Tag: Politics

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Tinubu receives Class of 99 governors, says subsidy palliatives on the way

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Wednesday in Abuja assured Nigerians that the framework for palliatives to remedy the effects of fuel subsidy removal was being worked out, assuring that the decision was in the best interest of the country, especially in guaranteeing future prosperity.

President Tinubu, who received 18 governors who served with him, Class of 1999, at the Presidential Villa, appealed for more patience from Nigerians, while the government will increase effort, speed up the process and ensure a full-proof social security structure that will not be compromised, especially in cash-transfer.

“I understand that our people are suffering yet there can be no childbirth without pain. The joy of childbirth is the relief that comes after the pain. Nigeria is reborn already with fuel subsidy removal. It is a rebirth of the country for the largest number over a few smugglers.
“Please tell the people to be a little patient.

The palliative is coming. I don’t want cash-transfer to fall into wrong hands. I know it pinches and it is difficult. In the end, we will rejoice in the prosperity of our country,’’ he told the governors, who were led by former Governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion.

“We served as governors and sat in this Council Chamber. All I wanted was democracy and the salvation of the country. I never thought I was going to be here as President, but God Almighty has brought me,’’ President Tinubu stated.

The President assured the governors and Nigerians that he will work towards “unity, equity, stability, and prosperity of the country’’.

“My commitment to that democratic value is unwavering. I am overwhelmed and honored by the numbers of you here,’’ he said, “I have an open door policy. You are my advisers. We went into the pond and wrestled with a pig. We got dirty, and cleaned up. That is why I am here today.’’

President Tinubu noted that the country will not make meaningful progress without fixing electricity, assuring that his administration will harness gas resources, and explore every opportunity to ensure stable power generation and supply.

On Security, the President who had earlier met with Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State to review situation in the North East, appealed to Nigerians, especially Plateau State, to sheath their swords and use dialogue in resolving conflicts, adding that issues of borders were man-made, not created by God.
“We will do everything possible to stabilize the country,’’ he added.

The former governors urged the President to pursue his vision for a greater Nigeria with vigour, steadfastness, and resilience, trusting their support for development policies, and promising to provide the necessary social structure for actualization.

“We are here with you. We are your foot soldiers, and you can tap into our experience. You are a person who believes in Nigeria. With your good leadership, Nigeria will take its place,’’ Igbinedion, Chairman, Class of 1999, said.

He affirmed that they were 19 at the meeting, including President Tinubu, who was former Governor of Lagos State and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, former Governor of Benue State, while ten of their mates had passed on.
Other governors at the meeting with President Tinubu were Niyi Adebayo, Ekiti State, Sen. Orji Uzo Kalu, Abia State, Sen. Sam Egwu, Ebonyi State, Adamu Muazu, Bauchi State, Donald Duke, Cross River State, James Ibori, Delta State, Obong Victor Attah, Akwa Ibom State, Chimaroke Nnamani, Enugu State, Saminu Turaki, Jigawa State, Sen. Aleiro Adamu, Olusegun Osoba, Ogun State, Adebisi Akande, Osun State, Sen. Joshua Dariye, Plateau State, Attahiru Bafarawa, Sokoto State, Ahmad Sani Yarima, Zamfara State and Rev. Jolly Nyame, Taraba State.

Source: Dele Alake
Special Adviser to the President
Special Duties, Communication, and Strategy
July 12, 2023

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Oyo PDP Extends Sales Of Form For LG Polls, Re-adjusts Schedule of Activities

The People Democratic Party PDP, Oyo chapter has extended the sales of its form for the coming local government election.

In an announcement signed by its secretary ,Wasiu Adeleke sighted by our medium , the chapter also readjusted it’s schedule of activities.

The full statement reads:

Attention: All PDP Members in Oyo State.

Notice of Sales of Form Extension.

The Leadership of the Party uses this medium to announce to our Aspirants for Chairmanship and Councillorship positions in the forthcoming Local Government Council Elections that after consultations and consideration with our leaders and most importantly, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, we have extended our sales of Forms till Friday 14th of July 2023.

Recall that the sales of form in the initial announcement was supposed to close tomorrow but it has now been extended till Friday.

Below is the Readjusted Schedule of Activities, please note accordingly.

1.
Sale of expression of Interest and Nomination Forms and Ad-Hoc Delegate Forms

Friday 7th of July – Friday 14th of July 2023

2.
Last day of submission of already completed expression of interest and nomination forms

Saturday 15th July 2023

3.
Screening of Chairmanship and Councillorship Aspirants

Sunday 16th of July 2023 – Monday 17th July 2023

4.
Screening Appeal, Councillorship and Chairmanship

Tuesday 18th of July 2023

5.
Ward Congress to elect Ad-Hoc Delegates
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Wednesday 19th of July 2023

6.
Ward Congress Appeal

Thursday 20th of July 2023

7.
Chairmanship Congress (Candidate Nomination)

Friday 21st of July 2023

8.
Appeal on Chairmanship Congress

Saturday 22nd of July 2023

9.
Councillorship Congress (Candidate Nomination)

Sunday 23rd of July 2023

10.
Appeal on Councillorship Congress

Monday 24rd of July 2023

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Population Census: President Tinubu meets NPC boss, pledges support

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday in Abuja expressed his unwavering support for the National Population Commission (NPC) to conduct an accurate Population and Housing Census in the country.

He, however, emphasized the need for the commission to be prudent in their assignment and work towards producing census data that would be credible and reliable.

Speaking at the State House in Abuja after receiving a briefing from NPC Chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra, the President expressed concern over the delay in conducting another enumeration in the country since the last exercise done in 2006.

He urged the NPC to view this delay as an opportunity to cash in on the advantages of the current electronic and digital age.

”It is disappointing that up until now we have not been able to conduct another enumeration of our people. I hope that this delay will be converted to a great opportunity in this electronic and digital age.

”The challenge is yours and I hope that during the demarcation you did, you would have noticed the migration of people to urban centers because of the extreme poverty and unemployment.

”Digitalizing the process will make your job easier and I don’t see why we don’t, by now, have a reliable database in Nigeria to identify ourselves and ascertain our numbers for planning purposes and in time of disaster.

”I have listened to you and we will support you. Accuracy and integrity of your data is very important to Nigerians and for our national economic development programmes.

”We will support you but you have to be prudent and be determined to make a name for yourself. Goodluck, ” the President said.

In his remarks, the NPC Chairman noted that the Commission was on the verge of conducting the final training for the Census before they were caught up with the transition programme for a new government and funding challenges, necessitating the postponement of the exercise by the immediate-past President.

He briefed the President on the Implementation Status of the 2023 Population and Housing Census, requesting the issuance of a proclamation for a new Census date later this year or early next year.

Kwarra also highlighted the funding challenges faced by the Commission, saying they were waiting on the President to support NPC and give the go-ahead for the conduct of the census.

He said the commission had demarcated the entire country, stating that only one or the two places were left and that this would be done soon.

Kwarra said the commission had also trained 60,000 instructors that would further train enumerators and supervisors.

In a paper titled “Implementation Status of the 2023 Population and Housing Census,” the NPC requested the release of the allocated N31 billion capital allocation, in the 2023 budget, for preparatory activities.

The commission put the total cost of the Census, after a methodology review, at N546.72 billion.

Kwarra also requested the President’s approval for an additional N225.2 billion to cover training and fieldwork allowances, retraining of trainers, and the conduct of a second-class Trial Census.

President Tinubu was also asked to approve and convene a stakeholders meeting with the organized private sector and foreign partners to galvanise funds for the Census.

Kwarra informed the President that Nigeria has developed a database that can be useful in national planning, infrastructure development, and revenue generation for the government.

”NPC having completed Mapping in March 2022, tested the market with the geospatial data by making it available to researchers at a ‘test price’ where it generated over N50 million through REMITA.

”To this end, with a full integrated spatial and statistical data, government geospatial policy and coordination, NPC can generate up to 14 billion dollars and further save a lot of resources for the nation through automation of economic planning by 2028,” he said.

Source:
Dele Aleke

Special Adviser to the President

Special Duties, Communications and Strategy

July 6, 2023

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Former MEDA DG, Otunba Kayode Fasae JIMLAS appears before the Ekiti Assembly for screening

Earlier today, July 5th, 2023, Otunba Kayode Fasae (commissioner nominee) appeared before the Ekiti State House of Assembly to be screened by members of parliament, following his inclusion on the list of prospective commissioners for the Land of Honor and integrity.

According to a release made available by his media aide, Mr Adebiyi Fashoyin (Jnr), The former Director General of the Ekiti State Microfinance and Enterprises Development Agency was the last nominee on the list for today to appear before the house, and was quizzed by members of parliament on issues bordering on finances, banking, and synergy with the legislative arm.

“While answering questions, Otunba Fasae popularly addressed as JIMLAS brilliantly articulated his views on issues, and in doing so, advocated for agency banking to bring banking services closer to the people at the local government levels in order to decongest the banking system in the state capital. This, he stated, would in no small way, lead to an increased efficiency of ATM Services, as well as other banking services in the state, and at the grassroots.”

On the issue of synergy, Mr Adebiyi Fashoyin (Jnr) stated that Otunba Kayode Fasae assured honorable members of the house of his commitment to the principle of separation of powers, and unity of government. He promised that he would remain accountable to the Ekiti people through the Ekiti State House of Assembly at all times if confirmed as a commissioner.

“At the end of the session, the honorable commissioner nominee took a bow and exited the hallowed chambers in company of members of the OKF movement, friends and well wishers from all over the state.

It is expected that the official appointment will be made in the coming weeks to set the ball rolling.”

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Osun Assembly To Begin Screening of Commissioner-Nominees As Gov. Adeleke Sent Names

Governor Ademola Adeleke has submitted a full list of commissioners and special advisers to the Osun State House of Assembly through the House Speaker.

The list is to be read out at the plenary session of the Assembly when it resumes from its recess early next week.

The House of Assembly had gone on recess after the inauguration to allow the new lawmakers to get prepared for legislative business and for the logistics of House operations to be firmed up for newly inaugurated Assembly.

This disclosure was made by the Spokesperson to the Governor while speaking to journalists at Osogbo, Osun State capital on Tuesday afternoon.

” His Excellency has finalized the commissioners’ list and submitted same to the State Assembly. The House is resuming next week and expectedly, the House Speaker will disclose the names to his colleagues to commence screening of nominees.

“The Governor and the state leadership have done the needful and the public should expect the list to be made public sooner than later.

“The delay was clearly due to many factors, namely the protracted litigation on the outcome of the governorship election and the general elections covering state Assembly, National Assembly and the presidential elections.

” The good thing is that the long wait is over. The long awaited commissioners’ list here”, the Spokesperson posited.

Signed
Mallam Olawale Rasheed,
Spokesperson to the State Governor

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Makinde Names Abiodun Oni As DG Mineral Devt Agency, Appoints Four Other Aides


The Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde, has approved the appointment of the immediate past Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Abiodun Oni, as the Director-General of the Mineral Development Agency of Oyo State and Executive Chairman of the Pacesetter Mineral Development Company.

Similarly, the governor approved the appointment of four other aides.

The governor, through a letter signed by the Chief of Staff to the governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi, indicated that Mr. Olorundare Olamide Wilson has been appointed as Senior Special Assistant on New Media, while Oluwadare Daniel Aleshinloye, has been reappointed as Special Assistant on Photography.

The duo of Mr. Timilehin Olubiyi and Miss Mobolaji Dada were announced as Special Assistant (New Media I) and Special Assistant (New Media II) respectively.

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EDITORIAL: Insincerity, Lack Of Political Will, And The Entrapment Of Light-Up-Oyo Project

Background:
Few months into the first term of His Excellency, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde, the State government instituted the Light Up Oyo Project, which was targeted to cover over 240km of roads throughout the State.

According to the design and roadmap to the implementation of the project, it was aimed at improving the economy of the state by ensuring that the state economy does not go to bed at sunset. This initiative, when it was first introduced was said to be under the Ministry of Works and Transport in the state, and was highly commended by the people immediately the project kicked off and various towns began to be lit.
The project, if successful, will not only improve the economic activities of people in the State, but also helps to address challenges of insecurity confronting the State.

The Project:
The 240km street light project tagged Light Up Oyo was aimed to cover all the geopolitical zones in the State, from Ibadan to Oyo to Oke-Ogun to Ogbomoso and to Ibarapa for the good people of Oyo State. There is no gainsaying in the fact that this laudable project will bring economic development to the state. However, poor implementation of the project has been a major setback holding down its progress.

The funding arrangement was on Independent Power Producer IPP with the contractor providing larger percentage of the funding and Oyo State government fulfilling its own part too till the project is finally handed over to the State government after the agreed number of years.

According to findings, the street lights were to be powered by tribrid energy source grid, gas and inverter, with diesel as the first means for test running of the project.

What Went Wrong?
After 2years of the project, darkness has returned to the State, most especially in key areas where the project has been carried out. As the darkness looms, it is not out of point, if people begin to ask questions as regards the setback of the project and its failure to meet up with expectations.

Findings further reveal that the project started to fail immediately it was moved from Ministry of Works to Ministry of Energy, as it was alleged that those who were appointed to be in charge at the new ministry didn’t study the already-prepared contractual document developed by the Ministry of Works on the roadmap to implementation of the project via-a-vis transition from diesel to gas and Inverter.

It is a fundamental defect for a project of this magnitude to be allowed to go through its life cycle, without a designated dedicated champion. It is even problematic, if not chaotic, when one observes, that the implementation that goes with rigorous supervision is, in this case, left in the hands of inexperienced politicians, who too, possess no clue or any background knowledge of the complexities that normally come with managing such engineering technicalities necessary to pilot the project to a successful execution.

The idea of entrusting a handler and negotiator without requisite knowledge to champion this gigantic project, instead of assigning such role to a seasoned and tested professional engineer, detracts from the excellent merit the government pontificates about.

Another disturbing aspect of the detected flaws in the Light Up contract, is the project’s heavy concentration on “low hanging fruits”, that is, some noticeable short term hurriedly carried out meeting arrangements culminating into quick-fix problems and challenges, the solution to which could give a shot in the arm, to the prevailing problem.

The Issues:
The rising cost of diesel during the early implementation stage (2019 to 2020) hindered the effective functioning of the street lights making some people in the state to speak up and ask questions as regards the project. The government agreed that the project wasn’t meant to be placed on diesel and that they are doing all possible best on its transition to gas.

In 2022, the government successfully started transition from diesel generator to gas generator, still the lingering issues still persist.

In April 25th, 2023, the Honorable Commissioner for Energy, Barr. Seun Ashamu confirmed the speculation going around that there’s disagreement between the contractor and that the state government has rendered the project ineffective.
According to further findings, the disagreement between the contractor and state government is based on funding, the state government is owing the contractor almost N20bn. While this figure of debt seems to be daring, owing a state contractor to that amount is not palatable for a state that is struggling to be financially viable in the comity of the states. Hence, the government’s decision to audit the project infrastructures to ascertain the veracity of the claim by the state handlers of the project.

Nonetheless financially, it was also revealed that the stealing and theft also responsible for the failure of the project, as cables were alleged to have been stolen by some hoodlums, including vandalization of street light materials. While this has been brought under control by security agencies, the disagreement between the contractor and the state government over payment remains unresolved or partially solved.

Way Out:
The project if successful will be one of the legacies of the Seyi Makinde’s administration, and for this, it’s in the best interest of the governor to make it work.

Conclusively, those in charge of the project at the Ministry of Energy are not doing enough. Either attributable to inexperience or lack of political will. All what Oyo State citizens want is that there is need to review operational guidelines and that value is given to every penny spent from the tax payers’ money to the project.

It is our suggestion that once the project is restored, committed hands should be put in charge with oversight supervision and all hands should be on deck to ascertain certain areas of key performance indicators.

This is monthly editorial of ODUDUWA NEWS and for more info you can reach out to oduduwanews1@gmail.com

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3rd year remembrance: Ajimobi remains the architect of modern Oyo State ~ Prince Abass Aleshinloye


TRIBUTE TO LATE SENATOR ABIOLA AJIMOBI ( THE ARCHITECT OF MODERN OYO STATE)

As stated in the scripture, “Sweet is the memory of the righteous”, you may be gone but you are never forgotten.”. On June 25, 2020, the eagle flew home in a blaze of glory and the world literarily stood still.

Late Senator Abiola Ajimobi was an architect of a new order, an erudite leader, a consummate politician who served the pacesetter state with utmost dedication, love and focus to make Oyo State greater than he met it in his eight years of remarkable achievements and giant strides.

He was indeed a multitask development expert with profound intelligence which made him an accomplished administrator of human and natural resources for the betterment of the people of the state and Nigeria in general.

Despite his death, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi will continue to live in our hearts and in the memory of Oyo State people for his unusual and exceptional unique style of governance that brought peace, growth and development to the state.

In the last three years of his glorious transition, many people are still testifying to his good naturedness and how he brought hope into their lives, even when everything seemed hopeless. Such people are still trusting, that his illuminating spirit lives with them at this end.

May the soul of “oga wa” our courageous and highly intelligent leader continue to rest in peace. God grant him Aljanah Fridaus.”

PRINCE AYODEJI ABASS-ALESHINLOYE MDII
FORMER ALGON CHAIRMAN
OYO STATE CHAPTER

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Ona-Ara Chairmanship: Aare Alao promises timely Bursary Disbursement for Indigent Students as University Of Ibadan Honored Him

An indigenous body in the University of Ibadan Chapter, Federation of Ibadan Students Union (FIBSU) on Saturday honored a one-time National President of the union, in the person of Aare Alao Olalekan.

Aare Alao Olalekan who is the Special Assistant on Student, Youth and Sports in Ona-Ara Local Government and also a leading Chairmanship aspirant of Ona Ara local Government is said to be awarded by the University students based on his steadfastness, forthcoming and supportive both moral and financial to the entire Federation of Ibadan Students Union.

While presenting the award, the Guest Speaker, Dr Adams Akewula of the Faculty of Islamic Studies said he was meeting Aare Alao for the very first time but he has been hearing Alao’s good deeds and kind gestures to the Students Community over the years while he encouraged Alao not to relent effort, as the sky is his starting point.

While appreciating the students for the honor bestowed on him, Alao thanked the University of Ibadan FIBSU for finding him worthy to celebrate, he thereafter dedicate the award to the Almighty God and Ibadanland.

Speaking further, Alao hinted to the students about the student bursary recently rolled out by the State Governor, Seyi Makinde, while explaining, Alao, the Ibadan-born young politician urged the students to be patient as shortlisting is ongoing, said all qualified Oyo State Students in various tertiary institutions both in Nigeria and abroad will be beneficiaries.

Alao also promised all students from Ona Ara Local Government to watch out for continuous payment of bursaries to all and adequate empowerment for the youth of the local government if he got the opportunity to be the Council Chairman of Ona Ara.

“I shall be the first Council Chairman in Ibadanland to pay bursary and continuously to indigent students of Ona-Ara Local Government under the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde of Omituntun,2.0,” Alao promised.

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