Category: Politics

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has installed Oba Gbolahan Lawal as the 15th Oniru of Iruland.

Sanwo-Olu who was represented by his Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat delivered a congratulatory message to the monarch.

This was contained in a statement released today by Sanwo-Olu via his twitter handle which read apart.

“At the coronation of HRH Oba Omogbolahan Lawal as the15th Oniru today, I was ably represented by Dr. Obafemi Hamzat who expressed my absolute confidence in the Oniru’s ability to bring about a transformation that will benefit everyone in Iruland.

During the installation ceremony in June, I enjoined the Oniru to strengthen the existing bond of unity within Iruland for the overall development of peace and progress of the kingdom. Two months on the throne and I’m pleased to note that the monarch took this advice to heart.

I urge all citizens of this great kingdom, as well as residents, to continue to stand firm and united behind the king in order to advance the development and prosperity of this kingdom for the benefit of all.”

Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun has reiterated the stand of the State administration on using the #100billion bond sought by the government on capital projects and not on recurrent expenditure.

The State government recently announced its resolve to embark on major projects like development of the Ibadan Dry Port corner, expansion project at the Ibadan Airport, Alakia, Ibadan Circular Road and construction of Iseyin-Ogbomoso road among others.

Olatubosun said the projects were well thought out to bridge the dearth of capital infrastructures that would ensure the State attain economic independence as Ibadan and other zones of Oyo State would be opened up for commerce.

While speaking on an interview programme on Pensioners’ FM on Saturday, Dr. Wasiu debunked the rumor that the State was obtaining loans to pay salary and gratuity, saying the rumor could only come from opposition quarters.

“The government in the saddles in Oyo State, led by Engr. Seyi Makinde has seen the wide gap in development caused by infrastructural deficit and the best way to tackle this is to find ways around financing projects that will benefit the State’s economy and expand commercial scope by attracting businesses.

“The projects at the airport, the Ibadan Circular road and the dry port at Akinyele will certainly attract local and international businesses to come and establish in our State, it was a well thought-out plan.

“Governor Seyi Makinde is looking at the possibility of attracting major businesses from Lagos and Ogun States among others to come down to Oyo State, the capacity is here with those projects, agriculture will thrive and employment opportunities will be on spiral scale.

“Those saying we want to use the loans for recurrent expenditure are those confounded by the possibility of the State government to pay salary as at when due and its resolve to pay the backlog of gratuities inherited from past administration.

“Do not blame them, it is left to us to prove nay sayers wrong, the governor promised to deliver all these when he was campaigning and today, he is doing just that.”

The Commissioner called on the people of the State to have faith in the administration’s policy and programmes as they were the outcome of the core need assessment inquiry from stakeholders for development.

The erstwhile Governor of Lagos State and the national leader of All Progressives Congress APC, Senator Bola Tinubu and the former Chairman of ACN, Oloye Bisi Akande among others have arrived Ondo State to kickstart a campaign rally for the re-election of Rotimi Akeredolu as the governor of Ondo State for second term.

The honourable member representing Olorunsogo/Oorelope/Irepo Federal Constituency in Oyo State, Honourable Olumide Ojerinde has implored the Federal Government to ensure that the recent increase in fuel price and electricity tariff is justifiable with appropriate measures to cushion the adverse effects on the general populace.

Ojerinde disclosed this in a statement signed and sent today to OduduwaNews by his Media Aide.

He stated further that the Federal Government should address the plights of the people from lesser cities whose purchasing power would have been severely hit by the recent hike in the fuel price and electricity tariff.

“I am perturbed about the negative economic effect that the recently increased fuel price and electricity tariff will have on my people. I am from one of the poorest constituencies in Nigeria, a rural area whose economic activities rely heavily on farming which has already been seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, whatever policy we would be implementing as a government should be geared towards ameliorating the sufferings of people.

“There is no gainsaying in the fact that the recently hike in fuel price is tantamount to subjecting my people to untold hardship and economic strangulation that is why I am appealing to all stakeholders to put appropriate measures or palliatives in place to cushion the adverse effects on people”, said Ojerinde.

He averred that he lauds the decision to review the mode of operations of electricity company which will necessitate the distribution of meters to the citizens and put a stop to the licensing fraud characterized by the estimated billings. He however charges the Federal Government to ensure there is proper monitoring and transparency in the distribution process to avoid unnecessary exploitation of the people particularly in the lesser city that he represents.

He however decried the inability of the DISCO to carry out their responsibilities in the past. “I use this medium to call the attention of FG to the usual practice of this DISCO, on several occasions they have left the people of my constituency to restore power outage or repair any of the defaulting electrical supplies like poles, cables and others themselves with their hard earned money. I am very concerned why there should be an increment in electricity tariff, the rationale behind it must be clearly spelt out and justified with the existing realties and that the people of my constituency should be assured that the DISCO will live up to its responsibilities whenever there is power outage due to a damage or default in their electrical materials”, said Ojerinde.

He also charged the Ministry of Finance and Customs Service to take note of the numbers of meters they have granted importation waivers to before the recent increment in tariff so as not to give Power Distribution Company DISCO an avenue to further exploit the people at the grassroot.

He said efforts must be put in place to ensure that the metering process is accessible and affordable to the people at the grassroot. Ojerinde was quoted as saying, “I share the pains that the recently hiked fuel price might have brought to my people and I use this medium once again to appeal to all stakeholders to ensure that the plight of the common man on the street is factored into the policy so that the generality of the masses will not bear the brunt”.

The erstwhile Ekiti State Governor, Mr Peter Ayodele Fayose, on Wednesday, berated the increase in the pump price of premium motor spirit otherwise known as petrol to N151.56 per litre.

The Petroleum Products Marketing Company, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, had on Wednesday increased the ex-depot price of petrol from N138.62 per litre to N151.56 per litre.

The former governor said this via his twitter handle, he said the increase was ludicrous particularly coming at a time the whole world was busy finding solutions to the COVID-19.

Fayose tweeted, “Petrol is now N151.56. The increment was made when other countries are adopting measures to reduce the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on their citizens.

“Just in case those who led the Save Nigeria protests across Nigeria during Peoples Democratic Party government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan are not aware. I warned.”

Immortalize my late husband, Alhaja Modinat Abosede Adedibu tells Governor Makinde

The wife of the late political gladiator, in Oyo State, Alhaji Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu, Alhaja Modinat Abosede Adedibu on Tuesday has implored the State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde to immortalize her late husband.

She said her husband has contributed immensely to the political and economic development of the State and that the only thing that the State government can do to please the family is to immortalize him.

The erstwhile governor and the Chairman Reconciliatory Committee of All Progressive Congress APC, Oyo State Chapter, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala on Saturday declared that he would not take part in the future Governorship elections in Oyo state, but will ensure a sellable candidate emerge through primary elections in 2023.

Akala said his decision to step aside for the governorship election will make it possible for him to carry out the chairmanship reconciliation task bestowed on him by the late former governor of the state, senator Abiola Ajimobi without fear or favor.

The former governor who spoke during a radio programme monitored by Oyo Echo, in Ibadan, the state capital said a credible and transparent primary elections must be held ahead of 2023 elections.

Akala said the only reason people leave a political party is when they discovered that the leadership of such party cheated them by imposing candidates on them, but said this would be addressed in 2023.

Akala said; “My discussion with the former governor Abiola Ajimobi was much, but on our party, we agreed that since he had been given appointment in Abuja, I should wait behind to reconcile aggrieved members of our party in the state. Some people were aggrieved after the last general elections. Ajimobi knew I was experienced and I could bring them together with my experience. I have spoken with all the blocs in the APC and they are ready to return to the party. I begged some of them. I made sacrifices to some. We are all stakeholders in our party since it is not a company belonging to someone, so we should work in unity.

“People are complaining that I left APC and later return, yes it is true because it is normal to get angry and when they begged you, I have to return to the party. Those complaining are not competent enough, if they are, they should hold their respective areas. They should win their polling unit, wards, and even local government because we are all stakeholders in the party. Everybody should know their worth.

“They don’t need to be afraid if I would still leave the party or not because there is no permanent friends of enemies in politics but we play politics the way it came. I know everything about Oyo politics and I am the only person who understands the game very well, with due respect. I am no more interested in governorship race again in 2023, therefore, I am competent to talk to all the aspirants. All our aspirants are very competent but they should continue to pray for God guidance. I can use my own to encourage our people because I didn’t have money when I became a governor. As we are approaching 2023, it is possible to come and contest election just as some people invited Obasanjo to contest in 1999 because he didn’t have money to contest election at that time.”

The stakeholders of All Progressives Congress APC in Oyo State have met today to agree on several steps and modalities to be followed in order to unite the members of the party ahead of 2023 elections.

In the meeting held today, the Minister of Youth and sports, Mr. Sunday Akin Dare while speaking to the PRESS said, the purpose of the meeting was to call on aggrieved members of the party to shun personal ambition and place priority on the overall interest of the party.

The Minister advised against exalting small groups over the larger ones as this was against the democratic spirit of the party.

The Minister urged APC in Oyo State to embrace a new and more inclusive approach, avoid fragmentation, and unfair treatment of members. He said only a strong, unified party could win elections, even as the idea of handing the party over to a few individuals could spell doom.

“The crisis experienced by the party was protracted because of factional interests and existing divisions in the state chapter of the party is costing members greatly,” said Dare.

In his own remark, Professor Dibu Ojerinde enjoined all members of the Party members to desist from making malicious statements that could further strengthen the seed of discord in the party.

Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo while speaking said the meeting was called at appropriate time to bring together all stakeholders so as to map out a strategy that could be followed to further strengthen peace and harmony in the party. He Commended the Minister of Youths and Sports Development for convening the meeting at an appropriate time.