Category: South West

Any attempt by the Federal Government to further deregulate the oil sector, which may lead to increase in the pump prices of petroleum products next year, will be an invitation to anarchy, a cleric, Prophet Richard Kolawole, has said.

The cleric, the General Overseer, Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Arogungbogunmi, said the crisis that would trail the increment would be greater than the experience during the #EndSARS protest.

He said the citizens should be prepared for harder economic burden, among other challenges, in the coming year.

The clergyman spoke yesterday at the end of the year news conference of the church tagged: ‘Prophetic messages from the throne of grace for 2022’, held at the CAC Arogungbogunmi International, Olunde, Ibadan, Oyo State.

An aspirant in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Akure Federal Constituency by-election, Babatunde Faro, has said his integrity would secure victory for him at the party’s primaries and during the by-election.

The House of Representatives recently declared the Akure Constituency seat vacant, following the death of Omolafe Adedayo Isaac, popularly called ‘Expensive’.

Faro, addressing reporters in Akure, said that the PDP would win the by-election, as, according to him, “Akure remains the stronghold of the party.”

He, however, noted that only an all-inclusive arrangement would make the PDP win the election.

Faro said he had the best to emerge as the party’s candidate if the party opted for a consensus arrangement or allowed the aspirants to contest at the primaries.

He said: “Akure Federal Constituency is the stronghold of the PDP in the state. Let us flash our mind to the two or three last elections. PDP won in the presidential and governorship elections.

“I am convinced that with the support of the people for PDP and the failure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership at the centre and to some extent, at the state level, the people will come out in large numbers to support me and my party.

“Let me tell you, once you can galvanise the support of the people, there won’t be problem.  You can only rig when you are popular. Once we as a party have a rancour free congress and a very likeable candidate emerges and we all support that candidate, I know that we will defeat APC.

“What I hold dearly is my integrity. I know people say, we’ve had people said this kind of things in the past, but I want to change the narrative. I am just about 36 years old. If God gives me life, I will probably be here for another 60 years. So I will not use a token of 11–17 months to destroy a very fruitful man that I see in myself in future.

“If it is about plans and the zeal to carry out those plans, I have them. If it is about sense of purpose and the doggedness to see it to the end, I have them. If it is about total commitment to finance this structure, I have it.”

Some indigenes of Iwo Federal Constituency, under the auspices of Concerned Citizens of Iwo Federal Constituency, have decried the alleged political marginalisation of the constituency.

The coordinator, Ajibade Tijani, addressing reporters yesterday in Iwo, said: “We are tired of being second-class citizens in the state where we are all freely born. This is the right time to set the record straight and show the world, through our son, the former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti.

“The fact remains that in the democratic fairness, we have been politically enslaved from time immemorial.

“I want to say that those against Adeoti’s governorship ambition are mischievous. Some political leaders in the region, who are against the governorship ambition of Alhaji Adeoti, are political parasites who will sell their souls for appointments.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State said it has expelled four members.

It added that it suspended five others for alleged anti-party activities.

The Chairman and Secretary of Adewole Ward of PDP, Alhaji Abdulkadir Issa and Alhaji Saad Agbabiaka, in a letter titled: “Approval for suspension and explosion of disgruntled members”, said the party’s action followed a letter of complaints, which recommended disciplinary actions against them by their ward’s organs.

The affected members include Nureni Omoyooba, Yakubu Agodi, Alao Hakeem and Tunde Muhibudeen, who were expelled.

Musbau Agodi, Tunde Odo, Tunde Khalifa, Alagbon Fatimoh and Moshood Elere were suspended.

“The nine members, after being tried at their ward, were found guilty of gross misconduct, crude and disparaging commentaries against the party, especially on radio stations and disrespect to constituted authorities of the party, among other offences.

“They were fairly tried and found culpable of anti-party activities that warranted disciplinary actions as enshrined in the party’s constitution,” the letter added.

The affected politicians were, therefore, advised to stop parading themselves as members or else they would be sanctioned.

One of the affected members, Omoyooba, told The Nation that they would meet to decide the next line of action.

In October, he (Omoyooba) had led others in protest to condemn alleged attempt by the state leadership to perpetrate impunity regarding the last PDP congress in the state.

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has assured the citizens that his administration is determined to develop every part of the state, to ensure equitable distribution of dividends of democracy.

The governor, who spoke yesterday in Ilaro at the inauguration of the Yewa People Development Council (YPDC) and end of the year reception of the Yewa Traditional Council, about 24 hours after signing into Law the N350.74bilion 2022 Appropriation Bill, said it would be injustice to concentrate development on a section and leave others.

He was represented by Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele.

The governor said establishing the spirit of  togetherness is a pivot on which societal development rests, stressing that the inauguration of the YPDC and its incorporation was in tandem with his’ ‘Building our Future Together’ agenda.

He said the opinion of the people would count at all times.

‘’ I want to emphasise on it again that no part of Ogun btate will be developed at the expense of another and I believe  nothing can be achieved without the people.

‘’This inauguration could not have come at a better time than now. It indicates that Yewa people are poised to start the new year on a positive note,’’ Abiodun said.

He urged public-spirited indigenes of Yewaland to join hands for the advancement of the area.

The governor said cultural identity was nothing without political identity.

The Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, called on sons and daughters of Yewaland to invest in their hometown, to enhance development.

He stressed the need to complement government’s efforts.

‘’Let us face development and leave politics for the politicians. We must see how we can galvanise and bring our children all over the world together and encourage them towards the development of Yewaland,” Oba Olugbenle said.

The Chairman, YPDC, Prof. Rahaman Bello, said the non-profit organisation was created to carry out activities and enforce unity among the people of Yewaland, promote development in all strata and prioritise the needs of the zone.

The Olu of Imasayi, Oba Kuoye Lukman, hailed the indigenes, who have been making the state proud in their endeavours.

He urged them not to rest on their oars.

Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola yesterday inaugurated 13.15 kilometres newly-reconstructed Ada-Igbajo road, after 33 years of neglect.

He said the road was first built in the mid-50s in the defunct Western Region by the Premier, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and was reconstructed between 1987 and 1988 by the military government of the old Oyo State, but it had turned into a death trap for motorists and residents, especially peasant farmers, whose means of livelihood depended on the condition of the road.

“With the newly reconstructed road, the time of travel from Osogbo, the Osun State capital, has been reduced by 45 minutes,” the governor said.

He described the gesture as a fulfilment of another promise made, saying: “It is another proof of our commitment to our avowed resolve to unleash road construction on the state for its socio-economic transformation.

“The reconstruction of the road was part of the government’s resolve to stimulate socio-economic activities and open up the benefiting communities to rapid transformation, in line with the development agenda of the government.

“The timely reconstruction and prompt delivery of the road are a deserved relief to the people of Igbajo and Ada, who have waited with bated breath and dashed hopes over the ‘sorry state’ of the road since it was last reconstructed in 1988.

“The choice of the road for reconstruction is because of its importance, as it is central to the tourism and hospitality potential of the state because it stretches to Igbajo, the home of the Great Kiriji war site, and the ultra-modern Miccom Golf Hotels and Resort, Ada.”

The Asiwaju of Igbajoland, Chief Adegboyega Solomon Awomolo, SAN, hailed the Oyetola administration for taking his word as his bond.

Awomolo, represented by Sola Alalade, an engineer, said the reconstruction of the road came at a time it was impossible for the people to ply the road to engage in farming and other activities.

The Contractor and the Managing Director, Peculiar Ultimate Concern, Adeleke Olanrewaju, an engineer, assured the people of the quality of the job done, saying safety measures had been put in place to guarantee its durability.

A member of the House of Representatives, James Abiodun Faleke, has distributed 100 mini-buses popularly called Korope, 30 tricycles, grinding machines and other materials to empower his constituents.

Faleke, who represents Ikeja Federal Constituency, said empowering the people was the best approach to winning the war against crime caused by idleness.

Speaking at the Police College, Ikeja GRA, venue of the event, the lawmaker said the disbursement was part of efforts to take youths off the streets and help them live meaningful lives.

He said: “The essence of doing this empowerment is to take most of our youths off the street and we have succeeded in doing that partially. This is the second phase; we saw the outcome of the first phase on our youths, as the lucky ones surprised us with the turnaround in their lives. Some of them now take care of their families and even their communities

“We tried our best to carry everybody along in this second phase, which is majorly for youths and women within the community, not necessarily party members, voters and leaders. As long as you contribute your quota to the development of the constituency, you are entitled to it.

“Those benefiting from today’s gesture represent various strata of the society. We also can’t put a value on it because it runs into millions. We are sharing 100 mini buses (popularly called korope); we had shared 100 in the first phase. There are about 70 freezers, generators, sewing machines, grinding machines, bakery equipment, hair drying equipment, over 100 complete barbing equipment with chairs, industrial sewing machines and 30 tricycles.”

Faleke hailed the Federal Government, saying it had done well in ensuring economic stability for the country.

“This government has achieved a lot, but the disadvantage of insecurity has brought it under the carpet. But all things been equal, and with God on our side, especially as Mr. President has said, we are in the last lap of the fight against insecurity. Everything will work out fine and the economy will be better for it since people will be able to return to their farms,” he added.

He hailed Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s selflessness in mentoring many elected and appointed government officials.

According to him, the empowerment wouldn’t have been possible without the contribution of Asiwaju Tinubu to his (Faleke’s) political ascendancy.

All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State chapter Chairman-elect, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, hailed Faleke for taking good care of the party members in his constituency and making them feel the positive impact of good governance in the area.