

PIX 2 L-R: Senator Olamilekan Solomon, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Senator Ibikunle Amosun during the opening of the senate committee Zonal public hearing on the review of the 1999 constitution at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.

PIX 3: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (fifth right), flanked by Senator Ibikunle Amosun (fourth right); Senator Oluremi Tinubu (fifth left), followed by Senator Olamilekan Solomon; Senator Tokunbo Abiru and others during the opening of the senate committee Zonal public hearing on the review of the 1999 constitution at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Oyo State chapter, has congratulated the newly sworn-in Local Government Chairmen and charged them to replicate Governor Seyi Makinde’s policies and programs at the grassroots.

The party also maintained that it is optimistic about PDP’s victory in the rescheduled election in Ido local government billed for May 26, stressing that the track record of Honourable Sheriff Adeojo as one of the finest stock of politicians and public administrator in its fold will surely earn the party a resounding victory.

The ruling party in the state gave this charge on Tuesday 25th, May, via a signed press statement by Oyo state PDP’s Spokesman, Engr Akeem Olatunji, and made available to newmen.

Governor Makinde, according to the press statement has shown the desired political will expected of a responsive government to turn the fortune of Oyo state around for the best.

Olatunji in the statement maintained that Governor Makinde has continued to match his words, especially every policy statement with commensurate action which is clearly evident in both human and infrastructural development in the state.

The party explained that the council Chairmen must see their new offices as a call to service and must justify the trust and faith reposed in them by the people of the state who defied all odds to come out in large number on May 22 to cast their votes for them.

“The Executive Governor of Oyo state, our own ‘Mr Talk and Do’ has proved to the whole world that good governance is not a product of media propaganda but visible human and infrastructural development that improves the quality of life of the people.

“Governor Makinde has continued to make the PDP the toast of many even across opposition parties. Politics is never a do or die affair and must never be seen so which is why this government of our great party has continued to deliver on its mandate from day-one of taking over reins of power in the state.

“We urge you all to dedicate yourselves to the service of Oyo state in your various local government areas by replicating Governor Makinde’s laudable policies and programs in order to take good governance which the Makinde led government is reputable for to the doorstep of the people at the grassroots.

“Local Government administration is the closest to the people and your mandate as ambassadors of our great party in your various councils is to ensure that the people continue to enjoy dividend of democracy.

“We urge you to make your doors open for constructive criticism even as Governor Makinde has always exemplified by running open and all inclusive government.

“The Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo state presented you to the people from our stock of very fine, refined, and progressive minded political stock which was reciprocated by the people who have given you resounding victory at the poll, it is indeed a testament to the general acceptance of PDP across the nooks and crannies of Oyo state and we urge you to keep our party flag flying high.

“We are committed to provide all needed political support to ensure that you succeed in your new designations and pray God almighty grant you renewed tenacity, dexterity, political vigor to deliver on your mandate as local government Chairmen and chairperson,” the state concludes.

Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu has reacted to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Garba Sheu on ban of open grazing by the 17 Southern Governors.

Shehu had faulted the position of the southern governors which was taken after a meeting in Asaba, Delta State recently.

Responding, Akeredolu said Shehu is currently in a state of cognitive dissonance, and that he is as an agent provocateur.

Cognitive dissonance is the state of having inconsistent thoughts.

Akeredolu’s response was contained in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties and Strategy, Dr Doyin Odebowale, on Tuesday, titled ‘Mr Garba Shehu: On the trail of an agent provocateur’.

The statement read, “Anyone who has been following the utterances of this man, as well as his fellow travellers on the self-deluding, mendacious but potentially dangerous itinerary to anarchy, cannot but conclude that he works, assiduously, for extraneous interests whose game plan stands at variance with the expectations of genuine lovers of peaceful coexistence among all the peoples whose ethnic extractions are indigenous to Nigeria.

“Mr Garba must disclose, this day, the real motive(s) of those he serves, definitely not the President. He cannot continue to hide under some opaque, omnibus, and dubious directives to create confusion in the polity. The easy recourse to mendacious uppity in pushing a barely disguised pernicious agendum is well understood. The declaration that the recommendations of the Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, a mere political appointee like Garba Shehu, are now the “lasting solutions” which eluded all the elected representatives of the people of the Southern part of the country, exposes this man as a pitiable messenger who does not seem to understand the limits of his relevance and charge.

“Mr Garba contends that “their announcement is of questionable legality”, referring to the 17 Governors of the Southern States, but the decision of certain elements to take the ancestral lands of other people to settle their kinsmen, including the “gun-wielding “killer herdsmen” and their families, and provide “veterinary clinics, water points for animals, and facilities for herders and their families including schooling through these rehabilitated reserves” for which “the Federal Government is making far-reaching and practical changes allowing for different communities to co-exist side-by-side”, does not appear to him as a comprehensive plan for land grabbing, a precursor to internal colonialism. He wants to “revive forest reserves” but seems particularly uninterested in the current position of the same law, that he and his cohorts often misinterpret to serve parochialism and greed. Governors no longer have powers over the lands in their territories. They must take instructions from appointees of the Federal Government on such matters.

“It is superfluous, and that is being charitable, for anyone to remind us of the constitutional right of bona fide citizens “to enjoy rights and freedoms within every one of our 36 States (and FCT)-regardless of their state of birth and residence”. There has never been any contention on this provision. It is clear that Mr Garba seems to have issues understanding the difference between licentious criminality and qualified rights under our law. It is our duty to continually nudge him off his current state of cognitive dissonance. His pronouncement betrays dubiety and mischief.

“Most traditional families in Nigeria have occupations. Pastoralism is not an exception. Any ethnic group still trapped in anachronism may be assisted to embrace modernity. Dispossessing communities of their ancestral lands, encouraging denizens of the forests to overrun lands belonging to other people, and forcing alien bands of migrants on the local populace to live “side-by-side” with other communities cannot be for the purpose of animal husbandry. It raises suspicion on a grand, deliberate, persistent, and insidious design to use naked force to subjugate the real owners of the land. Mr Garba Shehu is a major supporter of the current pervasive anarchy in the land.”

The statement warned Shehu “and his cohorts” to desist from hurling insults at the elected representatives of the people, saying he “lacks the authority to make policy statements for the Federal Government, unless directed, expressly. His acts are clearly those of an agent provocateur. Other closet dreamers, aspirers to colonial fantasies, must be weaned off their delusion. ”

He also declared that “no inch of the space delineated and known, currently, as South West, and indeed the whole South, will be ceded to a band of invaders masquerading as herdsmen under any guise.”

The erstwhile Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has lambasted Tinubu over recent position on Oduduwa Republic.

It will be recalled that Southwest APC leaders and governors met in Lagos where they made a resolution that they do not support seccession.

Meanwhile, Fani-Kayode in a statement released via his Twitter handle as read in part has condemned such resolution.

“One of the lessons that Bola Tinubu and those with him will soon learn is that it is a very dangerous thing and an exercise in futility to stand against a moving train.

“Those that met in Lagos yesterday only represented their own narrow mindset and band of thinking and their political party.

“They didn’t represent the position of the Yoruba people. There are 70 million Yorubas in the world today and Tinubu does not speak for or lead most of them.

“He only leads part of the APC in parts of the SW and those that are with him are mainly members of the fading ruling elite.

“If there is a referendum on self- determination in the South West tomorrow these characters would be flushed down the toilet and thrown into the dustbin of history.

“The way to counter those that want to exercise their right of self-determination and leave Nigeria is not to act as if they do not exist, impose your will on them, dismiss them with contempt and attempt to publicly rubbish and dismiss their legitimate concerns and aspirations but instead to try and understand where they are coming from, assuage their fears and anxieties, negotiate with them and give them guarantees about their place and role in a new and restructured Nigeria.

“Outside of that it is only a question of time before they break away and determine their own future. Tinubu does not control the streets of the SW: the Yoruba nationalists and separatists do.

“Those that met in Lagos only represent a tiny group of those in the South West. They cow tow to, beg and lobby the separatists behind closed doors and they condemn and disown them before the world. Such intellectual dishonesty, doubkespeak and cowardice is reprehensible.

“Deep down in their hearts they want to break off from Nigeria as well but instead of having the courage of their convictions they tell the world otherwise simply because they want Bola Tinubu to be President.

“They forget that the prospect of a Tinubu Presidency disgusts the Yoruba nationalists and the majority of people in the South West. Such a Presidency will not stop the separatists: it would only strengthen and embolden them.

“Worse still it would be a disaster for Nigeria”.

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, has thrown his weight behind the outcome of the meeting held by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday, in Lagos.

This is just as the governor said lack of timeous communication aside mix up, were largely responsible for his inability to attend the meeting.

Akeredolu, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, nonetheless, described the parley as ‘commendable and timely.

“Governor Akeredolu would have loved to be present at the meeting for several reasons. Far more important, the issues distilled bordered on the Southern Governors’ Asaba Declaration. However, a slight mix-up and communication gap had caused his unintended absence even as an earlier engagement had been fixed for Ibadan weeks before the meeting.

“Nonetheless, the resolutions reached by the revered leaders at the Lagos meeting are quite commendable and timely; the issues discussed are germane, and are clear indications that men of goodwill are working together to solve the Nation’s current challenges.

“As one of the leaders of the APC in the Southwest, and more so that, he presided over the Asaba meeting of the Southern Governors, nothing could be more spirit-lifting than the outcome of the Lagos meeting on Sunday. He, therefore, endorses all the resolutions reached by the leaders who attended the meeting “, the statement said.

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has denied the claim that he has endorsed any candidate for the forthcoming local government election in Lagos State.

In a statement on Sunday, he faulted the allegations of a plot to influence the party’s primaries, saying they were targeted to hurt the party.

Tinubu noted that the APC Governance Advisory Council in Lagos met on Friday last week to discuss ways to ensure the fairness of the primaries for the poll.

“Asiwaju Bola Tinubu would like it to be known, by way of this statement, that he has no preferred candidates for the upcoming local government primaries.

“He has no intention to endorse any of the people contesting for the party nomination in any election, whether for chairmanship or councillorship positions,” the statement said.

It added, “On this matter, Asiwaju believes he can speak for the rest of the GAC regarding their belief in the impartiality and transparency of the internal party process.

“Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the other GAC leaders seek a free, fair, and transparent process in which the candidates who emerge are those who gather the most support among the party rank and file. Only in this manner, do we best prepare ourselves for the general election.”

According to Tinubu, the integrity of the primary process is of the highest priority for the APC and all efforts must be geared towards the realisation of a free, fair, and transparent process.

To this end, he said party officials were obligated to establish the necessary arrangements to ensure orderly, peaceful, free, and fair primaries.

The APC leader added that the officials have been empowered to deal appropriately with any who might attempt to undermine or otherwise try to inject impair the party primaries, stressing the need for the party to adopt a policy of no tolerance.

He advised aspirants to embrace consensus wherever possible in order to reduce tension and avoid discord and in-fighting within the party.

“However, where consensus is not possible, fair and clean primaries must be held so that party members have a chance to choose the candidate they want from among the competing aspirants.

“All aspirants, however, must realise that only one person can win any given contest. While we encourage everyone to compete with zeal and energy, we encourage all aspirants and party members to respect the results of our primaries,” the statement said.

It added, “Once the primaries end, we must unite as a party so that we win the general elections thereby ensuring the continuity of progressive governance at the local government level throughout the state.

“In this vein, Asiwaju appeals to party leaders in all the local governments to allow democracy to flourish. He urges them to do everything humanly possible to protect and promote the democratic process.”