Category: Politics

The former Chairman of Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency OYSROMA, Hon. Busoye Ogunlade has expressed his happiness and gratitude on the opportunity given to him by the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde to serve as the Chairman of the Agency.

This was contained in a statement made available today to ODUDUWA NEWS by Hon. Busoye Ogunlade as read in part:

“It has been an incredible journey, and I am grateful for your trust and support. Under your leadership, we have achieved remarkable milestones, making significant strides in road maintenance and road rehabilitation.

“I am proud to have been part of the accomplishments and I am inspired by your dedication to Oyo State’s progress. Your Excellency Sir, thank you once again for the chance given to me to serve our State and for your unwavering commitment to creating a better future for all. It has been an honour and God bless you Sir”.

He also used the medium to express his gratitude to the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barrister Bayo Lawal for his unflinching support shown to him while he was serving under his guidance as the Chairman of Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency OYSROMA.

“I thank the Deputy Governor of Oyo State for fatherly role he played while I was serving as the Chairman of OYSROMA. Without him, we would not have recorded monumental achievements we achieved. He ensured that he gave all necessary assistance needed to excel as the Chairman of the Board placed under his supervision”, said Ogunlade.

Governor Seyi Makinde has approved the dualization of Akobo-Ojurin- Olorunda Abaa/Odogbo Barracks by N.O Idowu College.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government & Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Joel Olaleye Ajagbe on Friday, May 26, 2023.

He said that the project which will be executed by Lagelu Local Government at a cost of N9.6 billion, will ameliorate the sufferings of motorists and pedestrians.

Recall that the Governor, about two months ago assured that his administration will award the project for the construction of the 8.3 kilometres road in Lagelu Local Government Area of Ibadan before the expiration of the first term of his administration.

The Permanent Secretary explained that the award of the contract would be in tandem with Governor Makinde’s commitment to continue working for the people of the state till end of his first term in office.

Governor Makinde’s administration had earlier completed the first phase of the project on the Basorun-Idi Ape-Akobo-Ojurin axis as well as the General Gas Flyover.

Speaking further, Mr. Ajagbe said after completion, the project will provide good and accessible road for the teeming populace.

Hip Hop singer, Wande Coal, Fast-rising singer, Oniyide Azeez aka Zinoleesky, among other artists performed at the inauguration of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

Celebrities like Eniola Badmus, Seyi Law, Umar Sheriff, amongst others are present at the concert.

Tinubu’s inauguration will hold on Monday, May 29, 2023.

Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, threatened to issue a bench warrant against Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, over his “constant non-appearance” in court on grounds of ill health for his alleged forgery trial.

Fani-Kayode, who is also being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for an alleged N4.9billion fraud before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, is facing a 12 count- charge before Justice Abike-Fadipe, following his alleged use of forged medical report(s), which he tendered at the Federal High Court to justify his absence in court.

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when he was arraigned on December 17, 2021.

At the last sitting on February 20, 2023, the defence counsel, Wale Balogun, had informed the court of the absence of the defendant due to ill-health.

“We regret to announce to your lordship that the defendant is not in court due to health reasons; and secondly, due to a running battle he has with both the DSS and the Police,” he had told the court.

Consequently, the matter was adjourned till May 24 and 25, 2023 for continuation of trial.

However, at today’s sitting, the counsel who represented the defendant, Chinozo Eze, informed the court of the absence of the defendant.

“The absence of the defendant in court is due to health issues,” Eze said.

He further informed the court that a medical report and a letter seeking the leave of the court to vacate the dates earlier granted by the court had been filed before the court.

Counsel to the EFCC, Z. Atiku, confirmed the receipt of the said letter, noting that the hands of the prosecution, in the circumstance, were tied.

Justice Abike-Fadipe expressed displeasure with “the constant non-appearance of the defendant”, noting that the last time he was in court was November 4, 2022.

“Series of excuses have been tendered by the defendant for his non-appearance,” the trial judge noted.

The court, therefore, threatened to issue a bench warrant against Fani-Kayode, if he again fails to appear in court at the next adjourned date of November 7, 2023.

The Chairman of Kajola Local Government area of Oyo State, Afolabi Salimonu, popularly known as Borikansunwon, has been suspended indefinitely.

The chairman was suspended following the resolution of the Council Parliament.

The suspension letter which was obtained by Oduduwa News revealed that the decision was unanimously adopted by the councillors during a sitting at the Legislative Chamber of the council’s secretariat.

ODUDUWA NEWS had reported yesterday how the Political Head of Iseyin South Local Development Council Area, Mr. Raheem Ajibola was suspended by the Parliament of the Iseyin Local Government.

In the course of investigating the reasons behind the suspension of the Political Head, it was found out that the suspended Political Head was alleged to have stolen the community properties and sold them secretly while diverting the proceeds to his private account.

According to a document obtained by ODUDUWA NEWS, the Koso/Malete community leaders petitioned the Parliament of Iseyin Local Government attaching the evidence and receipt of payment of the Community properties he illegally sold off.

It was alleged that the Political Head, Raheem Ajibola connived with some people to illegally sell off the iron shed of the British American Tobacco BAT situated in Iseyin.

The building which was said to have been handed over to the community after the expiration of the period of years for which the property was leased for their business activities.

It was gathered that the community leaders who had prior knowledge of the intention of the Political Head to sell some iron pillars of the building went to meet him to warn him from the proposed illegal sale of the properties of the community and in the meeting he told them it was a figment of imagination and that nothing of such would ever happen.

In a twist of event, Ajibola Raheeem arranged some boys in the middle of the night to go to the BAT company and pruned down the iron shed of the building and assembled them one by one for the awaiting buyer. The guard who was securing the place, challenged them and threatened to open fire on his boys, alleging what they came to do was nothing but stealing of community properties. In the course of disagreement and having got superior order of the suspended Ajibola Raheem, the boys overpowered the guard and carted away the iron pillars.

The iron shed/warehouse said to have been illegally sold out to the tune of N1.5million as against N100m valuable cost alleged by the community. The payment of the receipt of the money was later gotten and it was found out that the money was paid directly to the suspended Political Head private account. This shoddy deal infuriated the community leaders who later embarked on protest to demand for his removal for stealing the community properties and selling them off.

Thereafter, the Parliament of Iseyin Local Government having got the petition and affirmed the veracity of the indefensible allegations leveled against the then Political Head of Iseyin South Local Development Council Area, Raheem Ajibola (FM) called for emergency legislative sitting and was suspended.

The Councilors who made the resolution of his suspension last week have also written official note of suspension to Oyo State House of Assembly for ratification.

The Parliament of Iseyin Local Government has suspended the Political Head of Iseyin South Local Development Council Area, Raheem Ajibola (FM) over allegations of gross misconduct and misappropriation.

The Councilors who made the resolution of his suspension last week have written official note to Oyo State House of Assembly for ratification.

Details later.

Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has just dissolved his cabinet members and terminated the appointment of political office holders while retaining heads and directors of agencies and parastatals.

Details later.

The factional National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr Lamidi Apapa, has said he was nearly killed by a mob that attacked him on Wednesday, May 17, at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

Recall that Apapa was booed by the mob while he was leaving the court after clashing with the erstwhile national chairman, Julius Abure, over a seat.

Addressing journalists after the incident, Apapa insisted that the suspension of the embattled LP National Chairman, Abure, by an FCT High Court paved way for him to function in that capacity.

According to Apapa, the seat reserved for LP’s national chairman ought to have been occupied by him, adding that it was wrong for the Director-General of Obi campaign organization, Akin Osuntokun, to occupy it.

“I went to him (Osuntokun) and inquired to know on what capacity he was sitting on the seat. I told him that since I am in court today, I am the right person to sit on that chair,” he narrated.

On how he was mobbed, Apapa, said: “They po¥nced on me, removed my cap and I am very sure that if not that you people (journalists) were there, I would have been d€ad by now.

As you can see, I have recovered my cap. But as for the person that removed my cap, he will suffer till the end of his life. I saw him. He is a young chap but he will never grow old.”

Ahead of the May 29th swearing-in of the President Elect, Bola Tinubu, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has advised him to ensure he assembles only people with capacity, character and track records of performance into his cabinet irrespective of their political backgrounds in order to hit the ground running immediately.

To this end, he is asking aspirants jostling for the various National Assembly leadership positions to work and respect the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the President-Elect to enable the incoming administration succeed in delivering its campaign promises to the people.

Wike, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), spoke in Kaduna State on Saturday at a public book presentation, ‘Putting People First: The El-Rufai Years’, where he also commended El-Rufai for championing the zoning of the presidency to the southern part of the country for equity and fairness.

The book, written by a Kaduna-based Journalist, Emmanuel Ado, is a compilation of published articles and interviews focusing on El-Rufai’s eight-year tenure as an appraisal of his core values, mission and achievements as governor of Kaduna.
Notwithstanding belonging to different political parties, El-Rufai said he shared same political ideology with his Rivers State counterpart.

Those in attendance include Senator Uba Sani, Prince Arthur Eze, traditional rulers, top government officials and captains of industry.

The APC organ had zoned the Senate President to the South-South, Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Deputy Senate President to the North-West, Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano) and this continues to spark controversy ahead of the inauguration of the 10th NASS in June.

Others are the Speaker of the House of Representatives (North-West) – Abass Tajudeen (Kaduna), and Deputy Speaker South East – Ben Kalu (Abia).