Category: Politics

A group in Ondo State, the United Front (UF), has called on the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde to leave Akure, the Ondo State capital with immediate effect, or be held responsible for any break down of law and order in the capital city.

The group also described Makinde as baby Governor without capacity, saying “he should go and report back to those who sent him to Ondo State that he is a puppet Governor that lacks capacity for anything.”

In a statement signed by the Group Coordinator, Mr. Bolus Oluwaleye, UF, said it was surprising that the PDP could place its hope of winning Ondo State on a baby Governor like Makinde, stating that just as it happened in Kogi State, the Oyo governor will be leaving Ondo State empty-handed.

The statement reads in part: “with the results already declared at the polling units in the ongoing governorship election in Ondo State, it is very clear that the All Progressive Congress, APC, is coasting home to victory.

“We thank the people of Ondo State for their resilience and expression of trust in our party.

“We are also sure that Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde must have seen the handwriting on the wall and he is advised to leave Akure, our State capital now, as he will be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the State.

“Governor Makinde should leave Ondo State now because the game is up. He should go and report back to those who sent him to Ondo State that he is a puppet governor that lacks capacity for anything.

“The “inarobo” (baby) governor should know that a longer stay in Ondo State than necessary will be provocative. Most importantly, if the governor could go as far as setting hoodlums to attack a former governor at the PDP rally, his stay in our State is capable of provoking even members of his party in the State to react and we should not be blamed.

“As for the PDP, we sympathize with the party for building its castle in the air. We wonder how the party could place its hope of winning Ondo State on a baby Governor like Makinde and we thank God that just as it happened in Kogi State, the governor will be leaving our State empty-handed.

“The governor can now return to Ibadan and continue with his showmanship and trial and error governance. He should remember that one day and very soon too, he will be made to account for the billions of Oyo State fund that he has wasted on his quest to extend his political territory to the entire Southwest and North Central as he is currently waging war against the former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu and his Ekiti State counterparts, Ayodele Fayose for the control of their dying party.”

The governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has condemned the killing one Jimoh Isiaka while protesting today against the brutality of SARS operatives in Ogbomosho.

This was contained in a statement released today via his official Twitter handle which reads in part:

“I have received with deep sadness the news of the passing of one of our children, Jimoh Isiaka, who was shot during the ENDSARS protest in Ogbomoso. He later died at Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, earlier today.

“Also, at this same protest, Abdulrasaq Olawale, Oluwadamilare Gbolohunmi, and five other persons sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.

“This situation is highly regrettable. I have contacted the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State, Nwachukwu Enwonwu, and other relevant agencies, and investigations into what led to the unfortunate incident are still ongoing. I pray that God grants the parents of Jimoh Isiaka the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.

“The ENDSARS protests are a strong indicator of a systemic failure. It is a failure on the part of those who have been constitutionally empowered to protect the citizens. It again calls into question why State Governors are called Chief Security Officers of their state whereas, they do not have the necessary powers to control the police force.

“I will be paying a personal visit to the family of Jimoh Isiaka and I promise to pursue the investigations to a logical conclusion.

“Peaceful protests are a big part of our democratic process. The right to freedom of speech and assembly are guaranteed by our Constitution, and I will never support any attempt to rob citizens of their fundamental human rights.

“I call on all residents of Oyo State to please remain calm. I also call on the Police to allow residents of Oyo State protest peacefully without fear of being assaulted.

“Again, I express my deepest sympathies to the family of Jimoh Isiaka, may his soul rest in peace”.

Again, the attention of the Deputy Governor and candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Agboola Ajayi has been drawn to a forged resignation letter from the Governorship Election holding today, Saturday- 10 October, 2020.

Ondo State Governor and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN and his Media hirelings will not stop at nothing to peddle fake news. The latest is a forged letter posted by a pseudo account which Leke Akeredolu, Special Media aide to the governor is behind.

This fake news being sponsored by the outgoing Governor and his cohorts. It’s not different from the earlier ones sponsored and paid for that the Zenith Labour Party’s Candidate, Agboola Ajayi is working with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Eyitayo Jegede SAN.

Nothing can be farther from the truth.

For the umpteenth time, and for the purposes of clarity and emphasis, the Deputy Governor and candidate of ZLP, Agboola Ajayi will not resign or back out from the race he’s winning ultimately.

The general public, members of our great party and most importantly the electorate should therefore disregard this latest antics of the drowning party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Rather than moving around with the false news. Governor Akeredolu should be courageous enough to accept defeat in good faith.

Comrade Allen Sowore
Media Adviser to the Deputy Governor

Hamzat Conveys State’s Position On Police Brutality

The Government of Lagos State has advised youths protesting alleged brutality by operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) – an operational outfit in the Police Force – to be civil, as they demonstrated in the State to express their grievances.

Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, on Friday, shelved official engagements and obliged the request to address aggrieved #EndSARS protesters who besieged the State House in Alausa.

As the Deputy Governor arrived at the scene, some of the demonstrators engaged in intense arguments with the Government House police guards deployed to keep the peace. The operatives did not harass any of them.

Dr. Hamzat said the demonstrators’ outrage and grievance were in order and within their rights as citizens, but the Deputy Governor advised them to eschew violence and not to be unruly as their concerns would be pushed to the police authorities for action.

Hamzat, who urged the protesters to leave the roads, said the State Government would not condone brutality and violation of citizens’ rights by security operatives, pointing out that the position of the State on the matter had already been communicated to the appropriate quarters by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The Deputy Governor said the State Government would continue to engage the police leadership and the Federal Government to address the issues raised by the citizens and bring about needed change in the police operations.

He said: “The tenet of the police operation is to protect the citizens. Security operatives don’t have the right to trample on the rights of law-abiding citizens, because of their unfamiliar looks, or because they are carrying laptops or iPhones. It is wrong for any police officer to expressly accuse or pronounce someone, irrespective of age, guilty because they have dreads or ride luxury vehicles.

“As a Government, we support evidence-based investigations and actions driven by intelligence. The procedure of arrest and prosecution must be followed through. We are equally aggrieved like every other law-abiding Nigerian. If a young man or woman who is legitimately doing his or her job is attacked or maimed by police officers for no reason, we will never support that. We condemn police brutality in whatever guise and we will continue to engage their leadership for change.”

Dr. Hamzat advised some of the demonstrators, who were chanting “dissolution of the police”, stressing that it would be counterproductive to pull down the entire operation of the police because of the infractions committed by a few bad eggs in the system.

He told the protesters that SARS was a special operational outfit in the police, adding that there were processes to be followed in calling for change in its operations.

Dr. Hamzat said: “We fully understand the reasons for your anger but this demonstration must also carried out in line with the law. If we employ violence or destruction to drive home our grievances, we will also be hurting ourselves. The protest must be orderly, so that those concerned will get the salient point of the message.

“You can’t block the road, disrupt free flow of traffic and prevent other people from embarking on their lawful duties, especially the emergency responders. As citizens, it is within your rights to express your grievances but let us exercise caution and eschew violence. The authorities have heard your voice and I hope we all leave the roads with the understanding that drastic changes will be effected.”

As the Deputy Governor left the scene at 1:15pm, the protesters continued to chant anti-police songs, calling for disbanding of SARS. But, Dr. Hamzat instructed security operatives at the scene no to harass or exchange words with any of the demonstrators.

Governor Fayemi approves supervisors, advisers for 16 LGAs

This was contained in a statement signed and released to the newsmen by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Yinka Oyebode.

Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has approved the appointment of supervisors and advisers for the 16 local government areas, as submitted by the councils.

The new council officials include four supervisors and five advisers for each of the 16 local government councils.

The appointments take immediate effect.

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has reacted to a statement credited to the Peoples’ Democratic Party that it has appointed the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife as the Returning Officer in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ondo State.

In its reaction to the stance of the PDP, INEC in a statement signed by a spokesperson of the commission, Festus Okoye, said it will not be drawn into speculations relating to the performance of its constitutional and statutory functions. It also said Mr Ogunbodede has not been appointed the returning officer of the election.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Returning Officer for the Ondo Governorship election is not from Ondo State and not from the University mentioned in the said press conference.

“While the Commission will not be drawn into speculations relating to the performance of its constitutional and statutory functions, it is imperative to set the records straight for the benefit of the people of Ondo State and the integrity of the electoral process.

“It is the sole responsibility of the Commission to appoint a Returning Officer for the Ondo Governorship election and does not share this responsibility with any individual, group or Political Party.”

Says “INEC does not, and shall never appoint an indigene Ondo as Returning Officer”

The Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has described his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde as a disgrace to public decency and an embarrassment to the exalted office of the Governor he currently occupies.

Akeredolu, who is the flagbearer of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Saturday October 10th Governorship Election in the state said the statement from Makinde that INEC has appointed his kinsman, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returning officer for the election is an evidence that his Oyo State Counterpart is an intellectual liliputian who found his way to the corridor of power through mischief.

Ogunbodede is the Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. He hails from Owo, ditto Akeredolu.

Speaking through the Spokesperson of his campaign Council, Mr. Richard Olatunde, Akeredolu said Makinde, being a member of the Nigerian Council of State, should know that INEC would never, under any circumstance, appoint an indigene of the State as a Retuning Officer but the Oyo Governor circumvented truth and decency for political exigencies.

Akeredolu’s statements reads in parts: “we find as unfortunate, the statement credited to the Governor of Oyo State and Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council for the Governorship election in Ondo State, Seyi Makinde, rejecting the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, as the Chief Returning Officer for Saturday’s Governorship election in Ondo State.

“While it is forgivable for the PDP in Ondo State to continue to raise false alarm and make spurious allegations over the election, it is inexcusable for a Governor like Seyi Makinde to market ignorance in such a shameful manner. This ridicules, in no small measure, the exalted office of Governor.

“As at the time he raised the objection, INEC had not even announced the appointment of a Retuning Officer for this Saturday’s election. We cannot but wonder how and where Governor Makinde in particular, got the information.

“Governor Makinde, as a member of the Nigerian council of State, ought to know that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does not, and shall never appoint a Returning Officer who is an indigene to administer elections. No indigene of Ondo State can ever be made a Returning Officer.

“By this pedestrian dance, Governor Makinde has shown himself to be a disgrace to public decency and the office he is holding.

“For us in the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Akeredolu/Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation, we believe in fairness and the credibility. Our trust in INEC on a free, fair and credible election on Saturday remains undoubted.

“Therefore, we urge the people of the state to disregard the ignorance exhibited by the PDP and Governor Seyi Makinde while getting set to participate in the election on Saturday” the statement, concluded.

The Peoples Democratic Party has rejected the choice of the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede, as the Chief Returning Officer for Saturday governorship election in Ondo State.

The Chairman, National Campaign Council of PDP, who is also the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, said this at a press briefing in Akure on Thursday.

Makinde said Ogunbodede is from Owo Local Government Area like Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

He also claimed the VC is a known crony of Akeredolu and would not be neutral.

Although INEC has not announced Ogunbodede, Makinde said the party has been informed that the VC had been selected.

He said, “It has come to our notice that the people of Ondo State will not be getting free and fair elections if the Independent National Electoral Commission as presently composed will be overseeing the elections.

“We are speaking in particular about the appointment of Prof Eyitope Ogungbenro Ogunbodede, the Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, as the Chief Returning Officer of the Ondo State Governorship election.

“The PDP totally rejects Prof Eyitope Ogungbenro Ogunbodede acting as Chief Returning Officer. He is a known crony of Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, candidate of the All Progressives Congress and hails from Owo, the same hometown as the candidate. He cannot be a fair party in the proceedings by virtue of their association.

“We also want to state that Professor A. S. Bamire, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who conducted the training of returning officers is not a neutral party for the purpose of this election.