The Nation Newspaper

Category: Osun 2018

Osun Decides

  • 2019: The unending ‘crucial meetings’ in Ikire

    Party officials across Irewole Local Govt area are all locked up in crucial meetings to fine tune strategies for victories on Saturday.

    Several efforts by this reporter for interviews with party chieftains in the local government has continued to hit brick-walls even till 10:15pm today.

    For instance, this reporter on three occasions made efforts to speak with PDP stalwarts in Ikire. One of the stalwarts, Peter Babalola, was said to be in a “crucial” meeting since 2pm.

    The Nation’s return visit on two other occasions to Babalola ‘s Ikire home yielded no positive result.

    Another PDP strongman in Ikire, Lere Oyewunmi, was said to be in Oshogbo, the state capital, finalising last minute strategies.

    When traced to his filling station along ikire-Ife expressway, he was also said to be unavailable although his G Wagon Mercedes Ben SUV was parked in front of the station.

    The Nation approached his wife after sighting in her mini mart located inside the filling station, which also yielded no fruits.

    A similar trip to the residence of Olayiwola Falabi, the SDP deputy gubernatorial candidate was fruitless.

    One of Falabi’s aides who attended to this reporter at the gate said he was in a crucial meeting.

    Similarly at the residence of Soji Ajayi of the ADP, the same scenario played out.

    The reporter was told by Ajayi’s aide to return art a later time.

    Perhaps indications that these party officials were only using the crucial meeting as an excuse to avoid the press played out at the residence of the APC member of the Osun State House of Assembly representing Ikire, Mr. Akinola Azifa.

    Arriving at Azifa’s residence, one of his aides after confirming his presence returned to say he was not at home.

    Reluctantly, the aide went back to Azifa and returned to say the usual “Oga is in a crucial meeting, which he however asked that we speak on phone.

    “I am in a crucial meeting now. Maybe you should come back,” Azifa said.

  • “Irewole will deliver for APC “

    The chairman of the APC in Irewole Local Govt area, Osun state, Owo ade Arimiyau, has said that the people of the local government area will reciprocate the “kind gesture” of the party by voting enmass for the party on Saturday.
    In an exclusive chat with The Nation, Arimiyau said as far as the people is concerned, it is a “block vote” for the APC.
    “This is our time to say thank you to APC for giving us the slot of Deputy Governor”.
    He revealed that the people of Ikire have benefitted immensely from the APC government, adding that since the party has honoured Ikire people,  it is only natural to reciprocate the gesture.
    He dismissed the planned alliance of four parties to  challenge APC and described it as “an effort in futility”.
    “We are hopeful that God will  crown our efforts. The way people have received us gives us absolute confidence of victory,” he said.
    He further revealed that even the traditional ruling council of Ikire have resolved to support their son (Alabi) in the election .

  • Support for Adeleke from unsuspected quarters

    The country home of the Adelekes in Ede, which served as the constituency office of the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke and now as that of Senator Ademola Adeleke, was swarming with gaily-dressed red-cap chiefs and women dressed like those from the Southeast when ‘The Nation’ called at the venue on Friday afternoon.

    Indeed, the standard bearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in tomorrow’s governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, is enthusiastically supported in the bid to take over the Government House in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, by his compatriots from across the River Niger.

    Sen. Adeleke’s mother, Mrs. Nnena Esther Adeleke, hails from the coal city state Enugu, in the Southeast geo-political zone.
    One of such supporters, a red-cap chief, told our reporter in confidence that the Adeleke brothers, including Senator Ademola Adeleke, had always maintained a cordial relationship with people from the Southeast, particularly those living in Osun State.
    He said: “Igbos living in Osun State have always had a good relationship with the Adelekes. We Supported Ademola Adeleke when he contested and won the Osun West senatorial by-election in July 2017.”

  • Osun 2018: APC will emerge victorious – Etteh

    A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh, has expressed confidence that the All Progressives Congress ( APC ), will emerge victorious on Saturday’s in Osun election.
    Etteh, in an exclusive chat with The Nation from her Ikire home, said the party was 100 percent ready for the election.
    She however said it might not be a huge landslide victory for the ruling party.
    “It might not be a serious landslide victory for us because 48 candidates and parties are contesting the election. But I can assure you that come tomorrow by the special grace of God, APC will be victorious,” she said.
    The former Speaker said she is unaware of any talk of alliance by some candidates.
    Etteh said based on what has been happening in the political landscape of Ikire, there was peace in the environment.
    She further said that there had been times when three or four parties held rallies on the same day without violence. This, she explained is an indication that the town is politically matured.
    “Forget about us being the ruling party. From what is on ground in Osun, hardly can you say there is a difference between Osun and Lagos. There is nothing in Lagos that is not here.
    “The new development that our party has brought to Osun is a plus for us I  this election. In the area of education, we have also done well because our governor is keen about education. Water supply and electricity is stable”.
    “The salary problem is a general one across the country and we have been able to pay four months arrears. All these will contribute to our success on Saturday.”

  • ‘PDP’s dominance in Ede has ended’

    Former Speaker of the Osun State of House of Assembly, Hon. Adejare Bello, has said the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ede has ended.
    Bello, who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) recently, said the outcome of the election in the two local governments that makes up Ede could go anyway.
    The former Speaker told our reporter on Friday over the telephone that the election was likely to be a 50-50 affair between the PDP and the APC.
    “I won’t say because I now belong to the APC that the ruling party will win hands down in the area. It’s going to be anybody’s game tomorrow in Ede. The PDP will make an appreciable impact in the area, because that is where it’s governorship candidate (Adeleke) is from” he said.
    “But a number of other eminent politicians in the APC are also indigenes of the area, so the the ruling party will give the PDP a run for its money in the two local government”.
    “The PDP is likely to do well in Ede on Sartuday. But, whether it is going to be 55 per cent, 51 per cent or 50 per cent, I cannot say at the moment. The Ede vote is going to be split between the two major parties, with the other parties trailing behind.”
    Bello further said the APC standard bearer in the election, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, would carry the day, after tomorrow’s contest.
    The former PDP chieftain said the party is hopelessly divided in Osun State and cannot make the sort of impact people are expecting.
    He said: “Many of us felt aggrieved and left the party, because of the division within its fold. The support Senator Iyiola Omisore is enjoying in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) used to belong to the PDP”.
    “The same goes for Mr. Fatai Akinbade of the African Democratic Party (ADC), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola also of the ADC and myself. Most of the votes that would be cast for the APC tomorrow in my constituency used to be for the PDP.”

  • Adeoti, Omisore, Akinbade meeting deadlocked

    The last minute attempt by three governorship candidates to present a common candidate for Saturday’s election has failed.
    The candidates involved were Alhaji Moshood Adeoti of Action Democratic Party (ADP), Senator Iyiola Omisore,  Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Alhaji Fatai Akinbode, African Democratic Congress (ADC).
    Reliable sources disclosed that the the meeting was held at the instance of some Yoruba elders who wanted the three parties to present a common front to dislodge All Progressives Congress (APC)  from  power in Osun State.
    None of  the three candidates, according to our source, was ready to step down at the meeting held on Wednesday night through early Thursday morning.
    Adeoti ‘s media aide,  Mr Kayode Agbaje confirmed that three candidates met but he said it was not about stepping down for each other.
    Rather, Agbaje said there coming  together was to ensure that their polling agents collaborate at the polling units  to guarantee free and fair election and that the results announced reflect the people’s will.
    Agbaje said the candidates insist that the process must be credible  and if any other party tries to play a smart game that would undermine the process, the candidates would reject it.
    He said his principal does not have to merge with any party to win today’s election because he is the candidate to beat.

  • Osun 2018: IPAC calls for credible poll

    As the people of Osun State go into the state governorship election on Saturday, the Inter Party Advisor Council (IPAC) has called for credible and free poll.

    Speaking at a press briefing before the IPAC members, including representatives of all the 48 political parties participating in the election staged a sensitization rally in the state, IPAC National Secretary, Barr. Aye Dakpokpo, advised the political gladiators not to see the election as a do-or-die affair.

    The IPAC scribe, who also advised the politicians to put the interest of the masses above their personal their own, said that IPAC was in Osun to sensitize the people of the state on the need to shun violence before, during and after the election.

    Read Also: NSCDC deploys over 10,000 operatives for Osun guber poll

    She said: “We are here in Osun to educate the populace on the need for free and fair election and you will agree with me that this is one of the strong pillars of democracy. We are focusing on no violence during the election and the need to minimize election malpractices.

    “So, it is important that political parties should not encourage violence during the election and that the reason for election is for people to elect a leader that will serve them and not to rule them.”

    She also urged the political parties and their candidates to accept the outcome of the election as long as it is accepted to be credible.

  • Osun 2018: 435,015 registered voters yet to collect PVCs – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) says 435,015 registered voters in Osun are yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    Mr Olusegun Agbaje, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun, made this known on Friday at a press conference in Osogbo.

    Agbaje said 1,246,915 PVCs were collected from INEC by registered voters in the state as at Wednesday when collection of the cards for the election ended.

    The commissioner, who said 1,682,495 voters were registered, warned that those who had yet to collect their PVCs would not be allowed to vote.

    Read Also: Osun poll: Oluwo cautions against violence

    He gave an assurance that the uncollected PVCs were safe in the commission’s custody, adding that a credible election would hold on Saturday.

    Agbaje also warned against vote selling and buying, saying those caught risk imprisonment of one year or N500,000 fine.

    He also said those caught violating the secrecy of their votes may be jailed for six months or fined N100,000 or both.

    Agbaje, who thanked the media for its support, however, insisted that only INEC could announce election results.

  • Osun poll: Oluwo cautions against violence

    The paramount ruler of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi has cautioned his subjects against causing violence in today’s governorship election in Osun State.

    The monarch who spoke to our correspondent in his palace on Friday said: “If you cause violence and you are caught by the security operatives, you will go to jail.”

    “That is why I have been telling my people to ensure a violence-free election. Whoever wins should be accepted as our governor. Politics is not a do or die. We have a governorship candidate from Iwo. As a royal father, I cannot take side, all the candidates are my children whoever that emerges is our governor and I am ready to work with him.”

    The Oluwo charged the security operatives to be pro-active by quelling any form of violence promptly. He added that they should arrest and prosecute the suspects in court.

    He insists that “we don’t want any problem or violence in this election because it will create bad image not only for Iwo but the whole country”.

    He recalled that during the 1983 general elections, many people were killed in Iwo, many houses were burnt and some of them have not being repaired till date.

    The monarch also advised politicians against the winner takes –all syndrome; instead they should run an all-inclusive government. He said the winner should include the best brain from the opposition side in his government in the interest of the state.

    Similarly, the APC Chairman, Osun West Senatorial District, Hon. Amobi Akintola said the party had educated its members to guide against violence. According to him, we told them “go and vote, don’t fight”.

    Akintola said the APC was fully prepared for today’s election and he was sure the party would come out victorious at the end of the day.

  • Osun 2018: TMG identifies violence prone areas

    …Group lauds INEC’s readiness for credible election

     

    As Osun State governorship election holds Saturday, an independent civil society election observation organization in Nigeria, the Transition Monitoring Group, has identified some parts of the state with tendency for violence.

    The group listed Ede, Iwo, Ife, Ilesa, Iragbiji, Ikire and Osogbo, the state capital among areas described as flash points that the security agents must pay serious attention to.

    Read Also:NSCDC deploys over 10,000 operatives for Osun guber poll

    At a press conference jointly addressed by the group’s chairperson, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, in Osogbo State on Friday, the TMG disclosed that it has assessed the situation before today’s poll and also sensitized the voters and the other stakeholders about their responsibilities before, during and after the election.

    The TMG chairperson advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to be professional in the discharge of their duty during the election.

    Afolabi-Akiyode, who is also the Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center, also urged the stakeholders in electoral process to shun vote buying and selling, saying everybody should work towards peaceful, free, fair and credible poll.

    Also, a non- governmental organization, the Pan African Women Projects, has lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission for its readiness to conduct a free, fair and credible election in Osun State.

    Addressing a press conference during its pre-election assessment report in Osogbo on Friday, the Head of Mission, the Pan African Women Project, Dr. (Mrs.) Eno Udensi noted that the INEC has been transparent in its dealings.

    She said: “We observed a hardworking Independent National Electoral Commission INEC with a mission towards a transparent electoral process.”

    According to Udensi, the Pan African Women Projects consists of fifty-five nations of Africa and the Diaspora with headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    She disclosed that the NGO recruited no fewer than 150 persons who are indigenes of Osun to form a formidable team with the international observers.

    Udensi, who identified inducement as bane of the current electoral process as it manifested heavily in the last gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, noted that the ugly trend is also rearing its ugly head in Osun through suspicious empowerment programme, distribution of gift items among others by the politicians.

    She endorsed the steps taken by the INEC to curb vote buying from the nation’s politics with measures such as restriction of electorate from carrying hand phones into voting arena and repositioning of polling arena.

    Dr. Udensi, however, described the campaigns and rallies by political parties across the state as expensive, adding however that the rallies were devoid of violence.

    In its contribution, the Director General, Centre For Credible Leadership and Citizenship Awareness Dr. Nwambu Gabriel, called on electorate in Osun to conduct themselves peacefully.