Category: Politics

Hafsat Abiola-Costello said Governor Yahaya Bello will defeat Bola Tinu, Yemi Osinbajo, and other heavyweights vying for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress for the 2023 presidency.

The Director-General, Hope 23, Yahaya Bello Presidential Campaign Organisation stated this at a World Press Conference in Abuja on Sunday.

Abiola-Costello insisted that Bello will win in a free and fair contest.

The D-G, however, said though it was clear that Bello had resisted the idea of godfathers for long, he would carry the older politicians along when he becomes the president of Nigeria.

“It is good that you said, heavyweights. But he will win in a free and fair contest.

“His chances are actually the best of the group because in a competition, it is about the voters and 60 percent of Nigerians are under 30. I am his Director-General because I believe in him.

“There has been a groundswell in our country by young people to play a bigger role in our political affairs.

“You do know about the not too young to run campaign that has been going on for a long time, which led to the President signing the Not Too Young to Run Bill into law.

“Nigerian young people are ready to take more responsibilities in the governing of our affairs and this is the young people’s candidate.

“But we really value and appreciate the heavyweights and those you call tested politicians, and they can be sure that if God willing, we have president Yahaya Bello come 2023, he will carry them along, he will be consulting them and seeking their counsel.
“He will be wanting to build on their networks and resources because the country belongs to all of us, it belongs to the tested politicians and most especially, the young people of Nigeria,” the campaign D-G said.

On zoning, she said that the APC as of today had thrown open the contest, not restricting it to any zone, noting that everyone was eligible to contest regardless of the zone.

“At this time, the APC has said that all aspirants are free to contest. They have given no restrictions by zone and we are guided by that and our aspirant has the freedom to put his ambition forward.

“I can assure you that his aspiration has been done with a lot of consultations from within the party to the highest level and there have been no reservations to his aspiration…The support across Nigeria is overwhelming,” she noted.

Abiola-Costello described Bello as a unifier that her late father represented, adding that when he emerged, he would also tackle issues of poverty, insecurity, and other challenges facing the country.

“I see in Bello that he is a unifier in Nigeria. We need a Nigerian leader that is a unifier that believes in all Nigerian people and will fight for all Nigerian people.

“MKO was such a man. This Gov. Bello is also such a person. In his own cabinet in Kogi, all six geopolitical zones are represented.

“This is also somebody that fights for young people. His government has 95 percent of young people in his cabinet.

“He doesn’t just use them for campaign, he put them in government with an opportunity to have dignity,” she said.

Following a suspected plan by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde not to return Senator Kola Balogun, representing Oyo south senatorial ticket, an Ibadan group, Ibadan Peace Movement (IPM) has described the move as an affront on Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun.

Advising Makinde to rescind the decision of imposing someone over only Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) senator in Oyo State, IPM in a statement by its spokesman, Aiki Samson on Sunday, said that the ruling party risks losing the 2023 election if another person is picked.

According to the statement, “We are miffed about what we are hearing concerning Oyo South. Senator Kola Balogun is someone we are all proud of despite being in the opposition, he has performed excellently in terms of empowerment and his primary function of lawmaking, that you will think he is a lawmaker in the camp of the ruling party at the center.

“We recall that our victory in the 2019 elections started with Senator Balogun. His victory against late former governor Abiola Ajimobi was all we needed to get into Agodi government house. His victory signaled the end of the All Progressives Congress (APC), administration.

“We are not saying anybody shouldn’t join the party but Senator Balogun deserves a return ticket, If not for anything, the Olubadan should be honoured by allowing his younger brother to go again. We are very lucky to have a senator who is a younger brother of the monarch. And if Senator Balogun is allowed to go for another term, he will automatically unleash what he has learnt in this first term, for the betterment of Oyo south and Oyo state in general,” the statement added.

The Executive Governor of Jigawa state Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar MON, mni, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum Kayode Fayemi has paid a visit to the Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir Elrufai.

The duo were in the Kaduna state government house on behalf of the Nigerian Governors Forum to commiserate with the Kaduna state government and the entire people of Kaduna over the incessant attack by bandits, especially the recent train attack that sees many lose their lives.

Meanwhile, political observes believe that his recent move was also in connection to the plan towards the declaration of presidential ambition under the platform of All Progressives Congress APC.

Recall the Ekiti Gov, Fayemi has hinted that he would anmouce his ambition as soon as he concludes his consultation.

OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR SEYI MAKINDE AND ALL POLITICAL STAKEHOLDERS IN OYO STATE

“When marginalised people gain their voice and center it on their own experiences, things begin to change”
-Janet Mock.

I write as a concerned indigene of Oke Ogun to appeal to the governor and all other relevant stakeholders across the major political parties with regards to the subtle marginalisation of the Oke Ogun people with respect to the Oyo North senatorial district.

It is a well-known fact that this senatorial constituency is comprises 13 local government areas, 10 out of which belong to the people of Oke Ogun and 3 to Ogbomosho and the voting population in these local governments are a reflection of grassroot numbers. It is also a political fact that this senatorial seat, despite the obvious superiority of Oke Ogun numbers has been alternated between these two regional blocs overtime. The seat has been occupied by various people in the following order: Senator Brimmo Yusuf from Ogbomosho (1999 – 2003), Chief Robert Koleosho from Saki (2003 – 2007), Senator Andrew Babalola from Oke Ogun (2007-2011), Senator Hosea Agboola (Alleluyah) from Itesiwaju (20011-2015), and the incumbent Senator Fatai Buhari representing the senatorial district since 2015 till date.

Representatives from Oke Ogun (Senators Koleosho, Babalola and Agboola) spent one term each totalling twelve years. Senators Brimmo Yusuf and Fatai Buhari have spent one and two terms respectively equalling the number of years spent by Oke Ogun representatives since the return of democracy in 1999. This is the height of fairness between a district that has more than three times the number of local government areas and another.

Recent political developments in Oyo state especially with regards to the Oyo North senatorial district has been a source of worry and concern to sons and daughters of Oke Ogun and indeed impartial observers of political developments in the state and the country at large. Granted that Senator Fatai Buhari has performed arguably well as the representative for our beloved constituency. But could that suffice as a ground for the continual domination of 10 Local government areas by 3? Could it be regarded as an indictment that Oke Ogun has no qualified citizen to present for election into the red chamber ?

The actions of the major political parties in the state are now adding insult to the sore injury of Oke Ogun indigenes. The People’s Democratic Party recently conducted its consensus arrangement where the ticket of this senatorial district was reportedly handed over to another Ogbomosho indigene and feelers from the camp of the All Progressives Congress has it that the party is about to hand its ticket to the incumbent, Senator Fatai Buhari.

May I at this juncture restate the electoral make up of Oyo state for the timely reminder of political players and watchers of the ongoing chess game, that after Ibadan with 11 local governments out of 33, Oke Ogun comes next with 10 and that is why Ibadan has constantly occupied the Agodi government house and even Ogbomosho with 3 local governments has also enjoyed time in the seat of power. Oke Ogun, despite being the base of the second highest voters in the state has agitated endlessly for a shot at the governorship. Now the two major political parties are out to clear Oke Ogun out of the parliamentary representation that it more than deserves, given that in no sane political climate does a region with 10 local governments share political power on equal basis with another with less than a third of what it has.

This is a clarion call and a timely reminder of the importance of the Oke Ogun voting population to the political fortune of any political party in the pace setters state and to set the records straight that the current political arrangements by the two major parties with regards to Oyo North senatorial district is not in the least acceptable to sons and daughters of Oke Ogun.

MICHAEL OLABISI AFOLABI
Ex- student leader and Aspirant to the Nigerian Bar.

The immediate chairperson of the Ado Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Mrs Omotunde Fajuyi, has alleged the state governor, Kayode Fayemi gave her N7 million per month to run the affairs of the Local government after signing for N100 million.
The former chairman disclosed this on Thursday while featured on one private radio in Ekiti monitored by Newsflash Nigeria.

Mrs Fajuyi said the governor Fayemi pilfered local government funds in Ekiti.

She said “the chairmen will sign N100m each, which is meant for local government but give us N7m each of the money to take care of the affair of the local government.

“Sometimes, the Fayemi government will give us N4 million, she said.

She denied that Ado Ekiti Local government collected N200m on allocation by some people said on social media.

“I only received N7m after the government created LCDA while N2.5m each goes for LCDA

“In this January, I received N4m for Ado LG”, she said.

Newsflash Nigeria had earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari had alleged the state governors embezzled local government funds and destroyed the third tier of government.

The President said the state governors have totally destroyed the local government system by embezzling the funds meant for development through the State and Local Government Joint Account.

Buhari had lambasted the governors for trying to push their responsibility to others, while they were busy collecting the larger percentage of the money meant for local government but giving a very small fraction of the money to the local government chairman

I signed N100m LG allocation but Fayemi gave me N7m – Ex-Chairman Fajuyi

OPEN LETTER TO GOV MAKINDE

OKE-OGUN LOKAN: JUST BEFORE PDP LOSES OYO NORTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT AGAIN

I write as a concerned citizen of Oke-Ogun to appeal to the Governor of Oyo State and other PDP stakeholders to reconsider their position in zoning Oyo North Senatorial ticket to Ogbomosho jettisoning doctrine of fairness, equity and balanced political representation in the zone.

As much as I pray for emergence of Gov Makinde in his second term bid owing to his performance. However, history will not be kind to us if we do not voice out against the injustice, inequity, political marginalization being meted on the people of Oke-Ogun.

This piece is premised on the backdrop of the recent consensus reached by Gov Seyi Makinde and PDP stakeholders to zone Senatorial ticket to Ogbomosho by selecting Wolekanle to fly the party ticket having had the current serving Senator from Ogbomosho completing 8 years tenure.

Oke-Ogun constitutes 10 of the 13 Local Government areas in Oyo North with Ogbomosho having 3 and in terms of voting pattern Saki, Iseyin and other towns gave Gov Makinde a resounding victory in 2019 election.

Why Ogbomosho again? Is there no capable hand in Oke-Ogun again? Seyi Makinde won landslide in Oke-Ogun and if he is to repay the trust reposed in him by the people of Oke-Ogun, he would not allow vested interest to lord another Ogbomosho candidate on the people of Oke-Ogun.

In order to save the party from losing gallantly and to defeat the serving Senator who is well grounded politically in Oke-Ogun requires picking a candidate from Saki, Iseyin or any other parts of Oke-Ogun. The only song in the lips of sons and daughters of Oke-Ogun now is that ‘Oyo North, nothing but Oke-Ogun’ and such we cannot be subservient to political machination of Ogbomosho for 16 years.

We want our son as flagbearer for the sake of justice and equity as Ogbomosho cannot be given chance of another 8 years making 16 years of Senatorial rule.

I advise you do your feasibility study in Oke-Ogun and know the cry and yearning of Oke-Ogun people in order to avert the impending failure if correction is not made. I believe Gov Makinde is a listening governor and would not want anything to trample on the just and equitable political representation of Oke-Ogun.

I repeat OKE-OGUN LOKAN, JUST BEFORE PDD LOSES AGAIN IN OYO NORTH

Comrade Adesina Julius (Prestige)
Former President, National Association of Oke-Ogun Students (NAOOS), OAU, Ile-Ife.

Open Letter To His Excellency, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde: Between Fulfilling Your Promise On Bursaries, Calling Your Appointees To Order, And Maintaining Good Intra-party Leadership.

‘Kayode Ajani.

Your Excellency, the first time I reached out to you via an open letter was in May 2020, after the demise of your dear friend, and the crooner of “Omi tuntun,” Mr. Kehinde Ayoola. May his soul continue to rest in peace. I also reached out for the second time in July 2020.

As it is known, choosing silence instead of blurting out ‘in-the-moment’ feelings that are hurtful are not really how you feel in the grand scheme of things is one of the best ways to communicate. And I have seen myself subscribing more to this aforesaid thought lately.

Choosing to get my pen off the radar for a while doesn’t mean I have nothing meaningful to contribute. Rather, my two years of silence were indeed years of direct access to some of your appointees who I believe have been giving you feedback on some of our observations on issues going on within the State.

In the last letter, I articulated my opinion clearly on different affairs relating to your administration, ranging from Education, Health, Economy, Bursary, and Scholarship, among others.

With the need to say my piece, my letter will be addressing two major issues; Indigenous Union Bursary & Scholarship and General Governance which will be limited to how it affects the 2023 General Election.

Your Excellency, in my last letter, I spoke about how you were granting students bursaries and scholarships before emerging as Governor, and how the good gesture stopped immediately you emerged as Governor. On this issue, your appointees, to the extent of what I was able to gather, couldn’t come up with a proper response on this.

While it’s important to connect the past with the present to define a secured future, I wish to remind your Excellency that one of the promises you made during your campaign in 2019 was the Bursary & Scholarship Scheme for students. Sadly, less than 12 months to the expiration of your Administration, only Law school students were awarded bursaries in 2019, with the payment being effected in 2020.

According to the December 11, 2020 report of Business Day, an online newspaper, the Oyo State Government through the Commissioner for Education as at that time, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye informed the public of the readiness of the State Government to pay Oyo State Indigenes studying in Higher Institutions bursary and scholarship. “The commissioner, who stated that Governor Makinde’s administration is ready to address the issue of bursary awards and scholarships to Oyo State students in tertiary institutions, maintained that the state, through its scholarship board, has earmarked the sum of N834 Million for that purpose in the 2021 Appropriation Bill, which is before the Oyo State House of Assembly”.

It might interest you to know that since then till now, the question in the mind of many Oyo State Indigenes can simply be resolved to really query the authentication of the Governor’s plan on bursary and scholarship scheme.

Your Excellency, I’m aware that the leadership of the Indigenous association at different times has met with Government representatives. However, one of the recurring excuses given was that the government has no data to work on the scheme.
I ask; where were they getting students’ data when you were an aspirant contesting? Is it not funny that they couldn’t remember or make use of those sources again after your emergence?

Your Excellency, I was privileged to attend a meeting with the leadership of the State Scholarship Broad, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education, Commissioner for Youth & Sports, S.A on Students Matters in 2020, when I was the Head of Media, Senate Arm, Federation of Oyo State Students’ Union, National Council. It was the representatives of the State Government that called the leadership of FOSSU National at that meeting. What was discussed at that meeting was bursary and scholarship. Unfortunately, your representatives gave the same excuse, saying that they have sent letters to different institutions and are yet to receive enough responses that the ministry can work on. Isn’t it strange how your representatives couldn’t trust students’ leaders who were trusted during the electioneering process?

At that meeting, we gave several way-forwards. One of them was that each President of the Federation of Oyo State Students in each Institution across the country should liaise with their Division of Students’ Affairs, and get the list of bonafide Oyo students duly signed by the division and send it to the National Council for compilation. This, among other suggestions, was made, but unfortunately, none was implemented.

It might interest you to know that the option I gave above is the most reliable for any government that’s ready to pay.

To paint a better instance of the idea projected above, in Obafemi Awolowo University, the Federation of Oyo State Students’ Union President as at the time (Khalid) already liaised with the Dean of Students’ Affairs then and was attended to.

Your Excellency, I understand and recognize the excesses of students’ leaders over the years. But that isn’t enough to deny students their dividend as expected despite your heavy investment in the Education Sector. This leads me to the part where I inform you of some of your appointees who have been misrepresenting you.

Sir, your Special Assistant on Students Matters, Victor Olojede is alleged of being at the forefront of the ugly issues surrounding the leadership election of our dear Union, Federation of Oyo State Students’ Union, National Council.

The Union National election has been postponed three times. The last one was held on the 26th of March, 2022 at Igbo-Ora.
Amidst vested interests between the current leadership of the Union as at that time, Azeez Muritala Olowoeko and Ajadi Isaac, and some of your appointees who are using your name as a protective mask.

The electoral committee, after over 5 months of constituting them and postponing the election, finally held an election on the 26th of March which saw one Alarape emerge as the factional president. This is because the election was conducted by the General Secretary of the committee while the Chairman announced another postponement.

Sir, Mr. Victor Olojede still has questions to answer, most especially for giving us a divided union for reasons best known to him. I wouldn’t want to mention a lot of things that happened at the election ground.

Your Excellency, people are asking us if there are no better people in the Union, and that is the reason I’m informing you about this development. I hold no grudges against the aforesaid persons, but the S.A hasn’t done well. From mobilizing thugs to the venue of the election ground, to buying votes under the guise of logistics funds, among others. The S.A appears not to be the only one in this, as he only outwitted Ajadi Isaac and Olowoeko who also had vested interests. Unfortunately, the S.A who’s supposed to be a leader for all identified with a faction, sent congratulatory message and fixed swearing-in date which will be holding soon.

Your Excellency, there are evidences of the dirty tricks Mr. Victor Olojede did, including the involvement of one your commissioners to distort the peace that we have been enjoying in our Union over the years.

Your Excellency, as I did promise in my opening introduction I will be addressing two issues, the second issue which I Identified is General Governance as it relates to the 2023 General Election.

Sir, I was one of those who worked for your emergence in 2019. We made efforts to get some data that were useful for your call center. I was the General Secretary of the Federation of Ibadan Students’ Union, Obafemi Awolowo University then. Alongside my President, Babatunde Mutiu Damilare (Captain Oath), we supported the movement. Our encounter with Mr. Kazeem, who at that time was the one coming to Ife to meet with us as a representative for one of your campaign organizations. We supported the movement without collecting a dime as opposed to what was obtainable among other students’ leaders. We did that out of the love and genuine desire for change. Unfortunately, what have our members gotten in return? The bursary and scholarship that would have been a direct benefit to them are what your appointees are playing politics with. We can’t even ascertain if some people are not stealing that fund.

Your Excellency, 2023 is here. I sincerely don’t know how to convince them again. They are students and the direct benefit they can get is what they have been denied for almost three years. Although, it’s not too late, like I said, as their representative, I must speak on their behalf. I receive their messages everyday, asking me when the student-friendly governor will remember them.

Your Excellency, there are a lot of things to speak on, especially the ongoing imposition of National and State House of Assembly Aspirants in your party. Unfortunately, I’m not a registered member of your party. But as someone interested in your success, I will advise that you allow the people to decide who represents them.

I will stop here for now till there’s a need to reach out to you again.

I hope this letter meets your Excellency and all other concerned individuals in good health.

‘Kayode Ajani writes from Ibadan North LG.
08104260476
ajanikayode2@gmail.com
17/04/2022
CC
Commissioner for Education
Commissioner for Youth and Sports
Oyo State Bursary & Scholarship Board
S.A on Students Matters
FOSSU National Leadership
Oyo State Students
All concerned authorities/individuals.

It’s no longer news that the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo had declared interest to run for the highest office in the land, a decision that obviously did not go down well with the camp of his supposed political benefactor. Since the declaration, many sympathizers to Tinubu couldn’t hide their animosity and in all intensity had brazen their bilious acrimony towards the Vice President Osinbajo.

Trending recently was his posters with a demeaning caption “the Judas who betrayed his master” a statement that equated “Tinubu” to Jesus Christ” while Osinbajo as Judas.

Jesus was betrayed by Judas. He was arrested and put on trial before the Jewish leaders. When Jesus declared that He was the Christ, the Son of God, the Sanhedrin said He was a liar, or blasphemer.

As the posters flood the streets of Abuja, the supporters of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have taken to Twitter and other social media handles to attribute such action to a smear campaign and propaganda tools launched against Osinbajo by the supporters of erstwhile Lagos Governor, Bola Tinubu.

On the 26th of March, 2022, the All Progressives Congress APC will be announcing its presidential candidate after the primary election that will determine its flagbearer from over 20 candidates jostling for the exalted office of the president.

The Osun state governorship candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke has predicted election victory over Governor Gboyega Oyetola on July 16th, calling for blacklisting and sanctioning of election riggers to protect democracy.

Speaking while receiving a delegation from the United States embassy led by Brandon Hudspeth (political/Economic Section Chief), at his Ede residence, Adeleke said “if elections are held today, I will Beat Oyetola with wide margins.

”Our people are determined to restore the 2018 stolen mandate. This time around, our margin of victory will be so strong that election riggers will fail in their evil plans. What we advocate and seek support for is free and fair election” , the guber hopeful stated.

Adeleke who decried the growing threat to free and fair election in Africa and Nigeria in particular urged imposition of crippling sanctions and individual blacklisting of leaders and election candidates who perpetrate election violence and rigging.

” The major threat to survival of democracy in Africa and Nigeria in particular are election rigging and political violence. The electoral process is under threat from merchants of violence and election riggers. They are scared of People’s voice and so they invest only in violence and manipulations. The international community must ensure there is bad consequence for election rigger.

”Incumbents and candidates who sponsor and promote violence and rigging should be blacklisted, sanctioned and have their assets frozen. This is the only way to save democracy from those who are afraid of ballot box. The whole world remembers how I was violently rigged out in 2018. We cannot allow history to repeat itself.

”I am committed to violence free campaign and free and fair election. I will campaign on these major areas namely agriculture reforms for job and wealth creation, financial empowerment for businesses to grow local economy, functional educational reforms targeting skills and entrepreneurship, accessible and affordable health care programmes as well as labour intensive infrastructure policy.

”We have the confidence and mass support of Osun people. If election is held today, I am sure of landslide victory against the incumbent. But we need the diplomatic community to adopt that call for sanction against election riggers. We need deterrents and this has to be comprehensive. This has to be done to save democracy in Africa”, he noted.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the American delegation, Mr Hudspeth said the United States supports democracy and wants it to take strong root in Africa and other parts of the world , assuring that democracy promotion and support is a major plank of American foreign policy.

He said the United States supports her allies in their democratic journey through training and support for electoral institutions and stakeholders.

According to him, they are in Osun state to impress it on the candidates to submit to violence free campaign and free and fair elections.

While assuring that the train will visit again before the election, he commended the endorsement of violence free election by Senator Adeleke even as he assured that the messages of the candidate will be conveyed to the Ambassador.

Other members of the delegation include Janine T Lewis ( Political Officer), Halima Abubakar (Civil Society and Media Specialist), Sterling Roop ( Democracy Officer).

Senator Adeleke’s team who received the delegation include Rev Bunmi Jenyo, Hon Niyi Owolade Esq, Akogun Lere Oyewumi and Adekunle Adepoju, the Personal Assistant to Senator Adeleke.