Oba of Lagos, Riliwan Akiolu, has assured that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will win his re-election bid on Saturday.
Oba Akiolu spoke when the Labour Party governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (GRV) , visited the Iga-Iduganran palace to make his intention known.
While Akiolu hailed Rhodes-Vivour for his courage and persistence, he however insisted that Sanwo-Olu would be victorious in Saturday’s poll.
He said: “I declared my support for Sanwo-Olu because I believe in him and the Lord has said it is Sanwo-Olu who will win.
“For you Gbadebo, the future is open to us. God will not kill you, there is nothing wrong in you contesting. All of those contesting are my children.
The Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has declared a half day for workers in the employment of the state on Friday, March 17, 2023. This is to enable civil and public servants in the state, who may wish to travel to vote in the Saturday, March 18 Governorship and House of Assembly election, to do so.
The announcement was made via a circular signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Olubanwo Adeosun.
“Oyo State Governor, His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde, in his commitment to ensuring participation of Public and Civil Servants in the state in the upcoming Governorship and House of Assembly election, has graciously approved the declaration of half day at work on Friday, 17th March, 2023”, the circular read in part.
“Flowing from the above, Government offices are to close by 12 noon, on Friday, 17th March, 2023, while staff covering essential services are expected to remain at their duty posts.
“Public and Civil Servants in the state are enjoined to go out on Saturday, 18th March, 2023, to perform their civic responsibilities.”
Oyo North Senatorial candidate of Accord Party in Oyo State Hon. Shina Peller and the National Body of Federation of Iseyin Local Government Students FILGS have today endorsed Governor Seyi Makinde‘s re-election bid.
Few days to the gubernatorial and state assembly election, there have been series of endorsements by various groups and political gladiators garnering support for their annointed candidates.
Honourable Shina Peller who made official declaration today had been said to have pitched his tent with Makinde’s camp after he lost his senatorial bid.
Peller won the HoR seat for Iseyin/Kajola/Iwajowa/Itesiwaju Federal Constituency in 2019 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He later defected to Accord where he got the Oyo North Senatorial ticket in the February 25th presidential and National Assembly elections.
He lost the seat to the incumbent, Senator Fatai Buhari who got the third term victory at the Upper chamber of the National Assembly.
The ceremony took place at Ode-Oba, Iseyin in a carnival like campaign event attended by Governor Seyi Makinde and other leaders of the umbrella party.
Peller, who was at the event with thousands of his supporters, urged residents to vote for Makinde for continuity of good governance.
The endorsement may be a big blow for the camp of the Accord governorship candidate, Oloye Adebayo Adelabu in the coming election.
Peller said he decided to join Makinde’s re-election bid because of his antecedent and performances in the last four years.
In his words, the president of the Federation of Iseyin Local Government Students FILGS, Andrew ADISA said the entire youths and students of Iseyin have unanimously agreed to work for the re-election of Gov. Seyi Makinde due to his monumental achievements in Oke-Ogun.
“To bring to record, no past administration has done half of what Governor Seyi Makinde has done in the region of the state. His immense achievements include: Constructions of Oyo-iseyin road, Iseyin-ogbomoso road, completion of Iseyin-ibadan road, LAUTECH Iseyin Campus among others. Why shouldn’t we support him?
“Therefore, come Saturday March 18th, 2023, all students in Iseyin are voting and canvassing Governor Seyi Makinde as the Governor of Oyo State. We want GSM to finish what he has started in Iseyin and its environment and also bring many more”, said FILGS President.
Makinde while making his remark promised to continue his developmental strides in every zone of the state.
Governor Makinde also used the occasion to inspect the ongoing projects at Iseyin campus of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) where he assured the people that the project will not be abandoned.
As candidates and political parties prepare for the last days before Saturday’s governorship and house of assembly elections, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state has said game no longer two horse race as speculated boasting that its guber candidate, governor Seyi Makinde would convincingly clear the votes of nothing less than 29 Local governments landslide.
The Publicity Secretary of PDP in Oyo state, Akeem Olatunji disclosed this in a press statement on Wednesday morning in Ibadan urging the Senator Teslim Folarin of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to brace up and not delay to congratulate governor Makinde upon his declaration as the winner and governor-elect.
Olatunji premised this disclosure on the trust and confidence reposed in Makinde by other stronger and more popular governorship candidates of other political parties who who have adopted and endorsed the incumbent governor for his second term bid.
The party’s Spokesman maintained that it was already game over for any opposition still racing against Makinde because it was evidently clear that the people of Oyo state are resolved to sustain the accelerated development agenda of Omituntun 2.0 under the leadership of governor Makinde.
The ruling party commended the conscious political awakening of the people against false propaganda by architects and masters of lies as reputable by APC in the state stressing that such awakening has redefined the state’s political landscape with ‘chills’ sent down the spines of politicians who thought they could just fabricate barefaced lies to win elections.
While appealing to the people of Oyo state not to allow doomsday politicians and their agents to create palpable fear and apprehension that may culminate in voter apathy on Saturday, the ruling PDP urged the people of Oyo state to boldly come out enmass and reelect their brother, father, and friend; governor Seyi Makinde for another term in other for him to complete the excellent job he is doing.
According to Olatunji, every single vote for the APC and Teslim Oloye Teslim Kolawole Folarin would be a vote to return Oyo state back to the dark era of excuses for failure in governance, delayed salaries for workers, pensioners and retirees, unspeakable hardship on traders and artisans whose commercial activities have recorded steady and consistent boom since 2019 till date.
He added that Makinde has shown the needed political will, capacity and integrity by achieving unprecedented success where APC failed woefully and told brazen lies and excuses for their failure one of which was the sole ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), which the APC in the state saw nothing good in.
He added that while other illustrious sons and notable individuals, such as Chief Niyi Akintola SAN, Dr Azeez Adeduntan , Barrister Michael Lana and others commended Makinde for his giant stride in the state educational sector, Folarin and his APC has faulted same describing Oyo’s sole ownership as misplaced priority.
Olatunji stated that Folarin could not also hide his lack of economic foresight by criticizing new bus terminals built across the state for ease of transportation and security of passengers as applicable in other smart cities of the world when he in similar vein again, described the bus terminals as misplaced priority and would rather shut them down to think of what other use to deploy them for.
Olatunji maintained that Folarin from his disposition to governance and approach to public office remains the greatest political risk presenting itself before the people of Oyo state urging electorates to become wary of Folarin’s endless lies and deceptions as he (Folarin) practically epitomizes A-All P-Promises C-Cancelled (APC) stressing that Makinde remains the only tested and trusted hands at this material period of election.
“As we approach the last days of this electioneering period, we believe there was need to remind our people of the options before them as we go into Saturday’s election. One is that of sustainable accelerated development agenda which governor Seyi Makinde represents and the return of Oyo state back to our dark era where civil servants are owed their rightful salaries at the end of the month, non payment of pensions and gratuities to pensioners and retirees, retrogressive economy and more that characterized 2011–2019 which Folarin represents.
“It is a choice between marching forward to the modern Oyo state of our dreams under the leadership of Governor Makinde or return back to the dark days of avoidable deaths of pensioners and anguish of civil servants at both state and local government levels.
“We therefore, appeal to our people to think of their children, think of the kind of society you want them to grow in, think about the abundant life that awaits them if Governor Seyi Makinde is allowed to finish the accelerated development agenda for a modern Oyo state which he already started, think about qualitative education at all levels under a conducive learning environment for your children, choose right without any ill-conceived sentiments, choose Makinde and vote PDP on Saturday.
“Makinde is known and reputable as a promise keeper, he has done it before, he will do it again because he has been tested and trustedà therefore, let us come together as a people on Saturday to vote for marching forward and say no to Folarin and his APC as they have shown in their entire campaign that they have absolutely nothing to offer other than to return to the Agodi Government House as government to loot the State treasury.” Olatunji said.
The Osun People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said it has found it spurious and fallacious, the allegation of 90bn allocation to the state in the past three months leveled against the administration of the People’s Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke by the Osun Apc.
The PDP in a statement by the Acting Chairman of the party in the state, Dr Akindele Adekunle described the spurious and unfounded allegation by the defeated opposition party as a last strawl gimmicks to get back into the news due to how well they’ve been rejected by the good people of Osun State.
Dr Akindele said, the Osun Apc has been bewildered, bemused and astonished by the impressive level Governor Ademola Adeleke and PDP has delivered on its promises and asuch they wish to know the mystery behind the success story so far.
“We found it laughable again that those who ought to go and hide their face in shame on how they’ve mismanaged the resources of Osun and the level of maladministration they carried out in the state are standing in front of camera to try to serve as a moral compass for a government that has continually make good his promises to the people of Osun State
“Their recent allegation that the administration of PDP should answer for an imaginary 90bn allocation is unfounded and fallacious.
“If they wish to know how well we’ve been delivering on our promises to the people of Osun State, we’re happy to tell them that it is due to the fact that Gov Ademola Adeleke has blocked all leakages the good for nothing party(APC) has been using to siphon Osun wealth in the past and also, there is no more usage of bullion van to carry Osun wealth to Bourdillion like it was the practice during their time in government”
“Our achievement in government as a party within 100days in office has dwarfed the snail speed Osun suffered in the last administration and this is what they’re not happy about.
“Notwithstanding all this, Osun people can do proper comparative analysis and affirmed which govt or party is best for them. With Governor Ademola Adeleke at the helms of affairs of the state, Osun is out of the wilderness and will never go back to Egypt.
“Come March 18th for the forthcoming state Assembly election in Osun, this wounded party will be roundly defeated again and Osun citizens will be finally free from the claws of hyenas and jackals who have been feeding fat and getting breast feeded from the common purse of Osun wealth and are hellbent on not leaving without a fight.
“As a party, we’re poised for victory and God and the good people of Osun are with us. Victory is assured.”
As the whole world waits patiently for the conduct of the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections this Saturday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state has told voters across the 33 Local Government Councils in the state to disregard the threat of violence allegedly coming from the ruling People’s Democratic party (PDP) and ensure that they come out to exercise their voting rights without any fear of attacks or molestation.
Media reports have placed Oyo among the few volatile states where cases of violence and brigandage were expected to mar the conduct of the election while there have been exchange of brickbats among leaders and members of the PDP, APC, Accord and NNPP as they accuse one another of stoking violence ahead of the poll this weekend.
Oyo APC, in a statement issued on Tuesday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, said it had uncovered a fresh plan by the ruling PDP “to sponsor some notorious miscreants on a mission to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election in some parts of Ibadan and other major cities having got the clear signal that their candidates, especially Gov. Makinde, cannot survive defeat this time.
“To lend credence to this fresh alarm, Mukaila Lamidi a.k.a Auxiliary, who leads the Oyo PDP militant wing, and his gang members have increased the spate of their riot act to the people of Egbeda, Lagelu, Ibadan North East, Ibadan North, Ona-Ara, Oluyole and other local government councils within and outside Ibadan in the last few weeks and their message has always been that people should either come out to vote the PDP or stay indoor to avoid dire consequences of voting candidates of other political parties.
“As a matter of fact, we have a documented evidence of a secret meeting held at a private facility in Ibadan few days ago where two political appointees currently serving under Gov. Makinde and a leader of the PDP in Ibadan North West local government council handed a script to five ring leaders of a violent gang based in Nalende-Oniyanrin area of Ibadan metropolis. Among those contracted to unleash terror on voters in that axis on Saturday are; Kamo (surname withheld), Oloyo and ‘Saudi’. In Ibadan South East, one Rotimi (a chieftain of the Park Management System) is to coordinate the violent gang which has Fiyin and Apase as members.
“It is also necessary to intimate the general public that collective vigilance would be required at all the polling stations on Saturday so as to disorganize all the disgruntled elements who have been mobilized and equipped to instigate violence where rigging in favour of the PDP is made difficult or impossible. For instance, PDP’s polling agents have been asked to invite their assigned thugs wherever they observe the result would not be in their favour even before sorting of ballot papers while some have been prepared to stuff ballot boxes and trigger a case of over-voting where necessary.
“With all this and many exclusive information available to us, we are urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure strict adherence to the full usage of the BVAS and also avoid conniving with unscrupulous political player to compromise the exercise. More importantly, we are appealing to all security agents as well as polling agents representing other political parties (apart from the PDP) to be alive to their duty on the day of election and ensure that the process is not compromised or sabotaged.” Sadare stated.
A former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose has advised the president-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to use his position to unite all Yoruba politicians and stakeholders irrespective of their affiliations and run an all-inclusive government that will accommodate the opposition.
Fayose gave the advice during an interview programme called Situation Room, on Ibadan-based Fresh FM 105.9 on Monday, as he noted that Tinubu, who has longed to be President should have a good idea to govern the country based on current challenges.
He, however, pointed out that the former Lagos state governor should run his administration as a father of all, but also set a template that would guarantee the togetherness of Yoruba people, regardless of their differences, which be a catalyst for the development of the Yoruba land.
Fayose said, “One thing I would like to say to Asiwaju, and this one is personal to me as a Yoruba man, is that the Yoruba nation needs to be re-ordered.
“Tinubu should not be the president of APC in the South-West. He should be the president and father of the Yoruba nation and bring us all together.
“After the demise of most of these leaders, things will go bad [in Yorubaland]. One of the legacies Asiwaju should leave is to rally the Yoruba people and bring us together, draw everybody together.
“When he is making appointments and he wants it only for APC members, he will fail. He should invite members of the opposition and draw everybody close and listen to us on how the Yoruba nation can come together.
Fayose also noted that the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress has a great task of ending agitations among major ethnic groups in Nigeria, and pacifying all aggrieved groups for the peace and unity of the country.
”The Yoruba nation has lost it. We are badly balkanised and divided. Because Asiwaju is a Yoruba man, he must bring the Yoruba people together. We are angry and that is why you see the agitation for the Yoruba nation.
“But they have given us a Yoruba president now. He has a lot to do. Oduduwa Republic cannot happen. Arewa Republic cannot happen and Igbo or Biafra Republic cannot happen. It is a sheer waste of time.
“We have gone far in the day to call for division. How do we share our debt? How do we share those things? So, let’s stop deceiving ourselves and stop creating tension. Already, there is tension in the East, North, South and West,” Fayose said.
“Asiwaju, God will help you. Thank God you were elected as president.
“So, remember that if you don’t put the Yoruba nation together, history will not be kind to you. This Yoruba nation must be united going forward under your leadership. Put us together. Get us busy in Yorubaland. Don’t be president of APC, if you do that, your case will be worse than that of Olusegun Obasanjo,” Fayose added.
The remains of Oreoluwa Aina, a 28-year-old National Youth Corps Member who was involved in the Lagos train accident which occurred on Thursday, March 9, have been laid to rest.
Aina was among the six victims who were confirmed dead after a train crushed a Lagos State Government staff bus at PWD, Ikeja area of the state.
The late corps member, who was serving with the Curriculum Services Department of the Lagos State Ministry of Education in Alausa was buried on Saturday at Atan cemetery.
A delegation of the state government led by the Commissioner for Education, Folasade Adefisayo, was present at the burial.
Also present were the deceased’s family members and the State Coordinator of NYSC, Yetunde Baderinwa.
Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday said that the old naira notes remain legal tender in the state.
Sanwo-Olu, in his statement by Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, called on business owners, especially retailers, to accept the old N500 and N1,000 notes in line with the Supreme Court judgement that the currency remains legal tender until December 31, 2023.
He said, “The Lagos State Government has noted the hardship sparked by the Naira redesign policy, which has affected business and commercial activities.
“There is no reason to reject the old notes, going by the Supreme Court judgement delivered on March 3, 2023.
“The apex court declared that ‘no reasonable notice was given as required by Section 20(3) of the CBN Act’, noting that the public only became aware of the policy through press remarks, which cannot qualify as a notice to the public.
“The court maintained that the policy has impeded the functions of State governments, pointing out that the directive that stops the use of the old notes is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.
“I call on business owners, especially retailers, to accept the old N500 and N1,000 notes in line with the Supreme Court judgement that the currency remains legal tender until December 31, 2023. It is illegal to reject the notes.
“All agencies of the Lagos State Government are advised not to reject payments made with the old currency by the public.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has threatened to occupy police offices across Osun state unless the Inspector General of Police stops the ongoing arrest of its leaders ahead of Saturday state elections.
” Our leaders are being arrested in a bid to rig Saturday’s election. We will resist any ploy to manipulate the polls. Osun people voted overwhelmingly for PDP in the last polls. They are ready to freely exercise their voting rights again. Arresting our leaders on Kangaroo charges is an attack on democracy and our fundamental human rights.
“We call on the Inspector General of Police to stop serving the evil interest of the APC. The police boss has a sacred duty to be an impartial enforcer of the law, not an agent of one political party against the other. It is unacceptable for the IGP to take directives on who to arrest or detain from APC chieftains. This is a democracy, not a military dictatorship.
” We will not resort to self help. We are law abiding citizens and a ruling party in Osun state. But if this harassment of our members continues, we will mobilize and storm all police posts in Osun state in a peaceful protest. Let the IGP arrest all Osun PDP members.
In a safe our soul statement on Sunday, the State Chairman of the PDP, Dr Adekunle Akindele wondered whether winning election in a free and fair poll is a sin and querying why the IGP is deliberately stoking the fire of political conflict in a peaceful state like Osun.
” Is it a sin to win an election in a democracy? Must PDP leaders be detained because they are good democrats? Why has IGP refused to act on several petitions on the killings of our members? Why are the police authorities shielding APC thugs and working with APC chieftains to arrest the victims instead of the perpetrators of violence?
” We call on western embassies and international human rights organizations to intervene before we take to the streets.
