Category: Politics

The Chief of Staff to Governor Makinde, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi has lauded development strides of his Principal across all sectors of the economy. He made the disclosure today at the recently concluded Stakeholders’ Consultative Meeting on Year 2023 Budget.

The Chief of Staff to Governor Seyi Makinde, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi, used the ocassion to applaud the good people of Ogbomoso zone for embracing the vision of the current administration led by Governor Seyi Makinde in growing the State’s economy to its deserving status.
He gave the commendation while delivering a speech on behalf of his principal during a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on year 2023 budget, which was recently concluded in the zone.
Ogunwuyi stated that the engagement, without any doubt, has produced positive outcomes expedient in providing perceptive ideas with valuable recommendations on how to serve the people of the zone better.

He equally noted that the government is encouraged and motivated by various contributions at the previous Town Hall meetings held across the seven geo-political zones of the State in the last three years.

In his words: “Since the assumption of office three years ago, this administration has progressed significantly with the tasks of transforming the state from poverty to prosperity.

He further analyzed some of the achievements of the governor in the zone, which cut across health, education, security, infrastructure and sports sectors, saying that while more are on-going or nearing completion, some have been completed and commissioned.

He thanked the governor for achieving the sole ownership of Ladoke Akintola University for Oyo State. “The unquantifiable development which the sole ownership has brought to the zone in term of economic viability, educational advancement and global recognition is unique. The governor has written his name in gold with this feat and we appreciate it,” Ogunwuyi stressed.

He further explained that the current administration has drastically reduced crime rate in Ogbomoso zone by deploying additional security personnel and patrol vans to beef up security of the zone, adding that the on-going recruitment of additional officers for Amotekun will boost security of the zone.
He listed some of the various capital projects in three years as including:
• Construction of LAUTECH Under G. Road, Ogbomoso
• Ongoing reconstruction of the 76.7km Ogbomoso – Fapote – Iseyin Road
• Ongoing contract for the installation of mini-grid and energy project in Ogbomoso South.
• Over 280 kilometre of public lighting through the ‘Light-up Oyo’ Project across the State.

Among dignitaries that graced the occasion were Professor Musibau Babatunde; Hon. commissioner for budget and economic planning, Mr Oluwaseyi Ogunsanya; Senior Special Assistant on Economic Planning, Mr Akanmu Kolawole Elijah; Special Assistant, Budget and Economic Planning; HRM Ọba Francis Alao, Olugbon of Orile Igbon, the chairmen from the five local government areas in the zone; representatives of youth, market men and women, Artisans traditional council, religion leaders and people with special needs.

The Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has added to the feather of his campaign Committee ahead of the 2023 general elections. The governor has included 13 serving lawmakers among the already constituted committee.

According to information gathered, it was confirmed that, commissioner for  Trades, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives who is the Director General of Governor Makinde’s 2023 reelection campaign Mr. Bayo Lawal with senatorial DGs held close door meeting with the 33 local government campaign managers which comprises of nine serving Oyo state House of Assembly lawmakers.

The meeting was held on Friday 2nd of September, at Omituntun House, Beside Stanbic IBTC Bank, Testing ground, Iwo Road, Ibadan, Oyo state.

The 33 local government campaign managers for governor Makinde’s election bid include:

Serving Lawmakers

1 – Hon. Hakeem Adedibu, Iwajowa Local Govt

2 – Hon. Francis Adetunji. Oluyole Local Govt

3 – Hon. Lateef Odebunmi      Oreelope

4 – Hon. Akeem Obadara         Northwest

5 – Hon. Rasaq Abdullahi.        Southeast

6 – Hon. Mogaji Olamide  Akinajo Northeast

7 – Hon. Oyeleke Adegbola        Ogooluwa

8 – Hon. Fola Oyekunle.              Ibadan North

9 – Hon. Ayo Fatokun                   Akinyele

Others

10. – Ajala Olawale P                 Ona Ara

11 – Okunola Rasheed A. Ibarapa Central

12 – Ogungbenro Fatai.      Ibarapa North

13 – Hon. Rabiu Igbayiola      Itesiwaju

14 – Hon. Fadiran Rasaq           Iseyin

15 – Ismail Adedeji                     Atisbo

16 – Hon. Olonade Eyitayo      Oyo East

17 – Hon. Akande Ifeoluwa E.     Egbeda

18 – Adeniji Robert.                       Kajola

19 – Ayandeyi Ayantunde     Olorunsogo

20 – Hon. Olayiwola T.T.               Irepo

21 – Hon. Mustapha Rasaq        Surulere

22 – Hon. Salad Solid Abiodun  Saki West

23 – Hon. Olaniran Olugbenga      Ido

24 – Hon. Adedeji Sunday              Atiba

25 – Obideji Babatunde                Lagelu

26 – Olatunde Akintunde             Afijio

27 – Alh. Kareem Agunbiade lbarapa East.

28 – Hon. Afolabi Idris             Oyo West

29 –                                      Ibadan Southwest

30 –                                      Ogbomoso North

31 –                                      Ogbomoso South

32 –                                        Saki East

33 –                                         Orire

Earlier, the Oyo state governor on Friday, June 3, announced the names of members of his 2023 governorship election campaign council.

The governor re-appointed Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Bayo Lawal, as the Director-General of his 2023 campaign council.

Other members of the campaign team include Dr. Nuri Adeniran, Deputy Director-General (Oyo South); O.O Tope, Deputy Director-General (Oyo Central ); and Barr. Adeniyi Farinto, Deputy Director-General ( Oyo North). Salami Ibraheem, popularly known as Dikko, is the head youth wing, while Mrs. Toyin Balogun will head the women’s wing.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Monday talked tough on the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress, insisting that its opposition to the ticket remained unchanged.

It also said it had not reached an agreement with the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

There was a report on Monday that Tinubu met with the leadership of CAN over the controversy that arose from the party’s choice of a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2023 general elections.

Tinubu selected a former governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima as his running mate, a move which angered the Christian population in the country.

Debunking the report of the agreement between Tinubu and CAN, the Christian body in a statement on Monday maintained that it had not changed its stance on the contentious Muslim-Muslim ticket.

The statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media to the leadership of the association, Luminous Jannamike, was titled, ‘Muslim-Muslim Ticket: CAN maintains its position.’

The association also warned that Tinubu’s presence and donation at last week’s 70th birthday of Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, should not be seen as a financial inducement bribe to pacify the Christian community.

The statement partly read, “The attention of the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria has been drawn to a media report titled, ‘How Tinubu met, resolved Muslim-Muslim ticket with CAN’, which claimed that the apex Christian body had changed its position regarding the same faith ticket.

“To say the least, the story is ridiculous, malicious, untrue and should be disregarded in its entirety by all reasonable members of the society.

“For the records, CAN took a position against the same faith ticket imbroglio under the leadership of Rev. Dr Samson Ayokunle, its immediate past national president and as a matter of fact, His Eminence Archbishop Daniel Okoh, stands on that same position.”

Comrade Lekan Badmus is a Columnist with Oduduwa news and public opinion analyst.

This article may look offensive to the psyche of some religious adherents. Alas, my principle as a writer and the kind of tutelage I had as a campus journalist at the great SACOED does not believe in the adoption of diplomacy, mimicking of fact or being economical with the truth. To me and my contemporaries at the great VOSPO; ” Truth fears no man”. To us, a spade is a spade and not that a spade is an oblong material. Albeit, religion is an opium that dwells on indoctrination and gives rise to gullibility. Anyway, I am not here for a sermon of such idiosyncrasy.

The electioneering campaign for 2023 general elections has been scheduled to commence on September 28th, 2022 by the electoral umpire. The presidential election would deo volent takes place on February 25th, 2023 while the governorship election comes in thereafter. The pre-election sensitization has since commenced.

Evidently, the four serious contenders have been transversing the nook and cranny to subtly, apologetically and passionately canvass for royal, spiritual and ephemeral supports. The ephemeral amuses me !

I don’t need to mention the names of the notable four because this piece is not sponsored by any of them. Mentioning names is akin to giving them an undue publicity. I am not a party man but may have personal interest as a mortal. So, mentioning names here would render this piece otiose, partisan and prejudicial.

Seeking elective posts requires various tactics. Politicians are known to employing different styles to curry favour and hoodwink the electorates especially those who are not suspicious of their gimmicks. Anyway, such action may not be unconnected with the aphorism of; “use what you have to get what you want.” I have noticed that; for the first time in Nigeria election, religion has be allowed to dictate the pace.This is a bad omen and a negation of the tenets of democracy.

Incorporating religion into politics is an existential threat. If this is allowed to thrive, we may begin to witness voting along religious line. And that is a contrast to the secular nature of Nigeria and a breach of the constitutional provisions that established political parties.

Nigerian politicians are so smart that they begin to be functional and exhibiting hyper-active traits at every available religious gathering whenever elections draw nearer. This is a period they are made the chief launchers at any fund-raising programme at churches and sponsoring of Jumat service programmes on radio and television. Let me tell you this in a huss tone; paying homages and joining congregation to worship are methodological and pedagogical ways, usually adopted by politicians to play upon people’s intelligence. They are jesters and comical individuals who buy and eat corn on the road to create an impression of public acceptance.

It is also interesting to note that this is the period many of them do embark on less hajj to Mecca in the name of Umrah. Ask them to recite the simplest Fathia and you would be dumb-founded that they cannot. They only embark on the Hajj and answer to Muslim names to cajole the Muslim faithfuls. Others went to Jerusalem to add an appellate to their names. JP this and JP that with a view to hoodwinking the good followers of our lord Jesus Christ. I know my sheep and my sheep know me. They instantly become holier than Pope. What a decoy ! Who is fooling who ?

Buttressing my position, section 92, subsection 3 of the electoral act 2022 states that; ” places designated for religious worship, police stations and public offices shall not be used for political campaigns, rallies and processions; or to promote, propagate or attack political parties, candidates or their programmes or ideologies.” This is lucid enough and poses no ambiguity of any kind to be correctly interpreted.
Therefore, it is shenanigan, tomfoolery, devious and mischievous for any candidate to move his campaign to any religious edifice just as it is a sheer hypocrisy for any cleric to campaign or invite any politician to the vineyard or the pent house in the mosque called Alua.

Inviting politicians to the worship centres and conferring titles on them during election period is a hypocrisy that constitutes a reinvigorating breath of fresh air that blew across the dark crevices of the democratic space. Although, we may find it difficult to blame these clerics because, like every ordinary citizen, they too are hungry and so it becomes illogical if we expect them to act like Arch-angel Michael or Angel Gabriel, who must not touch money with a ten-foot pole, even when they are hungry and starved.

The present perilous, impoverished and sorry situation of most of these clerics have coerced them into compromising decency but We also have to look at it from the angle of the rotten milieu within which they operate. Whilst these clerics should know that if they bring an insect-infected piece of firewood into the temple, they have requested for a visitation of a colony of lizards. Therefore, they must not complain when colony of lizards descend on the sacred worship centres.

As we move towards general elections, we should be wary of the antics of the politicians whose manifestos of deceits could sway our sense of judgement and whose presence at worship centres are momentary. As soon as they got what they wanted, they disappear into the thin air.

The Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed an 11 count charge of conspiracy, forgery and stealing against the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo and three others.

The charge was filed by the EFFC’s Lagos Head of Legal Monitoring Unit, Rotimi Oyedepo at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The copy of the charge sheet dated and filed Sept 1st, 2022 was obtained by ODUDUWA NEWS.

Count 1 of the charge reads, “that you Oluomo Olakunle Taiwo, Oladayo Samuel, Adeyemo Adedeji Taiwo and Adeyanju Nimota Amoke (now at large) sometimes in 2019 in Abeokuta within the jurisdiction of this honorable Court conspired amongst yourselves to use the total sum of N2,475,000,000,000.00 (Two Billion, Four Hundred and Seventy Five Million Naira) which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: stealing from the treasury of Ogun State House of Assembly and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 18 (a), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.

The Commission says it intends to call at least 10 witnesses to testify and tender documents and exhibits.

The list of witnesses includes Adamu Usman Yusuf, Otitoju Moses Kolawale, Yazid Ahmad Bawa, Anyanwu Bright, Adekunbi Mojibola, Munkaila Huzaifa and Idowu Oluseyi Olarenwaju.

Others are representatives of Ashkash Nigeria limited, representatives of Obasanjo Holdings limited(managers of NNPC Mega Station) and representatives of Gateway Bank limited.

A source at the EFCC who did not want his name in print also confirmed to our correspondent that the commission will follow up tomorrow, Monday, with an application in Abeokuta for the case to be heard this week at the Federal High Court Lagos by the vacation judge.

The EFCC had earlier released the Speaker of the Ogun state on bail. He is however expected to return back to the Lagos office of the commission tomorrow, Monday with other officials of the State House of Assembly, especially the clerk and accountant for further questioning.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his allies, Samuel Ortom of Benue State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, on Friday, travelled to London, United Kingdom.

They are expected to be joined by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who is currently on vacation abroad.

There were insinuations that the governors would meet with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, in London, but this could not be confirmed as the former Lagos State governor was still in Nigeria as of Friday night.

Confirming the governors’ travel, a source stated, “Governors Wike, Ikpeazu and Ortom have flown to the United Kingdom for another round of meetings and horse-trading for the 2023 elections.

“They left on Friday and they are scheduled to hold another round of meetings with key stakeholders.”

Another source close to one of the governors confirmed the trip. When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Oyo State Governor, Taiwo Adisa, said he was not aware of the planned meeting, but confirmed that Makinde was still holidaying in London and was expected back in the country this weekend.

This is happening as the crisis in the PDP worsened over Wike’s demand for the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.

The governor is insisting on Ayu’s removal over the alleged roles he played in the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential flag bearer.

Wike has been at loggerheads with his party’s presidential candidate over the choice of his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has come hard on Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State saying he has lost touch with those who elected him into Office.

To the opposition party, the governor has also lost touch with reality thus carrying on as if he still has the people behind him whereas his popularity has waned.

According to Sadare, “Governor Seyi Makinde is inaccessible. He is so arrogant that he does not speak to anyone. Not even the Journalists have access to him. Rather, he speaks through his Chief Press Secretary. Even his aides, don’t have information about the government. Before they can defend any policy, they must take permission from the CPS and it is as if there is a hand-book they must study to defend the activities of the government they serve in. Is that how to run a government that is people oriented?” he asked.

Speaking further, the APC mouth-piece alleged that the resources of the State is not being properly managed by the government.

“The only project this government celebrates is the Moniya-Iseyin road but during the week what happened? It was washed away by flood. I read few days ago that they are trying to fix it. Recall that our leader, late Ajimobi has awarded that road before it was reversed and re-awarded. The reason why it was re-awarded is the proceeds of contract inflation which will go into their pocket”.

When reminded of the claim of the PDP that the Seyi Makinde led administration has fixed hundreds of kilometres of road far môre than the approximately ninety kilometres constructed by the Apc government, he asked “is that why all the roads are full of potholes today? Just drive round the city and see for yourself”.

Again, the Agbowo Shopping Complex was leased-out for fifty years. Which reasonable person will do that? How can you lease-out government property for fifty years? Since they started, no work has been done there”.

He also alleged that the state government is on a mission of acquiring land illegally. When reminded by the Anchor that the state government frowns at the act of land grabbing, Sadare citing the alleged illegal acquisition of ARCADEM around Wofun area of Ibadan said “they are themselves land-grabbers. It’s as if they have suddenly realized that land is the greatest asset of the State and so, they are ready to grab all available lands and sell to their chronies”.

He equally faulted the state of education in Oyo State saying the incumbent administration has taken the state backward with it’s policies.

He noted that the judgment day is fast approaching when the people will speak with their votes

The Ogun State governorship candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Prof. David Bamgbose is dead.

Bamgbose, who was the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2015 election in Ogun state.

He emerged the governorship candidate of PRP last Saturday after dumping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over an alleged injustice by the leadership of the party.

Bamgbose died at the Lantoro hospital after a brief illness on Friday morning at the age of 54.

Confirming his demise to journalists, his personal assistant and Asst. senior pastor of Peace and Love Church, Mr Oduntan Olayemi said he had complained of tiredness a day earlier, and was taken to hospital around Olomore, where be was referred to Federal Medical Central, (FMC), Abeokuta.

He was then admitted at Lantoro where he was given oxygen till today (Friday).

“He complained of tiredness on yesterday (Thursday) and we decided to take him to an hospital around Olomore. We were referred to FMC for further checks

“We opted for the state hospital, Lantoro because of the urgency and he was admitted at the emergency ward where he was administer oxygen till today (Friday).

“I got back to the hospital this morning and I met him breathing too fast and heavy. I was at where I went to get him some prescribed medication that he has passed on”, Olayemi narrated.

Prof. Bamgbose is survived by his wife, Mary Bamgbose and six children.

In a letter obtained by ODUDUWA NEWS, the EFCC had asked the Clerk to provide information on all budget appropriations and allocations of the House from May 30, 2015, till date.

“The Speaker and others are under probe for different allegations. The first one is financial misappropriation. About N85,000,000 monthly for running cost of the Assembly cannot be accounted for since June 2019 till date by Mr Speaker and the Clerk, the approving officer and accounting officer respectively,” a lawmaker had told ODUDUWA NEWS.

“This led to a rift between the Speaker and the recently impeached Deputy Speaker after the latter demanded accountability and transparency. Even doing Covid-19 lockdown, running costs such as local/international travel, cost for fuelling the generator were diverted to private accounts.

“Diversion of constituency allowance funds (each member of the 8th Assembly collected N20,000,000 twice between 2015-2019. Most of the retired receipts were forged and fictitious pictures of porputed ghost projects were filed by members. The current Speaker and 3 other current members were part of the 8th Assembly under investigation. A current Special Adviser to the Governor of Ogun state who also has a school certificate scandal case over him, was part of the 8th Assembly under the EFCC radar.

“Forgery of Financial Bills (i-The House passed a resolution to approve only N75 billion Bond for the State Government sometime in June 2020, but Speaker secretly falsified the content of the resolution letter in favour of the Executive, changed it to N200 billion after members had already passed and signed resolution for just N75 billion on the floor of the House before the camera.

“Speaker falsified some contents {S.7(4)} of Ogun State Legislative Funds Management Bill, after passage, for personal/selfish grounds. After the passage on the floor of the House, he falsified the contents in his favour before sending a clean copy to the Government for assent.

“Speaker in connivance with Mr Clerk, also falsified the current Standing Order of the House before the commencement of the 9th Assembly, to favour his election as the Speaker and disqualified others to contest, amongst other contents.”

The presidential flag bearer of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Tuesday night met with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja as part of his move to secure support of the stakeholders across the country.

The APC presidential candidate was accompanied by his running mate, Senator Kassim Shetimma and five APC governors.

The brief meeting which was held at the residence of former President Jonathan gave the leaders the opportunity to discuss various national issues and the forthcoming general election.

Details of their meeting were not made public.

Breezing out of the meeting Asiwaju simply said, he was on a courtesy visit to the former President being a former leader and one of the critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project. He also said he told him of his presidential ambition and to seek the support of his host.

Those on the entourage of Tinubu include his running mate, Shetimma, the director-general of his campaign council and governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, Ogun state governor, and Dapo Abiodun, Zamfara State governor. Bello Matawale, Jigawa State governor, Abubakar Badaru and their Kwara State counterpart AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

A source at the meeting said the meeting was part of efforts by the APC standard bearer to get the buying in of all critical stakeholders to his presidential ambition.

According to the source: “Truly, he (Jonathan) is at home with us. He was very receptive to us. You know the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) no longer accorded him that respect. He is more comfortable with us. He was happy that Asiwaju visited him. He is at home with his aspirations.”