Oduduwa News

The All Progressives Congress in Oyo state has reacted to a statement credited to the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa alleging its party of luring the Governor to join APC.

The APC attributed the denial of clandestine plans of Governor Seyi Makinde to defect from the Peoples’ Democratic Party for known political reasons describing the development as shameful, immoral and regrettable.

It will be recalled that earlier yesterday, the CPS to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa released a statement via his social media handle where he alleged that the APC had taken step to woo Gov. Seyi Makinde to joint its party for the purpose of making him its governorship 2023 flagbearer. Taiwo Adisa further said that such step is an affirmation of greater achievements and successes recorded in Makinde-led administration.

While reacting through a statement issued on Tuesday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by the Personal Assistant (Media) to the State Caretaker Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, Olawale Sadare said that “Gov. Makinde played the ostrich by denying apparent moves to join the APC through the back door.

“While we appreciate the fact that there is free entry and free exit in party politics, we are disappointed that a governor can turn a desperado in his bid to be an overlord in the entire political space in a state like Oyo.

“With what Gov. Makinde has just done, genuine democrats and other stakeholders in the nation’s democratic environment have a good cause to renew their fear for the future of democracy and the rule of law.

“Available facts indicate that he (Makinde) had established contacts with a former governor from the Niger Delta region who now lives in Abuja. The same former governor also co-opted some influential gladiators within the APC at the national level to penetrate the south west ostensibly to whittle down the dominance of others who they consider a threat for their own inordinate ambition ahead of 2023. It is on this premise that Gov. Makinde’s overtures were considered and given some backing in principle.

“Even if we were to agree that Gov. Makinde, just like every other person, has the right to join any party of their choice at any point in time, we must set the record straight that Oyo APC cannot consider him an asset or good addition for obvious reasons.

“With virtually all the gladiators involved in the unfortunate coalition arrangement which gave victory to the PDP in the 2019 gubernatorial election now in the APC after deserting him for tenable and justifiable reasons which revolve around insincerity, selfishness and undemocratic traits.

“Meanwhile, Oyo APC has kept intact the machinery with which we won two Senatorial seats out of the available three as well as nine out of the available fourteen House of Representatives seats in the 2019 election.

“If anything, the population of those elected on the platform of our party has increased while more people are coming into the fold in their large numbers. Is it then that we would begin to woo somebody who has been deserted by 90 per cent of his key political benefactors in less than two years in office?

“And with the fate that has befallen members and supporters of the PDP in the state who had hoped for a fair dealing in the build up to the illegal local government election slated for May this year, the Makinde political anthill risks further depletion.

“Therefore, the truth remains that Oyo APC would not need a character like Gov. Makinde who still has a long way to go if he desires to emerge a strong, credible and popular political player during and after his four year tenure.” APC concluded.

ODUDUWA NEWS has just gathered that the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu has suspended the activities of NURTW in the State.

The decision was made following the violent clash between the factions of the Ondo State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers on Tuesday morning, the state government has announced the indefinite suspension of all activities of the union across the state.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Special Duties and Strategy, Dr Doyin Odebowale, also ordered the NURTW members to immediately vacate all motor parks across the state.

The government described the clash as unruly and uncultured behaviour of the union leaders which resulted in violent attacks on members and innocent citizens.

The government, however, said the indefinite suspension did not affect Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria who comported themselves in a peaceful manner.

Details to follow…

The Lagos Police Commissioner (CP) Hakeem Odumosu on Monday said the command has taken steps to prevent farmer-herder clashes in neighbouring Ogun State from escalating to Lagos.

He said steps have also been taken to prevent cases of kidnappings and other violent crimes, noting that the command was monitoring happenings across the country and constantly reviewing its security arrangement.

Odumosu said this during an interview with reporters at POWA Hall, Ikeja, before his meeting with Area Commanders, unit heads and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs).

Many communities in Yewa local council of Ogun State including Ketu, Eggua, Oja-Odan, Igan Alade, Gbokoto and Ijoun, Owode-Ketu, Ebutu Igbooro and Imeko Afon were recently deserted with victims fleeing to Benin Republic following deadly fights between farmers and herders.

To prevent a spillover into Lagos communities bordering Ogun, Odumosu said the command had since engaged all stakeholders in those border villages on the need for peaceful co-existence.

“We had a security summit in Ikorodu for people in all those Ogun border communities. All the ethnic groups were represented and at the end of the day, there was an agreement on the need to give peace a chance.

“Also, we have put in place measures like we did during the COVID-19 lockdown. We have ensured that for those border areas, there are levels of checks. Vehicles are stopped and thoroughly inspected before they are allowed in. So, we have always been proactive in Lagos.

“We know that the rainy season is around the corner and so, I want to interact with my DPOs and Commanders on the need to stay alert. We are aware of schools that are being attacked and we cannot fold our arms in Lagos because it is not happening here.

“We will continue to brainstorm the issues between now and after two months we will change the strategy to move the state forward and further reduce the crime rate that Lagos is experiencing now.”

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, has reacted to claims by some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the governor was about to defect to the party, declaring that the APC was merely covetous of the great feats achieved by Makinde as governor of Oyo State.

In a statement on Monday, the spokesman said that the plot to lure Makinde to the APC did not come as a surprise.

“One is not surprised that some elements in the APC are busy debating the possibility of Governor Makinde’s defection to the party.

“The unprecedented achievements the governor has recorded in a very short time, especially despite the COVID-19 pandemic, has thoroughly beaten their imagination such that they have concluded it is impossible to raise a candidate to contest against him in 2023.

“As a close watcher of the GSM magic, so to say, one cannot be surprised that the APC in Oyo State is really envious of the great attainments of Governor Makinde.

“Every sector you turn to, he has something positive to show.

“Only last week, he launched the first modern landfill in the country. He is presently constructing the first concrete road in the state, the 12-kilometre Apete-Awotan-Akufo road. This is in addition to the massive road and infrastructure projects that dot the entire Oyo State landscape.

“However, rather than claim that Makinde wants to defect to the APC, the truth the APC elements should tell the world is that their party is attempting to lure the performing governor in order to avert a woeful performance against him in 2023.

“Contrary to the claims of the APC members that the governor has been soft against criticisms by its members, Governor Makinde has not bothered to respond to their baseless criticisms in recent times but has chosen to remain focused on service delivery.

“We also completely reject the claims that his desire to join the APC informed the “soft approach” to the farmers/herders’ crisis.

“Rather, the governor has remained on the side of the law and has always insisted that criminals, whichever tribe they belong, are our enemies and they must be fished out without undue ethnic profiling.

“So, the best thing the APC could come up with right now is to imagine a Makinde as a standard-bearer so he could serve as a surreptitious redemption for the years of locust the party had inflicted on the people of Oyo State.

‘Govt ‘ll continue to pay attention, provide resources for education’s growth’

Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Monday, kickstarted the distribution of over 2.7 Million free exercise books to all students in public secondary schools in Oyo State, stating that the move is part of efforts to improve the quality of education and give opportunities to students from all backgrounds in the state.

The governor, while making a symbolic presentation of the free exercise books to some students from selected secondary schools in the state, at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan, said that his administration will continue to pay more attention and put in more resources to the education sector.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the government has approved the payment of school grants to public schools in the state.

He added that his administration will always welcome constructive criticism that can assist the government of the day.

On the school grants, the governor maintained that his government would continue to invest in education, stating that renovation of public schools and distribution of school furniture to students across the schools in the state would be made through the direct resources of the state.

He urged all stakeholders to work with the government and not play politics with the future of our children, saying: “We believe, as a government, that if we get it right at the primary and secondary school levels, if we have sound products coming out of our secondary schools, we would have been 70 per cent on point in terms of what we want to achieve in education.

“In the days ahead, we are taking the issue of infrastructure in our schools seriously. We will be having new chairs and tables. We will continue to renovate the schools through the direct resources of the state.

“I will use this opportunity to call on all stakeholders to work with the government and not play politics with the future of our children. If we are doing certain things right, tell us. And if we are falling short in certain areas, tell us also because this is our future and we should all work together to ensure that the future is really secure and guaranteed.”

The governor also reiterated that in Oyo State there is a freedom to practise religion and that no one can divide the people of the state through religion.

“Last week, I was reading in a place that in Oyo State, we don’t allow students to wear Hijab but I can see some students here wearing their Hijab and no one is harassing them. For us here, we give freedom to practice religion. Nobody can divide us through religion,” he said.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said that the distribution of free exercise books to students was to promote education in the state.

He added that the government is giving out more than 2.7 million exercise books to all secondary schools in Oyo State for the year 2021.

Oodua Peoples’ congress has denied the claim by the Oyo state Police command saying that the group did not burn any structure belonging to the notorious Fulani warlord Iskilu Wakili who was arrested by the group in Ibarapa land of Oyo state.

The group has also refuted the assertion that it members killed some people during the arrest of the notorious warlord on Sunday morning adding that Wakili was immediately handed over to the police department in Igbboora after his arrest.

Recall that in our previous news bulletin, we reported that the Oyo State Police Command said on Sunday that it has detained three OPC operatives for allegedly burning down Wakili’s house and killing an unknown woman in the process.

Speaking contrary to the claim by the Oyo police on Monday in an exclusive interview with a popular print media outlet; The PUNCH, the OPC sector coordinator; Adedeji Oluwole, who led his operatives and other vigilante groups to arrest Wakili, said the allegations of arson and murder by the police were false.

Asked whether his men burnt down Wakili’s house after the arrest, the OPC leader said, “We don’t know anything about that. After we arrested Wakili, we left the scene. We had no idea whether the house was burnt or a woman was killed. It was last night that we read the news that a woman was killed at the scene of the incident.

“We arrested Wakili and three of his men. Nobody touched them. We were not there to kill anybody or to burn the house.”
He called on Yoruba leaders to come to the rescue of his men, saying it is unfortunate that the police resorted to hunting his men after arresting the notorious Fulani warlord while Wakili was moved to the hospital.

The OPC Sector commander said: “My boys are still in police custody but we call on Yoruba leaders to come to our rescue because these boys are innocent; they know nothing about these allegations. Up till now, they have not taken them to court and they are still in their custody. Even I myself, the police have been chasing me and I’m shocked because I have not committed any offence.”

Before Wakili’s arrest, farmers and residents of Ayete, Kajola and neighbouring villages in Ibarapaland lived in perpetual fear of Wakili who was accused of displacing them from their farms, kidnapping their rich men and raping their women.

Oluwole, the Federal Capital Territory OPC coordinator, who is also an indigene of Igboora in Ibarapaland said he relocated four months ago to Ayete to bring Wakili to book after security agencies failed to arrest him.

Adedeji said it took over four days of continued operations and surveillance to nab Wakili and three of his accomplices, adding that Wakili’s men shot fiercely at the OPC operatives before they were eventually arrested.
He, however, expressed disappointment that the police were witch-hunting the OPC men for executing what the police failed to do.

“We feel bad that the police treat our men like this while they pamper Wakili. We don’t have any regret whatsoever. We hand over everything to God. If the government cannot protect the people of Ibarapa and environ, I think there is nothing wrong if we protect ourselves.
“The case of Wakili has been on ground for several years and the Federal Government did nothing about it. But now that Wakili has been arrested, they started threatening us but we are not moved. We believe the people of Ibarapa will overcome this by the grace of God.”

As Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, marks his 64th birthday today, 8 March, 2021, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the State of Osun has congratulated him and wished him a happy celebration.

The governor in a press release by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, described Osinbajo as a patriotic Nigerian, an accomplished administrator and an exemplary leader, whose commitment to nation-building is commendable.

While appreciating the Vice President for his selfless service to the nation, Oyetola particularly praised him for his contributions to the growth and stability of the country’s economy as head of the National Economic Council (NEC).

“On behalf of my family, Government and people of the State of Osun, I join the rest of Nigeria to wish our hardworking and cerebral Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, a happy 64th birthday celebration. Your humility, intelligence, excellent leadership traits and uncommon commitment to nation-building is commendable and worthy of emulation.

“We appreciate you for being a dependable ally of President Muhammadu Buhari and for your selfless service to our nation. I must also commend you for your contributions to the growth and stability of Nigeria’s economy in your role as Head of the National Economic Council (NEC).

“As you mark your birthday today, we thank Almighty God for your life and pray He grant you longer life, more wisdom and strength to continue to serve the nation and humanity,” Oyetola said.

The erstwhile Minister of Aviation has commended Aare Onakakanfo for taking bold step in arresting notorious killer herder, Iskilu Wakili known to be terrorising the people of Ibarapa.

In a statement released today via his official Twitter handle which reads in part:

“I congratulate my friend and brother, Iba Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland and the OPC for the successful capture of Wakili, one of the most barbaric and notorious foreign Fulani terrorists and cold-blooded killers, in the forests of Oyo state. This is the way forward. Kudos!
There is no doubt that the newly captured Wakili is the godfather of terrorism in the SW.

“However the enforcer and “hard man” of his terrorist cell is his son whose name is Abu.

“Abu killed 10 innocent souls 3 days ago and Chief Sunday Adeyemo (Sunday Igbohop), who was utterly enraged, sent pictures of their bodies to me one hour after they were murdered.

“I forwarded same to my friend and brother Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state who not only forwarded them to the IGP in my precence but also called him and briefed him.

“The IGP assured him that he would take necessary action and look into the matter.

“Sadly this morning, after the arrest of his father yesterday, Abu has killed 4 more innocent and defenceless souls.
This is unacceptable.

“The boy is just a heartless and vicious beast and worse of all he is not even a Nigerian.

“He, like his father Wakili together with most of the terrorists in our land, are FOREIGN Fulanis and not the local ones.

“I hereby call on the authorities to locate, arrest and prosecute Wakili’s son, Abu, immediately or better still to shoot him on sight.

“I also call on them to charge Wakili to court as soon as possible and ensure that he is brought to justice for his horrendous crimes against the people of Ibarapa, Oyo state and the South West.

“Finally I call for the immediate release of the OPC heroes who arrested the monster called Wakili and who handed him over to the authorities in one piece. Be rest assured that where the authorities refuse to arrest terrorists in the SW we reserve the right to do it ourselves and hand them over to the police for investigation.

“Finally let me say the following.
Under no circumstances should Wakili be set free. If that were to happen for any reason it would threaten and jeopardise the peace process that has been put in place very badly and it would cause many to lose faith and hope in what we are trying to achieve”.