Category: Politics

Gov Makinde has removed own name on Adogba Central Mosque after condemnations from Oyo Muslim community and notable Islamic organisations who argued that the governor has no right to name the rebuilt mosque after self.

The removal of the name, carried out on Sunday, was led by the governor’s media aide, Oriyomi Hamzat, Agidigbo FM owner.

The inscription of name on Adogba Mosque in Iwo Road has been generating a lot of controversies for the past few days.

Details later.

The Gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has said he will run Lagos better than the way the incumbent is handling the state.

His words:
” I will run Lagos better than Babajide Sanwoolu because I am not shackled by a godfather who demands a lot from the commonwealth. I will deliver four times more than what the APC is delivering – Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, Labour Party Governorship Candidate, Lagos State”

The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed the All Progressives Congress (APC) as lacking the requisite understanding on what it takes to run a successful university, noting that its criticism of the Ademola Adeleke administration on due diligence before the take-off of the University of Ilesa is clear indication of ignorance and emptiness.

The PDP in a statement by its Caretaker Chairman, Dr Akindele Adekunle on Saturday, reminded the opposition party of the PDP’s record of establishing enduring institution like the University of Osun (UniOsun) unlike the APC that is known for nothing but destroying institutions.

Dr. Akindele said the APC should be ashamed of itself for the sordid job it did with the University of Ilesa in the deceitful attempt to drive votes for Oyetola in his failed re-election bid, stressing that the interest of Governor Adeleke is to make the institution sustainable and stand the test of time like UniOsun.

“It is a public knowledge that the PDP administration had a record of establishing institution that can endure the test of time, a record the APC in Osun shamefully lacks,” the statement noted.

“This is a record Governor Adeleke is doing everything to sustain, not the deceit that Oyetola and the APC tried to pull on the people of Ijeshaland just for their votes. Unlike Oyetola, Governor Adeleke does not have the intention to give Ijesha people temporary joy, hence, he is doing everything to put long lasting infrastructure in place to ensure that once the University take-off, it will encounter no challenge that could halt operation.

“The reason for this is not far-fetched as it is well known to the public that Governor Adeleke was the first to promise Ijesha people a University during his 2018 governorship election campaign at the Palace of Owa of Obokun. At that time, the APC, including Oyetola laughed it off, and think of it as impossible, until it was few weeks to the 2022 governorship election when Oyetola hurriedly came up with the idea just to drive voters, and not because he was sincere about.”

The PDP said Oyetola was not sincere in the establishment of the University of Ilesa, explaining out that a lot of key issues were left unattended to by the past administration.

“The law establishing the University was hoarded and kept away from the public just as nothing concrete was done about the workers in the College of Education that was upgraded. Also, the funding and sustainable plan of the University was treated shabbily,” Dr. Adekunle pointed.

“These and more were the issues inherited by Governor Adeleke, which explains his decision to set up a technical committee headed by a renowned academia who is an Ijesha to review them and come up with plans on resolving them for effective take-off of the University.

“Yesterday, the committee submitted its report and the Governor will soon issue a White Paper report, and get everything in order. The APC may find this hard to understand as it is not used to sustainable planning due to its penchant for destroying things.

“Governor Adeleke made it clear yesterday that the University of Ilesa has come to stay and we believe that very soon, the University will take-off and go on to be a pride for Osun state just as UniOsun is doing excellently well,” the statement concluded.

Signed:
Dr Akindele Adekunle,
State Caretaker Chairman,
Osun State PDP

The All Progressives Congress APC in Oyo state has warned that an alleged plan being worked out by Governor Seyi Makinde to hound and detain some political gladiators, believed to be against his second term bid, ahead of Saturday election would have dire consequences if not aborted.

There have been fresh reports of renewed hostilities between Gov. Makinde and some gladiators within and outside his party (PDP) following the outcome of the presidential and national assembly in which the presidential candidate of the APC won with 449,884 votes while his party also cleared all the three Senatorial seats and eight out of the 14 House of Representatives seats with election into two constituencies declared inconclusive. This development was blamed on the failure of Gov. Makinde to give open support to the candidate of his party, Atiku Abubakar.

In a statement issued at the weekend and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC urged the State Police Command to avoid being reduced to a tool of intimidation, harassment and witch-hunt of opposition figures by the governor and the ruling PDP.

“We are in possession of some unimpeachable facts regarding the plans of Gov. Makinde and his hatchet men to hound most political personalities in the state who are either chieftains of the opposition APC or those of the PDP who have been wronged by the governor. The goal is to get the police keep them out of circulation on Saturday using false accusations and fake security reports.

“Some PMS thugs have already been mobilized to act as baits to track down some of the identified influential political figures as plans have been concluded on how the thugs would be arrested with illegal arms and amunition in their possession. Upon their scripted arrest, the thugs would then finger some notable politicians as their sponsors and it is on the premise that the implicated persons would be arrested and whisked away to unknown destinations until after the election.

“Another plan being hatched by the PDP is to unleash terror on some communities where identified gladiators would vote. The thugs would make voting exercise practically impossible with sponsored violence and as a result, a lot of people would be disenfranchised and this would reduce the chances of the candidates of the APC who are, believed to be, the major threat to Gov. Makinde and his party.

“Among the Communities marked out for attacks on Saturday are Iwo Road, Bashorun, Monatan, Kudeti, Idi-Arere, Isale-Ijebu, Mapo, Gbenla, Aliwo, Alakia-Isebo, Kumapayi, Olodo, Orita Challenge, Soka Express, Eleta, Oranyan, Oja’gbo, Agugu, Onipasan, Oke-Adu, Apete and Lalupon- all in Ibadan while Ogbomoso, Oyo, Igbo-Ora, Eruwa, Iseyin, Saki and Igboho are not to be exempted from the violent attacks being planned.

“We have taken necessary action by informing the Inspector General of Police, Director-General of the DSS and others about the development and we are very sure that the concerned authorities would act swiftly to abort the plans of these disgruntled elements who are bent on truncating the peaceful conduct of the election as desired by all patriots. Lastly, we appeal to the Commissioner of Police and the heads all other security agencies in the state to be on the alert and give no room for miscreants and their sponsors to operate before, during and after the election this Saturday.” APC stated.

Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Alani Akinrinade (Rtd) has said former President, Olusegun Obasanjo is always against Yoruba presidency because he is not comfortable with his people.

Akinrinade, in an interview with New Telegraph, monitored by ODUDUWA NEWS, said there had been claims that Obasanjo doesn’t have any form of roots in Yorubaland.

“If he feels otherwise, he needs to go and take a DNA test to ascertain if he is truly a Yorubaman and if not so, he needs to go back to his kith and kin in other areas.

“I don’t think Obasanjo is comfortable with his Yoruba people at all. I’m saying this because each time we have this kind of disaster, he is always at the heart of things, whether it was with late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, or Moshood Abiola and now Bola Tinubu,” he said.

On Obasanjo’s call for cancellation of the presidential election because of some issues, Akinrinade said Obasanjo is being ingenious, saying that “we have travelled this road before. If I’m to tell you, he was the one who engineered the last one. If he likes, let him take me to court.”

“I will remind him that some people were still alive when trouble started in AD. When we went to bury the father of our late friend, Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua, in Katsina, we flew back, (from Katsina) with him (Obasanjo) after which he went back to Abuja.

“We met in a guest house with some people to prepare some papers with the likes of late Chief Anthony Anenih and some other people that I don’t want to name, so as not to embarrass them. They prepared a document calling for the establishment of an Interim National Government during the heat of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election.

“They took it to Ibrahim (Babangida). They were on his (Babangida’s) throat urging him to sign the document to establish the Interim Government. I saw his signature and I saw the comments that he made. They (Obasanjo and others) now began to state that the elections will not stay,” he said.

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, CON has commenced the construction of a befitting Memorial Park in honour of the slain victims of the June 5 horrific attack at St Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa street, Owo.

Governor Akeredolu said the Memorial Park, located in the heart of Owo, will be a beauty to behold when completed.

The Governor spoke during an inspection visit to the construction site on Saturday.

He was accompanied to the site by the Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye and Special Adviser on Union Matters and Special Duties, Mr. Dare Aragbaiye.

Arakunrin Akeredolu disclosed that his administration is determined not to forget the souls that have departed.

He hinted that the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who visited Owo to commiserate with the State and the people after the incident, will be invited to commission the project when completed.

His words:”The Architect who designed this place, Architect Femi Bello, the Odopetu of Akure Kingdom, I want to thank him very well, because he showed interest in this project. His interest is beyond the normal, so I thank you.

“By the time we finish this Memorial Park, it will be a beauty to behold and it is going to measure up to any Memorial Park anywhere because the Architect has taken his time to do so many good work here. It is for us to just wait and see it.

“Come rain, come sunshine, this project must be completed before the end of May. When this incident (attack) happened, our President-elect was here. I know that by the time we tell him we have this Memorial Park for him to come and commission it, I think it will be a joy to him. That will be just a week after his inauguration, I pray he will come so that he can see this Memorial Park.

“For us, we are determined not to forget the souls that have departed. They were 41 in number. And others that are still nursing the wounds, although they have gone back to their homes, they have been discharged, some of them are outpatients.

“As you know, we also have a lady whose two legs were amputated. The government has provided for her necessary prosthesis that she can use. I’m told that she has been able to use it. Her rehabilitation is moving on well and we are sure that she will still live a normal life. That is what I believe, she will live a normal life.

“So, for us, it is just a way of remembering those 41 souls that died.”

Earlier, the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Land and Housing, Engr. Raimi Aminu, commended Governor Akeredolu for not forgetting the departed souls.

He said the befitting Memorial Park will be completed before the end of May, this year.

“Government has decided to site at this location befitting Memorial Park in rememberance of those departed souls. It is going to be a befitting one, well drawn and which can compete with others throughout the world.

“Apart from that, government also has intension of siting so many things like museum and other things around this area. So, this is going to be a centre of attraction after completion and it will beautify the city, and at the same time, those people that lost their lives will be remembered for life.

“Anybody that passes here will know that something happens at so so date. All things being equal, by God’s grace, this project will be completed before ending of May 2023.” the Commissioner added.

The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin has reacted to some videos which surfaced on the internet few days ago describing them as sponsored by opposition elements who are already jittery of imminent defeat at the polls.

The Speaker said it was unfortunate that in this era and time politicians are still playing politics befoul with hatred and animosity.

He said election should not be seen as a do or die affair to the extent of politicians sponsoring fake news and twisting comments made by perceived political enemy in order to curry favor or support from the electorates.

According to the Speaker, his comments in one of the videos where he was addressing a community in his constituency was taken in part and twisted to suit the political interest of the masterminds of ignoble act.

Hon Ogundoyin said he was reacting to a question on some roads projects in Ibarapaland.

He added that his full comment in the video was explanatory enough and didn’t mean admittance of failure or neglect of Ibarapaland by the State Government as portrayed or insinuated by the opposition and the purveyors of fake information who circulated the video.

He stated further that he was only trying to explain the concept of alternative funding of projects to the people and the fact that he had to do everything possible to ensure the projects were captured in the budget.

” What do they mean by neglect or abandonment of Ibarapaland when the present administration in Oyo State has projects which cut across our zone. We have Igboora/Idere/Ayete/Tapa to Igangan road project and from Igangan to Iganna. This Projects cut across the entire Ibarapaland.
In Ibarapa East alone, we have four road Projects approved by Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration. Talk of Ogundoyin road, Local Government Secretariat road, New Eruwa to Maya road project and the Ido/Eruwa road recently flagged off by his Excellency. “

” We are lucky to have a good and listening Governor like Engr Seyi Makinde who acceded to our request for Ido/Eruwa road to be re-awarded after the fund for the project was mismanaged and squandered by the immediate past administration. This no doubt put pressure on the finances of the present administration but to God be the glory the project has been awarded. This road when completed will be of high quality like those already completed and commissioned by our amiable Governor ” Oyo Speaker said.

He also added that the approval of Eruwa Farm settlement for the people of Ibarapa and the approval of grant for Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate and the approval of the reconstruction of the road within the institution, accreditation of over thirty courses in Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, among others.

The Speaker maintained that with all these, the people of Ibarapaland are determined to ensure the continuity of all the projects and are ready to vote for Governor Seyi Makinde and for him as the candidate of the PDP for Ibarapa East State Constituency.

“Our people tired of APC Government in Oyo State and they don’t want them to return to power. The four years of Governor Seyi Makinde are not only beneficial to the people but also peaceful.”

” I know the opposition are already counting their losses even before the election. Because as a lawmaker, I have delivered on my campaign promises. Some of them include a well furnished Primary Health Care Centre at Lagaye, a mosque for the Oloro community as demanded, a block of classrooms secondary school in Temidire community almost completed, another block of classrooms at Ojonamo community Primary School almost completed, a cold room for butchers at New Garage abattoir, a completed Eruwa Youth Movement Secretariat, installation of solar powered streetlights at Aborerin, 15 motorized boreholes completed and already being used, another 7 motorized boreholes facilitated,
distribution of not less than 60 new motorcycles to security outfits and the constituents, 25 Generating Sets to Constituents, 20 Deep Freezers to Constituents, presentation ofCash to a hundred constituents to boost their economic activities, Facilitation of ITF training and empowerment (Electrical Engineering and Furniture Making) for youths in the constituency, Purchase of Jamb forms for youths, Mathematics Competition for secondary schools, Payment of Bursary to 400 indigenous students, Facilitation of admission for students of Ibarapaland descent, Facilitation of First Bank’s training on Solar Panel installations for youths in the constituency, Facilitation of employment opportunities for constituents e.g TESCOM, Hospital Management Board, Amotekun, Access Bank, Polaris Bank, NSCDC etc, Distribution of educational materials (notebooks and chalks) to primary and secondary schools in the constituency
And many more

Hon Ogundoyin also decried another sponsored video where some kids were asked to be singing and chanting unprintable words to discredit his personality and wondered why innocent children would be dragged by shameless politicians into political matters.

” What are we teaching our children? Teaching them at their formative years to learn how to bear grudges and see politics as war. This is unwarranted and uncivilized to say the least. ” Oyo Speaker stressed.

A contestant for the stool of Aseyin of Iseyin, Prince Sefiu Olawale Oyebola-Adeyeri has commended the Oyo State government and kingmakers in the ancient town for the painstaking and rigorous process applied in the selection of a new monarch.

Prince Sefiu who spoke with media men on phone from his New York base on Friday, urged all contestants to the throne to maintain peace and cordiality while awaiting the outcome of the selection process.

Olawale disclosed that the rigorous process nonetheless, the outcome of the selection would favor the community, as the approach of the kingmakers to introduce transparency procedures like open interview of contestants would give sense of belonging to all royal house involved.

He therefore urged the people of the community to support the kingmakers with prayer as their decision will have a long-term effect on the town in the areas of human and societal growth.

“We were all living witnesses to the process that produced some of our fore-bearers as Aseyin, it has always been rigorous and rancorous, but with the approach used by the kingmakers this time around, we are sure of a smooth and pleasant experience.

“Iseyin people at home and abroad should please support the kingmakers with prayer so they may succeed to have a smooth and rancor-free process, I am a contestant to the throne and I am happy they have thrown the process open.”

Prince Sefiu Olawale Oyebola-Adeyeri who has worked with many organizations in Nigeria before relocating to America was born on the 6th April, 1969 to the Oyebola-Adeyeri Royal family and has positively impacted the lives of his people in Iseyin community through various philanthropic efforts.

Prince Olawale promised to use his developmental and leadership skills in management of people and resources to elevate the status of Iseyin among other Yoruba communities.

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, CON, has decried the rejection of old naira notes by a large section of traders and business owners in the state.

The Governor said the rejection of the old one thousand naira, five hundred naira and two-hundred-naira notes is a flagrant disobedience to the law.

Governor Akeredolu in a statewide broadcast on Thursday explained that rejecting the old naira notes will inflict and sustain a needless pain on the people and customers.

He noted that the matter of legitimacy and return into circulation of all old naira notes in the nation’s economy has been settled permanently by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

According to the Governor, the Apex Court had ruled that the old currency notes must remain as a legal tender in exchange of goods and services in the nation.

Governor Akeredolu appealed to the people to embrace and accept the old notes alongside the new notes as stipulated by law.

The Governor also commended Commercial Banks within the State for receiving and paying with the old notes.

He appeal to the Banks to increase the circulation of all currencies at their disposals and devise a more effective way to decongest the banks, especially at the ATM cash points.

“It is therefore of great concern to me today, that a large section of our people in the state, particularly traders in our markets, taxi and bus drivers, barbers, auto mechanics and artisans are rejecting the old naira notes thereby inflicting and sustaining a needless pain on their fellow citizens and customers. This is unfortunate and unexpected. It is a flagrant disobedience to the law and the Central Bank directives.

“I, therefore, wish to inform you that the rejection of the old one thousand naira, five hundred naira and two-hundred-naira notes by us will do us no good. It will stifle our local trade and business transactions, weaken our economy and cause us great harm and avoidable troubles.

“I hereby use this opportunity to appeal to you all, my good people of Ondo State, to embrace and accept the old notes alongside the new notes as stipulated by law. Let us not create a needless tension over the matter. Please collect, spend and exchange the old notes without let or hindrance.” He said.

The Governor urged all media organisations in the state, as well as all traditional rulers, community leaders and opinion molders to assist Government in educating the people, especially at the grassroots on the need to embrace and accept the old naira notes.

His words:”It is imperative that I address you today because of the need to halt a self-induced pain currently being experienced by us all in the state. This is on account of the circulation and use of the old naira notes in our economy.

“Credible information reaching me indicates that quite a large number of residents of the state are denied the use of the old currency notes issued by the Central bank of Nigeria.

“This comes in form of rejection of the old notes as legal tender and means of exchange for goods and services particularly by traders, artisans, transporters, farmers and a large percentage of the operators of the informal sector of our economy in Ondo State.

“This development is unfortunate, undesirable and uncalled for. This is because the matter of legitimacy and return into circulation of all old naira notes in the nation’s economy has been settled permanently by the Supreme Court of Nigeria and also backed up by the appropriate instruments of implementation by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“Our people will recall that the Apex Court, in its recent judgement had among others, ruled that the old currency notes must remain as a legal tender in exchange of goods and services in the nation.

“For avoidance of doubt, the judgment ordered that both the new and old notes should not only coexist but be accepted and used side by side by all Nigerians until the end of this year when the proper elimination and substitution of the old currency notes would have been completed.

“The implication of the Supreme Court judgement is that it removes the daily pain, discomfort and trauma being faced by the people of this country occasioned by the scarcity of the new notes.

“It is also geared towards ensuring stability, strength and vitality for our economy, particularly the informal economy which involves, on daily basis, the largest number of our people at the grassroots.

“If we may recall that from the onset of the Federal Government’s policy of Naira swap, our position as a state, was clear and unambiguous. We not only condemned the idea and process of implementation of the policy, we also canvassed for its total abrogation, given its timing and methodology.

“We insisted on the need for the Federal Government to resolve the introduction of the cashless policy in favour of the common man. We did this because we believe the fundamental objective of Government must be to see to the welfare and security of the people at all times.

“It is not to inflict or add more to their pains. We believe the people must be happy and free to live their lives legitimately without any pain, discomfort or trauma.“

Richard Olatunde
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State.
March 9, 2023.

A Lagos State Government staff bus with registration no 04A- 48LA was on Thursday morning crushed by a moving train at PWD, Ikeja area of Lagos.

The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the accident in a statement.

“The accident recorded many casualties as the staff bus was fully loaded with govt staff going to the office this morning,” the statement added.