Oduduwa News

Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has congratulated the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, on the occasion of his birthday anniversary, describing him as a distinguished royal father and worthy ambassador of the State.

Oyetola in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, lauded the traditional ruler for prioritising the welfare of his subjects and his commitment to the peace, stability and development of Osun and Nigeria as a whole since he ascended the throne.

The Governor also praised Oba Ogunwusi’s devotion to youth empowerment and development, noting that his various interventions in youth advocacy, entrepreneurship, agriculture and education have impacted young people within and outside Osun.

He also appreciated the monarch for his support for the Administration and for being a key partner of the State government on issues of governance, security and development.

“On behalf of my family, the government and people of Osun, I felicitate you on the celebration of your birthday and pray Almighty God to continue to endow you with wisdom, good health and strength to continue to serve your people, our State and country,” Oyetola said.

The Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN has expressed delight over the outcome of the just-concluded State Congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State.

The Governor specifically thanked members of the Party for what he described as an “exemplary and unique show of unity and love”. This is even as he congratulated the newly-elected State Executive Committee led by Engr. Ade Adetimehin.

His words:
“Saturday’s exercise was a well proven point. Its outcome, which was the fruit of hardwork and selflessness on the part of Party members, depicts no less, an admirable signpost.

“The exemplary and unique show of unity and love, commitment and comportment as well as the enviable display of commonality are alluring virtues that have singled Ondo APC out during this exercise.

“In all these, aside giving God the Glory, the leadership of the Party deserves a huge commendation and indeed, gratitude for the way and manner members conducted themselves. They have all shown the great men and women in them, as Leaders.

“Their cooperation, understanding and uncommon networking contributed in no small measure, to the moulding of a solid foundation from the Wards and Local Government Congresses which culminated in the seamless State Congress.

“For the newly-elected State Executive Committee ably led by Engr. Adetimehin, it deserves a big CONGRATULATION. Specifically, Adetimehin’s commitment to engender unity, cohesion and deepen party values is as palpable as his passion for the development of the State. There is no doubt he, alongside his team, will take Ondo APC to further greater heights as they commence this task for another four years.

“In spite of all, certain complaints as regards Constitutional infractions in respect of age as it concerns some offices are noted. Such will not be overlooked; they shall be thoroughly investigated and remedial measures will be enforced to redress same”, the governor said.

The crisis in the Osun chapter of the All Progressives Congresses (APC) took a turn for worse on Saturday as two factions of the party held parallel congresses.

The Ilerioluwa Group is the faction loyal to Gboyega Oyetola, Osun governor, while The Osun Progressives (TOP) has the backing of Rauf Aregbesola, the minister of interior and former governor of the state.

Gboyega Famodun was re-elected as the state chairman of the party as the Ilerioluwa Group held its congress at the Osogbo City Stadium.

Tajudeen Lawal was elected as the deputy chairman, while Alao Olabisi was elected as the secretary.

The Osun Progressives, on the other hand, held its parallel congress at the Onward area of Osogbo, Osun state capital.

Rasaq Salinsile was elected as the chairman of the faction while Adelani Baderinwa, a former commissioner for information in the state, was elected as the secretary.

According to NAN, both factions adopted consensus arrangement and affirmation by congress members to ratify the exercise.

Pandemonium broke out during the parallel congress organised by the loyalists of Rauf Aregbesola as suspected thugs attempted to disrupt proceedings.

The thugs were said to have invaded the venue and attempted to hijack the congress.

The Osun Progressives members scampered for safety while some of them sustained various degrees of injuries.

Security operatives deployed to the venue eventually succeeded in repelling the disruptors.

The honourable member representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju State Constituency, Hon. Dele Adeola has congratulated the newly-elected chairman of the party, Hon. Dayo Ogungbenro and other executive members for being counted worthy among the rest that jostled for their seats.

He however appreciated the unwavering efforts and doggedness of the Chairman Local Organizing Committee, Sen. Hosea Agboola (Halleluyah) for the wisdom and intelligence he used towards the successful and hitch-free congresses at both local and State levels.

“Sen. Halleluyah has demonstrated that he is competent to lead any leadership position both at the State and Federal levels and I salute him”, said Adeola.

In the meantime, he appreciated the Executive Governor of the State, Engr. Seyi Makinde for laying a solid foundation that oversaw the smooth transitioning of the party exco at both state and local levels.

He lauded Gov Makinde for the machinery he put in place to ensure hitch-free congress held recently at Adamasingba Stadium, Ibadan.

He equally thanked the Panel led by the Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for overseeing a smooth conduct of the congress.

He therefore charged the newly elected executive members to be magnanimous in victory and use their offices as instrument of cohesion while embracing peace and tranquility towards the progress of the party.

A loyalist of Governor of Ekiti State, John Kayode Fayemi, Paul Omotoso has emerged the Ekiti Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, following Saturday’s State Congress.

Mr Omotoso’s emergence was through affirmation at a programme held at the Mini Pavilion, around Fajuyi’s Round About, Ado-Ekiti.

The chairman, APC congress Election Committee for Ekiti, Yusuf Galambi, announced that Omotoso had been affirmed.

According to Mr Galambi, 37 candidates showed interest in the different positions, while 36 came for screening.

According to the congress election committee chairman, all the positions were contested unopposed.

Shortly after the affirmation, the new Ekiti APC Chairman, Omotoso, told newsmen that he would take the party in state to an enviable height.

He assured that his Executives would ensure that the APC gets a landmark victory in the coming 2022 governorship election in Ekiti and the General Election in 2023.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Paul Omotoso is the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party in Ekiti.

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has dismissed parallel congresses of the All Progressives Congress allegedly held by some elements as “mere naming ceremonies.”

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Gboyega Akosile, disclosed this in a statement after the congress on Saturday which produced Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi as state chairman of the APC.

According to Akosile, Sanwo-Olu said the authentic congress was the one attended by card-carrying members of the party at the venue announced by the State Congress Committee and supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission and the party’s national executive committee.

The Governor described the process as “simply decisive, non-controversial,” expressing his confidence in the new team that will be steering the party’s affairs in Lagos.

He said Ojelabi possessed a brilliant resume as a loyal APC chieftain, noting that the new team would work to deepen the party’s stronghold in the state.

Akosile quoted Sanwo-Olu as saying, “We have come to the end of the state congress. All party members are happy with the peaceful conduct of the process and the outcome. I’m certain that the leadership that emerges from this exercise is a round peg in a hole. The man (Ojelabi) that will be leading the team has a brilliant resume as a trusted hand, at the National Assembly level, State Executive Council level, political and community leadership level. He has over 20 years of political experience.”

He added that the new chairman had the mandate to reach out to aggrieved party members and bring them back to the fold.

On his part, Ojelabi praised the Governor for a hitch-free congress, noting that the peaceful conduct of the election manifested good leadership ingrained in the party by the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He also thanked the past caretaker committee members for their service, especially their effort to grow the party membership and its reach.