Category: Politics

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has emphasized the need for positive projection of Nigeria’s culture and image to the outside world by the players in the nation’s entertainment industry.

This is just as the Speaker stressed the need for the combined efforts of patriots working together to make real the vision of a prosperous and peaceful country.

According to Gbajabiamila, players in the nation’s entertainment industry, popularly known as Nollywood, have a critical role to play in not only shaping the society for the better but also influencing how the nation is viewed by the outside world through the content of their trade.

A statement by his Media Adviser, Lanre Lasisi, said the Speaker made the call in his address at the opening of a two-day Leadership Master Training for Nollywood Celebrities and Stakeholders under the platform of Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN) in Abuja on Friday.

He said, “Beyond the questions of economics and profit, there is the issue of the critical role of Nollywood in influencing culture, defining national character, and promoting national identity.

“You also have a responsibility to tell the best stories of our beloved country. I do not propose to turn you into cheerleaders for a Nigeria that does not exist. But the stories of men and women thriving through adversity and innovating for prosperity needs to be told, and it falls to you to tell those stories.

“I hold in my heart a fundamental belief that our highest aspirations for Nigeria can only be achieved by the combined effort of patriots working together to make real the vision of a prosperous and peaceful country”.

To emphasise the importance of Nollywood to the nation’s socio-economic development, the Speaker noted that the entertainment industry in Nigeria has grown to become a critical part of the economy.

He, however, stressed that by addressing the challenges confronting the industry, much more can be achieved, saying, “With adequate investment, a supportive regulatory environment, better training and capacity development, Nollywood will grow beyond our present dreams and surpass our highest ambitions.

“It falls to all of us, in government, in the private sector and across society to identify the ways we can help the industry reach the heights we all know is possible”.

Gbajabiamila said the training was apt, particularly at this moment in the national history when the challenges we face require leadership, creativity and innovation in bounds.

“One of the other reasons this event is especially timely is that it provides an opportunity to answer the question of how to rebuild the industry after what has been a difficult year.

“Additionally, we can lay the groundwork for future collaboration and acquire the leadership resources that will stand the industry in good stead for the future,” he added.

The Speaker also assured the actors of his continued support for the upliftment of their trade towards ensuring that the industry continues to contribute to the socio-economic advancement of Nigeria

Earlier, House Minority Leader, Rep. Ndudi Godwin Elumelu, expressed delight at the event, noting that “The much needed strategic multisectoral efforts to guarantee the desired rebound and repositioning of the movie industry in Nigeria, though long overdue, has begun”.

According to him, the country’s movie industry, more than any other social platform, remains critical in the moulding of the character of members of the society, especially the youths, women and children, as well as the outside world seeing the nation from the plots, setting and narratives of the movies.

He said it is incumbent on the Guild to be deliberately nationalistic in what they produce to the world.

“Our films must deliberately promote our unity as a people as well as encourage actions that spur mutual understanding, harmonious co-existence and forcefully show our quest for a peaceful society where economic and social activities thrive”, he added.

The two-day event saw the convergence of Nollywood actors across the country in Abuja for the training.

Oduduwa News has gathered that thousands of women drawn from Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico, United Kingdom, Papua Guinea, Venezuela, Spain, France, and other countries on Wednesday visited the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in his palace to canvass for the creation of Yoruba Nation.

The women who were clad in traditional rural attire including body wrappers and beads, under the aegis of Obinrin Oodua Agbaye, stormed the palace of the Ooni of Ife on Sunday.

Details later.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Oyo state chapter has described comments credited to Sheikh Muhydeen Ajani Bello over the present PDP government under Governor Seyi Makinde as ‘uncharitable, unfair, inspired by the Tafseer royalty he received from organizers of the event noting that everything the cleric said against the present administration were against true teachings of Islam, spirit of Ramadan, the present rapid infrastructural developments being undertaken by Governor Seyi Makinde adminstration & the various developmental policies the people of Oyo State are enjoying.

The ruling party in a press statement signed by its State publicity Secretary, Engr Akeem Olatunji, on Thursday 15th April and made available to newsmen, condemned the sermon by Sheikh Bello, describing it as “sermon inspired by royalty”.

The party explained that it was very unfortunate that the cleric who failed to speak up during the dark days of Oyo state under the last administration when the 1 milion boys reigned unabated, civil servants and pensioners were dying in droves due to unpaid salaries & entitlement, contractors failed to or shodilly undertake projects due to kickbacks collected by Government Officials and also lost his voice to speak up for the suffering masses when the people of Oyo state were subjected to unspeakable hardship under the last APC administration despite the huge available resources available then is now expressing his political leanings and sentiments at the detriment of the people’s interest.

Oyo PDP stressed that despite the absence of COVID-19, EndSARS protest, Fulani herdsmen crisis and other security health and security challenges during the last administration era, APC government still owed not only workers reward for their labour but also the aged and retired workers who served the state meritoriously throughout their productive years without being considered for their retirement benefits by the last administration.

According to the statement by Oyo PDP, all of the aforementioned security challenges were fallouts of government failure at the federal level with exception to COVID-19 which is a global pandemic noting that if APC government have had to deal with a snippet of what the PDP government under Governor Seyi Makinde is dealing with, Oyo state would probably have been sold out to maybe China out of borrowings.

The party maintained that the cleric has openly abused and overstretched the privilege due to anyone called or identified as a true cleric since he preferred money by commercializing his sermon above the true gospel of Islam which preaches love, peace and truth at all times.

“Our attention as a party has been drawn to some very uncharitable, unsubstantiated, unfair, and financially inspired sermon credited to Sheikh Muhydeen Ajani Bello at the annual Abiola Ajimobi memorial Ramadan lecture which held on Wednesday 14th April in Ibadan.

Osun State government has dissociated the state from a seditious group going round some public schools across the state disseminating a secession message of the Yoruba nation to students in the schools.

This is just as the state government through the Ministry of Education has suspended the Principals of the three schools who allowed the seditious group into their school premises to speak with the students.

Reacting to a viral video that showed the group talking to the students about the plan of the Yoruba nation to secede from Nigeria, Commissioner for Education, Hon. Folorunsho Bamisayemi said the administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola was not aware and never gave consent to the group to speak with public school students in the state.

Bamisayemi who emphasized that the administration of Governor Oyetola frowns at any move to disunite the country maintained that the state had never at any point in time associated with such group on what he described as a move that is capable of hindering the unity of the country.

He said, “Nigeria is one entity and will continue to remain so. The state government of Osun never gave consent to any group to speak with students of public schools on a matter we know can cause disunity and chaos in the country.

“As a Nigerian state, we believe in the Nigerian dream. We urge every Nigerian to pray and work that Nigeria should not break up. As for those principals that allowed such group into the premises of our schools, be ready to face the consequences of their actions.

Also reacting, the Special Adviser to Governor Oyetola on Education, Hon. Jamiu Olawumi said it is unfortunate that some unscrupulous elements are going about polluting the minds of young children because they know that they are still naive.

While warning such seditious groups to henceforth stay away from the State of Osun, the Special Adviser to the Governor said students of secondary schools in the state and across the country will continue to be a symbol of Nigeria’s unity at all times.

A former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has alleged irregularities in the recently conducted South-West Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, describing the exercise as a scam.

The PDP held its zonal congress on April 12 where the candidate backed by the camp of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja emerged as the party’s new South-West Zonal Chairman.

Arapaja polled 343 votes to defeat Dr Eddy Olafeso, a loyalist to ex-Governor Fayose who scored 330.

But reacting to the exercise during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Fayose said he conceded and accepted the outcome not because the process was transparent, but because the PDP must not lose its quest to take over power from the ruling All Progressives Congress in the South-West.

While the PDP is currently holding the grip of Oyo State with Governor Seyi Makinde at the helm of affairs, other states like Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos, Ondo and Osun are being controlled by the APC.

“I have conceded, I conceded not because they won. I conceded because the PDP is a bigger picture. I want to say that conceding does not amount to defeat, it is sheer exhibiting leadership,” he said.

“Take a look at the result and the characters behind the result before I will tell you the issue. I am on one side alone; I have on the side of Governor Makinde, two former governors – Segun Oni and Olagunsoye Oyinlola. They have on their side seven deputy governors and two speakers and serving senators.

“The results in quotes, Arapaja scored 343. My candidate Eddy Olafeso scored 330, a difference of 13 votes. I’m glad because that is a show of strength. Whether the result is right or wrong, the world can see in the one-man army that has faced them all and without rigging, they lost.”

When asked if the election was rigged, Fayose replied in the affirmative saying: “Very clearly.”

The ex-Ekiti governor said he approached the court to obtain an order to prevent the PDP from conducting the congress in Oyo State over the fear of violence.

He alleged that the violence came from Oyo to Osun with 200 buses bearing the number plates of Oyo, adding that they blocked the venue of the exercise.

Fayose added, “They came with cutlasses and guns all night, it was in the public knowledge.”

Speaking further, he accused the collation officer, Senator Chris Anyanwu from Imo State of discrepancies while counting the votes cast.

Despite his reservations for the zonal congress, Fayose insisted that he wouldn’t be a party to those who will say the PDP will not move forward.

“For me, as to that election, it was a scam but I must agree as a leader of the PDP. I have been working for this party. I am one of the voices that cannot be forgotten in the PDP.

“And I will not sit down here and say because of 13 votes, because of manipulation the party must not move forward,” he added.

The Governor of the State of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Tuesday said his Administration has been strategically curbing the spread of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic as seen in the outward manifestation of the government’s efforts to flatten the curve of the virus in the State.

He said the Administration has also been working assiduously to ensure quick recovery of its economy through the implementation of informed and people-oriented policies designed to stimulate the economy for prosperity.

This is even as the Governor inaugurated four infrastructural projects comprising the newly-constructed Academic Block Complex, Health Centre Extension, Human Performance Laboratory Fitness Centre and Water Factory in the premises of the Osun College of Education, Ila-Orangun.

Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the First National Conference on the Impact of Covid-19 on Nigerian Education and Official Commissioning of Infrastructural Projects, Oyetola said series of measures have been put in place as well as necessary awareness efforts by the State Government through the State Ministries of Health and Information to combat the virus.

The Governor who described the conference as a round peg in the round hole, said it was heartwarming that the forum was provided to interrogate, deliberate and chart a new course on the need to permanently stem the tide of the deadly virus.

Oyetola who declared the conference open, expressed optimism in the fact that the forum would in no small measure, be of great assistance to the participants and the people of the State.

“The topic of this conference is not only germane to the academia, but also very helpful to complement the effort of this present Administration in combating this deadly disease, called COVID-19 in our dear State.

“I count it a great honour to have this conference held in our State, especially in the ancient town of Ila-Orangun.

“On our part, we have strategically been curbing the spread of COVID 19 in our State, as series of measures have been put in place as well as necessary awareness efforts by the State Government through the State Ministries of Health and Information.

“I wish to state that the present Administration appreciates the efforts of our health workers, as we, on our part would continue to ensure that their welfare is paramount at all times.

” I am optimistic that this conference will, in no small measure, be of great assistance to the participants and the people of the State.

“It will enable the participants to interrogate the effects of Covid-19 on Nigerian education as well as the impact of the pandemic in the areas of strategies, technological requirements, operational capacity development issues and other related matters that will enable us to cope with the new normal in the education sector, going forward.

“I congratulate the Osun College of Education, Ila-Orangun for hosting this first conference in the college. It is also another landmark achievement for the college and the entire town,” Oyetola added.

Commending the school management on the successful completion of the infrastructural projects, Oyetola said, “indeed, is a worthy feat which I commend you for, as it aptly demonstrates the commitment of our Administration to improving the quality of education in our State.”

He said his Administration has taken education as a priority hence the need for the 18 percent allocated to fund the education sector in the last financial budget of the State.

The Governor urged the participants to take the conference seriously and make proper use of the knowledge acquired in the course of it just as he urged them to put the newly-built facilities to good use.

The Governor expressed the hope that “the communiqué of the conference at the end of the programme will be circulated to all the nooks and crannies of this nation for proper usability to the advantage of the entire citizenry.”

Earlier, the Provost of the College, Prof. Isaac Olayinka Oyewole, said the major outcomes expected from the conference would constitute a national framework for the changing education systems around the world and how it could be inclined with concept of social distancing caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

He assured of Management’s commitment to supporting all programmes and activities aimed at developing the mind of all the teaching and non-teaching staff in the institution.

The Provost, who commended the Administration of Governor Oyetola for attaching great importance to people-oriented projects in the State, said the newly-commissioned projects were another landmarks in the history of the College.

According to him, the newly-built Academic Block Complex, being the first of its kind among the tertiary institutions in the State, would serve as the College administrative block in the future while Human Performance Laboratory, Fitness Centre, Health Centre Extension and Water Factory were put in place to enhance healthcare delivery and jerk up the Internally Generated Revenue of the institution respectively.

Those in attendance were Deputy Governor, Mr Benedict Alabi; former Governor of the State, Chief Adebisi Akande; member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Fakeye; Speaker, Osun House of Assembly represented by the Chairman, House Committee on Education, Hon. Babatunde Ibirogba; members of the State Executive Council; State Acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Gboyega Famodun; the Principal Officers and members of staff of the institution, among others.

For the first time in the history of Government/Labour Industrial dispute resolution, the leadership of the House of Representatives led by Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, has met with the leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) at the association’s secretariat over the strike action declared by the doctors.

The Speaker said the leadership coming to the secretariat to hold the meeting was to appreciate the respect and understanding the association had shown for the Speaker and the House to suspend the strike to allow for the resolution of the issues.

He said: “The decision to visit you is a clear message that we are with you because the role of doctors cannot be understated and to thank you for calling off the strike because of what we have done.

“We are here to encourage and thank you for calling off the strike and give you assurances that the House will be there with you, talking with the executive on what needs to be done”.

In its determination to proffer an enduring resolution of contending issues with resident doctors in the country, the leadership of the House of Representatives will next week invite the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, over the issue of industrial action by the doctors, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila disclosed on Tuesday.

According to Gbajabiamila, the meeting will be over how to secure the commitment of the Minister to the execution of the Memorandum of Action entered into between the government and members of NARD.

The Speaker, while meeting with the executive of the NARD led by the President, Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, at the association’s secretariat in Abuja, assured that the House would ensure an amicable and acceptable resolution of the contentious hazard allowance issue among others.

Recall that the resident doctors had suspended the industrial action that began on April 1, 2021, after 10 days of its commencement.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker noted that though it was impossible to accommodate the hazard allowance in the 2021 National Budget, the House would ensure that it was included in the supplementary budget.

While commending the doctors for suspending the strike on the request of the House, the Speaker said, “Even the constitution talks about essential services, but there’s nothing as essential a service than that which seeks to save and protect lives.”

Saying that the House believes that “the labourer must earn his wages,” Gbajabiamila said “We’ll monitor issues being processed, the IPPIS, training fund, hazard allowances which the House championed at the peak of the Covid-19 crisis.

“All the issues will be addressed. We’re looking to come to a reasonable and acceptable hazard allowance as well as the training fund, which when the supplementary budget is introduced, we hope and expect to justify why this should be accommodated

“I think it was an oversight in the last budget, but we will do everything we need to do to see how we can capture that.

“We are inviting Finance Minister next week so that we can talk and see how as best as we can accommodate all these issues and cement the Memorandum of Action”.

On why the leadership of the House had to visit the NARD secretariat for the meeting, the Speaker said it was to appreciate the respect and understanding the association has shown for the Speaker and the House to suspend the strike to allow for the resolution of the issues.

He said: “The decision to visit you is a clear message that we are with you because the role of doctors cannot be understated and to thank you for calling off the strike because of what we have done.

“We are here to encourage and thank you for calling off the strike and give you assurances that the House will be there with you, talking with the executive on what needs to be done”.

Earlier, the president of the association, Okhuaihesuyi, who expressed appreciation for the visit, said the strike was called off on the heels of the intervention of the Speaker and the House.

While thanking the Speaker for all his previous interventions, he noted that the association has entered into a Memorandum of Action with the Executive and work has commenced on some of the issues.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Oyo State chapter, has congratulated the winner of the party’s just concluded south west zonal congress which held on Monday 12th of April in Osogbo, Osun state capital, and declared that the victory of Amb Taofeek Arapaja is a victory for PDP and and a step ahead in improving on internal democracy within the party in Nigeria.

The statement maintained that the outcome of the party’s congress is a “win win” for both Arapaja and Olafeso stressing that there is no loser in the end of the exercise as Arapaja’s victory remains a win for PDP as a party.

The party commended Governor Seyi Makinde for the deployment of his exceptional political skills to ensure the victory of the former deputy governor of Oyo state as the new PDP Chairman, south west zone.

The ruling party in Oyo state in a congratulatory message contained in a press statement signed by its state Publicity Secretary, Engr Akeem Olatunji, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday 13th of April, described the show of brotherhood displayed by Governor Seyi Makinde and former governor Ayo Fayose at the congress venue in Osogbo, the capital city of Osun state as ‘unprecedented and remarkable’.

The party also commended Amb Arapaja’s fellow contender, Eddy Olafeso for his genuine display of true sportsmanship before and after the congress, and urged party members in the state and across SW zone to emulate and imbibe such spirit as the party commences the process of genuine reconciliation and rebuilding.

The statement reads: “We want to use this opportunity to congratulate Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja on his well deserved victory at the just concluded PDP South West Zonal Congress which held in Osogbo, Osun state capital.

“Efforts of our very own ‘GSM’ Governor Seyi Makinde as the leader of PDP in Oyo state and the south west zone in ensuring that Oyo state candidate at the just concluded South West Zonal congress, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja who is also a former deputy governor of Oyo state and former Nigeria’s ambassador to the republic of Jordan, is immeasurable and will go down history lane as another landmark achievements.

“It is noteworthy to emphasize that despite the differences between the two revered leaders and contenders at the south west zonal congress, our detractors and opponents in other political parties expected a rancorous outcome which in their imaginations would polarize our great party along interests line but with such display of exceptional leadership by both Governor Makinde and former governor Ayo Fayose in a genuine brotherly embrace at the congress.

“Both Amb Arapaja and Olafeso are not new in the politics of Nigeria having held several positions both in politics and government at various times in the past therefore, reaffirming our faith and trust in their vast experiences to genuinely reconcile all aggrieved members within the party across the south west zone in order to forge a more united and stronger front which will properly position PDP to take over reins of power from the ruling APC come 2023.

“As the ruling party in Oyo state under the able leadership of our ‘Mr Talk and Do’ governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, we are not unmindful of the fact that as members of one large family, there are some of our brothers and sisters with grievances but with such loud statement made by our leaders, Ayo Fayose and GSM at the congress in Osogbo, we are undoubtedly on the path of genuine reconciliation and rebuilding.

“We therefore, urge our party members who may be aggrieved for whatever reasons to sheath their sword and join hands with Governor Makinde and Amb Arapaja to rebuild and reposition our great party for greater electoral success in future.

“It is unfortunate for our detractors in the opposition parties with particular interest in dividing us using the instrumentality of personal interests as against collective will and party supremacy, but with genuine love, dedication and commitment to the will of our great party as shown by our leaders, we have further shown that PDP is ready to become the ruling party at the federal government level come 2023.

“We therefore commend the entire PDP leadership in Oyo state for aligning with the vision of Governor Makinde to reposition the state and make it first among firsts by providing maximum support for the present government under the governor’s able leadership.

“As a party, we will always endeavor to take every available opportunity to deepen the tenets of internal democracy within our party and give every member equal and adequate sense of belonging as we are well known for.

“We sincerely thank Governor Seyi Makinde, former governor Ayo Fayose, Amb Taofeek Arapaja, Eddy Olafeso, former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Governor Segun Oni, Dr Saka Balogun, Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) Chief Bode George, Senator Abiodun Olujimi, Senator Hosea Agboola, Hon Dayo Ogungbenro, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha, Alhaji Wasiu Adeleke, Hon Dare Adeleke, Alhaja Mutiat Ladoja and all our elders and leaders in PDP for showing and setting us on the path of genuine reconciliation, rebuilding, and party repositioning, and we say for the sake of emphasis, the time for genuine reconciliation and rebuilding is now.

“Congratulations to the new Peoples Democratic Party South West Zone Executives.”

1. Chairman- Amb. Taofeek Arapaja.
2. Secretary – Chief Rahman Owokoniran.
3. Treasurer- Mr Samson Omotoyosi. .
4. Organizing Secretary- Barr. Amuwa Benson.
5. Publicity Secretary- Chief Olusanya Atofarati.
6. Financial Secretary – Mr Adewoyin Rasaq
7. Legal Adviser- Barr. Gbenga Kukoyi.
8. Auditor- Dr. Adeola Adewumi.
9. Women Leader- Alh. Modinat Adedibu.
10. Youth Leader- Mr Bamidele Seyi Abiola.
11. Zonal Ex.Officio- Adeola Santos.
12. Zonal Ex.Officio- Modupe Adetokunbo.
13. Zonal Ex.Officio- Araoye Sikiru.
14. Zonal Ex.Officio- Olugbenga Idowu.
15. Zonal Ex.Officio- Segun Adewale Aeroland.
16. Zonal Ex.Officio- Lanre Fajuyi. &
    Natl Ex.Officio- Olakunle Paul.
    Natl Ex.Officio- David Kolawole Vaughan.
    Natl Ex.Officio- Ogunrinde Emmanuel.
    Natl Ex- Faboyede Clement.
    Natl Ex- Taiwo Kabiru.
    Natl Ex- Oluwakemi Olayiwola.

The erstwhile Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja has defeated Chief Olafeso to become the new Southwest Chairman of the PDP.

Votes for the Chairmanship Position:
Total Accredited Votes – 665

Arapaja – 343
Eddy – 330
Details shortly.