Category: South West

THE Owa of Idanre in Ondo State, Oba Fredrick Aroloye, has told the government that its plan to displace 10,000 farmers from forest reserve in the community would boomerang without proper consultations.

Cocoa farmers at Ofosu forest reserve last week blocked the Ore-Benin highway to protest the alleged sales of their farmland to a foreign company by the government.

Oba Aroloye spoke through his lawyer, Olugbenga Samuel, at meeting with Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. He said the investors didn’t meet with the farmers before bringing in tractors to destroy their farmlands.

The monarch also alleged that civil servants from the forestry department stormed farming camps with military vehicles to intimidate the people

He said: “The people’s interest should be accommodated. Where are we throwing to? How do you want to accommodate them? That is what the farmers are saying. The community is saying we want to see the policy clearly. Come and explain it to us. If we are going to buy into it, we buy into it.

“We are not against growth. When Idanre submitted the forest in 1932, there was a running covenant that government will be carving out enclave for people to farm. These are laudable projects, but when such issues come, there is bound to be resistance. Let the community be carried along. Allow the people buy into the policy. Let the farmers know how to protect their interest. No amount of force can stop a people when their interests are not carried along.”

Governor Akeredolu, who was represented by Commander of the Ondo Amotekun Corps, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, said his administration was keying into the initiative sponsored by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Government to grow cocoa, cashew and oil palm in large scale.

Akeredolu said the land was given to the investors to boost  and reposition the state’s economy. He stated that the farmers would be integrated into the investors’ scheme to boost productivity and achieve the state’s food security goals.

The governor also explained that the state owns all forest reserves, formulates and implements policies, and manages forestry activities, hence the occupants are encroachers, but it would be considerate in its decision, bearing in mind the people’s interest.

He added: “Do you possess what is not your own? Forestry reserve is a reserve of government, so if government wants to use it, it can. What they are doing is community participation. As stakeholders, we carry them along in pursuing the objectives of the government. So, the issue of giving out what is not your own does not arise at all. The investors are supposed to cultivate half of the forestry reserve.

“Some investors are coming in and we want the cooperation of the farmers and everybody inside the forest reserve, we need their support with the innovations these investors are bringing.”

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) family to unite and rise in defence of the progressive heritage in the Centre of Excellence.

He said as the chapter prepares for congresses for the election of delegates for primaries, it should put its house in order and re-dedicate itself to the pursuit of a bigger opportunity at the centre.

Urging party faithful to comply with guidelines for the choice of delegates, the governor said the exercise should be devoid of rancour and disturbance so that Lagos APC can remain worthy of emulation.

A party elder, Prince Oluyole Olusi, also said the responsibility for selecting credible candidates must be entrusted to delegates who have a hundred per cent loyalty, lamenting that loyalty is being currently threatened by acts of sabotage.

Speaker of the House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa said members who are prepared to make sacrifices will be in the reckoning of the party in the future. He said at a time the national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is bidding for president, all hands must be on deck to ensure the peace, unity and cohesion in the Lagos chapter.

The party chairman, Pastor Cornelious Ojelabi, called for respect for party supremacy, restraint and discipline among members.

He also said no party chairman at the council or ward level has the right to write directly to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) behind the party’s State Executive Committee. He warned that any erring chairman will be disciplined accordingly.

Sanwo-Olu, Governance Advisory Council (GAC) member Prince Olusi and Ojelabi spoke on the imperative of sacrifice and mutual understanding at the stakeholders’ meeting held at the party secretariat on Acme Road, Ogba, Ikeja.

The parley was organised ahead of the stakeholders’ meeting with visiting members of the Congress Committee inaugurated yesterday in Abuja by the APC national leadership.

At the meeting were Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, other members of the State Executive Council, other GAC members, state party officers, state and federal legislators, members of the Technical Support Committee and 57 council chairmen.

There is the periodic scramble for few elective slots by too numerous party chieftains, which has necessitated the drawing of intra-party criteria for selection of delegates and candidates, based on party preference, loyalty, party supremacy and discipline.

Party insiders confided that certain disgruntled elements are trying to create imaginary tension in the chapter, having boxed themselves out of the majority projections, calculations and party interest.

Sanwo-Olu, who described Ojelabi as a square peg in a square hole, hailed his style of party administration. He said it is the collective responsibility of the stakeholders and party leaders at the ward, council and state levels to ensure the success of the proposed congresses.

The governor emphasised that the delegates will be elected for a single activity and a simple party activity. He said conscious of the background and history of Lagos APC, there should be no misunderstanding and rancour, adding that the chapter should focus on the bigger agenda.

Urging the chieftains to always make the chapter a model for other states, he advised them to show commitment to a successful pre-congress meeting across the pre-existing 20 local governments.

To Olusi, Lagos has always been a progressive hub, which current APC stakeholders have inherited. He, therefore, admonished them ‘to work and strive’ to ensure that the state is not captured by conservative forces.

Olusi said:”This election is starting from within. We must go through the internal battle at primary to choose those who will represent us. We must entrust to delegates who have 100 per cent loyalty. Presently, loyalty is being threatened. There is sabotage. You must try to elect responsible people.”

Speaker Obasa, who enjoined stakeholders to learn from the sacrificial example of former Deputy Speaker Kolawole Taiwo before his election into the House of Representatives, said:”If the party is asking you to make sacrifice, make the sacrifice. The party will not forget you.”

Ojelabi, who also called for sacrifice, said for the delegate election to succeed, Lagos chapter should demonstrate that it can elect the representatives that will successfully partake in the one-day exercise.

He also urged council chairmen to put a lot of energy and resources into the mobilisation of party members for the voter’s registration that will end in five weeks time.

Ojelabi said members can only claim they love Tinubu at this time if they obtain their permanent voters’ cards.

At the meeting were one-time Finance Commissioner Wale Edun, Omooba Muyiwa Sosanya, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Otunba Oladele Ajomale, Chief Mutiu Aare, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Dr. Yomi Finnih, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, Dr. Yemi Ikuforiji, Kolade Alabi, Mrs. Folasade Jaji, Chief Busura Alebiosu, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, Wale Raji, Jide Jimoh, Mrs.Funmilayo Olayinka, Sesan Daini, Abiodun Mafe, Ayodele Adewale, Emmanuel Bsmigboye, Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, Toke Benson, Comrade Joe Igbokwe, and Lateef Ibirogba, who was the compere.

A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Abdulahmed Olorunfemi Mustapha, yesterday unfolded his programmes.

He said he will focus on the accelerated implementation of the Master Plan developed by former Governor Bola Tinubu, which has been followed by his successors.

Mustapha, a Permanent Secretary in the defunct Akinwunmi Ambode Administration, also promised to focus on transportation, housing, education, health care, power generation and security in the Centre of Excellence.

Although the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), which is the apex leadership organ of Lagos APC, has endorsed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, for a second term, Mustapha said the endorsement cannot prevent him from joining the race.

Mustapha, who said he had been screened by the APC Screening Panel in Abuja, said he had not informed the National Leader, Asiwaju Tinubu, about his ambition to run.

However, he said Tinubu is a believer in superior argument and always receptive to ideas, adding that his new vision and policy distinction will further serve the camp of the leader in his bid to lead Nigeria.

Mustapha stressed:”No discussion with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. But, I am an Asiwaju disciple.”

The implication of his entry into the race is that Governor Sanwo-Olu, former Commissioner Wale Oluwo and Mustapha may square up at the primary.

Party faithful who reacted to Mustapha’s aspiration said they will not go against the position of GAC on Sanwo-Olu’s re-election bid in the spirit of party supremacy, discipline, fidelity and cohesion.

Mustapha told reporters in Lagos that being a democrat, the National Leader has clarified that all elective officers were open for interested party members to contest.

He also refuted the allegation that he and Oluwo were being instigated by former Governor Ambode to contest, saying his allegiance is to the party.

Mustapha said:”I have relationship with all party leaders; Asiwaju Tinubu, Fashola and Ambode. I was appointed permanent secretary by Ambode. I worked under the current governor for two years before I left.

“My allegiance is to the party. The last thing I will do is to allow myself be used to disrupt or destroy any good work.”

Noting that Lagos is working, the aspirant said the tempo should be sustained and improved upon.

He said:”We need more schools, hospitals, roads. We need ideas that will lead to incredible growth. The idea we are espousing in Lagos will not be different from what our leader will be doing at the centre.

“We need a Healthcare Fund that will attract mandatory contributions from organisations and the lottery. We will build bio-medical centres with tools and personnel. We will create Lagos School Construction Fund, Lagos School Construction Authority, to be funded through the Consolidated Fund.

“IPP started by Tinubu should be improved upon across the state. We will turn to the informal sector and build hubs for artisans. There will be mandatory employment allowance; 60 per cent of salary, to those who may lose their jobs.”

Mustapha, who said a Fourth Mainland Bridge was possible, added that “the funding model has to be worked out.”

On transportation, he said simultaneous development of rail, water and road transportation will ease intra-state traveling.

The aspirant also said local government should be assisted to increase its internally generated revenue and respond to the needs of local areas through speedy and effective service delivery.

Mustapha said he will promote transparency and accountability, if voted into office.

He added:”I will render accounts every month.”

Many members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ayedade Local Government Area of Osun State have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the July 16 governorship election.

Leader of the defectors, Chief Raufu Lukman, said their decision was hinged on the quest to collectively advance the state with the APC.

He said: “Our decision to leave the PDP at this critical time is an indication that the present administration under has performed well and we want to contribute our own quota to collectively advance our state.

“My colleagues and I, about 550 members, are resolute to work with others to ensure all-round victory for the party.”

Commissioner for Finance Bola Oyebamiji, who received the defectors, hailed them for taking the bold step to join the APC ‘whose imprints remain unparalleled in the state’s history.’